Public commenters urge action on Bethel safety and restoration of CAHOOTS amid budget debate

Seventeen people spoke during the public comment period at the April 28 Eugene City Council meeting, urging the council to address sanitation and safety near the Lindholm Service Center in the Bethel area, to restore alternative‑response services known as CAHOOTS, and to preserve community services as the council works through budget choices.

Lynn Woodrich, co‑chair of the Active Bethel Community, told councilors that overcrowding at the Lindholm Center is producing “severe sanitation hazards and escalating dangers,” and urged immediate actions including a police substation in Bethel, dedicated cleanup crews, 24/7 enforcement and trauma‑informed outreach teams. “Our community deserves solutions that uphold both the dignity of those experiencing homelessness and the rights of residents and businesses bearing the brunt of this crisis,” Woodrich said.

Several speakers urged restoring CAHOOTS (an alternative emergency response program operated by White Bird Clinic) or ensuring alternative‑response funding in the city budget. Alex Chamberlain and Jacob True urged the council to allocate payroll‑tax revenues to bring CAHOOTS back; Chamberlain said the city’s community safety payroll tax was expected to raise “$5,067,000,000” and asked that “maybe 8,000,000” be allocated to CAHOOTS, a figure he presented orally. Jacob True said public data suggested CAHOOTS could be returned to service “for well under $10,000,000.”

Councilor Kaczynski (first named as Kaczynski in council comments) said CAHOOTS funding was originally included under the fire department’s materials and services line in the initial contract but that the amended contract circulated on Friday did not include that funding. “That is in part because between the time when the initial one was written and the time when the amendment came out, Whitebird indicated that they were no longer gonna be providing that service,” Kaczynski said.

Councilor Groves, who said he met with CAHOOTS staff, told the council during comments that CAHOOTS had “$500,000 on the table that could have been used in the final 2 and a half months of service,” and urged further discussion on how the city might restore or replace the service.

Business and civic voices raised complementary budget concerns. Tiffany Edwards of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce said she and the business community “strongly urge you to keep the option on the table that an alternative path forward includes thoughtful cost reductions alongside any temporary fee,” urging a temporary fee that would preserve key services while the council works toward long‑term budget solutions. Rich Locke of the Eugene Business Alliance expressed opposition to what he called another fee and urged the council to consider alternative cost controls.

Other public commenters raised housing affordability and planning issues, dark‑sky protections for migratory birds, historical preservation, emergency notification systems and downtown parking. Several speakers expressed frustration that some services and protections for people experiencing homelessness appear to have been reduced or discontinued.

In response, councilors acknowledged the public comments and provided context for the budget and contract status. Kaczynski described where CAHOOTS funding had been recorded in prior budget materials; Groves confirmed he had met with CAHOOTS staff and said the organization wanted to continue serving but that options for timing and structure remained unresolved. Mayor Knudson thanked commenters and noted that council had conducted a work session earlier that evening on budget gaps and that the council is seeking ways to avoid service reductions where possible.

Clarifying details from the meeting

- Number of public speakers: 17 (announced by staff). - Organizations referenced: Saint Vincent de Paul (Lindholm Service Center), Shiles Resource Center, White Bird Clinic (CAHOOTS), Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, Equitable Access Eugene. - Budget/contract notes: Councilor Kaczynski said CAHOOTS funding appeared in the initial fire department contract under materials and services; the amendment released the prior Friday did not include that funding because White Bird Clinic indicated it would not provide the service. - Public claims about cost: One commenter said the community safety payroll tax would raise “$5,067,000,000” and asked for “maybe 8,000,000” for CAHOOTS; another estimated restoring CAHOOTS would cost “well under $10,000,000.” These figures were presented by public speakers and are recorded here as their claims, not as verified budget figures.

What councilors said

Councilor Kaczynski explained where CAHOOTS had been budgeted and why the recent amendment lacked funding; Councilor Groves confirmed he had met with CAHOOTS staff and said options remain for restoring alternative response. Mayor Knudson reiterated the council’s desire to avoid service cuts and thanked those who urged cooperation during the upcoming budget deliberations.

The council did not take a funding vote on CAHOOTS or on specific homelessness interventions during the meeting; those items remained part of the ongoing budget process and contract discussions.