In the first full week after protests and tear gas at the Eugene Federal Building, state lawmakers are getting to work and started the short 35-day session with federal actions on their minds.

Some lawmakers are alarmed at the wave of stepped-up federal immigration enforcement activity, and courts have found, unconstitutional activity. Even before the clashes in Eugene between federal officers and protesters, lawmakers were planning bills in Salem to hold federal law enforcement accountable. 

We caught up with state Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Prozanski is pushing a bill that would make it easier to seek a court remedy when federal enforcement officials violate the U.S. Constitution. 

Democratic lawmakers also want to limit mask use by law enforcement, including federal officers, and to notify communities when federal immigration officials arrive on public school campuses.

Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson signed onto a letter that 31 Oregon mayors and Gov. Tina Kotek sent to the Trump administration, asking that it halt immigration enforcement activity in the state while investigating cases of federal law enforcement using deadly force.

Meanwhile, protests at the federal building continued last week, but usually with smaller groups waving at passing motorists and attracting honks.

Early last week, U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Ore., spoke on the House floor in response to President Donald Trump’s post on Truth Social about protests at the Eugene Federal Building, in which he warned that federal law enforcement will be “very forceful” while protecting federal property.

Hoyle said Eugene has a “long history” of speaking out and showing up and will continue to do so.

“We don’t need federal help,” Hoyle said Monday, Feb. 2. “We’ve got it.”

Tear gas hurts air quality; Flock Safety cameras will stay in Florence 

Foggy air in downtown: Environmental correspondent Ashli Blow broke down how the tear gas canisters and smoke grenades the feds directed at protesters impacted air quality in the surrounding area. 

Flock stays in Florence: Florence city officials decided Flock Safety cameras will stay in the coastal city. Eugene and Springfield scrapped contracts with the license-plate reader technology.

Levy ahead: In May, Lane County voters will decide if they want to increase property taxes to pay for Oregon State University Extension services and 4-H programs.

— Ben Botkin

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Inside Eugene City hall with Grace chinowsky

City manager contract: The Eugene City Council is expected to approve incoming city manager Jenny Haruyama’s contract at its meeting tonight. Her start date is April 15, and she’ll receive a base salary of $306,000, according to the contract, which was made available Friday.

West Eugene ER delayed: Developers working on McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center’s proposed emergency department are asking Eugene for an extension that would give them up to 10 years to build the project.

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Checking in on Springfield With lillian Schrock-Clevenger

Springfield payroll tax proposal: Springfield City Council members are hashing out details of a payroll tax proposal to balance the city’s budget. The soonest it may be in place is 2027.

Budget: City councilors approved a supplemental budget, which includes taking $16,000 from reserves to fund the Springfield Municipal Court becoming a court of record; increasing the fire department’s budget by $166,000 with revenue for helping battle California wildfires; and adding $116,000 to the police department’s budget with funds from a grant for jail-based medications for an opioid use disorder program.

Rodley on nationwide strike: During last week’s City Council meeting, Councilor Kori Rodley recognized community members who participated in the Jan. 30 national Day of Action: “I want to thank all the people and the businesses who participated in Friday’s general strike in Springfield in all the different, meaningful ways that people came out and made their voices heard and participated in community.”

Rodley also expressed appreciation for the Springfield Police Department for “providing extra support, mutual aid, de-escalation and backup for the many events and activities that have been happening in Springfield and in our neighboring communities.”

beyond lane county

Legislature gets to work: The Oregon Legislature started its session last week. With up to 35 days to wrap up, lawmakers have differing partisan priorities, the Oregon Capital Chronicle reports.

There’s good news, though. The state’s revenue projection is better than previously anticipated, lawmakers heard. But budget challenges will remain, especially amid federal changes to Medicaid and food benefits.

The Oregon Capital Chronicle has a primer on how to track bills in the Legislature, testify and participate in the session in Salem..

Public Meetings this week

Monday

  • The Eugene City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. to hear the Technical Advisory Group on Fiscal Stability’s final recommendations and report on stabilizing the city’s budget and future services. The task force of executives has met a dozen times since first convening in July. 
  • The Springfield City Council will hold an executive session at 6:30 p.m. to review confidential records. 
  • The Eugene City Council will gather again at 7:30 p.m. for its regular meeting, where councilors will vote on the incoming city manager’s contract and a resolution declaring a humanitarian crisis resulting from federal immigration enforcement actions. The council will also consider an amendment to a tax break previously granted to the Station House development.    
  • The Springfield Economic Development Agency will meet for a regular meeting at 7 p.m. to discuss investment in Glenwood infrastructure. 

Tuesday 

  • Lane County commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. and discuss $553,000 for rural tourism marketing and transportation safety. At 1:30 p.m., commissioners will meet in a closed executive session to discuss the “dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent.”
  • The Springfield Arts Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m.
  • The Springfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. to recommend wayfinding for Eastgate Woodlands and other items. 
  • The Eugene Planning Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. to discuss Urban Growth Strategies housing and compact development updates.

Wednesday

  • The Eugene City Council and Urban Renewal Agency will discuss updates to its Riverfront District development, as well as housing production incentives, during its work session at noon. 
  • The Willamalane board of directors will hold a regular meeting at 6 p.m. to vote on whether to refer a levy to voters in the May election and to interview applicants and choose a new board member, among other items. 
  • The Springfield Utility Board will meet at 6 p.m.

Thursday

Friday

  • The Metropolitan Wastewater Commission will meet at 7:30 a.m. for a financial plan discussion, among other items.

Do you have story ideas or tips? Send them our way — ben@lookoutlocal.com | grace@lookoutlocal.com | lilliansc@lookoutlocal.com

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Dann Miller is the executive editor of Lookout Eugene-Springfield, bringing decades of leadership experience in both traditional and digital newsrooms.