01.08.20 City Council State of the City Address Minutes

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housing development along transit corridors, and investments in biking and walking options. Deliberations with Lane Transit about bus routes, frequency and ridership are essential first steps, and not easy. All of this work costs money. All of it takes time to implement and all of it depends on every individual's willingness to adapt. We will take time before final adoption of the CAP to engage the public in a meaningful way in this work and to ensure that the final plan is clear and measurable. This is the defining challenge of our time. Progress depends on courage from our leadership and from all of you. This brings me to affordable housing. In April, Council approved the implementation of the Construction Excise Tax. For the first time, housing advocates and the building community worked together to create a local revenue stream for the new Housing Trust Fund. The City affirmed its commitment by contributing $500,000 annually. This is legacy work. For the first time we will build local financial resources to support the construction of housing we need, supporting local developers who build housing specifically for the lower end of the market. Housing affordability is also tied to zoning and recent changes to state law. SB 1051 and HB 2001 reduce barriers to the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units and open residential neighborhoods to more multi -unit housing like duplexes. No other area that Council handles requires such a careful balancing act. Adjustments to our code in order to comply with the state statute have consumed council and staff time, perhaps disproportionately to the impacts of ADUs in addressing our housing shortage. At the same time, these discussions, and related conversations about the impacts of multi -unit housing on residential neighborhoods, expose the essential tension we face as a community. We all want to maintain the livability of our neighborhoods AND if we are committed to compact urban growth—if we truly intend to meet our climate goals, and if we intend to meet the need for increased housing for all income levels in walkable neighborhoods, close to transportation corridors—then we must be prepared to invest in change. I use that word intentionally. All of this work is about investment. We will continue to invest public dollars to support infrastructure improvements and housing affordability. At the same time, we need to increase collaborative efforts between developers, city planners and neighbors whose lives will be impacted by increased housing density. The City can do a better job of encouraging collaboration to resolve these conflicts and we should. Along the continuum of housing demand is the challenge of homelessness. After a full year's investment in the shelter feasibility and homeless services assessment, known as the TAC report, both City Council and County Board of Commissioners have adopted ten recommendations as the framework for the work ahead. The plan rolls out over five years, requiring investment, public commitment, and good will. In 2 02 0: We will establish a low -barrier shelter; Implement mobile outreach teams; Develop a landlord engagement process; and -- significantly, Hire a Strategic Initiatives Manager who reports to both the city and county to assure we have well -coordinated leadership to move us forward. The challenge of homelessness is closely tied to public safety. For decades Eugene has struggled with an inadequate public safety system. Again, a year of work brought Council to a decisive and courageous vote to approve a payroll tax to support expansion of our public safety services. Beginning in January of 2 02 1, the payroll tax will raise $23.6 million to support increased staffing of police officers, firefighters, 911 services, Municipal Court, and preventive services directed to at risk youth. You will see and experience the difference as these funds translate into more robust and responsive services. MINUTES — State of the City Address January 8, 2020 Page 3