7.23.2018 City Council Work Session Minutes

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MINUTES Eugene City Council Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 July 23, 2018 S:30 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Claire Syrett, Greg Evans, Chris Pyror Mayor Vinis opened the July 23, 2018, Work Session of the Eugene City Council. 1. Committee Reports and Items of Interest Council Discussion • Request made for more detailed minutes with a quicker turnaround. MOTION: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to direct the City Manager to prepare for the City Council meeting on Wednesday a resolution sending to voters the following question: "Shall EWEB sell and shall the City of Eugene buy the EWEB administration building for rehabilitation and use as a city hall?" In accordance with EC 2.999(2), the resolution shall include for Council approval the ballot title for the advisory measure. Council Discussion • Important to put this advisory issue before the voters because there has never been any clear Council direction for city hall. • Concern expressed because the information about what ultimately happens with the land swap will not be available when community votes. • There is an enormous amount of detailed and complicated information that the public doesn't have to effectively evaluate this decision; Council was elected to study these issues and make decisions on behalf of those they represent. • An advisory vote would be more of a beauty contest rather than a way to get a clear idea of where voters think city hall should be built. • Misconceptions about the EWEB building continue to circulate; the City does not own it and its location does not meet the council goal to maintain city hall in the downtown core. • Council can still go through the process of reevaluating the EWEB building; sending this issue to the voters in November seems too rushed. • It is important to see how the public feels about where city hall should be located, but maybe not with this specific question. • A survey or poll might be appropriate rather than a ballot question. VOTE: FAILED 3:5, Councilors Yeh, Clark, and Evans in favor. Council Discussion • Suggestion made to broadcast City Council meetings on a channel that everyone has access to, including people who do not have cable. • Concern expressed about the demolition of houses in Santa Clara park; would like to reconsider this decision. MINUTES — Eugene City Council July 23, 2018 Page 1 Work Session