12/22/1980 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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"" . Frank Sparrow, 1568 West 24th Place, said the whole meeting was biased against the public. Twenty-five percent of the houses have water under them. How can they be insulated? He objected to waiting two hours to testify. Jim Britton, 245 West 25th, said if financing was not available the ordinance should not be a fact. He objected to the discrimination against the non-elec- trical home heaters. He said buyers will not pay the insulation costs. If $30 million is put out for insulation, the City will attract insulation contractors like a dead fish attracts flies. They may not be honest. The utilities should hire a contractor. Allen Whittington, 585 Oakway Road, was against mandatory weatherization. New energy houses may not last without free air flow due to dry rot. He proposed EWEB computer to tell the BTU's average use per day. People turn down the thermostats. Why should they be fined? He urged more public hearings. Don Kimmel, 3105 Lincoln, said the council had been told investor-owners would not weatherlze. In a survey by the Oregon Housing Reporter, 10.4 percent replied voluntarily to the survey; 94 percent said they would voluntarily weatherize if offered a property tax exemption; 81 percent said they would weatherize their rental units if offered an increase in State tax credits of $125 per unit. He was opposed to the penalties involved in the mandatory part of the ordinance. LaVerne Edwards, 1260 President, has been following this issue and supports weatherlzatlon. She was aware of only two previous meetings; one did not take . testimony. She questioned EWEB's survey since she was included in the survey but did not have to weatherize her home. In the follow-up, she wrote that she was not going to weatherize her home. She objected to the mandatory aspect of the ordinance and having the hearing on December 22. She objected to the appeal procedures. She asked for postponement. Don Morris, 140 Ruby Lane, has weatherized his home. He supported weatheriza- tion. He did not support mandatory anything. Earl McElhan~, 1717 Centennial, President of the Eugene-Springfield Rental Owners Assoclation, understood that the final ordinance came out on December 11, 1980. They had not had time to study the ordinance and give their input. He asked for more time since it will affect their income. There being no further testimony, public hearing was closed. Mr. Obie spoke in favor of postponing the ordinance because the ordinance needs public support if it is going to happen. To acquire public support, it needs to be understood. The disposition of the elderly and low-income should be considered further with thought and understanding about how they will be treated. An automatic review should financing not become available should be talked about. Ms. Smith supported Mr. Obie's comments. She thought additional public input was important. . MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 22, 1980 Page 17