7.25.2018 City Council Work Session Minutes

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MINUTES Eugene City Council Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 July 25, 2018 12:00 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka (via phone), Jennifer Yeh, Mike 'Clark, Greg Evans, Claire Syrett, Chris Pyror Mayor Vinis opened the July 25, 2018, Work Session of the Eugene City Council. 1. Items of Interest Council Discussion • At the National League of Cities Conference, a great wayfinding tool was introduced that included a touchscreen, cameras, maps, and other information. • Councilor Syrett will now be on the Metropolitan Policy Committee, taking Councilor Zelenka's place and Councilor Zelenka will take Councilor Syrett's place on the Police Commission. Update provided on staff progress around housing tools and strategies. Information provided about statewide Measure 102 that would amend the state constitution to allow private entities building affordable housing to partner with credit sources of public agencies. MOTION: Councilor Pryor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to adopt a resolution in support of the statewide constitutional amendment for affordable housing bonds. Council Discussion • This seems like a worthwhile measure, but the council doesn't have enough information to explore any potential negative consequences. • It's appropriate for the state constitution to prevent governments from using their bonding authority to support private business, but this specific exception that allows government to utilize their bonding authority to support private developers to build affordable housing allows a new mechanism for supporting affordable housing when there aren't many other tools to do so. • There has been broad bipartisan support for the measure in the legislature and this is a way to move forward in supporting affordable housing for our state. VOTE: PASSED 7:1, Councilor Taylor opposed. 2. WORK SESSION: Town Square Planning Senior Planner Will Dowdy gave an update to Council regarding Eugene's Town Square, including City Hall, the Park Blocks, and the Farmer's Market. Council Discussion • Questions asked about plans for keeping the project going while having the uncertainty of knowing whether the City will own the butterfly lot. • Questions asked about how to keep urban renewal money separate from City Hall project if the projects are being combined. MINUTES — Eugene City Council July 25, 2018 Page 1 Work Session