05.15.2019 City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes

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MINUTES Eugene City Council Harris Hall, 125 East 8h Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 May 15, 2019 12:00 p.m. Councilors Present: Betty Taylor, Emily Semple, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark Greg Evans, Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor, Alan Zelenka (via phone) Mayor Vinis opened the May 15, 2019, Work Session of the Eugene City Council. ACTION: An Ordinance Concerning Restrictions on the Distribution of Single -Use Serviceware, Adding Sections 6.870 and 6.872 to the Eugene Code, 1971, and Amending Section 6.990 of that Code. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to adopt an ordinance concerning restrictions on the distribution of single -use serviceware, adding sections 6.870 and 6.872 to the Eugene Code, 1971, and amending section 6.990 of that code. PASSED 8:0 WORK SESSION: Town Square Project Update Urban Development Manager Will Dowdy, Julie Fischer of Cogito Partners, and Francesca Gambetti of Shiels Obletz Johnsen, provided a progress check-in on Eugene's Town Square Project, which combines the Park Blocks improvements, permanent Farmers Market space, and City Hall building. Council Discussion • Councilor Syrett - asked staff how city hall is being considered within the town square public engagement conversations. • Councilor Clark- asked about the project's budget structure; inquired how much money is available for city hall fund; discussed historical conversations about budget considerations; inquired if staff is developing a budget based on values or based on community desires; expressed concern about council perspectives around budget considerations and how they will be resolved before voting to move forward; inquired about the timeline for city hall construction and discussed process for public budget requests. • Councilor Semple - expressed enthusiasm for project and discussed upcoming meetings and pace of project; inquired about the status of design work and public engagement process; discussed pace of design development and inquired about staff capacity for design work during that time period; inquired if there is enough time to do public outreach similar to that for Riverfront Park, expressed concern about vendors at Saturday and Farmers' Markets and asked how disruptions would be mitigated; discussed effects of potential impacts to market vendors, especially for those vending at the Free Speech Plaza. • Councilor Pryor - Discussed historical experiences with town square and city hall conversations and the need to weigh speed, cost and quality considerations; discussed compromises among creating something quickly, cheaply, or well; expressed desire that a city hall building be built with a legacy goal, keeping in mind a balance between what is affordable and what is valued. • Councilor Zelenka - shared similar concerns as other councilors; discussed historical conversations regarding town square and city hall development; discussed potential MINUTES — Eugene City Council May 15, 2019 Page 1 Work Session