5.20.2019 City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes

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Councilor Syrett - said she would support an extension and would like to clarify the amount of time; thought two weeks would be preferable; noted council received a memo from the group's chair indicating that the recruitment did not yield the diversity desired by the committee. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to reopen the recruitment for the Human Rights Commission candidates through close of business on May 31, 2019. PASSED 7:1. Councilor Taylor opposed. • Councilor Taylor - asked for clarification about whether a homeowner could remove a tree in the park strip area between the sidewalk and the curb. • Councilor Zelenka - noted concerns from his ward about removing people who are camping on the park strip; would like to give residents the authority to remove someone camping on that strip. • Councilor Evans - said he felt it was important to support the children taking action to protect the environment in the Juliana case and introduced a resolution of support for their case; said he felt the children's case was in alignment with the City's stated values. • Councilor Clark- expressed opposition to the resolution; noted that while he admired the initiative of the children to get involved in something they believe in, he does not support the trust doctrine. • Councilor Pryor - expressed support for all the "therefores" within the resolution. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Evans, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to adopt a resolution calling for support of the Juliana v. U.S. Youth Plaintiffs and the science - based recovery plan they seek PASSED 7:1, Councilor Clark opposed. • Councilor Semple - shared that the idea to adopt a resolution supporting a Green New Deal was proposed to her by the South Eugene High School Earth Guardians 350; said she felt the resolution was important in terms of making a commitment to the City's environmental and economic future. • Councilor Syrett - said she was especially supportive of the portions of the resolution that pertain to labor, protecting the sovereign rights of tribal nations, and mitigating deeply entrenched inequalities and biases. • Councilor Pryor - agreed with Councilor Syrett; wanted to talk about the resolution's "therefores" when council has not discussed many of the subjects mentioned; could not support without more conversation. • Councilor Clark- supported some of the overarching ideas but found others nonsensical and/or untenable. • Mayor Vinis - noted that the resolution is an aspirational document, noting that it is appropriate to lend support to its values without a discussion. • Councilor Zelenka - said he was not sure he supported all the details but supported the overall resolution and the sentiment. • Councilor Clark- cautioned against adopting a resolution lightly that would support a wholesale change in the country's economy. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to adopt a resolution calling on the federal government to pass a Green New Deal PASSED 6:2, councilors Clark and Pryor opposed. MINUTES - Eugene City Council May 20, 2019 Page 3 Work Session