Laserfiche WebLink
M I N U T E S <br />Eugene City Council <br />Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue <br />Eugene, Oregon 97401 <br />November 13, 2019 <br />12:00 p.m. <br />Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Jennifer Yeh, Alan Zelenka, Mike Clark. Chris Pryor, Betty Taylor. Greg Evans, Claire Syrett Mayor Vinis opened the November 13, 2019, Work Session of the Eugene City Council. <br />1.WORK SESSION: Eugene-Springfield 2020 Consolidated PlanGrants Manager Stephanie Jennings provided an overview of the HOME and CommunityDevelopment Block Grant programs, reviewed progress achieved under the 2015 ConsolidatedPlan, and discussed the process for development of the 2020 Consolidated Plan.Council Discussion <br />o Councilor Clark – Shared thoughts about how CDBG funds could be used to fight poverty; askedwhat was meant by claim that housing funds are best suited for rental housing; asked if donatedland could be used for a housing development; asked about eligible uses of CDBG funds;discussed down payment assistance programming; expressed interest in expanding downpayment assistance program again as well as expanding smaller housing on donated land. <br />o Councilor Taylor – Asked if it is possible to make loans for down payments; discussed challengeof saving for a down payment; inquired about and discussed using these funds for sidewalkimprovements; asked if funds could be used for Single Residence Occupancy and if they have tobe used for a specific group of people; asked if recommendations brought in February could bechanged at that time. <br />o Councilor Syrett – Expressed appreciation for work of staff; inquired about combination ofprevious funds; asked how much money in the previous fiscal year went towards job creationprogram; asked if Habitat for Humanity could assist with a few home projects to promotehomeownership; asked if the City could replicate a Habitat for Humanity project to avoidcertain regulatory requirements; discussed assessments; inquired about affordable housingtrust funds and construction excise tax (CET); discussed recommendations from advisorycommittee to help inform council leveraging dollars. <br />o Councilor Zelenka – Expressed appreciation for staff work; inquired about the drop in fundingfor CDBG and HOME funds; discussed drop in housing units in Springfield and asked how theconsolidation plan proposes making up that loss; inquired about gap strategies in upcomingrecommendations and if there would be new dollars to include CET dollars; asked if numberswould change in the upcoming plan update; discussed funding from CET; inquired about anddiscussed how metrics are gathered related to affordable housing in the consolidation plan,specifically related to affordable housing units; inquired about total affordable housing unitsbeing built through these funds. <br />o Councilor Pryor – Discussed program needs for low-income housing as opposed to workforcehousing and getting the most units with the funds available; discussed mixing development ofunits with promotion of home ownership to get the most out of the funds; expressed supportfor the current plan. <br />o Councilor Evans- Inquired where two land bank sites are located; asked how many homes thathave been completed are emergency or transitional in nature; inquired about upcoming homeprojects and if there are other sources of funds that could be combined with federal monies. <br />ATTACHMENT C <br />December 9, 2019, Meeting – Item 2ACC Agenda - Page 14