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MINUTES <br />Eugene City Council <br />Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue <br />Eugene, Oregon 97401 <br />February 19, 2020 <br />12:00 p.m. <br />Councilors Present: Betty Taylor, Emily Semple, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans <br />Councilors Absent: Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor <br />Mayor Vinis opened the February 19, 2020, work session of the Eugene City Council. <br />1. Executive Session: Pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(e) <br />City Council met in Executive Session pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(e). <br />The council reconvened in public session. <br />MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Yeh, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved to direct the <br />City Manager to schedule a public hearing regarding an ordinance extending by six <br />months the term of Northwest Natural Gas company's franchise agreement. PASSED: <br />5:1, Councilor Taylor opposed. <br />2. Work Session: Fuels Reduction Update <br />Eugene Springfield Fire Department Chief Chris Heppel and AIC Fire Marshal Amy Linder, along <br />with staff from Oregon Department of Forestry, Eugene Parks and Open Space, and the Northwest <br />Youth Corp, gave an update about the wildland urban interface fuels reduction project. Community <br />engagement, education, fuels redaction, and workforce development were primary topics. <br />Council Discussion <br />Councilor Semple - thanked staff and expressed gratitude for the work. <br />Councilor Clark - appreciated the collaborative nature of the work and spoke about ongoing <br />education outreach to children; asked if there is quantifiable evidence that the work has <br />increased public safety. <br />Councilor Zelenka - appreciated the collaboration of the groups involved; asked about the next <br />steps of the project; expressed support for including funding for the project in the upcoming <br />budget. <br />Councilor Taylor - spoke about living in the area of the pilot project and encouraged continued <br />neighborhood involvement; expressed desire to ban fireworks; asked staff about enforcement <br />options, including new ordinances, requirements or fines; spoke to the importance of a strong <br />nuisance ordinance. <br />Mayor Vinis - talked about opportunities to involve CERT volunteers in the work; addressed <br />nuisance code violations, community involvement and education; stated that the project was <br />presented on a national level and there is interest in creating a model program. <br />The meeting adjourned at 1:25 p.m. <br />Respectfully submitted, <br />MINUTES - Eugene City Council February 19, 2020 Page 1 <br />Work Session <br />