03.17.20 City Council Emergency Meeting Minutes

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• Mayor Vinis - asked the City Manager to address people's concerns about being able to pay rent. • Councilor Syrett - agreed with Mayor Vinis and also wanted to know what could be done to keep local businesses from defaulting on their leases. • Councilor Zelenka - asked questions about options for tenants and landlords; appreciated the efforts of local utilities to mitigate community concerns. • Councilor Taylor - wanted to know what additional authority the City Manager has in an emergency. • Councilor Semple - asked whether a curfew would be needed and how it may or may not apply to people who are unhoused. • Councilor Clark- asked whether City Manager Pro Tern Sarah Medary anticipated the immediate use of any emergency authority she would be empowered with. City Manager Pro-Tem Sarah Medary noted the City was in very close contact with Lane County as well as the City of Springfield. She answered councilors' questions regarding evictions, rental assistance, economic recovery for the business community, how she would decide whether to utilize emergency powers, childcare, and shelter for the unhoused members of the community. • Councilor Clark -asked whether restaurants would have the flexibility to use food carts if they have them. Chief Heppel answered questions regarding testing availability and priority, alternative shelters for people who are unhoused, the collaborative efforts between local government entities, procurement and distribution of food, and communicating information to the community. Councilor Pryor - noted that the part of the incident command system included an economic team that is planning for both immediate and long-term needs of the business community. Councilor Zelenka - asked about specifics in terms of resources for local businesses and employees as well as what would be the City Manager's process for invoking emergency powers, if necessary. City Manager Medary explained the process for consulting the Mayor and a majority of councilors per the code requirements before invoking emergency powers; noted there would be a financial impact for the City as an organization. • Councilor Clark - asked how staff was accounting for the long-term needs of the community in addition to the short-term. • Councilor Semple - asked for more details about alternative shelters as well as the social and emotional needs of the community. • Mayor Vinis - shared information about an informal support network in her neighborhood. • Councilor Taylor -asked how staff would know when it was no longer an emergency; asked about using the community centers as shelters. • Councilor Zelenka - expressed confidence in the intergovernmental collaboration. MINUTES - Eugene City Council March 17, 2020 Page 2 Meeting