CC Minutes - 01/25/99 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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persons not being involved in planning processes, but regularly was made aware of the lack of affordable housing in the community. Mr. Kelly said that he understood that there was very limited undeveloped property in the area of the proposed Sheldon Village project. Mr. Weinman replied that Mr. Kelly was correct, that the City had purchased the property for its affordable housing land bank because it was appropriately zoned, public transportation was available, and it was near to schools, employment centers, and shopping. He added that there were two neighborhood representatives on the site selection committee which had recommended that the City purchase the property. In response to a question from Mr. Rayor, Mr. Weinman replied that the Sheldon Village site had been in the City's affordable housing land bank for less than a year. Mr. Farr said that he believed public input was important to decisions regarding affordable housing projects and that he believed an appropriate and extensive process had been followed in the situations under consideration. Mayor Torrey urged the council to support approval of the Consent Calendar Item under consideration. He said that it was his experience that residents regularly raised concerns when Iow-income housing projects were proposed for their areas, but that few, if any, complaints were received after projects were completed. The motion to approve Item I of the Consent Calendar was adopted unanimously, 7:0. Mr. Farr moved, seconded by Ms. Nathanson, that Item K on the Consent Calendar be approved. Mr. Kelly expressed appreciation to the members and staff of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee for their work in producing the document entitled "1999 Legislative Policies of the City of Eugene." He urged the council to support the motion approving the policies. Ms. Taylor stated that she wanted to propose changes to the legislative policies recommended for adoption. She suggested that the policies "urge the State to do something about a State system of homeless shelters." She said she believed the problems of homelessness extended beyond the local area and that the State should return to a former practice of providing shelters for persons until they could find suitable housing because giving permission for camping on streets was not adequate. Ms. Taylor moved, seconded by Mr. Kelly, that an addition be made to the housing section of the 1999 Legislative Policies of the City Eugene requesting that a State program of homeless shelters be initiated. Ms. Nathanson said the proposed 1999 Legislative Policies did not contain a specific suggestion to have a State program of homeless shelters because it was a broadly conceived document, but that it did speak to the need for emergency shelter and that the Housing Trust Fund supported the Emergency Housing Account. She said that the document did not suggest, by omission, that shelters were not important. She suggested the policies were often more helpful in describing general directions than in proposing specific solutions to a problem. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 25, 1999 Page 5 7:30 p.m.