CC Minutes - 10/13/99 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Kelly expressed interest in consideration of a building height limit in the 5th Street Historic District. Mr. Farr arrived at the meeting. Mr. Rayor indicated his interest in sustainable construction methods for the library and asked to be kept informed so he could follow that work. Mr. Rayor wanted bicycle parking at the library to be very convenient for library patrons. He believed that it would bring a sense of place to the street because of the activity that would occur around bicycle parking. Mr. Rayor referred to the federal courthouse issue and his interest in knowing what mitigation measures were proposed if the courthouse was located where initially envisioned. He wanted to ensure that those mitigation measures were expanded if possible. Mr. Lee asked if the Council Committee on Homelessness and Youth could reconvene around the issue of providing employment opportunities for the homeless. He said that the City should try to address that population's gap in knowledge about available opportunities and programs. Mr. Farr, chair of the committee, and Mr. Torrey, the other committee member, indicated their willingness to reconvene. Mr. Johnson said he would soon provide the council with a memorandum regarding the Police Department's efforts in the University of Oregon area to control problem student drinking and inappropriate behaviors. He reported that the City was considering an ordinance addressing the problem of absentee landlords, and which provided for full-cost recovery of repeat visits to the same address within a 60-day period. He said the ordinance was similar to ordinances in force in Corvallis and in Berkeley, California. Mr. Johnson believed the ordinance would get the attention of absentee landlords. He clarified, in response to a question from Mr. Meisner, that the ordinance would address situations where there was a congregation of ten or more people and multiple violations of the City Code. Mr. Farr said that the two-minute speaking rule instituted by the mayor for council work sessions was perhaps workable but expressed regret that it was needed. He hoped that the council could go back to a more open meeting atmosphere that allowed councilors to express themselves, but also hoped that if that occurred councilors were aware of the time they were taking and mindful of other councilors. Mr. Torrey said he intended to maintain the rule until the issue could be revisited at the council's process session, at which time he would happy to accept council recommendations, but noted the practice of limiting speech to two minutes at a time had worked well during the previous work sessions and some members of the public had commended the practice to him as it allowed them to hear all councilors' opinions. Mr. Farr said that he had also heard those comments, but believed it was best not to cut councilors off in the middle of their thoughts, forcing them to wait for several minutes before completing their remarks. Mr. Torrey asked for assurances that five councilors would be at the October 20 public hearing on TransPlan. Ms. Taylor, Mr. PapS, Mr. Meisner, Mr. Rayor, and Mr. Lee indicated they would be present. Mr. Kelly, Ms. Nathanson, and Mr. Farr would not be present. MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 13, 1999 Page 2 5:30 p.m.