CC Minutes - 01/12/98 Work Session

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Mr. Meisner thanked Ms. Swanson Gribskov for her service as Council President. Mr. Meisner reported that the former Owen house at the Owen Rose Garden would not be demolished but instead would be completely recycled by BRING. He acknowledged Public Works Director Christine Andersen for her work on the issue, and invited the council to visit the garden and see the recycling process at work. On behalf of the Bethel School District, Mr. Fart thanked Mr. Torrey for inviting the Shasta Middle School Jazz Band to perform at the State of the City address. He said that the experience instilled a sense of pride in the band members. Mr. Torrey thanked Ms. Swanson Gribskov for helping him as he presided over meetings during the past year. Mr. Torrey said that the Planning Commission discussed his recommendation that the council refer the Land Use Code Update to four outside groups. The commission had expressed concern that the specific identification of the four groups would preclude other groups from participating in the review process; Mr. Torrey said that was not his intent. Instead, he hoped the four groups could gather comment from throughout the community, and he would be disappointed if that did not occur. Ms. Elmer indicated that the council would consider Mr. Torrey's recommendation at its meeting on January 14. Ms. Swanson Gribskov indicated her support for Mr. Torrey's recommendation and suggested that the letter to the four groups inviting their participation encourage them to convey other people's input to the council. Ms. Swanson Gribskov reported that several trees had been topped at Hendricks Park. The trees were being retained as habitat trees. She said that the council should take advantage of citizens' energy and commitment toward the park. Ms. Swanson Gribskov said that development proposals for Moon Mountain continued to come up and were an issue of concern for many of her constituents. Ms. Swanson Gribskov noted the presence of houses considered nuisances by neighbors and suggested that further modifications were needed to the nuisance ordinance to address some of the more extreme circumstances. She asked staff to consider convening a group of neighbors who had complained about nuisance houses in the past to get their input on needed changes. Ms. Swanson Gribskov said that she had names of residents who were willing to participate in such a discussion. Mr. Torrey said that he had been contacted by a group of citizens concerned about a nuisance in their neighborhood and asking for his assistance. He had asked staff for a follow-up report, which he would make available to Ms. Swanson Gribskov. Mr. Laue thanked staff for reducing the speed limit on Jefferson Street from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour. He said that the street was a major route for arterial vehicles and was not suitable for other traffic calming measures. Mr. Laue said that he hoped enforcement would follow the reduction in speed. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 12, 1998 Page 7 5:30 p.m.