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basic habitability standards and that the City Council set a work session on the issue prior to May 18. He encouraged the council to direct any questions to the ECFHC at 306-0630, as the organization had conducted much research on the issue. He pointed out that the system the ECFHC recommended would cost the City nothing. Chris Anglin, 915 West 20th Avenue, also supported expediting the examination of housing standards enforcement in the city of Eugene. He related a story from some years back in which he had been an agent in a small claims court action for an out-of-state landlord. The judge had ruled in favor of the renter, stating that the renter did not have to pay rent until necessary repairs were made to the dwelling. He said the landlord had given the renter a 30-day, no-cause eviction notice and re-rented the house instead of making improvements to the habitability of the dwelling. He asserted that tenants who complain were often penalized and had no other redress. He urged the council to give housing standards a high priority. Rob Handy, 455-½ River Road, stated that, as a small business owner, he understood the importance of a sound economy, but as a "booster of healthy neighborhoods," he understood the importance of having a livable air and watershed, and as "a taxpayer who loved his family," he understood the basic building block of one's personal health being more important than anything else. He opposed raising the interests businesses above those of the citizens. He stressed the importance of maintaining the environmental integrity of the Willamette River. He encouraged careful use of the Riverfront Urban Renewal District. Mr. Handy said more air quality-monitoring stations were needed for the Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority (LRAPA). Mr. Handy felt the community needed to "connect the dots around shared values" around preserving the West Eugene Wetlands, the clean-up and development of the rail yard after Union Pacific leaves it, while designing transportation and land use choices that will provide connectivity with downtown while stewarding the Willamette Greenway heritage. He noted that current council goals included safe community, a healthy environment, and effective and accountable municipal government. He questioned whether the City was moving in the right direction. Janetta Overholser, 30300 Cottage Grove-Lorane Road, reiterated her concerns about the continued funding for the cattery. She stressed that the feral cat population was moving into its reproductive season. She said that the difference between feral and stray cats was not clearly defined in policy. She stated that private nonprofit agencies were doing all that they could do to spay and neuter unwanted animals. Jan Spencer, 212 Benjamin Road, announced that an "uplifting program" on neighborhoods would be presented on February 24 at 7 p.m. at Harris Hall. He said neighborhoods were a critical part of the civic life of the city. He encouraged the council to fund, as much as possible, the existing neighborhood programs. Councilor Kelly requested information on the Union Pacific rail yards. He asked staff to elaborate on the timeline for Union Pacific's vacation of the property and on the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan) designation of the property. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 23, 2004 Page 2 Regular Meeting