CC Minutes - 11/23/05 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Support neighborhood involvement in problem-solving Support neighborhood involvement by empowering all neighborhood associations. Ms. Bettman moved, seconded by Ms. Taylor, to add the following objective: Preserve and enhance residential property values. Ms. Bettman explained there needed to be an overriding value so that an action will not reduce property values and therefore result in a negative impact to the neighborhoods. Mr. Papé countered that impacts to property values do not factor into the City’s relationship with neighborhood associations and therefore such a value – or filter – would not be accurate. The motion failed 2:5, with Ms. Bettman and Ms. Taylor voting in favor. Ms. Bettman moved, seconded by Ms. Taylor, to amend Action Item 12 as follows: Create standards to minimize conversion from residential uses. Ms. Bettman explained that the amendment was one of three initial goals put forth by the council at its recent retreat under the discussion of neighborhood initiatives and questioned why staff proceeded to ignore this goal. She stressed that there needed to be housing support in the downtown area and currently there was unlimited conversion allowed for other uses. Mr. Corey replied that the cross-departmental group that crafted the action items was not in a position to weigh that type of policy measure within a neighborhood initiative. Therefore, he said that the appropriate manner in which to process this goal would be as Ms. Bettman proposed in her amendment. Mr. Kelly, seconded by Mr. Poling, moved to extend the discussion by five minutes. The motion passed unanimously. Councilor Kelly concurred that the issue brought forward by Ms. Bettman was discussed at the council retreat and launched in the Downtown Area Housing Policy Analysis as well, which received unanimous support by council. He asked that Ms. Bettman’s amendment be changed to a friendly amendment as an added action item, with the explanation that there were regular reviewing standards for regulating and focusing infill. Ms. Bettman agreed to change the amendment to a friendly amendment which Mr. Kelly put forth as follows: Mr. Kelly offered a friendly amendment, accepted by Mr. Poling and Ms. Taylor to retain Action Item 12 as proposed and add an additional action item as follows: Create standards to minimize conversion from residential uses. Mr. Papé voiced concern that as the city grows, residential neighborhoods could conceivably convert to commercial/industrial areas and vice versa. Ms. Bettman pointed out that the amendment stipulates minimize and does not include language such as “prohibit” or “eliminate.” Ms. Bettman offered a friendly amendment, accepted by Mr. Poling but not accepted by Ms. Taylor, to revise Action Item 18 as follows: Safe Streets. Ms. Bettman explained that the language in Action Item 18 as currently stated, limits improvements. She pointed out that safe streets may have a different connotation to neighborhoods than what was noted in the proposal and therefore the item should not specify in 5 MINUTES—Eugene City Council November 23, 2005 Page Work Session