CC Minutes - 02/28/11 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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House Bill 2609 Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Poling, moved to adopt the CCIGR recommendation of Monitor for House Bill 2609. Councilor Zelenka asked what "shovel ready" meant. Ms. Wilson defined shovel ready as lands that were ready for construction one year from the date of building application or a request for the extension of urban services. City staff did not believe the City had the resources to make such lands shovel -ready in one year. Councilor Zelenka believed the bill was unrealistic and indicated opposition to the motion. Councilor Clark suggested the bill was a vehicle to achieve the City's goal of a more frequent analysis of the land supply. He said he tended to support the bill but because of the uncertainty of the outcome of the ongoing legislative discussion had agreed to a position of Monitor. Councilor Ortiz noted the staff suggestion that the bill would restrict the City's ability to make local decisions about how best to monitor and adjust its strategies, and indicated opposition to the motion. Councilor Zelenka noted that staff also indicated that the financial impact of the bill could be significant and could lead to regular expansion of the urban growth boundary as well as shift the City's efforts away from brownfield redevelopment opportunities. Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to amend the motion to change the City's position on House Bill 2609 to Priority 2 Oppose. Roll call vote: The amendment failed, 4:4, councilors Taylor, Ortiz, Zelenka, and Brown voting yes, and councilors Poling, Pryor, Clark, and Farr voting no. Roll call vote: The main motion as amended failed, 5:2; councilors Poling, Clark, and Pryor voting yes. As a result of the motion, the council took no position on House Bill 2609. House Bill 2518 Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Poling, moved to adopt the CCIGR recommendation for a Neutral position on House Bill 2518. Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to amend the motion to change the City's position on House Bill 2518 to Priority 2 Support. Responding to a question from Councilor Zelenka, Ms. Wilson confirmed that the City's position related to preemption of local government had existed for some time. The bill would lift an existing preemption and give the City more local control. Councilor Clark did not support new taxes in a challenging economy but he acknowledged local control was an important issue for the City. For that reason, he had supported a position of Neutral in an attempt to find a middle ground. He speculated that the Oregon Realtors Association might oppose any efforts to establish a transfer tax, leading to a contentious community fight. For that reason, he supported a Neutral position as a middle ground. Councilor Zelenka pointed out that bill did not create or impose a new tax; it merely gave the City the ability to impose such a tax. Ms. Wilson concurred. MINUTES— Eugene City Council February 28, 2011 Page 11 Regular Meeting