Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

Home Browse Search

made no sense but looking forward within the context of “The Millennials” driving the new market made a lot more sense. Mayor Piercy observed that “I Love Lucy” was initially set in an urban setting before being moved to a more suburban setting. Mr. Farr suggested that market trends as identified by writers of situation comedies writers did not necessary take Eugene into account. Mayor Piercy hoped the City planned to do targeted outreach to diverse populations. She also wanted to know how the community was situated in regard to housing for students, and what the University of Oregon was planning in regard to student housing so the City had more sense of whether there was a market for more multi-family housing. Mr. Duncan said his firm recently finished a study that indicated a demand for 2,000 to 2,500 more student housing units. His firm was also seeing more interest in housing near campus, and less demand for parking as students recognized that their cars could be a burden and left them at home. Mayor Piercy said she understood that the University intended to house all freshman and sophomores in campus housing. Mr. Duncan said the University hoped to increase the on-campus population to 25 percent of all students. At this point, the University housed only 21 percent of students on campus now. Ms. O’Donnell noted that the Portland State University population projections accounted for students. The City also worked with the University on the housing it planned to provide. She recalled that the University planned to keep up with the demand but did not plan on much expansion. Ms. Prichard suggested that Mr. Duncan’s discussion of the partially vacant lands issue was an example of her statement that the council had the right to feel confident in the information provided by the TRG. Speaking to Mr. Clark’s remarks about the value Santa Clara residents had for the neighborhood’s swales and open drainage ways, Ms. Prichard suggested that was an example of the inherent conflict in the process. Neighborhood livability was “huge” for residents. Removal of the swales and drainage ways in Santa Clara would radically change the complexion of the neighborhood and not for the good. Such things caused the City to consider whether it had to grow out. She said it was important to remember that any discussion of expanding the UGB was not about land grabbing or greed, but about how to maintain a livable community while accommodating everyone’s needs. Ms. Prichard concluded by reporting that much of the data available to the TRG was not particularly relevant to Eugene. The data was coming from communities such as Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Miami. She suggested it was important to remember that Eugene was Eugene and not Atlanta. Mayor Piercy adjourned the work session at 1:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Beth Forrest City Recorder (Recorded by Kimberly Young) MINUTES—Eugene City Council June 8, 2011 Page 6 Work Session