Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

Home Browse Search

also noted a relationship between the subject of food security and expansion of the urban growth boundary to accommodate industrial uses given the value of agricultural land for food production. Ms. Jaworski anticipated the commission’s focus would be on rezoning of agricultural land for expansion purposes. Ms. Ortiz said it would be challenging to fund the plan given the “fuzzy” nature of the item. Mr. Poling believed people generally understood the importance of having a soft impact on the earth and of taking care of it. He asked for more information about the commission’s proposed review of the Rental Housing Code and the work plan item related to revising the Rental Housing Code for energy efficiency. He asked what sustainability goals were involved in that work. Mr. Skov said the commission was considering the Rental Housing Code because the council was considering it. He said the commission believed there was more of a widespread understanding of the economic opportunity created by energy-efficient building as well as recognition that high energy costs disproportionately affected low-income households. The commission hoped to find ways to reduce that economic burden. He said the commission had economic and social equity concerns about the code. Mr. Poling recalled that the council had adopted the Rental Housing Code for health and safety issues. While he supported energy efficiency, he did not think the Rental Housing Code was the appropriate place to attempt to legislate energy efficiency in rental housing. He questioned whether he needed to offer the body a motion that addressed his concerns. Mr. Zelenka agreed with Mr. Poling that the Rental Housing Code was intended to address health and safety issues. He believed the focus of the commission’s work plan item was on those provisions that related to health and safety yet also had a component of energy efficiency. He cited windows as an example. He said it was not the commission’s intent to add energy efficiency measures to the code as something someone could complain about; instead, the commission proposed to find the nexus between the health and safety issues within the code, such as windows, and relating them to energy efficiency and making that nexus clearer. Mr. Zelenka thanked Mr. Skov, Ms. Jaworski, Ms. O’Sullivan, and Climate and Energy Analyst Matt McRae for their staff support. He recommended that Ms. O’Sullivan provide send the council with her regular staff update. Mr. Zelenka endorsed the commission’s work plan priorities. He emphasized the importance of the items related to EmX and the TSP. Mr. Clark expressed appreciation to staff and the commission. He appreciated Mr. Skov’s reminder that the council needed to maintain fidelity to its sustainability goals but reminded the commission that the council also had other goals to consider. He welcomed any additional input from the commission. Referring to the commission’s work plan, included as Attachment A in the packet, Mr. Clark pointed out the first paragraph stated the council had approved the CEAP, when it had accepted the CEAP. He believed that was important because it implied to him the council would have a broader conversation about the plan’s individual recommendations. He anticipated the council would weigh those recommendations against other considerations, such as the effect of current economic conditions on a particular decision. Mr. Skov did not expect the council to accept every CEAP recommendation and emphasized the commission’s focus on the economics of a decision. He did not think the status of CEAP was particularly relevant given the councils adopted goal to reduce community fossil fuel use by 50 percent by 2030. Mr. Clark said the specific policy changes that accomplished such goals needed to be discussed by the council. MINUTES—Eugene City Council October 19, 2011 Page 2 Work Session