Item 2A: Approval of Council Minutes

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Ruth Duemler , Ward 3, supported the proposed code changes and suggested the commission be given more funding. She then went on to discuss her concerns about the community’s homeless and their needs, advocating for more bathrooms for the homeless. Toni Gyatso , Ward 7, asked the council to support the code changes, which were proposed by the commission after extensive community outreach. She reviewed the four recommendations made by the commission and said the changes would allow the commission to be more nimble and effective. Guadalupe Quinn , 3820 Greenwood Street, asked the council to support the proposed code revisions. She thanked the HRC and staff for working for many months with the community to secure public input. As a member of the group tasked to analyze the input, she had been glad to see the Listening Project’s focus on youth, the homeless, and immigrant populations. th Alexanra Gomez , 255 East 19 Avenue, #3, had responded to the Listening Project survey and had recommended an emphasis on youth and immigrant communities and she continued to support those priorities as well as the commission’s four recommendations. Neil Van Steenbergen , 1366 Lawrence, #8, supported the proposed code changes. He had been concerned about the loss of the current committee structure but had been persuaded about the merit of the proposed changes. He suggested the council and commission consider balance in the composition of the commission along gender, racial, economic, and class lines. Wayne Ford , 85560 Svarverud Road, chair of the Homeless Action Coalition, expressed support for the code changes proposed by the commission and for the emphasis on homelessness in the commission’s work plan. He briefly discussed the challenge that disabled people faced in securing Social Security and reported that 33 percent of eligible disabled people were not receiving the payments they were entitled to. Mr. Ford suggested that the commission take on the task of helping such individuals secure disability payments. There being no further requests to speak, Mayor Piercy closed the public hearing. She solicited council comments. Councilor Farr acknowledged the work of Equity and Human Rights Manager Raquel Wells. He believed the code changes would move the commission from a reactive to responsive position. He supported the proposed changes. He also acknowledged commission Vice Chair Ken Neubeck and commissioners Linda Hamilton and Richie Weinman, who were present at the meeting, and thanked them for their work. Councilor Zelenka also thanked those who testified. He had been impressed with the Listening Project and all the work that went into the recommendations before the council, which he supported. 3. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Extending the Sunset Date for the Rental Housing Code City Manager Ruiz introduced the item, which was a public hearing on an ordinance to extend the sunset date for the City’s Rental Housing Code. He recommended a nine-month extension of the sunset to give staff more time to address some of the council’s concerns as well as the testimony the council would hear tonight. Action on the extension was scheduled for November 28, 2011. MINUTES—Eugene City Council November 21, 2011 Page 3 Public Hearing