CC Minutes - 11/21/11 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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borne by all taxpayers. The program was inefficient, redundant, and provided insufficient benefit for its cost. He asked that the program be sunsetted as planned. Barbara Lozar, 520 Antelope Way, termed the fee a useless tax and asked the council to sunset the ordinance as soon as possible. Jim Anderson, 32910 East Pearl Street, encouraged the council to allow the ordinance to sunset. He saw no return on his family's investment in the program. He did not think the program, while well - intentioned, was cost - effective and it was not meeting its purpose. He encouraged the council to develop a program that relied on existing State law, existing programs, and existing City staff. Norton Cabell, 1456 West 10 Avenue, representing the Housing Policy Board (HPB), encouraged the council to extend the sunset for nine months. He said the HPB was concerned that the code might have an impact on housing affordability. The HPB's mission was to increase the amount of safe housing for low- income residents. He reported that he and Mr. VanLandingham co- chaired the committee that advised staff on the program and they had concerns about how the code worked and would like to have time to study the issues involved. Eric Hall, 116 Highway 99, expressed concern that staff knew the sunset was coming but did little to prepare options for the council. He was also concerned that staff did not solicit input about the future of the program from its advisory committee. He noted the council had received a letter from Jim Straub of the advisory committee expressing his concerns about the program. He suggested the council extend the sunset March 31, 2012, and that an independent advisory committee that reported to Assistant City Manager Sarah Medary be charged to return with options. Nile Garling, 575 West 27"' Avenue, noted the exponential expansion of similar programs in other communities such as Portland and Los Angeles and said such programs had a negative impact on housing affordability. He was concerned about the program's effectiveness and questioned the need for the program. There being no other requests to speak, Mayor Piercy closed the public hearing and solicited council comment. Councilor Taylor believed the establishment of the Rental Housing Code had been a demonstration of democracy in action. She had supported the code and had objected to the sunset because the code's proponents were not full -time advocates who could track the council's actions in the same way a landlords association could. Councilor Taylor described her positive experience with the City's previous rental housing code. She had not had time or money to act under State law but got immediate attention from the City. She recalled that the previous code precluded landlords from raising the rent for a year if a legitimate complaint was found. Councilor Taylor said that many landlords told her the $10 fee was a bargain and suggested the few complaints the City received could be attributed to the existence of the program. Councilor Taylor said the existence of State law had no benefit for renters, who were not well -off or they would be living in houses they owned. If they were students, they were too busy with their schoolwork to take advantage of State law. She endorsed Ms. Varady's idea about the use of the reserves. She suggested that the council consider adding energy efficiency measures to the program. Mayor Piercy did not think it hurt the City to examine how the program was working. MINUTES— Eugene City Council November 21, 2011 Page 6 Public Hearing