Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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Mr. Pryor said the Housing Policy Board (HPB) held special meetings to discuss anticipated reductions in federal HOME and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, which were used locally for construction, operation, and administration construction of low-income housing. The reductions would have an impact on the City’s budget. The HPB also discussed coordination between the jurisdictions and how they used those moneys; in Eugene HOME money was used to build multi-family low-income housing and Springfield used much of the funding it received to assist first-time home buyers. He believed the two programs complimented each other. Mr. Pryor said the HPB recognized that its work was related to Envision Eugene and members were interested in the outcome of that process. He noted that the HPB would debrief the Bascom Village Request for Proposals experience at its next meeting. Mr. Pryor observed that the City had one remaining landbank site and it was important to develop it correctly. Ms. Taylor reported that the Lane Workforce Partnership had received a grant from the American Association for Retired People to fund job training for residents older than 50. Mr. Poling reported the Harlow Neighbors would meet on February 16 at the North Park Community Church. He had attended the first meeting of the newly formed Northeast Neighbors and presented information about the City’s draft Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan and the Bascom Village project process. Mr. Brown reported that the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) had reviewed the projects completed in 2011, all of which were built under budget, allowing funding to be carried over. The MWMC previewed the upcoming budget, which the council would be asked to approve in May. Mr. Brown reported on MWMC’s contract with Fresh Water Trout for riparian restoration that would generate shading credits for lowering the river temperature, saying MWMC encountered a road black because the federal Department of Environmental Quality determined only the project’s capital costs, not monitoring costs, could be reimbursed. The MWMC was working on how to pay the costs of monitoring. Mr. Brown reported that in spite of the excessive rain that fell in the last few days of December, the wastewater plant performed well under capacity and met all regulatory requirements. Mayor Piercy suggested that the council talk about what LRAPA meant to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Responding to a question from Mayor Piercy, Mr. Pryor said he would find out if the remaining landbank site could be used for community gardens. Mayor Piercy reviewed some of the Sustainability Commission’s recommendations regarding the draft Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan, highlighting the commission’s recommendation that any proposed street repair bond include funding for bicycle and pedestrian facilities and a sidewalk infill program. B. WORK SESSION: West Eugene EmX Extension Update The council was joined by Transportation Planner Kurt Yeiter and Lane Transit District (LTD) General Manager Ron Kilcoyne, LTD Director of Planning and Development Tom Schwetz, and LTD Director of Service Planning, Accessibility, and Marketing Andy Vobora. Rick Duncan of the appraisal firm Duncan Brown was also present. Mr. Yeiter introduced the item, an update on the West Eugene EmX extension, and recalled that nearly a year previous the council and LTD board had narrowed nearly 50 alternatives to MINUTES—Eugene City Council February 13, 2012 Page 2 Work Session