HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 07/17/2013 Work SessionMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 12 5 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
July 17, 2013
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: George Brown, Betty Taylor, George Poling, Mike Clark, Chris Pryor,
Claire Syrett, Alan Zelenka (via conference phone)
Councilors Absent: Greg Evans
Council President George Poling opened the July 17, 2013, City Council work session and
announced that Mayor Piercy and Councilor Evans were absent.
A. WORK SESSION: Safe Demolition
Building and Permit Services Division Manager Stuart Ramsing presented a PowerPoint
highlighting the safety concerns associated with demolition such as dust, asbestos and
the release of harmful airborne components of lead -based paint. He provided
comparisons of other cities' demolition codes including Seattle, Portland, Cincinnati,
Boulder, Baltimore, San Francisco, Springfield and Ashland.
The council responded favorably to staff's plan to have discussions with partnership
agencies, such as LRAPA and Lane County Health and Human Services to identify gaps
and discuss next steps.
MOTION and VOTE: Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to direct
the City Manager to propose for Council approval, 8 to 12 Eugene residents, who are not
employed by a public agency, to serve as an independent advisory group to the Council
regarding potential lead - poisoning risks from demolition of commercial and public
properties.
The members of the group shall represent diverse interests and perspectives, and no
more than two members shall be employed by or have a financial interest in demolition
or construction businesses. At least one member shall be from the medical profession,
preferably with knowledge and experience related to lead - poisoning. The group shall
elect a chair who will represent the group before City Council. The City Manager's Office
shall provide administrative support to the advisory group.
MINUTES — Eugene City Council July 17, 2013 Page 1
Work Session
The advisory group shall research the issues and call upon local and non -local agency
staff and independent experts for advice and review. The advisory group shall submit a
report to Council by January 15, 2014. The report shall include descriptions and
assessments of the risk of public exposure to lead from demolition, contemporary "best
practices" to prevent public exposure to lead from demolition and recommendations for
actions the City can take to protect the public from lead poisoning as a result of
demolitions. VOTE: FAILED 6:1, Councilor Brown in favor.
Planning and Development staff will work with LRAPA and Lane County Health and
Human Services to identify gaps in the code and bring back a proposal to Council to
address those concerns. The council also supported Councilor Brown's request that he
participate in these discussions.
B. WORK SESSION: An Ordinance Concerning Downtown and Mixed Use Development
Interim Planning Director Carolyn Burke and Senior Planner, Alyssa Hansen introduced
this topic and provided additional detail about the rationale for the suggested code
updates. Ms. Hansen reviewed each of the seven updates in this proposed amendment
package, identified what effect the changes might have and provided examples of
difficulties encountered by developers when they applied for permits.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Pryor, seconded by Councilor Brown, moved to extend
the meeting by five minutes. VOTE: PASSED 6:1, Councilor Clark opposed.
The meeting adjourned at 1:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle Mortensen,
Deputy City Recorder
MINUTES — Eugene City Council July 17, 2013 Page 2
Work Session