HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 10/28/2013 MeetingMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8 Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
October 28, 2013
7:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: George Brown, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, George Poling, Mike Clark,
Chris Pryor, Claire Syrett, Greg Evans
Mayor Piercy opened the October 28, 2013, City Council meeting and convened the public forum.
1. PUBLIC FORUM
1. Todd Hurlburt - asked council to approve the current Whoville site.
2. Gordon Levitt - urged council to consider a climate recovery ordinance.
3. Charliene Toler - expressed concern about having no access to electricity.
4. Melica Cramer - urged protection of the environment, to address climate change.
5. Julia Olson - asked council to address climate change.
6. Tayo Olson - asked council to address climate issues.
7. Elizabeth Brown - asked council to enact a climate recovery ordinance soon.
8. Hazel Van Ummerson - urged action on climate change and global warming.
9. Arenaria - asked council to stop climate change, work for clean air, water and land.
10. Holbe Fink - asked council to enact a climate protection ordinance.
11. Sue Sierralupe - requested a working hand washing station for Occupy Medical.
12. Michael Adams - supported opening two camp sites, noting slopes are hard to camp on.
13. Barb Prentice - urged council to approve two sites; weather is getting cold.
14. Michael Carrigan - advocated two rest stops in different parts of the city.
15. Virginia Collins - expressed concerns about safety in the current camps.
16. Dan Bryant - supported homeless camps; they work well when managed properly.
17. Jesse Lohrke - encouraged more Opportunity Village facilities.
18. Alley Valkyrie - said camps should be in public view; flooding is problematic.
19. Mark - said homeless people are dying in the city; camps are good.
20. Cameron Fox - expressed concerns about climate change; encouraged action.
21. Nicholas Fox - asked council to protect the climate, land, air and water.
22. James Beason - asked why money was spent on streets, potholes, not homeless people.
23. Ronnie Aurena - said homeless need to be able to go to police to report crime.
24. Sandra Bond - asked council to allow deer fencing in front yards.
25. Mark Giustina - expressed concerns about the Hilyard and Broadway homeless camp.
26. Sabra Marcroft - said homeless situation is difficult; everyone needs to sleep.
27. Gary La Fleur - voiced concern about the type of housing permitted after annexation.
28. Stephen Sheehan - opposed to Broadway and Hilyard camp, citing waste, garbage, etc.
29. Lynn Porter - supported the Whoville campsite, noting that more are needed.
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30. David Clark - voiced concern about human waste, drugs activity near homeless camps.
31. Eugene Drix -said we are all blessed and lucky to live in Eugene.
32. Emily Semple -said she was tired of waiting and urged support for two rest stops.
33. Jean Stacey - thanked council for working on homelessness issues.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION and VOTE: Councilor Poling, seconded by Councilor Pryor, moved to
approve the items on the Consent Calendar. PASSED 8:0.
3. ACTION: Ordinance Removing Substance and Updating Tracking Instructions for
Toxics Program
MOTION and VOTE: Councilor Poling, seconded by Councilor Pryor, moved to
adopt Council Bill 5100, an ordinance amending the Hazardous Substance Tracking
Instructions for reports due beginning April 1, 2014, and removing a hazardous
substance from the List of Reportable Chemicals. PASSED 8:0.
4. ACTION: Homeless Rest Stop Site Recommendation
City Manager Jon Ruiz introduced this item, noting the staff recommendation to approve
two sites, the second site to be opened after the proven success of the first. The two
sites identified are Northwest Expressway at Chambers and the Roosevelt site.
Council Discussion:
• Identifying two rest stop locations is a good start.
• City's liability risk is very low.
• Low - income housing dispersal program model should be applied to the placement of
these camps so that they are located in various parts of town
• Camps clustered in northwest Eugene is not a good idea; far from downtown, away
from the dining room and other services.
• Flooding concerns about the NW Expressway at Chambers site. What can be done to
mitigate the flooding there?
• Encourage use of privacy fencing to address concerns about visual blight.
• Important to coordinate efforts with Lane County and Health and Human Services.
• Goal to establish a permanent shelter; rest stops are a temporary measure.
• May consider requiring camp coordinator to obtain liability insurance.
MOTION: Councilor Poling, seconded by Councilor Pryor, moved to approve the
Northwest Expressway Chambers site and the Roosevelt Garfield site as
recommended by the City Manager.
MOTION TO AMEND and VOTE: Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor
Syrett, moved to amend the motion with the following addendum: If, in fact,
the Northwest Expressway and Chambers site proves unsuitable due to bad
drainage concerns during high water events, then the Broadway and Hilyard
site would be substituted as the second site. FAILED: 2:6, Councilors Brown
and Syrett in favor.
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VOTE on MAIN MOTION: PASSED 6:2, Councilors Poling and Clark opposed.
5. WORK SESSION: Fence Regulations
Permit Review Manager Mike McKerrow presented a PowerPoint on Eugene's
current fence regulations, noting issues about fence height related to visibility,
esthetics, functionality, deer fencing, urban gardens and overall safety.
There was sufficient interest expressed by council to begin the process to
consider a code change that would allow higher, see - through fencing on front
and side yards to protect gardens and vegetation from deer.
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle Mortensen
Deputy City Recorder
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