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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 06/27/07 Work Session M I N U T E S Eugene City Council Work Session McNutt Room—Eugene City Hall June 27, 2007 Noon COUNCILORS PRESENT: Andrea Ortiz, Chris Pryor, Betty Taylor, Bonny Bettman, Jennifer Solomon, George Poling, Mike Clark, Alan Zelenka. Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the meeting of the Eugene City Council to order. 1. WORK SESSION: City Council Goal—Arts and Outdoors Action Plan Update City Manager Dennis Taylor introduced Acting Library, Recreation, and Cultural Services Director Renee Grube, who was joined by Hult Center Director Laura Niles and Public Information Director Jan Bohman. Ms. Bohman reviewed the elements of the action plan and noted some of the focuses in the plan and the activities that were planned in the upcoming year. Ms. Niles noted two of the outcomes of the initiative, the first of which was the Cultural Policy Review. She said the council would see the results of the review in July, and she noted the project was selected as a University of Oregon research project which she anticipated could result in more collaboration with the th University. The second was “Hult 25,” the 25 anniversary of the Hult Center. She noted some of the events associated with the anniversary, specifically the free activities being offered to the public. Mayor Piercy thought the plan was exciting and she predicted Eugene would be “hopping” over the next year. She expressed her appreciation to staff. She said she thought staff had made progress in “selling Eugene better” so that residents knew what they had and appreciated it more. Mayor Piercy thanked those who had participated in the Cultural Policy Review, and acknowledged the hard work that had been done through that process. Speaking to West Broadway arts opportunities, Mayor Piercy believed that the West Broadway project needed to account for the fact there was already art downtown and integrate that art in the design. Regarding the pedestrian and bicycle plan, she commended those who had advocated for more bicycle path signage. She asked when the statue for the Japanese memorial would arrive. Ms. Niles anticipated it would be installed in August and a ceremony would commemorate the installation. Ms. Ortiz thanked staff for all its work and collaboration that occurred. She acknowledged and appreciated the access that was provided to those families and individuals who could not otherwise afford ticketed events. MINUTES—Eugene City Council June 27, 2007 Page 1 Work Session Mr. Zelenka was impressed by how much was going on. He had noticed and appreciated the many multi- cultural offerings. He thought the work that had been done was great and looked forward to the report of the Cultural Policy Review steering committee. Mr. Clark also commended staff and expressed appreciation for the outdoor movie offerings. He noted that staff mentioned the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Comprehensive Plan, and said he understood the plan had been remanded by the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) and was not legally in effect, although he understood the City was still consulting the plan. City Manager Taylor deferred to Katherine Brotherton of the City Attorney’s Office, who concurred the plan had been remanded. The basis of the remand was LUBA’s conclusion that the City Council needed to adopt it as a refinement plan to the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan). She said the acquisition list had been by the City Council but was on appeal to LUBA; however, she maintained that list was still in effect. She acknowledged the PROS Plan was “hanging out there” but she believed the council could still consult it as a guiding document. She indicated she would be happy to provide a written opinion. She noted that the City hoped to get the case involving the projects list dismissed or to have a decision within a couple of days. Mr. Clark asked if the City could acquire parks using the plan as a basis for those acquisitions before it adopted the plan as a refinement plan. Ms. Brotherton said yes. Ms. Solomon termed the action plan very exciting and said there appeared to be a lot of work involved. She asked if any consultants would be employed for things such as marketing. Ms. Bohman said that the City would get a steering committee of its partners together and discuss next steps. She said that group could recommend that the City secure consulting services for marketing. Ms. Solomon asked if the council would approve that expenditure. Ms. Bohman was unsure, suggesting it depended on the resources the different partners could bring to the table. City Manager Taylor thought the City would get some free marketing through the “Eugene 08” effort and then the Budget Committee would recommend additional expenditures in the next budget based on the action plan. Ms. Ortiz, seconded by Mr. Pryor, moved to approve the Arts and Outdoors Updated Ac- tion Plan as recommended. The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. 2. WORK SESSION: An Ordinance Concerning Public Improvements Development Review Manager Peggy Keppler of the Public Works Department introduced an ordinance intended to bring Chapter 7 of the Eugene Code in line with the rest of the City Code and recent changes in State law. City Attorneys Jerome Lidz and Ms. Brotherton as well as Data Manager Fred McVey were also present for the item. Ms. Keppler briefly described the staff review that had occurred, which resulted in a list of suggested changes, some very minor and others more significant. She reviewed the categories in which the changes were made. She invited questions. Councilors asked questions of the attorneys and staff clarifying the changes to Chapter 7 being proposed through the ordinance. Ms. Bettman requested that staff prepare an amendment extending the warranty period for structural deficiencies and faults found in privately engineered and constructed public improvements. Ms. Taylor indicated support for the request. MINUTES—Eugene City Council June 27, 2007 Page 2 Work Session Responding to a question from Mr. Zelenka, Ms. Keppler confirmed that the code section related to driveway access was not deleted but would come back to the council after further changes were made. She further confirmed that garbage was now addressed in Chapter 6. Responding to a request for clarification from Ms. Taylor, Ms. Keppler indicated she would modify Section 7.415 to make it clear that the text was related to curb cuts. Responding to a question from Mr. Poling, Mr. Lidz said he was unaware of any national standard related to warranties for privately engineering construction improvements. Ms. Keppler said that the warranty period was consistent with existing contract law. Ms. Bettman questioned the rationale for requiring property owners to install sidewalks when remodeling, and if the property was on a corner they would be required to install a curb cut, which was more expensive. She suggested the ordinance would have a dampening effect on people’s ability to remodel their homes and suggested it be amended to ensure it did not impact homeowners remodeling to such a great extent. Ms. Bettman was glad to hear the council would be hearing more about driveway access and access management. Ms. Bettman referred to Section 7.410(b) and said she would be looking for language that weighed the traffic study and substantiation against the additional congestion and conflicts with pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists. Mr. Clark said he was recently asked by a constituent about some survey work being done by a City employee in Lane County; the resident had asked the City employee about the work he was doing and he had indicated he was surveying for curb cuts for future improvements. Ms. Keppler said that when the City received a land use application and had to make findings for what was required, staff would look at the existing road way to determine the scope of improvements to ensure the requirements imposed on the applicant were consistent. She did not think staff would do that work otherwise. Mr. Clark concluded that such work was generally related to specific applications. Ms. Keppler concurred. Mayor Piercy adjourned the meeting at 12:57 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Dennis M. Taylor City Manager Angel Jones City Manager Pro Tem (Recorded by Kimberly Young) MINUTES—Eugene City Council June 27, 2007 Page 3 Work Session