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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/14/1991 Meeting e M I NUT E S Eugene City Council McNutt Room--City Hall October 14, 1991 5:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Roger Rutan, Shawn Boles, Ruth Bascom, Debra Ehrman, Bobby Green, Paul Nicholson, Kaye Robinette. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Randy MacDonald. The regular meeting of October 14, 1991, of the Eugene City Council was called to order by His Honor Mayor Jeff Miller. 1. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS A. Housing Policy Board Ms. Bascom indicated that the Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) for Eugene-Springfield will be reviewed in a work session by the coun- e cil later this month and a hearing is scheduled for November 4. She said this document was required by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) before the community is awarded approximately $1 million. The Housing Policy Board has added two additional at-large representatives: Rob Bennett and Jan Oliver. Ms. Bascom reported that the Richardson Bridge project ground breaking will occur soon. B. Metropolitan Policy Committee Ms. Bascom said the board voted to include two Lane Transit District board members to the committee to assist with transportation issues. She said the board is staffed by the Lane Council Of Governments (L-COG) and wondered how to get issues critical to Eugene on the agenda. Ms. Boles asked if there was a work program for the Metropolitan Policy Board (MPC). Ms. Ehrman said that the MPC was created to settle disputes among the differ- ent jurisdictions. She noted that there have been other responsibilities added to the charge of the committee and there has been talk of creating another committee. City Manager Mike Gleason noted that L-COG's staffing style was very differ- ent from that of City staff. He suggested Ms. Bascom work through the com- mittee's chair and through individual contacts with the members. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 14, 1991 Page 1 e Mr. Rutan said it sounded like Eugene wants more out of the group than the other jurisdictions. He said it may be time for the group to reaffirm its function. Ms. Bascom noted that projects involving State or Federal transportation money have to go through this group. Mr. Gleason said all other major metropolitan areas have regional transporta- tion districts. Ms. Ehrman noted that two members of the State Transportation Board are vis- iting Eugene in November, providing a good opportunity for presenting a unit- ed front on transportation issues. The delegation will tour major transpor- tation projects in the area and attend to its business. Mr. Gleason asked councilors who want input to contact Dave Reinhard, Public works, or Linda Lynch, ASD-IGR Division. Mr. Robinette expressed his view that only legislators impact the State Transportation Commission. Getting back to her report on the Metropolitan Policy Committee, Ms. Bascom said that the Citizen Advisory Committee has questioned the need for the proposed Bonneville Power Administration (SPA) line in south Eugene, result- ing in the extension of the planning window for the project. e There was a brief discussion on whether to have council committee reports presented in a one-page memorandum or to present them orally in council meet- ings. There was consensus to do both. C. Lane Council of Governments Mr. Robinette said that L-COG recognizes that Eugene representatives are interested in urban issues, while most of the group is focused on nonurban areas. He said that the majority of the L-COG board is not interested in most of the issues that come before it because it is not broadly represented. D. Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission Mr. Rutan said that the commission had successfully completed the rate in- crease process. He reported that a Federal audit of the wastewater plant is under way and it is going well. Mr. Rutan also reported that the Association of Metropolitan Wastewater Commissions in Oregon has declared 1992 as the Year of Clean Water. E. Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority (LRAPA) Mr. Nicholson said he thought that having three councilors on LRAPA was a waste of resources. The discussions are very technical and the decisions are constrained by State and Federal regulations. For these reasons, he felt it may be better to assign someone with technical expertise to the committee. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 14, 1991 Page 2 e He said that even if a member became an expert on these topics and wished to challenge a staff recommendation, a lack of credentials would make it diffi- cult to sway the other members. Ms. Ehrman added that LRAPA was also developing a work plan and doing long- range planning. She noted that the group was the only agency in the state, other than the Department of Environmental Quality, to deal with issues such as the question of whether to implement car inspections. Mr. Gleason said that LRAPA exists as a requirement of State statutes and also deals with policy issues. He supported retaining council representation because it gave the City the capacity to protect the community's air shed. F. Intergovernmental Human Services Committee Ms. Ehrman reported on the State Emergency Account public hearing on proposed strategies to deal with homeless prevention and supportive/transitional ser- vices. She said it was well-attended by both service providers and homeless advocates and individuals. Homeless individuals introduced the topic of a homeless campground and have asked that the jurisdictions reconsider it. Ms. Ehrman suggested that council reaffirm its position and decide whether to revisit the issue at its goals session. Mr. Nicholson requested information on the council's previous actions on the issue before making a decision. e After discussion and an informal vote, Mayor Miller ascertained that all councilors present, except Mr. Nicholson, were against reconsidering a home- less campground; but he noted that Randy MacDonald (a member of the Intergov- ernmental Human Services Committee) was absent. It was decided to consider the question at the council's goal session. G. Lane Transit District (LTD) Siting Committee Ms. Ehrman said the committee has focused on the International House of Pan- cakes and Pasta Plus sites for further study. Mr. Nicholson said he has met with LTD staff and the organization is appar- ently reorganizing the entire bus service. He felt LTD should work out its new route system, then site and design a new station. Ms. Ehrman felt the appropriate venue for this discussion is the MPC. Mr. Gleason agreed that MPC is a good place to raise the issue. Mr. Boles expressed concern that LTD is locked into redesigning the route system as an entity, not a partner. He favored contacting LTD board members informally. Ms. Bascom asked for direction in addressing the issue at MPC. Mr. Nicholson reiterated that the downtown station should not be the axiom around which - MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 14, 1991 Page 3 e everything else is planned. Mr. Miller suggested she represent the City as a partner. H. Human Rights Commission Mr. Green said the Human Rights Commission had officially seated its three committees: Committee on Accessibility (which is co-chaired by Mr. Green), Committee on Community Education and Outreach, and Committee on Discrimina- tion and Harassment. The committees are in the process of developing work plans. The council adjourned at 7:30 p.m. R~~ Micheal Gleason City Manager (Recorded by Yolanda Paule) MNCC 101491-530 e e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 14, 1991 Page 4