HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.13.2018 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8�h Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
November 13, 2018
5:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg
Evans, Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor
Mayor Vinis opened the November 13, 2018, Work Session of the Eugene City Council.
1. Committee Reports and Items of Interest
• Protesters have returned to Butterfly Lot; recent efforts aren't adequate and this is a
problem that will not go away.
• Important to work toward a future where all those without housing have access to shelter,
food and sanitary facilities - these are basic human rights and these are our fellow
community members.
• Disappointed in decision to stop plans for a day center in former City Hall lot.
• Still need more places downtown for people to sit and rest.
• Complaint received about speeding on McLean Boulevard.
• Consider using Rental Housing fees collected to perform regular inspections of properties
for deficiencies.
• Kudos to Police Chief Chris Skinner for process that has resulted in full staffing for first time
in many years.
• Community Veterans Day events were well -attended and an appropriate way to honor our
local veterans.
• Council Evans was elected to the board of directors of the National League of Cities and
appointed to a 20 -member national task force on housing. Focus will be on best practices
and lobbying Housing and Urban Development to reverse some its positions that have
negatively impacted cities.
• Third meeting of the Housing Tools and Strategies work group will meet on November 14.
• Both the Poverty and Homelessness Board and the Shelter and Supported Housing
Subcommittee will address very specific next steps for providing homeless services.
2. WORK SESSION: Town Square Update
Planning and Development Director Denny Brand, and Planner Will Dowdy gave a presentation
on the progress of the Town Square efforts, including infrastructure and park features.
Council Discussion
• Proposed City Hall plans account for Phase 1 only, with other City offices continuing to rent
space in other building downtown.
• Questions asked about how the rents paid for leased space are being captured, relative to
the costs projected for building a new City Hall on the Butterfly lot.
• Consider totality of costs vs incremental costs moving forward.
• Consider incorporating residential and/or commercial development into plans for Farmers
Market, to maximize use of the land, streams of revenue and housing stock
MINUTES — Eugene City Council November 13, 2018 Page 1
Work Session
• Goal should be a project that community is proud of, making public assembly space a
priority. Then, locate staff in downtown to meet basic needs at a minimal cost.
• The values for this project were identified in 2016; may be time to revisit these values as
the latest proposals are being considered.
• The reports received from EWEB and the consultants contradict each other; council still has
not received enough information to make an educated comparison.
• More information on plans for the Parks Blocks needed.
• The 2016 report was completed by local experts and contains credible information.
• Question asked about the strategy the City will use to re -orient properties around the Parks
Blocks so they face inward.
• Important to be proactive; consider closing Oak Street to reconnect the Park Blocks.
• The success of this initiative will depend on the availability of mixed-use opportunities.
• Rely on public/private partnerships, incentives and other tools; public involvement process
must incorporate commercial and residential considerations.
• Questions asked about how the town square concept connects with the development of 8th
Avenue as a "Great Street"
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting: here.
MINUTES — Eugene City Council November 13, 2018 Page 2
Work Session