HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.14.2018 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8�h Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
November 14, 2018
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Jennifer Yell, Claire Syrett, Alan Zelenka, Mike Clark. Chris
Pryor, Betty Taylor
Councilors Absent: Greg Evans
Mayor Vinis opened the November 14, 2018, Work Session of the Eugene City Council.
1. WORK SESSION: Northwest Natural Gas Franchise
Finance Director Twylla Miller and Intergovernmental Relations Manager Ethan Nelson
presented information about the franchise renewal process and timeline and its nexus with the
Climate Action Plan.
Council Discussion
• Questions asked about the Public Utilities Commission's role and scope of authority in any
attempt to attach new conditions to the franchise agreement.
• Council should consider an option to immediately stop the provision of new natural gas
service, with some emergency exceptions.
• In order to meet climate recovery goals, everyone, including utility providers, needs to
participate. City can be a leader in these efforts by providing incentives and considering
conditions on new franchise agreement.
• Request made for information about the implementation of a privilege tax.
• Council could consider dedicating the franchise fee to the City's climate recovery efforts,
and identify incentives to help residents move away from natural gas use.
• Partnership with internal and external stakeholders will be critical to the success of any
plan to change the franchise conditions.
2. WORK SESSION: Downtown Update
Facility Management Division Manager Jeff Perry, Community Events Manager Colette Ramirez -
Maddock, Police Sergeant Julie Smith, and Associate Planner Eric Brown presented information
about downtown activities and initiatives, and plans to build on past efforts to continue the
momentum of this work.
Council Discussion
• Thanks to staff and community partners for incredible work. Appreciate the funding of a
new Downtown Manager position to coordinate all of these efforts.
• Disagree with overall approach and tone of efforts; council represents very diverse opinions
and there are many in the community who are frustrated that bad behaviors downtown are
not being enforced.
• Improvements downtown are being seen; although things are moving in the right direction,
there is more to be done.
• Increase efforts to target bad behavior occurring on public rights-of-way.
MINUTES — Eugene City Council November 14, 2018 Page 1
Work Session
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Pryor, moved to extend
the meeting by seven minutes. PASSED 6:1, Councilor Clark opposed.
• Request made for more information about the success of the day storage initiative, the costs
of providing rest room options, quantifiable evidence of improved conditions, which parks
were being patrolled, and who was being surveyed about their impressions of downtown.
• Downtown needs more places to sit down and more rest room options.
• Revisit idea of opening up walls of businesses adjacent to Kesey Square.
The meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting: here.
MINUTES — Eugene City Council November 14, 2018 Page 2
Work Session