HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.28.2018 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8�h Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
November 28, 2018
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Jennifer Yeh, Claire Syrett, Alan Zelenka, Mike Clark. Chris
Pryor, Betty Taylor
Councilors Absent: Greg Evans
Mayor Vinis opened the November 28, 2018, Work Session of the Eugene City Council.
Assistant City Manager Kristie Hammitt provided an update on the temporary shelter located at
Hwy 99 and outlined a proposal to re -designate the camp as a dusk -to -dawn or rest stop site.
Council Discussion
• Council is not prepared to take immediate action; more specifics on the Dusk -to -Dawn
requirements and status of the downtown day center needed.
• Concern expressed about where the current camp users will go during the day if camp is
transitioned to a dusk -to -dawn facility.
• Any proposals for change should include plans to establish a downtown day center.
• Councilors are hearing competing concerns from downtown businesses and homeless advocates.
• More information requested about best practices around day centers. Communities that are
proactive in creating shelter opportunities have seen very positive results.
• A built structure is needed as the weather worsens; there is still significant support for
using City Hall lot or other empty buildings downtown.
• Important to ensure that there are no unintended consequences from delaying the decision
to re -designate the site.
• Request made that staff return to council as soon as possible with options that ensure any
facility is safe, secure, and well-maintained; demonstrate that the site contributes positively
to efforts to address the issue of homelessness.
• Plans to change the structure of the site from a camp to a dusk -to -dawn facility feels like
bait -and -switch for those who agreed to move to Hwy. 99 from the Butterfly Lot.
• A downtown shelter is critically needed; work with business community to make it happen.
• Questions asked about whether re -designation will result in a change in legal liability for
the site.
1. WORK SESSION: Eugene Recycling Program
Solid Waste Analyst Michael Wisth gave a presentation on the status of the City's recycling
program as it has been affected by changes in the global recycling environment.
Council Discussion
• Questions asked about the impacts of dumping plastics on the local landfill capacity, the
criteria Oregon uses for accepting recycled materials, and what other cities in Oregon are
doing to mitigate the impacts of this issue.
• Haulers should do more to educate the public about options for recycling.
• Disposal of food products critical to City's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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Work Session
• Segregating plastics from other materials will allow Eugene to reframe the dumping of
plastics to "storage of plastics for fpture use."
• Since the City often subsidizes what it wants to occur, it should consider an incentive for
recycling plastics.
• Eugene is the perfect place to innovate ways to turn waste products into something useful;
incentivize the development of think tanks and entrepreneurial efforts.
• Increased focus on reducing and reusing will positively impact the amount of materials to recycle.
• Explore ways to keep local food resources in the area, rather than relying on outside suppliers.
• The issue has great economic development potential, benefitting jobs, the economy and the
community's climate goals; explore incentives and collaborate with other southern Oregon
communities.
• Request made to develop a proposal for incentivizing innovations in recycling and schedule a
follow-up work session.
2. WORK SESSION: Nuisance Codes
Code Compliance Manager Rachelle Nicholas and Building Official Mark Whitmill gave an
overview of the proposed code amendment language that would address the impacts to
neighborhoods caused by abandoned and derelict properties as well as nuisance odors related to
the growing and processing of marijuana, especially in residential neighborhoods.
Council Discussion
• Proposal is a good start to a multi -step process; support proposed code changes.
• Language is too broad and subjective; more specific and measurable criteria needed.
• The offensive odor issue will only get worse as the community densifies.
• Questions asked about the issue of dry grass as a fire hazard, the means for detecting
hoarding situations, and possible ways to address vacant buildings.
• Livability issues are of greatest concern; include both occupied and unoccupied buildings in
code provisions.
• Information requested about what parameters the City will use to judge marijuana odors.
• Proposed code language around odors does include some measurables; could be
strengthened to be more objective.
• Dry grass is a public safety issue that should be covered by other code sections.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to
extend the meeting by 10 minutes. PASSED 8:0.
• It is unfair to place expectations on buildings and not on natural resources when the same
nuisance or health conditions exist at both.
• Options that push the envelope will help frame the community discussion.
• Questions asked about the timeline for receivership process, the number of staff currently
doing nuisance abatement, and invasive species control.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor move to direct
the City Manager to schedule a public hearing on the draft code amendments set forth
in Attachment A. PASSED 8:0.
The meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Qt� J�M�
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Work Session
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting: here.
MINUTES — Eugene City Council November 28, 2018 Page 3
Work Session