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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.14.2019 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES Eugene City Council Harris Hall, 125 East 8�h Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 January 14, 2019 5:30 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor, Greg Evans Mayor Vinis opened the January 14, 2019, Work Session of the Eugene City Council. Committee Reports and Items of Interest • Councilor Semple - Requested that the shades be raised during daytime council meetings; asked that council minutes reflect who says what during council meetings; voiced concern that no progress was being made on downtown day center. • Councilor Taylor - agreed that opening the window shades would create a more transparent and welcoming environment; reported constituent frustration about the parking fee increases; supported the elimination of parking meters; asked about the City's authority to regulate puppy mills; conveyed comments received about poor air quality and whether automobile emission inspections could be considered; raised the issue of pedestrian and traffic safety, particularly along E. Amazon. • Councilor Yeh - thanked Officer Kidd and Officer Hubbard for hosting her on a ride -along and sharing their perspectives and experiences. • Councilor Pryor - reported on the Housing Policy Board meeting and its discussions about the Housing Tools & Strategies initiative, the Technical Assistance Collaborative report, and the 2019 Legislative Agenda and what the impacts of the government shutdown have been on HUD activities and projects; recounted a meeting with the City's legislative delegation centered around housing, including zoning and tenant protections. • Councilor Syrett - announced that she had been chosen as Chair of the Lane Area Commission on Transportation; shared a request made to the Mayor and City Manager to consider the renaming of the Washington -Jefferson Park in honor of Edwin Smith, who was instrumental in securing the land under the I-105 on and off ramps for use as a park, and to initiate the process for renaming. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Syrett, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved to request that the Mayor create an ad hoc committee in accordance with council policy on naming of public facilities, to consider the request to rename Washington Jefferson Parkin honor of Edwin Smith. PASSED 6:1, Councilor Semple opposed, Councilor Zelenka absent. • Mayor Vinis - reminded everyone about the protocols and process laid out by State statute that will occur in response to a fatal police shooting at Cascade Middle School. (Councilor Zelenka arrived at 5:46 p.m.) • Councilor Clark- announced that in response to overwhelming constituent input from all wards and significant safety concerns, he was proposing a motion for council consideration; MINUTES — Eugene City Council January 14, 2019 Page 1 Work Session MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to direct the City Manager to prepare an ordinance that mirrors Springfield Municipal Code Section 6.112, Unlawful Transfer on Vehicular Portion of the Right -of -Way, and schedule a public hearing. PASSED 6:2, councilors Syrett and Zelenka opposed. 2. WORK SESSION: Housing Tools and Strategies -Construction Excise Tax Planning and Development Director Denny Brand introduced the item and Council Discussion • Support expressed for the CET in general, but not the inclusion of the systems development charge component; keep it simple and reconsider both the upper and lower limits imposed. • The proposed CET will have a general negative effect on the General Fund; intent of tax is to lower the cost of building affordable housing. • Questions asked about how much money will be lost from SDC resources and the General Fund. • The proposed process will be cumbersome for a couple of years and then simplify; the proposed CET has strong, diverse support and can be adjusted after two years if needed. • It is important to establish an affordable housing fund and the proposal provides a means to this end; the legislation allows for some flexibility to use the funds for mortgage/rental assistance and emergency repairs. • The CET makes sense as a good start to the development of more subsidized housing. • More information requested about the track record of the CET in other communities like Bend, Oregon. • The CET is a long-term strategy; the first two years will be challenging but can review its effectiveness and make adjustments. • Only the feasibility of the proposed CET was analyzed by the committee, not the economic impacts; important to have conversation about what types of housing are most needed. MOTION: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to direct the City Manager to prepare a draft ordinance for council consideration and schedule a Public Hearing to create a Construction Excise Tax to support an Affordable Housing Fund that includes the provisions described in Option 1. MOTION TO AMEND: Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to amend the motion add a new Option 1.iii - "1.0 percent tax rate effective July 1, 2021," and renumber the rest of Option 1 accordingly. • With this action, council will be creating a financing mechanism for subsidized housing that will fall short on its intended purpose and necessitate a real estate transfer tax. • Many Oregon communities have already established a one percent tax; confident it will move the dial on the amount of affordable housing developed and the affordability of housing. • The amount of funds generated through a MUPTE incentive is more than would be generated with a CET. VOTE ON MOTION TO AMEND: PASSED 5:3, councilors Clark, Taylor and Evans opposed. VOTE ON MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED: PASSED 6:2, councilors Clark and Taylor opposed. MINUTES - Eugene City Council January 14, 2019 Page 2 Work Session 3. WORK SESSION: Eugene Public Library -Year 2 Levy Report Library Recreation and Cultural Services Director Renee Grube and Customer Experience Manager LaVena Nohrenberg reviewed the progress made in implementing the programs and services enabled by levy funds. Council Discussion • Questions asked about what will happen when the levy has expired; conversation should start soon about alternative strategies for funding going forward. • Expanded services at Sheldon and Bethel branch libraries are particularly appreciated. The meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m. Respectfully submitted, /&t� J --&UJ Beth Forrest City Recorder Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting: here MINUTES — Eugene City Council January 14, 2019 Page 3 Work Session