HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.13.2019 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8�h Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
February 13, 2019
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Jennifer Yeh, Alan Zelenka, Mike Clark, Chris Pryor, Betty
Taylor, Greg Evans, Claire Syrett
Mayor Vinis opened the February 13, 2019, Work Session of the Eugene City Council.
• Councilor Taylor - reported that she was receiving many questions from constituents about
the legality of a billboard on the corner of 18th Avenue and Willamette Street; urged the
council to take a stand on House Bill 2 00 1, which would preempt local control over zoning
issues.
• Councilor Zelenka - echoed concerns about the billboard at 18th and Willamette but noted
that Eugene's Sign Code, as written, does not prohibit it; suggested adding this issue to the
upcoming work session on digital display technology.
• Councilor Semple - expressed appreciation to staff for sending council agenda materials
earlier and for providing more detailed meeting minutes; urged action on creating a
downtown center and identifying additional sites for car camps and rest stops.
• Mayor Vinis - informed the council about a request from the Eugene YMCA for support for
their request for lottery funds and announced her intention to bring a resolution to council
on this issue.
WORK SESSION: Community Safety Revenue Team Update
Assistant City Manager Kristie Hammitt, Police Chief Chris Skinner, Fire Chief Joe Zaludek and
Project Consultant Kevin Alltucker provided an update on the progress of the Community Safety
Initiative and the Revenue Team.
(Councilor Clark Left the meeting at 12:54 p.m.)
Council Discussion
• Councilor Semple - expressed appreciation for the presentation and for the opportunity to
serve on the Community Safety Revenue Team, noting it successfully reached consensus
despite difference of opinion; said the proposal is the best possible and least regressive
response to a critical community needs; it casts the widest net and will continue to adjust as
needs grow; asked for more information about the variability of the three proposed tax
percentages and which would achieve the overall goal.
• Councilor Yeh - appreciated the summary of the committee's work; result is a proposal that
will be easy to explain to constituents; encouraged the council to ask the committee
members questions.
• Councilor Pryor - noted there was a real commitment on the part of the committee
members to look at many options and take decisive action; acknowledged that there will be
public pushback on any tax increase, but this proposal responds to an essential core value.
• Councilor Zelenka - encouraged council follow the same process used by the committee and
do its own analysis of all scenarios, potential options, etc., noting the committee
recommendation was just one factor to be considered.
MINUTES — Eugene City Council February 13, 2019 Page 1
Work Session
• Councilor Syrett - asked for information about the proposed plan as it relates to cuts made to
public safety services during the last recession, noting that revenues have risen since then
but not enough to meet current needs; acknowledged that business owners served on the
committee and were supportive of the proposal; favored a payroll tax over a property tax.
• Councilor Evans - complimented the report and supported the direction and proposed
mechanism for revenue generation; asked about the effect on County partners, such as
Health and Human Services, if growth in capacity also increases the need for social services;
asked about intended visual and other real, tangible outcomes to change the perceptions of
those who are now afraid to come downtown.
• Councilor Taylor - asked about and supported plans to increase public safety presence in
neighborhoods that are not considered to be in crisis; supported the implementation of call
prioritization; inquired about exempting lower-income earners from the proposed payroll tax.
• Councilor Syrett - agreed that there would be value in council discussing the other options;
supported strategy that funds detectives dedicated to non -immediate crimes such as
prostitution and drug dealing noting that the proposed plan calls out this need.
• Councilor Zelenka - encouraged council to follow a transparent process with defined
metrics for success and a solid accountability mechanism; show benefits of the proposed
tax, how it will be shared by the community and how the funds will be allocated.
• Councilor Yeh - noted that the committee did discuss the possibility of exemptions but
agree that everyone should contribute at some level because everyone benefits from an
effective public safety system.
• Councilor Semple - said the parks bond and levy is a good example of the value of a small
committee doing the analysis and making a recommendation; the condition of Eugene's public
safety system is an ongoing crisis needing immediate attention and robust public input.
• Councilor Pryor - agreed that the work of the committee will help expedite the council
decision-making process.
• Mayor Vinis - acknowledged the size and detail of the report, its holistic approach and its
nexus with many other services and programs; the council will have the opportunity to
discuss the issue further in its upcoming workshop; encouraged staying on track to meet
the 18 -month timeline for implementation.
The meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Beth Forrest
City Recorder
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting: here.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council February 13, 2019 Page 2
Work Session