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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.10.2019 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES Eugene City Council Harris Hall, 125 East 81h Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 April 10, 2019 12:00 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Jennifer Yeh, Alan Zelenka, Mike Clark, Chris Pryor, Greg Evans, Betty Taylor Councilors Absent: Claire Syrett Mayor Vinis opened the April 10, 2019, work session of the Eugene city council. 1. Committee Reports and Items of Interest • Councilor Taylor -commented about potential council action to address 5G concerns, including scheduling a work session. MOTION: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to direct the City Manager to come to council before April 15 with a list of things that it can do, including a moratorium of some sort. • Mayor Vinis - cautioned that it may be difficult to act on the motion by April 15. • Councilor Clark- requested clarification of staff's current understanding about what council can do regarding 5g; asked for information about council's limitation to act. • Councilor Zelenka - discussed limitations for implementing an ordinance and asked when council could enact an ordinance; asked Councilor Taylor if time limitations were acceptable for motion. • Councilor Taylor - asked for information about what council can do and how soon. VOTE: PASSED 6:0, councilors Evans and Syrett absent. 2. Vision Zero Update City Engineer Matthew Rodrigues and Associate Transportation Planner Larisa Varela gave an overview of the final Vision Zero Action Plan as well as implementation progress made to -date. (Councilor Evans arrived 12:20 p.m.) Council Discussion: • Councilor Clark- commented and inquired about the design of the map of high crash network, initiated questions and discussion about dangerous pedestrian behavior in relation to Vision Zero planning and implementation; inquired about the budget for Vision Zero since 2015. • Councilor Taylor - spoke about reducing speed in school zones; inquired whether Vision Zero planning would address driveways on Willamette; requested statistics about pedestrians hit by cars in downtown core; requested staff consult neighborhood groups and other cities regarding their strategies. MINUTES - Eugene City Council April 10, 2019 Page 1 Work Session Councilor Zelenka - reiterated Councilor Taylor's concerns about speed as factor for crash fatalities; requested details of how data was extrapolated to create Vision Zero strategies; asked how staff planned to take action plan and break down into specific projects to be implemented in the Capital Improvement Plan; asked how CIP projects were to be prioritized and how Vision Zero actions impact CIP. Councilor Yeh - inquired about sidewalk infill consideration and prioritization among projects; spoke about using data to be proactive rather than reactive in future development and increased density. Councilor Semple - reiterated concern about sidewalk development. Mayor Vinis adjourned the meeting of the Eugene City Council and convened a meeting of the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency. 3. Riverfront Park and Plaza Funding Requests and Potential Future Riverfront Urban Renewal Investments Community Development Director Michael Kinnison presented information on a funding proposal for Downtown Riverfront development and other future investment opportunities within the Riverfront Urban Renewal District including a process for prioritizing projects. Council Discussion: • Councilor Taylor - suggested moving directly to a vote on the proposed funding package. • Councilor Clark- asked if URA funds could be used in the purchase of EWEB headquarters and expressed interest in doing so; expressed concern about disproportionate spending on parks in Eugene (e.g. Striker Field versus Riverfront Park); asked about the ultimate cost of park planning. • Councilor Yeh - communicated her desire to make sure City policy and values connect with council decisions; reiterated concern about the funding proposal for Riverfront Park and what may be perceived as an inequitable use of resources. • Councilor Zelenka - described the way money within a City budget can be used; expressed approval for the way this money is proposed to be spent; asked how the City plans to prioritize the projects that need to be funded as there is not likely to be enough money for everything; discussed thoughts about what could be prioritized. • Councilor Taylor - explained how past URA funds were used and expressed support for the project and use of UR funds; suggested larger projects like the Riverfront Park should go before voters; however, she would be willing to support this funding request. • Councilor Semple - asked if council was required to approval spending the entire Urban Renewal District cap; expressed disapproval of the URA mechanism; suggested releasing non -UR funds set aside for Riverfront Project to spend on other needs and spend more UR funds on Riverfront Project. • Mayor Vinis - suggested there are insufficient funds in Urban Renewal District funds to support entire project; noted that this project is a large economic engine for the city and part of a long-range plan of economic development; said removing System Development Charge funds is a broader economic decision about how the City invests dollars. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved to extend the meeting by 10 minutes. PASSED 7:0. • Councilor Semple - inquired about the cost of Riverfront Park compared with other park opportunities; suggested there is inequity in the way resources are allocated. MINUTES - Eugene City Council April 10, 2019 Page 2 Work Session • Councilor Pryor- said he was mindful of the concerns from those in North Eugene who need more parks; expressed interest in further conversation about other funding options before making a decision, including looking at ways to re -allocate UR and non - UR funding sources to be more equitable. • Councilor Clark -supported for Councilor Pryor's comments; suggested more discussion is needed before deciding on UR allocation. • Councilor Zelenka- expressed general disapproval of using Urban Renewal Districts as a funding mechanism; inquired what SDCs were involved in Riverfront Park, how much is set aside citywide for Park SDCs and if that is a constraining factor for park planning; discussed trade-offs of different funding mechanisms for Riverfront Park or other parks. • Councilor Taylor - suggested there is a difference between neighborhood parks and parks like the Riverfront Park that would serve the entire city and belongs to everyone. • Councilor Yeh - suggested park funding decisions should be seen as an equity issue. • Mayor Vinis - said Council will address the issue again and determine how to proceed on Monday, April 15. • Councilor Clark - Asked what opportunity costs are associated with the money being spent at Riverfront Park compared to other parks in the city. • Mayor Vinis - reminded council of previous discussions regarding Riverfront Park. The meeting adjourned at 1:43 p.m. Respectfully submitted, W d Beth Forrest City Recorder (Recorded by Samantha Roberts) Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting: here. MINUTES - Eugene City Council April 10, 2019 Page 3 Work Session