HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.17.2019 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
April 17, 2019
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Jennifer Yeh, Alan Zelenka, Mike Clark, Chris Pryor, Greg Evans,
Betty Taylor, Claire Syrett
Mayor Vinis opened the April 17, 2019, work session of the Eugene City Council. She noted that she
had been communicating with council via email to schedule an additional work session in May to
continue their community safety revenue discussion.
POSSIBLE ACTION: A Resolution Requesting the Federal Government to Update Studies on
Potential Health Risks of 5G Radio Frequency Wireless Emissions and Publish Findings, as
Federal Guidelines Push for More Rapid Deployment of 5G
Council Discussion:
• Councilor Taylor - said the council has heard a lot from the community about this topic and
a resolution may help to clarify the council's position.
• Councilor Clark- said he would vote for the motion because he would like to be better
educated about the topic.
• Councilor Z elenka - noted the resolution was very similar to Portland's and he would
support it.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to
adopt a resolution requesting the Federal government to update studies on
potential health risks of 5G radio frequency wireless emissions and publish
findings, as Federal guidelines push for more rapid deployment of 5G. PASSED 8:0
2. WORK SESSION: Municipal Court Presiding Judge
Interim City Manager's Office Division Manager Becky DeWitt presented the council's options
related to the salary and job description for a new presiding judge.
Council Discussion:
• Councilor Clark- asked whether it would be possible to let Interim Presiding Judge Gill
know what questions council would like to ask, specifically, noting that he would like to ask
about a recent news article critiquing community court.
• Councilor Semple - asked for clarification about the two salary options presented and how
they would be negotiated.
• Councilor Z elanka - asked whether the average salary reflects the Beaverton geographic
pay differential, whether the second option included a salary range, and whether business
expenses would be included.
• Councilor Syrett - asked for clarification regarding the Beaverton geographic pay
differential; supported asking Judge Gill about community court considering he had a role in
establishing it; stated willingness to vote for the second option presented.
• Councilor Pryor - said he supported the second option because it gives council the
opportunity to negotiate with a candidate using a salary range.
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• Councilor Taylor - asked for clarity about whether a decision needed to be made that day;
noted she would also like to ask questions regarding community court; asked when an
interview would occur.
• Councilor Clark- said he supported the second option; wanted to make sure that the pay
range would adjust in accordance with other similar positions around the City.
• Councilor Semple - asked whether council had used these same strategies when hiring the
Police Auditor; expressed her support for the second option.
• Councilor Zelenka - asked for clarification from the City Attorney regarding the purpose of
the salary range and where it will appear; asked whether experience in community court
should be included as a requirement.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved
to move forward with the presiding municipal judge's contract salary consistent
with option two and with a job description consistent with Attachment A to the
agenda item summary. PASSED 8:0
3. WORK SESSION: Local Options for Inclusionary Zoning
Grants Manager Stephanie Jennings gave a presentation to council on what inclusionary zoning
is, how it is used around the country and in Oregon, about local market conditions worth
considering in a local program, and community perspectives recently gathered through the
Housing Tools and Strategies process.
Council Discussion:
• Councilor Zelenka - asked staff how the fee -in -lieu -of option is determined and whether the
percentage of units is established locally; said he did not like that the local government
doesn't get to decide what to do with the funds.
• Councilor Taylor - said one of the advantages of inclusionary zoning is to integrate housing
types, which is especially good for children; asked for clarification about whether a
condominium is considered a "home' under the legislation that allows for inclusionary
zoning in Oregon; expressed support for inclusionary zoning in Eugene.
• Councilor Clark- opposed the idea of inclusionary zoning because it discourages
development; preferred to incentivize affordable housing rather than issue directives.
• Councilor Syrett - asked whether the funds could be used if the City didn't have any
inclusionary zoning housing projects; asked whether it was required to have other
incentives in addition to the construction excise tax; asked for clarification about what
happens if a building with inclusionary zoning units is sold; supported the concept but
expressed doubt that it was the best tool to use for building more affordable housing
because of the restrictions the State puts on the CET funds.
• Mayor Vinis - asked staff for information about what made the program successful in
Portland.
• Councilor Semple - asked what proportion of the developers in Portland chose the fee -in -
lieu -of option rather than building the units; asked for clarification about what could be
done with new CET funds; asked whether Portland's program was mandatory; asked about
the time and cost it would take to establish such a program compared to the impact and
whether a voluntary program would work, preferred that council have authority over what
to do with CET funds.
• Councilor Pryor - highlighted the shared goal of dispersing different types of housing
throughout the city; recommended a review of the Housing Dispersal Policy in order to
reach the desired outcome.
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• Councilor Taylor - expressed a desire for economically integrated housing throughout the
city; said she would like to lobby the legislature to change the problems with the bill.
• Councilor Yeh - asked whether buildings with IZ units would still offer social services to
residents—something that's frequently offered in low-income housing.
• Councilor Zelenka - asked whether the boundaries of IZ could be restricted and whether
that, correspondingly, limits the CET; asked what other incentives Portland used; likened IZ
to the multi -unit property tax exemption.
• Councilor Evans - asked whether the IZ has disincentivized development in Portland.
• Councilor Syrett - thanked Councilor Pryor for bringing up the Housing Dispersal Policy and
agreed it should be reviewed; said she would like to see a proposal for a voluntary IZ
program; requested more details on the IZ program and process in Corvallis.
• Councilor Clark - said the city would need 6,700 units of multi -family housing before 2035
in order for the City to meet its stated goals in Envision Eugene; advocated for incentivizing
development; asked whether developers—under a mandatory IZ program—would be
required to rent their more affordable units to people/families with incomes below a
certain level; would like the City to have its own down payment assistance program to help
people get out of poverty.
• Mayor Vinis - noted this topic was one of the items in the Housing Tools and Strategies
conversation, so it would return to council.
The meeting adjourned at 1:31 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
,6ll
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
(Recorded by Cas Casados)
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting: here.
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