HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.8.2019 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
May 8, 2019
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Jennifer Yeh, Alan Zelenka, Chris Pryor, Greg Evans, Betty Taylor,
Claire Syrett
Councilors Absent: Mike Clark
Mayor Vinis opened the May 8, 2019, work session of the Eugene City Council.
Councilor Yeh made a statement about the use of white nationalist language during a recent rally;
she supported the right to free speech and called for the community to speak out against prejudice
and discrimination. Mayor Vinis and Councilor Yeh extended their gratitude to the Eugene and
Springfield Police Departments for their skillful handling of the situation.
1. WORK SESSION: Community Safety Initiative Funding
Assistant City Manager Kristie Hammitt and Police Chief Chris Skinner presented a revised
recommendation for a payroll tax incorporating several new provisions including limits on the
use of the funds, and equity considerations for minimum wage employees,
Council Discussion:
• Councilor Semple - supported the recommendation and asked for clarification regarding
the investment for minimum wage earners; asked about the additional monies added to the
recommendation, and whether owner -employees of small businesses would also pay the
employee tax; expressed concerns about small business owners feeling "double -taxed;"
asked for clarification on the tax impact for minimum wage earners who receive raises.
• Councilor Pryor - reflected on the process over the years that led to the recommendation;
encouraged council to show leadership on this matter.
• Councilor Syrett - asked whether the calculations incorporated future minimum wage
changes; explained that council has few options to grow the General Fund, which generally
funds essential services like public safety and encouraged everyone to contribute to the
community's safety; thanked the contributors to the proposal and expressed her support for
the recommendation.
• Councilor Taylor - asked whether the tax would be abolished if people voted against the
proposed charter amendment; expressed opposition to any tax on minimum wage earners.
• Councilor Zelenka - expressed gratitude for including accommodations for low-income
wage earners and accountability mechanisms; expressed support for the package, especially
because half of the people who work in Eugene do not live in the city, but still benefit from
public safety; asked about LTD's payroll tax and whether the Department of Revenue would
draw a second transaction for this additional tax.
• Councilor Semple - advocated for taking a draft ordinance to a public hearing.
• Mayor Vinis - said a public hearing would help council understand what they might not be
accounting for as well as what they may need to do in terms of communicating with the
public about such a proposal; asked for clarification on whether there would still be a roll-
out of rates; emphasized that a public hearing does not indicate a final decision.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council May 8, 2019 Page 1
Work Session
Councilor Zelenka - said he would like to hear from the public about which path the council
should take—to put the issue before voters or to pass an ordinance; said that he was
inclined to give the choice to the voters.
Councilor Taylor - stated she did not believe public hearings impacted council votes much,
if at all; thought council should consider an adjusted base pay rate higher than minimum
wage because voters care about others who are barely getting by.
Councilor Semple - encouraged educating the public about the plan's accommodation for
minimum wage earners
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to
direct the City Manager to prepare an ordinance with a payroll tax rate of 00.0040
on employees and 0.0020 on employers,. PASSED 6:1, Councilor Taylor opposed.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to
direct the City Manager to schedule a public hearing for May 28, 2019. PASSED
7:0.
The meeting adjourned at 12:47 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
,6 ct�
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
(Recorded by Cas Casados)
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting: here.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council May 8, 2019 Page 2
Work Session