HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.15.2019 City Council Work Session Meeting MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8h Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
May 15, 2019
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: Betty Taylor, Emily Semple, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark Greg Evans, Claire
Syrett, Chris Pryor, Alan Zelenka (via phone)
Mayor Vinis opened the May 15, 2019, Work Session of the Eugene City Council.
ACTION: An Ordinance Concerning Restrictions on the Distribution of Single -Use
Serviceware, Adding Sections 6.870 and 6.872 to the Eugene Code, 1971, and Amending
Section 6.990 of that Code.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to adopt
an ordinance concerning restrictions on the distribution of single -use serviceware,
adding sections 6.870 and 6.872 to the Eugene Code, 1971, and amending section 6.990
of that code. PASSED 8:0
WORK SESSION: Town Square Project Update
Urban Development Manager Will Dowdy, Julie Fischer of Cogito Partners, and Francesca
Gambetti of Shiels Obletz Johnsen, provided a progress check-in on Eugene's Town Square
Project, which combines the Park Blocks improvements, permanent Farmers Market space, and
City Hall building.
Council Discussion
• Councilor Syrett - asked staff how city hall is being considered within the town square
public engagement conversations.
• Councilor Clark- asked about the project's budget structure; inquired how much money is
available for city hall fund; discussed historical conversations about budget considerations;
inquired if staff is developing a budget based on values or based on community desires;
expressed concern about council perspectives around budget considerations and how they
will be resolved before voting to move forward; inquired about the timeline for city hall
construction and discussed process for public budget requests.
• Councilor Semple - expressed enthusiasm for project and discussed upcoming meetings and
pace of project; inquired about the status of design work and public engagement process;
discussed pace of design development and inquired about staff capacity for design work
during that time period; inquired if there is enough time to do public outreach similar to
that for Riverfront Park, expressed concern about vendors at Saturday and Farmers'
Markets and asked how disruptions would be mitigated; discussed effects of potential
impacts to market vendors, especially for those vending at the Free Speech Plaza.
• Councilor Pryor - Discussed historical experiences with town square and city hall
conversations and the need to weigh speed, cost and quality considerations; discussed
compromises among creating something quickly, cheaply, or well; expressed desire that a
city hall building be built with a legacy goal, keeping in mind a balance between what is
affordable and what is valued.
• Councilor Zelenka - shared similar concerns as other councilors; discussed historical
conversations regarding town square and city hall development; discussed potential
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process moving forward including process for town square and budget separately; inquired
about money made from Butterfly Lot; expressed desire to vote on motion to get project
started.
Councilor Taylor - expressed concerns about budget constraints; asked staff if park blocks
and Butterfly lots would be disrupted at the same time and offered idea about how to
mitigate effects of development on Saturday and Farmers' Markets.
Mayor Vinis - explained challenges of long public engagement processes and affirmation to
staff for continued work, expressed desire for consistent updates for sake of public;
reiterated Councilor Semple's comments about the markets and that vendors would need to
be key stakeholders to town square conversations; expressed desire to make process fun
and creative.
Councilor Clark- discussed historical next -steps raised during prior conversations and
inquired as to status of those steps; offered perspective on challenges of budgeting for project
and public considerations of budget constraints; expressed desire to discuss as council the
balance of values needed to meet budget needs before voting to move forward with design
work, mentioned concerns about use of "heart of the city" when describing town square
development and expressed belief that the river would be the "heart of the city,"
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to
direct the City Manager to take the necessary next steps to design city hall on the
Butterfly lot in planning for the town square. PASSED 7:1, Councilor Clark opposed.
3. WORK SESSION: River Road -Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan Project Update
Metro Community Planning Manager Terri Harding, Associate Planner Eric Brown, and
community stakeholders Kate Perle, Louisa de Beer, and Jon Belcher presented the results
from the Policy Development phase of the River Road -Santa Clara Neighborhood Plan Project.
Council Discussion
• Councilor Clark- expressed gratitude for public engagement process for this planning; asked
presenters about future actions and when work plans would be completed; inquired how TAC
report and Clear and Objective Standards will affect work, including code planning; inquired
the area's comprehensive plan and this plan would intersect and conflict, as well as what
would happen if there were conflicts; asked which goals were most popular; asked staff about
public energy towards maintaining current neighborhood characteristics versus changing;
discussed cost and asset allocation and if neighbors would accept taking on cost of
developments.
MOTION TO VOTE: Councilor Syrett, seconded by Councilor Pryor, moved to extend
the meeting by 10 minutes. PASSED 7:1, Semple opposed.
Councilor Semple - expressed gratitude for the project and need for more to be involved;
inquired about money dedicated for the project, current money used, and estimates for
requested monies in the future; reiterated Councilor Clark's comments about controversy and
asked about barriers for goals/subjects seen as most controversial; asked why there is a lot of
planning being done without knowing what can be planned; asked what presenters plan to do
if motion to move forward fails.
Councilor Syrett - reiterated Councilor Clark's comments about presenters and public long
term engagement with this area and long history of public engagement; discussed policy
areas she has witnessed come up throughout the planning process; expressed desire for
unanimous vote moving forward.
Councilor Zelenka - expressed excitement and appreciation about public outreach and
planning process; expressed appreciation for staff person Eric Brown.
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Work Session
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to
direct staff to begin the Action Planning phase of the project based on the draft goals
and policies in Attachment A. PASSED 7:1, Councilor Semple opposed.
The meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
(Recorded by Samantha Roberts)
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting: here.
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Work Session