HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.29.2019 City Council Work Session Meeting MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
May 29, 2019
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark,
Claire Syrett
Councilors Absent: Greg Evans, Chris Pryor
Mayor Vinis opened the May 29, 2019, work session of the Eugene City Council.
1. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(e) and 192.660(2)(f)
Mayor Vinis reopened the May 29, 2019 work session of the Eugene City Council at 12:23
p.m.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple,
moved to direct the City Manager to schedule a public hearing on a possible
one-year agreement to extend the franchise agreement with Northwest
Natural Gas. PASSED 6:0
2. WORK SESSION: Review of 2018 Implementation of Bond Measure to Fix Streets and
2019 Pavement Management Report
Principal Civil Engineer Jenifer Willer presented the Street Repair Review Panel 2018
Annual Report to the City Council as well as the 2019 Pavement Management Report.
Council Discussion
• Councilor Clark - expressed appreciation for the presentation and bond process;
inquired about the sources of income funding outside of the bond (i.e. property taxes).
• Councilor Syrett - expressed appreciation to staff and the citizen committee for their
work; spoke about experiences traveling on roads and gave kudos to contractors for
quality of work.
• Councilor Zelenka - expressed appreciation to Public Works for maintenance on roads
as well as the work of the citizen committee; reviewed 2019 pavement management
report statistics and nature of backlogged maintenance; inquired about the difference in
funding needs for projects; expressed appreciation for projects.
• Mayor Vinis - echoed comments by councilors; expressed appreciation for the
presentation and the work of the street review panel.
• Councilor Zelenka - encouraged consideration of opportunities for Public Works to
develop promotional materials about potholes.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council May 29, 2019 Page 1
Work Session
3. Committee Reports and Items of Interest
Council Discussion
• Councilor Taylor - discussed school zone speeding dangers and concerns and desire
to do something about that; discussed Budget Committee concerns about full-time
position approval and other funding needs; discussed need for conversation about
funding positions around the City.
• Councilor Semple - discussed motion passed in Budget Committee for accessible
restrooms downtown and other restroom needs.
• Councilor Clark - expressed agreement with Councilor Taylor's comments;
requested that next year's budget process be presented as more of a reflection of
city goals and values as a means of deciding priorities; requested a discussion of the
process and purpose of public forum at the next process session and spoke to the
council's experience with current public forum process.
• Councilor Syrett - agreed with the desire to improve the value of public forums;
discussed concerns from River Road Community Organization regarding
development on Lombard Avenue.
• Councilor Yeh -expressed agreement with councilors Taylor and Clark about budget
concerns; asked the City Manager what is happening with canopies at the Free
Speech Plaza and why canopies have been prohibited; inquired where security is
represented at the Saturday Market and who has legal authority over the space.
• Councilor Zelenka - expressed agreement with Councilor Clark about having a
discussion about public forum; announced open house for Franklin Boulevard
Project; reported on Police Commission retreat during the past weekend and topics
discussed therein; inquired about old city hall lot and parking lot development;
asked what'temporary' means in terms of parking lot development on site.
• Councilor Taylor - discussed and inquired about canopy prohibition at the Free
Speech Plaza.
• Mayor Vinis - reported on the Walkability Conference in Georgia and action plan
development for long-term needs; announced Walk with the Mayor opportunity;
noted that EWEB and Council leadership have regular meetings.
• Councilor Taylor - requested updates from the Mayor regarding meetings with the
4J and Bethel Superintendents.
The meeting adjourned at 1:14 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
13ex� ,t
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
(Recorded by Samantha Roberts)
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting: here.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council May 29, 2019 Page 2
Work Session