Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 11/20/06 Work Session M I N U T E S Eugene City Council Work Session McNutt Room—Eugene City Hall November 20, 2006 5:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Jennifer Solomon, Bonny Bettman, David Kelly, Andrea Ortiz, Gary Papé, George Poling, Chris Pryor, Betty Taylor. Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the meeting of the Eugene City Council to order. Mayor Piercy reported that a great deal of hate graffiti had been painted Sunday night at various locations throughout the community, including at Amazon Park, South Eugene High School, and the YMCA. The comments were appalling and property damage was serious. She said the graffiti was aimed at the African- American, Asian, Latino, and Jewish communities. She asserted the actions were despicable criminal acts of hate that would be aggressively investigated to bring those responsible to appropriate justice. Mayor Piercy wanted the perpetrators to know that the City of Eugene had a demonstrated record of success in bringing to justice those who committed crimes of hatred and intended to keep that record. She asked anyone with information that might lead to identification of those responsible to call the Eugene Police Department. Mayor Piercy asserted that the Mayor, City Council and fellow community members clearly would not tolerate that kind of activity, would support and stand by all of the communities and would take action when called for. It was important for everyone to respect others, honor differences, and enjoy living together. Mayor Piercy reported she had a discussion earlier with the City Council Committee on Race regarding the need to develop agreed-upon community protocols for response to hate crimes, which she intended to make a priority. She said the idea of City employees acting as the eyes and ears in the community tracking such occurrences was discussed. She added this kind of hate was experienced outside the City limits and she pledged to work with mayors in other local communities. Mayor Piercy believed it was important to work with other groups and organizations. She commended everyone who in their daily lives went out of their way to show they cared about fairness and justice, and that that community cared about everyone. A. CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—City Council Priority Issue—City Hall Complex Ms. Solomon arrived at 5:32 p.m. City Manager Taylor thanked Mayor Piercy for speaking on behalf of the community on the hate crime issue. City Manager Taylor introduced Mike Penwell from Facilities Services. MINUTES—City Council November 20, 2006 Page 1 Work Session Mr. Penwell provided the staff report. He explained the City Hall Complex master planning process was 18 months into process adopted by the City Council in 2005. The remaining issues included Eugene Police Department (EPD) patrol consolidation and site selection. He asked for permission for staff to talk with Lane County regarding acquisition of the county owned butterfly parking lot, and proposed that staff return on December 11, 2006, with additional information. Mr. Penwell said this meeting provided an opportunity for the City Council to focus on the decision of police consolidation, and whether patrol should be housed inside of or outside of City Hall. He added that the City Manager preferred to locate patrol outside of City Hall for operational reasons that were supported by Police Chief Robert Lehner. Mr. Penwell introduced Thomas Hacker of Thomas Hacker Architects. Mr. Hacker reviewed several options that were displayed in poster form and included in the agenda packet. He said the most important addition was development of a new one-half block scheme that incorporated suggestions from the City Council and looked at a possible alternate containing a diagonal connection between the reestablished Park Block at Eighth Avenue, Oak Street and Park Street with the intersection of th 7 Avenue and Willamette Street. This provided a strong visual connection between the Park Blocks, the city’s civic presence, and the cultural connection with the Hult Center and other similar assets. Mr. Hacker said the other addition to the drawings, while somewhat different, had been to provide each option with below-grade parking and at-grade parking entrances. He said if patrol functions were included in the City Hall building, reflected in Option B of all six options, the need to respond directly to the street level required two exits and two entrances in the event that one of the access or egress points was blocked. He added that the “C” and “D” options offered single entrance and exit, with an added lane for exiting to avoid conflict with other vehicles. Mr. Hacker said the council request to reduce the impact of police functions on the ground floor was reflected in the drawings, particularly in the one-half block site, and had been addressed in all cases by reducing the police area on the ground floor to 10,000 square feet, with the balance of the police areas on the second, third, or fourth floors. Mr. Hacker said the design process would be continued through 2007, and various design options could be carried through the process. Mr. Hacker invited questions from City Councilors. Ms. Ortiz arrived at 5:40 p.m. In response to Ms. Bettman, Ms. Dana Ing Crawford said it was vital to have two separate access and egress ramps to avoid blockage for patrol vehicles, and ideal to have two separate ramps for other police fleet vehicles. Ms. Ing Crawford added if patrol was not located in the building, multiple ramps would not be a vital concern. Mr. Hacker concurred that two ramps had not yet been ruled out in any option. Ms. Ing Crawford reviewed and explained the various cost models included in the agenda packet. She noted that the total project cost number differences were reflected primarily in land acquisition and relocation costs, while construction cost number differences were reflected primarily in the police consolidation option and parking configurations. MINUTES—City Council November 20, 2006 Page 2 Work Session In response to Ms. Bettman, Ms. Ing Crawford said the police consolidation costs reflected the cost of construction of a separate building for patrol. Mr. Kelly commented while the cost information was useful, it should not be the primary driver in making a decision. He appreciated the detail cost information presented. Responding to a question from Mr. Papé, Mr. Penwell stated that staff was talking with Lane County about replacement of 228 parking spaces currently accommodated at the butterfly parking lot. Mayor Piercy said it would be helpful to have information to explain the costs to the public, noting there was concern on the cost compared to the new federal courthouse. Ms. Ing Crawford said the primary explanation for the perceived high cost was escalation, noting that construction costs were at historic highs, rising at eight or nine percent annually, while steel and dry wall costs were rising at even higher rates. Mr. Penwell added that the proposed City Hall Complex included parking, which was not part of the federal building. He further explained that Oregon building code contained seismic requirements for buildings housing police services. Ms. Ortiz questioned how much cheaper the construction costs would be if patrol was not located in the City Hall complex. She added patrol needed to be out in the community rather than in downtown, and high rents should not be paid for parking and locker rooms. Mr. Penwell said the difference in costs was reflected in the “B” and “C” options. Ms. Solomon, seconded by Ms. Ortiz, moved to direct the City Manager to proceed with planning for a new City Hall with police patrol separate from City Hall. In response to Ms. Bettman, City Manager Taylor said locating patrol outside of the City Hall complex was among the staff recommendations, but not the decision before the City Council today. Ms. Bettman supported having patrol functions included in City Hall. She said she would oppose moving patrol out of City Hall, noting there were not enough compelling reasons to do so. Mr. Kelly said developments in the proposed options made him understand how patrol could function efficiently outside of City Hall. He added that good police oversight would come from good management from Chief Lehner, and work from the Civilian Review Board, Police Commission, and the Police Auditor. Mr. Kelly said he heard concern from his constituents about including patrol in the building. He noted the motion did not address where patrol would be located, other than outside of City Hall. Responding to Ms. Solomon, City Manager Taylor said development of the bond measure language would be a City Council decision. Ms. Solomon said a compelling case had been made for taking patrol outside of City Hall and she would support that proposal. MINUTES—City Council November 20, 2006 Page 3 Work Session Mr. Poling said he originally supported keeping the patrol function at City Hall. However, based upon Chief Lehner’s vision, the City Manager’s recommendation, and the most recent verbatim citizen participa- tion comments, there appeared to be a preference to have the patrol function outside of City Hall. He opined that issuing patrol cars to officers would save costs by reducing the need to accommodate parking. He added he would support the motion. Ms. Ortiz supported the motion and looked forward to hearing from the community on the issue. In response to Ms. Taylor, Mr. Penwell said the money for construction of the forensics building came from the facility replacement fund. Ms. Taylor suggested there was enough money in the facility replacement fund to build a modest police building. She said she would support the motion. She liked the idea of officers taking their cars home. Mayor Piercy said she had been surprised by the level of interest in having police being located off-site, and how important it was for the City Hall to maintain a connection to the community. Ms. Bettman said it was important to have a police presence at City Hall. She said the bond measure for City Hall would not necessarily succeed, adding she would oppose the motion and a related bond measure. Ms. Taylor said the people who expressed their opinions during the public participation process were self selected and not a broad cross section. The issue had not been reviewed by neighborhood groups and the City Club. The motion passed 7:1, with Ms. Bettman voting in opposition. Ms. Solomon, seconded by Ms. Ortiz, moved to direct the City Manager to bring back to council for the December 11, 2006, work session additional cost information related to site selection for a new City Hall, particularly costs related to site acquisition of the Lane County “butterfly” parking lot. Mr. Kelly hoped there would be sufficient information available on December 11 to make a decision. However, he would not make lack of information a reason to decide one way or the other. He said although he would not be on the council beginning in January 2007, the council should carry the decision into the new year if necessary. He noted land acquisition and relocation expenses increased costs. He said he had received unsolicited input from members of the public that they were excited about the possibility of construction at the butterfly parking lot and the Rock ‘n Rodeo site. Ms. Taylor said it was important for the Lane Board of County Commissioners to have a discussion on the proposal. Mayor Piercy said timing on conversations with the board was critical. City Manager Taylor said he talked with the Lane County facilities director and individual Lane County commissioners. He added that their discussions had included improvements to the Park Blocks and acquiring the butterfly lot during the City Center visioning project. MINUTES—City Council November 20, 2006 Page 4 Work Session Mr. Penwell added that he and Assistant City Manager Jim Carlson talked with a facilities sub-group consisting of two commissioners and County staff that had reached consensus that whatever occurred needed to be beneficial to Lane County, the City of Eugene, and the community. Mayor Piercy said she talked individually with the five commissioners to explain the process to-date, and had gotten good responses from them. Mr. Kelly asked for a summary in the December 11 City Council agenda packets from the November 21 Human Rights Commission discussion with the project design team. Mr. Papé said he was excited about the possibility of using the butterfly lot and inquired about when it was constructed. Mr. Penwell noted the butterfly lot predated the current City Hall building. In response to Ms. Bettman, City Manager Taylor said timing of the purchase of the butterfly lot and the Rock ‘n Rodeo site would depend upon the willingness of the property owners to sell. He stated his preference would be to identify a site and have it secured prior to presenting a bond measure to the voters. The motion passed 7:1, with Ms. Bettman voting in opposition. The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Dennis M. Taylor City Manager (Recorded by Linda Henry) MINUTES—City Council November 20, 2006 Page 5 Work Session