HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.24.2019 City Council Meeting MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council and Eugene Urban Renewal Agency
Harris Hall, 125 East 8h Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
June 24, 2019
7:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Claire Syrett, Chris
Pryor
Councilors Absent: Betty Taylor, Greg Evans
Councilor Semple opened the June 24, 2019, meeting of the Eugene City Council in Mayor Vinis'
absence.
1. Applicant Statements for the Human Rights Commission
Three applicants for the Human Rights Commission presented a three-minute statement about
their interest in serving the community through board or commission membership: Amanda
McCluskey, Heather Sielicki, and Kirstin London
Councilor Semple announced that the Consent Calendar was approved during the work session and
highlighted the Neighborhood Matching Grants program.
• Art Farley (Sustainability Commission) - expressed desire for council to address polystyrene.
• Victor Odlivak- spoke in opposition to the proliferation of 5G technology.
• Eva Bortnick- spoke in opposition to the proliferation of 5G technology.
• Sabrina Siegel - spoke in opposition to the proliferation of 5G technology.
• Bekki Bruckner - spoke in opposition to the proliferation of 5G technology.
• Colin Farnsworth - spoke in opposition to the proliferation of 5G technology.
• Joshua Korn - spoke in opposition to the proliferation of 5G technology.
• Abraham Likwornik- spoke in opposition to the proliferation of 5G technology.
• Hope Vaccher - spoke in opposition to the proliferation of 5G technology.
• Barbara Wade - spoke in opposition to the proliferation of 5G technology.
• Ron Breaden - spoke in opposition to the payroll tax in Eugene.
• Wesley Robins - spoke about personal issues with law enforcement.
• Cindy Ingram - discussed downtown bike activity; requested code changes to support business.
• Bill O'Brien - spoke in opposition to planting strips ordinance and a camping ban.
• David Igl - spoke to renaming Dunn Hall and challenges working elected officials.
• John Hagen - spoke about experiences with the homeless.
• Eric Jackson - opposed the planting strip ordinance; supported courts becoming court of record.
• John Thielking - spoke to a variety of issues including planting strip ordinance and payroll tax.
• Jim Ball - voiced concern about climate change impacts on low income individuals.
• Roberly Heersch - spoke in opposition to proliferation of 5G technology.
• Misha Seymour - spoke in opposition to planting strip ordinance and other policies.
• Lourdes Mante - voiced concerns about homelessness and requested for positive solutions.
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Council Discussion
• Councilor Syrett - addressed Mr. Ball's comments about equity work in sustainability
efforts and desire to address this with her appointee on the Sustainability Commission.
• Councilor Clark- addressed comments about 5G regarding upcoming work session.
• Councilor Semple -commented on pub cycle options; announced the next Public Forum
on July 8 and noted the June 26 work session was cancelled.
4. ACTION: An Ordinance Concerning Persons in Charge of Planting Strips and Amending
Section 7.370 of the Eugene Code, 1971.
MOTION: Councilor Pryor, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved to adopt an
ordinance concerning persons in charge of planting strips and amending section
7.370 of the Eugene Code, 1971.
Council Discussion
• Councilor Syrett -spoke about concerns regarding homelessness in neighborhoods and
the need for tools to address concerns with public safety and public health; expressed
support for the ordinance and clarified the reasons why.
• Councilor Zelenka- expressed agreement with Councilor Syrett's comments; raised
questions about the use of planter strips and lack of clarity currently in City Code;
expressed desire for motion to make passage effective immediately rather than 30 days
after Mayor has signed.
• Councilor Clark- expressed support for ordinance and clarified the reasons why.
• Councilor Semple - addressed concerns about free speech on planter strips versus
sidewalks; asked where the ordinance would be effective; inquired about other tools
that exist to address concerns for landowners who have continuous cement in front of
their property; expressed hesitancy around ordinance but acknowledged concerns
brought by community members; discussed concerns about passage of ordinance
without alternative place for the unhoused to go.
• Councilor Zelenka - spoke about length of time in consideration of ordinance; discussed
intention to make an amendment to the motion.
MOTION TO AMEND AND VOTE: Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Clark,
moved to amend the ordinance to add a new section 3 that states: Pursuant to the
provisions of Section 32 (2) of the Eugene Charter of 2002, with the affirmative vote
of two-thirds of the members of the City Council, this Ordinance shall become
effective immediately upon adoption by the Council and approval by the Mayor, or
passage over the Mayor's veto. An immediate effective date is necessary to provide
property owners responsible for maintaining planting strips the authority to resolve
and prevent unsafe and unsanitary behaviors currently occurring in some planting
strips. PASSED 6:0
VOTE ON MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED: PASSED 6:0.
5. PUBLIC HEARING AND ACTION: Resolution Adopting a Supplemental Budget; Making
Appropriations for the City of Eugene for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2018 and
Ending June 30, 2020.
• John Barofsky - addressed concerns about PERS costs and opportunities for state funding.
Council Discussion
• Councilor Clark- addressed concerns about PERS liability; asked how council could
direct funding reserves towards PERS, taking advantage of state fund leveraging; asked
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if proposing a motion would defer action on the supplemental budget; discussed
conversations about long-term effects of PERS costs and concerns about waiting to act
and losing state funds; inquired about timing of any decisions and expressed a desire for
conversations to happen soon.
• Councilor Zelenka - asked if using money for leveraging state PERS dollars would tie up
reserve funds; affirmed City Manager's balancing of the budget and reserves; expressed
a desire to learn more about how to address PERS issues and leverage state funds;
requested further discussion about the use of reserves.
Councilor Syrett - expressed interest in a work session about PERS but expressed
confidence in City Manager to use Supplemental 1 budget to address concerns;
discussed willingness to take on risk and address PERS.
Councilor Clark- reiterated concerns about losing time to leverage funds from state and
noted the reasons why it is important to address the issue quickly.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Pryor, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to
approve Resolution 5268 adopting a Supplemental Budget; making appropriations
for the City of Eugene for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019 and ending June 30,
2020. PASSED 6:0
PUBLIC HEARING AND ACTION: A Resolution Adopting the Budget, Making
Appropriations, Determining, Levying and Categorizing the Annual Ad Valorem Property
Tax Levy for the City of Eugene for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2019 and Ending June
30, 2020; a Resolution Electing to Receive State Revenue Sharing Funds Pursuant to
Section 221.770 of Oregon Revised Statutes; and a Resolution Certifying that the City of
Eugene Provides the Municipal Services Required by Oregon Revised Statues Section
221.760 in Order to Receive State Shared Revenues.
• Bonnie Souza (Human Rights Commission) - expressed appreciation for multicultural
liaison position in budget; spoke to the benefit and need of the position within the city.
• Andrew Thomson - spoke in support of multicultural liaison position as it will benefit
the disabled community.
• John Barofsky - spoke about PERS and the use of reserves to match state funds to
address PERS liability; expressed desire for council to consider this matter including
funds outside of reserves for revenue shortfall.
• Eric Jackson - expressed desire that any money available go to transitioning Municipal
Court to a court of record.
Council Discussion
• Councilor Clark- asked about revenue from on -street parking and whether parking
spots not covered by the fee could be used for other items besides cars.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Pryor, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to
approve Resolution 5269 electing to receive State Revenue Sharing funds pursuant
to Section 221.770 of Oregon Revised Statues. PASSED 6:0
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Pryor, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to
approve Resolution 5270 certifying that the City of Eugene provides the municipal
services required by Oregon Revised Statues Section 221.760. PASSED 6:0
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Pryor, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to
approve Resolution 5271 adopting the budget, making appropriations, and
determining, levying and categorizing the annual ad valorem property tax levy for
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the City of Eugene for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019 and ending June 30,
2020. PASSED 6:0
Councilor Semple closed the meeting of the Eugene City Council and opened a meeting of the Eugene
Urban Renewal Agency.
7. URA PUBLIC HEARING AND ACTION: A Resolution of the Urban Renewal Agency of the
City of Eugene Adopting the Budget; Making Appropriations, and Declaring the Amount
of Tax to be Certified for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2019 and Ending June 30, 2020.
• John Barofsky - discussed URA budget considerations and potential upcoming needs to be
funded in URA including action on issues that have been dormant for many years; discussed
other needs.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Pryor, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to
approve Resolution 1090 of the Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Eugene adopting
the budget, making appropriations and declaring the amount of tax to be certified for
the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2020. PASSED 6:0
Councilor Semple closed the meeting of the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency and reopened the meeting
of the Eugene City Council.
8. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Concerning the Downtown Riverfront Land Use
Adoption Package (An Ordinance Amending the Whiteaker Plan; Repealing the EWEB
Downtown Riverfront Specific Area Plan; Amending Chapter 9 of the Eugene Code;
Amending the Eugene Zoning Map and Zoning Overlay Zone Map; Rescinding the
Willamette Greenway Permit Approved by Ordinance No. 20513 and Approving a New
Willamette Greenway permit; Approving a Tentative Subdivision; Approving A/WR
Water Resources Overlay Zone Standards Review; and Providing and Effective Date.)
Councilors Pryor, Clark, Syrett, and Semple declared ex parte contacts, noting they would not
affect their ability to make an unbiased decision.
Tiffany Edwards (Planning Commission) - spoke about the commission's process for
considering quasi-judicial matters, including this land use adoption package.
John Barofsky -expressed support for the ordinance; discussed commission's process in
considering land use adoption package, including community engagement processes.
Michael Deluise (Downtown Neighborhood Association) - supported land use adoption
package; expressed enthusiasm for Riverfront development plans; expressed appreciation
for neighborhood and community involvement.
Councilor Semple reminded everyone that the work session on June 26 was cancelled.
The meeting of the city council adjourned at 9:46 p.m.
Zspectfu ly submitted,
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
(Recorded by Samantha Roberts)
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting: here.
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