HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.15.2019 City Council Public Hearing MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8�h Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
July 15, 2019
7:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Claire
Syrett, Chris Pryor, Greg Evans
Mayor Vinis opened the July 15, 2019, meeting of the Eugene City Council.
1. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Extending the Term of Ordinance No. 20170 Granting to
Northwest Natural Gas Company, a Corporation, a Twenty -Year Non -Exclusive Right and
Franchise to Lay, Maintain and Operate Facilities in the Public Way Within the City of
Eugene, Oregon; and Providing for the Payment of Compensation to the City.
Mayor Vinis opened the public hearing.
1. Rouanna Garden - Spoke about use of natural gas and associated municipal revenue.
2. Jim Ball - Spoke about demands of NWN and whether EWEB could meet community needs.
3. Linda Heyl - Requested council use agreement to regulate NWN carbon emissions.
4. Betzi Hitz - Reiterated need for agreement to meet CRO goals to reduce carbon emissions.
5. Sara Burant - Spoke to climate change concerns and opposition of using natural gas.
6. Jim Neu - Spoke to carbonization concerns, NWN, and opposition to agreement.
7. Christa Knittle - Spoke in opposition to the franchise agreement.
8. Tim Morris - Spoke about the failure of HB 2020 and need for immediate action.
9. Ryan Moore - Spoke to considerations of climate change and use of natural gas.
10. Michael Gannon - Addressed a variety of concerns related to climate change.
Council Discussion
o Councilor Zelenka - Spoke to advocacy in partnering with NWN through a legally binding
agreement versus a franchise fee agreement; spoke to failure of HB 2020 and the challenges
imposed on this agreement as a result; spoke to SB 98 and how it can incentivize NWN to
act on renewable resources; spoke to the process of creating a binding legal agreement.
o Councilor Syrett - Inquired about NWN's plans during the time it would take to create a
legally binding agreement; expressed support for binding agreement rather than franchise
fee contract given it includes requirements towards real reductions in emissions; supported
using the agreement to leverage these types of reductions.
o Councilor Clark- Discussed capacity of EWEB to meet future capacity growth if gas
becomes unavailable and as demand for electricity increases; inquired of staff to have better
information from EWEB about capacity to provide electricity as demand grows.
o Councilor Zelenka - Discussed presentation from EWEB and capacity for growth including
EV and ability to meet demands, as well as incoming information from EWEB towards this
topic.
Mayor Vinis closed the public hearing.
2. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Amending and Codifying Permitted Overnight Sleeping
Rest Stop Program Provisions, and Amending Section 4.816 of the Eugene Code, 1971.
Assistant City Manager Kristie Hammitt introduced the public hearing topic.
MINUTES - Eugene City Public Hearing July 15, 2019 Page 1
Mayor Vinis opened the public hearing.
1. Donna Riddle - Spoke in support of the ordinance and other public hearing topics.
2. David Ivan Piccioni - Spoke to a variety of unrelated topics.
3. Tracy Joscelyn - Spoke in support of rest stops, noting success of Nightingale facility.
4. Michael Gannon - Spoke to letter provided to Council in November 2018.
S. Eric Jackson - Spoke in support of rest stops and related programs.
6. Heather Sielicki - Spoke in support of ordinance and rest stops.
Mayor Vinis closed the public hearing.
Council Discussion
o Councilor Syrett - Addressed concerns brought by Michael Gannon; communicated support
for involving those who are homeless in the implementation of strategies.
3. PUBLIC HEARING: Proposal to Rename Washington -Jefferson Parkas Edwin R. Smith
Park in Honor of Ed Smith
Assistant City Manager Kristie Hammitt introduced the public hearing topic.
Mayor Vinis opened the public hearing.
John Etter - Spoke in support of renaming the park.
Terry Smith - Spoke in support of renaming the park.
Marjorie Smith - Thanked council for considering the renaming proposal.
Mayor Vinis closed the public hearing.
Council Discussion
o Councilor Taylor - Expressed support for Edwin Smith's contributions, renaming the park,
and adding a monument to provide context for his contributions; expressed appreciation
for those opposing the change.
o Councilor Yeh - Discussed the importance of place naming; discussed need to address
diversity in legacy building and for greater community input; expressed support for
monument to recognize Edwin Smith's contributions.
o Councilor Syrett - Expressed appreciation for Edwin Smith's contribution to create a park in
her ward and associated cost; expressed agreement with Councilor Yeh about need for
more diverse community input for this topic.
o Councilor Clark - Spoke about past initiatives to name local landmarks.
o Mayor Vinis - Expressed agreement with Councilor Yeh and Syrett's comments about the
need for broader and more inclusive means for public feedback.
The meeting adjourned at 8:34 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
,6VtA
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
(Recorded by Samantha Roberts)
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting: here.
MINUTES - Eugene City Public Hearing July 15, 2019 Page 2