HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.22.2019 City Council Meeting MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
July 22, 2019
7:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Betty Taylor, Emily Semple, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark,
Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor
Councilors Absent: Greg Evans
Mayor Vinis opened the July 22, 2019, meeting of the Eugene City Council.
1. PUBLIC FORUM
1. Joel Iboa - thanked council for passing the resolution condemning white nationalism.
2. Hope Vaccher - spoke against 5G installation in Eugene.
3. Colin Farsnworth - spoke against 5G installation in Eugene.
4. Abraham Likwornik - spoke against 5G installation in Eugene.
5. Bekki Bruckner - spoke against 5G installation in Eugene.
6. Victor Odlivak- spoke against 5G installation in Eugene.
7. Sabrina Siegel - spoke against 5G installation in Eugene.
8. Susanne Beaman - spoke against 5G installation in Eugene.
9. Joshua Korn- spoke against 5G installation in Eugene.
10. Roberly Hearsch - spoke against 5G installation in Eugene.
11. Barbara Wade - spoke against 5G installation in Eugene.
12. Robin Bloomgarden - spoke against 5G installation in Eugene.
13. Kathy Ging - spoke against 5G installation in Eugene.
14. Tom Brandt- shared concerns about selling the riverfront property to developers.
15. Sara Burant - invited council to join in 350 Eugene bicycle rides.
16. David Igl - shared concerns about the renaming of Dunn Hall.
17. Pamela Krause- shared an example of hate in our community.
18. Deborah McGee - spoke in support of climate change policy.
19. Patty Hine - spoke in support of climate change policy.
20. Linda Perrine - spoke against renewing the NWN franchise agreement for another year.
21. Linda Heyl - spoke against renewing the NWN franchise agreement for another year.
22. Drix - talked about Eugene being a great city.
23. Steve Kines - spoke in support of more rest stops and the proposed changes to rest stop siting.
24. Stefan Strek- talked about homelessness in Eugene.
25. Michael Carrigan - spoke in favor of the proposed rest stop siting changes.
26. Michael Gannon - shared concerns about crosswalks and pedestrian safety.
Council Discussion
o Councilor Semple - addressed voting against the resolution against white nationalism; said
she's horrified by white nationalism but concerned by the suggestion that the council would
be regulating people's thoughts.
o Councilor Clark- asked the City Attorney if City Council has a legal obligation to implement
a precautionary principle as it pertains to any issue particularly or the 5G issue specifically;
discussed precautionary principle versus proof of harm principle; asked the City Attorney if
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City Council is under a legal obligation to act in the manner discussed in some of the public
forum testimony or if lack of action puts the City in legal jeopardy as it pertains to the 5G
issues raised.
o Councilor Taylor -said she agreed with Councilor Semple's statement and she's been told
there isn't anything to City can do about 5G.
Mayor Vinis - reported that she had scheduled a meeting with representatives of the group
opposing 5G; said that she made a speech at the U.S. Conference of Mayors about 5G,
strongly advocating for fellow mayors to join in litigation against 5G providers overriding
local control to rights-of-way.
Councilor Clark - said that the City Council not acting with the speed that is hoped for is not
the same as not acting; said that the council has taken action through their normal process
and have scheduled a work session on the topic.
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A. Approval of City Council Minutes
o June 10, 2019, Work Session
o June 10, 2019, Meeting
o June 12, 2019, Work Session
o June 17, 2019, Work Session
o June 17, 2019 Public Hearing
o June 19, 2019, Work Session
o June 24, 2019, Work Session
o June 24, 2019, Meeting
B. Approval of Tentative Working Agenda
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to adopt
the items on the Consent Calendar. PASSED 7:0.
ACTION: 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
MOTION: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to adopt an
Ordinance Extending the Term of Ordinance No. 20170 for four months.
Council Discussion
o Councilor Clark -said he wasn't in favor of a four-month extension when the staff
recommendation was for a year; said he spoke with EWEB Board members about their
capacity to handle the demand if everyone moved away from natural gas.
Councilor Taylor - said that the reason she proposed four months was because it gives time
to think about and learn more about what actions City Council can take.
o Councilor Syrett - shared her intention to amend the original motion to six months, but
supported the four month motion, said she was leaning towards Councilor Zelenka's
proposal that the City come to a binding agreement with Northwest Natural to reduce
carbon emissions; said she had concerns about Northwest Natural's commitment to
partnering on reductions; asked for answers from Northwest Natural about how many new
customers and how many new homes they plan to connect within a potential one-year
extension; said she wants to develop a robust and binding agreement with Northwest
Natural, creating a partnership with targets to reduce emissions and accountability.
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Meeting
o Councilor Zelenka - shared concerns that it may be unrealistic to respond with a four-
month extension and asked staff to share thoughts on a timeline; noted that the agreement
is very complicated because it is unprecedented and there's no template to move forward
on.
o Councilor Pryor - said he was sensitive to overloading staff and even though there might be
a desire to move quicker, staff's workload must be considered.
MOTION TO AMEND: Councilor Pryor, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved to extend
the term of Ordinance No. 20170 for one year.
Council Discussion
o Councilor Yeh - said she doesn't want to keep waiting on state action and wants to move
forward on making decisions; said she would support a four- or six-month extension, but a
year seems like more time than is needed.
o Councilor Semple - said she thinks six months is a good compromise and is comfortable
with that extension.
o Councilor Clark - said that if this motion fails, he will move to amend to six months.
VOTE ON MOTION TO AMEND: FAILED 3:4, Councilors Semple, Taylor, Yeh, and Syrett
opposed.
MOTION TO AMEND AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Semple,
moved to extend the term of Ordinance No. 20170 for six months. PASSED 6:1,
Councilor Taylor opposed.
VOTE ON MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED: PASSED 6:1, Councilor Clark opposed.
Council Discussion
o Councilor Clark- asked about the consequences if Northwest Natural does not agree to a
six-month contract extension.
o Councilor Syrett - said she feels a sense of urgency around this issue but, if needed, the City
Council has the ability to make another extension on the agreement; said that a six-month
extension will allow City Council to see what impacts there might be from the special
legislative session in February.
4. ACTION: An Ordinance Amending and Codifying Permitted Overnight Sleeping Rest Stop
Program Provisions, and Amending Section 4.816 of the Eugene Code, 1971
MOTION: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to adopt an
Ordinance Amending and Codifying Permitted Overnight Sleeping Rest Stop
Program Provisions, and Amending Section 4.816 of the Eugene Code, 1971.
Council Discussion
o Councilor Clark- said he would be voting against the motion because he doesn't agree with
the change in placement issues and is representing his constituency who would not agree
with the changes.
o Councilor Semple - said she was in favor of the changes to the rest stop program.
o Councilor Taylor - asked for clarification on the proposed changes being made; said she
would not be voting for locating rest stops in residential areas.
VOTE ON MOTION: PASSED 5:2, Councilors Taylor and Clark opposed.
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S. ACTION: Approval of Motions Relating to the November 5, 2019, Election
MOTION: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to direct the City
Manager to include on a supplemental budget sufficient appropriation offset by
General Fund contingency and the Reserve for Revenue Shortfall to produce the voters'
pamphlet.
Council Discussion
o Councilor Zelenka —said that he was not originally in favor of putting this on the ballot, but
now that it is on the ballot, he thinks people need to be informed about it and supports this
motion.
VOTE: PASSED 7:0.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to
appoint Councilors Syrett and Pryor to the voters' pamphlet proponent committee for
the Charter Amendment that caps the rate and limits the use of the City's Payroll Tax.
PASSED 7:0.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to direct
the City Manager to include on a supplemental budget sufficient appropriation offset by
General Fund contingency and the Reserve for Revenue Shortfall to pay the City's part of
the cost for the November 5, 2019 election. PASSED 7:0.
The meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
13CtA JI
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
(Recorded by Elena Domingo)
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting: here.
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