HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.11.20 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
March 11, 2020
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Claire Syrett
Councilors Absent: Betty Taylor, Greg Evans, Chris Pryor
Mayor Vinis opened the March 11, 2020, work session of the Eugene City Council.
1. WORK SESSION: Emergency Preparedness Update
Interim Fire Chief Chris Heppel and Communicable Disease Nursing Supervisor and Incident
Commander for Lane County Public Health Cindy Morgan gave an update regarding emergency
preparedness specifically regarding COVID-19. Items discussed were updates from Lane County
Public Health, role of the City, and current City actions.
Council Discussion:
• Councilor Zelenka - asked about viricide and bleach -based cleaning products; inquired about
the differences between COVID-19 and other similar viruses as they relate to transmission;
talked about personal prevention tactics; asked about attending large events and social
distancing measures; asked who has the authority to shut down events or large gathering
locations,
• Councilor Clark - talked about the fear many citizens feel and their frustration with the lack of
communication; asked about restricting activities and closing locations that are used by
vulnerable populations; spoke about wanting more communication from Lane County Public
Health and City staff to the citizens.
• Councilor Syrett - reminded everyone about Oregon's paid sick leave law; noted the
preparedness of health care workers, her availability for meeting with the City Manager during
the council break, and her desire for more communications from Lane C ounty Public Health and
the City.
• Mayor Vinis - asked about plans for increasing the number of sanitation stations for the
unhoused community members.
• Councilor Semple - expressed concern about the lack of hand washing stations for the
unhoused population; asked about next steps after the mitigation stage; expressed hope that
the City's response can be used as a model for what to do in the future.
• Councilor Yeh - asked about the timeline and agenda of the task force and if they would be
needing funds to proceed;
• Councilor Clark - talked about the concerns related to taking stricter precautionary measures
for the city and what precautions have taken place in the world; appreciated the thoughtfulness
of taking into consideration small businesses and access to services; desired more calming
communication with the public.
• Councilor Zelenka -thanked staff for the work being done on preparedness; spoke about the
mortality rates of the flu versus COVID-19; supported placing hand washing stations around the
city and at large events; inquired about testing and the actual number of cases.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council March 11, 2020 Page 1
Work Session
Councilor Clark - talked about simplistic the airborne versus the droplet transmission
communication needed with the public, asked that the City Council be kept in the loop about
upcoming needs during the break.
Mayor Vinis - expressed appreciation for the communication Lane County Public Health has put
out and asked others to convey the same message.
Councilor Clark - spoke about the fear of citizens and wanting more communication.
2. WORK SESSION: Speed Limits on Residential Streets
Transportation Planning Engineer Chris Henry provided information about speed limits on
residential streets, including the Vision Zero policy framework, effect of speed in crashes, Senate
Bill 558, implementing speed limit change, 20 IS PLENTY community campaign, and next steps.
Council Discussion:
• Councilor Clark - asked about the timing of Vision Zero and state legislation; discussed Vision
Zero; talked about the use of travel lanes and turning lanes.
• Councilor Zelenka - asked about the downsides of the proposed speed reduction, asked what
the citation fee would be for speeding; expressed desire to move forward with limiting speeds
and promoting the 20 IS PLENTY campaign; talked about the speed fatality statistics; discussed
the new traffic calming improvements on 19th and how they have made a difference.
• Councilor Syrett - expressed desire to move forward with the plan; talked about Eugene Police
Traffic Enforcement Team and encouraged giving warnings to violators; supported education
efforts out in the communities; discussed the Safe Routes to School program, reengineering
sidewalks and bike paths, and animal safety in roadways.
• Councilor Yeh - talked about the Vision Zero initiative and changing behaviors to achieve safety
goals; expressed support for the changes.
• Councilor Semple - asked about specific streets affected by the speed limits; talked about
higher -volume streets such as Jefferson Street and other collectors.
• Councilor Clark - asked about traffic standard ratings and if speed limits have any effect on that
statistic; talked about north Eugene traffic issues; expressed concerns about the proposal to
open a WinCo in the old Shopl(o building and how traffic will be affected; expressed support for
the proposed motion.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, moved to
direct the City Manager to set a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to designate
a speed limit that is five miles per hour lower than the statutory speed limit where
authorized by state statute. PASSED 5:0.
The meeting adjourned at 1:13 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
,(ice .4vit't
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
(Recorded by Carolyn Dimick-Kronberger)
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting here.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council March 11, 2020 Page 2
Work Session