HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.26.2020 City Council Meeting MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Virtual Meeting
Eugene, Oregon 97401
May 26, 2020
7:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans,
Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor
Mayor Vinis opened the May 26, 2020, meeting of the Eugene City Council in a virtual format.
1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
In honor of Memorial Day on May 25, Mayor Vinis read an excerpt from a recent Presidential
proclamation and led the meeting participants in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST
Council Discussion
Councilor Semple - expressed concern about the pace and availability of Covid-19 testing;
asked about the City's exit strategy for homeless camps.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR 1
A. Approval of City Council Minutes
• April 29, 2020, Work Session
• May 11, 2020, Work Session
• May 11, 2020, Meeting
B. Approval of City Council Tentative Agenda
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, moved to approve
the items on the Consent Calendar 1. PASSED 8:0.
4. PUBLIC FORUM
1. Lin Woodrich - reported on Active Bethel Citizens activities and outreach on meetings.
2. Bill Edmonds - shared Northwest Natural's commitment to carbon neutrality.
3. Amy Cubbage -supported extending the Low -Income Rental Housing Property Tax Exemption program.
4. Elizabeth Deffenbaugh - advocated safe places for unhoused residents to sleep.
S. Penny Royale - supported the Amazon Park camp and efforts to safely relocate them.
6. William Smith - opposed the proliferation of SG infrastructure, noting the lawsuit against telecoms.
7. Chelsea Swift - urged council to address the issue of shelter beds in the current environment.
8. Jessica Worley - spoke about the advantages of shelter -in -place camps for the unhoused.
Council Discussion
• Councilor Evans - inquired about the City's transition plans for homeless camps.
• Councilor Syrett - asked about the proposed date for closing the Lane County shelters.
• Mayor Vinis - supported the concept of smaller shelter sites and said additional appropriate
sites are being pursued.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council May 26, 2020 Page 1
Meeting
S. ACTION: Resolution Authorizing Financing of Projects Described in the Riverfront Urban
Renewal District Plan
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, moved to adopt a
Resolution Authorizing Financing of Projects Described in the Riverfront Urban
Renewal District Plan. PASSED 6:2, Councilors Taylor and Zelenka opposed.
6. ACTION: Ordinance Concerning Multiple -Unit Property Tax Exemptions and Amending
Sections 2.946 and 2.947 of the Eugene Code, 1971 (Ordinance to Incorporate State
Updates to MUPTE's Green Building and Construction Deadline Provisions)
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, moved to adopt an
Ordinance Concerning Multiple -Unit Property Tax Exemptions and Amending Sections
2.946 and 2.947 of the Eugene Code, 1971. PASSED: 8:0.
7. ACTION: Ordinance Concerning Low -Income Rental Housing Property Tax Exemptions
and Amending Sections 2.938, 2.939 and 2.940 of the Eugene Code, 1971; and
Resolution Adopting Amended Standards and Guidelines for Processing Applications for
Low -Income Rental Housing Property Tax Exemptions and Repealing Resolution No.
5028.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, moved to adopt an
Ordinance Concerning Low -Income Rental Housing Property Tax Exemptions and
Amending Sections 2.938, 2.939 and 2.940 of the Eugene Code, 1971. PASSED 8:0.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, moved to adopt
the Resolution Adopting Amended Standards and Guidelines for Processing
Applications for Low -Income Rental Housing Property Tax Exemptions and Repealing
Resolution No. 5028. PASSED 8:0.
8. ACTION: A Resolution Opposing All Forms of Anti -Asian Sentiment as Related to COVID-
19 and Declaring May as Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month
Council Discussion
• Councilor Yeh - shared the impetus behind the proposed resolution; encouraged council to
adopt the resolution in support of shared community values around hate and bias.
• Councilor Evans - echoed Councilor Yeh's remarks and encouraged council to adopt the
resolution.
• Councilor Clark - voiced support for the resolution, noting it is still appropriate to be critical
of the Chinese government's response to the Covid-19 crisis.
• Councilor Zelenka - thanked councilors Yeh and Evans for bringing the resolution to council.
• Councilor Syrett - thanked councilors Yeh and Evans and supported the resolution, noting it
was long overdue.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, moved to adopt a
Resolution Opposing All Forms of Anti -Asian Sentiment as Related to COVID-19 and
Declaring May as Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month. PASSED 8:0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council May 26, 2020 Page 2
Meeting
Respectfully submitted,
6ea �,u
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting here.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council May 26, 2020 Page 3
Meeting