HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.26.2020 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Virtual Work Session
Eugene, Oregon 97401
May 26, 2020
5:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Betty Taylor, Emily Semple, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Claire
Syrett, Chris Pryor, Greg Evans
Mayor Vinis opened the May 26, 2020, work session of the Eugene City Council and Eugene Urban
Renewal Agency.
1. WORK SESSION: Downtown Riverfront Development Williams & Dame Associates Terms
City Manager Pro Tern Sarah Medary, Planning and Development Director Denny Brand, and
Community Development Director Michael Kinnison provided information on the Downtown
Riverfront Development project, including concept plan modifications, proposed term
modifications, right-of-way dedication, use of natural gas, and next steps for the project.
Council Discussion:
• Councilor Yeh - discussed the proposed affordable housing options; spoke about the placement
of affordable housing in the project footprint; asked for clarification regarding the natural gas
option.
Councilor Zelenka joined the meeting at5:54p.m.
• Councilor Pryor - spoke about the need for flexibility in the project; expressed interest in the
affordable housing options; talked about the natural gas option.
• Councilor Clark- asked about Williams & Dame's response to the potential natural gas
restriction; spoke about the use and regulation of natural gas at the project.
• Councilor Syrett - expressed support for the proposed terms; spoke about flexibility regarding
the affordable housing options; discussed need clarify policies regarding natural gas.
• Councilor Zelenka - spoke about the affordable housing location options; asked about the use of
Multiple Unit Property Tax Exemption for the project; inquired about the costs of infrastructure
for the project.
• Councilor Taylor - expressed desire to ban natural gas expansion; discussed MUPTE exclusions;
spoke about placement of affordable housing; talked about environmental impacts related to
natural gas; asked about plans for sidewalks in front of housing.
• Councilor Semple - expressed disappointment in the proposed location of affordable housing;
inquired about plans to build natural gas infrastructure and its potential use in the project;
voiced concern about delaying the project.
• Councilor Evans - talked about natural gas usage and expressed support for scheduling a
council discussion to clarify natural gas policies; spoke about the council's carbon neutrality
goals; supported moving forward with the project, particularly as a means to address the local
economic crisis.
• Mayor Vinis - talked about the City's climate action plan and its connection to natural gas usage;
supported scheduling a work session on natural gas.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council May 26, 2020 Page 1
Work Session
• Councilor Zelenka - asked for comparison of natural gas needs in similar projects; talked about
CAP 2.0 and natural gas options; asked for clarification of the SDC credits; inquired about the
preferred timeline for the project.
• Councilor Clark -talked about natural gas infrastructure, expressed support for suggested
motion.
• Councilor Syrett - asked about connecting the high-speed fiber network to the project
infrastructure; spoke about natural gas options.
• Councilor Pryor - supported a future discussion of natural gas policy; expressed support for the
motion.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, moved to approve the
proposed terms that are contained in Attachment A to the AIS and to authorize the Agency
Director to take all actions necessary to transfer the real property underlying the rights -of -
way shown in Attachment B to the City of Eugene. PASSED: 6:2 (Zelenka and Taylor)
2. DISCUSSION: 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 Clark - asked for clarification regarding the intent of the term "blame" in the
resolution.
• Councilor Evans - spoke about the impetus for the resolution and thanked Councilor Yeh for her
assistance.
• Mayor Vinis - thanked Councilor Yeh and Evans for their work on the resolution.
The meeting adjourned at 6:44 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
4ta lw
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
(Recorded by Carolyn Dimick-Kronberger)
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting here.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council May 26, 2020 Page 2
Work Session