HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.13.2020 City Council Work Session MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Virtual Work Session
Eugene, Oregon 97401
July 13, 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 July 13, 2020, work session of the Eugene City Council.
1. WORK SESSION: Library Local Option Levy
City Manager Sarah Medary and Library Services Director Will O'Hearn provided information about
service options and rates for a Library Local Option Levy.
Council Discussion:
• Councilor Semple - expressed support for Option 1 and for referring a levy to the ballot to
maintain services; acknowledged Option 2 may become more of a priority as a response to
economic uncertainty; talked about the availability of hot spots.
• Councilor Yeh - thanked staff for the presentation; talked about Option 2 and expressed
concern about the equity issues it raises by presenting services as add-ons, rather than
priorities; suggested consideration of shifting funds to re -prioritize.
• Councilor Clark- spoke about equity issues that were raised; asked staff to create more pro and
con factual points regarding budget issues and impacts, rather than engaging in advocacy.
• Councilor Syrett - discussed other councilors' critiques and concerns regarding equity;
expressed support for Option 2; talked about connectivity and availability of hot spots.
• Councilor Zelenka - expressed support for maintaining service levels and Option 2, noting post
Covid-19 resources will be critical to local recovery.
• Councilor Pryor - agreed that the budget to maintain should include equity considerations;
expressed support for Option 2.
• Councilor Taylor - expressed support for Option 1; expressed concern about increasing taxes
and the inherent equity of the library.
• Mayor Vinis - expressed support for Option 2; spoke about the equity issues raised in specific areas.
• Councilor Clark- noted that conversations about budget cuts due to Covid-19 are still to come
and the November election environment may look very different; said it may be a stronger
message to cut tax rates while providing the same level of service.
• Councilor Semple - said the extent of Option 2 advantages are not known; advocated good
stewardship of money through good investments.
• Councilor Yeh - inquired about the total Library budget for non -personnel costs.
• Councilor Syrett - spoke of the previous positive levy vote; talked about the services provided
by the library and its place in the recovery offering both services and diversions.
• Councilor Taylor - asked about the Library's involvement with Work Source -like services.
• Councilor Semple - talked about the familiarity of the library and the equitable services
provided; expressed support for Option 2.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council July 13, 2020 Page 1
Work Session
MOTION: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Syrett, move to direct the City
Manager to return to Council with a resolution referring to the November 3, 2020, ballot
a measure renewing the library levy that maintains the existing library service level and
adds services to assist the community in its long-term recovery efforts.
MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE and VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor
moved to substitute to direct the City Manager to return to Council with a resolution for
both Option 1 and Option 2. PASSED 5:3, Councilors Yeh, Syrett and Pryor opposed.
VOTE ON MAIN MOTION AS SUBSTITUTED: PASSED 8:0
2. WORK SESSION: City Policy Regarding Short -Term Rentals
City Manager Sarah Medary and Building Permit Services Director Lydia Kaye provided an update
regarding short-term rentals, including public comments received, registration and licensing
information, and regulation and enforcement issues.
Council Discussion:
• Councilor Clark- spoke about the licensing proposal and expressed support for Option 2.
• Councilor Taylor - asked staff about changes made to the original ordinance; read a citizen's
letter regarding opposition to short-term rentals, spoke of neighborhood livability and impacts
on housing stock.
• Councilor Zelenka - spoke about how other Oregon cities have used regulations with short-
term rentals, expressed support for Option 1.
• Councilor Syrett - talked about the public comments received and benefits of the short-term
rentals outlined in the emails; expressed support for a registration system.
• Councilor Pryor - spoke about the diversity of opinions around this issue; expressed support
for a registration system, not licensing.
• Councilor Yeh - asked staff if owner -occupied data will be gathered in the registration along
with contact information; inquired about the registration requirement and enforcement;
expressed support for Option 2.
• Councilor Semple - inquired about the fees associated with registration.
• Mayor Vinis - asked if it could be an annual versus one-time registration; inquired about the
legality of data collection for short-term rentals; said collection of data about how active the
rentals are could be instructive.
• Councilor Evans - spoke of enforcement issues and ordinances already in place; expressed
support for registration for data collection.
• Councilor Syrett - asked staff about specific data that would be collected through registration.
• Councilor Evans - discussed the enforcement of nuisance issues.
• Councilor Zelenka - asked about requirements for registration and issues associated with
noncompliance; discussed the data to be collected, when it is collected and the enforcement of
registration.
• Councilor Taylor - expressed concern about housing supply and disappointment in the
direction of council's discussion.
• Councilor Semple - asked about lodging tax collection; spoke about compliance with
registration requirement.
• Councilor Syrett - talked about registration compliance with Airbnb and other platforms.
• Councilor Clark - spoke about local housing supply and the high cost of housing.
• Councilor Zelenka - spoke about Portland's experience with compliance with its lodging tax.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council July 13, 2020 Page 2
Work Session
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, move to direct the
City Manager to revise the June 15, 2020, ordinance to require short-term rentals to
register annually and provide local contact information and return to Council for action
on the revised ordinance.
MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE: Councilor Taylor, moved to substitute with the original
ordinance. No second was received.
VOTE ON MAIN MOTION: PASSED 5:3, Councilors Zelenka, Clark and Taylor opposed.
The meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Q'A jak�
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
(Recorded by Carolyn Dimick-Kronberger)
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting here.
MINUTES - Eugene City Council July 13, 2020 Page 3
Work Session