Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 05/26/98 Meeting MINUTES Eugene City Council City Council Chamber--City Hall May 26, 1998 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Tim Laue, Bobby Lee, Scott Meisner, Laurie Swanson Gribskov, Betty Taylor, Ken Tollenaar. COUNCILORS ^BSENT: Pat Fart, Nancy Nathanson. The May 26, 1998, meeting of the Eugene City Council meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m.; Mayor Jim Torrey presiding. Mayor Torrey requested that those present join in a moment of silence for those affected by the tragedy at Thurston High School in Springfield. I. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Torrey explained guidelines for participating in the Public Forum. Sue Schneider, 1776 Mississippi Avenue, stated that she had been a resident of the Glenwood area since 1993. She said the area had a strong sense of separate identity and that many residents did not wish to be annexed by either the City of Eugene or the City of Springfield. She said that she had read the executive summary of a report on Glenwood annexation issues and was disappointed to discover that no consideration had been given to the cost to residents of annexation. She said she believed annexation was too important a decision to make based on an informal survey requested by the Springfield City Council, especially since she believed it contained erroneous information. She urged the council to request that a democratic voting of area residents presenting unbiased information about costs to residents be the basis for any annexation decision. Fred Collier, 4005 East 17th Avenue, stated that he had first become a resident of the Glenwood area as a renter in 1995. He said he was pleased by the comfort and safety of the area and the way it encouraged the development of cottage industries. He said he believed annexation by either the City of Eugene or the City of Springfield would destroy the way of life in the area and that such annexation could be forced by misinformation. He said he did not believe the true voice of Glenwood residents was being heard and that the uniqueness of the area was worth preserving. Keith Schneider, 1776 Mississippi Avenue, stated that he had been a resident of the Glenwood area since 1993. He said that the only valid survey taken in regard to annexation of the area had been of Springfield. He said he believed residents of the Glenwood area deserved the right to vote on any annexation proposal based on accurate information. He said that the Glenwood neighborhood association was not holding regular meetings. He said he believed the Glenwood MINUTES--City Council May 26, 1998 Page 1 7:30 p.m. Refinement Plan was two years past due for its five-year update. He said he did not believe Glenwood residents should be annexed to any city without appropriate representation. Joan Armstead, 4017 East 16th Avenue, stated that she participated in Friends of Glenwood (FOG), an organization created to educate its members about issues related to annexation. She said she believed that there were many unresolved jurisdictional issues related to the Glenwood area, that not all necessary facts were available, that conflicts of interest should be examined, that the environment of the area should be preserved from development, that housing in the area was affordable and well-kept, and that barriers to re-financing home loans should be removed. Shirley Wigger, 4067 East 17th Avenue, stated that she liked and enjoyed living in the Glenwood area. She said that she believed it should stay as it currently is, mellow and safe. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of City Council Minutes of April 13, 1998, Dinner Work Session' April 13, 1998, Meeting; April 15, 1998 Lunch Work Session; April 29, 1998, Lunch Work Session; and May 5, 1998, Joint Meeting with the Planning Commission B. Acquisition of Site for Low-income Housing Development Mr. Tollenaar moved, seconded by Mr. Laue, to approve the Consent Calendar for May 26, 1998. Mr. Tollenaar requested that Item B be removed from the Consent Calendar to allow him to make comments about it. Mr. Meisner requested that sentence 1 of paragraph 8 on page 9 of the minutes of the April 15, 1998, Lunch Work Session of the council be changed, as follows: Mr. Meisner said that economic development was not core service or a goal for him and he was not willing to spend money from the General Fund on the park. Mayor Torrey determined there was no objection to the proposed amendment. Mr. Meisner requested that paragraph 4 on page 7 of the minutes of the April 29, 1998, Lunch Work session of the council be changed, as follows: Mr. Meisner stated that he believed Eugene needed partners in dealing with homeless issues, that illegal street camping in residential areas had increased since establishment of the Camping Ordinance, that policy established by the council should be enforced, and that appropriate enforcement tools should be provided to police. Mayor Torrey determined there was no objection to the proposed amendment. The motion, as amended, was adopted unanimously, 6:0. MINUTES--City Council May 26, 1998 Page 2 7:30 p.m. In response to a question from Mayor Torrey, Development Division Grants Manager Linda Dawson stated that public notification of a public hearing before the intergovernmental Housing Policy Board regarding a recommendation that the City acquire a site at 2440 Willakenzie Road had been properly made, according to standards of the City and of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. City Attorney Glenn Klein added that public notification of the public hearing before the City Council had also been properly made. Mr. Tollenaar stated that councilors had been informed of objections raised to the City acquiring the site in question to land bank for future Iow-income housing development-that the development would create traffic congestion, that school over-crowding would result from the development, that the land would be better used for a park, that creation of Iow-income housing on the property would violate the City's affordable housing dispersal policy, and that there was not adequate notice for the public hearings held regarding the purchase. Mr. Tollenaar said that he favored placing the property in land bank and that he believed the objections raised could all be addressed at the time it was developed. He said the property was zoned R-3 with a site review overlay to provide as much opportunity as possible for public input. Mr. Tollenaar moved, seconded by Mr. Laue, to approve the use of $400,000 plus closing costs in federal Community Development Block Grant funds for the acquisition of the 3.047-acre site at 2440 Willakenzie Road for placement in the Low-Income Housing Landbank Program. The motion was adopted unanimously, 6:0. II1. PUBLIC HEARING: DOWNTOWN URBAN RENEWAL PLAN AMENDMENTS Development Division Urban Services Section Manager Bob Hibschman reviewed information contained in a document entitled "Public Hearing--Urban Renewal Ordinance" distributed at the beginning of the meeting. He discussed outcomes of a proposed ordinance to amend the downtown urban renewal plan as follows: (1) Choose (grandfathered) Option #1 for collection of urban renewal property taxes; (2) Specify that the only new project for the urban renewal district would be a library; (3) Set a "maximum indebtedness" of $49,136,925; and (4)Automatically repeal the ordinance if voters do not approve a library funding levy within two years. He noted that the council would be required to act on the proposed ordinance by June 1, 1998, to enable State requirements to be met. Mayor Torrey explained guidelines for presenting testimony in a public hearing. David Kelly, 2988 Chandler Avenue, complimented the council on its decision to commit urban renewal resources to construction of a new library and to use a citizen vote on a Local Option Levy for library operating funds as the trigger to use the funds. He said he supported development of a strong central library and branches in north and west areas of Eugene. He said he believed development and operation of a branch system should be included in a Local Option Levy ballot measure. Bill Sullivan, 1958 Onyx Street, stated that he was the convener of the A Better Library for Eugene (ABLE) organization. He said he appreciated the support for a new library given by the council and suggested that its action was healing for the community--eliminating controversy over MINUTES--City Council May 26, 1998 Page 3 7:30 p.m. the Downtown Urban Renewal District, lowering property taxes, and providing $18 million for the construction of a new library. He said he did not believe the revenue available for urban renewal taxes would be adequate for construction of the library by Eugene. He suggested that additional resources would be needed and that he believed citizens would vote to provide them. W. Riley "Tex" Matsler, 2605 Chula Vista Drive, stated that he was confused by actions taken by the council. He said he believed it was an error to continue to look to the downtown area for a library for Eugene. He said he had presented several alternative plans for branch libraries at Library Forums. He said he believed developing a branch library system would bring relief to downtown congestion. Merle Bottge, 1777 West 24th Avenue, stated that she supported the use of urban renewal taxes for construction of a new library and that she believed citizens would approve a Local Option Levy to support library operations. She said she opposed making use of urban renewal funds contingent on the approval of a levy. She said she did not believe the City policy of requiring operating funds before commitment of capital expenditures needed to be re-considered in the light of taxation changes brought about by the passage of Ballot Measure 50. Vinnie Scarpaci, 1090 Corydon Street, stated that she was a relative newcomer to Eugene and that she supported the use of urban renewal funds for construction of a new library. She said she believed such use of funds was a creative solution and refreshing as the library was needed and would benefit the entire community. She said she supported the importance of a central library, but recognized the usefulness of a branch system. She said a library would add to the vibrant life of the central core of downtown and had the advantage of being the center of the area's public transportation system. She said she opposed tying use of urban renewal funds for a library to the passage of a Local Option Levy. She said alternate funding resources could be identified for operating of the library. Peter Rodda, 1090 Corydon Street, thanked the council for its decision to use urban renewal funds for construction of a new library. He said he was concerned that voters might be confused by requiring the approval of a Local Option Levy for the library. He said he believed a new library should be adequate for the current collection and for growth in the future. Molly Stafford, 437 East 11th Avenue, urged the council to use urban renewal taxes to build a central library that was adequate for the current and future needs of the community. She said she hoped a branch library would be developed with all due speed, but that she was concerned that voter rejection of Ballot Measure 53 could bring about defeat of a Local Option Levy proposal if it were placed on the September 1998 ballot. Mayor Torrey stated that he was recessing the public hearing until June 1, 1998, to allow any who were confused about the potential postponement of the hearing to testify. He said the council would likely deliberate and vote on the proposed ordinance at that meeting, despite its standing practice of not voting on an issue at a meeting at which public testimony about it is received. IV. PUBLIC HEARING: ORDINANCES RELATED TO THE DOWNTOWN MALL Management Analyst Janice Bohman reminded the council of its work session on the proposed closure and exclusion ordinances for the Eugene Downtown Mall. She described the MINUTES--City Council May 26, 1998 Page 4 7:30 p.m. consideration of the ordinances by the Council Committee on Public Safety and input received from the Human Rights Commission, representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union, Looking Glass, Legal Aid, the Public Defender's Office, Downtown Eugene Incorporated, downtown businesses, and City of Portland human rights staff, police, and city attorney. Ms. Bohman said that changes had been made to the proposed ordinances in response to concerns raised by various groups--provision for legal passage through the mall during its closure was added, an administrative hearing was replaced with a hearing before a Municipal Judge out of concerns raised about due process, and willful violation of mall rules was removed as a cause for exclusion. In response to a question from Ms. Taylor, Ms. Bohman explained that the area of the downtown pedestrian mall between Willamette and Oak Streets was not included because there was a desire to limit the closure area as much as possible and because it was not an area currently experiencing difficulties dealt with by the ordinances. Martin Champion, 1430 Willamette Street #597, expressed appreciation to the Mayor for his expressions of concern about the Thurston High School shooting incident. He said he was concerned about the proposed mall ordinances because he believed they did not meet constitutional requirements for due process. He said he did not believe the appeal hearing process included in the ordinances would withstand a legal challenge. Chuck Theobald, 1290 Jackson Street, said that he was opposed to the proposed exclusion ordinance because it would deny members of the public access to public space without conviction of a crime. He said he was also concerned because the exclusion ordinance could be applied unequally based on a person's appearance. He said he believed the proposed closure ordinance also denied a right of access to a public street. He said he saw no need for either ordinance. Paul Prensky, 933 East 29th Avenue, stated that he appreciated the attempt of the council to address the serious problem faced by downtown businesses and separating youth from bad influences. He said he was concerned, however, that illegal activities on the downtown mall would only be displaced by the ordinances and create a series of areas needing extra police services. He said he did not believe crime prevention was promoted through "police power" ordinances. Russ Brink, 132 East Broadway #103, stated that Downtown Eugene Incorporated supported the proposed ordinances for a nine-month trial period. He said the environment in the mall area was steadily deteriorating and that the public space in it was being used by only a small portion of the community. He said a public mall had few security options in comparison with a private mall. He described how the proposed ordinances had been developed through hours of discussion among mall representatives, City staff, and police. He pointed out how the proposed ordinances were similar to others already in force throughout the City and that they provided alternate tools for use by the police. He said he believed the ordinances were directed against crime, not youth. He urged the council to support passage of the ordinances. Mayor Torrey determined there was no one else wishing to testify and closed the public hearing. The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. MINUTES--City Council May 26, 1998 Page 5 7:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, James R. Johnson City Manager Pro Tern (Recorded by Dan Lindstrom) R:~1998~Adm Services~CIS~Councfllccg$O.5 26m2. wp¢l MINUTES--City Council May 26, 1998 Page 6 7:30 p.m.