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HomeMy WebLinkAbout200413 MTGMINUTES – Eugene City Council Meeting April 13, 2020 Page 1 M I N U T E S Eugene City Council Virtual Meeting Eugene, Oregon 97401 April 13, 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 April 13, 2020, meeting of the Eugene City Council in a virtual format. 1. Committee Reports and Items of Interest Discussion  Councilor Taylor – shared that Director Merlyn Hough will be retiring from the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA) and she will be serving on the committee to recruit his replacement. The LRAPA Board majority rescinded the recently enacted burning ban, feeling it created a hardship for those in rural areas; Councilor Taylor reported she voted against this and clarified it was not a unanimous decision and that a few Board members were absent from the meeting. Councilor Taylor has heard from several constituents unhappy about Amazon Park being turned into a campground, and stated she still believes we should have a shelter where people can go.  Councilor Evans – reported that he and Councilor Taylor attended the National League of Cities (NLC) meeting in Washington, D.C.; the NLC is working on priorities related to investments in transportation, broadband and water infrastructure, and the housing crisis and affordability.  Councilor Syrett – shared the Lane Area Commission on Transportation (Lane ACT) Steering Committee will be meeting in the next two weeks to determine how the May meeting will take place. The Human Services Commission (HRC), is planning to hold the next scheduled meeting virtually on Monday, April 20; the HRC does take public comment and has social service providers who attend. Councilor Syrett stated she assumes Lane County, who staffs the HRC, will be making provisions for public participation.  Councilor Yeh – shared the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) is taking a second look at its budget; it had originally intended a two percent fee increase but has instructed staff to look at a zero percent increase budget recognizing that rate payers have multiple economic stressors right now and wish to help not hurt rate payers at this time. The Police Commission has cancelled several of their meetings but are still in contact; the public can email the Police Commission at ceepdcommission@eugene-or.us.  Councilor Semple – reported that the Human Rights Commission, Sustainability Commission and McKenzie Watershed Council did not meet this month but are still working and thinking.  Mayor Vinis – shared she has been meeting with two different groups of businesspeople. One began through the Eugene Wake-Up group and the second group represents downtown retailers; they are discussing how to navigate the loan programs and issues they are facing, trying to make sure we are hearing from those businesspeople. The Mayor said she is grateful to hear the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce is stepping up and will provide structure for the business community and opportunity to hear back from them. The Mayor reported she will join other Climate Mayors on a phone call with Congressman DeFazio MINUTES – Eugene City Council Meeting April 13, 2020 Page 2 tomorrow; he has a large infrastructure package called Moving Forward and now is Chair of Transportation Infrastructure, and they will be talking about how to align the infrastructure package with our climate goals. There may be opportunities that come through federal legislation championed by Congressman DeFazio, and Mayor Vinis hopes it will bring mayors from across the country onboard with that work. 2. Consent Calendar 1 A. Approval of City Council Minutes  February 10, 2020, Work Session  February 12, 2020, Work Session  February 24, 2020, Work Session  February 24, 2020, Meeting  March 9, 2020, Work Session  March 9, 2020, Meeting  March 11, 2020, Work Session  March 17, 2020, Emergency Meeting B. Approval of City Council Tentative Agenda C. Resolution Authorizing the Reissuance of Revenue Bonds by The Hospital Facilities Authority of the City of Medford, Oregon, in an Aggregate Principal Amount not to Exceed $5,000,000 for the Cascade Manor Continuing Care Retirement Community Located in Eugene, Oregon. Councilor Zelenka asked to pull Item C from Consent Calendar 1. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, moved to approve the items on Consent Calendar 1 with the exception of Item C. PASSED 8:0. Discussion  Councilor Zelenka asked staff to provide more detail about this item and explain why it has a benefit. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, moved to approve Item C on Consent Calendar 1. PASSED 8:0. 3. Public Forum 1. Tim Kovash – asked for the STR ad-hoc committee be abandoned and to table the STR issue. 2. Lin Woodrich – expressed dismay regarding the temporary shelter site placed at Peterson Barn. 3. Joshua Korn – shared information about his recent research on 5G wireless technology. 4. Richard Self – asked Council not to revert to previous actions towards the unhoused after the crisis. 5. Ed Farren – advocated for transportation and infrastructure investment in Bethel. 6. Kathryn Dunn – requested STR ad-hoc committee be re-assembled after current crisis. Discussion  Councilor Clark – thanked those who participated in the Public Forum. To the City Manager, asked if the Short Term Rental (STR) Ad-Hoc Committee will be restructured and what its meeting schedule will be; stated he is in favor of tabling its work until a more stable time and encouraged getting a stronger voice from STR owners involved and possibly add a few more to the committee.  Councilor Syrett – expressed she did not feel the STR work is a high priority at this time; the landscape for STRs may change considerably after this crisis. She stated it had been her hope for the STR Ad-Hoc Committee that STR owners could respond to City proposals and work with City staff to develop workable regulations.