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HomeMy WebLinkAbout200727 WSMINUTES Eugene City Council Virtual Work Session Eugene, Oregon 97401 July 27, 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 27, 2020, work session of the Eugene City Council. 1. WORK SESSION: Substantial Amendment to the Eugene -Springfield 2020 Action Plan - CDBG- CV Fund Allocation City Manager Sarah Medary and Community Development Grants Manager Stephanie Jennings provided an update on the needs, housing, community, and fair housing strategies in considering the fund allocation, including the allocation process timeline, housing assistance, expansion of homeless and fair housing services, microenterprise training, proposed allocation and next steps. Council Discussion: • Councilor Clark - asked for clarification of the subject. ■ Councilor Syrett - thanked staff; expressed support for the motion; spoke of need for the proposed services due to COVID-19 crisis. ■ Councilor Zelenka - talked about the need for the services listed; asked about the separation of homeless services and rent assistance funds; inquired about other funds available for these services; asked whether the county's rental assistance funds will be enough to cover the needs. ■ Councilor Semple - thanked staff; talked about rental assistance and the importance of keeping people sheltered. • Mayor Vinis - asked about the eligibility of persons applying for the rental assistance. MOTION and VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Syrett, move to approve the proposed allocation for use of CDBGCV funds as shown in Exhibit B. PASSED: 7:0 2. WORK SESSION: Proposed Use of Affordable Housing Trust Fund Resources City Manager Sarah Medary and Community Development Michael Kinnison provided an update of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Resources, including a progress update, potential use of the funds, and next steps. Council Discussion: Councilor Clark - expressed disappointment with the timeline for option one; spoke of the original direction provided by council; talked about the short-term effects of preventing homelessness. • Councilor Zelenka - talked about the structure of the funds; spoke of the need to provide renter assistance in the coming months; expressed concern that the committee did not go with the original direction provided by council; inquired about the timeframes of providing renter assistance; clarified "vast majority" term; asked about committee's perspective; spoke about the tradeoffs with creating affordable housing. ■ Councilor Pryor - thanked staff and the committee; talked about the CET funds and leveraging them; spoke of short-term versus long-term uses of the funds; expressed support for the motion. MINUTES - Eugene City Council July 27, 2020 Page 1 Work Session ■ Councilor Yeh - thanked the committee for their work; talked about the long-term issues in affordable housing; expressed support for the motion and appreciation for the research done by the committee. • Councilor Taylor - expressed agreement with Councilors Clark and Zelenka regarding the need for funds for rental assistance; said efforts should be on preventing homeless. • Councilor Syrett - asked if the fund will be replenished with federal monies; expressed uncertainty about whether to use the funds for short- or long-term needs; spoke about the possibility of splitting the funds; talked about the flexibility of the CET funds. ■ Mayor Vinis - spoke about the original intent of the committee and the current crisis now being faced; talked about long-term decisions made by council. ■ Councilor Clark - talked about the council's original intent and the potential effects of delaying this decision for a year; spoke about the need to prepare for the coming months. • Councilor Zelenka - discussed the growing needs caused by the current crisis; expressed support for a one-third and two -third split. • Councilor Semple - talked about the flexibility of the funds as they relate to the current crisis; expressed concern about the limited funds and how they can be used; asked about other fund possibilities and the option to split the allocations. ■ Councilor Yeh - talked about the proposed rental assistance and the effects of being rent burdened; expressed support for a split, asked staff if one-third of the funds would be enough to leverage other funds, noting one-third may not be helpful for affordable housing projects. • Mayor Vinis - talked about the economic recovery needed in response to the current crisis through construction projects and investing in the future. MOTION: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, move to direct the City Manager to allocate Affordable Housing Trust Fund resources as recommended by the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee and outlined in Attachment D. MOTION TO AMEND: Councilor Syrett, seconded Councilor Yeh, move to amend the motion to approve 50 percent to be allocated towards the Advisory Committee's recommendations and 50 percent towards council's motion to support rental assistance and mortgage assistance. ■ Councilor Syrett - clarified her motion to amend, spoke about long-term investments. • Councilor Clark - spoke about the impacts of insufficient funds, expressed support for option one. ■ Councilor Zelenka - spoke of proposals that might be generated as a result of the insufficient funds; expressed interest in amending the motion. • Councilor Clark - inquired about the amount needed for affordable housing projects and leveraging versus short-term issues. • Councilor Taylor - spoke of the importance of keeping people in their homes, expressed support of the original motion of option one ■ Councilor Semple - clarified her desire of a motion to support the original motion RESTATED MOTION TO AMEND AND VOTE (with friendly amendments): Councilor Syrett moved, seconded Councilor Yeh, to allocate $300,000 for the recommendation from the advisory committee, and $500,000 for direct assistance to renters and homeowners to be released immediately through existing channels. PASSED: 5:2 Councilors Taylor and Semple opposed VOTE ON MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED: PASSED: 5:2, Councilors Taylor and Semple opposed. MINUTES - Eugene City Council July 27, 2020 Page 2 Work Session 3. WORK SESSION: Library Local Option Levy Resolution Adoption City Manager Sarah Medary and Library Services Director Will O'Hearn provided an overview of the levy resolution. Council Discussion: Councilor Clark - thanked staff; spoke about potential budget cuts; expressed concern about the timing of the levy. Councilor Taylor - expressed support for putting the levy on the ballot. Councilor Syrett - expressed support for investing in the needs of the community and for referring option two to the ballot. Councilor Evans joined the work session at 6:49 p.m. Councilor Semple - expressed support for option one; spoke of other imminent budget cuts. Councilor Zelenka - expressed support for option two, noting the need for the proposed services. Mayor Vinis - talked about the economic recovery following the public health crisis and expressed support for option two. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, moved to adopt the resolution selecting Library Levy Option One to place on the November 3, 2020, ballot. PASSED: 6:21 Councilors Syrett and Zelenka opposed. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, move to appoint Councilors Yeh, Pryor and Taylor to the voters' pamphlet proponent committee for the Library Local Option Levy. PASSED: 8:0 MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, move to direct the City Manager to prepare a neutral information tabloid concerning a library local option levy. PASSED: 8:0 MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Yeh, move to direct the City Manager to include on a supplemental budget sufficient appropriation to produce a voters' pamphlet and produce a neutral information tabloid. PASSED: 8:0 The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Julie Adams Deputy City Recorder (Recorded by Carolyn Dimick-Kronberger) Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting here. MINUTES - Eugene City Council July 27, 2020 Page 3 Work Session