HomeMy WebLinkAbout230213 MTGMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Meeting
Eugene, Oregon 97401
February 13, 2023
7:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Matt Keating, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Lyndsie Leech, and
Randy Groves
Councilors Absent: Alan Zelenka and Greg Evans
Mayor Vinis opened the February 13, 2023, meeting of the Eugene City Council in a hybrid
in-person and virtual format at 101 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 114, Eugene, OR 97401.
1. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
Mayor Vinis read proclamations for Black History Month and International Mother
Language Day.
2. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST
• Mayor Vinis -noted that the State of Oregon will be applying for federal funding to
electrify highways.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR 1
A. Approval of City Council Minutes
• January 9, 2023 Meeting
• January 17, 2023 Public Hearing
• January 18, 2023 Work Session
• January 23, 2023 Work Session
• January 23, 2023 Meeting
• January 25, 2023 Work Session
• January 30, 2023 Special Meeting
B. Approval of City Council Tentative Agenda
C. Appointment to the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Groves, seconded by Councilor
Keating, moved to approve the items on Consent Calendar 1.
VOTE: PASSED 6:0
4. PUBLIC FORUM
1. Lin Woodrich -spoke in favor of a public health overlay zone in West Eugene.
2. Aya Cockram -thanked Council for passing the ordinance banning fossil fuel
infrastructure in new residential construction.
3. John Crowder -spoke against the ban on fossil fuel infrastructure in new residential
construction.
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Meeting
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4. Dennis Reynolds -thanked Council for passing the ordinance banning fossil fuel
infrastructure in new residential construction.
5. Rich Locke -spoke against the ban on fossil fuel infrastructure in new residential
construction.
6. Linda Kelley -thanked Council for passing the ordinance banning fossil fuel
infrastructure in new residential construction.
7. Anne Pernick -thanked Council for passing the ordinance banning fossil fuel
infrastructure in new residential construction.
8. Dylan Plummer -thanked Council for passing the ordinance banning fossil fuel
infrastructure in new residential construction.
9. Bethany Cotton -thanked Council for the fossil fuel infrastructure and noise
ordinances.
10. Danny Noonan -asked Council to respond to misinformation about the ordinance
banning fossil fuel infrastructure in new residential construction.
11. Timothy Williams -suggested a fund for displaced folks who want to return home.
12. Thomas Newman -suggested various climate change mitigation ideas.
13. Wayne Martin -spoke about the treatment of the ho useless in the City.
14. Tomoko Sekiguchi -thanked Council for passing the ordinance banning fossil fuel
infrastructure in new residential construction.
15. Joshua Korn -spoke about wireless safety and broadband infrastructure.
16. Charles Areford -thanked Council for passing the ordinance banning fossil fuel
infrastructure in new residential construction.
17. Roy Miller -spoke against the ban on fossil fuel infrastructure in new residential
construction.
18. William Smith -spoke about wireless safety and broadband infrastructure.
19. Sid Baum -thanked Council for passing the ordinance banning fossil fuel
infrastructure in new residential construction.
20. Katharine Hunt and Raging Grannies -thanked Council for passing the ordinance
banning fossil fuel infrastructure in new residential construction.
21. Carolyn Partridge -thanked Council for passing the ordinance banning fossil fuel
infrastructure in new residential construction.
22. Michael Carrigan -thanked Council for passing the ordinance banning fossil fuel
infrastructure in new residential construction.
23. Bill O'Brien -spoke about the land swap proposal between the City of Eugene and
the University of Oregon.
24. Charlie Rojas -spoke about the City's commitment to justice, equity, and inclusion.
25. Debra McGee -thanked Council for passing the ordinance banning fossil fuel
infrastructure in new residential construction.
Council Discussion
• Councilor Keating -expressed his condolences to Lin Woodrich for the passing of
her father.
■ Mayor Vinis -encouraged Timothy Williams to speak to staff at the end of the
meeting.
5. ACTION: An Ordinance Concerning the Skinner Butte Height Limitation Area,
Amending Section 9.6715 and Figure 9.6715(3) of the Eugene Code, 1971.
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Mayor asked Councilors to declare if they read any testimony that came in after the
close of the record.
Council Discussion
■ Councilor Leech -noted that she had received an email, but it did not influence her
decision.
■ Councilor Groves -noted that he had received an email, but it did not influence his
decision.
■ Councilor Semple -noted that she had received and responded to an email, but it
did not influence her decision.
■ Councilor Clark -noted that he had received an email, but it did not influence his
decision.
Assistant City Attorney Lauren Sommers asked Council to confirm their ability to make
an impartial, unbiased decision on the proposed ordinance based only on the applicable
approval criteria and the evidence and argument that are included in the record for this
application.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Groves, seconded by Councilor
Keating, moved to reject all testimony received by the City regarding
the proposed Skinner Butte Height Limitation Ordinance following the
close of the record for that application on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.
VOTE: PASSED 6:0
MOTION: Councilor Groves, seconded by Councilor Keating, moved to adopt
An Ordinance Concerning the Skinner Butte Height Limitation Area,
Amending Section 9.6715 and Figure 9.6715(3) of the Eugene Code, 1971,
included as Attachment A to this AIS.
Council Discussion
■
■
■
■
■
Councilor Semple -noted concerns that new, higher buildings will limit views of the
butte; noted that she was not in support of the ordinance.
Councilor Clark-asked staff when the City had passed the initial Skinner Butte
height limitation; noted that it was passed before our focus shifted to increasing
density in the downtown core.
Councilor Groves -noted that there is a strong need for housing; noted that city
streets provide view corridors to Skinner's Butte; noted his support for the
ordinance.
Councilor Leech -noted her support for the ordinance.
Councilor Keating -noted aesthetic and environmental concerns about the
ordinance; stated that he was not in support of the ordinance.
VOTE: PASSED 4:2 (opposed by Councilors Semple and Keating)
Council Discussion
■ Mayor Vinis -noted that this ordinance is in line with the City's goals of increased
housing and increased density.
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Mayor Vinis adjourned the meeting at 8:54 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Katie LaSala
City Recorder
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(Recorded by Cherish Bradshaw)
Link to the we beast of this City Council meeting here.
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Meeting
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