Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout230515 PHMINUTES Eugene City Council Public Hearing Eugene, Oregon 97401 May 15, 2023 5:30 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Matt Keating, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Lyndsie Leech, and Randy Groves Mayor Vinis opened the May 15, 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. PUBLIC HEARING -An Ordinance Concerning the Industrial Pretreatment Program, Repealing Sections 6.501, 6.506, 6.511, 6.516, 6.521, 6.526, 6.531, 6.536, 6.541, 6.546, 6.551, 6.556, 6.561, 6.566, 6.571, 6.576, 6.581, 6.586, 6.591 and 6.596 of the Eugene Code, 1971; Adding Sections 6.550, 6.552, 6.554, 6.556, 6.560, 6.562, 6.564, 6.566, 6.568, 6.570, 6.572, 6.574, 6.576, 6.578, 6.580, 6.582 and 6.584 to that Code; and Providing for an Immediate Effective Date. Mayor Vinis opened the Public Hearing. City Manager, Sarah Medary, introduced the topic and provided background information. No testimony was provided. Mayor Vinis closed the Public Hearing. 2. PUBLIC HEARING -An Ordinance Adopting an Amended Urban Renewal Plan for the Downtown Urban Renewal District. Mayor Vinis opened the Public Hearing. City Manager, Sarah Medary, introduced the topic and provided background information. 1. Sherry Shaefers -spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. 2. Brittany Quick-Warner -spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. 3. Ethan Clevenger -spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. 4. Will Phillips -did not speak to the ordinance. 5. Jeffrey A. Lewis -spoke in opposition of the proposed ordinance. 6. Vickie Cussins -spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. 7. Katie D. Hall -spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. 8. Stephanie Bell -spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. 9. Pete Knox -spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. MINUTES -Eugene City Council Public Hearing May 15, 2023 Page 1 10. Joshua Burstein -spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. 11. Rob Bennett -spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. 12. Megan K. O'Connor -spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. 13. Kim Arscott -spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. Council Discussion ■ ■ ■ ■ Councilor Clark -asked if there is an ordinance or resolution that mandates even distribution of various housing types throughout neighborhoods; asked why the amount of affordable housing is higher than market rate housing in the downtown area; requested that staff look back at old zoning maps and requirements for housing distribution to work toward a more balanced housing market. Councilor Groves -thinks that the renewal of downtown is one of the most pressing issues facing this Council; thinks that the health of a city's downtown shows if a city is thriving or failing, and that this ordinance is an opportunity for the City to stop the decline in downtown and improve safety. Councilor Keating -asked to receive a copy of the study about housing density in downtown Eugene that was referenced in public testimony. Councilor Semple -stated that she is generally opposed to Urban Renewal however is in favor of this ordinance in order to revive downtown; stated that downtown is the largest tax revenue source for the City. ■ Councilor Clark -said that the housing density study was sent in an email to all of Council. Mayor Vinis closed the Public Hearing. 3. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Concerning Prohibited Camping, Permitted Overnight Sleeping, and Prohibited Activities on Streets, Sidewalks, and Shared- Use Paths, and Amending Sections 4.815, 4.816, 4.860, 4.990, and 5.135 of the Eugene Code, 1971. Mayor Vinis opened the Public Hearing. City Manager, Sarah Medary, introduced the topic and provided background information. 1. Brittany Quick-Warner -spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. 2. Heather Quaas-Annsa -spoke in opposition of the proposed ordinance. 3. Rich Locke -spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. 4. Gerry Meenaghan -spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. 5. Wayne Martin -requested additional details be included in the ordinance. 6. Josh Geshart Trempe -spoke in opposition of the proposed ordinance. 7. Zach Mulholland -spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. 8. William O'Brien -spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. 9. Lynn Porter -spoke in opposition of the proposed ordinance. MINUTES -Eugene City Council Public Hearing May 15, 2023 Page 2 Council Discussion ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Councilor Keating -asked how to ensure that preschools and daycares are included in exclusion zones as educational facilities in this ordinance. Councilor Groves -thinks that daycare and preschools should be in the exclusion zone with educational facilities; outlined the negative impacts of the housing crisis on the City's budget; thinks it is important to find places for unhoused people to go to live safely. Councilor Evans -would support including licensed daycare and child facilities in the exclusion zone with educational facilities. Councilor Clark -supports the proposed ordinance; would not support the creation of a City sponsored commission on homeless or shelter response; believes that Lane County, as the local public health provider, is the correct agency to address the homelessness crisis; wants further conversations with partner agencies to address housing issues. Councilor Groves -outlined information sent by a constituent regarding types of homelessness such as transitory use and persistent use; stated that the City's obligation to those who are unhoused is to allow rest; stated that use of public space for unhoused individuals impacts the community's ability to use the space as it was intended; stated that having and enforcing rules is an important part of an organized society. Councilor Evans -stated that the City has struggled to gain the funding required to address the human services issues; wants the City to have more influence over how human services funding dollars are spent through the State and County. Mayor Vinis -has been working with other mayors to request that the Governor allocate more funding for the unhoused crisis directly to cities; stated that the City has requested $7.5 million in funding from the State legislature for continued support of Safe Sleep Site programs; noted that the State and counties are typically the provider of these human services programs and that City services are considered emergency services. Mayor Vinis adjourned the meeting at 7:07 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Katie LaSala City Recorder (Recorded by Sara McKinney) Link to the web cast of this City Council meeting here. MINUTES -Eugene City Council Public Hearing May 15, 2023 Page 3