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Home My WebLink About230724 MTGMINUTES Eugene City Council Meeting Eugene, Oregon 97401 July 24, 2023 7:30p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Lyndsie Leech, and Randy Groves Councilors Absent: Matt Keating Mayor Vinis opened the July 24, 2023, meeting of the Eugene City Council in a hybrid in- person and virtual format at 101 W. 10 th Avenue, Suite 114, Eugene, OR 97401. 1. CEREMONIAL MATTERS Mayor Vinis read a proclamation for Eugene/Springfield LGBTQ Pride Day. 2. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST • Councilor Zelenka -spoke about recent decisions by the Florida school board. 3. CONSENT CALENDAR 1 A. Approval of City Council Minutes • June 12, 2023 Meeting • June 20, 2023 Public Hearing B. Approval of City Council Tentative Agenda MOTION: Councilor Groves, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to approve the items on Consent Calendar 1. VOTE: 6:0 PASSED (Councilor Yeh was not present for the vote) 4. PUBLIC FORUM 1. Lin Woodrich -spoke in favor of a public health overlay zone in West Eugene. 2. Joann Shotola -spoke against the renter protections ordinance. 3. Jill Cole -spoke in favor of keeping the Emeralds in Eugene. 4. Steve Piercy -spoke against landlords providing relocation assistance. 5. Kathryn Dunn -spoke against the renter protections ordinance. 6. Don Heady -spoke in favor of considering things in context. 7. Geri VanPykeren -spoke in favor of providing camping resources for the unhoused. 8. Jonathan Schuman -spoke in favor of keeping the Emeralds in Eugene. 9. Emma Spratt -spoke in favor of keeping the Emeralds in Eugene. 10. Randolph Nelson -spoke in favor of the Breakfast Brigade being allowed to serve food at Washington Jefferson park. 11. Barry Nobel -spoke in favor of Breakfast Brigade serving food at Washington Jefferson park. MINUTES -Eugene City Council Meeting July 24, 2023 Page 1 12. Lisa Levsen -spoke in favor of Breakfast Brigade serving food at Washington Jefferson park. 13. Suzanne O'Shea -spoke in favor of Breakfast Brigade serving food at Washington Jefferson park. 14. Allen McWayne -spoke against using public funds for Eugene Emeralds stadium. 15. Robert Stephens Sr. -spoke about experiences being stalked. 16. John Roberts -spoke against the renter protections ordinance. 17. Billy Harper -spoke in favor of Breakfast Brigade serving food at Washington Jefferson park. 18. Wayne Martin -spoke in favor of Breakfast Brigade serving food at Washington Jefferson park. 19. Sandi Mann -spoke in favor of Breakfast Brigade serving food at Washington Jefferson park. 20. Allan Benavides -spoke in favor of keeping the Emeralds in Eugene. 21. Gabriel Scott -spoke in favor of Breakfast Brigade serving food at Washington Jefferson park. 22. Timothy Williams -spoke in favor of continuing dialogue. 23. Joanie Flaherty -spoke in favor of Breakfast Brigade serving food at Washington Jefferson park. 24. Sammy Rothage -spoke in favor of Breakfast Brigade serving food at Washington Jefferson park. 25. Maya Lazaro -in favor of a health overlay zone and neighborhood plan for Bethel. Council Discussion: • • • Mayor Vinis -expressed her appreciation for those who gave testimony including members of the Breakfast Brigade. Councilor Groves -asked if there are other options for the Breakfast Brigade to be able to serve food; stated the Eugene Emeralds are an important part of the community; asked about the options to support building a stadium; stated that while the City is in a tough financial spot, one-time funds are different than ongoing costs; noted that Civic Stadium was an unsafe venue. Councilor Zelenka -asked City Manager to address the increase in stadium costs, potential ongoing costs, and commitment from the team at the next work session. 5. ACTION: An Ordinance Concerning Rental Housing; Amending Sections 8.405, 8.415, 8.425, 8.430, and 8.440 of the Eugene Code, 1971; and Adding Section 8.43 7 to that Code. MOTION: Councilor Groves, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to adopt an Ordinance Concerning Rental Housing; Amending Sections 8.405, 8.415, 8.425, 8.430 and 8.440 of the Eugene Code, 1971; and Adding Section 8.437 to that Code. Council Discussion: • Councilor Clark -asked why changes to the draft ordinance did not prompt a public hearing; believes that voting on the ordinance is premature; urged MINUTES -Eugene City Council Meeting July 24, 2023 Page 2 Council to vote against the motion; stated the ordinance will negatively affect the rental market. • Councilor Groves -stated that the shortage of housing is raising rental costs; stated he is unsure about supporting the motion. • Councilor Zelenka -noted he withdrew the motion proposing another public hearing due to timing issues; asked if there was a two-year review process in the ordinance; stated his support for the motion; noted the ordinance can be amended as needed in the future. • Councilor Leech -declared a potential conflict of interest; stated her support for the motion. ■ Councilor Evans -noted concerns about the ordinance's potential effect on the housing supply; noted that he would have preferred to have another public hearing on the proposed changes. • Mayor Vinis -noted that this process began in 2018; stated that tenants are severely impacted in this rental market; stated that waiting to collect more data will only add to the number of vulnerable people in the community. ■ Councilor Clark -stated he believes that the ordinance will hurt the community; asked if it possible to track sales of rental units and the numbers of evictions; noted that Springfield Eugene Tenant Association has an interest in the renter protections process and may not provide objective data. • Councilor Yeh -noted the renters protection process started in 2016; stated she is comfortable moving forward with the vote; noted Council can complete a review sooner than two years out. • Councilor Zelenka -stated public engagement with the process has been robust. • Councilor Evans -asked if the review would include numbers of rentals converted from long-term rentals to short-term rentals. • Councilor Clark -stated he expects to see many evictions in the 30 days before the ordinance takes effect. VOTE: 5:2 PASSED (opposed by Councilors Clark and Groves) Mayor Vinis adjourned the meeting at 9:11 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Katie LaSala City Recorder (Recorded by Cherish Bradshaw J Link to the web cast of this City Council meeting ~- MINUTES -Eugene City Council Meeting July 24, 2023 Page 3