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HomeMy WebLinkAbout230920 WSMINUTES Eugene City Council Work Session Eugene, Oregon 97401 September 20, 2023 12:00 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Matt Keating, Lyndsie Leech, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, and Randy Groves Mayor Vinis opened the September 20, 2023, work session of the Eugene City Council in a virtual format. 1. WORK SESSION: Systems Development Charges Updates -Adjustment to Transportation SDCs for Compact Development & Legislation Update on HB 2984 (2023). City Manager, Sarah Medary, introduced City Engineer, Jenifer Willer, who provided a presentation on Systems Development Charges Updates -Adjustment to Transportation SDCs for Compact Development & Legislation Update on HB 2984 (2023). Councilor Discussion: • • • Councilor Groves -asked staff to clarify if the amended agenda impacts the motion. Councilor Zelenka -asked staff to confirm that the cap was placed because the City was unsure about the requested amount and to avoid a large impact on budget; asked staff to confirm that the amount of system development charges used was modest; asked staff if they anticipate the requests to remain modest; asked staff if lifting the cap could create future problems. Councilor Semple -was against the original cap limitation; is in support of lifting the cap. MOTION and VOTE: Councilor Groves, seconded by Councilor Keating, move to adopt the resolution at Attachment B to this AIS to eliminate the cap on compact development adjustments to transportation system development charges. VOTE: PASSED 8:0 MOTION and VOTE: Councilor Groves, seconded by Councilor Keating, move to adopt the resolution at Attachment C to this AIS to adopt a policy regarding system development charges for conversion of buildings from commercial to residential use in non-industrial zones. VOTE: PASSED 8:0 MINUTES -Eugene City Council Work Session September 20, 2023 Page 1 2. WORK SESSION: City Climate Action Strategies Update City Manager, Sarah Medary, introduced Sustainability Manager, Ian Penn, who presented information on the City Climate Action Strategies Update. Councilor Discussion: • Councilor Zelenka -believes that phasing down and phasing out fossil fuel use is critical to address climate change; is concerned that the focus on actions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions has been lost; noted that there are programs available to help cities reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost effective way; believes certain actions can benefit businesses and households while reducing greenhouse gas emissions; noted that implementing the State's programs would help the City meet the greenhouse gas emission goal of 2035; believes the focus should be on helping Oregon programs succeed and taking advantage of the incentives for Eugene businesses and households; stated that the importance of community outreach and education in the process; concerned about staff time to implement all of the programs; is interested in a program manager to maximize the benefits. • • • • • Councilor Groves -is interested in ways to reduce primary energy consumption, such as increased weatherization and efficient heating and cooling equipment; is interested in what Council can do to develop a weatherization program with state and federal funding; stated that low-income community members often have the least energy efficient homes; stated that working with landlords to offset the costs of weatherization could benefit renters; believes there should be three channels to a program: residential, landlords for residential, and commercial/industrial; stated that accelerating the street tree program can control cooling and temperature spikes; would like more information regarding resiliency during an emergency. Councilor Evans -asked if an equity lens has been developed and whether it would be applied on a municipal level; asked how assessments will be applied to the most underserved communities; asked if the program manager would be a new position and if so, to what department; stated the program manager would need to coordinate state and federal programs for the community to get funds quickly and efficiently; asked staff to explain how a program manager would be funded and supported; stated that where and how the program is managed will be important to ensuring the services are distributed efficiently. Councilor Yeh -asked to discuss progress made on the climate goals over the last five years; likes the idea of a project manager; is concerned that the City could lose opportunities for available programs if it is not prepared. Councilor Zelenka -outlined some of the federal and state tax credits and cash incentives that will be available for weatherization programs; stated that the State has heat-pump and solar programs; stated that a bill was recently passed for county level energy resiliency grants; stated that energy efficiency in Oregon provides 45,000 jobs which will increase with additional programs; believes that the City should track the increase in jobs; stated that the project manager position would require a team of people; encouraged the City Manager to leverage federal grants for staffing a project management team. Councilor Keating -is interested in improving tree preservation with State and Federal funding; asked staff if engagement will seek out those who have previously MINUTES -Eugene City Council Work Session September 20, 2023 Page 2 been underrepresented in engagement; asked if there is an opportunity for an online engagement dashboard to monitor the progress of the work; offered to engage in a town hall if staff would like to explore that option. ■ Councilor Leech -is concerned about missing out on State of Federal grant funding due to staffing capacity issues; would like to hear more about the trajectory of projects and how they will be funded; is excited about the grant opportunities available. • Mayor Vinis -stated that Council did establish an equity panel as part of the CAP2.0 process and provided childcare and dinner to enable people to engage; stated that the Sustainability Commission has a priority to do more outreach with the community; stated that CAP2.0 provides a framework on how to do climate work; stated that collaboration and cooperation with partner agencies is important when applying for grant funding; stated that the work that the Environmental Protection Agency local government advisory council is doing around capacity building and equitable outreach on the national level aligns with this discussion. Mayor Vinis adjourned the meeting at 1:19 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 Work Session September 20, 2023 Page 3