Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout220523 MTGMINUTES Eugene City Council Hybrid Virtual/In-Person Meeting Eugene, Oregon 97401 May 23, 2022 7:30 p.rn. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Matt Keating, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Randy Groves, Claire Syrett, Greg Evans Mayor Vinis opened the May 23, 2022, meeting of the Eugene City Council in a hybrid in- person and virtual format. 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was led by Alan Brown, City of Eugene Park Ambassador and U.S. Army Veteran, in recognition of Memorial Day on May 30. Mayor Vinis read a proclamation in recognition of National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 3, the first Friday in June. 2. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST • Mayor Vinis -acknowledged that May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Month • Councilor Groves -thanked Mr. Brown for leading the Pledge of Allegiance as well as his service to the nation and the community. • Councilor Syrett -noted an increase in resident emails to Council regarding RV street campers on Wilson Street and the impact on the residents on that street; noted the same issue being reported on the railroad property along the Ninkasi wall, a chronic spot for illegal camping and criminal activity issues; asked for an update on the reopening of Washington-Jefferson Park for herself and her constituents and stated she hopes that it can be used as a park again this summer. • Councilor Yeh -provided an update from Metropolitan Waste Water Management Commission, noting that the Commission set aside two percent of the logs from the Poplar Farm for a small-scale pilot project to mill logs, and approximately 17 thousand board feet were milled by Urban Lumber that will be sold through Bring. • Councilor Keating -expressed gratitude for partners at Eugene Water & Electric Board, McKenzie Watershed Council, EWEB Source Water Protection Team, McKenzie River Trust, US Forest Service, and Willamette National Forest for their informative tour of the McKenzie River recently; thanked Home Share Oregon for inviting him to a discussion regarding home share needs and solutions for Oregonians, noting there are one million owner-occupied homes in Oregon with a spare bedroom and if two percent of those opened up their home to renters, 20 thousand persons could become securely housed; thanked neighborhood associations Southeast Neighbors, Southwest Hills Neighborhood Association, and Amazon Neighbors for hosting picnic-style outdoor open house events recently and thanked local businesses who provided booths at these events. MINUTES -Eugene City Council Meeting May 23, 2022 Page 1 ■ Councilor Zelenka -thanked Mayor Vin is for recognizing Gun Violence Awareness Month and shared a personal story of loss to gun violence; stated concern for the growing gun violence issues in America and how to resolve them; noted that the Biden Administration was able to secure baby formula from other countries to ease a massive supply shortage in the United States. ■ Councilor Evans -expressed appreciation for the statement on gun violence; noted that he is tired of hearing statements following gun violence events with no action to resolve the core issue, a lack of mental health services in the country; shared his personal connection to individuals impacted by a recent mass shooting; stated that these types of gun violence issues will continue to happen until the mental health crisis is addressed. 3. CONSENT CALENDAR 1 A. Approval of City Council Minutes ■ April 13, 2022, Work Session ■ April 20, 2022, Work Session ■ April 25, 2022, Work Session B. Approval of City Council Tentative Agenda C. Approval of Funding and Use of City Resources for Housing Affordable to Low to Low-and Moderate-Income Persons MOTION: Councilor Syrett, seconded by Councilor Keating, moved to approve the items on Consent Calendar 1. Council Discussion • Councilor Zelenka -pulled Item 3C, Approval of Funding and Use of City Resources for Housing Affordable to Low-and Moderate-Income Persons, from the Consent Calendar. VOTE: PASSED 8:0 Council Discussion ■ Councilor Zelenka -noted that Eugene has two awesome projects for housing homeless individuals and asked staff to discuss these two projects to recognize their efforts and successes; noted that projects were funded by half a percent of the Construction Excise Tax and if a full one percent had been approved, as other cities have done, there would be twice as many projects for the unhoused; said he hopes that Council will revisit that in the near future; asked staff if there was any non- subsidized affordable housing built in the last year; noted that he does not know of any non-subsidized affordable housing being built recently; stated the subsidy programs in this area are great and create great projects; noted that the housing crisis cannot be solved with only subsidized housing options. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Syrett, seconded by Councilor Keating, moved to approve the use of $670,000 of Affordable Housing Trust Funds for Peace Village by SquareOne Villages and $350,000 of Affordable Housing Trust Funds for Green Lane Veteran's Housing by Saint Vincent De Paul of Lane County, and to allocate the remaining MINUTES -Eugene City Council Meeting May 23, 2022 Page 2 $91,000 of the FY22 Affordable Housing Trust Funds to the 2023 Request for Proposals. PASSED 8:0 4. PUBLIC FORUM 1. Daniel 'Drae' Charles -provided a statement for Human Rights Commission. 2. Eliot Benson -provided a statement for the Civilian Review Board. 3. Melissa Takish -supported Planning Commission recommendations for middle housing. 4. Ellen Peters -voiced concern about increasing short-term rentals in Eugene reducing rental inventory in the city. 5. Ted Coop man -voiced concern over lack of public involvement to HB2001. 6. Gerry Meeneghan -voiced opposition to proposed middle housing and lack of public involvement. 7. Harry Sanger -spoke regarding local elections and opposed proposed middle housing ordinance. 8. Mim Stewart -spoke in opposition to proposed middle housing ordinances for HB2001. 9. William Smith -spoke regarding wireless safety and the dangers of 5G. 10. Thia Bell -spoke regarding public engagement during the middle housing development process. 11. Joshua Korn -spoke regarding public worker corruption and a coalition of mayors. 12. Elaine Zablocki -spoke regarding HB2001 and public engagement. 13. Kaarin Knudeson -spoke in favor of proposed middle housing ordinance. 14. Judy Clark-spoke against 75 percent lot coverage in middle housing. 15. Linda Kelley -spoke in support of an electrification ordinance. 16. Valerie Rosenberg -spoke in favor of an electrification ordinance. 17. Kathy Ging-spoke against HB2001, and the middle housing proposed ordinance. 18. Paul Conte -spoke against the proposed middle housing ordinance. 19. Christine Sundt -spoke regarding ways to make local adjustments for HB2001. 20. Sandra Bishop -asked Council to adopt the minimum HB2001 standards. 21. Dylan Lamar-spoke about parking aspects of the proposed middle housing ordinance. 22. Lena Houston-Davisson -spoke against the proposed middle housing lot coverage of 7 5 percent and building height. 23. Tracye May -spoke against the proposed middle housing ordinance. 24. Isaac Judd -spoke regarding affordability of housing in Eugene. 25. Nancy Yamin -spoke against HB2001 and the proposed middle housing ordinance. 26. Richard Sundt -spoke regarding EmX transportation issues. 27. Daniel Brau -spoke regarding Climate Action Plan 2.0 and middle housing lot coverage. 28. Jessica Rossi -asked Council to adopt minimum standards of HB2001 and increase public engagement. 29. Pam Woodell -spoke in favor of tree protections and against increased lot coverage. 30. Michelle Corlette -spoke against the proposed middle housing ordinance. 31. Randy Prince -spoke about fire safety and the proposed middle housing ordinance. 32. Tracy Bartlett -spoke against the proposed middle housing ordinance. 33. Lauren Hallett -spoke in favor of the proposed middle housing ordinance. MINUTES -Eugene City Council Meeting May 23, 2022 Page 3 34. Rachael Latimer -spoke against the proposed middle housing ordinance. 35. Julie Daniel -spoke in favor of increasing the bike/pedestrian section of the street bond. 36. Stephanie Coopman -spoke against the proposed middle housing ordinance. 37. Debby McGee -spoke against fossil fuel use and in favor of climate action plan. 38. Bill Aspegren -spoke in favor of implementing minimum standards for HB2001. 39. Rachel Anderson -spoke in favor of implementing minimum standards for HB2001. Council Discussion ■ Councilor Syrett -stated several speakers expressed more interest in housing cars than in housing human beings; expressed disappointment that a majority of Council voted to eliminate the parking incentive for small housing and affordable units, noting that it contradicts what Council has said regarding affordable housing; noted the parking requirement makes housing more expensive and takes up more space that could house people; noted that all proposed parking incentives in the original Planning Commission recommendations were voluntary, not required; thanked Julie Daniel for her advocacy for road bond funding for sidewalks. ■ Councilor Keating -thanked those who provided testimony; noted his recent attendance at the Amazon Neighborhood gathering and shared that many residents voiced appreciation for Council's work on middle housing; noted that Council reduced the proximity to transit aspect of no on-site parking in the proposed middle housing ordinance; showed a stack of postcards he received and stated he welcomes more input from constituents; noted that Council has heard from a wide array of people on the middle housing matter. ■ Councilor Yeh -expressed appreciation for those in attendance, both virtual and in- person; noted that middle housing is not a radical change; stated the radical change happened years ago when middle housing was banned to control who can live in Eugene neighborhoods; noted that allowing middle housing will create a more inclusive community. ■ Councilor Groves -thanked those who testified; noted that Public Forum had been described as a special hearing for middle housing; clarified that is not the case, this was a standard City Council Public Forum; acknowledged there is a lot of emotion on both sides of the middle housing topic and there is a fairly even split between the two sides of the topic; noted that there will be many potentially divisive, difficult topics coming before Council in the coming months and it is important to listen to as many people as possible 5. CONSENT CALENDAR 2 A. Approval of a Resolution Annexing Land to the City of Eugene (Assessor's Map 17-04-24-23, Tax Lot 1602, Located at 158 West Hilliard Lane) MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Syrett, seconded by Councilor Keating, moved to approve the items on Consent Calendar 2. PASSED 8:0 MINUTES -Eugene City Council Meeting May 23, 2022 Page 4 The meeting was adjourned at 10:11 p.m. R.espectfully submit!~~ City Recorder (Recorded by Sara McKinney) Link to the we beast of this City Council meeting here . MINUTES -Eugene City Council Meeting May 23, 2022 Page 5