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HomeMy WebLinkAbout210125 MTGMINUTES – Eugene City Council Meeting January 25, 2021 Page 1   M I N U T E S Eugene City Council Virtual Meeting Eugene, Oregon 97401 January 25, 2021 7:30 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Matt Keating, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Claire Syrett, Randy Groves Mayor Vinis opened the January 25, 2021, meeting of the Eugene City Council in a virtual format. 1. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST  Councilor Groves - shared information about the newly formed Eugene Wildfire Coalition to address the threat of wildfire in the community.  Councilor Semple - shared the City’s new guidelines for allowing unhoused people to stay in their encampments; asked if printed educational material could be distributed by outreach teams; asked whether planned sweeps of homeless camps were still happening.  Councilor Keating - appreciated the collaborative and creative strategies for addressing the campsites at Washington Jefferson Park; thanked the Council for standing united in condemning white supremacy.  Mayor Vinis – shared information about the goals and mission of the Mayors and CEOs for Housing Investment group. 2. CONSENT CALENDAR 1 A. Approval of City Council Minutes - December 9, 2020, Work Session - December 16, 2020, Work Session - January 6, 2021 State of the City - January 11, 2021 Work Session - January 11, 2021, Meeting B. Approval of City Council Tentative Agenda C. Resolution Approving Low‐Income Rental Housing Property Tax Exception for Property Located at North Garfield Street, Eugene, Oregon (Assessor’s Map 17‐04‐25‐23; Tax Lot 3800; Assessor’s Property Account Nos. 0440618, 4067482, 4278063, 4278071, 4278089, 4282651, 4282669,) (Applicant St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County, Inc.) D. Appointment to the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission Council Discussion  Councilor Zelenka - asked to pull Item C. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Yeh, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to approve items A, B and D on Consent Calendar 1. PASSED 8:0.  Councilor Zelenka - asked staff to briefly highlight the benefits of the low-income property tax exemption on the N. Garfield project; shared his enthusiasm for the project and for this type of property tax exemption. MINUTES – Eugene City Council Meeting January 25, 2021 Page 2    Councilor Syrett – in response to a suggestion that these types of actions be scheduled separately from the Consent Calendar, agreed that the LIRHPTE actions should be highlighted and made known to the community.  Councilor Keating - asked if the City can waive restrictions so people can have their pets with them at these new affordable housing developments.  Councilor Zelenka - suggested that scheduling these actions during regular Monday meetings is important and the appropriate placement would be immediately before or after Consent Calendar. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Yeh, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to approve Item C on Consent Calendar 1. PASSED 8:0. 3. PUBLIC FORUM 1. Dylan Plummer- shared information about the negative health impacts of natural gas in homes. 2. Brendan Fingal – shared concerns about climate change and opposed expansion of natural gas. 3. Ben Christensen - said Councilor Clark’s statements from a previous meeting were unacceptable. 4. Olivia Ross - urged Council to transition to100 percent renewable energy and stop fossil fuel use. 5. Peter Ralph – encouraged Council to let the NW Natural Gas franchise agreement expire. 6. Jim Neu - shared information about the impacts of fossil fuels on the planet; opposed NW Natural. 7. Maddie Blum - said the well-being of all generations is at stake if the City fails to act on climate change. 8. Devin Kesner - supported a ban all new fossil fuel infrastructure and transition to renewables. 9. Eloise Parish Meuller - supported the demands of the Fossil Free Eugene Coalition movement. 10. Sahara Valentine - shared the negative health impacts from natural gas use. 11. David Monk – supported a Council work session on wildfire planning and community preparedness. 12. Danny Noonan – supported the Fossil Free Eugene demands and shared OSU’s climate assessment. 13. Natalie Cowan - advocated for bold action and leadership to meet climate recovery goals. 14. Ozy – expressed frustration with rules that disproportionately affect homeless people. 15. Avery McRae - supported the demands of Fossil Free Eugene and asked for the City Council’s backing. 16. Heidi Osaki - supported and repeated the three demands for transitioning the renewable energy. 17. Sophie Weir - shared data about how climate change affects low-income and minority communities. 18. Dana Kiernan - requested amending proposed code language to let the unhoused keep their pets. 19. Hayley Case-Scott - sought Council support for climate goals and for communities of color. 20. Jesse - asked Council to enact what is needed to meet the City’s climate recovery goals in 2030. 21. Sarah Lamog - raised concerns about white supremacy activities in Eugene and requested action. 22. Alex Wood - advocated for the City to move away from using fossil fuels to protect the planet. 23. Tom Peck – supported the goals of the wildfire coalition to reduce the threat of wildfire. 24. Debra Tanner - shared that her vehicle was impounded after it was wrongly reported as abandoned. 25. Xiawang - asked that local EPD officers be investigated for supporting white supremacy. 26. Aimee Okotie-Oyekan - spoke about the impacts of racism, white supremacy, and health issues. 27. Sophia Trotter – supported the demands of the Fossil Free Eugene Coalition. 28. Deb McGee - shared a poem about stopping fracked gas and moving to sustainable energy. 29. Mike McFarlane - asked to prohibit camping in the riparian zone as it is unsafe for people and land. 30. Kelsey Zlevor - asked Council to take all necessary action to stop greenhouse emissions. 31. Maddie Karduna - asked Council to envision a new future without fossil fuels and greenhouse gas. 32. Selena Blick - testified about the ongoing use and expansion of fracked gas and encouraged action. 33. Lydia Valentine – asked Council to pass an ordinance that supports the demands of 350 Eugene. Council Discussion  Councilor Syrett - commented on the proposed changes to criminal code and noted that public comment is still being sought; appreciated the feedback received so far; appreciated the testimony MINUTES – Eugene City Council Meeting January 25, 2021 Page 3   requesting Council support for House and Senate bills; informed those who made remarks about councilors’ conduct that elections are the appropriate avenue for change.  Councilor Keating - said he looked forward to learning about proposed legislation and how it aligns with City values; appreciated the willingness of the next generations to speak up.  Councilor Yeh - asked for clarification about how the new rules around pet ownership align with State law; appreciated all the feedback and the youth involvement in the forum and acknowledged how the new virtual platform makes possible for more people to participate.  Councilor Evans - commented on the remarks about racial tensions in the community and nation; shared some of his and his family’s negative experiences in Eugene.  Councilor Zelenka - commented on the remarks made about white supremacy and shared his support for Councilor Clark.  Councilor Clark – addressed the people who called him a racist and invited them to watch the January 20 work session to hear what he said and understand how he feels in his heart.  Councilor Evans - addressed his relationship with Councilor Clark and said that conservative doesn’t equal racist, noting that there are liberals who are racist in the community; shared that Councilor Clark has the right to speak about the concerns of his constituents; encouraged people to get along with others who have different views.  Mayor Vinis - thanked everyone for participating and said the City is facing many difficult issues, including racism, climate change, and homelessness, that will not be solved overnight. 4. ACTION: Appointment to the Toxics Board Toxics Program Manager James Lenhart provided background on the status of the Toxics Board membership. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Yeh, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to re- appoint Crystal Abrams to the right-to-know advocacy position on the Toxics Board effective immediately for the remainder of the three-year term ending June 30, 2023. PASSED 8:0. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Yeh, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to direct the City Manager to create a recruitment process for the Toxics Board for the remaining open seats. PASSED 8:0. The meeting adjourned at 9:36 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Beth Forrest City Recorder (Recorded by Niyah Ross) Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting here.