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HomeMy WebLinkAbout210412 MTGMINUTES – Eugene City Council Meeting April 12, 2021 Page 1 M I N U T E S Eugene City Council Virtual Meeting Eugene, Oregon 97401 April 12, 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 April 12 , 2021, meeting of the Eugene City Council in a virtual format. 1.COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTERESTCouncil Discussion Councilor Syrett – shared she received first Pfizer vaccine and gave kudos to Lane Co. Public Health for excellent clinic, shared the Whiteaker Community Council held a vaccination clinic that vaccinated 400 people in one afternoon and gave out supplies to unhoused people in the area; reflected on the recent murders of Asian women and expressed pride that Council has condemned the murders in Atlanta as a bias crime. Councilor Zelenka – shared he received a vaccine and thought the clinic at Lane Co. Fairgrounds was well run; announced the Police Commission is having its annual retreat on Saturday, May 15th to go over work plans and is ready to tackle policies from the Ad Hoc Committee on Police Policy. Councilor Semple – shared she received her vaccine at the Whiteaker pop-up event and encouraged others to get the vaccine as well. Councilor Keating – shared he has received his first shot and getting his second soon; thanked everyone for setting the tone on the efficacy of vaccines and how critically important it is that our entire community get vaccinated; shared he attended an Onward Eugene meeting about downtown housing strategies; shared that Chief Heppel gave a tour of Station 2; thanked the Second Gentleman of the U.S. for visiting Eugene. Councilor Clark – thanked Councilor Syrett for mentioning the shooting that took place in Stockton; noted there was a candlelight ceremony at the Wayne Morris Free Speech Plaza and thanked Councilor Yeh for attending. Councilor Evans – shared that another unarmed African American man was shot by a police officer in a Minneapolis suburb and has passed away; shared the protests have been peaceful and is hopeful through the Ad Hoc Committee and other processes that we will be able to institute reforms in EPD so something like this doesn’t happen in our community; reminded protesters to remain peaceful. City Manager – shared businesses are conducting the first filing for the payroll tax and questions are being raised; shared the Central Eugene in Motion project is moving forward and the construction on Willamette St. is underway; solid waste rules have been signed and some sections were removed that had language related to bagging of trash and entry into containers. Mayor Vinis – made a statement of apology on behalf of the City because International Transgender Day of Visibility was missed on March 31st; noted an opportunity to ally with Transponder and celebrate diversity was missed due to this mistake and the City takes accountability for overlooking this part of our community. 2.CONSENT CALENDAR 1 A.Approval of City Council Tentative Agenda MINUTES – Eugene City Council Meeting April 12, 2021 Page 2 B.Appointment to Human Rights Commission MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Yeh, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to approve items on the Consent Calendar 1. PASSED 8:0. Council Discussion: Councilor Syrett – commented that the rules are written in a way that only allows the appointeeto serve a full term and partial term rather than two full terms, and asked if this can be lookedinto. 3.PUBLIC FORUM1.Amanda McCluskey- asked to consider increase in African American and BIPOC representation.2.Thomas Meinzen- asked if City of Eugene can stop new fossil fuel infrastructure.3.Eloise Parish Mueller- shared it is time for the City to act and meet its climate goals.4.Ben Christensen – shared that 80% of the new tax is going to the Police budget, defund EPD.5.Amanda Schlumpberger- shared unsafe incidents with the homeless has dramatically increased.6.Sahara Valentine- encouraged the City to be a climate leader and transition off fossil fuels.7.Dylan Plummer- urged Council to stop fracked gas infrastructure, shared EWEB report.8.Marcella Buser- testified on behalf of Fossil Free Coalition and shared a future free of fossil fuels.9.Danny Noonan- commented that the City must stand up to fossil fuel corporations.10.Xitali Torres- urged City to take bold action and move to 100% renewable energy.11.Selena Blick- urged Council to read the letter that was sent 4/12/21 regarding fracked gas.12.Marty Wilder- 1059 Willamette St. proposal is the wrong way to go with this public property.13.Joseph Ycaza- testified against the continued use of fossil fuel infrastructure.14.Kaitlyn Champoux- commented it feels pointless to plan for a future that is not promised.15.Lisa Fragala- encouraged Council to pass the clear and objective ordinance, no to the amendment.16.Xia- shared that no Councilors showed up for the march to support the Asian community.17.Hollis Mann- testified on behalf of Fossil Free Coalition and urged City to swap out gas appliances.18.Tyee Williams- shared a recent report from the OHA on climate change and health impacts.19.Kaarin Knudson- testified on clear and objective standards process, urged middle housing code.20.Markus Koeneke- transitioning to renewables is imperative to avoid a catastrophic earthquake.21.Jesse- shared that homes and buildings cause 1/3 of pollution, energy efficiency can save money.22.Dana Garden- commented that climate change is real and in motion, stop fossil fuel infrastructure.23.Lydia Valentine- testified that Council is making decisions that directly impact her future.24.Zondie- testified that projects are all coming from white supremacy and on stolen land and lives.25.Pamela Krause- testified that Willamette St. project will not serve housing to the ones in need.26.Ward 8 Business Owner- testified she has personally witnessed violence, theft and vandalism.27.Eliza Kashinksy- shared clear and objective standards amendment is concerning, do not pass.28.Tiffany Edwards- shared clear and objective standards amendment approval would be a mistake.29.Brittany Quick-Warner- requested to include private landowners to vet sites for the unhoused.30.Marian Kloster- testified there are open illegal acts happening on W 7 th and nothing is being done.31.Suzanne O’Shea- shared that Highway 99 is poorly maintained from Beltline to Four Corners.32.Lin Woodrich- reminded Council of the importance of an Area Plan for the Bethel community.33.Chris Elliott- shared that fear is in her neighborhood and that is unacceptable in this City.34.Eli- stop spending money on things that perpetuate harm on residents and locks in gentrification.35.Nate- testified that he lived here unhoused and now is a business owner, gifted land away.36.Seth Sadofsky- testified to make the zoning code clear and objective.37.Matthew Yook- shared that funding needs to go towards addressing and not policing the issue. MINUTES – Eugene City Council Meeting April 12, 2021 Page 3 Council Discussion Councilor Clark – asked what the mechanism is if the Planning Commission hears testimony on anissue before it goes to Council – does the Planning Commission hear the input that goes to Councilbefore Council receives the information. Councilor Syrett – responded there is no budget being approved yet and the CSI is underconsideration. Councilor Evans – shared there has not been a planning process for the Bethel neighborhood which isunacceptable, and Bethel needs the investment of the City. Councilor Semple – shared the activities that are happening on 7th St. are crimes not because theyinvolve homelessness but involve criminals; stated illegal crime and horrific behavior have made thearea like a war zone; expressed hope that all can work together for a solution. Councilor Groves – shared that it would be better to integrate all efforts to solve this unhousedproblem; expressed hopefulness that the new plan is a start and we will be able to make progress. Mayor Vinis – thanked community and business members and recognized how hard the problem is;shared the 1059 Willamette project receives CDBG funds and 50% of the housing is required to beaffordable housing. 4.PUBLIC HEARING and ACTION: An Ordinance Adopting Hazardous Substance User Fees and Providing for An Immediate Effective DateCity Manager Sarah Medary introduced the topic and gave background information.The Public Hearing opened at 9:40 p.m. and there were no participants; closed at 9:42 p.m.Council Discussion Councilor Groves – asked if the Right To Know program has gotten any closer to the staterequirements, and asked if there is a way to align these to streamline the process to eliminatesome fees being charged to businesses; stated he would like to see some of the redundancyremoved. Councilor Keating – commented the state-imposed tax fee cap has not changed since 2004 andis capped at $2,000 per entity; asked why the fee structure has not changed in the past 15 years;asked if the names of non-compliant entities can be published on the internet. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Yeh, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to adopt an Ordinance Adopting Hazardous Substance User Fees and Providing for an Immediate Effective Date. PASSED 7:1, Councilor Clark opposed . 5.ACTION: An Ordinance Amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan Diagram to Redesignate the Property Identified as Assessor’s map 17-04-26-00, Tax Lots 2801, 4303 and 4304 and Assessor’s Map 17-04-26-43, Tax Lot 302 from heavy Industrial to Light Medium Industrial and Rezone the property from I-3 Heavy Industrial to I-2 Light-Medium IndustrialCity Manager Sarah Medary introduced the topic and gave background information.Council Discussion Councilor Keating – asked if environmental impacts can be included in proposals. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Yeh, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to adopt the Ordinance, included as Attachment C to this AIS, amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan Diagram to redesignate the property identified as Assessor’s Map 17-04-26-00, Tax Lots 2801, 4303 and 4304 and Assessor’s Map 17-04-26-43, Tax Lot 302 from Heavy Industrial to Light Medium Industrial and rezone the property from I-3 Heavy Industrial to I-2 Light-Medium Industrial. PASSED 8:0 MINUTES – Eugene City Council Meeting April 12, 2021 Page 4 6.ACTION: An Ordinance Concerning Clear and Objective Approval Criteria for Housing; Amending Sections 9.0500, 9.2181, 9.2471, 9.2520, 9.2687, 9.2751, 9.2761, 9.3216, 9.3221, 9.3626, 9.3725, 9.4830, 9.5750, 9.6010, 9.6710, 9.6810, 9.6815, 9.6820, 9.6845, 9.6865, 9.6885, 9.7007, 9.8030, 9.8045, 9.8055, 9.8085, 9.8090, 9.8100, 9.8105, 9.8205, 9.8210, 9.8215, 9.8220, 9.8310, 9.8320, 9.8325, 9.8360, 9.8365, 9.8440, 9.8445, 9.8505, 9.8510, 9.8515, and 9.8520 of the Eugene Code, 1971; Adding Section 9.5860 to That Code; And Providing An Effective Date (City File CA 20-4)City Manager Sarah Medary introduced the topic and gave background information. MOTION: Councilor Yeh, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to adopt the ordinance concerning clear and objective approval criteria for housing, included as Attachment B to the AIS. Council Discussion Councilor Semple – asked how items such as the Bethel Refinement Plan are different thanspecial area zones; asked if the special area zones are treated differently and if not, why do wehave special area zones; stated she is concerned these special area zones are going to disappearas a result of middle housing and clear and objective standards code; stated she likes the idea ofa transition zone. Councilor Semple – commented if we are going to look at a Jefferson Westside transition zonewe should look at this for the rest of the City to be fair, and it should be sent back to thePlanning Commission; stated she is ok with passing and then asking the Planning Commissionto look at this in more detail. Councilor Clark – stated there is a problem when a 12-story building is proposed to be builtnear single-family housing; the technical parts and process in this work have produced aninappropriately abutted zone which still exists in the Jefferson Westside neighborhood; statedthe wisest choice is to send this back to the Planning Commission and have it come back toCouncil when all parties involved agree. MOTION to SUBSTITUTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to send this issue back to the Planning Commission to deal with these still unresolved issues, and then bring back to Council. Councilor Syrett – shared she is not in support of postponing the vote and sees no value insending this back to the Planning Commission, as the perfect solution will never be found andwill not solve this political problem. Councilor Zelenka – agreed with Councilor Semple the most efficient method is to pass theordinance and then ask the Planning Commission to look at this issue; there has been threeyears of work, discussion and analysis done on this and it can be amended; stated it is not fair tosecond-guess the Planning Commission’s work. Councilor Groves – asked how long it would take for this item to come back to Council if it doesgo back to the Planning Commission. Councilor Clark – shared he is in favor of sending this back to the Planning Commission becauseit is the fastest way for this to be implemented; shared the two Planning Commission membershe spoke to agree this should be sent back to the Planning Commission to solve the conflictsthat exist. Mayor Vinis – stated she interpreted the Planning Commissioner’s comments in a different way;stated she would like to pass this then refer this particular concern back to the PlanningCommission. Councilor Zelenka – stated the prudent course is to pass and then refer the specific question. MINUTES – Eugene City Council Meeting April 12, 2021 Page 5 VOTE: FAILED 2:6, Councilors Keating, Zelenka, Yeh, Evans, Syrett, and Groves opposed.  Councilor Keating – asked a clarifying process question.  Councilor Evans – asked a clarifying question regarding the motion on the table.  Councilor Zelenka- moved to add a friendly amendment to refer the specific question back to planning commission. MOTION to AMEND: Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Evans, moved to amend the motion to refer the specific question back to the Planning Commission. VOTE ON MOTION (with friendly amendment): Councilor Yeh, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to adopt the ordinance concerning clear and objective approval criteria for housing, included as Attachment B to the AIS, and to refer the specific question [regarding transition and special area zones] back to the Planning Commission. PASSED 8:0 The meeting adjourned at 10:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Julie Adams Deputy City Recorder (Recorded by Niyah Ross) Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting here.