HomeMy WebLinkAbout210920 WSMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Virtual Work Session
Eugene, Oregon 97401
September 20, 2021
5:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Matt Keating, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Claire Syrett,
Randy Groves
Councilors Absent: Alan Zelenka
Mayor Vinis opened the September 20, 2021, work session of the Eugene City Council in virtual format.
1. WORK SESSION: Financial Update
City Manager Sarah Medary and Finance Director Twylla Miller gave a financial update.
Council Discussion:
• Councilor Keating - referenced the funding consideration slides and asked when the last time this
municipality adjusted the local fuel tax rates in Eugene; suggested it was worth exploring an
increase in the fuel tax.
• Councilor Clark - said the largest source of City revenue is property taxes and encouraged the
council to consider and make policy decisions that would increase the amount of property taxes
generated, including incentivizing construction and annexations.
• Councilor Syrett - noted there are limits on what gas taxes and aviation fuel taxes can be used for;
commented that denser housing has a greater impact on revenue relative to costs than single-
family dwellings.
• Councilor Clark - said he felt the multi -family vs single-family comparison was based on faulty
assumptions and reiterated that building more homes on the land and annexations will increase
the tax base and the City's ability to respond with services.
• Councilor Groves - expressed concern that raising fuel costs will push people to fuel up at other
locations and the City will lose money; encouraged understanding what the local market looks like.
• Mayor Vinis - asked if property tax increases from MUPTE's expiring were included in the financial
assumptions.
• Councilor Evans - asked whether implementation of a utility tax or fee was considered.
• Councilor Keating - supported exploring a tax on utilities that offer incentives to switch to fossil
fuel use and a tax on unoccupied housing.
2. WORK SESSION: 2020 Census and Ward Population Update
Policy Analyst Jason Dedrick gave an update on the result of the 2020 Census and presented two
scenarios for ward redistricting.
Council Discussion:
Councilor Syrett - commented that Ward 7 experienced the most growth and that this is reflection
of how great the area is; appreciated the rational approach taken to identify possible ward
changes; supported Option 1 but said both options should move forward for public comment.
• Councilor Clark - complimented the work done to synthesize the data and develop options;
supported the City Manager's recommendations for public engagement; commented that north and
MINUTES - Eugene City Council September 20, 2021 Page 1
Work Session
northwest Eugene are growing and encouraged a commensurate increase in funds for park
development.
Councilor Keating - commented that nothing is being decided tonight except whether to advance
the recommendations; stated south Eugene needs more rentals and economic diversity will be
added to Ward 2 with this plan; supported advancing the two recommendations.
• Councilor Groves - commented the options as presented makes sense; noted that Ward 8 includes
the vast majority of Eugene's commercial industrial area and its ongoing issues, and said
responding to those issues might be more effective if additional councilors represented these
constituents; asked whether council should consider a third scenario that splits the industrial area
in other wards.
• Councilor Clark - stated he would appreciate seeing another option to split some of the industrial
area into another ward, noting it would have little impact on population and could be a good idea.
• Councilor Evans - commented if his ward line extended south it would take some of the Roosevelt
Blvd. area and several smaller neighborhoods that connect with the industrial area.
Councilor Keating - welcomed Councilors to come to an LRAPA meeting and talk about the JH
Baxter Company; voiced concern that the suggestion to add another option deviates from the
direction Council gave staff to determine what the new ward boundaries would be and said he felt
it would be inappropriate to ask staff for a third option at this point.
• Councilor Syrett - commented that it is a responsibility of the Council act within its authority to
address JH Baxter issues regardless of which ward it is located; said she would not support a last-
minute change to add a third scenario.
• Councilor Groves - encouraged his colleagues to reach out across ward boundaries to address
difficult issues.
• Councilor Evans - commented that each ward has its unique challenges and Ward 6 is experiencing
an affordable home challenge, noting the price of rentals is increasing and using as an example a
mobile home park was recently bought by a developer and will result in the displacement of senior
citizens.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Yeh, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to initiate
community engagement on ward boundary scenarios. PASSED: 7-0
Meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
1616
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
(Recorded by Niyah Ross)
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting here.
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Work Session