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HomeMy WebLinkAbout240212 MTGMINUTES Eugene City Council Meeting Eugene, Oregon 97401 February 12, 2024 7:30 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Matt Keating, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Lyndsie Leech, and Randy Groves Mayor Vinis opened the February 12, 2024, meeting of the Eugene City Council in a hybrid in -person and virtual format at 101 W. 1011, Avenue, Suite 114, Eugene, OR 97401, 1. CEREMONIAL MATTERS Mayor Vinis read a proclamation for Black History Month. 2. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST • Councilor Clark - noted it is the 100-year anniversary of the Downtown Eugene Lions Club. • Councilor Zelenka - noted his recent trip to Washington D.C.; recommended D.C.'s National Museum of African American History and Culture. • Mayor Vinis - noted the Martin Luther King Jr. Day march has been rescheduled to Monday, February 19, 2024. • Councilor Keating - noted his attendance at the 70tn Annual Celebration of Business hosted by the Eugene Chamber of Commerce; congratulated George Russell for receiving the First Citizen award; stated his support for the nurse's strike by Oregon Nurses Association (ONA). MOTION: Councilor Keating, seconded by Councilor Groves, moved to direct the City Manager to schedule a work session on February 21, 2024, for Council to further discuss the construction of a multi -use stadium at the Lane County Fairgrounds and to consider the potential adoption of a resolution that refers a capital bond to the May ballot. Council Discussion: ■ Councilor Clark - asked for the deadline for a measure to be included in the May ballot. Councilor Yeh - noted fond memories of attendings Eugene Emeralds games with her family; stated Major League Baseball is putting local government in an awkward position by requiring a new stadium that will be 90 percent funded through state, county and local taxpayer money; stated it makes sense for Lane County to approach the City for funds once they have determined the viability of the project; noted she is looking forward to the work session. Councilor Zelenka - asked staff to report on the status of the three conditions given by the City to the County in order to secure city support for the stadium; noted it may be premature to add the item to the May ballot if those conditions are not met. MINUTES - Eugene City Council February 12, 2024 Page 1 Meeting Councilor Semple - noted her agreement with Councilor Yeh and Zelenka's comments; noted she is in support of the work session. Councilor Groves - noted the placing the measure on the November ballot will be too late; stated the voters should have the opportunity to decide; noted the proposed levy will only move forward if the project does. VOTE: 8:0 PASSED 3. CONSENT CALENDAR 1 A. Approval of City Council Minutes • November 13, 2023 Work Session • December 11, 2023 Meeting • December 11, 2023 Work Session �pproval January 10, 2024 Work Session B. of City Council Tentative Agenda C. A Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of Electric Utility Revenue Bonds and Electric Utility Revenue Refunding Bonds and Providing for Related Matters MOTION: Councilor Keating, seconded by Councilor Groves, moved to approve the items on Consent Calendar 1. VOTE: 8:0 PASSED 4. PUBLIC COMMENT 1. John Barofsky - spoke about Council authorized bonds from the City to Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB). 2. Aubreyana Bree - spoke about an upcoming psychic energy fusion event. 3. Janet Ayres - spoke about the middle housing remand. 4. Alan Gormezano - spoke against EWEB installing mandatory smart electric meters. S. Jo Turner - spoke in support of the ONA nurse's strike. 6. Charlie Rojas - spoke about the middle housing remand. 7. Allan Benavides - spoke in favor of the city supporting the construction of a baseball stadium. 8. Vanessa Ringgold - spoke in favor of increased animal welfare services in the city. 9. Allen McWayne - spoke against the city supporting the construction of a stadium. 10. Jamie Williams - spoke in support of the ONA nurse's strike. 11. Heather Herbert - spoke in support of the ONA nurse's strike. Council Discussion: • Councilor Semple - stated her support for the home health and hospice nurses strike by ONA; thanked Vanessa Ringgold for her testimony; asked staff for information about the current state of animal welfare services in the City. • Councilor Groves - stated his support for the home health and hospice nurses strike by ONA. • Councilor Zelenka - s stated his support for the home health and hospice nurses strike by ONA. • Councilor Keating - stated interest in the creation of an animal services advisory committee or a future work session. • Mayor Vinis - stated her support for the nurses strike by ONA. MINUTES - Eugene City Council February 12, 2024 Page 2 Meeting Mayor Vinis adjourned the meeting at 8:22 p.m. Respectfully submitted, City Recorder (Recorded by Cherish Bradshaw) Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting here. MINUTES - Eugene City Council February 12, 2024 Page 3 Meeting