HomeMy WebLinkAbout240311 MTGMINUTES
Eugene City Council Meeting
Eugene, Oregon 97401
March 11, 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 March 11, 2024, meeting of the Eugene City Council in a hybrid in-
person and virtual format at 101 W. 10 th Avenue, Suite 114, Eugene, OR 97401.
1. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
Mayor Vinis read proclamations for Women's History Month and Transgender Day of
Visibility.
2. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST
• Mayor Vinis -spoke about the recent passing of respected community member and
Police Commission Chair, Dallas Boggs.
• Councilor Clark -spoke about the recent passing of Dallas Boggs and his positive
impact on the community.
• Councilor Evans -spoke about the recent passing of Dallas Boggs and his positive
impact on the community.
• Councilor Groves -spoke about the recent passing of Dallas Boggs and his positive
impact on the community; noted his attendance at the Lane Council of Governments
Awards Dinner; noted that Assistant City Manager Kristie Hammitt was given an
award for Outstanding Public Career.
• Councilor Leech -spoke about the recent passing of Dallas Boggs; noted her
attendance at the Human Rights Commission's Homelessness and Poverty Work
Group.
• Councilor Yeh -spoke about the recent passing of Dallas Boggs and his positive
impact on the community.
• Councilor Semple -spoke about the recent passing of Dallas Boggs and his positive
impact.
• Councilor Zelenka -spoke about the recent passing of Dallas Boggs and his positive
impact on the community.
• Councilor Keating -spoke about the recent passing of Dallas Boggs and asked for a
moment of silence; noted Representative Paul Holvey will be retiring and thanked
him for his service; congratulated Speaker Julie Fahey for being elected to Speaker
of the House in the Oregon House of Representatives.
• Councilor Evans -shared updates from the Intergovernmental Relations Committee
regarding the results of this year's legislative session.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR 1
A. Approval of City Council Minutes
• January 24, 2024 Work Session
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• February 14, 2024 Work Session
B. Approval of City Council Tentative Agenda
MOTION: Councilor Keating, seconded by Councilor Groves, moved to
approve the items on Consent Calendar 1. VOTE: 8:0 PASSED
4. ACTION: An Ordinance Amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area
General Plan Diagram and the Willow Creek Special Area Study Future Land-Use
Map to Redesignate the Property Identified as Assessor's Map 18-04-04-20, Tax
Lot 00100 to Light Medium Industrial and rezoning the property from E-1
Campus Employment to E-2 Mixed Use Employment.
Assistant City Manager, Matt Rodrigues, introduced the topic and provided background
information.
MOTION: Councilor Keating, seconded by Councilor Groves, moved to
adopt an Ordinance amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan
Area General Plan Diagram and the Willow Creek Special Area Study
Future Land-Use Map to Redesignate the Property Identified as
Assessor's Map 18-04-04-20, Tax Lot 00100 to Light Medium
Industrial and rezoning the property from E-1 Campus Employment
to E-2 Mixed Use Employment. VOTE: 8:0 PASSED
5. ACTION: An Ordinance Concerning Parking and Amending Sections 5.225, 5.265,
5.335, 5.990, and 5.995 of the Eugene Code, 1971.
Assistant City Manager, Matt Rodrigues, introduced the topic and provided background
information.
Council Discussion:
• Councilor Leech -noted that homelessness and the issues caused by homelessness
are a significant challenge facing the City; stated increasing fines and enacting
harsher penalties will not solve the problem; stated she would like to hear from the
community and have an additional work session on the proposed ordinance.
MOTION: Councilor Leech, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to
(1) discuss the proposed ordinance tonight but take no action; and,
(2) direct the City Manager to schedule a work session for Council
discussion of, and potential revisions to, the proposed ordinance.
Council Discussion:
• Councilor Groves -noted laws for parking and camping issues are already in code
and the problem is enforcement, a lack of consequences, and a core group of repeat
offenders; stated Council has an obligation to protect the whole community; stated
his support for the motion; noted Ward 8 has a high number of RV campers; noted
part of the solution is finding more legally acceptable places for people to go.
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• Councilor Clark -noted his agreement with Councilor Groves; stated while
increasing fines will not solve the issue, something must be done; stated sleeping in
one's car is not safe; stated he is looking forward to the discussion.
• Councilor Zelenka -stated he is concerned with increasing fines for car camping and
expanding the City's ability to impound vehicles; stated increasing fines for people
who cannot pay will not effectively address the problem; noted fine collection rates
range between zero to 15 percent; stated increasing fines will make it harder for
people experiencing deep poverty to recover; stated impounding vehicles will
increase the number of people living on the street; stated Council should work on
increasing the number of Safe Sleep Sites.
• Councilor Yeh -noted she is glad to receive feedback from the community; stated
her support for the motion; stated people sleeping in their car is better than
sleeping on the street; noted she would prefer to continue doing what works or
discuss new options.
• Councilor Evans -noted homelessness has been a top issue since he took office 11
years ago; noted while current programs are successful they are not enough; noted
the proposed parking amendment could not be effectively enforced; stated the issue
of homelessness is a complex national problem; provided historical context about
homelessness; stated the City needs to work with jurisdictional partners.
• Councilor Keating -noted there is a gap in state funding for transitional housing;
spoke in favor of dedicating funds to providing more low barrier shelters and
transitional housing; stated he is looking forward to hearing from the community.
• Councilor Groves -stated the real issue is RV camping, not car camping; noted there
are issues with enforcing current laws; stated concern that removing consequences
may make the issue worse.
• Councilor Zelenka -noted homelessness is a symptom of a lack of affordable
housing, mental health services, and substance abuse services; noted he has been
working on the problem of homelessness for 30 years; stated we need more
implementation of proven solutions.
• Councilor Evans -stated the community needs a public shelter.
VOTE: 7:1 PASSED (opposed by Councilor Clark)
6. ACTION: An Ordinance Concerning Middle Housing; Making A Text Amendment
To The Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan; Replacing Variations
Of The Terms "One Family" And "Single Family" With "Single-unit," Replacing
Variations Of The Term "Two Family" With "Duplex," Replacing Variations Of The
Term "Three Family" With "Triplex," Replacing Variations Of The Term "Four
Family" With "Fourplex," And Replacing Variations Of The Terms "Multiple
Family" And "Multi-Family" With "Multi-unit" Or "Multiple-Unit" Throughout The
Eugene Code; Amending Sections 9.0500, 9.2160, 9.2161, 9.2700, 9.2720, 9.2740,
9.2741, 9.2750, 9.2751, 9.2760, 9.2761, 9.2770, 9.2775, 9.2777, 9.2780, 9.3050,
9.3065, 9.3100, 9.3115, 9.3116, 9.3125, 9.3145, 9.3210, 9.3215, 9.3220, 9.3221,
9.3300, 9.3310, 9.3510, 9.3625, 9.3630, 9.3800, 9.3810, 9.3811, 9.3815, 9.3822,
9.3910, 9.3915, 9.6105, 9.6650, 9.6703, 9.6730, 9.6740, 9.6745, 9.6775, 9.6792,
9.6793, 9.6795, 9.6885, 9.7000, 9.7015, 9.7020, 9.7025, 9.7030, 9.7055, 9.7230,
9.7600, 9.8005, 9.8030, 9.8210, 9.8215, 9.8220, 9.8423, 9.8510, 9.8515, 9.8520,
9.8705, 9.8710, And 9.8865 Of The Eugene Code, 1971; Deleting Sections 9.2705.
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9.2735, And 9.2737 Of That Code; Adding Sections 9.5550, 9.7640, 9.7641, 9.7642,
9.7643, 9.7644, 9.7900, 9.7905, 9.7910, 9.7915, 9.7920, 9.7925, 9.8191, 9.8192,
9.8193, 9.8194, 9.8195, 9.8196, 9.8197, 9.8198, And 9.8199 To That Code; And
Providing An Effective Date.
Assistant City Manager, Matt Rodrigues, introduced the topic and provided background
information.
MOTION: Councilor Keating, seconded by Councilor Groves, moved to
approve an Ordinance Concerning Middle Housing, including Exhibits
A and B attached thereto, as set forth in its entirety as Attachment A to
the March 11, 2024, Agenda Item Summary.
Council Discussion:
• Councilor Clark-noted he is not in support of the ordinance; noted concerns that
the City has not sufficiently proved compliance with Goal 11; noted he is unsure if
we have sufficient public infrastructure; stated he expects to see this ordinance
before Council again.
• Councilor Zelenka -stated the Court of Appeals did not reject the ordinance on its
substance; stated staff have responded by increasing the amount of background
information to prove the City does comply with Goal 11; provided background on
how the City conducts an infrastructure test; stated it is not correct to say the City is
not addressing infrastructure and meeting Goal 11.
VOTE: 6:2 PASSED (opposed by Councilors Clark and Groves)
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Sabrina Siegel -spoke against EWEB installing mandatory smart electric meters.
2. Terri Reed -spoke about the need for housing to solve the homelessness crisis.
3. Martha Johnson -spoke about the need for housing to solve the homelessness crisis.
4. Victor Odlivak -spoke about the health effects of smart meters.
5. Alan Stein -spoke about the health effects of smart meters.
6. Dylan Plummer -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
7. Carina Schmidt -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
8. Sarah Pishioneri -spoke in favor of supporting those experiencing homelessness.
9. Jo O'Harrow -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
10. Aya Cockram -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
11. Sylvia Gregory -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
12. Jesselyn Perkins -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
13. Kamryn Stringfield -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
14. Allen McWayne -spoke against the city supporting the construction of a Eugene
Emeralds stadium.
15. Stone W -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
16. Dace Whiteley -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
17. Abraham Kelso -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
18. Erica Dallman -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
19. Wren Thornton -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
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20.Geoffrey Gordon -spoke in favor of the city instituting a human rights based
investment policy.
21.Bethany Cotton -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
22.Jetty -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
23.Sarah Azarael -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
24.Rebecca Amodeo -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
25.Joshua Korn -spoke against EWEB installing mandatory smart electric meters.
26.Tara Garkow -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
27.Donna Lynne -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
28.Cindy Allen -spoke against EWEB installing mandatory smart electric meters.
29.Madeline Cowen -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
30.Jacob Trewe -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
31.Spencer McIntyre -spoke against the proposed parking ordinance.
Council Discussion:
■ Councilor Yeh -noted her appreciation for the evening's speakers; acknowledged
the parking ordinance could have had a clearer title.
Mayor Vinis adjourned the meeting at 9:47 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Katie LaSala
City Recorder
(Recorded by Cherish Bradshaw)
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting here.
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