HomeMy WebLinkAbout240610 WSMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Work Session
Eugene, Oregon 97401
June 10, 2024
5:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Matt Keating, Alan Zelenka, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Lyndsie
Leech, and Randy Groves
Councilors Absent: Jennifer Yeh
Mayor Vinis opened the June 10, 2024, work session of the Eugene City Council work session of
the Eugene City Council in a virtual format.
1. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Pursuant to ORS 192.660 (2)(i)
2. WORK SESSION: Municipal Court Judge Annual Performance Review
Keri Beraldo, Interim Employee Resource Center Co-Director, introduced Greg Gill,
Municipal Court Judge.
Councilor Discussion:
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Councilor Groves -stated his appreciation for Judge Gill's ability to innovate and tackle
resource limitations; noted the Eugene Municipal Court has filled in where the County and
Circuit Courts have lost capacity; expressed interest in the addition of an associate judge;
would like to understand the impact to the court system after she has been in the position
for a year.
Councilor Semple -noted her appreciation for Judge Gill's work with alternative courts for
vulnerable community members; stated appreciation for the value he places on his fellow
judges and staff; thanked him for his focus on innovation and communication.
Councilor Zelenka -noted Judge Gill's commitment to innovation; stated appreciation for
Judge Gill's pandemic response, his enhancement of community court, and his
commitment to accessibility; thanked Judge Gill for his leadership.
Councilor Leech -stated her appreciation for Judge Gill's commitment to creating an
accessible, trauma-informed court; thanked him and his team for their work
Mayor Vinis -stated she is impressed with the number of accomplishments Judge Gill has
made in the last year; noted the favorable survey response received by the Municipal
Court; thanked Judge Gill for his leadership and integrity.
MOTION: Councilor Keating, seconded by Councilor Groves moved to
award Judge Gill a merit salary increase of 1 step which is equivalent to
Step 8 (Grade 12), $171,995.20/ Annually ($82.69 /Hourly), and to
authorize the Council President to execute an amendment to Gill's
employment contract with the awarded salary increase. VOTE: 7:0
PASSED
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Session
June 10, 2024 Page 1
3. WORK SESSION: MovingAhead -Update and Modification of Preferred Alternative
City Manager Medary introduced Rob Inerfeld, Transportation Planning Manager who
provided an update on the MovingAhead project.
Councilor Discussion:
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Councilor Clark -noted he understands Lane Transit District is responsive to the River
Road community; asked about the impacts of an Enhanced Corridor on trees and local
properties; noted he also objects to an Enhanced Corridor expansion for Coburg Road;
asked about the City Charter provision for tree removal.
Councilor Groves -stated support for an Enhanced Corridor over an Emerald Express
(EmX) expansion in the River Road area; asked what 'incremental development' means;
noted support for bicycle and pedestrian safety; stated further discussion is needed before
considering an EmX expansion for the area in the future.
Councilor Zelenka -stated EmX has been a success, and he hopes for future expansion;
noted the initial EmX project was primarily paid for by the state and federal government
because it was a pilot program; noted an EmX expansion is currently unpopular due to
various factors; noted an Enhanced Corridor will improve bike and pedestrian safety.
Councilor Leech -noted Lane Transit District has thoughtfully engaged with the River
Road community; noted River Road is a high crash corridor; spoke in favor of traffic
calming and safer pedestrian crossings; stated her support for the Enhanced Corridor
project; stated she would like to see more detailed plans as they become available.
Councilor Evans -noted EmX comes with signal priority for buses; asked if there is a plan
to address the chokepoint for the 51 line at the First Street crossing; asked if an Enhanced
Corridor would run both 40 and 60 foot buses.
• Councilor Keating -asked if increasing service on one bus route comes at the expense of
servicing other routes; stated his appreciation for Lane Transit District staff and the
community's investment in EmX.
• Mayor Vinis -stated her support for the Lane Transit District's plan for an Enhanced
Corridor for the River Road area.
MOTION: Councilor Keating, seconded by Councilor Groves, moved to
revise the MovingAhead Locally Preferred Alternative to change River
Road from EmX to Enhanced Corridor.
Councilor Discussion:
• Councilor Clark -asked if the vote acts as an approval of Lane Transit District's
MovingAhead Locally Preferred Alternative project; stated he would not support
the motion because he does not support the plan for the Coburg Road area.
VOTE: 6:1 PASSED (opposed by Councilor Clark)
Councilor Discussion:
• Councilor Groves -clarified the motion only amends the River Road portion of the
MovingAhead Locally Preferred Alternative; noted he also has concerns about the
plan for Coburg Road.
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Session
June 10, 2024 Page 2
• Councilor Clark -stated another reason he did not support the motion is because
the community has concerns about potential impacts of the plan that were not
covered with the level of detail provided in the project synopsis.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:39 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Katie LaSala
City Recorder
(Recorded by Cherish Bradshaw)
Link to the web cast of this City Council meeting here.
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Session
June 10, 2024 Page 3