HomeMy WebLinkAbout240916 PHMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Public Hearing
Eugene, Oregon 97401
September 16, 2024
5:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Matt Keating, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark,
Lyndsie Leech, and Randy Groves.
Councilors Absent: Greg Evans
Mayor Vinis opened the September 16, 2024, public hearing of the Eugene City Council in
hybrid in-person and virtual format at 500 E. 4th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401, North
Building.
1. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Concerning Multi-Use Property Tax Exemption
and amending Sections 2.945 and 2.946 of the Eugene Code,
1971.
Mayor Vinis opened the public hearing.
Assistant City Manager, Matt Rodrigues, introduced the topic and provided background
information on the Multi-Use Property Tax Exemption (MUPTE).
1.Chris McGhee spoke against the MUPTE due to the lack of labor standards.
2.Katie Wilgus spoke against the accelerated MUPTE proposal in its current form.
3.Irene All tucker spoke against the accelerated MUPTE proposal in its current
form.
4.Dana Siebert spoke in favor of the accelerated MUPTE proposal.
5.Garth Finley spoke against the MUPTE due to the lack of labor standards.
6.Eric Morgan spoke against the MUPTE due to the lack of labor standards.
7.Brian Obie spoke in favor of the accelerated MUPTE proposal.
8.Tiffany Edwards spoke in favor of the accelerated MUPTE proposal.
9.Joshua Burstein spoke in favor of the accelerated MUPTE proposal.
10.Nigel Francisco spoke against the accelerated MUPTE proposal.
11.David Van Der Haeghen spoke against the accelerated MUPTE proposal in its
current form.
12.Jeremiah Wilgus spoke against the accelerated MUPTE proposal in its current
form.
13.Greg Bryant spoke against the accelerated MUPTE proposal.
14.Stephanie Bell spoke in favor of the accelerated MUPTE proposal.
15.Sherry Schaefers spoke in favor of the accelerated MUPTE proposal.
Mayor Vinis closed the public hearing.
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Public Hearing
September 16, 2024 Page 1
Council Discussion:
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Councilor Clark -noted Council's previous discussions about revising the benefit
criteria for the full version MUPTE; stated his support for ensuring the public
benefit of hiring local remained a priority; recalled being informed of a State law
limiting the City's ability to hire locally; asked which of the mentioned labor
standards the City could consider in the process and which are constrained by
State law; noted interest in better understanding any State laws that would limit
the City's ability to implement changes suggested by speakers, including altering
the accelerated MUPTE's footprint and eliminating certain public benefits.
Councilor Zelenka -noted when Council revamped the MUPTE, the intent was to
create clearer rules and ensure public benefits are real, quantifiable, and
tangible; noted the public benefits include compact urban development, green
energy efficient buildings for the future, 10 percent contribution to the
moderate-income housing fund, and a local economic development plan; noted
the local economic development plan has 50 percent of dollars go to local
companies, ensures wage, tax, and license laws are all followed, and provides
opportunities for women and minority-owned businesses; does not support
further reducing the public benefit; stated public benefits have not yet been a
barrier to developers receiving MUPTE incentives.
Councilor Semple -noted previous concerns with the MUPTE but is now in favor
of the accelerated MUPTE; noted interest in expanding the accelerated MUTPE
boundaries but is willing to support it in its current state as the City needs
housing; noted she's not willing to remove or lessen the public benefits.
Councilor Keating -thinks there are not enough community benefits in the
accelerated MUPTE; noted interest in having locally sourced, sustainable goods,
living wage jobs, full family benefits, hiring of a local workforce, and local
apprenticeship programs; asked why the proposed accelerated MUPTE map
does not resemble the current MUPTE map; noted desire to expand public
benefits and give community members options to live, work, play, and stay in
Eugene; noted desire for an online dashboard showing where dollars are going,
who's receiving an abatement, and which developers are working with in the
community; noted importance of uplifting businesses following the law.
Councilor Groves -noted some concerns with how the City pursues its
downtown development; interested in considering expanding the designated
MUPTE area; noted downtown needs more compact housing; noted interest in
evaluating the community benefits as long as the labor factor is added in; noted
concern with speaker comments about wage theft and laws that are being
violated.
• Councilor Clark -noted his previous idea to certify payroll to see the zip codes of
all employees working on a city project and determine if local people were hired;
noted interest in discussing clawback measures and the issues raised; thinks
there should be a consequence for those not adhering to their agreement.
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Public Hearing
September 16, 2024 Page 2
2. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Concerning Public Passenger Vehicle Services
and Amending Section 3.345(7) of the Eugene Code, 1971.
Mayor Vinis opened the public hearing.
Assistant City Manager, Matt Rodrigues, introduced the topic and provided background
information.
There were no speakers for the public hearing.
Mayor Vinis closed the public hearing.
Council Discussion:
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Councilor Zelenka -noted the fee was originally put into place to cover costs
associated with the administration of the program and licensing public passenger
vehicles; asked if the program cost is being covered by the fee and if the proposed
fee closes the gap to covering the cost.
Councilor Keating -noted his boss' experience with a driverless vehicle; asked if
automated vehicles fall under the same public passenger vehicle service in the
ordinance; asked what the City can do if there is an increase of driverless public
passenger vehicles; asked if the City can raise significant revenue from them or have
a fee high enough to minimize them to protect other taxt Uber, and Lyft services.
Councilor Clark -noted Council amended the Transportation Systems Plan (TSP) to
study infrastructure for autonomous vehicles; noted interest in receiving more
information about what the City has learned on the topic.
Mayor Vinis adjourned the meeting at 6:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Katie LaSala
City Recorder
(Recorded by Natalie Venhuda)
Link to the web cast of this City Council meeting here .
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Public Hearing
September 16, 2024 Page 3