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HomeMy WebLinkAbout240925 WSMINUTES Eugene City Council Work Session Eugene, Oregon 97401 September 25, 2024 12:00 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Matt Keating, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Lyndsie Leech, and Randy Groves City Council Vice President Groves opened the September 25, 2024, Eugene City Council Work Session in a virtual format. 1. WORK SESSION: Initiation of Land Use Code Amendments Related to Eugene Design Standards and Guidelines for Eugene Streets, Sidewalks, Bikeways and Accessways City Council Vice President, Randy Groves, introduced City Engineer, Jenifer Willer, who provided an overview of the draft standards and requested authorization to initiate code updates related to the updated standards. Councilor Discussion: • • • • Councilor Leech -asked about the determination process for temporary versus permanent curbless sidewalks, particularly on narrow streets; noted concern regarding parking and traffic safety on narrow streets with curbless sidewalks; asked about the current process for traffic studies on traffic calming measures and if the process would change with the code changing; asked if the new code would work in conjunction with or impact the enhanced River Road Corridor plan. Councilor Semple -noted the City's climate awareness and goals have changed since 1999; interested in having protected bikeways in the City; stated support for the plan. Councilor Clark -noted safety concerns with making streets accessible through enhancements for walking and biking that could be difficult for drivers to maneuver; noted concern with truck traffic and pedestrians in residential areas close to industrial uses in North Eugene, especially for roads without sidewalks; asked how the code amendments address truck traffic; inquired about the State law governing industrial companies' right to use their trucks on specific roads. Councilor Keating -noted concern with housing and commercial developments being close to sidewalks; asked how the planning document has evolved since the 1990s regarding new building standards and how they overlap with safety considerations; asked about the thought process for street, pedestrian, bike, and other forms of safety when the City allows developers to build up to the sidewalk. MINUTES -Eugene City Council Work Session September 25, 2024 Page 1 • Councilor Yeh -noted the topic of unimproved streets was a common theme in discussions with community members when she first took office; thinks the code amendments support the City's transportation system and reflect the value that everybody's safety and convenience are equally important. • Councilor Groves -noted concern with narrow streets and densification colliding with middle housing and eliminating off-street parking; asked for information on the conversations between the traffic planning and housing planning departments; noted interest in prioritizing solutions that meet community needs; asked for tracking data on vehicular traffic increases in Eugene; thinks it is important for Council to have information on cause and effect relationships in order to increase safety, minimize congestion, and control speeds; asked if a previous memo contained information on unimproved alleyways; noted Emergency Services use alleyways for access points in addition to the public's use; noted interest in solutions for the City's sidewalks. • Councilor Clark -noted concern in developing roads based on the Climate Recovery Ordinance (CRO) standard of seeing a 50 percent reduction in fossil fuels from the 2010 standard when there is increased vehicular traffic; thinks with the Climate Friendly Equitable Communities (CFEC) changes there will be an increase in the need for street parking; noted concern with expecting too much of the City streets. 2. WORK SESSION: The Cost and Impact of Lane County's Proposed CleanLane Resource Recovery Facility on Residential and Commercial Customers in the City of Eugene City Council Vice President, Randy Groves, introduced Waste Prevention Analyst, Garian Cika, who provided information about Lane County's proposed CleanLane Resource Recovery Facility (CleanLane). Councilor Semple exited the meeting at 12:43 p.m. Councilor Discussion: • • Councilor Clark -asked if the City of Eugene and Lane County have a higher diversion rate than any other Oregon county; noted concern with Eugene residents financially supporting transfer stations in other cities without clear benefits; asked for the value of the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) when other cities in Lane County do not have an IGA; asked if the system benefits charges to prolong the life of the landfill accounts for Emerald People's Utility District's (EPUD) existing efforts to reduce landfill gas emissions; noted concern that project costs may be passed on to Eugene ratepayers if it is unsuccessful; noted concern with the lack of communication from the County regarding this decision. Councilor Evans -asked if the City of Eugene is the primary landfill customer in the area; asked if other cities are diverting their garbage and recycling to other County landfills at a lower cost than Eugene residents currently pay; asked if the MINUTES -Eugene City Council Work Session September 25, 2024 Page 2 new Integrated Materials and Energy Recovery Facility (IMERF) and the County's investment in it would result in renegotiation possibilities for the IGA; noted rates are projected to increase in the next four to six years with costs being passed onto Eugene customers; asked if the IGA is term limited. • Councilor Zelenka -noted he was the project manager on the Short Mountain Landfill Gas Electricity Project at EPUD; noted the project is one of the best greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in the County; noted continued investment in that project cannot occur if the presented project goes forward; stated that once tons are diverted, the old project will eventually shut down and become a Lane County cost; asked if the impacts of EPUD's project ending are factored into the new project; noted the benefits of the new project are a new investment in the community, new jobs, increased recycling, and increased landfill life; asked if there has been a quantification on the greenhouse gas emissions reduction for the new project; noted the costs of the new project are increased tipping fees, the EPUD project ending, and future costs; asked what percentage of costs are from tipping fees versus renewable natural gas (RNG); asked if Bulk Handling Systems has a contract; asked how dependent the presented project is on the RNG. • Councilor Leech -asked if the organic material separation processes for customers will change; asked what will happen with the yard waste; asked if the City Leaf Program will change; asked how materials are chosen for composting versus natural gas production; asked what inert landfill cover is and how it is used; asked what will happen if the community does not support moving forward with the project; asked what the City's communication plan with residents looks like. MOTION: Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Evans, moved to extend the meeting by 15 minutes. VOTE: 7:0 PASSED Councilor Discussion: • Councilor Yeh -asked if the City would be using RN G locally in fleets; noted enthusiasm about the creation of 65 family-wage regional jobs; asked if the jobs are ongoing and not just for construction. • Councilor Groves -noted he likes that Bulk Handling Systems, a local company employing local people, is handling the project; noted he likes that the project will be increasing Lane County's recovery rate, which is already the highest in the state at almost 53 percent; noted he likes the environmental benefits and that the project will extend the service life of the Short Mountain Landfill; noted concerns for costs to Eugene ratepayers; noted Eugeneans pay $4 to $8 more for residential 32-gallon pickup services compared to other areas in Lane County; asked what other Lane County or regional cities use and pay into the Short Mountain Landfill; asked about concerns that Eugene ratepayers are paying for transfer stations that do not serve Eugene; noted he does not think it is Eugene MINUTES -Eugene City Council September 25, 2024 Page 3 Work Session ratepayers' responsibility to subsidize those living in other areas; asked where Springfield disposes of its garbage. City Council Vice President returned to Item 1 on the Agenda. MOTION: Councilor Groves, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved to initiate land use code amendment process related to an update to the Eugene Design Standards and Guidelines for Eugene Streets, Sidewalks, Bikeways and Accessways. VOTE: 7:0 PASSED City Council Vice President returned to Item 2 on the Agenda. Councilor Discussion: • Councilor Clark -noted concern with Eugeneans being left to fund the project regardless of whether it is successful; asked if the City can suspend the IGA; asked if there is a contract with Bulk Handling Systems to sell RNG; noted interest in having further discussion about the project. • Councilor Zelenka -asked if the County has a proforma for the project; asked what percentage of the revenue stream consists of the tipping fees versus RNG sales; noted concern with Lane County ratepayers funding the project even if it is unsuccessful. MOTION: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to extend the meeting by 10 minutes. VOTE: 7:0 PASSED Councilor Discussion: • Councilor Evans -asked if there are intentions for the generated RN G to be sold to local companies, such as Northwest Natural; noted no current facilities exist in Oregon to process liquified natural gas (LNG) or compressed natural gas (CNG) for fueling buses; asked if the City is planning to diversify the LTD transportation fleet with CNG and LNG options; asked if Bulk Handling Systems is currently or intends to export RNG products to other states and communities for their usage. City Council Vice President Groves adjourned the meeting at 1:50 p.m. MINUTES -Eugene City Council Work Session September 25, 2024 Page 4 Respectfully submitted, Sara McKinney Deputy City Recorder (Recorded by Natalie Venhuda) Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting here. MINUTES -Eugene City Council Work Session September 25, 2024 Page 5