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Eugene City Council Meeting and
Eugene Urban Renewal Agency Meeting
Eugene, Oregon 97401
October 14, 2024
7:30p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans,
Lyndsie Leech, and Randy Groves
Councilors Absent: Matt Keating
Mayor Vinis opened the October 14, 2024, meeting of the Eugene City Council in hybrid in-
person and virtual format at 500 E. 4th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401, North Building.
1. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
Mayor Vinis read a proclamation in honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day.
2. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST
• Councilor Evans -shared updates from the Intergovernmental Relations Committee
regarding legislative priorities and policies and preparation for the upcoming
legislative session.
• Councilor Semple -spoke about the importance of sidewalk safety; encouraged the
community to use paint to indicate sidewalk tripping hazards.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR 1
A. Approval of City Council Minutes
• July 24, 2024 Work Session
• September 9, 2024 Work Session
• September 9, 2024 Meeting
B. Approval of City Council Tentative Agenda
C. Approval of Voting Delegate for League of Oregon Cities Business Meeting
MOTION: Councilor Groves, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to
approve the items on Consent Calendar 1. VOTE: 7:0 PASSED
4. Action: Authorize Additional Urban Renewal Agency Funding for Acquisition of
Two Downtown Properties from the City of Eugene
Mayor Vinis closed the meeting of the Eugene City Council and convened a meeting of
the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency.
Agency Director, Sarah Medary, introduced the topic and provided background
information.
MOTION: Councilor Groves, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to
offer to purchase the North Butterfly Lot for $1,060,000 and the 8th
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and Pearl Lot for $1,020,000 from the City of Eugene and direct the
Agency Director to include $210,000 from the Downtown Urban
Renewal District and $170,000 from the Riverfront Urban Renewal
District for these purchases in the December 2024 Supplemental
Budget and take all necessary actions to acquire the properties. VOTE:
7:0 PASSED
Mayor Vinis closed the meeting of the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency and
reconvened a meeting of the Eugene City Council.
5. Action: Transfer of Two Downtown Properties to Urban Renewal Agency
City Manager, Sarah Medary, introduced the topic and provided background
information.
MOTION: Councilor Groves, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to
direct the City Manager to facilitate the transfer of the North Butterfly
Lot for $1,060,000 and the 8th and Pearl Lot for $1,020,000 to the
Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Eugene. VOTE: 7:0 PASSED
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Lin Woodrich -spoke against the USD Clean Fuels transloading facility.
2. Eva Carlson -spoke about the difficulties of being unhoused.
3. Nancy Buffum -spoke about the importance of sidewalk safety.
4. Curtis Blankinship -spoke about uses for the space under freeway overpasses.
5. Stefan (Ace Dog) Strek -spoke in favor of parks and against urban renewal projects.
6. David Igl -spoke about local historical events.
7. Lisa Levsen -spoke about the issue of hunger in the city.
8. Linda Kelley -spoke in favor of requiring new tax-exempt developments to be fully
electric.
9. Bill O'Brien -spoke against the conflict in Israel and Palestine.
10. Ken Jones -spoke against natural gas in residential homes.
11. Carolyn Partridge -spoke in favor of requiring new tax-exempt developments to be
fully electric.
12. Sandra Bishop -spoke in favor of requiring new tax-exempt developments to be
fully electric.
13. Tayten Torgrimson -spoke about the difficulties of being unhoused in the winter.
14. Jim Neu -spoke in favor of requiring new tax-exempt developments to be fully
electric.
15. Michael beavers -spoke about struggles as a local retail business owner.
16. Lisa Arkin -spoke against the USD Clean Fuels transloading facility.
17. Debra McGee -spoke in favor of requiring new tax-exempt developments to be fully
electric.
18. Zach Mulholland -spoke in favor of requiring new tax-exempt developments to be
fully electric.
Council Discussion:
• Councilor Groves -asked if the Oregon Department of Transportation owns the
land under most overpasses in the city.
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• Councilor Zelenka -asked if the City has placed any rocks under overpasses;
noted how to find information about the City's response to homelessness on the
website.
• Councilor Yeh -noted her appreciation for the data shared by Lisa Levsen with
Neighbors Feeding Neighbors; noted her availability after the meeting to meet
with a concerned community member.
• Councilor Evans -noted efforts made to reduce rising crime in his ward; noted
the effects on local businesses; spoke about the need for more police and human
services.
• Mayor Vinis -noted the public benefit criteria are retained with the accelerated
Multi-Unit Property Tax Exemption (MUPTE) process; noted the request to make
new tax-exempt developments fully electric was a good point.
Mayor Vinis adjourned the meeting at 8:34 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Katie LaSala
City Recorder
(Recorded by Cherish Bradshaw)
Link to the web cast of this City Council meeting here .
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