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HomeMy WebLinkAbout160314.WSand Meeting.SIREMINUTES – Eugene City Council March 14, 2016 Page 1 Work Session and Meeting M I N U T E S Eugene City Council Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 March 14, 2016 5:30 p.m. Councilors Present: George Brown, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, George Poling, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor Mayor Piercy opened the March 13, 2016, City Council Work Session. The Mayor adjourned the meeting of the Eugene City Council and convened a meeting of the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency. A WORK SESSION: Downtown Improvements Financing Strategy Community Development Division Manager Denny Braud, Senior Planner Nan Laurence, and Economic Prosperity Programs Manager Amanda Nobel Flannery gave a PowerPoint presentation on downtown improvements, discussing projects and costs; funding strategies, feedback, and other potential strategies. Councilor Evans declared a potential conflict of interest related to discussions on redeveloping the former downtown Lane Community College Building, noting he is an employee of Lane Community College. Council discussion:  Urban renewal is designed to be a temporary funding tool.  Other funding options available that allow for urban renewal district to sunset.  Building too many projects into one proposal is not good; need to address projects separately.  Comfortable moving forward with urban renewal as a start.  Present council should abide by 2010 council promise to sunset the urban renewal district.  G.O. bond isn’t a very creative option; need to be more creative.  Maintaining urban renewal district would have no negative impact on school budgets or local taxes.  Concerned about taxing people citywide for downtown-only improvements.  Should look at most effective use of public dollars; decision about urban renewal district should go to public vote. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Evans, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to forward to the City, including the Planning Commission, as well as to the overlapping taxing districts, and request that the City Manager schedule a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Downtown Urban Renewal Plan, consistent with the draft plan and report included in Attachments H and I. In addition, individual work sessions shall be scheduled after council break on each of the four types of projects including alternative funding strategies. PASSED 6:2, Brown and Taylor opposed. MINUTES – Eugene City Council March 14, 2016 Page 3 Work Session and Meeting M I N U T E S Eugene City Council Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 March 14, 2016 7:30 p.m. Councilors Present: George Brown, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, George Poling, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor Mayor Piercy opened the March 14, 2016, City Council Meeting. 1. CEREMONIAL MATTERS Mayor Piercy and the City Council honored the Eugene Delta Rotary Club for excellent stewardship of the Owen Rose Garden for more the two decades. 2. PUBLIC FORUM 1. Phil Carrasco – spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day resolution. 2. Lucy Vinis – supported efforts to help the homeless and create emergency shelters. 3. Jennifer Frenzer-Knowlton - supported Indigenous People’s Day resolution and rest stops. 4. Laurie Powell – supported full implementation of the climate recovery ordinance. 5. Andrew Fisher – asked council to look into preservation of downtown post office. 6. Jennifer Smith – supported the South Willamette Special Area Zone Plan. 7. Merle Weiner - supported the South Willamette Special Area Zone Plan. 8. Eliza Kashinsky - supported the South Willamette Special Area Zone Plan. 9. Tracy Joscelyn – thanked council for support of Nightingale Health Sanctuary rest stop. 10. Zoe Spottedeagle - spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day resolution. 11. Paul Wilson - spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day resolution. 12. Sigvanna Topkok- spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day resolution. 13. Brynna Hendrick - spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day resolution. 14. Moses Stone - spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day resolution. 15. Patty Hine - supported full implementation of the climate recovery ordinance. 16. Jane Coverdell - spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day resolution. 17. David Ivan Piccioni - spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day resolution. 18. Art Bowman - supported $15 minimum wage for city regular and temp workers. 19. Leilani Sabzalian - spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day resolution. 20. Kendrea Makaily - spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day resolution. 21. Michael Carrigan - spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day resolution and more rest stops. 22. Will Doolittle - spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day resolution. 23. Joshua Skov - spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day resolution. 24. Eric Gunderson – noted importance of mid-century architecture and park blocks. 25. Mariah Leung - spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day resolution. 26. Naomi Strawser - spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day resolution. 27. Marilu and Selena - spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day resolution. Council discussion:  Post Office has informed the City they are not planning to sell their downtown facility at this time.  City should support efforts to save post office.  Moved and humbled by all who spoke in support of Indigenous People’s Day.