Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout170412.WS.SIREMINUTES – Eugene City Council April 12, 2017 Page 1 Work Session M I N U T E S Eugene City Council Board of County Commissioners Conference Room, 125 East 8th Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 April 12, 2017 12:00 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor Mayor Vinis opened the April 12, 2017, meeting of the Eugene City Council. 1. Boards and Commissions Update Division Manager Mia Cariaga gave a brief update on boards and commissions processes. Council discussion:  Majority support expressed for requiring three votes for candidates to move on to interview phase, three minute rounds for interviews.  Reconsider interview vote threshold after Ward 4 councilor is in place.  Supplemental questions provide plenty of information about the candidate; interview follow‐up questions not necessary.  Ask candidates to include in their presentations the qualities they would bring to the board or commission and why they are interested in the assignment. 2. WORK SESSION: Local Options for Inclusionary Zoning and Housing Trust Fund in Support of Affordable Housing Grants Manager Stephanie Jennings gave a PowerPoint presentation discussing inclusionary zoning, affordable housing trust fund, and review of council options. Council discussion:  Disappointed in State law, support efforts to change it.  Fee-in-lieu defeats the purpose; disappointed it didn’t include houses..  Incentives like MUPTE preferred over inclusionary zoning and housing trust fund.  When development is cost prohibitive, developers build in surrounding areas; housing will cost more.  Conditions in Eugene are unique; Envision Eugene shows multi-unit housing is needed.  More details on Portland and Bend plans requested.  Establish fee high enough to encourage developers to build; direct fee income into trust.  Hybrid plan of mandatory and voluntary programs would be a good idea.  Would support Housing Policy Board looking at this and reporting back to council.  Eugene has a lot of demand, but issues with ability to pay and housing availability.  Availability of find middle housing is a big problem; need to find incentives to build.  Need to have the Human Rights Commission look at equity aspects of this issue. MINUTES – Eugene City Council April 12, 2017 Page 2 Work Session  Need to see economic and market impact of inclusionary zoning in established markets.  Revenue would absolutely need to be dedicated to this program.  Interested in seeing cost opportunity versus benefits. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved to pursue all of the questions raised and have the City Manager come back in another work session, and adding the Housing Policy Board and the Human Rights Commission to the groups consulted on market conditions and policy options, with the understanding that the market conditions include if there are any down impacts. PASSED 6:1, Councilor Clark opposed. B. Committee Reports and Items of Interest from Mayor, City Council, and City Manager Council discussion:  Support a resolution declaring the City’s opposition to anti-Semitic activity.  The Jewish community feels vulnerable; need to show solidarity.  Bias crimes that have occurred lately are despicable; not acceptable.  Eugene already has a hate and bias resolution; too many resolutions dilute the others’ effect.  Resolutions is an important symbolic action; need to do more.  Eugene is not a welcoming community for all, especially those with different political views.  A statement from the Mayor is preferred; another resolution is unnecessary.  Revise Section 3 to be more specific/action plan. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Evans, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to extend the meeting five minutes. PASSED 7:0. The meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Beth Forrest City Recorder