HomeMy WebLinkAbout170419.WS.SIREMINUTES – Eugene City Council April 19, 2017 Page 1
Work Session
M I N U T E S
Eugene City Council Work Session
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
April 19, 2017
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka (via phone), Mike Clark, Greg
Evans, Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor
Mayor Vinis opened the April 19, 2017, meeting of the Eugene City Council.
1. WORK SESSION: Broadway Plaza Next Steps and Potential Renaming
Community Development Division Manager Mike Kinnison, Senior Planner Nan Laurence, and
Associate Urban Design Planner Will Dowdy gave a presentation on the history of Broadway
Plaza and ongoing efforts to improve the space.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to initiate the
process for changing the name of Broadway Plaza to Kesey Square. PASSED 6:1, Councilor
Clark opposed.
Council discussion:
Motion to rename makes official what most people have already transitioned to.
Council has received a lot of input from those who oppose the renaming of Broadway Plaza;
efforts to create high‐tech center are gaining momentum.
Explore opportunities related to naming rights and leasing space to support economic
growth.
Recognizing role and legacy of Ken Kesey in the City’s cultural history is appropriate.
Space has evolved from Broadway Plaza to Kesey Square; more public space for family
activities is needed.
Designation of site as public space and its effective use is more important than what it is
called.
Real focus should be on using the space better.
There is a significant segment of Eugene’s population that will not support the renaming due
to the controversial reputation of the person being honored; proposed name not appropriate
for the “town center” if goal is to be inclusive.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to initiate a Metro
Plan diagram amendment and rezoning process to consider changing the Broadway Plaza site to
the “Government and Education” Metro Plan designation and the “Public Land” zone. PASSED 7:0.
Council discussion:
Project for Public Spaces strongly recommended making the space public and opening the
walls to accommodate improvements.
Approval of motion will simply begin the re‐designation/rezoning process.
Council focus should be on infrastructure improvements that make the space more attractive,
flexible, and accessible.
Shortsighted to pursue changes that will not make the space welcoming to all residents.
MINUTES – Eugene City Council April 19, 2017 Page 2
Work Session
Oppose designation as a city park; plaza needs to remain open as public space for peaceful
assembly.
Purpose of action is for Council to explicitly convey its intent for the site’s current and future
use.
B. WORK SESSION AND ACTION: Resolution Advocating for the Oregon Legislature’s Design
of a Healthcare System that Provides Comprehensive Health Care for All Oregon
Residents
Council discussion:
Motion is in response to petition by over 800 citizens in support of the proposed legislation.
These types of resolutions take council’s attention away from important local work.
Single‐payer healthcare system has both its supporters and detractors.
Appropriate for council to weigh in on issues that could potentially have impact on local
residents; huge equity and quality‐of‐life issue.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to adopt a
resolution advocating for the Oregon Legislature’s design of a healthcare system that provides
comprehensive health care for all Oregon residents. PASSED 6:1, Councilor Clark opposed.
C. WORK SESSION: South Willamette
Planning Director Robin Hostick provided a brief recap of Envision Eugene goals and strategies
and related them to the South Willamette planning process, communication efforts and progress.
MOTION (with accepted friendly amendments): Councilor Evans, seconded by Councilor
Syrett, moved to direct the city manager to refocus the city's planning efforts, but continue
community engagement in South Eugene, on developing special area zones or refinement
plans to the River Road/Santa Clara area where significant preparatory work and planning
has already occurred by area residents, and to the Hwy 99/Bethel area, which along with
the River Road/Santa Clara area contains two of the city's main transportation corridors
where multi‐unit densities are contemplated by Envision Eugene, and bring back a plan for
moving forward on university neighborhoods.
Council discussion:
Hwy. 99 and Bethel areas have not had a refinement plan in over 30 years.
Motion recognizes the readiness of residents and appropriateness of the two proposed
areas to undertake the work needed to achieve Envision Eugene goals.
Support refinement plan proposal, but work must also be done to initiate a voluntary
annexation program in River Road/Santa Clara area; need residents’ support for future
planning.
Efforts to‐date on South Willamette have not moved the community toward the goals of
Envision Eugene.
Clarification was made that the proposed motion was initiated by council, based on
input from constituents.
Stakeholders involved in the South Willamette development have not reached
consensus on how to proceed.
Refocusing on River Road, Hwy. 99 and Bethel areas will still allow consensus‐building
work with community members to continue.
Time to dedicate staff resources to refinement planning in University neighborhoods;
residents there have been patiently waiting.
MINUTES – Eugene City Council April 19, 2017 Page 3
Work Session
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to extend the
meeting by 10 minutes. PASSED 6:0.
Neighborhoods involved in South Eugene planning efforts are not in favor of proposed
motion; their perspective should be prioritized.
River Road/Santa Clara are ready for refinement planning as a result of work done with
neighborhoods; use same model to make progress in South Willamette.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to extend the
meeting by another 10 minutes. PASSED 6:0.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved to postpone
the vote on the motion until Monday. PASSED 6:0.
Either/or nature of proposed motion is counter‐productive; different conversation
about TSP needed.
Postponement will allow community members to offer input on motion and future
planning efforts.
The motion was tabled until April 24, 2017.
The meeting adjourned at 1:59 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Beth Forrest
City Recorder