HomeMy WebLinkAbout171011 CC WS MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East Sth Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
October 11, 2017
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans,
Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor
Mayor Vinis opened the October 11, 2017, Work Session of the Eugene City Council.
1. Committee Reports and Items of Interest from Mayor, City Council, and City Manager
Council Discussion
• Support reinstallation of "Flying People" artwork at the airport.
■ More police officers are needed to address community issues.
• Pleased to see Police Chief Recruitment outreach.
• Strategies for emergency shelter this winter are needed.
• Councilor Evans was elected as League of Oregon Cities Vice President.
• Climate Recovery Ordinance Ad Hoc Committee completed its work a few weeks ago.
• Climate and Energy Action Plan Update coming soon.
■ Distracted driving is a pervasive problem. State has new fine schedule for distracted driving
citations; app available to monitor distracted driving.
• In the Lane County Jail, 60 percent of inmates have a mental health issue.
• Passage of the G.O. Bond is critical to the council's work and goals.
• Hood River limits rental housing to 90 days a year and charges fee for rental housing license.
• Anticipate a work session poll on construction excise tax.
• Drones offer manufacturing opportunity and career path.
2. WORK SESSION: Fireworks Proposal
Fire Chief Joe Zaludek and Assistant Fire Marshal Amy Linder gave a presentation about
education and enforcement efforts around fireworks in Eugene since 2014 and potential future
solutions.
Council Discussion
• Fireworks are dangerous and can easily cause Fires; enforcement would be easier and more
effective if there was a ban on all fireworks.
• Explore the possibility of allowing only silent fireworks.
• Enforcement is the biggest issue; a ban may not change people's actions.
■ Consider an exception for permitted commercial displays.
• This is a quality -of -life issue; balance health and safety aspect with holiday celebration.
• Interest in Noll Em application [photo with time stamp and GPS coordinates of location];
easier to "catch them in the act" and eliminates need for eye witnesses.
■ The 2015 ban was effective; important to build on that initiative.
MINUTES — Eugene City October 11, 2017 Page 1
Work Session
• All fireworks make some noise, but some legal fireworks have small bangs and, if not used the
way the manufacturer intended, could be louder and more dangerous.
• Having designated areas to shoot off legal fireworks may come with hazards and higher
insurance rates.
• Education and outreach will be important if changing fireworks ordinance.
■ Period of time Fireworks are allowed could be limited even more than the current range of
days.
■ It is challenging to make rules that will be difficult to enforce.
MOTION (with friendly): Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Syrett, moved to direct
the City Manager to bring back an ordinance for a work session that puts a citywide ban on
all personal fireworks except quiet personal fireworks (sparklers and quiet fountains), limits
the days quiet personal fireworks can be used to December 31, January 1, July 3 and 4, and
limits the days for commercial firework displays to July 3-5, and to provide information to the
Council regarding the potential impacts of limiting commercial displays to July 3-5.
MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE and VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Syrett,
moved to substitute a motion to have a complete ban on all fireworks. FAILED 3:5, councilors
Pryor, Clark, Yeh, Zelenka, and Semple opposed.
VOTE ON ORIGINAL MOTION: PASSED 7:1, Councilor Clark opposed.
MOTION and VOTE: Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Evans, moved to direct the
City Manager to pursue an app that allows for citizen submission of unlawful firework usage
and possible fines. PASSED: 8-0.
The meeting adjourned at 1:29 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elena Domingo
Deputy City Recorder
MINUTES — Eugene City October 11, 2417 Page 2
Work Session