HomeMy WebLinkAbout190213 WSMINUTES – Eugene City Council February 13, 2019 Page 1
Work Session
M I N U T E S
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
February 13, 2019
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Jennifer Yeh, Alan Zelenka, Mike Clark, Chris Pryor, Betty Taylor, Greg Evans, Claire Syrett
Mayor Vinis opened the February 13, 2019, Work Session of the Eugene City Council.
• Councilor Taylor – reported that she was receiving many questions from constituents about the legality of a billboard on the corner of 18th Avenue and Willamette Street; urged the council to take a stand on House Bill 2001, which would preempt local control over zoning issues.
• Councilor Zelenka – echoed concerns about the billboard at 18th and Willamette but noted that Eugene’s Sign Code, as written, does not prohibit it; suggested adding this issue to the upcoming work session on digital display technology.
• Councilor Semple – expressed appreciation to staff for sending council agenda materials earlier and for providing more detailed meeting minutes; urged action on creating a downtown center and identifying additional sites for car camps and rest stops.
• Mayor Vinis – informed the council about a request from the Eugene YMCA for support for their request for lottery funds and announced her intention to bring a resolution to council on this issue.
1. WORK SESSION: Community Safety Revenue Team Update Assistant City Manager Kristie Hammitt, Police Chief Chris Skinner, Fire Chief Joe Zaludek and Project Consultant Kevin Alltucker provided an update on the progress of the Community Safety Initiative and the Revenue Team. (Councilor Clark left the meeting at 12:54 p.m.) Council Discussion
• Councilor Semple – expressed appreciation for the presentation and for the opportunity to serve on the Community Safety Revenue Team, noting it successfully reached consensus despite difference of opinion; said the proposal is the best possible and least regressive response to a critical community needs; it casts the widest net and will continue to adjust as needs grow; asked for more information about the variability of the three proposed tax percentages and which would achieve the overall goal.
• Councilor Yeh – appreciated the summary of the committee’s work; result is a proposal that will be easy to explain to constituents; encouraged the council to ask the committee members questions.
• Councilor Pryor – noted there was a real commitment on the part of the committee members to look at many options and take decisive action; acknowledged that there will be public pushback on any tax increase, but this proposal responds to an essential core value.
• Councilor Zelenka – encouraged council follow the same process used by the committee and do its own analysis of all scenarios, potential options, etc., noting the committee recommendation was just one factor to be considered.