HomeMy WebLinkAbout190513 MTGMINUTES – Eugene City Council May13, 2019 Page 1
Meeting
M I N U T E S
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
May 13, 2019
7:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Betty Taylor, Emily Semple, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Chris Pryor, Claire Syrett, Jennifer Yeh, Alan Zelenka Mayor Vinis opened the May 13, 2019, meeting of the Eugene City Council.
1. Applicant Statements for City Boards and Commissions Three applicants for the Civilian Review Board presented a three-minute statement regarding their interest in serving the community through board or commission membership: Awab Al-Rawe, Stan Dura, Randall Prince.
2. PUBLIC FORUM 1. Todd Boyle – supported the ability to divide lots to make space for smaller homes. 2. David Piccioni – would like more bathrooms, storage, and public showers downtown. 3. Abraham Likwornik – explained the anti-commandeering principle to council. 4. Bekki Bruckner – asked when there would be a work session on 5G. 5. Julie Tilt – voiced concern about health problems related to electro-magnetic frequencies. 6. Sabrina Siegel – asked to meet with all councilors about 5G concerns. 7. Isidore Siegel-Coxon – said he does not want to have to leave Eugene if 5G is installed. 8. Michi Okuda – shared information on a study of firefighters in stations that had cell towers. 9. Barbara Wade – requested a work session on 5G. 10. Joshua Korn – asked for a moratorium on 5G before the transmitters are turned on. 11. Raging Grannies – asked for more public restrooms throughout the community. 12. Sue Sierralupé – requested sanitation improvements for public health. 13. Donna Riddle – asked council to de-criminalize sleeping and to provide bathrooms. 14. Susan Macomson – asked council to take climate change seriously. 15. Sara Burant – urged action to decarbonize local systems, especially regarding fracked gas. 16. Carolyn Partridge – urged council to consider not allowing new gas customers. 17. Deborah McGee – urged council to transition the city to electric power. 18. Paula Stout – voiced concern about the dignity and health of her unhoused neighbors. 19. Kayla McDonald – complained about new vending requirements in Free Speech Plaza. 20. Mary Austerman – expressed disappointment in changes to vending in Free Speech Plaza. 21. Patricia DeVall – asked council to allow canopies and water in Free Speech Plaza. 22. James Hatcher – urged council to permit canopies in Free Speech Plaza. 23. Jack Wellborn – urged council to allow canopies at the Free Speech Plaza. 24. Oliver Aljirin – asked council not to invest in more natural gas. 25. Claire Ribaud – asked council to end fossil fuel investments within 10 years. 26. Nancy Ahnert – warned council to stop investing in natural gas. 27. John Thielking – shared information about a new storage locker project. 28. Chuck Ford – said he distrusts Northwest Natural and warned council against trusting them. 29. Ralph McDonald – urged council to take bold action on climate change. 30. Kris McAlister – asked council to take care with follow-up to homelessness report. 31. Lee DeVeau – asked council to re-open public bathrooms in downtown and in the parks.
MINUTES – Eugene City Council May13, 2019 Page 2
Meeting
32. Terry Parker – urged council toward heroic action in response to climate change. 33. Linda Kelley – asked council to support Oregon House Bill 22. 34. Julie Lambert – urged council to take more action on homelessness. 35. Arwen Maas-DeSpain – made recommendations regarding the homelessness report. 36. Eric Jackson - explained new initiative to call attention to the need for public restrooms. 37. Timothy Morris – highlighted social and financial costs of not addressing homelessness. 38. Sarita Lief – requested decriminalization of sleeping and public restrooms for all. 39. Kathy Ging – shared information about the effects of cell towers on property values. 40. Stefan Strek – expressed his concerns about changes to vending in Free Speech Plaza. 41. Pamela Krause – requested a readable map of bathrooms and drinking fountains. 42. Sabra Marcroft – recommended companion animal course and bedside kennels. Council Discussion
• Councilor Clark– shared that he had not sent the work session poll on 5G out to his colleagues yet but intended to do so.
• Councilor Semple – expressed disappointment over the lack of communication and confusion about the rules at the Free Speech Plaza; felt the vendors there were being treated differently from other vendors; advocated for more public restrooms.
• Councilor Zelenka – shared that he will support a work session on 5G, added more details to speakers’ data about the global warming potential of methane.
• Councilor Taylor – said she looked forward to a work session poll on 5G; asked for the City Attorney’s opinion on the authority of council to declare a moratorium on 5G; agreed with Councilor Semple about the need for bathrooms and shade; added that she would like more benches downtown.
• Mayor Vinis – thanked speakers; agreed that a work session on 5G would be helpful as well as an update on the Free Speech Plaza.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Approval of City Council Minutes
• April 8, 2019, Work Session
• April 8, 2019, Meeting
• April 10, 2019, Work Session
• April 15, 2019, Work Session
• April 15, 2019, Public Hearing
• April 17, 2019, Work Session
• April 22, 2019, Work Session
• April 22, 2019, Meeting
• April 24, 2019, Work Session
B. Approval of Tentative Working Agenda
C. Ratification of the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission Fiscal Year
2020 Regional Wastewater Program Budget and Capital Improvements Program
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to approve the items on the Consent Calendar. PASSED 8:0.
4. PUBLIC HEARING AND POSSIBLE ACTION: An Ordinance Vacating a Portion of Pearl Alley,
Located Between E. 5th Alley and E. 5th Avenue, and Providing for an Immediate Effective
Date (City File VRI 19-1) Assistant City Attorney Lauren Sommers asked council to individually declare any ex-parte contacts pertaining to the topic. Councilors Evans, Zelenka, Taylor, Semple, Yeh, Clark and Pryor and Mayor Vinis declared that they had talked with a representative of the applicant but did not