HomeMy WebLinkAbout190528 Mtg and PHMINUTES – Eugene City Council
Public Hearing and Meeting May 28, 2019 Page 1
M I N U T E S
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
May 28, 2019
7:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Claire Syrett Councilors Absent: Greg Evans, Chris Pryor Mayor Vinis opened the May 28, 2019, public hearing and meeting of the Eugene City Council.
1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG Boy Scouts representing Tsisqan Lodge #253 led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag in honor of Memorial Day.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of City Council Minutes
• May 8, 2019, Work Session B. Approval of Tentative Working Agenda C. Approval of Eugene-Springfield 2020 One-Year Action Plan for Affordable Housing and Community Development Councilor Zelenka pulled item 3C from the Consent Calendar.
MOTION AND VOTE: Mayor Vinis moved to approve the items on the Consent Calendar, minus item C. PASSED 6:0. Council Discussion
• Councilor Zelenka – explained reasons for pulling item C and his support for the action requested; asked staff to provide more detail about the program and funding.
• Councilor Semple – expressed appreciation to Councilor Zelenka for highlighting the item by pulling it; expressed appreciation for the plan and items within the plan.
• Councilor Zelenka – outlined consolidated plan timeline and structure, noting that it would be brought up again in May 2020 for council consideration; expressed view that the plan often gets overlooked but is important to recognize.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to approve item C. PASSED 6:0.
3. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance to Fund Community Safety Services with a Payroll Tax
and Adding New Sections to the Eugene Code, 1971
1. Janet Ayres –expressed concern about police services and how this funding would affect homelessness; expressed concern that that there would be an increase in homelessness. 2. Richard InLove– discussed experience living in the Whiteaker and future housing options; expressed concern about services attracting those experiencing homelessness; discussed personal experiences in work and fears of future housing concerns.
MINUTES – Eugene City Council
Public Hearing and Meeting May 28, 2019 Page 2
3. Michael Klews – discussed what community safety initiative means to local police; discussed community safety statistics and concerns within the police department as a means of support for increased services in community safety funding. 4. Brittany Quick-Warner – expressed support for the ordinance with conditions; discussed concerns of local safety issues and efforts to study the impacts of a potential payroll tax. 5. Simone Knighton – discussed personal family situation and desire to see community safety initiative funding go towards more preventative community care. 6. Shaun Haskins – discussed personal family and work circumstance; expressed opposition to the payroll tax as written; discussed concerns about police purpose and presence in community. 7. John Thielking – discussed statistics around citations of the homeless and concerns about funding for those citations; discussed options for the city to address barriers to housing. 8. Ralph Parshall – discussed appreciation to council for addressing community safety concerns; discussed personal concerns with community safety and expressed support for proposed payroll tax. 9. Zondie Zinke – opposed payroll tax, citing recent tax exemptions as evidence of misplaced priorities; expressed concern about who is being required to pay taxes; discussed recent polling of public values for funding needs. 10. Bill Whalen - discussed personal experiences hearing about inadequate community safety funding; expressed support for council to decide on payroll tax and structure. 11. Tom Brandt – discussed needs of the unhoused and the impacts of what could happen in other cities if Eugene solved the issue of homelessness; discussed concerns about Guardian Trailers and opposition to the way money is being spent. 12. Michael Gannon – discussed safety concerns about crossing streets at signals and intersections; discussed vehicle use and climate change issues related to dangerous driving. 13. Nicholas Engel –expressed opposition to police services receiving funding from the payroll tax; discussed alternatives to payroll funding and plans for raising awareness during future international events. 14. Shaun Winter – spoke in opposition to the payroll tax and voiced concerns about its enactment, citing reasons for taxation, police statistics; expressed disapproval of tax structure. 15. David Madera – expressed disapproval of payroll tax; discussed concerns around homelessness services as part of the proposal; supported taking tax to a public vote and raising community awareness. 16. Derek LeBlanc – expressed opposition to the payroll tax; voiced approval of Guardian Trailers; discussed need for alternative funding structures. 17. Debra Messinger –expressed disapproval of payroll tax structure; supported modifying measure to assist smaller employers and ways to tax employees and employers. 18. Jerry Harris – expressed support for payroll tax to support community safety needs; discussed concerns with police response times and outlined conditions for support. 19. Erik Parrish – discussed reasons for support of payroll tax with conditions raised by Eugene Chamber of Commerce; offered thoughts around community safety statistics and concerns about delaying action. 20. Michael Carrigan – expressed Community Alliance of Lane County’s opposition to the payroll tax as written; suggested support would be contingent on more money being directed to homeless services including shelter. 21. Vanessa Ringgold – opposed the payroll tax as written; discussed support for increased capacity to address homelessness and model cities that have successfully addressed these issues. 22. Kathleen Robinson – discussed opposition to the payroll tax as a result of current circumstances; discussed need to increase services for mental health, concerns about vagueness of where money will be allocated; expressed desire for alternative funding sources. 23. Carrie Mizejewski – discussed opposition to the payroll tax ; suggested collaboration with the county on shared community goals; reiterated need for prevention services, not more patrols; expressed concerns about Guardian Trailers.
MINUTES – Eugene City Council
Public Hearing and Meeting May 28, 2019 Page 3
24. Stefan Strek – discussed community safety concerns and personal experiences with lack of police response; expressed opposition to a payroll tax and reasons as to why. 25. Zachary Vishanoff – discussed city hall conversations and council decisions; discussed concerns around MUPTE applications; said payroll tax will be subject of referendum petition; discussed town square expenses, funding support for UO athletic events, alternative funding. 26. Bob Fennessy – discussed opposition to payroll tax based on lack of representation for those who are city residents, as well as funding structure; discussed mental health concerns in relation to community safety services, and what police are able to address. 27. Julia Taylor - expressed anger and concern about what the payroll tax would fund; discussed concerns about perceived safety among different members of the Eugene community; discussed alternatives for increasing safety in the community outside of police services. 28. Jason Johnson – spoke in support of the payroll tax; discussed experiences living in Eugene and community safety concerns and violence; requested leadership from council to continue moving forward if the payroll tax fails. Council Discussion
• Councilor Taylor – voiced concern around equity of the payroll tax for low-wage earners; expressed opposition to the tax unless this inequity is addressed; reiterated concerns for homelessness prevention.
• Councilor Clark – expressed support for efforts to strengthen public safety services but said the payroll tax is not the correct funding method; inquired of the City Manager about importance of metrics for the measure (including unintended consequences) and future public vote; asked how the city will measure businesses who relocate to avoid paying taxes.
• Councilor Syrett – expressed appreciation for public comments; discussed purpose of public hearings and proposals.
• Councilor Clark – expressed appreciation for Councilor Syrett’s comments; discussed beliefs and perceptions about how community safety funding will be used; suggested consideration of an amendment that would remove non-Eugene residents, especially residents of Springfield.
• Mayor Vinis – expressed appreciation for public comments and influence of comments on shape of proposal.
4. PUBLIC FORUM 1. Bekki Bruckner – spoke in opposition to 5G and supported moratorium on 5G enabled towers. 2. Joshua Korn – spoke in opposition to 5G. 3. Adam Pogioli – spoke about 5G-related wireless radiation health concerns. 4. Kayla McDonald – addressed Free Speech Plaza concerns, including lack of canopies. 5. Mary Austermen – voiced concern around lack of protective coverings at Free Speech Plaza. 6. Patricia Devall – voiced concerns about Free Speech Plaza regulations. 7. James Hatcher – voiced concerns about Free Speech Plaza and loss of business due to elements. 8. Heather Allen – discussed effects of new regulations at Free Speech Plaza, citing health concerns. 9. Phillip Andersen – encouraged City Council to enact a moratorium on 5G installations. 10. Sabrina Siegel – expressed opposition to 5G; played video for council. 11. Barbara Wade – continued video in opposition to 5G. 12. Isidore Siegel-Coxon – continued video in opposition to 5G. 13. Alexander Reztz – spoke about options for addressing homelessness, housing, and workforce. 14. Robin Bloomgarden – spoke in rebuttal to Northwest Natural Gas presentation to council on May 22. 15. Michael Gannon –discussed community trust and confidence in local government. 16. Tom Brandt –expressed concern about regulations prohibiting canopies at Free Speech Plaza. 17. Nicholas Engel – voiced concern about a number of issues including 5G, traffic safety and police. 18. Zechariah and Kendra Humbert – related experiences being unhoused in various locations. 19. Wayne Martin – offered invitation to upcoming movie on June 6 at the Bijou Theater, Tony.