HomeMy WebLinkAbout190715-PHMINUTES – Eugene City Public Hearing July 15, 2019 Page 1
M I N U T E S
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
July 15, 2019
7:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor, Greg Evans Mayor Vinis opened the July 15, 2019, meeting of the Eugene City Council. 1. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Extending the Term of Ordinance No. 20170 Granting to
Northwest Natural Gas Company, a Corporation, a Twenty-Year Non-Exclusive Right and
Franchise to Lay, Maintain and Operate Facilities in the Public Way Within the City of
Eugene, Oregon; and Providing for the Payment of Compensation to the City. Mayor Vinis opened the public hearing. 1. Rouanna Garden – Spoke about use of natural gas and associated municipal revenue. 2. Jim Ball – Spoke about demands of NWN and whether EWEB could meet community needs. 3. Linda Heyl – Requested council use agreement to regulate NWN carbon emissions. 4. Betzi Hitz – Reiterated need for agreement to meet CRO goals to reduce carbon emissions. 5. Sara Burant – Spoke to climate change concerns and opposition of using natural gas. 6. Jim Neu – Spoke to carbonization concerns, NWN, and opposition to agreement. 7. Christa Knittle – Spoke in opposition to the franchise agreement. 8. Tim Morris – Spoke about the failure of HB 2020 and need for immediate action. 9. Ryan Moore – Spoke to considerations of climate change and use of natural gas. 10. Michael Gannon – Addressed a variety of concerns related to climate change. Council Discussion
o Councilor Zelenka – Spoke to advocacy in partnering with NWN through a legally binding agreement versus a franchise fee agreement; spoke to failure of HB 2020 and the challenges imposed on this agreement as a result; spoke to SB 98 and how it can incentivize NWN to act on renewable resources; spoke to the process of creating a binding legal agreement.
o Councilor Syrett – Inquired about NWN’s plans during the time it would take to create a legally binding agreement; expressed support for binding agreement rather than franchise fee contract given it includes requirements towards real reductions in emissions; supported using the agreement to leverage these types of reductions.
o Councilor Clark – Discussed capacity of EWEB to meet future capacity growth if gas becomes unavailable and as demand for electricity increases; inquired of staff to have better information from EWEB about capacity to provide electricity as demand grows.
o Councilor Zelenka – Discussed presentation from EWEB and capacity for growth including EV and ability to meet demands, as well as incoming information from EWEB towards this topic. Mayor Vinis closed the public hearing.
2. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Amending and Codifying Permitted Overnight Sleeping
Rest Stop Program Provisions, and Amending Section 4.816 of the Eugene Code, 1971. Assistant City Manager Kristie Hammitt introduced the public hearing topic.