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HomeMy WebLinkAbout190923 MTGMINUTES – Eugene City Council Meeting September 23, 2019 Page 1 MINUTES Eugene City Council Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 September 23, 2019 7:30 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor Mayor Vinis opened the September 23, 2019, meeting of the Eugene City Council. 1. PUBLIC FORUM 1. Arlo Rallen and Laura Allen – asked council to pass a resolution in support of a climate strike. 2. Ralph McDonald - asked council to pass a resolution in support of the weeklong climate strike. 3. Jane Kwiatkowski – proposed ideas related to the Climate Recovery Ordinance goals. 4. Todd Boyle – asked council to create housing that would be set aside for low-income individuals. 5. Otis Root – said he was offended by Councilor Semple’s remarks at an HRC meeting. 6. Fredric Pitts – said he’d like to see ADU regulations relaxed and more multi-family dwellings. 7. Lauren Bailey – expressed concerns about small cell tower placements. 8. Victor Odlivak – spoke against the installation of 5G in the community. 9. Sandy Sanders – spoke against 5G technology. 10. Raging Grannies – sang about the current climate emergency and plan for carbon reductions. 11. Nick Dikas and group – asked council to address the climate emergency. 12. Mary McLellan - gave her time to the others speaking about addressing climate emergency. 13. Amanda Dellinger – spoke in support of making ADUs easier to build in Eugene. 14. Rowan - spoke against the installation of 5G in the community. 15. Jan Spencer – invited everyone to a series of site tours showcasing planning and climate goals. 16. Tiffany Edwards – spoke about the need for ADUs and the many city goals they address. 17. Susan Bliven – spoke about the need for ADUs in the community. 18. Seth Sadofsky - encouraged council to be a leader in fighting climate change. 19. David Igl – asked council to distance themselves from the renaming of Dunn Hall. 20. Arwen Maas-DeSpain – spoke about homelessness as a systems and humanity issue. 21. Terry Waldron – spoke about her fear for the planet’s future and the effects of climate change. 22. William O’Brien – said our planet is dying, causing war, famine, and homelessness. 23. Geronimo Garcia – spoke about Annette Montero’s death and homelessness in the community. 24. Steve Dear – spoke on behalf of the Red Rebel Brigade about the current climate catastrophe. 25. Martha Bryson – talked about public health hazard created by not having enough public toilets. 26. Beverly McDonald – asked council to adopt the climate strike resolution. 27. Lou Ann Elms – spoke about the local access roads near the Hatton annexation. 28. John del Nero – spoke about the local access roads near the Hatton annexation. 29. Christine Rush – asked for Anderson Street to be included in the Hatton Avenue annexation. 30. Artie Leider – expressed frustration with sidewalk camping and wanted to find solutions. 31. Elijah Davis – said that mental health issues are the responsibility of the community. 32. Charlcie Kaylor – spoke in favor of ADU regulations as required by the state legislature. 33. Eliza Kashinsky – shared disappointment with the recent ADU conversation. 34. Kris McAlister – shared concerns about the homeless and solutions not coming fast enough. 35. Kaarin Knudson – encouraged council to comply with state law regarding ADUs. 36. Diana Bilovsky – shared suggestions related to short-term rental regulations. 37. Brennen Matherly – spoke in support of banning Styrofoam and switching to reusables. MINUTES – Eugene City Council Meeting September 23, 2019 Page 2 38. Cynthia Matherly – spoke in support of banning styrofoam and the climate crisis. 39. Bill Randall – spoke in favor of ADU regulations as required by the state legislature. 40. Pamela Krause – spoke about the need for homeless and respite services in the community. 41. Wayne Martin – asked council to hire individuals with professional homelessness experience. 42. Carmel Snyder – spoke about the benefits of creating ADUs in the community. 43. Majeska Seese-Green – spoke about the need for housing, ADUs, and addressing homelessness. 44. Dharmika Henshel – spoke about the current climate crisis. 45. Lex Warden – encouraged Eugene to be a beacon of hope for the climate’s future. Council Discussion: • Councilor Taylor – said overpopulation is a part of all the world’s problems; said people speaking about climate are talking about the survival of humanity and its very important; noted that ADUs are currently permitted in Eugene. • Councilor Syrett – asked to pull the Hatton Annexation from the Consent Calendar because she wanted to address some of the public testimony about it; responded to comments about including unhoused people in conversations that the City is having around homelessness; said City staff has started engaging in this dialogue and is having individuals participate in a formal way; talked about the City declaring homelessness an emergency in 2015. • Councilor Semple – apologized for her remarks at the Human Rights Commission meeting; thanked the Sustainability Commission for their resolution supporting the youth led climate strike; said she is hoping to get a finalized resolution for council to vote on at the October 14 meeting; mentioned the public hearings on November 18 on polystyrene and plastic bags. • Councilor Zelenka – mentioned that City Council did declare a housing emergency a few years ago, asking the governor to declare a housing emergency; said he was at the climate strike on Friday and it was heartening to see all the students marching at such a well-attended event. • Councilor Clark – expressed concern that if current regulations around ADUs are lifted and the City complies with state law, there will not be more ADUs being built because the conversation is more about affordability than changes to the law. • Mayor Vinis – thanked people for coming to speak; acknowledged that there is an outpouring of recurring issues because those issues have not been resolved, noting that although it may seem like decisions can never be made fast enough around homelessness, it is a priority; said there would be a lot of action around climate decisions in the next few months; said she expects the City to move forward with complying with state law around ADUs. 2. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of Tentative Working Agenda B. Adoption of a Resolution Annexing Rights-of-Way to the City of Eugene (Sections of: Harvey Avenue; Maynard Avenue from River Road West: Hatton Avenue West to Parnell Drive: Manzana Street from Howard South: and Evergreen Drive from Howard Avenue South to Rosetta Avenue.) (Hatton Annexation; A 19-4) MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to approve the items on the Consent Calendar except for Item B. PASSED 8:0. Council Discussion: • Councilor Syrett – addressed the additional public comments made about the proposed annexation; asked if the annexation could be passed tonight and then the City could address incorporating the additional properties that would also like to be annexed at a later date; said she wanted to make sure staff were engaged with the individuals and moving the conversation forward; apologized if she did not respond to these individuals who may have emailed about these issues.