HomeMy WebLinkAbout191112 WSMINUTES – Eugene City Council November 12, 2019 Page 1
Work Session
M I N U T E S
Eugene City Council
Bascom/Tykeson Room, Eugene Public Library
100 West 10th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
November 12, 2019
5:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Jennifer Yeh, Alan Zelenka, Mike Clark. Chris Pryor, Betty Taylor, Greg Evans
Councilors Absent: Claire Syrett Mayor Vinis opened the November 12, 2019, Work Session of the Eugene City Council.
1.Committee Reports and Items of Interest
Councilor Evans arrived at 5:38 PM. Council Discussion
•Councilor Yeh – Spoke about a report from MWMC on the current state of the wastewatersystem.
•Councilor Clark – Asked questions about the MWMC report; requested additional details.
•Councilor Taylor – Supported putting STAR voting proposal on the ballot; voiced concernsabout proposed bus route cancellations and requested council to express their oppositionwith a letter to LTD; discussed concerns about leaf blowers; addressed short-term rentalconcerns in the community.
•Mayor Vinis – Spoke to Councilor Taylor’s concerns about bus routes; announcedgroundbreaking event at Homes for Good housing units on MLK Blvd.; reported onNovember 3 Choose Kindness Celebration and building a community of kindness.
•Councilor Pryor – Said he regretted not being able to attend groundbreaking event due tocommitment to rulemaking committee for the legislature.
•Councilor Evans – Reported on recent Transit Tomorrow discussion at LTD meeting aboutwhy certain bus routes will be trimmed.
•Councilor Taylor – Reported on Southeast Neighbors meeting.
2.WORK SESSION: Sustainability Commission Work Plan
Climate Recovery Ordinance Analyst Mark Nystrom, Sustainability Commission Vice Chair
Zach Mulholland and Sustainability Commission Board Member Louisa de Heer presented
the commission’s FY19 Annual Report and its proposed FY20 Work Plan.
Councilor Zelenka arrived at 5:55 PM.Council Discussion
•Mayor Vinis- Thanked staff and commission for the work already done.
•Councilor Semple – Discussed her work as a council liaison to the SustainabilityCommission; voiced appreciation for the work of the commission, as well as upcoming workopportunities including equity and collaborations with other commissions.
MINUTES – Eugene City Council November 12, 2019 Page 2
Work Session
• Councilor Yeh – Expressed appreciation for commission; asked about the difficulty in getting outside expertise for certain work objectives or if they have adequate staff support to achieve the commission’s goals.
• Councilor Pryor – Expressed appreciation for the work plan report and history of the Sustainability Commission; discussed desire for commission to work with as many other commissions and advisory bodies as possible to leverage the impact of commission’s work.
• Mayor Vinis – Asked if there is anything from council that the commission needs to move forward; discussed response from staff and commission.
3. WORK SESSION: Parks and Recreation Bond and Levy Update Recreation Services Director (Acting in Capacity) Craig Smith, and Parks and Open Space Division Manager Craig Carnagey, provided a general update on the work accomplished implementing the parks and recreation bond and levy measures to renovate parks and recreation facilities, build new parks in underserved areas, improve public safety in parks, and restore park maintenance activities. Council Discussion
• Councilor Evans – Inquired about and discussed upcoming Echo Hollow pool closure and what other pool facilities might be available for swim teams, including the River Road Pool.
• Councilor Pryor – Expressed appreciation for the work plan, in particular for improvements to Echo Hollow pool; expressed appreciation of work plan’s recognition of regionality in pool use and updates.
• Councilor Yeh – Complimented staff and expressed appreciation for Striker Field park planning efforts.
• Councilor Semple – Expressed appreciation for work discussed in report, especially for Striker Field; discussed Monroe Park concerns and needs; asked how projects are added to lists of updates in bonds and levies.
• Councilor Taylor – Conveyed constituent compliments regarding local hiking trail updates, as well as concerns about lack of equipment for older children and adults in parks; discussed the need for restrooms in parks; inquired about adding a pool in southwest Eugene; inquired about heating or covering Amazon Pool; inquired about expanding community centers besides Campbell Community Center including Amazon and Washington Park; discussed status of Westmoreland Park community center.
• Councilor Zelenka – Discussed capacity of pool system in Eugene and shared his thoughts about renovations and additions; expressed appreciation for process of updates in work plan; inquired about public safety effectiveness related to parks ambassadors and police department FTE; inquired about how police patrol parks; inquired if staff are tracking effectiveness of increased patrol over time; discussed improvements in Washburn Park; expressed enthusiasm about improvements to Campbell Community Center and Striker Field; discussed diversity of projects and benefits being spread throughout the city.
• Councilor Clark – Asked how much of the river flowing through Eugene is bordered by park land; discussed conversation with Director of State Lands regarding rulemaking on illegal camping along the river and inquired if the City is participating with the state in addressing illegal camping in river areas; inquired if state could pay the City to enforce illegal camping on the river..
• Councilor Evans – Asked about the timeline for development of the sports complex at Golden Gardens Park.
• Mayor Vinis – Expressed appreciation for the report and congratulated the team on its national accreditation, discussed the effectiveness of EPD in parks; expressed excitement for development of improvements within the system.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR