HomeMy WebLinkAbout191113 WSMINUTES – Eugene City Council November 13, 2019 Page 1
Work Session
M I N U T E S
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
November 13, 2019
12:00 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Jennifer Yeh, Alan Zelenka, Mike Clark. Chris Pryor, Betty Taylor. Greg Evans, Claire Syrett Mayor Vinis opened the November 13, 2019, Work Session of the Eugene City Council.
1.WORK SESSION: Eugene-Springfield 2020 Consolidated PlanGrants Manager Stephanie Jennings provided an overview of the HOME and CommunityDevelopment Block Grant programs, reviewed progress achieved under the 2015 ConsolidatedPlan, and discussed the process for development of the 2020 Consolidated Plan.Council Discussion
o Councilor Clark – Shared thoughts about how CDBG funds could be used to fight poverty; askedwhat was meant by claim that housing funds are best suited for rental housing; asked if donatedland could be used for a housing development; asked about eligible uses of CDBG funds;discussed down payment assistance programming; expressed interest in expanding downpayment assistance program again as well as expanding smaller housing on donated land.
o Councilor Taylor – Asked if it is possible to make loans for down payments; discussed challengeof saving for a down payment; inquired about and discussed using these funds for sidewalkimprovements; asked if funds could be used for Single Residence Occupancy and if they have tobe used for a specific group of people; asked if recommendations brought in February could bechanged at that time.
o Councilor Syrett – Expressed appreciation for work of staff; inquired about combination ofprevious funds; asked how much money in the previous fiscal year went towards job creationprogram; asked if Habitat for Humanity could assist with a few home projects to promotehomeownership; asked if the City could replicate a Habitat for Humanity project to avoidcertain regulatory requirements; discussed assessments; inquired about affordable housingtrust funds and construction excise tax (CET); discussed recommendations from advisorycommittee to help inform council leveraging dollars.
o Councilor Zelenka – Expressed appreciation for staff work; inquired about the drop in fundingfor CDBG and HOME funds; discussed drop in housing units in Springfield and asked how theconsolidation plan proposes making up that loss; inquired about gap strategies in upcomingrecommendations and if there would be new dollars to include CET dollars; asked if numberswould change in the upcoming plan update; discussed funding from CET; inquired about anddiscussed how metrics are gathered related to affordable housing in the consolidation plan,specifically related to affordable housing units; inquired about total affordable housing unitsbeing built through these funds.
o Councilor Pryor – Discussed program needs for low-income housing as opposed to workforcehousing and getting the most units with the funds available; discussed mixing development ofunits with promotion of home ownership to get the most out of the funds; expressed supportfor the current plan.
o Councilor Evans- Inquired where two land bank sites are located; asked how many homes thathave been completed are emergency or transitional in nature; inquired about upcoming homeprojects and if there are other sources of funds that could be combined with federal monies.
MINUTES – Eugene City Council November 13, 2019 Page 2
Work Session
o Councilor Clark -Expressed support for Councilor Pryor’s comments regarding the balance of objectives; expressed desire to increase goal of homeownership to better balance objectives; expressed desire to increase pool of down payment assistance funds; discussed demographics of first-time homebuyers.
2. WORK SESSION: Process for Appointing a New City Manager
Council Discussion
o Mayor Vinis – Reviewed the process for scheduling this topic for a work session; asked for clarification of the council’s authority; explained the format for discussion.
o Councilor Zelenka – Discussed current situation with leadership and shared thoughts that council does not need to name a replacement right away; expressed confidence in Sarah Medary as City Manager Pro Tem; discussed potential timelines and potential motions.
o Councilor Taylor – Discussed process for council appointment of City Manager; discussed concerns related to current community needs and work, the cost of recruiting a City Manager, and the benefits of hiring Ms. Medary outright.
o Councilor Evans – Expressed support for Ms. Medary but supported opening the recruitment to attract a diverse pool of candidates for City Manager, individuals and groups who historically may have not had access to the position.
o Councilor Clark – Expressed desire for the best manager available for the community and agreement with Councilor Zelenka’s comments about a potential timeline; shared thoughts about hiring Ms. Medary outright versus opening a recruitment.
o Councilor Syrett - Discussed prior councilors’ comments; expressed concern and asked questions about the City Manager Pro Tem not having the authority to hire executive staff; asked what the process would be for council to hire an executive staff member for Fire/EMS; shared thoughts about timeline of searching for a City Manager, especially the timing of future conversations.
o Councilor Pryor – Discussed thoughts about timing of council actions and shared goals of the council and City Manager Pro Tem Medary.
o Councilor Clark – Supported the creation of performance metrics for evaluation of the City Manager Pro Tem.
o Councilor Syrett – Asked about public input requirements for hiring a city manager; inquired where the budget for a national search for a City Manager would come from; expressed agreement with metric points made by Councilor Clark; discussed timing of selection related to budget development and adoption and how Ms. Medary manages this process.
o Councilor Taylor - Discussed Ms. Medary’s prior work with the City and County and expressed confidence in her knowledge and skills; discussed process for termination if ever necessary; addressed Councilor Evan’s comments surrounding diversity.
o Councilor Semple – Expressed support for Ms. Medary as the permanent City Manager, specifically related to her leadership on current projects and community needs.
o Mayor Vinis – Noted council support for Ms. Medary and clarified the process at hand; addressed Councilor Evan’s comments about need for greater public input; supported using time to give Ms. Medary an opportunity to meet the community in the role of City Manager.
o Councilor Clark – Expressed agreement with Mayor Vinis.
o Councilor Semple – Inquired about public input process requested clarification of intentions.
o Councilor Pryor – Noted Ms. Medary’s desire to get to know the role and use an extended timeline to make sure the role is a good fit both for her and for the City.
o Councilor Yeh – Expressed concerns about signaling council intent to create a trial period to solicit community input.