HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-08-2018 City Council Meeting MinutesMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
January 8, 2018
7:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Claire Syrett, Chris
Pryor
Councilors Absent: Alan Zelenka, Greg Evans
Mayor Vinis opened the January 8, 2018, meeting of the Eugene City Council.
1. ELECTION OF 2018 COUNCIL OFFICERS
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to elect Mike
Clark as President of the City Council for 2018. PASSED 6:0.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Semple, seconded by Councilor Clark, moved to elect Betty
Taylor as Vice President of the City Council for 2018. PASSED 6:0.
2. PUBLIC FORUM
1. Kate Gessert - spoke about priorities in making police chief recruitment decision.
2. Carol Scherer - said immigrant rights are important in police chief recruitment decision.
3. Lucy Lynch - expressed concern about Citizens for Sensible Oversight proposal.
4. Bonny Bettman McCornack - spoke in favor of city auditor ballot measure.
S. Larry Deckman - spoke in support of railroad quiet zone.
6. Robert Pinger - made statements in support of railroad quiet zone.
7. Dennis Meili - spoke in favor of low-income property tax exemption for Birchwood Apartments.
8. Linda Mitchem - spoke in favor of low-income property tax exemption for Birchwood Apartments.
9. Bob Cassidy - spoke in support of elected city auditor initiative.
10. Travis Johnston - spoke in support of tax exemption for Birchwood apartments.
11. Laura Tamkin - encouraged making it easier to build ADUs to help housing crisis.
12. Terry McDonald - asked Council to support moving Dusk to Dawn from the Mission to Amazon.
13. Paul Neville - supported Dusk to Dawn move and announced Youth House opening on February 1.
14. John Thielking - voiced concerns about parts of Section 8 regulations.
15. David Monk - gave thoughts on last Council work session; supported elected city auditor.
16. Ron Bevirt - spoke in support of independent elected city -auditor.
17. Eugene Drix - gave a nod to others; we are all "you."
18. Carolyn Jacobs - spoke about residential density zones; evaluate R-1 before changing code.
19. Aaron Baker - supported bringing ridesharing to Eugene; change PPV rules.
20. Bill Aspegren - does not want to see code changes regarding SB 1051.
21. Eliza Kashinsky - read WE CAN letter requesting SDU code revisions to simplify building SDUs.
22. David Piccioni - spoke in support of independent elected city auditor.
23. Robin Bloomgarden - questioned efforts against elected city auditor group.
24. Sloan Heermance - spoke in support of railroad quiet zone.
25. Julia O'Reilly - spoke in favor of railroad quiet zone.
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26. James Barber - said Our Revolution Lane County endorsed independent city -auditor measure.
27. John Abbe - encouraged support of independent elected city auditor.
28. Rob Zako - spoke in favor of alternative measure to independent elected city auditor initiative.
29. Julie Daniel - spoke in favor of an auditor and supported alternative city auditor measure.
30. John Barofsky - expressed budget concerns with elected city auditor initiative.
31. Mandy Jones - asked Council to consider alternative proposal to elected auditor initiative.
32. Tenille Woodward - voiced concerns about elected city auditor; in favor of alternative measure.
33. Chris Wig - voiced concerns about elected city auditor; in favor of alternative measure.
34. Kitty Piercy - voiced concerns about elected city auditor; in favor of alternative measure.
35. Marty Wilde - voiced concerns about elected city auditor; in favor of alternative measure.
36. Joshua Skov - voiced concerns about elected city auditor; in favor of alternative measure.
37. Janet Bevirt - spoke in support of elected city -auditor initiative.
38. Art Bollman - spoke in support of elected city -auditor initiative.
39. Tracy Cooke - spoke against Uber and Lyft coming to Eugene.
40. George Brown - spoke against alternative auditor proposal, supported elected city -auditor.
41. Norman Erp - spoke in favor of Birchwood Village Apartment propoerty tax exemption.
42. Stefan Strek - defended train horns, critical of "Best of comments made in Eugene Weekly.
43. Lesa Wheeler - supported Birchwood Apartment property tax exemption; supports veterans.
Council Discussion
• If City Council puts a competing auditor ballot measure on the ballot, both measures would
likely be defeated.
• Discussion of divestment from U.S. Bank is scheduled in a few weeks.
• There is confusion about the process and actions that led to a competing auditor measure.
• Not in support of either auditor proposal; having an auditor would not change Council's
actions.
• It is important to listen to every message the speakers bring to the public forum and
consider the interesting ideas they propose.
• Robust public discussion around the possibility of an auditor is healthy.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Approval of City Council Minutes
- November 20, 2017, Work Session
- December 11, 2017, Work Session
B. Approval of Tentative Working Agenda
C. Adoption of a Resolution Approving a Low -Income Rental Housing Property Tax Exemption
Renewal for the Birchwood Apartments, Located at 1080 Clark Street, Eugene, Oregon
(Birchwood Investments LLC/Applicant)
Councilor Syrett pulled Item C from the Consent Calendar.
Councilor Clark pulled Item B from the Consent Calendar.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to approve
the item on the Consent Calendar. PASSED 6:0.
Council Discussion
• Would like to add an item to the list at the end of the tentative agenda for follow-up work
session to be scheduled: Workforce housing discussion around MUPTE - what percentage
of AMI is qualifying when determining target for workforce housing?
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MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to approve
Item B on the Consent Calendar. PASSED 6:0.
Council Discussion
• Birchwood apartment complex is a well -maintained property for low-income individuals
and provides a very important housing resource - in favor of continuing the tax exemption.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to approve
Item C on the Consent Calendar. PASSED 6:0
The meeting adjourned at 9:38 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elena Domingo
Deputy City Recorder
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