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HomeMy WebLinkAbout180411 WSMINUTES Eugene City Council Harris Hall, 125 East 8 th Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 April 11, 2018 12:00 p.m. Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor Councilor Clark opened the April 11, 2018, Work Session of the Eugene City Council. 1. WORK SESSION: Downtown Dog Licensing Assistant City Manager Kristie Hammitt discussed downtown updates including activities and community engagement, youth activities, daytime storage, restroom programs, and community court. Planning and Development Director Denny Braud discussed safety issues around dogs downtown and proposed options for Council consideration. Council Discussion • The presence of dogs downtown is pleasant and makes it feel more welcoming. It is important for everyone to have licensed dogs with rabies shots. • Questions asked about how the proposed license requirement will impact visiting people with dogs. Consider allowing dog licenses from other states. • It is critical that all dogs have rabies shots; significant health concern. • There is a pro-bono option for individuals to get their dogs licensed, therefore making the requirement equitable. • Questions raised about the practicality and enforcement of a licensing requirement. • Support including map of downtown core with the draft ordinance. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to direct the City Manager to schedule a public hearing on an ordinance concerning the prohibition of unlicensed dogs within the downtown core consistent with the draft ordinance attached as Attachment A, including a map. PASSED 8:0. 2. WORK SESSION: Wildlife Feeding Building Official Mark Whitmill gave background information about the proposed ordinance regarding feeding wildlife. Council Discussion • Questions raised about rats and rat population; not sure if the proposed measures would address the current rat problem. • Would like to see the City provide closed compost bins and wooden rat raps to demonstrate its commitment to resolving the problem. • Support waiting to see the outcomes of rat education before moving forward on a wildlife feeding ban. • The Medford model does address the massive problem of turkeys and deer; important to not lose sight of the rat conversation. • Questions raised about why the animals listed were chosen and how feeding is defined. MINUTES -Eugene City Council Work Session April I I, 2018 Page I • Any new legislation should connect the dots with the proposed definition of feeding with rat feeding including leaving out composting and chicken coops, etc. • Consider looking at where the holes in the current rodent control provisions are and amending them and passing a separate wildlife provision so as not to create an enforcement problem. • Support Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife helping to control turkey population. • Rats are the most pressing issue; education efforts may not be enough. • Find a way to differentiate between active feeding and passive feeding in the ordinance language. • Figure out what "success" would look like, possibly including metrics in determining if the ban is successful. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Pryor, moved to schedule a work session to review the proposed ordinance as discussed today. PASSED 7:1, Councilor Semple opposed. 3. WORK SESSION: Exception to Naming Policy Requirement Parks Planning Manager Carolyn Burke and Human Rights and Neighborhood Involvement Manager Jennifer Lleras Van Der Haeghen discussed exceptions to the Eugene Naming Policy to rename Westmoreland Community Center to Dr. Edwin L. Coleman, Sr. Community Center and name an unnamed park located near the corner of Royal Avenue and Elizabeth Street as Andrea Ortiz Park. Council Discussion • Consider aligning time requirements in Naming Policy to be consistent for naming parks and open spaces and facilities. • Would like to examine and clean up the naming policies so that there is no confusion in the future. • The council established a naming policy for good reason; there is no urgency in waiving the policy at this time. • Council has the authority to waive the policy if it feels a proposal is important and significant enough. A more robust conversation about the naming policy in general is needed. • These individuals are deserving of naming and the places are appropriate; it's not the first time an exception has been requested and granted. • Names matter, they are important and it is important to have parks and names that represent the diversity of our community; happy to make an exception for these individuals based on the contributions they made to the city. • The naming policy exists to prevent naming things spontaneously and without proper vetting, but that is not the case in this situation. • It's important to address the injustice that has resulted from the legacy of Oregon's racist past and treatment of marginalized communities. • It is challenging to objectively approach something that is inherently subjective and emotional because we're talking about people. MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to extend the meeting ten minutes. PASSED 7:1, Councilor Taylor opposed. • The naming policy favors those who have money, and doesn't create an even playing field. MINUTES -Eugene City Council Work Session April 11,2018 Page 2 MOTION : Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Semple, moved to amend page three of the Naming Policy to provide spaces which "clearly" have been previously de dicated in honor of an individual and to amend page two of Appendix A of the Naming Policy to change two years to one year for h onoring a deceased person. • There are four criteria in the naming policy, and only one of them references money. • Concerned that Council is moving too fast, but will vote in favor of th is motion. • Questi ons raised about what "clearly" means and how it applies. VOTE: PASSED 8:0. MOTION: Councilor Ev ans, seconded by Councilor Pryor, moved to direct the City Manager to initiate th e process fo r r enaming, including the scheduling of a public h earing for both Dr. Coleman and Andrea Ortiz. PASSED 8:0. The meeting adjourned at 1:35 p .m. Respectfully submitted, E~ Deputy City Recorder M INUTES -Eugene City Council Work Session April l I . 2018 Page 3