HomeMy WebLinkAbout181113 WSMINUTES – Eugene City Council November 13, 2018 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, 2018
5:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Claire Syrett, Chris Pryor Mayor Vinis opened the November 13, 2018, Work Session of the Eugene City Council.
1. Committee Reports and Items of Interest
• Protesters have returned to Butterfly Lot; recent efforts aren’t adequate and this is a problem that will not go away.
• Important to work toward a future where all those without housing have access to shelter, food and sanitary facilities – these are basic human rights and these are our fellow community members.
• Disappointed in decision to stop plans for a day center in former City Hall lot.
• Still need more places downtown for people to sit and rest.
• Complaint received about speeding on McLean Boulevard.
• Consider using Rental Housing fees collected to perform regular inspections of properties for deficiencies.
• Kudos to Police Chief Chris Skinner for process that has resulted in full staffing for first time in many years.
• Community Veterans Day events were well-attended and an appropriate way to honor our local veterans.
• Council Evans was elected to the board of directors of the National League of Cities and appointed to a 20-member national task force on housing. Focus will be on best practices and lobbying Housing and Urban Development to reverse some its positions that have negatively impacted cities.
• Third meeting of the Housing Tools and Strategies work group will meet on November 14.
• Both the Poverty and Homelessness Board and the Shelter and Supported Housing Subcommittee will address very specific next steps for providing homeless services.
2. WORK SESSION: Town Square Update Planning and Development Director Denny Braud, and Planner Will Dowdy gave a presentation on the progress of the Town Square efforts, including infrastructure and park features. Council Discussion
• Proposed City Hall plans account for Phase 1 only, with other City offices continuing to rent space in other building downtown.
• Questions asked about how the rents paid for leased space are being captured, relative to the costs projected for building a new City Hall on the Butterfly lot.
• Consider totality of costs vs incremental costs moving forward.
• Consider incorporating residential and/or commercial development into plans for Farmers Market, to maximize use of the land, streams of revenue and housing stock.