HomeMy WebLinkAbout180709 WSMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Harris Hall,125 East 8th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401
July 9, 2018
5:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Emily Semple, Betty Taylor, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Claire
Syrett, Greg Evans, Chris Pyror
Mayor Vinis opened the July 9, 2018, Work Session of the Eugene City Council.
1. Committee Reports and Items of Interest
Council Discussion
• LRAPA is meeting on Thursday at noon and has time devoted to public comment each
meeting.
Mayor Vinis adjourned the meeting of the Eugene City Council and opened a meeting of the Eugene
Urban Renewal Agency.
2. URBAN RENEWAL AGENCYWORK SESSION: Proposed Terms for Downtown Riverfront
Development
Planning and Development Director Denny Braud, Community Development Director Michael
Kinnison, Economic Development Planner Anne Fifield, and City Attorney Staff Glenn Klein
reviewed the terms, engagement, and cost -benefit analysis related to moving forward on
redevelopment of the Downtown Riverfront site by Williams/Dame & Associates.
Council Discussion
• This is an historic opportunity to restore our downtown and bring people to the river.
• Questions asked about the remaining negotiations between the City and EWEB.
• Concerns expressed about lack of green space and wanting the green space to feel more like
a park.
• Request made for financial information around the option of removing building 9B from the
plans to keep as green space.
• Ideas shared about having two stories of parking under the viaduct, possibilities and
opportunities for community solar, green roofs, and other sustainable options.
• Proposal achieves balance of community benefit and financial viability.
• Encourage developer to include multiple restaurants in the development, not just one.
• Questions asked about how inclusionary zoning, if adopted, would affect the development.
• Questions asked about the implications of the Urban Renewal District sunsetting.
• Consider scheduling a work session to discuss the Sustainability Commission
recommendation.
• To ensure that quality development is being pursued, the agreement includes a design
approval process.
• Granting the proposed MUPTE may not be necessary for development.
• Information requested about the consequences of exploring more green space and
eliminating building 9B.
MINUTES — Eugene City Council July 9, 201E Page 1
Work Session
• Important to move forward with developers, but don't want to close the door on adding
more green space.
• Information requested on what becomes of the Urban Renewal District after the project is
complete.
• Questions asked about any environmental liability on the property, sidewalks, and SDC
credits.
• More information needed about affordable housing and other potential partners for
affordable housing providers.
MOTION: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to authorize the
Agency Director to approve a disposition and development agreement consistent with
the terms included in Attachment B.
MOTION TO POSTPONE: Councilor Zelenka, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to
postpone this motion to a meeting to occur before we go on break and have staff come
back to us with more information about the green space and the affordable housing
MUPTE questions.
Council Discussion
• The question on the table right now is if the council wants to work with the developers. The
council is not pre -approving conditions for MUPTE or budgeted dollars at this time.
VOTE ON MOTION TO POSTPONE: FAILED 2:6, Councilors Taylor and Zelenka in
favor.
RESTATED MOTION AND VOTE (with friendly amendment): Councilor Semple moved
to authorize the Agency Director to approve a disposition and development
agreement consistent with the terms included in Attachment B and to direct the Agency
Director to negotiate for additional greenspace and, if more green space is possible,
return to Agency with revised terms, PASSED 7:1, Councilor Taylor opposed.
Mayor Vinis closed the meeting of the Urban Renewal Agency and opened the meeting of the
Eugene City Council.
3. WORK SESSION: Initiation of Processes for Downtown Riverfront Land Use Code
Amendments and Infrastructure
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilors Taylor, moved that
council initiate the process for the Planning Commission and council to consider land
use code and plan amendments to enable the development of the downtown riverfront
consistent with the concept plan presented by Williams/Dame & Associates. PASSED
7:1, Councilor Taylor opposed.
MOTION AND VOTE: Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved that
council initiate consideration of a proposed local improvement district for the
downtown riverfront redevelopment site, consistent with the concept plan presented by
Williams/Dame & Associates, and direct the City Manager to return to council with the
report described in section 7.160(6) of the Eugene Code, so that council can determine
whether to proceed with the local improvement district. PASSED 7:1, Councilor Taylor
opposed.
MINUTES — Eugene City Council July 9, 2018 Page 2
Work Session
MOTION AND VOTE: Pursuant to section 2.1425(1) of the Eugene Code, Councilor
Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved that council authorize the City Manager to
negotiate and execute a contract with Williams/Dame & Associates for the management
of the downtown riverfront redevelopment site infrastructure project, including related
items such as the submission of the subdivision application. PASSED 7:1, Councilor
Taylor opposed.
The meeting adjourned at 6:57p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
et na Domingo
Deputy City Recorder
MINUTES — Eugene City Council July 9, 2018 Page 3
Work Session