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HomeMy WebLinkAbout250519 PHMINUTES Eugene City Council Public Hearing Eugene, Oregon 97401 May 19, 2025 5:30 p.m. Councilors Present: Eliza Kashinsky, Matt Keating, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Lyndsie Leech, and Randy Groves Mayor Knudson opened the May 19, 2025, Eugene City Council Public Hearing in a hybrid in- person and virtual format at 500 E. 4th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401, North Building. 1. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Vacating a Portion of First Avenue West Located Within the Plat of Pioneer Resources Business Park and Providing for an Effective Date. Mayor Knudson opened the public hearing in quasi-judicial format. Assistant City Manager, Matt Rodrigues, introduced the topic and provided background information. Mayor Knudson provided time for Council to disclose any bias, conflicts of interest, ex-parte communications, or abstentions pursuant to EC 9. 7065. Councilor Discussion: • Councilor Groves -asked staff for legal clarification regarding prior vacations in the same area. No testimony was provided for this item. Mayor Knudson closed the public hearing and the record for this item. 2. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Vacating A Portion of Moss Alley and Providing for an Effective Date. Mayor Knudson opened the public hearing in quasi-judicial format. Assistant City Manager, Matt Rodrigues, introduced the topic and provided background information. Mayor Knudson provided time for Council to disclose any bias, conflicts of interest, ex-parte communications, or abstentions pursuant to EC 9.7065. Councilor Discussion: • Councilor Clark -stated he has had informational conversations with representatives from the University of Oregon; declared his ability to make an unbiased decision. • Councilor Kashinsky -recently met with representatives from the University of Oregon, during which this topic was one of the topics of discussion; declared her ability to make an unbiased decision. • Councilor Evans -stated he had a recent meeting with representative of the University of Oregon in which this topic was briefly discussed; declared his ability to make an unbiased decision. • Councilor Groves -stated he recently met with a representative of the University of Oregon during which this vacation was discussed as an upcoming item; declared his ability to make an unbiased decision. • Councilor Leech -recently met with a representative of the University of Oregon during which information regarding this project was discussed; declared her ability to make an unbiased decision. • Councilor Keating -recently met with representatives from the University of Oregon regarding the proposed vacation; declared his ability to make an unbiased decision. • Councilor Zelenka -noted he has had numerous conversations with people in the past about the University of Oregon east campus plan that includes this vacation; stated he is able to make an impartial decision on the matter; asked staff if questions and concerns regarding the planned project can be made after the hearing and not a part of the record; asked if the reason for the vacation is relevant to the proceeding; requested time to make comment after the hearing. 1. Colin McArthur and Dr. Michael Griffel -spoke as the applicant representative in favor of the proposed vacation; provided information regarding the future use. 2. Robert Choquette -spoke in favor of the proposed vacation. 3. Daisy O'Hearn -spoke in favor of the proposed vacation. Councilor Discussion: • Councilor Keating -asked to confirm if athletes for large events in the past have been housed in the University of Oregon dormitories; asked if there are other instances in which student housing has provided a community benefit; asked what delivery or emergency vehicles regularly use Moss Alley; asked what the alternative route would be for future delivery and emergency use. Mayor Knudson closed the public hearing and the record for this item. Councilor Discussion: • Councilor Zelenka -stated concern for potential neighborhood livability impacts of the University of Oregon's campus expansion plan; believes the University of Oregon should be required to complete a traffic analysis and mitigation plan to prevent negative impacts on the surrounding neighborhood. • Councilor Evans -asked if the total number of projected students to be housed in the campus plan is known. • Councilor Zelenka -noted that the impact is not only the number of students, the increase in faculty and other services will also impact the surrounding neighborhood. Councilor Mayor Knudson adjourned the meeting at 6:09 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Katie LaSala City Recorder (Recorded by Sara McKinney) Link to the web cast of this City Council meeting here.