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Home My WebLink About250922 MTGMINUTES Eugene City Council Meeting Eugene, Oregon 97401 September 22, 2025 7:30p.m. Councilors Present: Eliza Kashinsky, Matt Keating, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Lyndsie Leech, and Randy Groves Councilors Absent: Greg Evans Mayor Kaarin Knudson opened the September 22, 2025, meeting of the Eugene City Council in hybrid in-person and virtual format at 500 E. 4th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97 401, North Building. 1. COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST • Councilor Groves -shared updates from the Intergovernmental Relations Committee regarding legislative priorities and policies and preparation for the upcoming legislative session; noted as the chair of the Metropolitan Policy Commission that they are waiting on an outcome from the state legislature to determine next year's state transportation funding. • Councilor Yeh -noted her attendance at the "Footnotes on the Butte" project at the Shelton McMurphey Johnson House, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities; noted the importance of museums in preserving complex and inclusive histories, especially amid federal funding cuts and political pressures. • Councilor Zelenka -noted his attendance at the recent Public Safety Coordinating Council (PSCC) meeting; noted concern about significant budget shortfalls in Lane County's public safety system for the 2025-2027 biennium, including potential staff reductions in the jail, parole and probation, and reentry services. • Councilor Keating -thanked the Chamber of Commerce for the trees at the Eugene Science Center; thanked the Whiteaker Community Council for presenting about the potential expansion of commercial train activities including a fueling transfer station and the impact of the potential Port of Coos Bay expansion; noted the recent Southeast Neighbors community picnic; noted his attendance at a municipal think tank in Durham, NC. • Mayor Knudson -noted her attendance at the September Poverty Homelessness Board (PHB) meeting; noted shifts in federal funding for health and housing services; noted the opening of DevNW's Nelson Place housing project in West Eugene and the grand opening of Everyone Village's recuperation cottages and community health clinic. 2. CONSENT CALENDAR 1 A. Approval of City Council Minutes • July 14, 2025 Meeting B. Approval of City Council Tentative Agenda MINUTES -Eugene City Council Meeting September 22, 2025 Page 1 C. A Resolution Requesting that Jurisdiction Over Portion of Gilham Road be Transferred to the City Of Eugene D. An Ordinance Vacating a Portion of Leo Harris Parkway E. A Resolution Adopting a Policy Providing that the Affirmative Defense Described in ORS 166.370(3)(g) Does Not Apply to the Possession of Firearms in City Buildings Where Official City Meetings Are Held Council Discussion: • Councilor Zelenka -asked for clarification on the impacts of the firearm resolution; asked if a person who brought a weapon into a public building could use an affirmative defense or if they would be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor. ■ Councilor Groves -asked what action the City needs to take to implement the state legislation. MOTION: Councilor Leech, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to approve the items on Consent Calendar 1. VOTE: 6:1 PASSED IN FAVOR: Kashinsky, Keating, Zelenka, Yeh, Leech, and Groves. OPPOSED: Clark. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT 1. Lin Woodrich -spoke in favor of public health standards and changes to zoning. 2. Brittany Quick-Warner -spoke about increasing the sense of safety in downtown. 3. Rick Osgood -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 4. Justin Burns -spoke about the dangers of fascism. 5. Jo Martorana -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 6. Athena Aguiar -spoke in favor of adding CAHOOTS to the October calendar. 7. Jesse Gandy-spoke about a property line dispute and experiences with City staff. 8. David Igl -spoke about local history. 9. Carolina Gonzalez Jackson -spoke in favor of funding the library. 10. Mike McFarlane -spoke in favor of creating a fire district. 11. Laurel Lisovskis -spoke in support of reinstating an alternative crisis response program. 12. Brian Thompson -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 13. Ken Willis -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 14. Tyler Hickson -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 15. Danny Espinosa -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 16. Pete Goldlust -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 17. Danny Patch -spoke in favor of fiscal responsibility. 18. Annie Perkins -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 19. Melanie Helms -spoke in favor of creating a fire district. 20. Geoffrey Gordon -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 21. Ky Fireside -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 22. Ellie Urbancic -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 23. Chris Case -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 24. Chloe Longworth -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. MINUTES -Eugene City Council Meeting September 22, 2025 Page 2 25. Kevin Russell -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 26. Fiona Gledhill -spoke about a property line dispute and experiences with City staff. 27. Josh Easterlund -spoke in favor of decriminalizing psylocibin. 28. Sophia Weir -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 29. Carol Crum -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 30. Maya Barlev -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 31. Stefan (Ace Dog) Strek-spoke against Flock cameras and about the dangers of the low-head dam. 32. Dan Allred -spoke in favor of creating a fire district. 33. Hunter Hutchins -spoke in favor of changes to the industrial noise standards. 34. Jo Jo Breslin -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 35. Kamryn Stringfield -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 36. Jacob Trewe -spoke in support of reinstating an alternative crisis response program. 37. Robert Parrish -spoke in support of reinstating an alternative crisis response program. 38. Misty Bowman -spoke in favor of dark skies. 39. Richard Locke -spoke about the impacts of homelessness. MOTION: Councilor Leech, seconded by Councilor Yeh, moved to extend public comment to allow the last three people to speak. Council Discussion: • Councilor Keating -noted while he is supportive of hearing the last three speakers, he urged Council to be consistent about the 90-minute time limit in the future. VOTE: 7:0 PASSED IN FAVOR: Kashinsky, Keating, Zelenka, Yeh, Clark, Leech, and Groves. OPPOSED: None. 40. Jessica Lane -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 41. Andrew Simrin -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. 42. Bailey Gilmore -spoke in favor of cancelling the contract with Flock cameras. Council Discussion: • Councilor Keating -thanked the public for their comments; acknowledged concerns about surveillance and civil liberties; expressed support for the upcoming October 8 work session on the use of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology by the Eugene Police Department; encouraged use of the City's independent Police Auditor; noted interest in Durham, North Carolina's Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Teams (HEART) program, modeled after CAHOOTS. • Mayor Knudson -thanked attendees for sharing their perspectives; noted public comment is one of many ways the Council engages with the community. Mayor Knudson adjourned the meeting at 9:36 p.m. MINUTES -Eugene City Council Meeting September 22, 2025 Page 3 Respectfully submitted, Katie LaSala City Recorder (Recorded by Cherish Bradshaw) Link to the we beast of this City Council meeting here . MINUTES -Eugene City Council Meeting September 22, 2025 Page 4