HomeMy WebLinkAbout260126 WSMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Work Session
Eugene, Oregon 97401
January 26, 2026
5:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Eliza Kashinsky, Matt Keating, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg
Evans, and Lyndsie Leech
Councilors Absent: Randy Groves
Mayor Knudson opened the January 26, 2026, work session of the Eugene City Council in a
hybrid format at 500 E 4th Avenue, North Building, Eugene OR 97401.
1. WORK SESSION: Intergovernmental Relations -2026 Legislative Priorities
Assistant City Manager Kristie Hammitt introduced City Manager's Office (CMO) Chief of
Staff Brooke Freed to discuss the program goals of the Intergovernmental Relations
Committee (IGR) and to the discuss 2026 legislative session priorities.
Councilor Discussion:
•
•
Councilor Zelenka -asked aboutthe potential repeal of House Bill (HB) 3115;
asked about the status of automatic license plate reader regulations; asked
about revisions to serial communications rules under public meetings law;
asked about the Governor's prosperity bill; asked about proposed legislation
banning speculative ticketing; asked about prevailing wage applicability and
how triggers apply to development projects.
Councilor Leech -stated support for a defensive short session strategy; stated
support for more proactive, year-round legislative planning for the 2027 long
session; noted the need for long-term planning for alternative response funding
models; noted the state could explore requiring coordinated care organizations
to use a per-person, per-member, per-month model; asked about bills
addressing federal immigration enforcement protections; spoke in favor of
including childcare and housing as core economic development priorities;
highlighted opportunities for regional coordination including the Southern
Willamette Innovation Corridor; asked if there are any climate-related bills
coming up in the short session; noted community members had asked her to
testify in support of legislation mandating heat pumps in new construction;
asked about the guidance for providing state or federal testimony as a
Councilor.
• Councilor Keating -stated the importance of preventing cuts to emergency
shelter and poverty prevention programs; noted support for legislation
benefiting rural communities when regional workforce benefits would extend
to Eugene; asked about opportunities to support capital construction bills
benefiting nearby jurisdictions.
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Session
January 26, 2026 Page 1
• Councilor Zelenka -asked about providing testimony as a councilor; noted heat
pump legislation as an alternative approach to reducing natural gas reliance;
noted another climate-related bill for superfund legislation.
• Councilor Clark -asked for clarification on testimony rules for Councilors and
the distinction between testifying as an individual, as a councilor consistent
with council policy, or as a representative of the full Council.
• Councilor Keating -asked whether IGR has considered the statewide proposal
to adjust the transient lodging tax for wildlife recovery efforts; noted he would
like IGR to discuss the potential impacts on tourism and the community.
• Mayor Knudson -noted the limited 35 day duration of the short session; noted
the high volume of bills typically introduced in long sessions and recent
discussions among state leaders about limiting bill submissions; emphasized
that the City must focus on a defined set of priorities given statewide budget
and policy pressures including revenue shortfalls, federal policy shifts, and
demands on transportation, education, health care, and other systems;
reiterated the six adopted 2026 priorities provide a strategic framework for
effective advocacy rather than representing the full scope of the City's
legislative interests; noted approximately 20 to 25 priority bills align with these
goals; stated broader updates on state efforts to protect communities from
harmful federal actions would be shared during the upcoming council meeting.
MOTION: Councilor Leech, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to
adopt the 2026 Eugene State and Federal Legislative Policy document
and the 2026 Eugene State Legislative Priorities document as approved
by the IGR Committee.
VOTE: 7:0 PASSED
IN FAVOR: Kashinsky, Keating, Zelenka, Yeh, Clark, Evans, and Leech.
OPPOSED: None.
2. WORK SESSION: City Manager Updates
Assistant City Manager Kristie Hammitt provided updates about fire governance and the
process for the alternative response request for proposals (RFP) to fill the gap following
the end of Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets (CAHOOTS) services in Eugene.
Councilor Discussion:
•
•
•
Councilor Zelenka -asked about cost reconciliation between Eugene and
Springfield related to staffing alignment and operational disparities.
Councilor Keating -asked whether behavioral health transport gaps and youth
engagement gaps identified in previous reports were included in the RFP scope;
requested clarification on proposed peer navigation service hours and how they
align with Lane County Mobile Crisis operations.
Mayor Knudson -noted the importance of both the intergovernmental entity
work and the development of the alternative response program; stated that the
RFP addresses a significant service gap between public safety and Health and
Human Services systems; expressed appreciation for the work that has brought
the project to this stage, including the gap analysis memo and the preparation of
the RFP.
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Session
January 26, 2026 Page 2
The meeting was adjourned at 6:28 p.m.
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
Work Session
January 26, 2026 Page 3