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HomeMy WebLinkAbout260408 WSMINUTES Eugene City Council Work Session Eugene, Oregon 97401 April 8, 2026 12:00p.m. Councilors Present: Eliza Kashinsky, Matt Keating, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg Evans, Lyndsie Leech, and Randy Groves Mayor Knudson opened the April 8, 2026, Eugene City Council Work Session in a hybrid in- person and virtual format at 500 E. 4th Avenue, North Building, Eugene, OR 97401. 1. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Pursuant to ORS 192.660(2) (f) ( exempt public records) 2. WORK SESSION: Long Range Financial Planning: Economic Development City Manager Pro Tern Matt Rodrigues introduced the topic and noted the presentation was part of the long range financial planning series focusing on economic development. Anne Fifield, economic development manager, gave a presentation which described the recommendations from the Technical Advisory Group of Fiscal Stability (TAG) group about existing capabilities, gaps and opportunities in citywide economic development. Councilor Discussion: • • • • Councilor Leech -asked about the funding source described as new general fund resources; asked if the request was out of order given that more financial updates and policy discussions were scheduled ahead of Council's workshop in June; stated support for strengthening economic development; stated her position on designating funds without additional information from the upcoming sessions. Councilor Clark -noted concerns about approving new spending; stated his interest in expanding economic development capacity to improve long-term financial stability; asked for more information about how Eugene compared to peer communities concerning identified barriers; stated support for beginning the work but wanted more discussion. Councilor Groves -asked whether the proposed positions could be contracted out to reduce costs; noted his support for a development liaison to help guide applicants through the permitting process; stated economic development investment could provide a return but remained concerned about limited resources; stated commercial and industrial land shortages are still a major factor limiting economic growth. Councilor Kashinsky -shared Council's concerns about the timing of adding new positions; noted the long-term value in strengthening economic development and indicated the return on investment might be far in the future; stated Council needs MINUTES -Eugene City Council Work Session April 8, 2026 Page 1 short-term financial clarity before committing funding; stated she did not want to risk cutting other community services without considering all factors first. • Mayor Knudson -noted Council is examining a ten-million-dollar gap in economic development investments; stated former City Manager Sarah Medary warned of serious risks to future economic opportunity; noted that data showed Eugene lagging in this work and emphasized the importance of continuing to learn, refine policy, and support long-term economic development efforts. • Councilor Zelenka -stated the proposal was a long-term strategy and not a short- term fix; noted concern about reduced budgets; stated that growth did not always pay for itself; asked whether the development liaison position depended on new revenue or was currently funded; stated the proposal seemed premature without clarity about what would be cut to support it. Councilor Zelenka and Councilor Evans left the meeting at 1:30p.m. MOTION: Councilor Kashinsky, seconded by Councilor Keating, moved to extend the meeting 10 minutes. VOTE: 6:0 PASSED IN FAVOR: Kashinsky, Keating, Yeh, Clark, Leech, and Groves. OPPOSED: None. Councilor Discussion: • • • • • Councilor Yeh -asked where the unbudgeted general fund dollars would come from; stated she was not opposed to allocating money outside the usual budget cycle; stated her support once Council had a full understanding oflong-term funding and the implications for future years. Councilor Kashinsky -asked whether the proposal could be brought back during the supplemental budget process after Council received the June financial conditions report; asked if staff could return with more details in time to meet the supplemental budget deadlines. Councilor Clark -stated that he believed there may be support for placing the positions into the supplemental budget; stated willingness to move that forward. Councilor Keating -stated his opposition to moving ahead immediately; asked to delay the decision to allow the full Council to participate and to check in with the incoming City Manager; stated the projected return on investment sounded appealing but wanted more discussion before voting. Councilor Groves -stated he was willing to move the item to a vote to determine Council's position. MOTION: Councilor Leech, seconded by Councilor Kashinsky, moved to direct the City Manager to begin implementation of Strategic Recommendations on Economic Development from the TAG and to add three related positions to the Supplemental Budget. VOTE: 4:3 PASSED MINUTES -Eugene City Council Work Session April 8, 2026 Page 2 IN FAVOR: Yeh, Clark, Groves and Mayor Knudson voting as a tiebreaker. OPPOSED: Leech, Kashinsky, and Keating. The meeting was adjourned at 1:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Katie LaSala City Recorder (Recorded by Rosa Roach) Link to the web cast of this City Council meeting here. 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