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Eugene City Council
Work Session
Eugene, Oregon 97401
June 8, 2026
5:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Eliza Kashinsky, Matt Keating, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg
Evans, Lyndsie Leech, and Randy Groves
Mayor Kaarin Knudson opened the June 8, 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: Long Range Financial Planning -Financial Condition Update
City Manager Jenny Haruyama introduced Twylla Miller, Chief Financial Officer and
Maurizio Bottalico, Principal Fiscal Analyst, to present the last in a series of three
informational work sessions prior to the upcoming long-range financial planning
workshops.
Councilor Discussion:
•
•
Councilor Evans -asked whether projected expenses for community safety
programming accounted for inflation; asked whether operational cost increases
had been estimated; noted concern about how costs have risen over the last
eight years since the Community Safety Payroll Tax was passed; noted a change
to the Community Safety Payroll Tax would require an amendment to the
Eugene Charter to be passed by the voters.
Councilor Kashinsky -asked how the upcoming biennial budget will treat the
Community Safety Payroll Tax given its scheduled expiration; asked about the
number of distressed funds; asked how emerging community needs and
reductions in federal programs would be incorporated into the unfunded needs
assessment.
• Councilor Groves -stated the presentation reflected increasingly difficult fiscal
conditions; asked whether past issues with medical transport reimbursements
had been resolved; noted concerns about rising equipment and vehicle costs;
stated the importance of ensuring adequate and safe equipment for staff.
• Councilor Leech -asked whether the projected budget gap included the cost of
the three economic development positions; noted concerns about adding all
three positions during a period of organizational constraint; noted interest in a
phased approach.
• Councilor Clark -asked for future workshop materials to include median
income trends, employment levels, and assessed property values over time;
stated context regarding the community's economic capacity is essential when
evaluating future revenue decisions.
• Councilor Keating -asked for clarification on past budget actions involving
animal services funding and its relationship to the community safety payroll
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Session
June 8, 2026 Page 1
tax; asked for clarification regarding the distinction between a hiring pause and
a hiring freeze.
• Councilor Zelenka -noted interest in revisiting the previous motion related to
economic development positions; stated the Community Safety Payroll Tax
might be considered for adjustment rather than solely renewal.
• Councilor Evans -asked how declining federal housing and urban development
support would affect the City's ability to provide affordable housing; asked how
much federal funding had been reduced; asked whether there were strategies to
offset losses through state or other funding sources.
• Councilor Leech -stated her intent to advance an alternative approach to the
economic development staffing proposal.
MOTION: Councilor Leech, seconded by Councilor Kashinsky, moved to
direct the City Manager to add the Business Development Manager
position to the June Supplemental Budget and include the two analyst
positions in the 2027-2029 Proposed Budget.
Council Discussion:
•
•
•
Councilor Clark -asked about the impact of delaying the two analyst positions;
asked whether delaying them would slow economic development work or maintain
the same workload over a longer period.
Mayor Knudson -noted the Business Development Manager position would
develop a strategic plan over the first year and then hire the analyst positions to
implement the plan.
Councilor Keating -stated concern about adding positions during a period of
significant budget reductions; asked whether existing staff could perform the work;
stated discomfort with adding costs while preparing for reductions.
VOTE: 7:1 PASSED
IN FAVOR: Kashinsky, Zelenka, Yeh, Clark, Evans, Leech, and Groves.
OPPOSED: Keating.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
City Recorder
(R ecorded by Ch e rish Bradshaw)
Link to the web cast of this City Council meeting here.
MINUTES -Eug e ne City Council
Work Se ssion
June 8, 2026 Page 2