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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 04/25/11 MeetingMINUTES Eugene City Council Council Chamber —City Hall 777 Pearl Street — Eugene, Oregon April 25, 2011 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Betty Taylor, George Brown, Andrea Ortiz, George Poling, Mike Clark, Alan Zelenka, Pat Farr. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Chris Pryor. Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the April 25, 2011, regular meeting of the Eugene City Council to order. 1. ACTION: Resolution 5030 Honoring Eugene Police Officer Chris Kilcullen, His Service, and His Sacrifice Mayor Piercy expressed the council's gratitude for the service of Eugene Police Officer Chris Kilcullen, who lost his life in the line of duty on April 22. She also expressed the council's sympathy for his loss to his family, friends, colleagues, and Eugene residents. Mayor Piercy recommended that when residents saw an officer, they express their sympathy for the loss of Officer Kilcullen and thank the officer for his or her service. Such a gesture could mean a lot at such a time. Mayor Piercy read the following resolution: The City Council of the City of Eugene finds that: A. Chris Kilcullen was hired as a Eugene Police Officer in March 1998. Some of his notable achievements include the following: 1. He was a member of the Eugene Police Department Crisis Negotiation Team since 2002. He was a very highly skilled negotiator and is credited with saving many lives. 2. He became a member of the Eugene Police Department Rapid Deployment Unit in 2003, and earned an Advanced Certificate as a Certified Police Officer in 2004. 3. He was awarded Eugene Police Department Employee of the Month in May 2004 for having the highest activity level of any EPD patrol officer, based on the number of investigations, arrests, traffic citations and field interviews completed. He was again awarded Eugene Police Department Employee of the Month in June 2008. 2005. He was a member of Special Operations and the Traffic Enforcement Unit since 5. He helped develop the Crisis Intervention Team and had served on the Team since 2008. MINUTES — Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 1 Regular Meeting 6. He received more than 85 commendations during his 12 -year career at the Eugene Police Department. Those commendations repeatedly cited Officer Kilcullen's exemplary professional demeanor and positive interactions with the public, even in the most stressful circumstances. Many people who received traffic citations from Officer Kilcullen would thank him and call the department to comment on his professional and positive approach. B. Chris Kilcullen was an outstanding Eugene Police officer and exemplary public servant. He was a remarkably and unfailingly kind, cheerful, thoughtful, and giving person, with a smile that brightened the day of anyone he encountered. C. In addition to his service as a police officer, Chris Kilcullen was a dedicated community volunteer and devoted husband and father. His wife and two daughters were his greatest passion and he adored and cherished the time, however short, he had with them. D. Officer Kilcullen's tragic death in the line of duty reminds us of the inherent danger that our police officers willingly face to protect the Eugene community. Police officers and other public safety professionals courageously place the safety and welfare of community members above their own every day. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EUGENE, a Municipal Corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows: Section 1 . The City of Eugene is deeply saddened and mourns the loss of this fine officer. Section 2 . The City of Eugene expresses its immeasurable gratitude to Officer Chris Kilcullen and his family for his outstanding public service. Section 3 . The City of Eugene hereby declares that Friday, April 29, 2011, is Officer Chris Kilcullen Remembrance Day and encourages the community to share in expressions of support for Officer Kilcullen, his family and the Eugene Police Department. The foregoing Resolution adopted the 25`" day of April, 2011. Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Brown, moved to adopt Resolution 5030 honoring Eugene Police Officer Chris Kilcullen, his service, and his sacrifice. Mayor Piercy called for a voice vote. The motion passed unanimously, 7:0. City Manager Jon Ruiz acknowledged it had been a difficult time for the City organization but he was proud of it for coming together. The organization wanted to remember and celebrate Officer Kilcullen's life in a thoughtful way that made his family and the community proud. City Manager Ruiz said police officers grieved like everyone else. He urged residents to continue to express their love and support for the members of the department. Councilor Poling said over his 30 years in law enforcement he had attended funeral services for several officers, some of who were close friends. He noted he had worked with Officer Kilcullen's father, John, at the Lane County Sheriff's Office. When such an attack occurred, it was a direct assault on the community. The police were the community's thin line of defense against crime. It took a special person MINUTES — Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 2 Regular Meeting to do the work of a police officer and put their life on the line. Councilor Poling commended the officers of the Eugene Police Department (EPD) for their ability to continue to provide excellent service at such a tirne, and thanked Eugene Police Chief Pete Kerns and the department for their hard work. He also expressed his sympathy to the Kilcullen family for tragic loss of Officer Kilcullen. He suggested people give a wave, a tip of the hat, or a word of thanks to the next officer they saw. It would be appreciated. Councilor Farr had no words other than words of prayer to offer to the Kilcullen family and the officers of the EPD. Councilor Zelenka expressed his heartfelt gratitude for Officer Kilcullen's ultimate sacrifice. He expressed his sympathy to the Kilcullen family and thanked the EPD officers who continually put their lives on the line. He said that Officer Kilcullen would be missed. Councilor Taylor expressed her sympathy and gratitude to the Kilcullen family and to the EPD. Councilor Brown expressed his sorrow to the Kilcullen family. He had attended the vigil held for Officer Kilcullen on April 24 and believed it demonstrated the community's support for the EPD. Councilor Clark called the loss of Officer Kilcullen a tragedy for the department, the City organization, and the entire community. He had first met Officer Kilcullen at the Citizens Police Academy and was struck by his unfailing kindness and gentle spirit. He was deeply saddened by his loss and would miss Officer Kilcullen. He had also attended the April 24 vigil and recalled that Ms. Kilcullen had asked those present to remember that all police officers were "just folks" who had families and felt tragedy and pain. He suggested that the-community could use the occasion as an opportunity to treat its officers better. Councilor Clark asked staff to prepare a motion of support for an effort to rename a section of I -126 from Main Street to 1 -5 in honor of Officer Kilcullen. He said the existing Oregon Department of Transportation process for renaming a facility was lengthy and suggested the possibility that the City could piggyback on a bill currently being considered by the State legislature to accomplish the goal. Councilor Ortiz believed there was a little Chris Kilcullen in all EPD officers so the suggestion that people be kind to all officers resonated with her. At Councilor Ortiz's request, those present observed a moment of silence in honor of Officer Kilcullen. Mayor Piercy recognized Eugene Police Chief Kerns, who said it was an absolute privilege to serve the community. He and the department appreciated the honor the council bestowed on Officer Kilcullen. 2. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Piercy reviewed the rules of the Public Forum. She opened the forum. Wayne Ford, 85560 Svarverud Road, chair of the Homeless Action Coalition, presented the council with a petition from Virgil, a homeless resident, asking the City to provide more spaces for people to camp legally. The petition was signed by many residents and the request was endorsed by the EPD. Mr. Ford expressed concern about the growing homeless population and his fear that reductions in State aid would increase the number. He contrasted the cost of enforcement against the lesser cost of providing homeless spaces and asked the council to hold a work session on the request. St. Vincent de Paul could provide 10 more spaces immediately. MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 3 Regular Meeting Mr. Ford asked councilors to help expand the program at no cost by reminding property owners that the presence of campers near their property reduced theft and vandalism and to ask them to financially support the program. He also asked the council to expand the church program. Mr. Ford suggested a need for greater public awareness that homeowners could allow people to live in a vehicle or tent on their property. Ruth Duemler, 1745 Fircrest Drive, agreed with the remarks of Mr. Ford. She shared the story of an older resident living in his truck who became homeless because of a heart attack, and emphasized the difficulty such individuals had finding a job in Eugene. Ms. Duemler requested that the City provide portable toilets for the homeless. She also requested recycling be provided. She estimated the cost of portable toilets at $50 and the cost of a recycling bin at $10. Ms. Duemler asked the council to contact the State about preserving funding for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Marianne Malott, 1133 Olive Street, # 1215, said she received a Ford scholarship to attend the University of Oregon because she had been able to take advantage of a legal camping space. She advocated for expansion of the program, saying it provided people peace of mind. She was able to do her homework in her space and would not have been able to achieve what she had without the space. Jerry Smith, 5041 Saxon Way, a homeless advocate, spoke of the impact of reductions in TANF funding on local residents, predicting that 2,000 residents now on the program could lose eligibility and some would die. He said that TANF was the only safety net for families with children. Mr. Smith suggested the community was facing an emergency situation. Bob Macherione, 1994 Brewer Street, discussed his experience with the Code Enforcement staff about a Sign Code violation on his property and suggested the action was in retaliation for a lawsuit he filed against the City. He believed the Sign Code was intended to regulate commercial signage, not free speech. As his sign was on private property and presented no public hazard, he did not think it was subject to the Sign Code. Mr. Macherione interpreted the scope of the code to mean he could use the Sign Code to complain anonymously about people's bumper stickers. He questioned how the complainant in his case could remain anonymous, particularly when the City enforced the code by complaint only. Mark Robinowitz, no address given, honored the workers in Japan at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant who sacrificed themselves to minimize nuclear contamination. He recalled the Chernobyl disaster and its lingering effects and suggested the lessons of Chernobyl had not been heeded. Mr. Robinowitz called on the City to ensure its long -terms plans were relevant and took into account limited resources and actual demand. He advocated for planning for a future that was physically possible. Eugene Drix, 307 -1/2 East 14` Avenue, thanked the audience for being at the meeting and the people at home for watching. He acknowledged the many issues facing the community and believed that if people worked together they would find a way to solve them. He discussed his experiences with gangs in his neighborhood and said he refused to "buy into" the differences that such gangs encouraged. He attempted to interact with gang members and be positive. He thought ultimately, the presence of such gangs would make his neighbors more alert and connected. Mark Callahan, 3621 Mahlon Street, appealed to Mayor Piercy and the City Council to ask Hillary Johnson and the organization "Strong Schools Eugene" to drop the lawsuit filed against him as a member of the Voters' Pamphlet Opponent Committee. He related that he had been one of three volunteers who served on the committee and was the only one sued. Mr. Callahan suggested the lawsuit was directed against him because of his campaign for a school board seat. He said the public needed honor and integrity in its elections, not personal attacks on those with the courage to run for public office. MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 4 Regular Meeting Mayor Piercy closed the Public Forum and called on the council for questions and comments. There were none. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of Tentative Working Agenda B. Ratification of Intergovernmental Relations Committee Minutes of March 9, 2011, and March 16, 2011 Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Brown, moved to approve the items on the Consent Calendar. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 7:0 4. ACTION: 2011/12 Funding Allocations for Federal Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Programs Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Brown, moved to approve the One -Year Action Plan for use of Federal Community Development Block Grant and HOME funds in 2011/12. Councilor Poling determined from Stephanie Jennings of the Planning and Development Department that the funding could be commingled in certain cases with similar funds allocated to other local governments, but none of the projects in questions were supported by comingled funds Councilor Zelenka determined from Ms. Jennings that the administrative costs listed in Attachment A in the meeting packet represented administrative costs for both the program income and new funding, and also included the costs of the audit. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 7:0 5. PUBLIC HEARING: Envision Eugene City Manager Ruiz introduced the item. He recalled the history of the Envision Eugene process to this point. The hearing was an opportunity to hear the public's reaction to the proposed strategies and tactics intended to guide Eugene's growth over the next 20 years. Mayor Piercy opened the public hearing. Bob Cassidy, 2401 East 27 Avenue, recommended that the document be revised to reflect the growth in the percentage of senior citizens who would live in the community in 20 years. He asked the council to consider, as it reviewed the document, what it did to prepare for the community of the future. Larry Reed, 4251 Scenic Drive, advocated for the designation of more industrially zoned land to support local business growth and quality jobs, particularly traded sector jobs. Traded sector firms competed in regional and international markets and brought new money into the local economy. He favored adding MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 5 Regular Meeting more industrial acres to support such firms and suggested that an expansion of 800 acres would be better than the 400 -500 acres proposed by City Manager Ruiz, which he also supported. Jim Welch, 2139 Centennial Plaza, representing the Eugene Association of Realtors, submitted written testimony on behalf of the association. He recommended that there be less regulation, less paperwork, and fewer delays in the provision of infrastructure in the developing areas. He believed that the community's focus in land development should be on the local economy. He emphasized the importance of industrial land development. Mr. Welch said the association supported City Manager Ruiz's recommendation for industrial acreage, which would provide more large industrial parcels necessary to attract larger employers. Deborah Smith, 2982 Martinique Street, representing the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) executive management team, reported that EWEB had delivered a letter of support for the recommendations before the council earlier that day. Ms. Smith emphasized the importance of the planning process to EWEB's ability to deliver services in the future. The focus on flexibility and adaptability, as described in Pillar 7, was critical to EWEB. Ms. Smith spoke on her own behalf as a member of the Community Resource Group's (CRG) Economic Development Industrial Lands Committee in support of City Manager Ruiz's recommendation to expand the urban growth boundary (UGB) for industrial land. Such expansion would allow the City to assemble a portfolio of sites for various needs. Ms. Smith noted the high priority placed on such land in the Regional Prosperity Plan and suggested an even higher priority was the community's need for new family -wage jobs. She believed the lack of industrial land represented a crisis, and said an adequate supply was a key strategy to attracting employers, for which competition was fierce. Sue Prichard, 2671 Emerald Street, expressed support for City Manager Ruiz's recommendation to increase the supply of industrial land because of its importance to job creation. She suggested it would take a minimum of 400 industrially designated acres to meet the need and to accommodate the demand for larger parcels. She believed the community should reuse land inside the UGB but that would not be sufficient. She spoke of her work as a commercial real estate broker and offered three examples of companies who looked for land in Eugene unsuccessfully and went elsewhere in Oregon. Ms. Prichard agreed with Ms. Smith that the industrial lands supply represented a crisis, and asked the council to support the manager's recommendation. Pat Hocken, 338 West 11` Avenue, representing the League of Women Voters, expressed the league's support for the Envision Eugene community outreach process and the conceptual framework represented by the Seven Pillars as a good first step toward improving and maintaining community livability. Ms. Hocken expressed the league's concern that many implementation details were still unknown and some of the goals appeared to be incompatible with one another. She suggested any UGB expansion needed to be accompanied by a realistic assessment of site suitability for new uses and of neighborhoods to ensure the preservation of high -value farmland while also accounting for the draft recommendation to maintain current single - family densities. Ms. Hocken cautioned that the draft's simultaneous support for 20- minute neighborhoods, transit corridor development/redevelopment, multi- family housing, urban agriculture, and neighborhood support for higher density development created an inherent tension in the draft with a potential for community controversy. While Opportunity Siting (OS) might help, the league recommended the City consider a pilot project to demonstrate the benefits and potential of the plan's recommendations. MINUTES — Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 6 Regular Meeting Ms. Hocken noted the league's support for the inclusion of regional strategies related to economic development and natural resources, and the concept of an industrial land trust to facilitate Brownfield redevelopment. She submitted her written testimony. Paul Conte, 1461 West 10' Avenue, Chair of Westside- Jefferson Neighbors, noted the council's receipt of a letter in support of the Envision Eugene "neighborhood livability" pillar and of revitalizing the Infill Compatibility Standards (ICS) and OS processes. The letter was signed by 65 neighborhood leaders and endorsed by 13 neighborhood organizations. Signees included at least one representative from each neighborhood organization, which Mr. Conte attributed to the importance residents attached to safe, pleasant, livable, and stable neighborhoods. He suggested development pressures in neighborhoods like the West University neighborhood were creating monocultures and such areas were in danger of being future ghettos. Neighborhoods such as River Road and Santa Clara would be threatened by additional development pressure for higher density when the economy improved. Mr. Conte asked the council to consider and implement the recommendations of the ICS Task Team. Deborah Healey, 360 East 15"' Avenue, advocated for recognition of the differences between multi- family developments. She pointed out that some multi - family developments housed multiple related individuals, or families, while some multi - family developments housed multiple unrelated adults. She believed that to call both types "multi- family" housing misrepresented what the City was trying to achieve in terms of low- income housing and housing affordability. Ms. Healey said that while students might appear to be low- income, they often were not, as demonstrated by the cost of the housing they occupied. Ms. Healey liked the concept of compact urban development but believed the community could learn from the West University neighborhood. She agreed with Mr. Conte that it was a monoculture in terms of both residents and housing types. She called for measures to protect what was left in the neighborhood, including its historic houses, historic trees, the Millrace, and Amazon Creek. She believed that those measures needed to repair the fabric of the neighborhood and to encourage livability. She asked that Envision Eugene take into account varying neighborhoods and be informed by her neighborhood's experience. Gary Wildish, 2424 Quince Street, expressed support for the manager's recommendations. He agreed with the remarks of Mr. Reed that the recommendation might be on the low end of the need. He said much of the existing industrial acreage was in small parcels and included constraints that had to be mitigated. He recommended that the City have a portfolio of industrial sites of varying sizes to accommodate business expansion and relocation. Anne Marie Mehlum, no address given, concurred with City Manager Ruiz's recommendation for increasing the supply of industrial land. She termed it a balanced and moderate approach worthy of the council's support. She said the recommendation provided an opportunity for the local businesses to grow. Marcia Edwards, 1635 Adkins Road, representing the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, expressed support for the manager's recommendation to expand the UGB to accommodate more industrial land. If the redevelopment of existing land was a viable strategy, it would have already happened. Brownfield mitigation was costly and could not compete with land in other markets. She suggested the City financially support the mitigation of such sites to make them available in the future. However, it was not currently an option for now, or reasonable or practical to expect companies to use Brownfields inside the UGB as a source of industrial land given the alternatives that were available in other communities. MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 7 Regular Meeting Laura Potter, 1401 Willamette Street, representing the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, expressed support for the manager's recommendation to expand the UGB to accommodate additional industrial land. The issue was a high priority for the chamber. She related that the community recently lost more than 500 jobs, including family -wage jobs, due to the loss of large employers. Those losses coincided with the economic downturn. Ms. Potter reported that averages wages in Lane County were on the decline and emphasized the importance of high -wage, family -wage jobs to the health of the community. Such jobs kept young families in the Eugene and kept schools open. They enabled the City to maintain its livability. She concurred that the City should create a portfolio of sites. Ed McMahon, representing the Home Builders Association of Lane County, agreed that the industrial land supply had reached the crisis point. He expressed support for City Manager Ruiz's recommendation to increase the supply and emphasized that it was based on actual data. Phil Farrington, 1160 Monroe Street, supported the manager's recommendation to expand the UGB for industrial purposes. He believed that the community's legacy of livability depended on paying attention to fundamentals such as employment opportunities and job creation. Eugene needed to ensure there were opportunities for economic growth. The recommendation would add a modest number of sites of varying sizes to the inventory. Will Shaver, 2494 Portland Street, believed a long -term solution to homelessness was needed and suggested that increasing the industrial land supply was one such long -term solution. He said it was critical to add employment opportunities to the community. Infill development had not worked for those who had tried to do so locally. He was aware of local employers who had tried to expand their operations and had done so on a piecemeal basis, spreading their businesses across the community, resulting in higher transportation costs and more damaged goods. Mr. Shaver believed the manager's recommendation was reasonable. He advocated for local jobs, which led to local taxes. Tom Slocum, 1950 Graham Drive, supported the manager's recommendations for the UGB expansion to accommodate industrial uses. He noted the examples offered by others about the challenge of locating a new industrial business in Eugene. He was concerned that Eugene's growth was so slow that it would not have the jobs needed to make the community viable and there would not be sufficient tax revenues to support the community's needs and desires. He was also very concerned about the industrial land supply, and agreed with Mr. Reed that perhaps more acreage was needed. Brent McClure, 3015 Walnut Street, the chair of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce's Economic Development Committee, said the committee supported the manager's recommendation to expand the UGB for industrial uses. The lack of large parcels was an obstacle for many companies seeking to locate in Eugene. Carolyn Jacobs, 2040 Agate Street, recalled the council's establishment of the ICS Project and reported that since that time 700 young people had moved into 10 new projects in her neighborhood. Lot aggregation had resulted in enormous buildings with minimal setbacks next to single- family houses. Open spaces were nonexistent, and parties spilled into the street. Ms. Jacobs said her neighborhood could not survive development based on the sole guiding principle of the developer's bottom line. Neighbors were being driven out of their walkable neighborhood and were desperate to sustain it. Ms. Jacobs further reported that the City was currently in the midst of permitting a multi - family project near her home that would occupy a full quarter block, be 42 feet high, and have a five -foot setback on the property line it shared with a single - family house. Ms. Jacobs said without standards, a neighborhood that should be a resource for the University of Oregon and the City would be "thrown away." She said MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 8 Regular Meeting the current code rewarded developers of such large projects for eliminating amenities such as open space. She believed the City had things backwards in comparison to cities such as Portland. She believed it was crucial that the council take up the recommendations of the ICS Task Team because it was not sustainable to drive out long -term residents invested in the neighborhood and replace them with a young transient population. Tom Halferty, 4510 Manzanita Street, suggested the Civic Stadium site represented an opportunity for a 20- minute neighborhood. He also advocated for the preservation of farmland if the UGB was expanded. Kevin Matthews, PO Box 1588, Eugene, president of the organization "Friends of Eugene," advocated for an increase in the proposed housing mix and opposed the proposal to expand the UGB. He did not think such actions represented sufficient change. Mr. Matthews suggested that the process was being run in such a way that "paid representatives" of the development industry had the last word. Pamela Miller, 1959 Harris Street, urged the council to provide ongoing staffing to the ICS Task Team so it could continue to work on standards that allowed for infill development to be accommodated in a way that supported neighborhood quality of life. Infill measures should recognize neighborhood differences and ensure that density increases occurred in a visionary way rather than be overlaid on neighborhoods in a "one size fits all" manner. She expressed concern about the high - density development occurring in the South University Neighborhood. The City was doing nothing to encourage diversity of housing to ensure there would be rental and owner - occupied housing for young single and married people. Ms. Miller also questioned how the City was addressing the needs of retired people. She suggested that the presence of well- designed complexes could persuade older residents to give up their large homes to young families while allowing them to remain in their neighborhoods. She feared otherwise, those residents would leave the neighborhood and their houses would be converted to multi - family developments serving unrelated adults. She feared such unintended consequences from failure to adequately plan for a meaningful, workable, large multi - family zoned area. She hoped such planning occurred in the future. Louisa Hamachek, 366 Clark Street, Chair of the Whiteaker Community Council, wanted Eugene to prepare for "new times." She maintained that ecologically and economically, the world was heading toward radical change. She wanted Eugene to prepare for a world without electricity and automobiles. Ms. Hamachek advocated for greater density in neighborhoods and for food production in neighborhoods everywhere possible, including on rooftops. She advocated for the formation of associations with area farmers who could bring their food to market in Eugene via horse and wagon. She wanted to see stables and accommodations for horses. She called for the river to be redeveloped with small local industries that could employ the river for their energy supply using new turbine technology. Ms. Hamachek also supported Brownfield mitigation and reuse. Mayor Piercy closed the public hearing. 6. PUBLIC HEARING: Civic Stadium Mayor Piercy opened the public hearing. MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 9 Regular Meeting Beth Bonamici, 2769 Emerald Street, questioned how the City could acquire Civic Stadium when its budget included fee increases in the library, delays in the opening of Amazon pools, and delayed facility maintenance. All those activities contributed to the well -being of Eugene residents. She supported the YMCA's proposal for the Civic Stadium, which would not require public funding and would provided needed community services at a time when City- funded recreation services were being cut back. She urged the City to spend no money on proposals to renovate Civic Stadium. Richard Pettigrew, 4147 East Amazon Drive, Executive Director of the Archaeological Legacy Institute, advocated for the preservation of Civic Stadium. He believed the stadium would only become more valued and treasured with time, and people of the future would admire the community for saving it. W. Scott Bartlett, 1445 East 21" Avenue, reviewed the recent history surrounding Civic Stadium and acknowledged that 4J School District was selling the property because it needed money to educate the community's children. He opposed the Fred Meyer development proposal for the Civic Stadium property and expressed his support for either the YMCA or Save Civic Stadium (SCS) proposals. Bob Barber, 881 East 38` Avenue, spoke on behalf of his daughter Ramona Barber. He reported that she had written a letter to the Staples Learning Foundation asking it to support SCS in its effort to preserve Civic Stadium, and the foundation subsequently gave SCS $5,000. He read Ms. Barber's letter to the foundation. He conveyed to the council Ms. Barber's hope that the City could bring the YMCA and SCS proposals together. Derrick Johnson, 1665 Fairmount Boulevard, urged the City to buy Civic Stadium for a public - private partnership as proposed by SCS. He believed the stadium had the potential to serve the community into the future and spoke of the excitement that professional soccer could engender in the community. He also believed that the partnership would result in the creation of more sports fields, which were currently insufficient in number to meet demand. Mr. Johnson said the Civic Stadium site contained sufficient land for the YMCA as well as a field house. The stadium could be a cornerstone for community activities and an opportunity for economic development and community building. Scott McClary, 3366 Agate Street, Board of Directors of the YMCA, asked the council to recognize what the 4J process provided to the community and what a successful response by the YMCA would contribute to the site. He said YMCA was a remarkable place where children could recreate safely and develop social skills. It was an asset to the community at large and to 4J in particular. Mr. McClary said further delay would have a detrimental effect on the YMCA project. He asked the council to allow the 4J process to move forward. Erik Gunderson, 72 West Broadway, advocated for the YMCA project. He commended the YMCA for its work in the community and for its impact as a family gathering place. The YMCA had touched the lives of thousands of Eugene residents. He said YMCA had not been able to partner successfully with SCS but had been able to partner with the University of Oregon on a proposal that combined student housing and a new YMCA facility. The housing made the project work financially. He said the proposal supported the community's land use goals, would bring new customers to south Eugene businesses, would result in local transportation improvements, and would take advantage of the transit system. The YMCA could continue to provide existing services and would create a community of University students with a focus on fitness as Y membership would be included in the rent. Kathy Lynn, 2036 Willamette Street, suggested the City should buy or lease the Civic Stadium property and then determine the uses for the site. The City was best positioned to ensure the development achieved its goals for mixed -use development and integrated land use and transportation. The City could MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 10 Regular Meeting also bring in other partners to contribute to the financial viability of the site. That could include the YMCA. She said the site's potential for recreation uses should be explored. She asked that any decisions related to the future of the stadium take into account the planning occurring through Envision Eugene. Josh Skov, 2036 Willamette Street, said redevelopment of Civic Stadium would follow the pillars and strategies of Envision Eugene only if the City played a key role in the effort, with a central focus on land use and transportation. He believed that role was justified by the size and location of the site in question as well as by its historic significance and proximity to a transportation corridor. He asked the council to consider how the strategies of Envision Eugene related to integrated land use and transportation fit with the site. Those strategies called for transportation options in addition to the car. Mixed -use along transit corridors, 20- minute neighborhoods, compatible infill development, and higher density opportunity sites were strategies intended to foster walking and bicycling as key features of livable, sustainable neighborhoods. Uses that demanded the provision of large amounts of parking were not likely to be consistent with those strategies, ICS, and OS, as well as the community's growth management policies and Climate & Energy Action Plan. Mr. Skov asked the council to do what it could to ensure that the principles of Envision Eugene informed whatever development occurred on the site. Lauren Doxsee, 2136 McMillan Street, discussed her involvement with SCS and her hope that the stadium could be redeveloped as proposed by SCS to accommodate local youth soccer teams and other sports teams. Currently, teams were backed up waiting for fields. She also hoped to involve the YMCA in the proposal because of the potential of indoor soccer. Pat Walsh, 941 Oak Street, representing Vox Public Relations, spoke of behalf of Dr. Joe Womack, President of Northwest Christian University (NCU), who was unable to be present. Dr. Womack asked Mr. Walsh to convey NCU's support for the SCS proposal. The proposal would result in the creation of fields that could be employed by college, club, and youth soccer teams. He said that NCU was interested in employing the facility as its athletic home. The location and planned renovations would provide NCU's soccer program with the best facilities of any National Association of Intercollegiate Athlete (NAIA) school in the northwest. NCU supported the proposal not only because of the benefit to NCU students but because of the benefit to the entire community. Joe Blakely, 4035 Donald Street, Apartment C, supported the SCS proposal. He provided some history of the stadium, which was built through a community effort. He believed that community effort was embodied in the SCS proposal. He asked the council to find a way to save the SCS and maintain it in recreational use. Dennis Hebert, 850 East 38` Avenue, a member of SCS, advocated for the preservation of the stadium as a community gathering place. He asked the City Council to participate in SCS' effort to preserve the stadium for community use. He described the SCS proposal to turn the stadium into an athletic facility, some of the benefits of the proposal, and noted that many groups had expressed interest in using the facility, including a professional soccer team. He reported that Travel Lane County was reviewing SCS' estimates of the facility's economic impact and he would share its report when available. He anticipated that the proposal would bring jobs to the community both during and after construction. Mr. Hebert did not think the area could support or wanted a mixed -use residential /commercial development. He noted the role the City would play in development approvals and suggested that for that reason it had a financial stake in the school district's decision. Jonathan Brandt, 57 West 20 Avenue, vice president of SCS, reviewed the funding proposal for the project components. He emphasized that the SCS wished to partner with the YMCA. He believed there were many potential investors and little financial risk to the City. MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 11 Regular Meeting Carlos Barrera, 2470 Olive Street, expressed concern about the impact of a new Fred Meyer grocery store on the Civic Stadium site, which he feared would threaten already existing businesses in the neighborhood and result in a net loss of jobs. While he liked the YMCA proposal, he believed the loss of the stadium would be a tragedy. He suggested that the YMCA's proposal for four -story buildings would provoke appeals that resulted in years of delay. Perhaps the development would be lost altogether, leaving a big hole. He supported the SCS proposal, particularly its soccer element. He believed it would bring in tourist dollars from outside the community and improve the neighborhood. Christine Thompson, 2195 Olive Street, a board member of SCS, advocated for the City to play a role in the future of Civic Stadium because of its role in land use approvals and its responsibility for community development and transportation planning. She believed the SCS proposal offered unique opportunities to the community. She noted the many plans and policies that decision makers would have to weigh in making a decision about the site and the considerations that would affect their decision. Ms. Thompson asked the City Council to take the initiative in finding a solution to the future of Civic Stadium. Pat Skipper, 921 Snell Street, a board member of SCS, encouraged the council to support the SCS proposal. She believed the City had an interest in maintaining Civic Stadium as a recreational facility. She suggested the long -term economic benefits of professional sports, tourism, entertainment events, and recreation outweighed the short-tern gains of construction and retail jobs. She said the components of the two organizations' proposal could be merged to provide fitness and family recreation opportunities. Ms. Skipper reiterated NCU's interest in using the facility. She believed other sports leagues would seek to use the facility as well. She suggested the council weigh the cost of participating with the two organizations against the cost and delay associated with private development. Joyce Berm, 2440 Charnelton Street, advocated for the SCS proposal. She recommended that the City buy or lease the Civic Stadium property for community use. The City could lead in the restoration of Civic Stadium. She believed there was room on the site for the YMCA and SCS as well as other commercial entities, but such proposals took time to realize. She feared that the YMCA proposal would not only result in the demolition of the stadium but would also eliminate desirable open space. She believed there was time for the City to act if the council had the courage to do so. Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Brown, moved that the council hear the remaining public testimony and postpone the final two items to April 27. Roll call vote: the motion passed unanimously. Dennis Casady, 1312 Lincoln Street, urged the City to work with SCS to preserve the stadium. He acknowledged the site was not in the list of projects to be funded through the Parks and Open Space Bond but he believed that was because it was not available at that time. He pointed out the Arlie property, recently purchased by the City for a park, was not listed either. Mr. Casady noted the many public historic structures lost to demolition and the fact many of the remaining historic structures were privately owned. He advocated for preservation of the stadium because Eugene lacked historic structures. He believed the SCS proposal represented an opportunity for Eugene to save a publicly owned historic structure. Scott Landfield, 2425 Willamette Street, commended City Manager Ruiz and his ability to bring different parties together. He wanted to see the YMCA and SCS collaborate on the site. He believed there were many residents who would like to invest in the proposal. He said the City decision would determine the fate of Civic Stadium. He did not want to give his neighborhood away to out -of -town developers. MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 12 Regular Meeting Mike Roberts, 1919 Myers Road, discussed how the proposed "Civic Village" concept suggested for the site by Master Development fit within the framework of the Seven Pillars of Envision Eugene. The proposal provided economic opportunities through new jobs; provided affordable housing for all income levels; provided services needed for the neighborhood to become a 20- minute neighborhood; promoted compact urban development and efficient transportation options with a mix of uses in close proximity; protected and enhanced neighborhood livability through the use of transition areas between uses and the existing residential uses; protected and enhanced local resources by precluding the need for UGB expansion; and created a pilot opportunity to test the implementation of Envision Eugene. Steve Master, 835 East Park Street, said his proposal for the redevelopment of Civic Stadium included the provision of a public space, connectivity, and jobs for the entire community. He suggested if the council wished to hear the voices of the people, it would put the issue out for a vote. He proposed to move Civic Stadium to another nearby location to preserve the structure and provide the community with an economic development opportunity. David Zupan, 870 West 23 d Avenue, supported the preservation of Civic Stadium, which he termed an endangered legacy from the New Deal. He said the stadium was built by the Works Progress Administration and one of many projects designed to lift the country out of the Great Depression by providing work as well as by reflecting the language that Franklin Roosevelt used to keep the country united. He called on the council to support the project which provided the greatest benefit for most citizens. Mr. Zupan believed that a combined SCS and YMCA project would serve the greatest public good. He also endorsed earlier requests for more homeless camping spaces and portable toilets for the homeless. Jon Lauch, 715 West 4` Avenue, 4J School District Facilities Director, reviewed the timeline for the school district's decision regarding Civic Stadium. Greg Giesy, 42 West 19` Avenue, FAN Board member, urged the City to partner with SCS to preserve Civic Stadium. He believed other proposals for the site, if built, would worsen existing traffic conditions in the neighborhood. Mr. Giesy said if the west wall of Civic Stadium was demolished it would allow noise to travel up College Hill into the neighborhood. In addition, the City would have to manage the water runoff coming off College Hill. He believed City involvement was the only way to get SCS and the YMCA to come together for a good solution. Lonnie McCullough, 1350 Charnelton Street, #6, emphasized the importance that the City partner with SCS to preserve Civic Stadium and continue to make it available to the community. He said the proposal would result in a community recreation center in the heart of community. He suggested that the City could use the proposal as an opportunity to expand the Amazon Community Center. Mr. McCullough believed the design could be refined to meet the needs of the City's Library, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department as well as the uses already identified. He asked that the council authorize City Manager Ruiz to move forward with the acquisition using funds from the Parks and Open Space bond. Becki Hawk, 2030 McLean Boulevard, supported the acquisition of the Civic Stadium site using money from the Parks and Open Space bond. She believed preservation of the stadium was in the best interest of the neighborhood. She found the Fred Meyer proposal the least appropriate and believed the apartments included in the project would add to local traffic problems. The area was already well -served with grocery stores and apartment complexes. She supported the YMCA and was disappointed it was unwilling to work with SCS because she thought there was room for both uses on the site. She thought the City's partnership with SCS could trigger other sources of financial support. The end result could be MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 13 Regular Meeting preservation of the stadium and a new home for the YMCA. She suggested Fred Meyer could consider the current YMCA location for a store and apartments. Tom Halferty, 4510 Manzanita Street, discussed how the SCS proposal meshed with the Seven Pillars of Envision Eugene with emphasis on the pillar related to economic opportunities for all community members. He tied increased tourism opportunities to the "pod" of fields that would be created by the SCS proposal. Tom Brandt, 37056 Boiler Creek Road, Springfield, discussed his success with past efforts that were at first opposed but later turned out to be successful, such as Saturday Market. He expressed support for the SCS proposal as a life apprenticeship learning center. Earl Erb, 981 West 8 Avenue, spoke on behalf of the Professional Developmental Football League, which hoped to expand to Oregon and wanted to play games at a redeveloped Civic Stadium. He described the scope of the league, which planned an expansion team in Eugene next year. He said the stadium would provide affordable opportunities for families to view football games as well as job opportunities for local college football players who had not been drafted by other pro leagues. Yodin Bocahaliv, 4989 Hunters View Drive, was present to represent the local soccer community, particularly youth. He emphasized the need for sports fields to accommodate soccer teams and spoke of the difficulty of finding fields. He believed that Civic Stadium could fill some of that demand. He said his club and Kidsports would love to rent the facility and he believed it could accommodate tournaments and high school sports events. Kevin Matthews, PO Box 1588, Eugene, advocated for the City to partner with SCS to preserve Civic Stadium. He feared that the Fred Meyer proposal would damage the small businesses in south Eugene. He believed the site could accommodate both the stadium and the YMCA. Carlis Nixon, 1556 Wilson Court, expressed support for the SCS proposal because it would make the facility available to all citizens for recreational activities. She opposed the Fred Meyer proposal because the area had sufficient shopping and "we don't need or want" a business indistinguishable from others. She believed whatever occurred on the site should have a "unique Eugene" flavor. Ms. Nixon found the area "charmingly authentic" and called on the council to assist in its preservation. Sheryl Engerbert- Scott, 1065 East 22 Avenue, did not want to lose Civic Stadium in order to get a new YMCA. Eugene needed recreational facilities. She believed the City had neglected recreational sports. Her children struggled for playing fields. Eugene had doubled in size since she was a child but had not kept up with the demand for organized sports. Ms. Engerbert-Scott said the stadium had the potential for other uses. She suggested it could be place for young people to meet safely; for example, the stadium could house an outdoor evening theater where children could go. Beverly Smith, 2150 Onyx Street, executive director of Kidsports, said there were many local children looking for places to practice and play safely. She asked the council to help preserve open space for recreational use, particularly given the budget cuts facing the school districts and limiting their ability to provide after - school activities for youth. A centrally located indoor sports facility would do wonders to help her organization meet the needs of local youth and their families. Brandon Spencer - Hartle, 795 Willamette Street, #203, representing the Historic Preservation League of Oregon, noted that the stadium was nominated for recognition on his organization's "Most Endangered MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 14 Regular Meeting Places List." He expected an announcement in May. He asked the council to keep in mind that "this place matters." Phil Carroll, 1054 Van Buren Street, urged the council to work toward the preservation of Civic Stadium. He suggested that history was less about places and objects and more about the stories that were told. He suggested the process was about binding the past to the future and capitalizing on a community investment and continuing the "wonderful story." Mr. Carroll acknowledged that the future of Civic Stadium was not a council decision, but he believed that was true only in the narrowest administrative sense. He wanted the council to take on an educational role and "teach by example" and "do the right thing." Mark Callahan, 3621 Mahlon Avenue, advocated for the SCS proposal. He spoke of his history with the stadium, where he spent many hours with his late grandfather watching the Eugene Emeralds play baseball. All he had of that time was his memories. He believed Civic Stadium was part of the local culture and suggested the intangible benefits of keeping the stadium intact outweighed other short-term financial considerations. Mr. Callahan said residents wanted to share the history and mystique of the stadium with their children in the future. Mayor Piercy closed the public hearing. 7. ACTION: Adoption of an Ordinance Concerning a Four -Year Income Tax for Schools; Adding Sections 2.2000 to 2.2038 to the Eugene Code, 1971 This item was postponed to April 27, 2011. 8. ACTION: Adoption of Resolution 5029 Amending Resolution No. 4281 Providing an Additional Way for Property Owners Subject to a Crest Drive Area Street Improvement Project Assessment to Qualify for the Street Subsidy Program This item was postponed to April 27, 2011. Mayor Piercy adjourned the meeting at 10:52 p.m. Respectfully submitted, 13 ah - 6 Beth Forrest City Recorder (Recorded by Kimberly Young) MINUTES— Eugene City Council April 25, 2011 Page 15 Regular Meeting