HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 05/29/12 MeetingMINUTES
Eugene City Council
Council Chamber —City Hall
777 Pearl Street—Eugene, Oregon
May 29, 2012
7:30 p.m.
COUNCILORS PRESENT: George Brown, Pat Farr, Betty Taylor, George Poling, Mike Clark, Chris
Pryor, Alan Zelenka.
COUNCILORS PRESENT: Andrea Ortiz.
Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the May 29, 2012, regular meeting of the Eugene City Council to
order.
1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Piercy shared some of President Barack Obama's Memorial Day remarks.
Councilor Poling led the council and audience through the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. PUBLIC FORUM
Mayor Piercy reviewed the rules of the Public Forum.
Dan Armstrong, Ward 5, Lane County Farmers, provided an update on progress in expanding the
farmers market, which included discussions with Lane County about the possible use of the County's
butterfly parking lot and a University of Oregon design studio focused on expansion concepts. He invited
the council to a final review of the design studio's work scheduled on June 5 at 2 p.m. in Room 231 of
Lawrence Hall.
John Simpson, Ward 8, Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) commissioner, shared information
regarding EWEB's upcoming electricity rate increase, EWEB's water distribution infrastructure system
upgrade and related water rate increase, recent organizational actions to close the anticipated budget gap,
and EWEB's smart meter pilot project. He indicated the smart meter project would continue through the
summer and EWEB was holding public meetings to explain the benefits of the smart meter technology.
Pauline Hutson, Ward 1, asked the mayor and council to consider the potential job losses from the West
Eugene EmX route. She questioned how political agendas could take priority over such losses. She
suggested that frequently, the public was the last to know the ramifications of council actions as she
perceived the project study authorized by the council had morphed into the project. She said residents
had the right to speak out to protect their town, quality of life, and livelihoods.
Josef Siekiel - Zdzienicki, Ward 1, had attended a recent lecture on humans and transit by transportation
planning and policy consultant Jared Walker where Mr. Walker suggested no private individual should
MINUTES— Eugene City Council May 29, 2012 Page 1
Regular Meeting
have a say in the use of the public right -of -way, which Mr. Siekiel - Zdzienicki found outrageous. He
reported that Mr. Walker also termed the West Eugene EmX a flawed system but believed it should be
supported so Eugene could get the federal money. He questioned whether that was why people died in
wasteful wars. He used the bus to return home from the lecture and found himself downtown at 8:06 p.m.
with a 45- minute wait for a bus to take him to his neighborhood. Mr. Siekiel - Zdzienicki said that Lane
Transit District wanted to institute a system that would run six times an hour at 8 p.m. but the agency
either currently could not afford or lacked the ridership to run more than one bus an hour.
Andrew Fisher, Ward 1, a volunteer serving on the City's Historic Review Board (HRB) advocated for
increased appreciation and understanding of the community's past. He noted some of the board's recent
work on how best to preserve neighborhood character while encouraging density and infill, how to find
new meaningful uses for historic local resources, and how to encourage public awareness and
appreciation of the community's historic built environment. He said as the City moved toward the
conclusion of Envision Eugene, the HRB stood ready to help.
Mary Salinas, a Springfield resident, noted the increase in homeless veterans and said she did not want to
see them warehoused. She contrasted the cost of the proposed Capstone development to St. Vincent de
Paul's new housing project, noting the St. Vincent de Paul project was almost as expensive as the
Capstone development even though the land was donated. She did not know if she supported the
Capstone project but believed students would add vibrancy to downtown.
Lisa Warnes, Ward 3, suggested it was illegal to use parks bond money on the proposed skateboard
facility in Washington- Jefferson Park. She questioned how the City could end its contribution to the Lane
County Animal Services (LCAS) but build a new skate park. Ms. Warnes encouraged the council to
adopt an independent oversight committee for the new animal control service. She criticized the
operations at the Greenhill Humane Society.
Alix Mosieur, a Lane County resident, read testimony on behalf of Eugene resident Molly Smith who
suggested that dogs did not behave in shelters as they did in more relaxing settings and felt it was
important that individuals with the power to make decisions about dogs to be euthanized should be an
individual familiar working with shelter animals.
Tamara Banavige, Ward 1, also advocated for creation of an independent oversight body for animal
control services and envisioned that such a body would recommend policies and procedures regarding
animal welfare.
John Archer, a Lane County resident, also advocated for the creation of an independent oversight body
for animal control services. He objected that dogs were being euthanized for aggression.
Mayor Piercy closed the Public Forum. She thanked those who offered testimony and solicited council
comments and questions.
Councilor Clark determined from City Manager Jon Ruiz that the City would vacate City Hall by the end
of August 2012. Councilor Clark suggested the potential that the vacated courtyard could be used for a
farmers market and advocated for further discussion.
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Regular Meeting
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Approval of City Council Minutes
- February 27, 2012, Regular Meeting
- March 14, 2012, Work Session
- April 9, 2012, Work Session
- April 9, 2012, Regular Meeting
- May 14, 2012, Boards and Commissions Interviews
- May 21, 2012, Boards and Commissions Interviews
B. Approval of Tentative Working Agenda
C. Adoption of Resolution 5061 Authorizing the Eugene Water & Electric Board to
Issue and Sell Electric Utility System Revenue Bonds and Electric Utility Revenue
Refunding Bonds
D. Initiation of Process for Eugene Sign Code Amendments
The council adopted the Consent Calendar at the 5:30 p.m. work session.
Mayor Piercy adjourned the meeting at 8:01 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
'8 tjA "
Beth Forrest
City Recorder
(Recorded by Kimberly Young)
MINUTES— Eugene City Council May 29, 2012 Page 3
Regular Meeting