Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 06/11/12 MeetingMINUTES Eugene City Council Council Chamber--City Hall 777 Pearl Street — Eugene, Oregon June 11, 2012 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: George Brown, Pat Farr, Betty Taylor, Andrea Ortiz, George Poling, Mike Clark, Chris Pryor, Alan Zelenka. Her Honor Mayor Kitty Piercy called the June 11, 2012, regular meeting of the Eugene City Council to order. 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Piercy shared some thoughts regarding Flag Day. Councilor Farr led the council and audience through the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. PUBLIC FORUM Mayor Piercy reviewed the rules of the Public Forum. Jim Hale, Ward 5, recommended the council consider land formally identified as urban reserves in the northwest Santa Clara area for expansion rather than into the more expensive to serve Lane Community College basin or southwest Eugene. Patrice Dotson, Ward 1, advocated for the council to provide a publicly owned site to a community coalition hoping to establish a homeless encampment. Mary Salinas, Springfield, advocated for the City Council to give homeless people checks and land for small homes. Jerry Smith, Ward 2, advocated for the City Council to provide a publicly owned site where the homeless could camp and be safe. He also supported a wet bed shelter. Charlie Swanson, Ward 3, asked the council to refer an advisory question to the voters regarding a constitutional amendment overturning the Supreme Court decision in. Citizens United versus Federal Communication Commission. He also supported the provision of a publicly owned site for a homeless encampment. Sabra Marcroft, Ward 7, advocated for more housing options so that people could house themselves at the level they were able. MINUTES— Eugene City Council June 11, 2012 Page 1 Regular Meeting Art Bowman, Ward 2, spoke against police profiling of people due to their social and economic status and attributed it to the upcoming Olympic Trials. He called for more citizen oversight of all levels of city government. Dave Piccioni, Ward 7, advocated for the City Council to provide a publicly owned site for the homeless and called on the council to support the students in Quebec who were protesting tuition hikes. He supported the comments of Charlie Swanson. Andy Heben, Ward 3, advocated for the City Council to provide a publicly owned site for a homeless encampment. The effort would require no public money so the council could not justify any opposition. It would be a model for alternative housing. Jean Stacey, Ward 1, provided background on a grassroots effort to establish a homeless encampment to be known as Opportunity Eugene and to be operated by a 501(c)(3) organization. She advocated for the City Council to provide a publicly owned site for that purpose. Joe Tyndall, Ward 1, advocated for the City Council to provide a publicly owned site for a homeless service center and wet bed facility and suggested the existing City Hall site be employed for that purpose. Ruth Duemler, Ward 3, provided the council with copies of the Occupy Eugene newsletter. She commended the City for providing more 24 -hour restrooms. She endorsed the remarks of Charlie Swanson and joined those calling for the City Council to provide a publicly owned site for a homeless encampment. Michael Peterson, Ward 1, supported the remarks of Charlie Swanson. Alley Valkyrie, Ward 1, criticized the City for enforcing a rule against glass bottles in the Parks Blocks and suggested that a person receiving such a citation was singled out and excluded from City parks because she was homeless. Ms. Valkyrie believed such citations were tied to the upcoming Olympic Trials. She did not think that officers should have discretion to exclude people from parks and suggested that parks exclusions be processed in the same way as downtown exclusions. John Pitney, Ward 6, supported the remarks of Charlie Swanson. John Monroe, Ward 1, maintained the City was opening itself to legal challenges by not providing a camp site for the homeless to live. He further maintained Eugene police were harassing the homeless in a systematic manner and demanded that it stop. Majeska Seese Green, Ward 7, advocated that the council direct staff to identify a piece of land so the community coalition it could operate a homeless camp and put meaning to the term "housing is a human right." She also urged the council to modify board and commissions and internal work groups work plans accordingly and to form a homeless commission. Deb Frisch, a resident of Lane County, encouraged the council to reject the proposed project plan compromise on West 24 Avenue with the Friendly Area Neighborhood board of directors. She criticized the police's interactions with young members of Occupy Eugene who were hanging around in the Parks Block and wanted officers to resist the baiting and taunting of Occupiers. The police should stop enforcing laws against petty crimes. She called for kinder and gentler officers to work with the disenfranchised youth in downtown. MINUTES— Eugene City Council June 11, 2012 Page 2 Regular Meeting Helen Liquori, Ward 3, requested hand washing stations in conjunction with the newly opened rest rooms. She wanted the City to hire homeless people to monitor the rest rooms and hand washing stations. "Chief Swiftfoot," homeless, criticized police enforcement actions that he believed were aimed at the homeless. Sue Sierra Lupe, Ward 1, shared information about the Occupy Eugene medical clinic and noted the addition of dental services. She maintained that social cleansing was occurring in the Parks Block, which prevented her from signing up more than two patients for the dental clinic and asked that the social cleansing stop. She believed that visitors to Eugene would be impressed by a city that treated its poor and disenfranchised so well. Pauline Hutson, Ward 1, advocated against the establishment of West Eugene EmX because it would destroy trees and harm her neighborhood. West Eugene did not have the needed ridership. She asked why West l Ph Avenue business owners were treated differently than Coburg Road business owners and suggested it was because the council did not like its appearance. She suggested that EmX was a better fit on Coburg Road. Eugene Drix, Ward 1, praised the Public Forum. He encouraged citizens to visit the West University Neighborhood and recycle discarded student belongings. He suggested the Internet made increased democracy possible.. Josef Siekiel- Zdzienicki, Ward 1, supported a homeless encampment and the remarks of Charlie Swanson. He suggested the council had too much faith in its staff, which he maintained "ran over people." Staff did not speak regular English and would not take citizen input. He recommended the council question its staff more because in his experience, staff lied. Carla Newbre, Ward 1, advocated for the council to provide a publicly owned site for a homeless encampment and urged the council to implement all of the recommendations of the Opportunity Eugene Task Force. Gordie Albie, Ward 1, advocated for the council to provide a publicly owned site for a homeless encampment. Eric Hall, Ward 7, advocated for retention of the sunset clause in the Rental Housing Code. He asked the council to implement the other modifications recommended to the program by the Housing Policy Board subcommittee. He shared a graphic contrasting landlord expenses versus revenues and said each new expense fell on the renter, not the landlord. Mayor Piercy closed the Public Forum. She thanked those who offered comment and solicited council comments and questions. Councilor Clark suggested to Ms. Hutson that she address her remarks to policies rather than personalities. Councilor Ortiz expressed concern about the public testimony related to the downtown and asked the council to consider what success was in regard to downtown. Was it statistics? Was it more people being arrested or less people being arrested? She continued to be concerned about the Downtown Public Safety Zone. She called for council discussion of the subject. MINUTES— Eugene City Council June 11, 2012 Page 3 Regular Meeting 3. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of City Council Minutes - May 23, 2012, Work Session - May 29, 2012, Work Session - May 29, 2012, Regular Meeting - May 30, 2012, Work Session B. Approval of Tentative Working Agenda Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to approve the items on the Consent Calendar. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. 4. ACTION: An Ordinance Extending the Rental Housing Code Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to adopt Council Bill 5073, Option 1, an ordinance removing the sunset date for the Rental Housing Code. Councilor Pryor, seconded by Councilor Poling, moved to substitute Option 2. Councilor Zelenka expressed interest in changing Eugene's ordinance to more closely resemble that of Corvallis. Stuart Ramsing indicated staff was working with the HPB subcommittee on ordinance revisions that the council would see in the fall. Many of them addressed the issues of concern to Mr. Zelenka. Roll call vote: The motion passed, 6:2; councilors Taylor and Brown voting no. Roll call vote: The motion as amended passed, 6:2; councilors Taylor and Brown voting no. 5. ACTION: Appointments to Boards, Commissions, and Committees Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to appoint Jill Fetherstonhaugh to Position 4 on the Budget Committee for a three -year term beginning July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to appoint Marshall Wilde to Position 6 on the Budget Committee for a three -year term beginning July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to appoint Robert Clarke to Positiori 8 on the Budget Committee for a three -year term beginning July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015. Councilor Zelenka moved to substitute Richard Varner. The motion died for lack of a second. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. MINUTES— Eugene City Council June 11, 2012 Page 4 Regular Meeting Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to reappoint George Rode to Position 5 on the Civilian Review Board for a three -year term beginning July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to reappoint Bernadette Conover to Position 6 on the Civilian Review Board for a three -year term beginning July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to reappoint Debra Velure to Position 7 on the Civilian Review Board for a three -year term beginning July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Human Rights Commission Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to reappoint Andrew Thomson to Position 8 on the Human Rights Commission for a three -year term beginning July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to reappoint Lorraine Kerwood to Position 9 on the Human Rights Commission for a three -year term beginning July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to appoint Denise Griewisch to Position 10 on the Human Rights Commission for a three -year term beginning July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to appoint Christopher Nunes to Position 2 on the Human Rights Commission, the unexpired term of Martha Fish ending on June 30, 2014. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Planning Commission Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to reappoint Mark Steven Baker to Position 1 on the Planning Commission for a four -year term beginning July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2016. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Police Commission Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to reappoint Kaitlyn Lange to Position 1 of the Police Commission for a four -year term beginning July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2016. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to reappoint Juan Carlos Valle to Position 2 of the Police Commission for a four -year term beginning July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2016. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to reappoint James Garner to Position 3 of the Police Commission for a four -year term beginning July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2016. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. MINUTES— Eugene City Council June 11, 2012 Page 5 Regular Meeting Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to appoint Joe Tyndall to Position 8 of the Police Commission for a four -year term beginning July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2016. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Poling, moved to substitute William Whalen for Joe Tyndall. Councilor Clark said he understood that Mr. Whalen had the support of a commissioner who was not able to present at the Police Commission subcommittee meeting where the topic was discussed. Mayor Piercy said that two commissioners highly recommended Mr. Tyndall, but she felt either candidate was a good one. She had discussed the difference between service on the commission and advocacy with Mr. Tyndall and believed he was cognizant of the difference. Roll call vote: The motion failed, 5:3; councilors Poling, Clark, and Farr voting yes. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Sustainability Commission Mayor Piercy formally recognized the following councilor appointments to the Sustainability Commission: Ward 1 position, for a term expiring on June 30, 2016: Shawn Boles Ward 2 position, for a term expiring on June 30, 2016: Howie Bonnett Ward 3 position, for a term expiring on June 30, 2016: Dawn Lesley Ward 4 position, for a term expiring on June 30, 2016: Kathi Jaworski Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to appoint Sasha Luftig to Position 2 of the Sustainability Commission (the unexpired term of Art Farley) ending on June 30, 2013. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to appoint Sara Mazze to Position 4 of the Sustainability Commission to the unexpired term ending on June 30, 2013. Councilor Taylor moved to substitute Lauri Bernstein. The motion died for lack of a second. Councilor Poling, seconded by Coucilor Clark, moved to substitute Steven Adams. Roll call vote: the motion failed, 5:3; councilors Poling, Clark, and Farr voting yes. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Toxics Board Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to reappoint Richard Nicol to Position 3, a business representative on the Toxics Board, for a three -year term beginning on July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. MINUTES— Eugene City Council June 11, 2012 Page 6 Regular Meeting Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to reappoint Randall Prince to Position 6, an advocacy representative on the Toxics Board to a three -year term beginning on July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Whilamut Natural Area Citizen Planning Committee Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to appoint Aryana Ferguson to Position 3 on the Whilamut Natural Area Citizen Planning Committee for a three -year term beginning on July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to appoint Lucia Hardy to Position 4 on the Whilamut Natural Area Citizen Planning Committee for a three -year term beginning on July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to appoint Bitty Roy to Position 7 on the Whilamut Natural Area Citizen Planning Committee for a three -year term beginning on July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to appoint James Trimboli to Position 10 on the Whilamut Natural Area Citizen Planning Committee for a three -year term beginning on July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Farr, moved to reappoint Vicky Mello to Position 15 on the Whilamut Natural Area Citizen Planning Committee for a three -year term beginning on July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2015. Roll call vote: The motion passed unanimously, 8:0. 6. COMMITTEE REPORTS There were no reports. Mayor Piercy adjourned the meeting at 9:12 p.m. Respectfully submitted, '8 w) sw' Beth Forrest City Recorder (Recorded by Kimberly Young) MINUTES— Eugene City Council June 11, 2012 Page 7 Regular Meeting