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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 06/13/12 Work SessionMINUTES Eugene City Council McNutt Room --City Hall 777 Pearl Street — Eugene, Oregon June 13, 2012 Noon 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 13, 2012, work session of the Eugene City Council to order. A. WORK SESSION: Envision Eugene City Attorney Emily Jerome reviewed the motion still on the table: Mr. Brown, seconded by Mr. Farr, moved to direct the City Manager to prepare, for a formal adoption process, planning documents to establish a new Urban Growth Boundary based on recommendations in the Technical Components Document (Attachment A), and that carry forward the pillars and strategies described in the Envision Eugene Draft Proposal, March 14, 2012. Ms. Jerome reviewed the amendments to the motion made by the council on June 11. Responding to a question from Mayor Piercy, Planning Director Lisa Gardner confirmed that the City's consultant had confirmed the DAG Trust Partnership property could be included in the Goal 5 analysis. Mr. Poling, seconded by Mr. Clark, moved to amend Attachment A, Technical Components document, by adding the DAG Trust property to a list of potential single - family home expansion areas that staff will continue to analyze in the Land for Single - Family Homes section of the manager's recommendation, column box D. Mr. Poling believed the property should be studied for its residential potential because of several important considerations, including that the property was directly adjacent to the urban growth boundary (UGB), was in one ownership in four parcels totaling 300 acres, was undeveloped, and the owner desired to be included in the UGB while the owners of other properties being contemplated for addition did not. There were no wetlands or hydraulic soils on the property, it contained few slopes, and was not intensely managed for resource purposes now. Responding to a question from Mr. Zelenka, Ms. Gardner reviewed the staff analysis that would be required and confirmed that staff was likely to analyze the property anyway. Further analysis would not be an issue but she cautioned the council that there were hurdles to including the property inside the UGB, including that it was not already designated for development. MINUTES— Eugene City Council June 13, 2012 Page 1 Work Session The motion passed, 6:2; Ms. Taylor and Mr. Brown voting no. Mr. Farr, seconded by Mr. Clark, moved to direct staff to plan for a housing mix of 55 percent single family, 45 percent multi - family. Ms. Ortiz acknowledged she was not invested in the ratio as she believed the market would drive the ratio. However, she had received considerable input from those who had spent months of their time on the topic and had changed her mind. She supported the motion. Mr. Pryor said some might not find the difference between the ratios significant but at one level he considered it a monumental difference because of the months of work put into the subject by citizens. He determined from Ms. Gardner that the community and public input had supported the 55:45 ratio, but the Community Resource Group had declined to offer a specific recommendation regarding the ratio believing it was a policy choice for the council. Mr. Pryor thought the subject deserved more thoughtful deliberation than could be accomplished at the last minute. He thought the ratio adopted at the June 11 meeting had been arbitrary and would call into question his ability to support the plan. Mr. Zelenka did not think the adopted ratio had been arbitrary. The ratio was among the many ranges discussed and many people were not in consensus regarding the higher single - family ratio. He said his motion was an attempt to split the difference and arrive at a political compromise. He recalled that the Sustainability Commission had preferred a number at the lower end of the range. He did not think the council should merely rubberstamp the manager's recommendation without further analysis and the potential of additional compromise. Mr. Brown believed it was appropriate that the Community Resource Group had deferred to the council in regard to the ratio. He concurred with Mr. Zelenka's remarks. He did not think that changing the ratio was disrespecting the work of the Community Resource Group, which had not reached consensus on the topic. He said the council could revisit the ratio in five years to determine if it was reflective of local and national trends. He opposed the amendment. Ms. Taylor did not think the council had to agree with its advisory committees to demonstrate its respect for their work. The experts she considered knowledgeable did not support the staff - recommended ratio. She continued to oppose expansion of the UGB and the council had the power to select a mix that did not require any expansion. Ms. Taylor emphasized the importance of the pillar related to climate change and resiliency and said that required people to drive fewer miles, for food to come from nearby, and air protection aided by forest protection. Mr. Farr noted the Planning Commission's support for the staff recommendation. He suggested the City could reduce vehicle miles traveled if it made housing more affordable in the Eugene - Springfield metropolitan area. Mr. Clark expressed appreciation for the thoughtful and deliberative nature of the planning process and said he wanted to honor the process and its results. He supported the motion. Mayor Piercy expressed concern that many compromises had been made throughout the process but in the end those who prevailed in regard to the housing ratio had been unwilling to see the council use its best judgment to make any changes to the ratio. She appreciated the journey that the community had taken and believed the community had grown in how members talked to each other, but she did not feel good about the outcome represented by the motion. MINUTES— Eugene City Council June 13, 2012 Page 2 Work Session Ms. Taylor said there was nothing wrong with disagreement. She believed that the council needed to put forth both alternatives to the community and seek more public input. The amendment to the motion passed, 5:3; Ms. Taylor, Mr. Zelenka, and Mr. Brown voting no. The amended motion passed, 6:2; Mr. Brown and Ms. Taylor voting no. Mayor Piercy adjourned the meeting at 12:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, lQ u� A WA Beth Forrest City Recorder (Recorded by Kimberly Young MINUTES— Eugene City Council June 13, 2012 Page 3 Work Session