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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 01/22/2013 MeetingMINUTES Eugene City Council Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 January 22, 2013 7:30 p.m. Councilors Present: George Brown, Betty Taylor, George Poling, Greg Evans, Chris Pryor, Claire Syrett Councilors Absent: Alan Zelenka, Mike Clark Her Honor, Mayor Piercy called the January 22, 2013, Public Hearing of the Eugene City Council to order. 11) W&K1111do" 4 lull H 11 too I �/ 7 R tali 1. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Concerning Charges for Stormwater and Parks Service and Amending Sections 6.411, 6.416, 6.421, 6.426, 6.431, 6.436, 6.600, AND 6.605 of the Eugene Code, 1971 • Ruth Duemler - Opposed; wrong time to increase fees /tax; it's too much for poor people to pay. • Bob Siegmund - Opposed; feels the City's spending priorities are questionable. • Jeff Lozar - Opposed; he would be subject to new tax twice as a business and homeowner. • Kathleen Gaffney - Opposed; noted concerns about seniors living on fixed incomes /lost homes. • Brian Weaver - Opposed; City costs have increased, so cut employee costs. • Rev. Douglas Vaughan - Opposed; idea has a lot of people upset, poverty levels rising. • Dennis Gabrielson - Opposed; tax is regressive and money was wasted on the survey. • Greg Osborn - Opposed; the ordinance is poorly written and vague. • Scott Smith - Opposed; fee is not about stormwater, it's about filling holes in the budget. • James McCarthy - Opposed; enjoys parks system but wants volunteers to maintain parks. • Diane Thurlow - Opposed; feels City process is corrupt, City Council meetings serve no purpose. • Charles Hibberd - Opposed; fixed income households can't afford the tax. • TonyAntone - Opposed; the City has a spending problem and needs to get it under control. • Bonny Bettman - McCormack - Opposed; City has been in "financial crisis" for years; fee regressive. • Dennis Casady - Opposed; City needs to live within a budget just like citizens. • Vicki Mello - Supported fee; volunteers are vital to parks, the fee will protect parks. • Douglas Moorhead - Opposed; separate stormwater and parks fees, and clarify their purpose. • Nick Urhausen - Opposed; this tax is not deductible, put it on the ballot. • Laura Fenimore - Opposed; rule of law, deceptive proposal; can't justify spending money. • Jenn Perry - Opposed; EWEB bill is already high, as costs rise, EWEB will shut off electricity. • Bob Macherione - Opposed; City must live within its means, move to neutralize voter rights? Mayor Piercy closed the public hearing and opened the second public hearing item. 2. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Concerning Prohibited Uses and Special Use Limitations in the /ND Nodal Development Overlay Zone in Downtown; and Amending Section 9.4280 of the Eugene Code, 1971 (City File CA 12 -3) • Laura Potter - Chamber of Commerce supports the overlay zone. • Dave Hauser - Supports proposed amendment. It is modest, timely and good for downtown. • Scott Sanders - Supports proposal noting it will bring 200 new employees downtown. • Gary Wildish - Supports this overlay zone - brings jobs, owner- occupied, no tax incentives. • Rex Fox - Supports the overlay zone - drive -thru lanes are critical to the project's success. • Kim Woodward - supports - great for business, jobs and services, and downtown Eugene. Mayor Piercy closed this public hearing and opened the third public hearing item. 3. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Vacating the Portion of West 4th Alley Located between 4th and 5th Avenues and Lincoln and Charnelton Streets (VRI 12 -3) • Cheryl Monson - supported the application, noting she has worked at this business for 15 yrs. Mayor Piercy closed the public hearing and opened the fourth public hearing item. 4. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Providing for Withdrawal of Annexed Properties from the River Road Park & Recreation District, and the River Road Water District No one signed up to speak. Mayor Piercy closed this public hearing and opened the fifth public hearing item. 5. PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance Concerning Urban Animal Keeping Standards; and Amending Sections 9.2010, 9.2682, 9.2740, 9.3115, 9.3210, 9.3310, 9.3810, 9.3910, and 9.5250 of the Eugene Code, 1971, and Section 4.996 of that Code (City File CA 12 -2) • Bill Bizyk - Proposal has flaws, too many to list in three minutes, will submit written concerns. • Denise Swanson - Supported the ordinance, with increased limits for small farm animals. • Genie Hardin- Keeps small goats outside of town, supported allowing up to four goats. • Judy Scher - Beekeeper; wants a maximum of four hives on any size lots, noting fewer isn't good. • Katja Kohler -Gause - Raises goats, chickens, rooster, ducks; supportive of proposal. • Katharine Hunt - Beekeeper; supportive of increase to four hives on lots under 20K sq. ft. • Barbara Elliott - Beekeeper; supportive of four hives on smaller lots, more on larger lots. • Keegan Coughlin - Avid urban farmer; proposal is too strict, numbers don't pan out. The meeting adjourned at 9:40 pm. Respectfully submitted, Michelle Mortensen Deputy City Recorder 2