This week began with sadness as news sank in of the
sudden death of Lawanda Manning, wife of Sen. James Manning. Lawanda was
a steady force for good in our community and state. Welcoming, gracious,
and quick witted, she seemed to be everywhere, and always at the Senator’s
side, advocating for just, compassionate, sensible policies. Lawanda welcomed
me, as she did everyone, with a warmth that implied I was just the person she
most wanted to see at that moment. I join many in this community who will
miss her dearly and who grieve with and for Senator Manning at this time.
Council addressed major issues this week. On Monday, Council held a public hearing
concerning proposed amendments to the ordinance regulating parking with respect
to commercial vehicles, vehicle storage on streets and parking time
limits. The proposed changes are intended to enhance the safety and
enforcement of parking restrictions to reduce the impact of vehicles housing
the unsheltered especially in commercial areas. The options were presented in
response particularly to challenges in West Eugene where businesses are
struggling with truck access to their warehouses because of the proliferation
of campers and trailers; and where the large congregation of vehicles has
created other safety and sanitation challenges. The revised ordinance
reinforces the 72-hour time limit for street storage of vehicles, expands the
definition of a “block” to include both sides of the street, and requires
vehicles to be moved at least two blocks away to re-set the 72-hour
clock. Advocates for the unsheltered object to this increasing
traumatization. We are faced with conditions in certain parts of town
where the behavior of some of the people living on the streets is threatening
and dangerous. Required movement of vehicles at the very least ensures
that the City can clean the streets and reduce the sanitation challenges; and
also provides some relief to the people living or working in heavily impacted
areas. It’s not perfect, and councilors are not all equally comfortable
with the changes. It is set for a vote on Monday, the 21st.
This adjustment in parking should be seen in coordination with the City’s
work to identify sanctioned safe tent and vehicle sites. Council will receive
an update on the progress in assessing potential sites for 300 tents and 200
vehicles on Wednesday, the 23rd. We hope to provide better managed, safe
sites in the near term that will help people who are unhoused find more
stability and at the same time reduce the impact of unsanctioned sites on both
commercial and residential neighborhoods.
On Wednesday, the Council moved forward on the general criteria to be used
in adjusting Council Ward boundaries. With every ten-year census, the
City uses new population figures to adjust the Ward boundaries. This year
the process is delayed because the 2020 Census figures will not be available
until September. City staff, with Council’s input, is doing as much to
anticipate the process as possible before the final census numbers are
available. One goal is to divide the Wards by close to equal populations
numbers within a 3% range. Tentatively, that population number is just
over 21,500. Councilors are concerned about boundaries that might shift during
this election year, wanting to ensure recognition of boundary changes that
might exclude a councilor from their ward. This is the beginning of a robust
process that will include many opportunities for public input in October after
the census numbers are final and proposed boundaries can be drafted.
And finally, on Wednesday the City Manager presented a summary of her
discussions with NW Natural regarding the franchise and carbon reduction
agreements. Council approved a motion directing the City Manager to
continue her discussions with NW Natural regarding a commitment to specific GHG
reduction projects as enabled by State legislation. SB 844 was passed in
the 2013 legislature as a voluntary program to incentivize utilities to
undertake emissions reductions projects. Under discussion with NW
Natural, the gas company would negotiate projects with the Manager. Iff the
City agrees, those proposals would then be sent to the State’s Public Utility
Commission for approval and oversight. If agreed by both parties in the fall,
NWN would undertake two projects during the four-year timeline of the new
franchise agreement. They would also pay an increased franchise
fee. The additional percent earned in the fee would support a dedicated
fund to further our climate work. It’s not done yet – and it’s not a
complete deal – but it aligns with our climate goals, promotes energy
efficiency and GHG reduction, and has a 90-day termination clause if we feel
NWN isn’t holding up their end. This will come back to Council in the
fall and include a public hearing on the proposed franchise fee.
Also in this discussion, Council asked for an update on our progress in
implementing the CAP 2.0, in recognition that the discussions with NW Natural
are part of a larger set of strategies to reduce our GHG emissions and use of
fossil fuels.
As a closing note – and one that Lawanda Manning would have loved – I
attended the ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Echo Hollow Pool in Bethel,
or “water-breaking” as Library, Recreation and Cultural Services Director,
Renee Grube, called it. This renovation is one of the projects funded by
the Parks and Recreation bond and levy passed by the voters in 2018. The pool
was 50 years old with a very inefficient, fossil fuel-intensive heating
system. To celebrate the opening, three elementary school children from
the Bethel Schools were invited to take the first ride down the slide.
London Jackson, newly graduated from Kindergarten, responded to Renee’s
question about what she liked best about the new pool “It’s blue, sparkly,
and the slide looks like a dragon,” she said.
Summer is here. I hope many of you take advantage of the chance to
watch children, or slide yourselves, down the dragon’s back slide at the Echo
Hollow Pool.