[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6537775,"mediaKeyId","3433960-c1b820f6ae86856c590c7bd8e0b53ceb","parentId",3433960,"title","Budget committee approves May 14 minutes","audioSeconds",37,"startMs",543000,"endMs",580000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3433960-c1b820f6ae86856c590c7bd8e0b53ceb&start=543&end=580","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3433960-c1b820f6ae86856c590c7bd8e0b53ceb/thumbnail_543000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6537775/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Budget-committee-approves-May-14-minutes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537775-1eaf13e3626690a0e1f44fd768ee5275/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453014&Signature=f3A-s0Cmg-fCRwMleXkIa~ThQipHw~3111CxB4ETTeAAPiLT3mNu3jfyjEGRPkcaHjlgIyIZWb5ZFXEC7DxrcD31H~VxvI92ljYP7UTj6wOzOKl51LEB9EjREuNcBC2ZAp5j5Ysh41QQzMmBbDvQpBpujnlgIzF~bdJrzW~tjQFj5GvLTKVjW0oEeg6drUpwmtYNL7gYRrVoCqukHmrnUZMwef5GqHJ~vB-I7XJTn3HExF8OyVjeqi6ecUtZG3p8EKrIJNxZA1wfSozZumiFay8Gw70WSkk04AHdRxSdBZ0gvwbTJbHcCLpDSvmAf14nJORvmyJXg0oZAuX1n9svVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Eugene, OR","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","The Eugene Budget Committee approved the minutes of its May 14 meeting at the start of the May 21 session.

Councillor Clark moved to approve the minutes; Councillor Leach seconded. Chair Ty called for those in favor to raise their hands; staff counted 13 hands in favor. The chair asked whether there were any opposed or abstentions; none were recorded.

The approval was recorded by voice/hand count and the committee proceeded to the public-comment period.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Eugene Budget Committee Meeting: May 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Eugene Budget Committee voted to approve the minutes from its May 14 meeting; motion by Councillor Clark, seconded by Councillor Leach, passed by voice count of 13 in favor.","taxTitle","Eugene , Lane County, Oregon","taxId",2848,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6537780,"Urban renewal presentation outlines tax-increment projects, MUPTI impacts and downtown housing tools",816,4731000,5547000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3433960-c1b820f6ae86856c590c7bd8e0b53ceb&start=4731&end=5547","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3433960-c1b820f6ae86856c590c7bd8e0b53ceb/thumbnail_4731000.jpg","/articles/6537780/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Urban-renewal-presentation-outlines-tax-increment-projects-MUPTI-impacts-and-downtown-housing-tools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537780-f77d6ebcb68e614a4e3a7c2a1618dbea/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453014&Signature=o7OOoSlEnoMfXvRcSSUMCWN~M36y~50~MIt7akQcnOjSsLDNhcTTft3mYDMZNh~rgIrZ8jfVwr9FHzXe5wjC215IqJToBKQ4-qq91~i5b70OM1qETs9Exl1MJNmsf~zfTQq5aBtkl82fBarZZ6uFafK2tZ5nSBEDP7yG0j-5O1ws-M8xqgVK4aJzUKUzBZZ1a0LfXjjfuPHW~oDneMRzPcp1iau0aTLfiNNcqYL-UM~iJbmNNaQD08pNZvlSKnibLCKOhWUzw1CtXpeqQ7TU98930W8sGhnNB668cMb3RMnVZc6B5y3YHV6gwf4gvcwoB2eJNCDWT8MdhL70BopoCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City development finance and community development staff briefed the Budget Committee on May 21 about urban renewal activity and the multi-unit property tax exemption (MUPTI), describing recent plan amendments, projects in the pipeline and how tax increment affects overlapping taxing districts.

Amanda D'Souza, development programs manager, explained that Eugene has two urban renewal districts — a Downtown District and a Riverfront District — and that recent amendments increased the districts' spending limits by $50 million (downtown, June 2023) and $75 million (Riverfront, January 2024). Based on projections presented to the committee, the Downtown District is expected to last about 17 more years and the Riverfront District about 24 years.

Key program tools and projects

D'Souza described a Downtown Core Housing Initiative whose first tool is a Downtown Fee Assistance pilot to pay government fees (SDCs, permits) for qualifying new housing; the proposed budget includes $3 million to implement that pilot. The agency also acquired the North Butterfly Lot for redevelopment and will soon solicit development teams.

Notable projects discussed included 1059 Willamette, a planned 133-unit mixed-income redevelopment with 68 units at 80% of area median income (the city is contributing land at no cost and $400,000 of MUPTI fee funds; the agency allocated about $1.4 million to the project). The downtown riverfront affordable housing \"Parcel 2\" project — a partnership between Homes for Good and Atkins Dame — is expected to include at least 75 units affordable to households at 60% AMI; the agency approved up to $7.5 million for that project earlier this year.

Tax and revenue impacts

Maurizio Badalico reviewed how tax increment revenue reallocates existing property taxes to the urban renewal agency rather than creating a new tax. Staff estimated total tax increment for both districts at about $5.8 million per year; roughly $2.9 million per year is reallocated from the City's General Fund. Badalico explained that urban renewal reduces compression in the education tax category and, on balance, benefits School District 4J under Oregon's school funding formula.

On MUPTI, staff summarized recent activity and provided a comparison showing that expired MUPTI projects now generate roughly $2.0 million in tax revenue this year compared with about $200,000 if prior uses had remained — an indication that MUPTI projects on net have increased assessed value in the tax rolls over time. Staff noted five projects currently with active exemptions and highlighted the difficulty of building downtown housing without a suite of public investments.

Ending

Councilors asked clarifying questions about verification of developer pro formas for MUPTI applications, potential incentives to encourage ground-floor commercial with housing above, and whether urban renewal tools could be applied to other corridors. Staff recommended planning-first approaches followed by targeted tools. The committee will take the presentation under advisement as it completes budget deliberations.","City staff presented an overview of Eugene's two urban renewal districts, recent amendments increasing spending limits, tools to support downtown housing (including a $3 million Downtown Fee Assistance pilot) and the MUPTI (multi-unit property tax exemption) program and its local tax impacts.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6537785,"Public testimony and staff proposals prioritize keeping libraries, pools, Sheldon Community Center and Green Hill open",7411,955000,8366000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3433960-c1b820f6ae86856c590c7bd8e0b53ceb&start=955&end=8366","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3433960-c1b820f6ae86856c590c7bd8e0b53ceb/thumbnail_955000.jpg","/articles/6537785/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Public-testimony-and-staff-proposals-prioritize-keeping-libraries-pools-Sheldon-Community-Center-and-Green-Hill-open","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537785-0e8d0bb75bfd3286cd119318957d6a2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453014&Signature=Mh6uZ5MzmlN04uCpI4hpYPAwDsQ6Cbw5qH6iHrCkHExIx06wUbsqL1O8V-iDc56vj2siOhRMOmN2NqJ0opKsC8BVAa79HqD3fdLGtFBQyscaFPp1wjMU81IkYEWWYz49W8UWRxlWmrgQ11MfFYw6Ut1yH50YK7v9vBu-iojmi59ZBZTyTwOUdhrV~OG24m1~XZTY~OrJthnlwBP7yyzkA4OUYuldG8lHGW6oCqdUASpb1zGpDZFKgkI0QKsNU08Spv4aAjlb88qzGtcLVdcdA3RvKZGML5n7Aof04prFhnLbZKMQoA5lmBDvUq~X4QtNCzauUe2iVL8NzAWyUuWqVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of Eugene residents urged the Budget Committee on May 21 to preserve community services proposed for cuts, saying the services are vital to families, children and vulnerable residents.

Speakers described personal and community impacts from potential closures or funding reductions. \"I ask you to consider the ways in which we can keep Amazon Pool as open as possible,\" said Chrissy Morrison, who recounted a lifetime of swim practices and lifeguarding at Amazon Pool. Jason Sides, who said he coaches South Eugene High School water polo, said the pool's closure would remove daily practice doubles that support the team's competitiveness.

Renee Buchanan of the Eugene Public Library Foundation thanked the committee for work earlier that day and urged a medium-term revenue solution rather than annual emergency measures. \"We can't live without any of the city's services — fire, police, recreation, pools, library, animal services,\" she told the committee.

Animal-welfare testimony included a personal adoption story from Colleen Llewellyn, who said Green Hill helped a cat in poor condition and later found it a home. \"Green Hill hung in there with it,\" she said, asking the committee not to defund the shelter.

Why it matters: Testimony linked recreation, library, preschool and animal services to early childhood development, public health and community stability. Multiple speakers also called for prioritizing alternative revenue sources and re-evaluating high-cost line items in other parts of the budget.

Staff recommendation and next steps

City Manager Sarah Maderi told the committee council action earlier in the day freed potential revenue that the committee could now prioritize. Maderi presented a list of restorations she recommended the committee consider, including full restoration of library hours, keeping Amazon Pool open, restoring Sheldon Community Center services and partially restoring the Green Hill contract and neighborhood support. Maderi recommended a mix of ongoing restorations (using the freed revenue) and some one-time funding for transitional needs.

Ending

Speakers asked the committee to preserve the \"third spaces\" that make Eugene livable for families and children. Committee members said more work remains and that motions will be formalized ahead of the May 28 public hearing.","Public commenters urged the committee to avoid cuts to Amazon Pool, Eugene Public Library, Sheldon Community Center, Green Hill animal shelter and neighborhood association funding; city manager outlined partial/full restorations possible under newly freed revenue.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6537788,"Human Rights Commission and neighborhood leaders urge restoring Office of Equity and community engagement funding",2710,747000,3457000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3433960-c1b820f6ae86856c590c7bd8e0b53ceb&start=747&end=3457","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3433960-c1b820f6ae86856c590c7bd8e0b53ceb/thumbnail_747000.jpg","/articles/6537788/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Human-Rights-Commission-and-neighborhood-leaders-urge-restoring-Office-of-Equity-and-community-engagement-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537788-b2d9a4be8c32db61dc8897b42aa6fd95/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453014&Signature=nkBEK22-xdFTM5COynucYXI2m7hyCd7KpCGO~ZXyGCUFoOnzQlovEbGaB2eYPBhRErMOfRRX37dtVzcaYvCFY~NwArLvjVNaFzhdBvh0MxcBBktnh0grEmqcTFgUioVE9rh0W5IAwCMGuZycVOSc4fIGXEjA8zrGRnamDoN~IEitPLDbe7MEYuiDjcJ3G45-SXjGIR5zu4~vJZ0VzIB~B~O3MEremoHuWUNsFcW7CUInC5W8v26JgnGU7c5QA~q33JpPTx4Yb~TECK1U2WXN9aCjsH1xwNb4m5Ba23X-tv6qusqZLu8cbn2AdmXlKWyGYqOd9qIo4CStjOSGRwxjiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of Eugene's Human Rights Commission, neighborhood leaders and community advocates urged the Budget Committee on May 21 to restore staffing and small-grant funding in the Office of Equity and Community Engagement (OECE).

Blake Burrell, who identified himself as the Human Rights Commission chair, said the commission's work depends on OECE staffing. \"Their proposed budgetary cuts reduce 3 FTE within that division, potentially causing our commission to lose the necessary support... With the prioritized budget allotment... I would wanna make sure that we are restoring at least 2 FTE within that department and ensuring that the Human Rights is able to action its outreach goals,\" Burrell said.

Why it matters: Witnesses said the OECE and its multicultural liaison position help ensure historically marginalized communities have a voice in city decisions. Several public speakers described direct impacts if small grants and liaison capacity were eliminated.

Testimony and background

Kiana Kabuko, who said she serves on the Human Rights Commission but was speaking as a private individual, noted the commission's small-grants program is currently $8,000 annually and warned that eliminating that grant would force local Native American events, multicultural gatherings and remembrance events to seek other funding.

Bonnie Sousa, who said she served two terms on the Human Rights Commission and worked on creating the multicultural liaison position, outlined the multi‑year process that led to creating the post and the role it has played since March 2020 in connecting marginalized communities with city decision-makers.

Jencina Hawkins, co-chair of the Neighborhood Leaders Council, also asked the committee to preserve neighborhood association funding that supports newsletters, matching grants and volunteer work across Eugene.

City manager and committee context

During deliberations City Manager Sarah Maderi presented a list of restorations made possible after council action earlier in the day that freed revenue for committee consideration. The city manager recommended partial restorations for OECE: restore some positions and preserve the small-grants program rather than eliminate it entirely.

Ending

Speakers told the committee cuts to OECE would reduce multicultural outreach, training and the city's capacity to include underrepresented residents in policy decisions. Committee members said they would continue deliberations and may refine motion language before the May 28 public hearing.","Speakers including the Human Rights Commission chair sought restoration of positions and small grants in the Office of Equity and Community Engagement, warning cuts would silence marginalized voices and reduce support for multicultural events.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6537792,"Public speakers urge restoration of CAHOOTS-style alternative response as city weighs budget restorations",8567,1652000,10219000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3433960-c1b820f6ae86856c590c7bd8e0b53ceb&start=1652&end=10219","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3433960-c1b820f6ae86856c590c7bd8e0b53ceb/thumbnail_1652000.jpg","/articles/6537792/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Public-speakers-urge-restoration-of-CAHOOTS-style-alternative-response-as-city-weighs-budget-restorations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537792-894c6aaeddc78a64a14f75ffe9c94f0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453014&Signature=k73MchyNPk6HMlUZUUL~2I5slUUOEhYp5sRrDIA3pcYDmbbKmxEKGrvGA4wWqAI7X12QElqrd7HVsCTFyD-Cu-MDwMJDk4236~JvKY0RP5gNxWAOhCmGSBjBEsmEZxBBGgGj3M98m9Fj2YFMWV0THo~-GY7l7Xm4VE~jKpB8vZrOMSbs8ZsH7Luw-Sxk~xfAkpVbJoOuLDlItFVaX0PD2DdxYJs-K54eA-DttIQ9qiiDkPgJxThVrOBbshH7li0mhFca1HoL1HkHftHLMtkHSG38cUyre-iSm2mqGky1UsdqgFIY9am5Jj6Sto9ufjFbPSuvB4rdCklQSAr3mFVp-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hundreds of residents and providers told the Eugene Budget Committee on May 21 that the city should restore funding for an unarmed, community-based crisis response modeled on CAHOOTS.

Speakers said the loss of the program has left a gap that other services do not fill. \"MCS has shared that they're responding in person to an average of 8 calls per day throughout the entire county,\" former Cahoots field worker Elizabeth Mitchell told the committee. \"The Cahoots average is 45 per day in just Eugene and Springfield. MCS is not a substitute for Cahoots.\" She added that Cahoots' flexibility and ability to do wound care, transport people to meals or urgent care, and wrap individual safety plans could not be replicated simply by relying on county crisis teams.

Why it matters: Public speakers and several committee members said restoring alternative response is a public-safety and cost-effectiveness priority. Multiple witnesses described the program as a frontline crisis stabilizer whose absence has increased pressure on 9-1-1 dispatchers, emergency medical services and police.

Testimony and context

Several former Cahoots staff and supporters described real-world consequences from the program's absence. Phoebe Thompson, who identified themself as a crisis worker, said staff and youth \"were at a loss\" when Cahoots reduced service, and urged the city to \"find some way of bringing back Cahoots to our streets.\" Jack Bayer, who said they worked for Cahoots for five months, told the committee the change has increased stress and workload for 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers.

Jacob True, a local resident active in advocacy for alternative response, said the committee's partial restorations so far fall short of what is needed to contract a community provider back onto the streets. He noted the committee's amended budget included some funding that could be used for an \"alternative response position\" but said the city must also budget contract dollars to operate a full service.

City staff and council response

During committee deliberations, city staff described two practical options: (1) use a modest placeholder to cover short-term street impacts while a new model organizes and seeks a fiscal sponsor, or (2) fund a full in‑house or contracted program at a higher cost. City Manager Sarah Maderi told the committee that a $500,000 one-time placeholder in the Fire & EMS budget would \"allow some nimbleness on the street\" while the city and community groups develop a longer-term procurement approach.

Councilor Matt Zelenka said staff had previously estimated a fuller restoration of a 36‑hour-per‑day alternative response shift would cost roughly $2.2 million (referencing prior Chief-level cost estimates discussed in packet materials).

Ending

Committee members and public speakers indicated they plan to return to the question next week, when motions will be due and the committee will formalize recommendations to the City Council. Several speakers asked that any new model pursue partial third-party billing and Medicaid-eligible reimbursement where feasible to reduce the city's net cost.","Budget committee public comment repeatedly urged restoring an unarmed crisis response modeled on CAHOOTS, with speakers saying other county services cannot replace it and citing higher call volumes that Cahoots handled in Eugene.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Budget committee approves May 14 minutes

Urban renewal presentation outlines tax-increment projects, MUPTI impacts and downtown housing tools

Public testimony and staff proposals prioritize keeping libraries, pools, Sheldon Community Center and Green Hill open

Human Rights Commission and neighborhood leaders urge restoring Office of Equity and community engagement funding

Public speakers urge restoration of CAHOOTS-style alternative response as city weighs budget restorations