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Eugene staff say ordinance would expand property tax exemption eligibility to older limited-equity cooperatives
Summary
City staff introduced an ordinance to amend Eugene code to align with 2025 state law that removes an age restriction on limited-equity cooperatives' eligibility for the low income rental housing property tax exemption; the council held a public hearing but received no public testimony.
EUGENE, Ore. — City staff introduced an ordinance to amend the city code so older limited-equity housing cooperatives can qualify for Eugene’s low income rental housing property tax exemption, but the council heard no public testimony on the item at its Oct. 20 public hearing.
City Manager Sarah Madari told the council that in 2023 the council adopted ordinance No. 20697 allowing affordable housing limited-equity cooperatives to be eligible for the city’s low income rental housing property tax exemption (LRPD). She said that prior state law had limited eligibility to units constructed or converted after Feb. 12, 1990, and that the 2025 Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 3232 removing that state restriction. The proposed ordinance would amend Eugene code section 2.939 to align the local program with the updated state statute and allow some older cooperatives with existing affordable housing stock to apply for the exemption.
The city opened the public hearing as posted on the Oct. 20 agenda. Staff reported that, as of the close of sign-ups, there were no speakers for the hearing. The mayor closed the hearing with no public testimony and no council questions were raised on the record.
No vote or formal council action on the ordinance was recorded during the hearing. City materials on the public docket indicate the proposed change is intended to follow state law; staff did not present additional implementation details during the hearing, and councilors did not ask for specific amendments or direction in the public session.
Background and next steps: Madari said the local LRPD program dates to a Feb. 12, 1990, eligibility cutoff used under prior state rules and that House Bill 3232 (2025) removed that restriction for limited-equity cooperatives. The proposed code amendment would bring Eugene’s program into alignment with the state change. Staff told the council that the city has staff available to answer questions; no public comments were submitted at the hearing. Any further council action, including introduction, amendment, or final reading of an ordinance, would be scheduled separately and is not recorded as completed at this hearing.
Votes at the hearing: none — public hearing opened and closed with no testimony and no formal council vote or motion recorded.
