The Eugene City Council held a meeting on Monday, facilitating discussion surrounding Automated License Plate Readers, Amazon distribution facility rumors and housing affordability programs.

All councilors were present during the meeting, with Councilor Leech calling in from Zoom.

During the Committee Reports and Items of Interest, Mayor Knudson spoke about community concerns surrounding the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the city.

“Last week, I joined elected leaders serving at the federal, state and local levels — indeed many of our city council members — in opposing the violent detention of our neighbors and the denial of due process to members of our community by (ICE),” Knudson said. “This situation is not news to us, but it is nonetheless alarming and unacceptable to learn of reported actions carried out by ICE and Lane County.”

City Manager Sarah Medary was also present, and spoke briefly before public comment regarding the status of growth research from the Envision Eugene Technical Advisory Committee. Medary said she believes EETAC will have a final report on the city’s economic growth and recommendations by January.

Forty-nine speakers signed up for public comment, many of which used their time to urge the council to permanently take down the ALPRs. Some speakers asked Medary to move quickly in setting up another work session before her retirement in December.

“A pause is not a stop, and the cameras remain up on the poles. That’s unfortunate, because they are pretty offensive to see, and pretty embarrassing to our visitors as well,” Sam Edwards, one public commentator, said. “I’m here tonight to urge the city manager to move with haste before retiring and get that contract where it belongs — the paper shredder.”

Another group of commentators wore homemade pins which said “Say No To Amazon” and spoke extensively on the new package-and-delivery center being built by the Eugene airport, which has been rumored to be an Amazon distribution center..

“Employment that Amazon offers is labor intensive, so intensive that to meet their goals, Amazon will be replacing local workers, in just a few years in 2030, with robots that work faster and don’t need bathroom breaks, or healthcare,” Charmaine Landing, a member of Say No To Amazon, said. “Without dependable long term jobs, workers can’t plan for a future, which might include owning a home, supporting elders or sending kids to college. I honestly believe Amazon will not be a good partner for Eugene.”

Danny Patch, another public commentator, was worried about the effect of increased vehicles from the warehouse on traffic.

Multiple other public commentators urged the council to collaborate with local housing developers to tap into funds for affordable housing granted by the state legislature through the Moderate Income Revolving Loan.

MIRL is a program that was established during the 2024 legislative session from Senate Bill 1537. The program enables the Oregon Housing and Community Services to offer no-interest loans to cities and jurisdictions that meet specific requirements to build low to moderate income housing.

“(OCHS has) $50 million for (MIRL), but in that case, the council needs to adopt a resolution to enable the program here locally,” Emily Reiman, CEO of Dev Northwest, a non-profit community development organization, said. “The city needs to adopt an application process for developers to apply for those funds.”

When public comment concluded, Councilors Clark and Groves expressed their interest in learning more about MIRL, asking for a later discussion with Medary.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 24.