Council hopefuls debate issues.

Byline: Edward Russo The Register-Guard

Like boxers trying to land a punch, the candidates for Eugene City Council on Friday sparred in a debate that touched on the environment, roads and growth.

The debate before the City Club of Eugene in the Downtown Athletic Club featured Ward 3 candidates Jana Jackson, Alan Zelenka and Bruce Mulligan, and Ward 6 candidates Jennifer Solomon and Rich Cunningham.

Council seats in four wards are up for election in the May 16 primary, but the only contested races are in the two wards. Ward 3 includes the University of Oregon and surrounding neighborhoods. Ward 6 is in northwest Eugene, in the Bethel-Danebo areas.

With ballots mailed to voters on Friday, the debate was the last scheduled forum for all council candidates before the election.

Solomon, seeking re-election to the council, and Cunningham, who ran against her four years ago, clashed on affordable housing, development and the West Eugene Parkway.

Cunningham, a former insurance broker, said Solomon has supported "massive overdevelopment" in the ward, particularly west of Belt Line Road.

Most of the homes are in the $190,000 to $300,000 range, Cunningham said, making them unaffordable for first time homebuyers. The trend threatens the ability of young people to stay in Eugene, he said.

To that, Solomon said, "First of all, I don't believe there is massive overdevelopment in Ward 6."

New subdivisions are being built within the city's urban growth boundary, where growth is supposed to go, she said.

Solomon said the City Council can't do anything about home prices. However, she said, the city is a partner in creating affordable housing, including a proposed complex in the ward, on Danebo Avenue.

Solomon asked Cunningham how he could oppose the West Eugene Parkway, given that ward voters twice approved it.

Cunningham, adding that he wasn't sure about the figures, said the price of the proposed roadway has more than doubled, and that "there are very major environmental questions on it."

The Ward 3 candidates tried to differentiate themselves on environmental issues and how to pay for road repairs, among other things.

Zelenka, a manager at Emerald People's Utility District, said Ward 3 residents around the University of Oregon care deeply about the environment.

If elected, he said, he would push for an office of sustainability and a citizens sustainability commission to promote environmentally friendly initiatives.

Zelenka, a former city budget committee and county Human Services Commission member, touted his endorsements by such environmental groups as the Oregon League of Conservation Voters and the Oregon Natural Resources Council.

He asked his two rivals, "What is it about your positions that wasn't so appealing to the mainstream environmental community?"

Jackson, a dry cleaners employee, said she didn't respond to questions from the two groups, mainly because the environment is "not my focus."

Protecting property rights, supporting the police department and making sure the city adequately maintains streets and other basic services are her priorities, she said.

Mulligan, a self-employed business consultant, said the city should use "precautionary principles," similar to San Francisco and other cities, to evaluate whether decisions harm the environment.

Mulligan said he has long been urging the city to buy 120 acres of forestland between Moon Mountain and 30th Avenue so it can be used to extend the Ridgeline trail system.

Mulligan, who also served on the budget and human services committees, said a lack of affordable student housing has led to more single-family homes around the UO, especially in the Fairmount neighborhood, being converted to student rentals.

Area residents, students, and city and UO officials need to work together to "solve the housing crunch around the university," he said.

In response to a question from Mike Clark, the lone council candidate for the Ward 5 seat, Mulligan said he supports a proposed assessment on homes and businesses to reduce the city's $103 million backlog of major street repairs.

"A liveable city requires three things: efficient transportation, good public safety and community engagement about what we want the city to look like."

Zelenka said the city needs a "collaborative approach" to solve the road funding problem, but if the assessment was imposed, there should be exemptions "for people who ride bikes and don't drive a lot."

Ward 3 residents Jocelyn McAuley and Steve Lewis attended the debate. Afterward, McAuley said she was leaning toward voting for Mulligan, but Lewis said he remained undecided.

Lewis said he is impressed with Mulligan's and Zelenka's civic experience. "They both have insights that I appreciate," he said.

Lewis said he likes Zelenka's emphasis on promoting sustainability in city government, "but I don't know what that means yet and how that transforms into action."