Eugene Council Hearing on Removing Date Restriction for Low-Income Housing Tax Exemption

Eugene City Council placed an ordinance on its October 20, 2025 public hearing agenda that would amend Section 2.939 of the Eugene Code, 1971 to remove a construction or conversion date restriction preventing limited equity cooperatives from qualifying for the Low-Income Rental Housing Property Tax Exemption (LIRHPTE). Agenda Item 1, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. under “CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION,” included the issue statement: “This public hearing is for a proposed ordinance that would amend the Eugene Code to align with updated State statutes, removing the construction or conversion date restriction for limited equity cooperatives in Eugene to be eligible for the Low-Income Rental Housing Property Tax Exemption (LIRHPTE). See Attachment A for the draft ordinance.”

The October 20 packet references a draft ordinance labeled Attachment A and includes a background fragment noting, “Eugene’s LIRHPTE program provides a 20-year property tax [...]” but the full program description and Attachment A were not included in the excerpted materials. Staff contact for the item is Laura Hammond in Planning and Development, reachable at 541-682-5502. The agenda lists Mayor Kaarin Knudson presiding and the City Council roster for that meeting as Greg Evans, President; Lyndsie Leech, Vice President; Eliza Kashinsky; Matt Keating; Jennifer Yeh; Alan Zelenka; Mike Clark; and Randy Groves.

Action on the ordinance was listed as “tentatively scheduled” for October 27, 2025 on the same agenda. Separately, the City’s meetings calendar lists a City Council public hearing for February 17, 2026, but the February 17 calendar entry in the materials provided does not explicitly tie that date to the LIRHPTE ordinance. The original City notice excerpt included a written-testimony deadline of “Tuesday, February 17, 20” with the year truncated; the record therefore shows both the October 2025 hearing and a February 17 calendar entry, and the precise relationship between those items requires review of the full posted notice and agenda packets.

The City provided multiple options for public participation in the materials. Written testimony may be submitted by email to mayorcouncilandcitymanager@eugene-or.gov or mailed to the Eugene City Manager’s Office at 500 E 4th Avenue, Suite 302. Meetings were described as hybrid - held in person and via virtual meeting technology - and are broadcast on Metro Television, Channel 21 on Comcast and retransmitted during the week; for meeting services and accommodations the Council Coordinator can be reached at 541-682-5010. The agenda also preserves the Spanish-language accessibility notice: “Se puede proveer a un intérprete para las personas con discapacidad auditiva si avisa con 48 horas de anticipación. También se puede proveer interpretación para español si avisa con 48 horas de anticipación. Para reservar estos servicios llame al 541-682-5010.”

Key public records to review for final determination of the ordinance text and schedule are the full October 20, 2025 agenda packet (Attachment A and staff report), the October 27, 2025 action record, and the February 17, 2026 agenda packet. The October 20 agenda item number is 1; staff contact is Laura Hammond, 541-682-5502; and public-accommodation and broadcast contacts are available through the Council Coordinator at 541-682-5010.