Eugene weekly., January 05, 2017, Page 11, Image 11

NEWS
B Y A L E X V. C I P O L L E
GEORGE BROWN:
THE NERD THE
CITY NEEDED
never defined standards for workforce housing, essentially
allowing developers to charge market-rate prices for rent
while still reaping the tax-exempt status.
He says the city did not learn its lesson with Capstone,
pointing to Hub on Campus student housing on Broadway
as an example of how the new MUPTE has failed: Hub
is charging $200 more per bed than it showed in its pro
forma, Brown says.
Next up on his shit list is City Hall. “It won’t be built
in my lifetime,” he says. “Where are they going to get the
money?”
utgoing
Eugene
City
While Brown doesn’t want to
Councilor George Brown
harp on the decision to tear down
is not a politician; he’s a
the old City Hall — spilled milk,
city government nerd, a
he says — he’s still grappling with
bespectacled wonk. Not in
the way City Manager Jon Ruiz, the
the wide-eyed, soaked-in-sunny-
council majority and city staff are
positivity vein of Leslie Knope (of
handling the process.
Parks and Recreation fame), but in
The city manager’s response
a gruff, pragmatic, detail-oriented
to why he waited a year to inform
fashion.
the City Council of the millions of
After eight years on the council,
dollars in added costs for Rowell
the Wichita native (he’s lived in
Brokaw’s City Hall design — “No
Eugene since 1970) has a basement-
particular reason” — is still ringing
full of papers in his home from
in Brown’s ears.
completed, bygone or stalled city
“I almost fell out of my chair,”
projects. There’s a waist-high tower
Brown recalls. “I can’t think of
of documents pertaining to Civic
any good reason why the city
Stadium alone, which he describes
manager would sign contracts with
as “nostalgic” after the historic venue
the architects so out of line with
burned down.
standard practice.” He adds, “It’s an
Brown’s keeping it all on hand for
extra $2.5 million to the architects.
his Ward 1 successor, Emily Semple.
That’s some serious money in this
On a road trip to Arizona with
town.”
his wife, the couple stopped several
‘A LOT OF PEOPLE MAYBE THINK THAT
Which brings us to his thoughts
times in California to see how other
cities were addressing the same issues
on how city government runs.
that Eugene struggles with, like
The purpose of City Council is
THE CITY COUNCIL IS A BODY OF
homelessness and affordable housing.
to develop policy, and then the city
“We’re such nerds sometimes,”
manager is supposed to carry out the
Brown says.
will of the council with city staff.
WISE BEINGS WHO MEET AMICABLY
And if you’ve ever attended a
“Well, usually the impetus comes
City Council work session (a highly
from the other direction; it comes
recommended jaunt, as it does, in fact,
from the [city] manager’s office
TO SOLVE THE CIT Y’S PROBLEMS.
have a lot in common with Parks and
and all the other departments and
Recreation), it’s obvious that not all
then council is expected to approve
council members do their homework
whatever has been proposed,”
U N F O RT U N AT E LY, I T ’ S O F T E N T I M E S
like Brown, who is always carting a
he says. “Usually things are just
hefty armful of binders and rumpled
supported uncritically [by the City
papers and a list of prepared questions
Council.]”
N OT T H AT WAY.’
and topics to discuss.
Brown
suggests
making
But he’s a busy guy, and thus it’s
City Council seats fulltime paid
time to move on from city government,
positions so that elected officials
at least for now, and spend more time
can devote the time needed to
with his family and their three cats
fully craft good policy with a
Dottie, Pippi and Blaze. “Our boy is
public benefit, and not just rubber
13,” he says of his son. “He’s only
stamp what the city manager, an
going to be 13 once in his whole life.”
unelected administrator, and his
Brown and his wife also own
staff recommend.
and operate the The Kiva grocery
He has some advice for how
downtown, which opened in the ’70s,
the public can hold city officials
PHOTO BY TODD COOPER
where he says business is growing.
accountable: Pay attention, study up,
Yet, even at the end of his run in
attend council and budget meetings.
Later, Brown reflects upon a longer list of city
office, Brown is in no mood to wax poetic about any of it.
“Ally with other committed people and be persistent. Keep
accomplishments including “having the best and most
“I don’t really have any deep words of wisdom,” he
bugging us!” he says. “And when elections roll around
inclusive urban animal-keeping ordinance in the country,”
says, followed by a big gravelly laugh. He’s even self-
every two years, support the candidate who truly has the
the end of using “pollinator-killing neonicitinoids” on city
deprecating when talking about why he decided to run for
public interest in mind. Above all, never give up!”
property and the creation of Opportunity Village.
office.
Brown doesn’t have the mindset of someone leaving
But Brown is much more keen to tell you about what’s
“This will probably sound very naive, but I wanted to be
public office; he’s currently reading William H. Whyte’s
still stuck in his craw. Namely, MUPTE (Multi-Unit
part of a problem-solving team,” he says, laughing again.
City: Rediscovering the Center, a study of human behavior
Property Tax Exemption), City Hall and making City
“A lot of people maybe think that the City Council is a
in urban and public spaces, and he still knows what City
Council seats fulltime paid positions.
body of wise beings who meet amicably to solve the city’s
Council work sessions are coming up.
After Brown made a motion to the council to suspend
problems. Unfortunately, it’s oftentimes not that way.”
And, of course, he says he will be there to support
MUPTE — as to prevent another Capstone fiasco —
Unlike most polished politicians, getting Brown to
Semple on council in any way she needs.
Brown and fellow Councilor Mike Clark worked on its
discuss his accomplishments in office is like pulling teeth.
“I’ll still be involved with city stuff, it just won’t be
revisions. Even so, Brown calls the new MUPTE “horribly
He jumps immediately to projects that failed, that need
at the intensity level of being on the council,” Brown
mangled.” The main flaw, he says, is that City Council
revising.
says. ■
O
After some prodding, he concedes that saving Civic
Stadium from becoming a Fred Meyer (or the widely
despised, tax-exempt Capstone student housing monolith
— yes, Brown says Capstone originally wanted to build on
that lot) is a triumph.
“I was able to help guide that through council,” he says.
“There were many incidences where it was hanging by a
thread.” Brown continues: “It’s owned by Eugene Civic
Alliance. That was the success, because it will be public
recreation space.”
eugeneweekly.com • January 5, 2017
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