City and residents discuss key issues in first public meeting since midterm elections

The Eugene City Council held its first public meeting since the historic midterm election on Nov. 9. Mayor Kaarin Knudson opened the meeting with reiterations of appreciation to voters and noted the 2026 midterm elections as one of the highest midterm voter turnouts in U.S. history. Councilors Matt Keating and Alan Zelenka congratulated Athena Aguiar and Jennifer Smith on their election to the council. When Aguiar and Smith begin their terms in January 2027, the Eugene City Council will, for the first time, be made up of a majority of women. Zelenka also said this year’s midterm election “couldn’t have not gotten better.” “I was so gratified that the American people repudiated Trump in his policies,” he said. The Eugene Clean Energy Fund was approved by voters on Nov. 3, which will fund renewable energy programming, clean energy jobs and environmentally friendly infrastructure through a 2% tax on businesses generating $1 billion in gross profits nationally and $500,000 locally.

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