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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/21/2014 RegularCity of Springfield Regular Meeting MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2014 The City of Springfield Council met in regular session in the Council Chambers, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at 7:00 p.m., with Mayor Lundberg presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Mayor Lundberg and Councilors Wylie, VanGordon, Moore, Ralston, Woodrow and Brew. Also present were City Manager Gino Grimaldi, Assistant City Manager Jeff Towery, City Attorney Mary Bridget Smith, City Recorder Amy Sowa and members of the staff. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Lundberg. SPRINGFIELD UPBEAT CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Claims 2. Minutes a. January 6, 2014 — Regular Meeting 3. Resolutions a. RESOLUTION NO. 2014 -03 — A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT CITY PROJECT P21015• 59TH AND ASTER DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS b. RESOLUTION NO. 2014 -04 —A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT CITY PROJECT P21077: RAINBOW CUL -DE -SAC REPAIR. 4. Ordinances 5. Other Routine Matters a. Approve the Purchase of Police Vehicles for Fiscal Year 2014. b. Approve the Amended Council Operating Policies and Procedures. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WYLIE WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WOODROW TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. ITEMS REMOVED PUBLIC HEARINGS - Please limit comments to 3 minutes. Request to speak cards are available at both entrances. Please present cards to City Recorder. Speakers may not yield their time to others. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 21, 2014 Page 2 1. Solid Waste Hauling. ORDINANCE NO 1 — AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL CODE "UTILITIES" "GARBAGE AND REFUSE" TO CLARIFY AREA OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE SOLID WASTE HAULER. AMENDING SECTION 4.404 "HAULING" AND ADOPTING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE Senior Management Analyst Rhonda Rice presented the staff report on this item. In 1969, Council adopted Municipal Code 4.404 which created an exclusive franchise for solid waste hauling within the city limits. An exclusive franchise was and is seen as a benefit to the citizens and the city as a whole. Sanipac was chosen as the solid waste hauler and a franchise agreement was put in place. In 1969, to create an easy transition to a solid waste exclusive franchise the Code allowed existing competing haulers to continue operations, allowing them to compete until Sanipac won over the customers. At that time the city had a history of large scale annexations, until approximately 1985. Since that time the typical annexation had been much smaller, a single property or just a few infill properties, or of undeveloped property. For some time, Sanipac had routinely approached owners of occupied properties as they annexed and added them as customers. This practice had continued without objection either from the City or from affected property owners. Given the lack of dissatisfaction with the current practice, and the Council's policy with respect to annexation, it seemed prudent to continue the practice and conform the Municipal Code to that practice. Proceeding in the fashion contemplated by the Code provisions would probably lead to greater confusion and would benefit neither the citizen nor the efficient provision of service. This subject was reviewed'at a work session on January 13, 2014 and Council directed staff to present the ordinance for a public hearing and first reading. Mayor Lundberg opened the public hearing. No one appeared to speak Mayor Lundberg closed the public hearing. NO ACTION REQUESTED. FIRST READING ONLY. BUSINESS FROM THE AUDIENCE COUNCIL RESPONSE CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS 1. Correspondence from Bruce Berg, Regarding Zoning in the Washbume District. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WYLIE WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WOODROW TO ACCEPT THE CORRESPONDENCE FOR FILING. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. BIDS ORDINANCES City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 21, 2014 Page 3 BUSINESS FROM TIIE CITY COUNCIL Mayor Lundberg made the following statement regarding Councilor Ralston on behalf of the Council: "On behalf of myself and members of the Springfield City Council, after careful consideration on our own part and in response to public concern and questions, I want to make the following statement about the behavior and actions of Councilor Dave Ralston. Since the initial arrest of Councilor Ralston on February 10, 2013 for DUII we have had to deal with the repercussions of the arrest and comments that he made. We have each been approached by members of the community who have made it clear they disapprove of Councilor Ralston's behavior As Mayor and Councilors we are held to the highest standard of conduct and are expected by the public and ourselves to be role models for the community. This is an expectation we take seriously and consider it reasonable as we have sworn to uphold the trust of the people we serve. Since Councilor Ralston's initial arrest there have been other problems that have occurred and at this point we have chosen to use the tool we have at our disposal to censure Councilor Ralston for what we consider inappropriate behavior that has given the broader community a negative impression of the City Council and Springfield as a whole. We understand that there are court proceedings that are still pending that may in fact clear Councilor Ralston of some of the charges. We recognize that some of the information that the media has reported may be inaccurate. If either is the case, the Council and I will take responsibility for our actions and offer an apology as needed. Still, if only considering Councilor Ralston's attempt to use his position to speak to the police chief the night of his arrest, we feel justified in imposing a censure for his actions. It is with this in mind that I request a motion to censure Councilor Dave Ralston." IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WOODROW WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR BREW TO CENSURE COUNCILOR DAVE RALSTON FOR THE REASONS SET OUT BY THE MAYOR. Councilor Ralston asked what it meant to be censured. City Attorney Mary Bridget Smith said the censure process was provided for in Roberts Rules of Order. It was a public acknowledgement of position on behavior, but didn't have an impact on his ability to continue to serve on the Council. Councilor Ralston abstained from the vote. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 FOR AND 0 AGAINST (1 ABSTENTION). Councilor Wylie said she believed Councilor Ralston was a good man and had spent thousands of hours serving the City of Springfield and he was her friend. With that being said, they could not allow our constituents to believe the Council thought they were above the law; therefore, they were taking this action of censure. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 21, 2014 Page 4 Ms. Smith said Councilor Ralston could make a statement if he chose. She also noted that the reference to Roberts Rules of Order was noted because the Council Operating Procedures defaulted to Roberts Rules of Order. Councilor Ralston said some of the things would be sorted out in time. He understood the action the Council had taken, but it was regrettable. He felt staying under the radar was the best policy. BUSINESS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 1. Property Line Adjustment at the South 18`h Street City of Springfield Operations Complex. City Surveyor Chris Moorhead presented the staff report on this item. At the South 18th Street complex, there were several City of Springfield and Springfield Utility Board (SUB) facilities. All of these facilities occupied 2 existing parcels of land, a SUB owned parcel and a City owned parcel. These 2 parcels were also known as Tax Lots 500 (City) and 600 (SUB), of Lane County Assessor's Map 17- 03- 36 -00. As the parcels boundaries exist today, SUB's facilities occupy a portion of the City parcel. This situation's existence was historic in nature. According to SUB records, a Municipal Power Switching Station had existed on the parcel since 1952. A record found in the City Surveyor's archive showed Municipal Power and City Street Department using the parcel at least as long ago as 1960, as demonstrated on a sketch map of the Springfield Industrial Tract dated Feb. 1960. At present, both the City and SUB desired to correct the ownership of the real property as occupied by each separate agency. City staff had been working with SUB staff to determine the most equitable process to this end. Therefore, it was proposed that a Property Line Adjustment survey was performed which would change the boundaries between the City owned parcel, Tax Lot 500, and the SUB owned parcel, Tax Lot 600. More detail on this process was included within the attached Council Briefing Memorandum. There were no significant financial impacts associated with Option 3 (as described in Attachment 1 of the agenda packet) which was recommended by staff, apart from the indirect impacts predicated by (1) the transfer of land from the City to SUB, (2) the changing of maintenance responsibilities for a roadway, and (3) the staff time required to perform the Property Line Adjustment Survey and preparation of associated documentation. The performance of the proposed Property Line Adjustment would result in a transfer of 71,382 square feet (1.6 acres) of City property to SUB. The roadway surface of South 18`h Street, which was a vacated street, was currently being fully maintained by the City. After performance of the action proposed herein, the new boundary between City and SUB parcels would split the roadway evenly, and the maintenance responsibilities and cost would be split evenly Mr. Moorhead referred to Attachments 3 and 4 of the agenda packet which was a map of the area and pointed out the properties in question. He noted some of the complications with the proposal. A new agreement would be drafted stating that the City and SUB would split maintenance of South 18 °i Street, which was normal language for an easement and maintenance agreement. There were some stormwater and sanitary sewer lines that went past the SUB shop. A new easement would be created for those utilities. Councilor Ralston asked if Attachment 4 was their Option 3. Yes. Councilor Brew said this made a lot of sense. He asked about a small parcel to the southeast. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 21, 2014 Page 5 Mr. Moorhead said it appeared there was a railroad spur that served one of the lots at one time. At some point in time, that was vacated. The City had sold and re- acquired the parcel that housed City Operations. He did note that Option 2 was to contract locally with a private surveyor to do the work for the property line adjustment which would have a cost associated. In Option 3, he and his staff would do the property line adjustment. He could fit this work into his staffs schedule and it would be a cost savings. Councilor Moore asked if SUB was in favor of this occurring. Yes. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WYLIE WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WOODROW TO AUTHORIZE CITY STAFF TO COMPLETE AN OWNERSHIP TRANSFER OF 1.6 ACRES OF LAND, DEEDED FROM THE "CITY OF SPRINGFIELD ", TO THE SPRINGFIELD UTILITY BOARD, AS THE SPRINGFIELD UTILITY BOARD IS CURRENTLY OCCUPYING THE PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH OPTION 3. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WYLIE WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WOODROW TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN THE PLA DEEDS, AGREEMENTS, AND EASEMENTS AS NECESSITATED BY THIS ADJUSTMENT. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. 2. Contract Extension for Pre - Scheduled and Inter - Facility Non - Emergent Basic Life Support Ambulance Transports in ASA #5 with Rural Metro of Oregon, Inc. Fire Operations Analyst Jana Sorenson presented the staff report on this item. Springfield Fire & Life Safety (SFLS) selected Rural Metro of Oregon, Inc. through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process in 2011 to provide ongoing services for non - emergency, basic life support ground ambulance transports within ASA 95. The original contract, signed June 21, 2011 was for one year, with two (2), one year extensions possible. The first and second extensions had been executed. The second extension expired on January 31, 2014. Rural Metro of Oregon, Inc. (RMA) provided pre - scheduled and inter - facility non - emergent basic life support ambulance transport services within the Ambulance Service Area assigned to Springfield (ASA 95) as part of a tiered response plan. The City of Eugene Fire & EMS also contracted with Rural Metro for similar services. City of Eugene's contract with RMA would expire January 31, 2015. An additional one year contract extension on Springfield's RMA contract was requested to allow sufficient time for a joint RFP process to be developed and executed, as well as to align Springfield's contract with Eugene's. SFLS would continue to provide emergency ambulances responses at the advanced life support (ALS) level, while providing appropriate resources to handle certain calls requiring a lower level of care. This tiered response system provided the best use of limited resources, and ensured quality emergency medical care throughout the community. The proposed contract extension would run through January 31, 2015, with no additional extensions possible under the current contract. Councilor Woodrow said this made a lot of sense in order to make sure everyone is working off the same set of parameters. She was supportive. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 21, 2014 Page 6 Councilor Brew agreed and was glad they would be going out for an RFP jointly. He asked how the contract would be set up. Ms. Sorenson said there would likely be one contract with cooperative language between the cities. That had been done in the past with other agreements. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WYLIE WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WOODROW TO AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN A CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH RURAL METRO OF OREGON, INC. FOR PRE - SCHEDULED AND INTER - FACILITY NON - EMERGENT BASIC LIFE SUPPORT AMBULANCE TRANSPORTS IN ASA #5. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. 3. Other Business Mr. Grimaldi reminded the Mayor and Council of the TEAM Springfield meeting scheduled for Saturday, January 25, 2014. They would start with a tour of the Electricity Exhibit at the Springfield Museum at 8:00am, followed by breakfast at 8:30am and the meeting at 9:00am. They should be done by Noon. BUSINESS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned 7:23 p.m. Minutes Recorder Amy Sowa Christine L. Lundberg Mayor Attest: City Reco' er