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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/23/2014 Work SessionCity of Springfield Work Session Meeting MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY JUNE 23, 2014 The City of Springfield Council met in a work session in the Jesse Maine Meeting Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday June 23, 2014 at 5:30 p.m., with Mayor Lundberg presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Mayor Lundberg and Councilors Wylie, 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. Councilor VanGordon was absent (excused). 1. Planning Commission Interview Planning Manager Greg Mott presented the staff report on this item. Three applicants are participating in the review process to fill one vacant position. The Springfield Planning Commission is a seven member volunteer Commission appointed by the City Council. The members serve four-year terms that are staggered to avoid more than two positions expiring at the same time. Of the seven members, two appointments may live outside the City limits and two appointments may be involved in the Real estate profession. At present Commissioner Moe lives in the urban transition area and Commissioner Nelson is in Real Estate. Positions are "at -large", and do not represent specific geographic areas. The Council introduced themselves to each applicant. The Council interviewed the following applicants: Mr. Raul de la O, who resides in the city limits at 5273 "D" Street, Springfield; and is a Counselor with Emergence. Mr. Joe Pishioneri, who resides in the city limits at 961 S. 70'h Street, Springfield; and is a Deputy Sheriff with Lane County. Mr. David (Dave) Brow, who resides in the urban transition area at 1602 Linden Ave., Springfield; and is a Real Estate Agent and Owner of Palermo Real Estate. 1. Why are you interesting in serving on the Planning Commission? (Mayor Lundberg) 2. The City is in the midst of evaluating several areas for possible inclusion in the City's Urban Growth Boundary. What's your opinion about how and where the City should grow? Do you think expansion is the answer, or do you prefer infill and redevelopment? (Councilor Woodrow) City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes June 23, 2014 Page 2 3. What's your opinion or perception about the City's reputation for reviewing and approving development proposals? Based on this opinion, do you believe the City should make changes to its approach to development review? (Councilor Wylie) 4. The Planning Commission generally meets two evenings each month and additional evening meetings are sometimes necessary. There are also materials to be reviewed in advance of these meetings that may take a couple of hours to read. Given your work and/or family obligations, will you be able to commit to these new demands on your time as a Springfield Planning Commissioner? (Councilor Wylie). 5. What is your general understanding of the relationship between the Planning Commission and City Staff, and the Planning Commission and the City Council? (Councilor Ralston) 6. What do you think is the proper role for the Planning Commission regarding the revitalization of downtown? (Councilor Moore) 7. How familiar are you with planning laws and policies that apply to Springfield's land use decision making process? If your experience is limited, what would you do to enable yourself to more fully participate as a Planning Commissioner? (Councilor Brew) The Council asked follow-up questions of some of the applicants. Mayor Lundberg said since Councilor VanGordon is out, she would like to make sure he is provided with a recording of the interviews so he can weigh in before they make a decision. Council appointment for this position is scheduled for the Council Regular Meeting, Monday July 7, 2014. Mayor Lundberg told each applicant they appreciated their time in applying and that a decision would be made in a couple of weeks. 2. Downtown District Design Standards Phase 1: Concepts for a Downtown Building Fagade and Property Maintenance Code Principal Planner Linda Pauly presented the staff report on this item. This is the first phase of a public planning process that will produce a set of coherent and consistent design standards to improve downtown's overall image, attractiveness and economic vitality. Council has directed staff to prepare Downtown District Design Standards to ensure that development projects, new uses and new public improvements will make positive contributions to improve the look, feel and functionality of downtown. At the May 12, 2014 work session, Council provided input on a list of potential Downtown Design elements to be considered in this project. Staff proposes to address Building Fagade and Property Maintenance Standards as the initial step in the regulatory update because improvements to the physical condition of existing downtown buildings and property: • can be accomplished in the short term; • can immediately influence sense of safety, comfort, walking behavior and level of downtown user/visitor/shopper interest (e.g. natural surveillance, crime prevention through design); • address other fundamental community health, safety and welfare issues (e.g. cleanliness, weed control, potential hazards); and City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes June 23, 2014 Page 3 • are separate from matters of style, architectural design and purely aesthetic concerns; • will encourage utilization of the existing Fagade Improvement Program dedicated funds. Future project phases will be developed and presented to the Council for review and adoption later this year. For example, the City has applied for Code Assistance from the State's TGM program to prepare a Downtown Streetscape plan and form -based design standards that will be applicable to new development and to improvements located in and adjacent to the public right-of-way. The project team will work with a consultant team, the Downtown Citizen Advisory Committee and the Technical Advisory group to propose a set of coherent and consistent design standards to improve downtown's image, attractiveness and economic vitality. These actions support the outcomes envisioned in the Council's adopted Downtown Urban Design Plan and Implementation Strategy. Ms. Pauly presented a power point on this topic. Some of the things to consider are incentive programs or other ways to assist owners with upgrades. She noted visibility into the businesses as an important visual to make people feel comfortable. Many businesses had blocked and covered their windows. Councilor Ralston said in most cases broken windows need to be fixed. The block style windows are difficult to come by and replace. Ms. Pauly reviewed some photos of the private murals on buildings and how they could enforce maintenance of those murals. Other concerns are visibility of sanitation bins, broken sidewalks, weeds and vegetation maintenance, fences and walls. Councilor Moore asked if there could be code language regarding appropriateness. Ms. Pauly said they could only address the condition of the building. Councilor Woodrow said she thought this was a good first phase. She felt the health and safety items should be first such as weeds and other obvious safety hazards. Addressing those issues starts the conversation with other businesses to try to get them on board to help with appearance standards. The ideal may not be reachable, but there are things that can be done. Giving the information about style and what the City wants things to look like in the future, gives businesses something to strive for in the future to meet those goals. Councilor Wylie asked if the Fagade Improvement was the grant program and if so thinks it is a good thing. She would like to evaluate how much it would cost to fix some of these things and in how much time. Some things can be taken care of easily. She would appreciate some encouragement to the businesses, rather than imposing strict requirements. She would like the businesses to work with the City to dress up the downtown. Getting the proper tone and support is important. Councilor Brew said health and safety are first and foremost. Simple things like weed control and glass repair are important and could be next. Before they start approaching businesses downtown, they need to make sure City Hall is taking care of the same things. He suggested that Ms. Pauly and/or Mr. Laudati talk to the University of Oregon and ask them to have their students do a design project for individual businesses within a set budget. Those designs can then be handed over to the business owner. Councilor Ralston said he, too, would rather encourage than set requirements. It would be nice to have better appearance and safety, but didn't want to be too prescriptive. Simple language could be City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes June 23, 2014 Page 4 written out describing what the City was trying to accomplish in regards to appearance and safety to encourage businesses. Health and safety concerns could be handled individually. He agreed City Hall needs to meet the same standards. Councilor Moore asked if there are a number of out of town property owners. Her concern is that the owner of the property may not live here and may not care as much about the appearance. It is important to have standards because it benefits everyone. Some of the issues are not expensive to correct, but are not the responsibility of the business owner but rather the property owner. She would like to address the absent landlord issue. She appreciated that the parking lot at the Carter Building had been repaved and thought it looked great. Mayor Lundberg said often people aren't purposefully neglecting their property, but are busy trying to run the business and pay the bills to keep the business going. She agrees we need to take care of City Hall. The Graffiti Abatement and Main Street Program could help. The Main Street Program is in charge of the Fagade Program with the funds going through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. She would like to look at setting aside CDBG funds for downtown to help address some of these issues, such as paint (from a set pallet of colors), or repairs. Then business owners would have a way to get some of these things done. Some of the things to look at are pressure washing, weed abatement, painting, and removal of awnings in disrepair. Business owners want their business to look nice to attract more customers. Regarding murals, she would like to consider having something in place that all murals must first go through the Arts Commission or other committee for review with certain parameters. We do have murals which bring people downtown. She also thought the Carter Building parking lot looks good. Councilor Woodrow agreed with giving the Arts Commission the charge of reviewing murals would be great. Councilor Wylie said being congruent with other murals downtown is important. Councilor Moore said they should acknowledge those that had done great things with something like a Mayor's award. Mayor Lundberg said she agreed they needed standards, but they also needed a way to encourage people especially if they are overworked. We don't want something so prescriptive that businesses leave Springfield. Ms. Pauly said she would bring back language for this after the summer recess. Councilor Moore said garbage is an issue if not taken care of properly. Councilor Ralston said fences that are see-through don't help if things behind them are unattractive. They may need to look at either having a fence they can't see through, or determine what is allowed behind the fence. Councilor Woodrow said they need to keep in mind that garbage has to be accessible so she didn't want to belabor that issue. City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes June 23, 2014 Page 5 3. Discover Downtown/Main Street Program Update Senior Management Analyst Courtney Griesel presented the staff report on this item. She introduced Jim McHugh, Main Street Program coordinator with NEDCO. The City looks to enter into the FYI contract with the Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO) for the administration of the Discover Downtown Springfield Program (originally Main Street Program). In total, through the use of Downtown Urban Renewal funds, the City provides NEDCO with an amount not to exceed $30,000, approximately 35% of the programs overall operating budget. The City reviews how NEDCO is meeting with their committees, the Art Walk and community events they are coordinating. Provided here are brief highlights of a couple key accomplishments which will significantly impact the program in the next year. A New Main Street Manager - The Discover Downtown Springfield Program embarked on a significant structural shift during FY 14. Previously, the Program was staffed by a NEDCO employee who split time between Program duties and other duties relevant to NEDCO's mission. NEDCO determined, beginning in FYI 4, the Program would require a full-time Manager in order to continue the revitalization momentum in downtown. This decision resulted in the effort to find and hire a dedicated Manager. The process was lengthy and sensitive as both NEDCO and City staff felt it pertinent to hire the right person with the right experience, background, set of skills, and personality. This process took longer than anticipated but resulted in the position being filled in April 2014 by Jim McHugh who brought with him over 25 years of experience in both downtown revitalization and the Main Street Four Point Approach. Roll Out of the Facade Improvement Program — The Program initiated and completed the first Downtown Springfield fagade improvements through the CDBG funded Fagade Improvement Program. A total of three downtown businesses benefited from the funds and design guidance provided through the Program generating an overall investment of nearly $15,648 to downtown private properties; • Trash -N -Treasures: $2,500 facade program grant/$9,500 property owner • Springfield Museum: $325 fagade program grant/$325 property owner • Berthel Fisher Company: $1,499 fagade program grant/$1,499 property owner This is an ongoing program with further investments anticipated for FYI 5. FY15 Goals The City desires continued partnership and support of the Program as it launches the Downtown website tool for promoting the many amenities and opportunities in downtown. Businesses will have the opportunity to engage with one another at `Business -2 -Business Roundtables,' discussing opportunities for joint advertising, promotional events, and resource sharing. This upcoming year is about building relationships and moving ideas from concept to action, with an ultimate goal of launching the Program as its own independent, organization in the next two years. Mr. McHugh said he has spent a lot of time building relationships with the businesses downtown. NEDCO had done a great job, but now he can bring a single face and a single point of contact for the businesses and the City. He has been working with Planning Supervisor Linda Pauly and her staff on City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes June 23, 2014 Page 6 the design guidelines through the program's Design Committee. He noted some of the businesses that had received grants for fagade improvements. He is talking with businesses about resources and finds the businesses want a successful, clean and productive downtown. He discussed the traveling lamp post and how it was used to light up businesses and their neighbors. It showed the businesses what can be done. They would encourage more businesses to do that as the new lighting program gets underway downtown. One of the programs they had introduced was the Business -2 -Business Roundtable. That came from businesses to do co-op advertising and a business directory. They are invested in what programing takes place such as events, but also want to create their own distinctive element as a destination and want to promote it through a video similar to "Five Great Things to do in Springfield". Social media is another avenue they are considering. The program needs to develop its own revenue stream which will take some time to develop. They are excited about the Fagade Program and want to see businesses that really showcase the improvements they make. One of the most attractive things about this is the relationship between NEDCO, the City and the businesses. They are working with the arts and cultural groups with the 2nd Friday Art Walk, taking advantage of the murals and building a printed guide or mobile app for a tour of the murals. They are also working with the University of Oregon and others with the Duck Downtown Program, and looking into the Park -n -Play package for people to have a meal downtown, and then get a free ride to the Stadium. They are looking at the other cultural opportunities. Springfield is very diverse for its size. They want to retain businesses currently in place, so they provide programs such as the HATCH program. There has been great participation with the Board and volunteers. Councilor Woodrow asked if NEDCO was working with the Lane Arts Council or Emerald Art Center regarding the murals. The Emerald Art Center has a mural tour and pamphlet so it makes sense to make full use of the Emerald Art Center. Mr. McHugh said they are working with both. He said they are looking at a variety of options. Mayor Lundberg said she is very excited to see this moving forward and about the Fagade Program and roundtable. She will be very excited to see ads about downtown Springfield like they have in Albany and Corvallis. She will talk to staff about getting the Carter Building Plaza area cleaned up so it can be used. She suggested holding the National Night Out downtown near the Justice Center next year. The City is encouraging businesses go leave their lights on inside their building at night and the Emerald Arts Center received CDBG funds for lighting in their windows. She asked how often the Council would receive reports on the Discover Downtown Springfield Program. Ms. Griesel said she would like to provide reports quarterly, with a final recap annually. Councilor Moore said she is excited about Mr. McHugh and the job he is doing. There are so many things happening with SPROUT, the Museum and other things downtown, and it continues to grow. Mayor Lundberg asked for a copy of the contract. Ms. Griesel said Council had the scope of work. The rest of the contract is boiler plate contract. Mayor Lundberg said she has high expectations and is very excited about the program. Mr. McHugh said anytime they have functions or program scheduled, they would share that information with the Council and invite them to participate. City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes June 23, 2014 Page 7 Councilor Moore said the Friday Artwalk posters were great. Mr. McHugh said those are produced by Sara at NEDCO. Mayor Lundberg asked NEDCO to send those posters to the Council in their email to remind them of the events. 4. Graffiti Abatement Community Event in Partnership with Neighborhood Watch Senior Management Analyst Courtney Griesel and Maintenance Manager Brian Conlon presented the staff report on this item. The reduction and elimination of graffiti blight in Springfield continues to be a priority of City Staff. Staff is excited for the opportunity to partner with the Springfield Area Neighborhood Watch Organization to embark on a community -wide graffiti abatement project, tentatively scheduled for the August 5th week of National Night Out. Staff proposes this event in response to the Mayor and Council's identified desire for a 2nd Community Clean -Up Event. Staff continues to work with volunteer groups to combat the ever persistent blight of graffiti. While these efforts have made a positive impact on the number of large tagging sites around the community, the future of abatement efforts might begin to focus on community partnerships, empowering property owners to take pride in the abatement of the graffiti on and around their own property. At the request of the Springfield Neighborhood Watch Organization, the City is beginning the process of planning a multi -faceted Community Graffiti Abatement Project. This project would incorporate the clean-up of private property and right-of-way and easements into one large community abatement event during the August National Night Out week. Private Property Abatement — The Springfield Neighborhood Watch Organization manager has volunteered to organize Neighborhood Watch Coordinators around creating graffiti abatement events throughout the City based on Watch neighborhood boundaries. The City would work to provide citizens and coordinators with an overview of why graffiti is problematic and best practices of abatement. The City would also fund the initial purchase of abatement supplies, including paint to be managed by each Coordinator during the event. City Right-of-Way/Easement Abatement — City staff and interested volunteers would abate the graffiti along the EWEB Bike Path (Attachment 1). The clean-up of this site would require communication and partnership with surrounding property owners. This portion of the abatement event would be managed by City staff. The National Night Out movement aims to bring neighbors together for crime prevention. This goal aligns with a coordinated effort to bring property owners and neighbors out of their homes, into their community, to improve the spaces they live in and around. For this reason, the proposed event would be coordinated with the August National Night Out event. In total, staff proposes a budget not to exceed $7,000 in total supplies. This budget would include a mix of Transient Room Tax and other DPW funds. Supplies would include paint and supplies for Watch Coordinators and volunteers as well as City Staff and volunteers focused on the clean-up along the EWEB Bike Path. Ms. Griesel noted the great work done by Operations and Police volunteers in assisting with graffiti abatement. The City partnered with Willamalane Parks and Recreation District as well. This has been a joint effort, at a minimal cost, and has made a difference. They have reached a point where the City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes June 23, 2014 Page 8 program could benefit from a shift from public property to private property. Staff has been talking with private property owners about the benefit of them taking over the responsibility of maintaining their fence lines, including the back of their fence. Ms. Griesel said staff had been approached by Pam Freeman to coordinate volunteers from the Neighborhood Watch Program in partnership with the National Night Out to get into the neighborhoods to start a Graffiti Abatement Event. This is one way to capitalize on the Mayor's initiative to do more about graffiti. The concept is to have an event that coordinates with National Night Out in August. During this event, there will be a private sector side with block captains who received paint and supplies and coordinate graffiti abatement within their block. At the same time, City staff and community volunteers will abate the graffiti on the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) bike path fence line which stretches for a long distance. The Neighborhood Watch coordinated event will include City purchased paint that will be given to the NW Captain, along with information about why we abate graffiti and the best way to go about it. It is an opportunity to get people out of their homes, working together in their neighborhood, and gives the City an opportunity to have a public event with volunteers. Mr. Conlon said having more eyes on abatement of graffiti is better and having people from the private sector involved with identification and cleanup will help immensely. Ms. Griesel was instrumental in working with agencies with marketing and database to get information out to people. Ms. Griesel said Ms. Freeman's meeting with the Mayor helped staff find a way to get into and involve the neighborhoods. Mr. Conlon said this was on point with Council direction. Councilor Woodrow said it gives another opportunity to add to the Neighborhood Watch program and adds cohesiveness and responsibility to the neighborhoods. It provides more opportunities for relationships and shared awareness. This is a step in giving people a sense of pride and responsibility beyond watching to see who is in the neighborhood. Councilor Moore asked where the Neighborhood Watch neighborhoods are located. Ms. Freeman said she has just updated all of the ward maps. Councilor Moore said that was great. Ms. Griesel said they can bring those maps to the Council. Mayor Lundberg said one of the areas for substance abuse prevention was feeling part of and caring about a neighborhood. A well taken care of neighborhood contributes to the safety and security of belonging to a neighborhood. She noted that John Brown was involved in graffiti abatement, in part because it affected property values. She is very anxious to get the EWEB path cleaned up. Ms. Griesel said John Brown's group has been contacted and they will contact him with date to see how they might incorporate their group in this event. Mayor Lundberg said this was prioritized by Council in their goals and this is a doable version of a second cleanup. She thanked Ms. Freeman for her role in getting the Neighborhood Watch involved. City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes June 23, 2014 Page 9 Councilor Wylie asked if they could get a report from the Police Department about graffiti. Captain Lewis said most of those caught who have done the graffiti are caught by the School Resource Officers through discussions with the students. 5. City Attorney Presentation on Sick Time City Attorney Mary Bridget Smith presented the staff report on this item. Mayor Lundberg said she asked to have this item added. The City of Eugene is considering a sick leave requirement ordinance similar to one adopted by Portland, which has repercussions broader than Eugene. Ms. Smith said there is a memo in the agenda packet which outlines the Portland sick leave ordinance which was passed in 2013. It is their understanding that Eugene's ordinance would be similar, but they have not seen it yet to know for sure. Eugene will hold a public hearing on July 21 on the ordinance. The County is holding an informational meeting on this topic tomorrow. The policy analyst for the County would be presenting information on the ordinance and any next steps. If based on the Portland ordinance, this ordinance would require businesses providing services within the City of Eugene to provide paid sick leave to their employees. Each employee would have forty hours a year they could use to call in sick and be paid. It would also involve not only businesses in Eugene, but a business based outside Eugene with employees that work in Eugene a certain number of hours. Employers would have to track the time taken and given, and carried over to the next year. It didn't get cashed out upon separation. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Oregon Medical Leave Act (OMLA) allow a worker to take time off for a sick child. It didn't guarantee the employee would be paid, but guaranteed they would not lose their job. There are different requirements for those types of jobs, such as 25 employees or more in a company, whereas this sick leave ordinance was for businesses with six or more employees. Councilor Brew said as an example, a Springfield business may send plumbers into Eugene to work one month, but not another month. He asked if this business would need to track their workers as if they assumed they would accrue the time set in the ordinance. Ms. Smith said that is one of the strategies the proponents recommended. She discussed other options for tracking time. Portland contracted with BOLI for enforcement. Councilor Brew said there could be disparaging treatment between employees if one was working more in Eugene. Councilor Ralston said an employer could send different workers on a job to avoid reaching the threshold of hours. It would be very unfair. Councilor Woodrow referred to a memo regarding the fire department. Ms. Smith said if this was the same as the Portland ordinance, Springfield firefighters working in Eugene could possibly be subject to this ordinance. Portland excluded public employees from the sick leave ordinance, Seattle agreed to waive it for unions that had a sick leave benefit, and Connecticut exempted other types of jobs. City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes June 23, 2014 Page 10 Councilor Moore asked about Springfield employees who work at the sewage treatment plant and if they would be excluded. She asked if they already received paid sick leave. Mr. Towery said the City does provide sick leave, but had not compared our sick leave accrual rates with the standards in the ordinance. One of the complicating factors was that some employers provided paid time off, but it was not distinguished between vacation and sick leave. It is not clear if a Eugene ordinance would recognize a paid time off system as being consistent with the ordinance. Councilor Wylie asked why the City couldn't ask that Springfield based businesses or residents be excluded from their ordinance. Ms. Smith said they can ask. Under home rule, cities can make laws about their own jurisdiction. Eugene may say that while in Eugene, employers need to follow their rules. She is not sure if there is a legal response if this was passed by Eugene. In looking through the task force notes, there was discussion about different types of exclusions but not regarding jurisdictions. Councilor Wylie asked if there had been any discussions at other levels and how it will affect other jurisdictions. Mayor Lundberg said the Mayor's Roundtable was meeting this week and she asked this topic to be discussed during that meeting. Councilor Brew said years ago, the City of Eugene proposed an income tax on all people employed in Eugene even if they drove from Springfield. He noted that Springfield city employees accrue at a rate greater than listed in the ordinance. Mayor Lundberg said she was appalled that they have to have this discussion. It is not something she supports and feels it is overreaching in its scope. As someone who used to manage HVAC technicians, she knew it was difficult to track the workers, and then there were office staff that wouldn't accrue any time. She asked if they could send a letter to Eugene to consider the impact of this ordinance on others and perhaps this is not the proper venue. She is not against figuring out how to make a work environment doable for everyone. The issue is one jurisdiction taking action without consideration of how it affects another jurisdiction's citizens. Ms. Smith said there will be opportunity to speak during the July 21 public hearing. Mayor Lundberg said she spoke with Councilor VanGordon who said he was in favor of a letter to Eugene. Councilor Moore asked how Portland dealt with his since they also impacted surrounding communities. Ms. Smith said there has been no enforcement yet of the Portland ordinance. As far as she knows, the surrounding cities are trying to comply. Councilor Moore said she was in favor of paid sick leave for parents and others, but she is having difficulty with a mandated ordinance that affects Springfield. She would prefer something that would provide an incentive to employers to provide their employees with sick leave. City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes June 23, 2014 Page 11 Councilor Ralston said he would support a letter stating Springfield Council's opposition. Councilor Woodrow agreed. She did not have an issue with providing sick leave, but mandating in one city what happens in another is wrong. Councilor Wylie said they could include in the letter examples of the disparity within businesses that have employees going to Eugene and others staying in the office. Councilor Woodrow said they are also adding the expense of an additional employee to track the hours, plus the cost of sick leave. Mayor Lundberg said this becomes a topic nationally when looking at economic development because businesses looked at the region. They might look at this as government interfering with the business. It takes away the ability for businesses to make decisions. Councilor Brew said Eugene would say this is not a determent, but would attract the type of businesses they want. On the other hand, businesses that don't want this will look negatively on both Eugene and Springfield. Councilor Wylie said the best of intentions sometimes had unintended consequences. This would adversely affect small businesses and non -profits that have already had to raise minimum wage and now would have to offer benefits, while they receive a reduction in funding. Councilor Woodrow said new businesses might have concern that Eugene might enact other things that could affect Springfield. Ms. Smith said she would create a strongly worded letter with the following information: Council is not against sick leave; this type of ordinance was overreaching to Springfield; it could impact economic development regionally; it could be difficult for small businesses to track employees (include examples); increases costs to have staff to track hours; removes flexibility for employers with their relationship with employees, or their ability to expand or change their services; and is particularly difficult for small businesses or non -profits who are already dealing with tight budgets. Councilor Ralston said it is government telling businesses what they can do, and is overreaching in general. Councilor Woodrow said she would prefer if the language stated that the Springfield Council was not in favor of mandated sick leave. Councilor Moore said the government did require other things of businesses, such as paying social security and unemployment. Requiring an employer to pay sick leave is also a service. Springfield is in favor of benefits for employees, especially low income. She didn't want to come across as not being in favor of benefits of employees. Councilor Woodrow said their concerns are specific to this ordinance, not sick leave in general City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes June 23, 2014 Page 12 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:31 p.m. Minutes Recorder — Amy Sowa Attest: Amy Sowa City Recorder 1< al A ` -1ii g -Mg}e,r- Hillary Wylie Council President