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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/15/2014 RegularCity of Springfield Regular Meeting MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 The City of Springfield Council met in regular session in the Council Chambers, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, September 15, 2014 at 7:00 p.m., with Mayor Lundberg presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Councilors VanGordon, Wylie, Moore, Ralston, and Woodrow. Also present were Finance Director Bob Duey, City Attorney Mary Bridget Smith, Administrative Assistant AJ Ripka, and members of the staff. Mayor Lundberg was absent (excused). PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Boy Scout Troop # 179. SPRINGFIELD UPBEAT 1. Mayor's Recognition a. Look Me in the Eye Proclamation Councilor Wylie read from the proclamation and encouraged all citizens of our community to participate in seeing, respecting, and including one another. b. American Legion Day Proclamation Councilor Wylie read from the proclamation proclaiming September 16, 2014 American Legion Day. Frank Hales came forward to accept the proclamation. c. National Recovery Month Proclamation Councilor Wylie read from the proclamation and proclaimed the month of September 2014 as National Recovery Month and called upon the community to observe this month with compelling programs and events that support this year's observance. She noted that Councilor VanGordon would be presenting this proclamation during the National Recovery Month event. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Claims a. Approval of July 2014, Disbursements for Approval. b. Approval of August 2014, Disbursements for Approval. 2. Minutes a. June 23, 2014 — Work Session b. July 7, 2014 — Work Session City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 15, 2014 Page 2 c. July 7, 2014 — Regular Session d. July 14, 2014 — Work Session e. July 21, 2014 — Work Session f. July 21, 2014 — Regular Meeting g. July 28, 2014 — TEAM Springfield Joint Elected Officials Meeting 3. Resolutions 4. Ordinances 5. Other Routine Matters IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WOODROW WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR RALSTON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 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. 1. Ordinance to Rescind Vacation Ordinance No. 6213 ORDINANCE NO 1 — AN ORDINANCE RESCINDING VACATION ORDINANCE NO. 6213 (FIRST READING) Mary Bridget Smith, City Attorney, presented the staff report on this item. Staff is recommending that a vacation ordinance adopted in 2008 be rescinded and deemed null and void because the applicant failed to complete a required condition of the ordinance. The applicant has since abandoned the project, and the affected properties have been foreclosed and sold to multiple owners. Rescinding the vacation ordinance would formally reinstate the vacation area as public right- of-way. The City Council acted on a request to vacate a portion of 18th Street north of Q Street and adopted Vacation Ordinance No. 6213 on January 22, 2008. A condition of the vacation ordinance was consolidation of five adjacent parcels and the vacation area into a single development site. However, the consolidation action did not occur. The applicant subsequently abandoned the project, and the properties were foreclosed and sold to multiple owners. Staff advises there are no active development plans or approvals for the vacant properties and ownership has become fragmented. The vacated segment of 18'x' Street right-of-way is encumbered by underground utilities so it is not a viable development parcel on its own. More importantly, formal reinstatement of the vacation area as public right-of-way is necessary to ensure legal and physical access is maintained for the five adjacent properties. Staff recommends formally rescinding Vacation Ordinance No. 6213 to ensure there is no confusion about the status of the vacation area in the future, especially if one or more of the adjacent property owners apply for development approval. Council President Wylie opened the public hearing. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 15, 2014 Page 3 No one appeared to speak. Council President Wylie closed the public hearing. BUSINESS FROM THE AUDIENCE COUNCIL RESPONSE CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS 1. Correspondence from Acorn Property Management Regarding Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) Expansion. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WOODROW WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR RALSTON TO ACCEPT THE CORRESPONDENCE FOR FILING. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. BIDS ORDINANCES 1. Ordinance Amending Springfield Municipal Code 6.020 and 6.335. ORDINANCE NO. 2 — AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 6 VEHICLES IN TRAFFIC SECTION 6.020 "RESTRICTED IN TIME" AND SECTION 6.335 "ABANDONED VEHICLES — DEFINITION" AND ADOPTING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE (FIRST READING) Courtney Griesel, Management Analyst, presented the staff report on this item. In June of this year, the international car sharing firm Car2Go contacted Lane Transit District and the Cities of Springfield and Eugene to discuss entry into the regional market. Car2Go allows for users to park vehicles on -street in non -designated spaces in an approved program area. The current Springfield Municipal Code language would prohibit this from occurring as a vehicle may remain in one space in excess of 48 hours, thus being defined as an `abandoned vehicle' (Chapter 6.335). The proposed amendments to Chapter 6.020 and 6.335 would allow for City Manager approved firms to legally park in excess of 48 hours. The car -sharing firm Car2Go has proposed a partnership with Springfield and Eugene which consists of the placement of several dozen Car2Go vehicles, in total, on the streets of both cities with the goal of project roll-out early this fall. The Car2Go model of car sharing is an example of a model which utilizes a rental system allowing members to start and stop their rental at any legal, on -street, parking space within a designated program operating area. It is possible that a vehicle may sit in place, in a legal parking space, in excess of 48 hours. The Springfield Municipal Code currently requires that parked vehicles not remain in place longer than 48 hours, at which point the vehicle is defined as `abandoned' and in violation of Chapter 6.335. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 15, 2014 Page 4 The proposed amendments would allow the City Manager to authorize approved entities to park `fleet' or car sharing vehicles on street in excess of posted time -stays (Chapter 6.020) without being subject to Chapter 6.335, "abandoned vehicles." Council is asked to conduct a first reading of the proposed ordinance amendments in order to allow for City Manager approved firms to park in excess of posted time -stays and in excess of a 48 hour window as outlined in sections 6.020 to 6.335. No immediate fiscal impact is anticipated. Councilor Woodrow asked how the Car2Go vehicles would be identified. Ms. Griesel said they are asking that would be negotiated into each contract with the City requesting the exception. In the contract, they would ask that the car is visibly and clearly branded on all sides, and that all cars are alike in that branding. It would be approved through the contract process. No action requested. First reading only. BUSINESS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL 1. Committee Appointments a. Planning Commission Applicant Appointment. Planning Manager, Greg Mott, presented the staff report on this item. The City received two applications for this impending vacancy during a five-week recruitment period. At the September 8, 2014 Work Session the Council interviewed both of the candidates. Formal appointment is requested. Councilor Woodrow said last week she spoke regarding the importance of establishing policy and applying them fairly and objectively, making sure they are clear for staff to apply. She look forward to the due diligence and discussions on this subject in the future. Last Monday she voted according to the policy, but she did not want that vote to be taken out of context. The candidate, Greg James, is certainly qualified to continue for the next four years and her vote tonight would be for Mr. James. Councilor VanGordon said he was in the same situation as Councilor Woodrow. He would not vote for Commissioner James tonight, but he did not want that to be a reflection on what he has contributed to the community and his qualifications. He would be 100% behind him re joining the Planning Commission and supportive of his efforts. Mr. James has been a great contributor to the community and he looked forward to that continuing. Councilor VanGordon's issue was that the policy set by Council had been applied to one person in the same position. He felt they needed to apply policies equally. He was looking forward to the discussion about the policy. As usual, when the Council disagreed as a group, they would go back, discuss the topic and end up in the right place. He wanted to make it clear that his vote is not a reflection on the capability of Commissioner James and his ability to continue to serve on the Planning Commission. Councilor Wylie said this was a spirited discussion at last week's Work Session. She was also looking forward to bringing it back so they all came together and agreed on the policy. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 15, 2014 Page 5 IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WOODROW WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR RALSTON TO REAPPOINT GREG JAMES TO THE PLANNING COMMISION WITH A TERM TO EXPIRE OCTOBER 2, 2018. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 4 FOR AND 1 AGAINST (VAN GORDON). 2. Business from Council a. Councilor Moore said she attended the Human Services Commission retreat today. One of the things that came forth was the need for better communication about what Human Services is about, including programs and budget. She has not been making regular reports verbally to the Council, so she will put together a summary of today's retreat to get to the Council and the Budget Committee. BUSINESS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 1. Council Initiation of Type II, Site Specific Amendments of the Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan) Consistent with Policy G.3, Chapter III, Section G of the Metro Plan; Amendments to Tables 6 and 18 and Maps 3 and 8 of the Public Facilities and Services Plan (PFSP). Ken Vogeney, City Engineer, presented the staff report on this item. Stormwater outfalls are considered significant public facilities under Statewide Planning Rule 11 (Oregon Administrative Rule 660-011-0005) and are therefore required to be included in the PFSP. The current PFSP does not include any new or modified public stormwater outfalls to the Willamette River within the GRP boundary. The GRP identified one new public outfall location in the vicinity of the proposed Park Blocks, and cited that other outfalls will likely be needed depending upon the actual development that occurs. Staff has identified three existing public outfalls that will likely need to be modified to accommodate future development, and anticipates two others that may be needed. The new GRP identified the need for an unspecified number of new public stormwater outfalls to the Willamette River, and new outfalls must be included in the PFSP for land use rule compliance. However, for a significant public facility to be included in the PFSP, its proposed general location must be identified as provided in Chapter VI Amendments to the Plan of the PFSP; Chapter IV Metro Plan Review, Amendments and Refinements; and Section 5.14-120 of the Springfield Development Code. Staff proposes to add to the PFSP the three known existing public stormwater outfalls, the proposed outfall in the vicinity of the Park Blocks, and two additional locations within the Franklin Riverfront area of the GRP. Springfield and Lane County will need to conduct public hearings (Springfield Planning Commission; Joint Elected Officials) to consider and adopt the proposed PFSP amendments. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WOODROW WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR RALSTON TO INITIATE AMENDMENTS TO THE PFSP MAPS AND TABLES AND CONCURRENT METRO PLAN AMENDMENTS TO ADD VARIOUS STORMWATER SYSTEM PROJECTS TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GLENWOOD REFINEMENT PLAN, PHASE 1 (GRP). THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 15, 2014 Page 6 2. League of Oregon Cities Conference — Voting Delegate Designation. Bob Duey, Finance Director, presented the staff report on this item. The annual business meeting of the League of Oregon Cities will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2014, in conjunction with the League of Oregon Cities Conference, September 25-27, 2014, at the Eugene Hilton & Conference Center, Eugene, Oregon. Each city is entitled to cast one vote at the business meeting. Therefore a voting delegate is needed to represent Springfield. Those attending from the City of Springfield include Mayor Lundberg and City Councilors Wylie, Ralston, and Woodrow. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WOODROW WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR RALSTON TO DESIGNATE DAVE RALSTON AS THE VOTING DELEGATE AND HILLARY WYLIE AS THE ALTERNATE FOR THE UPCOMING LEAGUE OF OREGON CITIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE, SEPTEMBER 25-27,2014. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. 1. Enabling Amendments to the Eugene -Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan ("Metro Plan"). Len Goodwin, Department of Public Works Director, presented the staff report on this item. As part of the implementation of House Bill 3337, requiring Springfield and Eugene to create separate Urban Growth Boundaries, it is necessary and appropriate to amend the Metro Plan to enable each city to adopt a comprehensive plan to be applicable to such separate UGBs. Staff of the two cities and the County have prepared such amendments, and Springfield staff seek Council direction to initiate the amendments. HB 3337, adopted by the 2007 Legislative Assembly, requires the City of Springfield and the City of Eugene each to adopt separate urban growth boundaries. The City of Springfield adopted such a separate boundary in 2011. The City of Eugene is planning to adopt such a boundary as part of its Envision Eugene process, now underway. Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 197 requires, among other things, that a city adopt a comprehensive plan applicable to its Urban Growth Boundary. Current provisions of the Metro Plan are inconsistent with that requirement in that they subordinate local land use plans to the Metro Plan. Accordingly, it is necessary that the Metro Plan be amended so that each city has the ability to independently replace provisions of the Metro Plan with separately adopted local Comprehensive Plans over the next several years. This will not affect the ability to retain those provisions of the Metro Plan which the cities agree are regional in nature, particularly those elements which do not regulate land use within a UGB. Staff of each city and of Lane County have jointly prepared amendments to accomplish that purpose. This has been done with the assistance of Special Counsel Emily N. Jerome. These amendments will allow each city to proceed to adopt elements of local Comprehensive Plans on their own schedules and have those elements take precedence over the similar Metro Plan provisions as they are adopted by each city (and co -adopted by Lane County as appropriate). Mr. Goodwin said this begins a lengthy process that will end with the City of Springfield having its own separate and independent Comprehensive Plan. If Council chooses to initiate the amendments, staff will notify the Department of Land Conservation and Development, and will schedule joint Planning Commission and joint elected officials meetings of the three jurisdictions to move forward. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 15, 2014 Page 7 The City of Eugene is meeting on this subject on Wednesday (September 17) and is expected to initiate the plan as well. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WOODROW WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR RALSTON TO APPROVE A MOTION TO INITIATE THE ENABLING AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTERS 1 THROUGH 5 OF THE METRO PLAN. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. BUSINESS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY Ms. Smith spoke regarding the Council Operating Policies and Procedures section on appointing persons to boards and commissions. When Council had that discussion last week, she took some notes and drafted some options for Council to consider. She can provide that ahead of time, or can be there at the meeting when it is discussed. Councilor Wylie said she would like to wait to receive that information when they are ready for that discussion. Councilor Wylie thanked Troop #179 for coming and sharing their flag ceremony with the Council. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned - 7:25 p.m. Minutes Recorder Amy Sowa / Christine L. Lundberg Mayor Attest: GZIJ GL City Re o der