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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/23/2001 Regular i " . MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY, JULY 23, 200 I The Springfield City Council met in Regular Session at Springfield City Hall, Council Meeting Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, on Monday, July 23,2001, at 7:25 p.m. with Mayor Leiken presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Mayor Leiken, Councilors Ballew, Fitch, Hatfield (via teleconference), Lundberg, Ralston, and Simmons. Also Present were Public Works Director (AlC City Manager) Dan Brown, City Attorney Joe Leahy, City Recorder Kim Krebs, Development Services Director Cynthia Pappas, Police Chief Jerry Smith, and members of staff. 1. 6300 Street Landscaped Island Approval. Planner II Colin Stephens was present for the staff report, and said City Council is asked to conceptually approve the design of a landscape island within a portion of 63rd Street. He said the alignment of 6300 Street is through one of the last remaining groves of mature cottonwoods and oaks in this neighborhood. The neighbors, developer and city staff would like to save as many trees as possibl~ and have devised a tree protection or preservation plan. He said a component of . the plan is to create an island in the center of 6300 Street to save two large signature white oak trees. The. larger of the two oaks is estimated to be 300 years o~d. . Mr. Stephens circulated pictures of the site in question. Mr. Stephens responded to questions of the City Council. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR FITCH, WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR BALLEW, TO APPROVE THE LANSCAPED ISLAND WITHIN THE CITY RIGHT-OF- WAY ON 63RD STREET. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 IN FAVOR, AND 0 AGAINST. 2. Request by Springfield Chamber of Commerce for Opportunity Funds for Conference Center Study. Economic Development Manager John Tamulonis was present for the staff report. He said the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitors Association of Lane County (CV ALCO) have both approved $10,000 to participate in the estimated $40,000 cost to assess the market and initial feasibility study for a new conference and convention facility. He said the Chamber hopes to add the City of Springfield and Lane County as financial supporters of the study. He said the Chamber's Future Committee has been developing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to be sent to a short list of five consultants familiar with Northwest's issues, with proven records of successful projects, and with ability to complete the study in 60-120 days. . Mr. Tamulonis said Lane County, Springfield and Eugene have long recognized the need for additional large-scale convention/conference facilities. This was supported by a very conservative market study in the mid-1990s. He said discussions essentially halted with the impact of tax measures and unbridgeable funding gaps for location, design and construction. '- J Springfield City Council Regular Meeting - July 23,2001 Page - 2 . However, there is substantial agreement that additional larger-scale meeting space must be built in the Springfield-Eugene area in order to remain competitive. Mr. Tamulonis said the Springfield Chamber of Commerce through the Future Committee has been researching and defining the area's need for additional facilities to ensure the area is competitive. He said the Lane County Commissioners seemed supportive in their meeting of July 10th for such a market study. . Mr. Tamulonis said the Springfield Chamber of Commerce has submitted the 'letter attached to the Agenda Item Summary (AIS) requesting the $10,000. He said Debra Delegato was present in the audience, and is available to respond to questions if there are any. Councilor Ballew said in the recent past the Doubletree was very interested and mentioned even building there own convention center, and wondered where they fit into this process. Mr. Tamulonis said the Doubletree does have some land under their control, along with facilities nearby that may have some impact with the development of the 1-5 interchange. He said they are still interested, however they would like to see what the outcome of the study is. He clarified that they are not participating in the study. Councilor Ballew said she unless you are bringing in money from outside the region, you are just recycling the same dollars within your own region, and for those reasons she is not supportive of a convention center. . Debra Delagato was asked to come forward to respond to questions of council. Ms. Delgato said part of the confusion might be that the Doubletree has indicated an interest in possibly participating in this, however their involvement would be the donation of the land, and they would not actually develop the facility. She said the Chamber knows there is a real need for meeting space in Springfield, and the Doubletree is the only option right now. She said there are many functions that have either outgrown the Doubletree capacity as it is right now, or are very close to that. She said her interest is in civic space, and said the study that was performed in 1995 that it was feasible at that time. She said now an update is needed because there may be some opportunity that would be very helpful for the hoteliers in the area and the increase in room tax. There was discussion regarding what the results might be from this new study that the 1995 study did not show. There was discussion regarding the possible siting of a new facility, and that it may not be in the Gateway area, but will need information from the study. There was discussion regarding whether or not this facility might be a regional facility. There was discussion related to the funding appropriations. '. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR FITCH WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR LUNDBERG TO APPROVE THE REQUESTED FUNDING OF $10,000 FOR A CONFERENCE CENTER STUDY FROM THE OPPORTUNITY FUND. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 IN FAVOR AND 1 OPPOSED (BALLEW). - . f Ii Springfield City Council Regular Meeting - July 23,2001 Page - 3 . 3. City Attorney Joe Leahy said he knows council is now on their summer recess. He said once the Charter Committee has completed it's review, it may be necessary to request a scheduling of a Special meeting within the next 30 days. He said they would be recommending one variation of the Charter to be placed on the ballot for the November 6,2001 election. He said the committee is currently looking at three variations: · A change that leaves the Springfield Utility Board section in tact; · Looking at changes with some significant revisions in the subsection; · A revision that only relates to the $500 cap limit on fme in the Charter. Mr. Leahy said depending on what the Charter Committee recommends; staff will be in touch with Council with a recommendation. He said they are currently looking at three options: Councilor Simmons said he has concerns about the Charter revision related to the question of limited powers versus general powers. He said he does not think that he will be 100% supportive of a general powers change at this time. Mr. Leahy said he believes Councilor Ballew as Chair ofthe Charter Committee, is planning to have a work session discussion with Council and have Ed Harms present for the discussion. . Councilor Simmons said the precursor to that work session for him is to receive some clarification from the City Attorneys office that defines that it is a general powers charter because the description is not very clear. Mr. Leahy said it is the general powers grant ofthe ORS 221.420, and said he will provide Councilor Simmons with a copy of that. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:42 p.m. Minutes Recorder - Kim Krebs .