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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/20/2015 RegularCity of Springfield Regular Meeting MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD TUESDAY JANUARY 20, 2015 The City of Springfield Council met in regular session in the Council Chambers, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 6:58 p.m., with Mayor Lundberg presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Mayor Lundberg and Councilors VanGordon, Wylie, Moore, Ralston, Woodrow and Pishioneri. Also present were City Manager Gino Grimaldi, Assistant City Manager Jeff Towery, City Attorney Lauren King, City Recorder Amy Sowa and members of the staff. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Lundberg. BUSINESS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 1. Springfield Council Member — Oath of Office. City Attorney, Mary Bridget Smith, administered the Oath of Office to Joe Pishioneri. SPRINGFIELD UPBEAT 1. Mayor's Recognition. 2. Employee Recognition: Elizabeth Kelly, 20 Years of Service. City Manager Gino Grimaldi presented this item. He acknowledged Ms. Kelly's years of service and her accomplishments over the past twenty years, including her volunteerism both locally and during her travels around the world. He presented Ms. Kelly with a plaque acknowledging her years with the city. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Claims a. Approval of the November 2014, Disbursements for Approval. b. Approval of the December 2014, Disbursements for Approval. 2. Minutes a. October 27, 2014 — Joint Elected Officials Public Hearing b. November 3, 2014 — Work Session c. November 3, 2014 — Regular Meeting d. November 17, 2014 — Work Session e. November 17, 2014 — Regular Meeting f. November 24, 2014 — Work Session g. December 1, 2014 — Work Session h. December 1, 2014 — Regular Meeting City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 20, 2015 Page 2 i. January 13, 2015 — Work Session j. January 13, 2015 — Regular Meeting 3. Resolutions 4. Ordinances 5. Other Routine Matters b. Formally Accept the Springfield 2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. c. Approval of Liquor License Application for Driftwood Bar & Grill, located at 5094 Main Street, Springfield, Oregon. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WYLIE WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WOODROW TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR WITH ITEM 5A REMOVED. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. ITEMS REMOVED 5. a. Approve a Motion to Award and Authorize City Manager to Sign a Contract with Metro West Ambulance, Inc. for Pre -scheduled and Inter -facility Non -emergent Basic Life Support Ambulance Transports in ASA #5. City Attorney Mary Bridget Smith noted some perfunctory changes to the contract that need to be made per Lane County. Staff asks that Council approve the contract subject to those changes being made. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WYLIE WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WOODROW TO AWARD AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN A CONTRACT WITH METRO WEST AMBULANCE SUBJECT TO AMENDMENTS AS DESCRIBED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. 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. Commercial Avenue Vacation ORDINANCE NO. 6333 — AN ORDINANCE VACATING A PORTION OF COMMERCIAL AVENUE AND A PORTION OF "A" STREET, INCLUDING THE INTERSECTION OF SAID STREETS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Andy Limbird, Senior Planner, presented the staff report on this item. The City's Development & Public Works Department has initiated the subject street vacation action to address long-standing property access and security issues at the intersection of Commercial Avenue and A Street. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 20, 2015 Page 3 Staff has initiated the vacation action in accordance with Resolution 2014-33 adopted by the City Council on October 20, 2014. The right-of-way proposed for vacation is a vestigial segment of Commercial Avenue that became a dead-end "spur" after Commercial Avenue was realigned to create a 4 -way intersection with 42nd Street and Smith Way. The subject vacation area is not part of a functional through -street and is not identified as a current or future connection on the City's conceptual local street map. In its current configuration, the affected portion of Commercial Avenue functions as part of a gated commercial driveway that terminates at an oblique intersection with A Street. West of the intersection with Commercial Avenue, the subject portion of A Street is undeveloped road right-of-way that lacks a paved road surface and associated street improvements. Staff is recommending vacating the intersection of Commercial Avenue and A Street to allow the adjoining property owners to resolve ongoing issues with property security and secondary access to their businesses that front onto 42 n Street. Upon vacation of the subject right-of-way, approximately one-third of the vacation area will accrue to Tax Lot 600 (214 42nd Street) and two-thirds to Tax Lot 1300(13642 nd Street). Staff advises that concurrent with vacation of the right-of-way a public utility easement will be recorded against the vacation area to allow for maintenance, repair, and replacement of existing utility infrastructure. Mr. Limbird said several people had called the city with questions and staff had provided them with responses and clarification. Councilor Pishioneri asked if they were vacating with consideration. Mr. Limbird said we were not. A resolution was adopted by Council to waive consideration for the affected area. It is not deemed to have significant public benefit and would only serve as an area that could be improved for Commercial access. It is encumbered with utilities. The resolution passed by Council directed staff not to contribute any monetary value to the area. Councilor Pishioneri asked if this rendered A Street inaccessible. Mr. Limbird said it would be accessible from the west, but is undeveloped. It is conceivable that sometime in the future if this area is redeveloped, the roads could be realigned and replatted to create an intersection. A Street would not continue through as a public street to the intersection. Mr. Grimaldi said there is some public benefit from this vacation. This is a difficult intersection and is unsafe to make a left turn onto 42nd Street. Councilor Ralston said the City owns that portion of A Street and he asked what would happen with the piece of A Street to the north. Mr. Limbird said the section on the west of the vacation would accrue to the western property and the section on the east side of the vacation would accrue to the property to the east. The street would be split 50 percent to each property owner. Currently, only one property had access. Mayor Lundberg opened the public hearing. 1. Brian Marlow, 136 42nd Street, Springfield, OR. Mr. Marlow said he had a long-term lease for the property to the west of the proposed vacation and owned Woodstone Structures, LLC. He noted the only access to the property and the danger in getting out at that location without pulling over the sidewalk and into the street. The City Recorder distributed photos and City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 20, 2015 Page 4 information provided by Mr. Marlow to the Mayor and Council. Mr. Marlow referred to those photos which showed the visibility in pulling out at that location due to the chain link fence. This is a safety issue. 2. Prism Marlow, 136 42nd Street, Springfield, OR. Ms. Marlow said she was a partner of Woodstone Structures, LLC. She also referred to the photos and information and the route they have to take to exit the property. When they first moved onto the property, they met with the neighbors and discussed removing the second gate. She noted the two gates in the photos and how they prevented her employees from exiting onto Commercial Avenue. She said she had read through the agenda packet and hoped that by vacating the areas noted, it would allow them both to use that portion of Commercial Avenue for access. She referred to the Municipal Code, section 6.110 regarding Obstructing Streets. That obstruction is happening right now. Councilor Pishioneri said the fence is not installed correctly and does not allow safe egress and ingress from the property. There is also personal property parked on the street which doesn't allow egress or ingress out the north end. He also sees a lot of encroachment on private and public property. He felt those issues need to be resolved and then they could consider vacating the property. Chris Moorhead, city surveyor, came forward to address Councilor Pishioneri's concerns. There is an informal right-of-way use agreement to the owner of the property on the east that was put into place in the mid -1990's. They were allowed by the City to fence that area and park vehicles in that location. Staff proposed to extinguish that right-of-way agreement and vacate the area. The half of Commercial Avenue noted in red, would become property owned by the property noted in red (east property). The half of Commercial Avenue noted in yellow, would become property owned by the property in yellow (west property), which the Marlow's lease. The fence in the right-of-way would need to be removed. Mr. Grimaldi said when the original informal right-of-way agreement was put into place, it was to address security issues. The business asked for help so they could install the fence. The City was now backing out of that agreement. Both property owners agree with this solution. Mayor Lundberg said this is a solution that works for both properties. Councilor Pishioneri asked if staff is aware of other informal agreements. Mr. Moorhead said they are not aware of any other agreements. He explained the configuration of the vacation to each property. Mayor Lundberg closed the public hearing. Councilor Pishioneri said he was fine moving forward, but was not happy that they had an informal agreement to begin with. Mr. Grimaldi said the City no longer makes informal agreements, nor will they in the future. Councilor Ralston said he approves the vacation. Councilor VanGordon said was in favor of the vacation. He referred to one of the photos of the property that showed a second gate blocking Commercial Avenue. He asked if that gate was still in place. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 20, 2015 Page 5 Mr. Moorhead said there is just one gate. If a fence is put up, it would need to be clear of the vacation. Councilor VanGordon said with this vacation, both properties would have access to Commercial Avenue. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WYLIE WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WOODROW TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 6333. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. BUSINESS FROM THE AUDIENCE Thomas Mulhern, Director of Catholic Community Services 1025 G Street Springfield OR Mr. Mulhern thanked the City for the ongoing support for the Lane County Human Services Commission as some of that support comes back to Catholic Community Services (CCS) and benefits the programs. He also thanked the Council for the specific support for the tenants who were displaced when Jim's Landing was shut down. That was a significant event for everyone and CCS had been following up with the tenants. Of the funding Council authorized to be spent on assisting those tenants with first/land month's rent, deposits and application fees, they had been able to help 12 people get into housing spending $11,068. There are a couple of people who found their own housing without the assistance of CCS, and there are several others living in temporary housing arrangements while they try to find a place and evaluate their options. CCS continues to work with those tenants that want their help and will continue as long as the funds remain. The Springfield staff had been wonderful to work with and were very professional and caring. COUNCIL RESPONSE Mayor Lundberg said Mr. Mulhern and CCS should get a thank you for agreeing to take on those tenants. She knows they are always over-worked and busy. This was very helpful to the City. CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS 1. Correspondence from Pam and Craig Enberg Regarding City's Assistance with Jim's Landing. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WYLIE WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WOODROW TO ACCEPT FOR FILING THE CORRESPONDENCE. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. 1. "10 ORDINANCES BUSINESS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL 1. Committee Appointments a. Arts Commission Applicant Appointment. Assistant City Manager Jeff Towery, on behalf of Librarian Kristen Cure, presented the staff report on this item. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 20, 2015 Page 6 The Arts Commission has three vacancies on its board of nine commissioners. The Council conducted interviews of three applicants during the January 13, 2015 work session. Based on direction from those interviews, all three applicants were being recommended for appointment. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WYLIE WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WOODROW TO RE -APPOINT NILES SHARTZ TO THE ARTS COMMISSION WITH A TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2018. 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 APPOINT RICK DUNAVEN TO THE ARTS COMMISSION WITH A TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2018. 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 APPOINT WANDA SEAMSTER TO THE ARTS COMMISSION WITH A TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2017. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. b. Library Advisory Board Appointment. Assistant City Manager Jeff Towery, on behalf of Library Director Rob Everett, presented the staff report on this item. The Library Advisory Board has two vacancies on the board. The Council conducted interviews of two applicants during the January 13, 2015 work session. Based on direction from those interviews, both applicants were being recommended for appointment. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WYLIE WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WOODROW TO APPOINT PETER FEHRS TO THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD FOR A FOUR-YEAR TERM EXPIRING DECEMBER 31, 2018. 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 APPOINT VICTORIA STEPHENS TO COMPLETE A TERM ON THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD WITH A TERM EXPIRING DECEMBER 31, 2015. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. c. City Council President Appointment. Gino Grimaldi, City Manager, presented the staff report on this item. The Springfield Charter and the City Council Operating Policies and Procedures provide that at the first regular meeting in January after each general election, the Council shall elect by ballot one of its members as President of the Common Council. The Council President shall function as Mayor when the Mayor is absent from a Council meeting, or the Mayor is unable to function as Mayor. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 20, 2015 Page 7 City Recorder Amy Sowa distributed ballots for each of the Council. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR RALSTON WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR PISHIONERI TO NOMINATE COUNCILOR WOODROW AS THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. Mayor Lundberg congratulated Councilor Woodrow as being elected as the new Council President. 2. Business from Council a. Committee Reports 1. Councilor Moore said she attended the Lane Workforce Partnership today. There is a new, entertaining video online about Lane Workforce. She said she would send the Council a link to that video. 2. Councilor Wylie thanked the Council for their support of her as the previous Council president. She enjoyed it and felt it was a good partnership with Mayor Lundberg. She encouraged Councilor Woodrow to work with the Mayor and support the Council. She wished her well. Mayor Lundberg thanked Councilor Wylie for her service and what she brought to the table. 3. Councilor Ralston said Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA) has historically had a Budget Committee member that was appointed by the City Council. Bob Brew was the previous Budget Committee member, but has now moved. The Budget Committee meetings start in March so a new appointee is needed. The Budget Committee only meets a couple of times each year in March. 4. Councilor Pishioneri said he attended the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) and found it very informative and a great group of members. He was looking forward to working on that committee. They were very complimentary of Councilor Woodrow who previously served on that commission. He thanked her for her willingness to serve as Council President. 5. Mayor Lundberg said she will take a letter from T4 America to Washington DC when she goes back in February to try to promote the need for road funding for the State. The State is working on it and the Federal government should, too. Councilor Ralston said a gas tax is the best way to do that and is currently very low. Mayor Lundberg said the letter is basically asking for a gas tax. b. Other Business BUSINESS FROM THE CITY MANAGER BUSINESS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 20, 2015 Page 8 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned 7:39 p.m. Minutes Recorder Amy Sowa iChristin�eL.undberg Mayor Attest: City Reco er