HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/17/2015 Work SessionCity of Springfield
Work Session Meeting
MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2015
The City of Springfield Council met in a work session in the Jesse Maine Meeting Room, 225 Fifth
Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 6:00 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, Finance Director Bob Duey, City
Attorney Mary Bridget Smith, City Recorder Amy Sowa and members of the staff.
1. Planning Commission Interviews.
Senior Planner, Greg Mott, presented the staff report on this item.
The City received Thirteen (13) applications for three (3) vacancies during a six-week recruitment
process. Six (6) applicants were scheduled to be interviewed tonight, but one applicant had a conflict
and had to reschedule to March 2, 2015, and two applicants pulled their applications. The remainder of
applicants will be interviewed on March 2, 2015.
Those being interviewed this evening are:
Richard E. Reed resides at 942 Fairview Place, Springfield 97477; and is an Author, Publisher
and Urban Revitalization Specialist and works from home;
John J. Mahoney resides at 452 Blackstone Court, Springfield 97477; and is retired; and
Glenn F. Stutzman resides at 1432 6th Street, Springfield 97477; and is Semi -Retired, self-
employed.
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 UGB and Commissioner Nelson is in Real Estate. Positions are "at -large", and do not
represent specific geographic areas.
Council Operating Policies and Procedures Section IX, (1) 1.2) states "Springfield's boards,
commissions, committees, and task forces bring together citizen viewpoints which might not otherwise
be heard. Persons of wide-ranging interests who want to participate in public service but not compete
for public office may choose to be involved in advisory boards, commissions, committees and task
forces instead. These bodies also serve as a training ground or stepping stone for qualified persons
who are interested in seeking elected public office. They also help fulfill the goals of the City's
adopted Citizen Involvement Program to have an informed and involved citizenry.
City of Springfield
Council Work Session Minutes
February 17, 2015
Page 2
The Council decision on appointments is scheduled for the Regular Meeting Tuesday March 16, 2015;
however, the Council may decide to appoint at the March 2, 2015 the same night as the last interviews
are held.
The Mayor and Council chose the questions they would ask of the candidates.
1. Why do you want to serve on the Planning Commission? (Mayor Lundberg)
2. How familiar are you with planning laws and policies and the purpose they serve in
Springfield's land use decision making process? If your experience with these laws is limited,
what actions would you take to become familiar with them so that you can participate fully as
a Planning Commissioner? (Councilor Wylie)
3. Many of the land use laws applied by the Planning Commission are state or federal mandates.
During a Planning Commission hearing how would you reconcile your own personal opinions
or support for the applicant's interests if those interests were inconsistent with the land use
laws? (Councilor Moore)
4. 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)
5. What do you think is the proper role for the Planning Commission regarding the revitalization
of downtown? (Councilor Woodrow)
6. Growth, through development of vacant land and redevelopment of underutilized land, is the
single largest source of revenue for the City's property tax supported General Fund. However,
growth does have its share of costs, included new infrastructure and the maintenance in
perpetuity of that infrastructure. As an official representative of the City, please describe your
position on growth and development. (Councilor VanGordon)
7. The economy has been stagnant for the past 3-4 years thwarting the effectiveness of the
Council's economic development goals in general and in the redevelopment of Downtown and
Glenwood in particular. Do you believe the planning commission has a role to play in the
City's economic recovery? Please explain your thinking on this question. (Councilor
Pishioneri)
8. Do you have any questions? (Mayor Lundberg)
The Mayor and Councilors introduced themselves to each candidate, and then interviewed the
candidates.
Several of the applicants asked questions of the Council and received a response.
Mayor Lundberg explained that the Council will be interviewing a total of eleven candidates for three
positions. Once they have completed all of the interviews and have had a chance to deliberate, they
will make their decision and the applicants will be notified shortly after.
City of Springfield
Council Work Session Minutes
February 17, 2015
Page 3
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:56 p.m.
Minutes Recorder — Amy Sowa
Christine L. Lundberg
Mayor
Attest:
Amy Sowa
City Recorder