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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/18/2015 RegularCity of Springfield Regular Meeting MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY MAY 18, 2015 The City of Springfield Council met in regular session in the Council Chambers, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, May 18, 2015 at 7:00 p.m., with Mayor Lundberg presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Mayor Lundberg and Councilors VanGordon, Wylie, Moore, Woodrow and Pishioneri. Also present were City Manager Gino Grimaldi, Assistant City Manager Jeff Towery, City Attorney Mary Bridget Smith, Administrative Assistant AJ Ripka and members of the staff. Councilor Ralston was absent (excused). PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Lundberg. SPRINGFIELD UPBEAT CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Claims a. Approval of the April 2015, Disbursements for Approval 2. Minutes a. April 13, 2015 — Council Goal Setting Session 3. Resolutions a. RESOLUTION NO. 2015-13 — A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD AMENDING THE MASTER SCHEDULE OF MISCELLANEOUS FEES AND CHARGES, RATES, PERMITS AND LICENSES IN ORDER TO INCLUDE THE DOWNTOWN PARKING PROGRAM AND ALL ASSOCIATED CHARGES, RATES AND PERMITS. 4. Ordinances a. ORDINANCE NO. 6337 -AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6 VEHICLES IN TRAFFIC SECTION 6.020 "RESTRICTED IN TIME" AND SECTION 6.060 "ENFORCEMENT" OF THE SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL CODE. 5. Other Routine Matters a. Endorsement of Liquor License Application for McKenzie River Tap House, Located at 5818 Main Street, Springfield, OR. b. Endorsement of Liquor License Application for Noodle N Thai Restaurant, Located at 553 Main Street, Springfield, OR. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2015 Page 2 c. Endorsement of Liquor License Application for Lee's Mongolian Grill, Located at 1820 Olympic Street, Springfield, OR. d. Authorize City Manager to Sign a Contract Extension with Life Flight Network, LLC to Provide Inter -facility Critical Care Ambulance Transport Services from the Springfield Ambulance Service Area (ASA#5) to Other Locations. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WOODROW WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WYLIE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 FOR AND 0 AGAINST (1 ABSENT — RALSTON). 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. Main -McVay Transit Study. RESOLUTION NO. 2015-14 — A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD ACCEPTING THE SPRINGFIELD MAIN-MCVAY TRANSIT STUDY Community Development Manager for Transportation, Tom Boyatt, presented the staff report on this item. Council met in a work session on May 4 to review and discuss the Study recommendations as developed by the Stakeholder Advisory Committee and recommended to the Council and LTD Board by the Main Street Projects Governance Team. The Study recommendation is to move a narrowed range of potential solutions into a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) process for in depth detail and analysis. The purpose of the LPA process is to select a single alternative that is locally supported and can move forward to NEPA approvals prior to competing for state and federal funding. On the Main Street portion of the corridor the narrowed range of alternatives that are recommended for further detail and analysis are: no build, enhanced bus service, and bus rapid transit. On the McVay Highway portion of the corridor the narrowed range of alternatives for deeper analysis are no build and enhanced bus service. Council is asked to take public comments on the recommendations and consider whether or not to move the project forward to the LPA stage. Should Council choose to advance the project, a resolution endorsing the LPA process can be adopted. The LPA work would be paid for by LTD and take about 3 — 6 months to complete and would result in a project level decision for the specific transit improvements to pursue in the Main — McVay Corridor. Mr. Boyatt referred to two documents that had been provided to the Council. The first was a final summary report of public comments received between the publishing of the final summary report and the May 11, 2105 work session. The second is a final summary report of public comments received from May 11 through May 18, 2015. He also referred to Attachment 3 in the agenda packet which was the list, as requested by Council on May 4t', of Frequent Transit Network projects LTD is beginning the Level 1 screening process to assess and prioritize through the Moving Ahead project. He noted City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2015 Page 3 that the Main — McVay Corridor has now completed Level 1 Screening. There was an article in the Register Guard last week regarding the Moving Ahead study and looking at the seven corridors to come up with four corridors for further analysis. The Moving Ahead process is moving ahead on a path somewhat parallel to Main -McVay Transit, but it will be a year or so before the four selected corridors reach the point that the Main -McVay study would if Council chose to go forward. Each time LTD comes to Springfield to do business with the City, they each learn from each other. LTD is taking the process that was developed for Main -McVay and applying it to a broader number of corridors in the metro area. Mayor Lundberg opened the public hearing. George Grier, Springfield, OR. Mr. Grier serves as Chair of the Lane Area Commission on Transportation, but tonight he is speaking on behalf of himself as a participant in the Main Street Corridor Visioning process, the Commercial Industrial Buildable Lands Study, and the Residential Lands Study, all of which have laid out a clear and exciting future for Main Street. Main Street is the heart of Springfield's future. The Residential Lands Study envisions that most of Springfield's high density residential growth will occur along the corridor. A significant portion of the City's commercial growth and redevelopment will happen on Main Street. The corridor vision has provided a community -backed template for how that might occur, and the Main -McVay transit study maps out the framework that will provide the foundation for all of it. This is truly an example of "if you build it, they will come". The exciting transformation of Glenwood as transit -oriented redevelopment will provide a glimpse of what a robust transit corridor along Main Street can mean for Springfield's future. He encouraged Council to adopt the Study enthusiastically. One thing that Springfield's urban growth analysis has clearly shown is that regardless of the options, Springfield's future physical boundaries are constrained in all directions, and providing urban services in any direction will be extraordinarily expensive, particularly compared to enhancements within the existing UGB. Investment in transit along Main Street will catalyze redevelopment and provide significant return and increase in property values in proportion to the investment. Bree Nicolella, UO Student, Eugene, OR Ms. Nicolella is a junior in the Department of Public Policy Planning and Management at the University of Oregon (UO). She is also a project coordinator with the Sustainable Cities initiative, whose Sustainable City Year (SCY) program engaged with Springfield in 2011-2012. Today she is here as a representative of students of the UO. She had multiple students reach out to her when they found out about this project; students who have lived in Springfield, currently live in Springfield, or will soon work in Springfield. She read some of the students' testimonies, all of which were in favor of the transit study. She noted that the City of Springfield is expecting thousands of new residents by 2030. Young people and families are moving to Springfield, excited to live in a city with great schools, wonderful people and strong neighborhoods. Having a great frequent transit network in Springfield only further strengthens these wonderful qualities and provides a valuable amenity to residents, both old and new. Bob Choquette, Springfield, OR. Mr. Choquette works for the UO and rides the EmX to and from work every day. He expressed his support for the Main -McVay study and the three recommendations. The first recommendation is to advance as the most promising transit solution, the second is to further study the most promising transit solutions with the intent of identifying the locally preferred solutions, and the third is to study additional pedestrian crossings. In addition, it's important to improve traffic safety for all modes on the streets of Springfield. He supports the idea of exploring EmX as a path to get Federal Transit City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2015 Page 4 Administration funding that can be used to not only improve transit, but also safety along Main Street in Springfield. 4. Brett Rowlett, Eugene, OR. Mr. Rowlett is Director of Governmental and Community Relations for Lane Community College (LCC) and also served on the Main -McVay Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC). He encouraged the Council to support the recommendations before them. The Main -McVay SAC was a mix of citizens selected at large, and those representing education, business, and interest groups. The SAC met roughly ten times over the past year, they read the materials and came to the meeting prepared, and did not have a problem sharing their opinions. Members asked staff many questions in order to get information, and staff was great to work with. They did not enter this process with a predetermined outcome. In the end, there was almost full group consensus on what is before the Council. The SAC encourages more study and feels the City of Springfield could benefit from that study. They forwarded both the bus rapid transit (BRT) and enhanced bus options for Main Street to Thurston, and an enhanced bus service for the McVay area to LCC. Both also include the no -build option. They did not feel the ridership level justified BRT from McVay to LCC at this time, but encourage the Council to look at how transit services could be used to serve the future residential and commercial needs as the UGB expands. Students at LCC are very excited about the idea of transit improvements, both in the City of Springfield and out to campus. The students like the convenience and reliability of the BRT. The average age of student at LCC is 27, many of those young or single parents, and convenience is what they count on for transit. 5. Dani Wright, Springfield, OR. Ms. Wright is from McKenzie Feed and Pet Supply on Main Street. Her concern from the beginning was that her driveway would be blocked. The property she owns now is blocked by LTD so she had to get access on either side of her property to get permanent access. They have semi -trucks that need to access the business every day of the week, supplying goods. If this moves forward, it needs to retain access for businesses to get their products. Her customers need to be able to access her business to get the products they need for their pets and properties. Many of her customers come from out of town, so they need to support those people and not block their access. Doris Towery, Springfield, OR. Ms. Towery did serve for 6 years as a Board Member for LTD so has first-hand knowledge of this process. She thanked Mayor Lundberg and Councilor Woodrow for leaving such a robust process in our community and engaging our community to make sure all views and perspectives were included, and to make sure we had the opportunity to see all sides before making a recommendation. She strongly encouraged Council to move further study of this forward. She is a Springfield resident and lives and works on this corridor. Each day as she drives or rides the bus to and from work, she sees the people who are utilizing the transit system on that line, as well as seeing the number of patients at the medical facility where she works have access to quality healthcare because of the EmX system that runs in front of their organization. She was able to sit in on the listening sessions last summer to hear from business owners and residents. Overwhelmingly people were excited to hear the City look for opportunities, not just to improve the bus system, but also the safety and access along the corridor. Her children are in middle school and high school, and speaking with parents and students has heard support for this study, and to find options to improve the service. The #I I LTD line is the most productive line on the system, so looking at options to improve that system along his corridor making it easier for people to access our community and the Eugene community is critical. The study is recommending a more detailed analysis for potential transit solutions. It is important that they continue that analysis and look at those City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2015 Page 5 options. It is also important as they look at those options to consider going after federal funding. She noted the advantage and benefit transit had in Gateway and the number of jobs affected. She asked Council to support this moving forward. Emma Newman, Eugene, OR. Ms. Newman served on the Main -McVay SAC along with citizens, business and property owners, advocacy organizations representing both sides of the spectrum, freight, bike/ped, school district representatives, LCC and ODOT. It was a very diverse body that went through this initial process to narrow down what is being presented tonight. This process is not over. They have narrowed it down over the last year of work, but they don't have clear options that can be taken to the public to get more engaged and detailed. She encourages Council to adopt SAC's recommendation for further study. The SAC process was charged with addressing improving service along the corridor, meeting increased demand, and accommodating the population growth that is projected. They looked at economic revitalization and redevelopment opportunities, land use along both corridors, increasing the safety and security, a very important concern for this corridor, and enhance all modes of travel. From personal experience, she has seen the large number of students who attend Thurston High School and ride the bus. Giving these students the ability to access their homes and businesses along Main Street is important. She asked Council to consider further study and the potential investment and safety improvements along the corridor. Steve Moe, Glenwood, OR. Mr. Moe said he supports BRT to Thurston and the enhanced transit to LCC. He read from the resolution: "Whereas, stated objectives of the Main -McVay Transit Study include improving corridor transit service; meeting current and future transit demand in a cost-effective and sustainable manner; supporting economic development, revitalization and land use redevelopment opportunities for the corridor; enhancing the safety and security of the corridor; and, enhancing other modes of travel". He feels that's what we have to do. 9. Mike Eyster, Springfield, OR Mr. Eyster encouraged Council to support the proposal before them, and to commend them on the process. He was President of the LTD Board for five years during the development of the West 11 m line. The Springfield Council took a very pro -active, engaging approach to ensure public process in this next development. They established a Governance Committee, which he served for a while, and a Stakeholder Advisory Committee made up of a broadly represented group. That process can give the Council confidence that when they vote, they will know that the recommendation that came from those groups was broadly representative of the community. 10. Rob Zako, Eugene, OR. Mr. Zako serves as Executive Director for Better Eugene -Springfield Transit (BEST). He referred to the concerns expressed about access to businesses if something is done regarding transit improvements, both during construction and during operation. He noted that in west Eugene where construction is currently occurring, all businesses have a prominent sign stating that they are open for business. LTD has been very good to maintain access to all businesses during construction. He feels after construction that will also be the case. The recommendation before Council is not to construct, but to study and get more information to make an informed decision of what is right for Springfield. This makes sense for Springfield for two reasons: the City's future, and safety. Springfield is constrained on all sides and there will be tens of thousands of people coming into our community. Many of those people will be living along Main Street where much of the infill development and redevelopment is zoned. Many people drive cars, and many can't drive cars for a variety of reasons. The corridors in our community need to be used more efficiently and there is an City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2015 Page 6 opportunity here to look at how to serve the needs of today and the future, and to make smart decisions to continue to see Springfield thrive and grow. There are some easy, inexpensive things that can be done to make minor improvements in safety, but there are other things that will cost money. There is an opportunity to partner with the federal government to explore the options for projects that might improve transit and other things as well. If they want access to federal dollars to improve safety along the Main Street corridor, pursuing this to see what makes sense for Springfield could be a benefit. 11. Joseph Tokatly, Springfield, OR. Mr. Tokatly has been a business owner in this community for over thirty years, and also owns multiple properties, some of which are on Main Street. He has seen signs going up on the street in opposition to this project. He contacted the City about a month ago to find out who to talk with on this project. He was contacted and received information. He was asking for specific drawings or plans so they could see the concepts being proposed. His understanding is that nothing has been developed or presented yet other than the summary. What is alarming after hearing the testimony is that everyone that spoke, except the one property owner with concerns, is supportive of this project. The report states that over 400 businesses were visited, and door-to-door studies were conducted in January and February of this year. He is a business on Main Street and only received an email on Friday about this hearing. He contacted four different business people on Main Street to find out if they had received visits from LTD in January or February. Nobody visited his business, and nobody notified him as a property owner of multiple parcels on Main Street of this project that will impact him a great deal. He is surprised there are no other business and property representations if 400 people were visited. The business owners and properties along Main Street are going to be heavily impacted if this project moves forward, and they are not being notified. He is trying to attend to his business, and he knows the impact it will have on the community and the business properties. He is not saying he is against the project, but he would like to see what is being proposed. If property is being taken away or rendered useless, that would be a great detriment to the City of Springfield. Mayor Lundberg closed the public hearing. Mayor Lundberg said this is an extra process that wouldn't have been conducted except that the City wanted to establish whether or not there was a level of support. If there was no support to begin with, they would not go forward at all. Having a stakeholder committee allowed time to look at whether or not this was a good idea. There are no plans at this time. If approved by the Council, they would begin a study of what they want. This is the fourth variation of EmX that she has directly participated. She has high expectations from LTD that they own the project and help the City. When LTD met with businesses, they did not use the term EmX. That needs to get straightened out. Seeing this process several times, she sees the flaws that are repeated by LTD. She wants to see great transit in the community and LTD does a good job, but their planning process is lacking. We have a lot of planning processes that occur and there is no reason business and property owners are not being contacted. It can be an open and inclusive process. If they vote to forward this study, she is counting on LTD to be a partner and conduct an open and inclusive process, communicating with those most affected in that corridor. She wants the study done in such a way that everyone feels they have been heard. She doesn't want to move forward unless she has assurance from LTD. Councilor Pishioneri thanked those who spoke on this topic. He likes the project and is supportive, but he is concerned about the communication between LTD and the businesses. He wants to make sure there is support from the citizenry as well. He agrees with the Mayor on the process. LTD is a great organization and has a great transit system. The process can be done and done well in a way that City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2015 Page 7 doesn't negatively impact businesses, but would enhance them. We don't need a process where people don't feel included. Councilor Woodrow said they started this process about two years ago. She was very enthusiastic about it because they were looking at responding to what the community wanted. They didn't have a preconceived idea, but wanted to find out what the community wanted. There are people that they didn't make contact with that they should have included. They should have been advised of how to be included. This is the beginning and sets us up to conduct a study and find out more details. The project could help creates fluidity of people through town and out McVay, and also offers the opportunity to slow down traffic so they can see the businesses along Main Street and increase safety. They want to respond to what the community wants. If they move forward with the study, her expectations are that LTD will find out that information from the community. Councilor VanGordon thanked all of those that provided testimony. It is highly valued by the Council and the community. It is important to remember that this is the start to study this further. Many of the details and questions will get answered as they go forward. They are looking for two goals: businesses on Main Street to be very successful; and a Main Street that works better for the community. This is the start of the process to figure out both of those things. His challenge to the business owners is to bring their issues to the table and ask questions. He wants people to be able to access their businesses in a safe way, and for people to get down Main Street safely. His challenge to LTD is to meet with and talk to the businesses more than once or even twice. That is how they will get to the right place for the community. Councilor Moore agrees this is the beginning. She asked how there could be continued input from the businesses and who they would contact. She asked if LTD is taking it over from this point or if it would be staff led. Mr. Boyatt said the Locally Preferred Alternative process would have its own, developed public process. The message from Council to LTD is being heard. This will be the more detailed process, including plans. The goal of City staff would be to advise LTD and construct a process that is as inclusive as possible. The resources are there to do it that way. Councilor Moore asked if the plans would be coming back to Council. Mr. Boyatt said the purpose of the LPA process is to have the municipal authority locally choose the preference. It will come back to Council and they will have control over that decision. Councilor Moore said they would encourage the public to continue to be included and involved in the process. Councilor Wylie said she had been involved in the planning and visioning of this project for almost twenty years. This is about our community, Main Street and the businesses, including access both during construction and increased after construction. She knows the Mayor and Council have deep support for improving transportation needs in the community and serving the public, and will be responsive to the businesses along Main Street. Safety is number one on this corridor, but it also needs to be economically successful and keeping our businesses connected to the community through transportation systems. The final goal is to increase livability for all of our community in the future. As they go forward, they need to work together for this improvement. They want it to be successful for everybody. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2015 Page 8 IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WOODROW WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WYLIE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 2015-14. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 FOR AND 0 AGAINST (1 ABSENT — RALSTON). BUSINESS FROM THE AUDIENCE Jacob Tom, Springfield, OR. Mr. Tom spoke regarding the closure of 16th Street. He is a resident in this neighborhood, a small business owner and a physician. His business is twelve feet away from 16th Street, and it overlooks I Street. He has walked that street for ten years. That street is very beautiful with flowering pear trees. He is in favor of the hospital expansion, but he wants it done smartly and considerately. He wants to see that street preserved because it is a critical corridor for the community. During our lives, we see other things besides a hospital. Unfortunately, there is convergence of institutions within the hospital corridor that actually closes off Springfield between the north and south. From 7th to 21 st Streets, there are only three streets that go all the way through north to south from Centennial to Main Streets: 10th Street, 16th Street, and Mohawk Boulevard. He asked Council to consider what would happen if they were to close 16th Street and Mohawk due to construction. He asked them to think of preserving and maintaining the current infrastructure and livability in that area. They need that corridor preserved so they have access north and south to Main Street. 2. Jim Straub, Springfield, OR — Mr. Straub said he was representing Oak Management LLC and Straub Family Trust in regards to the College View urban growth boundary (UGB) expansion. At the last Council meeting on May 4, he was not able to attend but sent some correspondence. As this UGB expansion has been talked about, he has participated in all of the public working groups and visioning studies. As always, there are vocal minorities involved. He feels there is more to discuss on this subject. The land he and his sister own is the single, largest contiguous parcel in that area, and would be desirable from a planning perspective to have it included. There might be ways a win-win could be achieved. Having participated in the studies and listened to the concerned neighbors, there have been a lot of avenues that haven't been explored. He is not sure of the process, but wanted to let them know he is open to more communication with the planning department. Leonard Tarantola, Eugene, OR. Mr. Tarantola spoke on traffic and low-income housing. He has noticed more and more congestions and gridlock in countries he has visited over the last few years. The concept of nodal communities surrounded by the everyday necessities of life is a way to reduce some of that congestion. He visualized high density housing, in the middle of a nodal community with people that work and live in that area, and he feels the Mohawk Shopping Center would be a good place for something like that. An ideal parcel is next to Bi - Mart. The concept is to get cars off the road, eliminate the need for an automobile for one hundred people at a time living in this high density community, and they could reduce fossil fuel consumption, clean up the air, reduce bumper to bumper traffic, etc. If he could build that 100 -unit apartment complex mixed-use, with interest free money from philanthropists, he would have the flexibility to keep the rent at a rate that would attract tenants. The average tenant would pay about $600/month in rent, half of which would go back to the philanthropist and half back to the tenant's in an equity account. In a ten-year period, the tenants could accumulate about $30,000, and would then move on to other housing. He thinks the philanthropists are in the right frame of mind to help the public elevate and diminish the gap between the haves and the have-nots. He just needs to find the philanthropist and will then need the city to modify the regulations for parking. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2015 Page 9 4. Pat Handy, Eugene, OR Mr. Handy serves as the Plant Operations Director at McKenzie Willamette Hospital and has been employed there for twenty-four years. He was here to advocate for the vacation of 16`h Street. Twenty-five years ago he was one of the residents of H Street that butts up against 16th Street. He agrees the trees along the street are beautiful, but he knows there are other ways to get to the businesses and streets. Anyone who has visited McKenzie Willamette as a patient knows that parking is an issue. Growth is wonderful, but the footprint of the property is not very large. This vacation is needed to assist in creating needed parking. It is also needed for ensuring continuity for growth for the businesses in the area in partnership with the hospital. He appreciates the support of the City Council and the Springfield residents who have been supportive of the hospital. COUNCIL, RESPONSE CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS 1. Correspondence from the League of Oregon Cities (LOC) Regarding Funding the LOC Foundation. 2. Correspondence from Jacob Tom, Springfield, OR Regarding the 16th Street Vacation. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WOODROW WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WYLIE TO ACCEPT THE CORRESPONDENCE FOR FILING. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 FOR AND 0 AGAINST (1 ABSENT — RALSTON). IZI00 ORDINANCES 1. Utility Tax Code Update. ORDINANCE NO.2 — AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL CODE SECTIONS 4.707 "TAX FOR PROVIDING UTILITY SERVICE," 4.716 "AUDITS"ADOPTING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. (FIRST READING) Rhonda Rice, Management Analyst, presented the staff report on this item. During the 2014 update of the Utility Tax ordinance, the 4.716 Audit section inadvertently omitted the inclusion of the new 4.707 section reference. Also, staff reviewed the 4.707 section and proposes adding language to give revenue remittance detail for the tax amount and calculation of payment. Staff have prepared a new ordinance to rectify the omission and to give clarity. There is no financial impact as a result of this ordinance. The ordinance will add language that will include text that will give the City the ability to audit Utilities providing service under chapter 4.707 and will allow greater detail in the gross revenue remittance to the City from these Utility License holders. The corrections include the following: 1. In the language of the title of Municipal Code 4.716, add "and Fee Review". 2. In the language of Municipal Code 4.716, `and section 4.707' language was omitted following the words `section 4.706'. 3. Staff have also adjusted section 4.707 paragraph 5 to give detail to the revenue remittance on the amount and calculation of the tax submitted. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2015 Page 10 Staff have rewritten these references to include the appropriate section and language. A second reading on this ordinance is scheduled for June 1, 2015. NO ACTION REQUESTED. FIRST READING ONLY. BUSINESS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL 1. Committee Appointments 2. Business from Council 1. Committee Reports 2. Other Business a. Councilor VanGordon asked if staff would get back in touch with Mr. Straub regarding the UGB expansion discussion and continue to work with him. Mr. Grimaldi said they would follow-up. BUSINESS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 1. 16t` Street Vacation. ORDINANCE NO. 6336 - AN ORDINANCE VACATING A PORTION OF 16TH STREET BETWEEN G AND I STREETS. Senior Planner Andy Limbird presented the staff report on this item. McKenzie -Willamette Medical Center has initiated the vacation action in accordance with Section 3.200 of the Springfield Municipal Code and Section 5.2-120 of the City's Development Code. The two -block section of right-of-way proposed for vacation is a 36 -foot wide paved street within a 60 - foot wide right-of-way. Sixteenth Street is classified as a local street and currently provides a continuous connection between Main Street and Centennial Boulevard. The City Council conducted a public hearing for the vacation proposal on May 4, 2015 and 11 people provided verbal testimony: five in favor of the proposal and five against the proposal. The applicant's traffic engineer also provided supporting testimony to answer questions posed by the City Council. Persons testifying in opposition to the proposed vacation expressed concerns about the public notification procedures, potential effects on neighborhood traffic circulation patterns, creation of institutional "superblocks" generally located between 7'i' and 18th Streets and within the G Street to J Street latitude, and the potential changes to H Street upon closure of the two intersections at 16th Street. Staff s response is added to the staff report for Council consideration. Staff advises that vacation of the right-of-way also would require provision of a public utility easement across the vacation area to allow for maintenance, repair, and replacement of existing utility infrastructure and construction of a planned multi -use bicycle/pedestrian connection to replace the existing sidewalk that runs along the east edge of the subject right-of-way. The Vacation Ordinance has been revised to provide for suitable public utility and access easements within the subject vacation area. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2015 Page I1 Councilor Moore asked if there was going to be an expanded number of parking spaces when the hospital is expanded. Mr. Limbird said there would be. He did not have that number, but it would be several hundred. The building is adding about 145,000 square feet of floor area in the expansion, and there is a proportionate requirement of parking. The parking expansion is planned for the south side of G Street. The 16th Street right-of-way is proposed to be incorporated within the combined parking area immediately adjacent to the building currently. There is also a parking lot on the east side of 16th Street that will be blended with the others. The former direct travel lanes will be reconfigured to allow for parking and traffic circulation within that area. Councilor VanGordon asked about the pear trees and if they would be maintained. Mr. Limbird said there are two trees in the 16th Street right-of-way on the west side that are proposed to be removed. There are also about 100 trees inside the hospital grounds that are proposed for removal due to the building expansion and parking lot configuration. The public street trees along 16th Street are not to be removed or affected. Councilor Moore said she is very happy that McKenzie Willamette is expanding, but she is concerned about closing 16th Street and will vote against it. This is a for-profit hospital. It would be great if they could build a parking structure that was connected to the hospital with an overhead walk. She feels there are some better ways to go about providing safety for people to move back and forth for parking, especially if a parking structure were built. Councilor Woodrow asked about the consent response. Mr. Limbird said there was consent to the vacation action required by the abutting property owners. Those were the properties that shared the right-of-way in the two -block segment, as well as the property owners off either end. The hospital is also a property owner along that right-of-way. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WOODROW WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WYLIE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 6336. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 4 FOR AND I AGAINST (MOORE) (1 ABSENT — RALSTON). 2. 16th Street Vacation Resolution. RESOLUTION NO. 2015-15 - A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL, OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD TO WAIVE THE ASSESSMENT OF SPECIAL BENEFIT FOR VACATION OF A PORTION OF 16TH STREET BETWEEN G AND I STREETS Senior Planner Andy Limbird presented the staff report on this item. He noted that he had forgotten to mention that there is a provision in the vacation ordinance for the vacation to revert to public ownership should the expansion not proceed. McKenzie -Willamette Medical Center is requesting vacation of a two -block segment of 16th Street between G and I Street to facilitate a planned expansion of the hospital campus. In accordance with Section 3.204(3) of the Springfield Municipal Code, the City Council can choose to waive the assessment of special benefit for a vacation of public right-of-way if it is deemed to be in the public interest. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2015 Page 12 The City Council conducted a public hearing for the vacation proposal on May 4, 2015 and the Vacation Ordinance was presented and approved by Council earlier this evening. The staff report, applicant's submittal, and supporting information for the Vacation Ordinance are included in the May 18, 2015 City Council packet under separate cover. If the City Council determines that the vacation action is in the public interest, staff recommends that the City Council adopts a Resolution commemorating the waiver of assessment of special benefit for the public right-of-way. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WOODROW WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WYLIE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2015-15. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 4 FOR AND 1 AGAINST (MOORE) (1 ABSENT — RALSTON). 3. Franklin Boulevard TIGER 7 Match Pledge. RESOLUTION NO. 2015-16 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD AGREEING TO ASSIST IN FULFILLING THE MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED FOR THE 2015 TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT GENERATING ECONOMIC RECOVERY GRANT. Community Development Manager for Transportation, Tom Boyatt, presented the staff report on this item. The City of Springfield desires to apply to USDOT for $15,000,000 to complete the Franklin Boulevard project. The TIGER (Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery) grant program is very competitive and projects with substantial local match are more likely to be awarded. The TIGER application process calls for evidence that the applicant jurisdiction will honor its match pledge. $500,000,000 is available nationally for TIGER discretionary grants through the seventh round of that program, with applications due no later than June 5, 2015. The City intends to apply for $15,000,000 matched by an additional $6,000,000 in local funds. The sources of the City's match are: $3,000,000 ODOT jurisdictional transfer revenue; $1,000,000 storm water capital funds; and, $2,000,000 in a combination of room tax revenue and urban renewal capital investment funds. The purpose of the attached Resolution is to demonstrate to the USDOT that the City is prepared to honor its match pledge to secure a TIGER 7 grant. Both the Oregon Department of Transportation and Lane Transit District will be official Partner Agencies for the TIGER request, and the Project also enjoys strong support from the Central Lane MPO, the Lane ACT, the City of Eugene, Lane County and a host of other private, public and non-profit organizations. The City is now in the process of preparing final design and right of way for the first phase of Franklin construction using $6,000,000 in Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds, $3,600,000 in local matching funds, and almost $1,000,000 in Connect Oregon 5 funds. ODOT has committed to `de -federalizing' the Phase 1 STIP dollars in order to leverage the state and local match share of the project should the City receive a TIGER grant. The TIGER 7 request, supported by additional local match, will construct the balance of the Franklin Boulevard upgrade not already funded. There is a low probability that there will be much, if anything, City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2015 Page 13 in the way of STIP funds for any enhanced projects out to 2021 at the earliest, and the Franklin Project has already seen its share of STIP dollars within the Lane ACT. In combination, this means that it will be very difficult to complete Franklin Boulevard through normal funding processes, outside of programs like TIGER bringing new, flexible dollars to the table. Should this TIGER 7 request be successful, SEDA funding in Glenwood for other major projects would be substantially curtailed until revenues increase from new property investments or other funds emerge from property sales, for example. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WOODROW WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WYLIE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2015-16. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 FOR AND 0 AGAINST (1 ABSENT — RALSTON). BUSINESS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned 8:10 p.m. Minutes Recorder Amy Sowa 4�� X�� �/ . 4 Christine L. Lundberg O Mayor Attest: City Reorder rder