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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/16/2016 Work Session City of Springfield Work Session Meeting MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD TUESDAY FEBRUARY 16,2016 The City of Springfield Council met in a work session in the Jesse Maine Meeting Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Tuesday,February 16,2016 at 6:30 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 Mary Bridget Smith, City Recorder Amy Sowa and members of the staff. 1. An Ordinance Amending Chapter 6, Vehicles and Traffic, Adding Section 6.112 to the Springfield Municipal Code,Unlawful Transfer on Vehicular Portion of the Right-of-Way. Chief of Police,Tim Doney, presented the staff report on this item. The proposed amendment would prohibit motor vehicles from stopping in the roadway for the purpose of transferring property to pedestrians, and would prohibit pedestrians from accepting property from drivers or passengers of vehicles unless those vehicles are legally parked. Staff is requesting that Council discuss the potential for such an Ordinance in Springfield; and to provide direction to staff to continue or not continue development of such an ordinance. Chief Doney said this is not a panhandling ordinance,but rather a safety and traffic flow issue. This moves the activity onto private property with the permission of the property owner, or to a legal parking area. There are a number of other cities that have enacted a similar ordinance. With this ordinance,those engaging in a transfer of property would be fined up to $50. He noted charitable organizations that collect funds from drivers at intersections. There is a process for those groups to file appropriate paperwork through the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)to allow those activities. This ordinance moves that activity out of the roadway and onto safe areas. He had witnessed times when people soliciting money had stepped into traffic and vehicles had stopped suddenly. Chief Doney said if something like this was enacted, staff would put up signs to alert people to the ordinance. When he was employed in Medford, a similar ordinance was enacted. They noticed that once the signs went up,the activity went down. Cottage Grove has issued no citations, and issued several warnings. Medford,with a population of about 80,000, has issued 6 citations. Staff would promote the education to the citizenry. Councilor Pishioneri said this would not apply if a person stops to assist someone that is broken down and off the road. Those people could still help out with gas money or fuel because they are not in the roadway. Chief Doney said that is correct. It would not be a violation. Councilor Pishioneri noted several charitable organizations who would not be affected. He noted that last week when at the intersection of Highway 126 to Main Street, a young teen was sent out of her car City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes February 16,2016 Page 2 to give someone money along the side of the road as the light turned green. This was definitely safety related. He understands people want to show compassion, so he feels the way it is written is fair and includes the ability to allow that. This tries to create a safe situation. Councilor Woodrow said there is a lot of concern in seeing people in traffic transferring money while lights are changing to green and causing traffic delays. It is a safety issue for drivers, pedestrians and those receiving the funds. She asked how the minimal amount of fines issued was determined. Chief Doney said in his experience,there was a lot of education that went out and there was a lot of value in the signage. That would be something staff would look at for heavily trafficked areas. Councilor Moore addressed a concern from a caller and asked if this would prohibit someone from giving to those in need publicly. Chief Doney said it would not. It was modeled after an ordinance that was drafted down south and related to traffic and safety, and not the right to give funds or services to others. Councilor VanGordon said safety along our roadways is an important issue in our community. He is very interested in hearing public comment and hearing what they have to say. Councilor Wylie said sometimes when handing out funds, it takes time to come up to get the funds, and some people hold onto the giver. She hopes people support agencies that assist. There is an unintended consequence that they may receive less funds. Overall she's supportive of the safety features. Chief Doney said at a particular intersection in Medford,the activity was moved to a shopping complex with the approval of the property owner, allowing the activity to continue. Mayor Lundberg asked if the fine would heard at the Municipal Court. Chief Doney said it would be heard at Municipal Court and is not a jailable offense. He didn't anticipate this being a heavy handed approach, but more a public education campaign. Last year,they did have a lot of pedestrian fatalities. Mayor Lundberg said people looking for and distributing cash could also be considered distracted driving. She agrees they should move forward. Mr. Grimaldi said if Council wants to move forward,they will schedule a public hearing on this ordinance before Council makes a decision. Council agreed with that course of action. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m. Minutes Recorder—Amy Sowa City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes February 16,2016 Page 3 /s�li�ilGvZ� Christine L. Lundberg Mayor Attest: WA& Amy Sowa City Recorder