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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 03 Council MinutesAGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 12/5/2016 Meeting Type: Regular Meeting Staff Contact/Dept.: Amy Sowa Staff Phone No: 541-726-3700 Estimated Time: Consent Calendar S P R I N G F I E L D C I T Y C O U N C I L Council Goals: Mandate ITEM TITLE: COUNCIL MINUTES ACTION REQUESTED: By motion, approval of the attached minutes. ISSUE STATEMENT: The attached minutes are submitted for Council approval. ATTACHMENTS: Minutes: a. November 21, 2016 – Work Session b. November 21, 2016 – Regular Meeting DISCUSSION/ FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. City of Springfield Work Session Meeting MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2016 The City of Springfield Council met in a work session in the Jesse Maine Meeting Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday November 21, 2016 at 6:00 p.m., with Mayor Lundberg presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Mayor Lundberg and Councilors VanGordon, Wylie, Ralston, Woodrow and Pishioneri. Also present were City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Attorney Mary Bridget Smith, City Recorder Amy Sowa and members of the staff. Councilor Moore was absent (excused). 1. Springfield’s Legislative Agenda 2017. Niel Laudati, Legislative and Public Affairs Manager, presented the staff report on this item. In an effort to gain input and work towards an efficient and clear process for the upcoming 2017 Oregon Legislative session that runs from February 1, 2017 – July 9, 2017 the City has developed a new plan with a goal to ensure that the Springfield community’s interests are advanced and/or protected throughout the legislative session. The Springfield Final Draft Legislative Agenda and the 2017 Legislative Priorities have been compiled with input from the Mayor and Council, the League of Oregon Cities and discussions with our local representatives. There are five main areas for engagement during the legislative session: 1. Identifying goals 2. Defining our resources and roles 3. Our system for tracking, assessing and responding to bills 4. Our communications protocol and expectations for all parties 5. Drafting an extensive and approved list of priorities. Mr. Laudati said this is a new process and the first time the City has taken a proactive approach to legislation. This will provide a tracking mechanism to address bills and legislation that have impacts on our community at the onset of the process. He described the following goals: Actively engage the Mayor and Council on legislative issues – creating opportunities for participation in the legislative process Establish ongoing communication with the local and federal delegation. Protect Springfield’s interests by monitoring proposed legislation. Actively engage in the upcoming transportation funding discussion Maintain working relationships with partner agencies The City is fortunate to have engaged professionals in our ranks. This level of professional ability extends beyond the direct work completed for the City and community, but also involvement with City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes November 21, 2016 Page 2 external groups including policy boards, advisory groups, professional associations and general interest. This internal team will serve as a Legislative Committee who will work with Mr. Laudati and the Council Legislative Committee to track and review bills throughout the session. In addition to our staff resources, the City plans to contract with a Salem lobbyist to represent many of our interests. The lobbyist is Elizabeth Howe, principal for Howe Public Affairs. Elizabeth is a well- respected partner who also contracts with City of Eugene. This will provide us with the long discussed option of having a state-level ‘United Front’ on agreed upon priorities. Ms. Howe has a bill tracking system that she will train staff to use to enter information on bills that affect the City. It will help to prioritize the bills and allow the Mayor, Council and staff to track the bills through the whole process. Having a public affairs representative in Salem full-time will allow the City to work with our legislature in a different way to determine their needs and position Springfield in a way to help them. Council and staff can expect weekly updates on bills and where we are in the process, and how the Mayor and Council could have some input or testify. Mr. Laudati referred to Attachment 2 of the agenda packet which provided a long list of priorities and issues that are important to Springfield and other cities along the I-5 corridor. We will have the advantage of working closely with the City of Eugene, but in areas where the two cities disagree, Ms. Howe will pull back and allow each city to lobby on their own as appropriate. Staff met with the Legislative Committee today and they felt we were on the right track. Councilor Woodrow asked if they had given Ms. Howe parameters so she will know what’s important specifically to each city. Mr. Laudati said staff and the Council will determine what is important and relay that to her. She has already started pulling information together, and staff will continue to provide input on important bills as they come up. Staff has a good idea of where the Council wants the City to go, and will continue to get input from staff and the Council. Councilor Woodrow asked if there will be an opportunity to provide input on something that looks like it will be presented as a bill. Mr. Laudati said Ms. Howe has already provided a list of possible upcoming bills. Councilor Wylie asked how the League of Oregon Cities (LOC) legislative agenda fit in with ours. Mr. Laudati said it fits well. City staff are working with the LOC, and Mr. Laudati attends the LOC Legislative Committee meetings. Having a lobbyist in Salem provides more time to interact with the LOC to make sure our priorities match. Councilor Wylie asked to see that information in the report. Councilor Ralston said the Legislative Committee just met and made some additions and deletions to the list. Mr. Laudati said the list was very large and would be refined. One of the items on the list was the issue with levees and the one in Springfield that needs to be addressed. The Mayor signed a letter that was sent to the Governor asking them to look at how we need to handle this levee and the thousands of people it impacts in Springfield. Transportation funding is another very big topic that needs to be City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes November 21, 2016 Page 3 addressed during this session. Some of that discussion includes how the transportation bill is funded and specifics Council would not want to see as an option. They also want to look at the bills that focus on environment and how our community feels about things and wants to see things happen. Another part of the discussion was regarding labor costs, public safety items and expansion of the previous bill #4110 regarding health insurance and how we bill. Councilor Ralston said they pulled the item that referenced carbon taxes. Mr. Laudati said an update of the list would be provided with the changes. The City will continue to work with Smith, Dawson, Andrews (SDA) on the federal level and United Front. Given what the City is doing with cross-laminated timber (CLT) and Career Technical Education (CTE), this is an exciting time as we partner with our school district when we go back to Washington DC. Mayor Lundberg said transportation is a huge issue, and how we will have money to spend to keep our roads up and completing projects. Several agencies put together transportation packages such as the LOC, the AOC (Association of Oregon Counties), OMPOC (Oregon Metropolitan Planning Organization Consortium), the Oregon Transportation Forum, the Mayor’s Association, and state legislators also gathered input from around the state. There are many similarities among all groups. All things will be worthy of looking at and trying to come to an agreement in the transportation field during the upcoming session. She is very interested in how this comes together and how to match it with federal. Another topic was housing, which mostly comes from the federal government. We can advocate for issues that will affect Springfield. Council was very excited about this plan. Councilor Ralston said this will be a model of how things need to be done. 2. Housing Female Inmates in the Municipal Jail. AIC Chief Rick Lewis presented the staff report on this item. The Springfield Municipal Jail, which opened in January of 2010, was designed and constructed to allow the housing of both male and female inmates. Since opening, the City of Springfield has chosen to continue housing female inmates at the Lane County Jail. The City houses five sentenced, male inmates from Lane County and in exchange the County houses five female inmates, some pre-sentence and some sentenced. The City has been interested in increasing the number of available female beds; however the County has not reciprocated due to their own operational considerations. Earlier this year, the City received notice that, effective June 30, 2017, the County would no longer house Springfield’s female inmates. In order to accommodate female inmates, the Municipal Jail will designate the F-Pod as the female pod in the jail, per the original design. The Jail will convert two of the double-occupancy cells into single cells to house female inmates that require solo housing. The overall impact of this change will be that overall male bed capacity will decrease from 100 beds to 86, and that female bed capacity will increase from 5 (from the exchange program) to 14. Current average daily population in the jail is around 65. The decrease in male bed capacity should not cause any significant negative issues, and the increased capacity for female inmates will improve the overall performance of the criminal justice system in Springfield. City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes November 21, 2016 Page 4 Accepting female inmates will likely increase the cost of medical services in the jail. That contract is currently in negotiation, and more details will be brought to the Council when they are available. There is also an existing need for a second padded cell, and that project will be moved up on the priority list as a result of accepting female inmates. The options are to house female inmates at the Municipal Jail, or rent beds from Lane County at a cost of about $117 per day/per inmate. If they were to move forward to house female inmates, staff would need to review and update their policies, and make sure they had enough female detention officers, but not 24 hours a day. Currently they have 3 female detention officers, and several female police officers and employees. There are also privacy concerns regarding the facilities. Female inmates would also need to be given the same opportunities as the male inmates, such as serving on the work crew. Some of the benefits include an increased number of beds for female inmates which would give the Courts more leeway, it should reduce the number of failures to appear (FTA), and it would require less driving and processing time for the officers. Councilor Ralston asked if we had ever exceeded 86 beds on our own. Chief Lewis said the second year the Jail was open, our highest occupancy was 92. A lot of that was cleaning up the FTA’s. Councilor Ralston asked if we could rent female cells to other jurisdictions. He thinks this is a plus all the way around. Those arrested in Springfield should be jailed in Springfield. Councilor Pishioneri said this is a good step forward. There are things he wants to make sure they are aware of or will be checking. He understands they are waiting for inspection. He noted the section under Chapter 169 regarding hourly checks on inmates. There could be an issue if there were only male officers for single cells since they need to look through the window to make sure the inmate is breathing. He asked if they would have audio/video surveillance in those locations to protect the City against allegations. Chief Lewis said has staff was looking into that. As long as the cameras are not pointed towards showers, etc. they may be able to have them in the quad. They also think they may be able to get reports on when the door is opened and closed. Councilor Pishioneri spoke regarding card swipe technology will log when the doors are open and closed, as will pneumatic doors. They will need to look at the opportunity for women to get work credit if eligible so they are being treated equal to the male inmates. He hoped there would be a priority that any female staff member could search inmates as soon as possible after the arrest so they are not being held for too long of a time. Some departments have patrol or even office staff do the search. It can be dangerous to hold someone for too long for a number of reasons. Chief Lewis said they are looking into all of those opportunities. Councilor Wylie said this is a good plan. She asked if we were renting beds for income. Chief Lewis said they were hoping adding female inmate will increase the number of beds they are able to rent to Eugene since it would give them more options. Councilor Wylie asked why Lane County decided not to house our female inmates anymore. City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes November 21, 2016 Page 5 Chief Lewis said there are a number of factors; liability was one reason. Councilor Woodrow said she likes the idea and the plan. She asked if they have an expectation of how those beds might fill up; all at once or a few at a time. Chief Lewis said it will likely be gradual, based on the back log from the Court. It may not fill up completely. Councilor VanGordon said he agrees with moving forward with this and is supportive. He liked the way they were thinking. Mayor Lundberg asked if our cost was lower than the County. Chief Lewis said Springfield charges $85 per night and Lane County charges $117 per night. Mayor Lundberg asked if the offenses of women inmates are similar to those of the men. Chief Lewis said they are similar in the crimes being committed. In the past, felonies were rare among women, but it is not unusual for women to be arrested for robbery now. Often, the male and female offenders are arrested as a team. This would allow us to treat both inmates equally instead of sending the female to Lane County. Mayor Lundberg said when they set up the jail, we knew at some point it would include both male and female offenders. Chief Lewis said the County has given the City until the end of June 2017 to make the change. He will work on getting this done by the end of February or early March. Mayor Lundberg said Council was supportive of moving forward. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:36 p.m. Minutes Recorder – Amy Sowa ______________________ Christine L. Lundberg Mayor Attest: ____________________ Amy Sowa City Recorder City of Springfield Regular Meeting MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2016 The City of Springfield Council met in regular session in the Council Chambers, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday November 21, 2016 at 7:00 p.m., with Mayor Lundberg presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Mayor Lundberg and Councilors VanGordon, Wylie, Ralston, Woodrow and Pishioneri. Also present were City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Attorney Mary Bridget Smith, City Recorder Amy Sowa and members of the staff. Councilor Moore was absent (excused). PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Lundberg. SPRINGFIELD UPBEAT 1. Mayor’s Recognition a. Extra Mile Day Proclamation. Mayor Lundberg read from the proclamation which proclaimed November 1, 2016 as Extra Mile Day, and encouraged all of the citizens of Springfield to recognize those that volunteer their time in the community and Go the Extra Mile. 2. Other a. Employee Recognition: Amy Sowa, 15 Years of Service City Manager Gino Grimaldi introduced Amy Sowa and presented her with a plaque. He acknowledged her 15 years of service with the City of Springfield and some of her accomplishments. Ms. Sowa thanked the Mayor and Council and expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to work for the City over the past 15 years. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Claims a. Approval of the October, 2016 Disbursements for Approval. 2. Minutes a. September 19, 2016 – Regular Meeting City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 21, 2016 Page 2 b. September 26, 2016 – Work Session c. October 3, 2016 – Work Session d. October 10, 2016 – Work Session e. October 17, 2016 – Work Session f. October 17, 2016 – Regular Meeting g. October 24, 2016 – Work Session h. November 7, 2016 – Joint Elected Officials Regular Meeting i. November 14, 2016 – Work Session j. November 14, 2016 – Special Regular Meeting 3. Resolutions 4. Ordinances a. ORDINANCE NO. 6360 – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SPRINGFIELD DEVELOPMENT CODE, SECTION 5.15 MINIMUM DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, SPECIFICALLY SECTIONS 5.15-100- PURPOSE AND 5.15-110- APPLICABILITY; EXPANDING THE LOCATION, SIZE AND TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ELIGIBLE FOR MINISTERIAL PROCESSING; ADOPTING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 5. Other Routine Matters a. Authorize the City Manager to sign contract C1771 with Hawes Technology LLC for $207,200 and execute all documents required to effect the transaction. b. Approve Amended Springfield Arts Commission (SAC) Bylaws. c. Approval of Liquor License Application for The 4th Turn, Located at 563 W Centennial Blvd, Springfield, OR. d. Approval of Liquor License Application for CJ’s Eatery 1, Located at 2152 Marcola Road, Springfield, OR. e. Approval of Liquor License Application for CJ’s Eatery 3, Located at 5721 Main Street, Springfield, OR. f. Authorize City Manager to sign a 2nd Amendment to the agreement with Willamette Community Health Solutions DBA Cascade Health Solutions to extend the contract in the amount not to exceed $200,000 to provide primary and preventative medical services for the City’s Wellness Clinic. 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 – MOORE). 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. Virginia-Daisy Bikeway Project Draft Final Design Concept. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 21, 2016 Page 3 The Virginia-Daisy Bikeway project has been developed using significant community involvement in the planning process and design concept development. The draft final design concept is the result of design refinement based on neighborhood input, feedback from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and guidance from the Planning Commission and City Council. Staff reviewed the draft final concept with City Council during the September 6th Work Session. Once the final design concept is approved, staff will proceed with detailed engineering design and construction. The goal is to construct the project in summer 2017. The Virginia-Daisy Bikeway Project is funded through an $800,000 grant from the ODOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Transportation Enhancement Program, which provides funding to improve biking and walking transportation facilities. Staff has worked to efficiently use funds to accomplish many City goals with one project by integrating bikeway treatments, key safety improvements for all road users, street maintenance, storm water treatment, and ADA upgrades. The Bikeway will integrate and complete Springfield Transportation System Plan projects PB-36: Virginia-Daisy Bikeway and R-38: South 42nd Street/Daisy Street Intersection Improvements for much less cost than the cost of planning and building the two projects separately. The project also helps fulfill the requirements of the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit and supports the City of Springfield’s 7 Key Stormwater Goals. Mayor Lundberg opened the public hearing. 1. Michael McKern, Eugene, OR. Mr. McKern said he has lived in Lane County his whole life. He recreates in Springfield often even though he lives in Eugene. He ran into a contractor on the job site at the new Clear Water Mill Path extension and was very happy to talk with him. The contractor was very happy about his employment, but also knew a lot about what the Virginia-Daisy bikeway and Mill Race Path would do for that area. It has been a gift to be able to bike in this area and he asked the Council to approve this and we will see a complete street with benefits for all including residents, bicyclists and the environment. He was recently hired to work for the City of Eugene Recreation Department at the River House Outdoor Program. Through this program, he goes to schools to teach youth how to actively integrate themselves into being a roadway user. The Virginia-Daisy Bikeway is a wonderful example and with the close proximity to Agnes Stewart Middle School, it will benefit those students. 2. Claudia Denton, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) Vice Chair, Springfield, OR Ms. Denton read from a letter that was approved by the BPAC on October 11, 2016. The letter expressed their support for the final design concept of the Virginia-Daisy Bikeway, and their gratitude to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) for the transportation enhancement grants that are helping fund this project and to the City council for supporting improvements to the Virginia-Daisy corridor. These improvements will contribute to the Springfield bicycle network, safety and quality of life in the community. The BPAC appreciates the opportunity to be involved and for the community input that was received on this project. She noted the outreach done on this project to the community and how it will benefit the whole community. The BPAC commends staff for their commitment to public involvement and finding the best fit for the community. Mayor Lundberg closed the public hearing. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 21, 2016 Page 4 IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR WOODROW WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR WYLIE TO APPROVE THE DRAFT FINAL DESIGN CONCEPT FOR THE VIRGINIA-DAISY BIKEWAY PROJECT. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 FOR AND 0 AGAINST (1 ABSENT – MOORE). BUSINESS FROM THE AUDIENCE 1. Robert Christensen, Springfield, OR Mr. Christensen spoke regarding a property two houses from him that has had drug activity occurring since 2013 and continues today. It is continuing to persist. He did note that the neighborhood members in the audience have appreciated the assistance of the Police Department. On Halloween Eve, the group of felons and drug addicts were supposed to have left the house. Within 48 hours, they had successfully vacated the residence, but within a few days they were able to pay to get their water turned back on and they moved back in. They focus on methamphetamine now and there have been drug deals witnessed in the street. This could happen in any home in Springfield. He presented a modest proposal that in the event a property with known felons where drug activity is taking place and with hazards to the neighborhood, that Springfield Utility Board (SUB) would not be required to provide services. 2. Gerald Hunter, Springfield, OR. Mr. Hunter said he lives next to the drug house. He noted that the neighbors had an outdoor toilet dug into their backyard with a tent over it, and garbage is pile high and wide. Sometimes the smell is horrible. There are wet mattresses. At night, the men go out on bicycles one way, and girls go out the other way. One of the men involved in the house next door is now across the street doing bicycles: taking them apart, sanding them and repainting them. 3. Allie Camp, Springfield, OR Ms. Kemp said she is the Chair of the BPAC. She read from a letter approved by the BPAC on October 11, 2016. The letter commended the City on the Mayor’s Challenge, Safer People/Safer Streets. The Mayor’s Challenge was a volunteer program running from May 2015 through September 2016 aimed at creating tangible work plans for how to make our transportation system safer in order to save lives and reduce serious injury and crashed. The City of Springfield in collaboration with other local partners has done a commendable job checking items off of the list and devising a realistic plan to implement new safety measures. The BPAC prioritizes safety for people walking and biking. It gives the BPAC great pride to volunteer for a City that is committing to and prioritizing Challenge activities focused on regulations on walking and biking safety, selecting street designs that fit the existing and planned uses (like Virginia-Daisy), and connecting bicycle and pedestrian efforts. The City now has a Mayor’s Challenge work plan to make these commitments a reality. The BPAC would like to contribute to the Springfield Mayor’s Challenge efforts and has committed to reviewing the progress this work plan annually and assisting with the completion of items that would be an appropriate fit for the committee that require additional time and energy. She thanked the Mayor, City Council and staff for taking action to improve the safety of our streets. 4. Teresa Engbrecht, Springfield, OR Ms. Engbrecht said her stepfather, Orville Crager, used to be on Neighborhood Watch in her neighborhood. He was a very community oriented man who formed an alliance with his neighbors to start a Neighborhood Watch due to illegal activity down the road. Ms. Engbrecht said she grew up in Springfield, left for a while and came back to take care of her mother. Seeing the drugs and illegal activity going on at the house is City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 21, 2016 Page 5 upsetting. She doesn’t know what happened to their community where people used to feel safe. RiverBend Elementary School is located in that neighborhood, and kids walk past this house every day. There are needles on the sidewalks and tweekers walking down the road looking for their drugs. We need to stop this. They continue to call the Police, but there hasn’t been any further help. She would love to have her new granddaughter play in her front yard without fear. These neighbors are using other people’s garbage cans for their garbage and stealing things from front yards. She acknowledged the many people in the audience from their neighborhood. She asked the City to do something. COUNCIL RESPONSE Mayor Lundberg said there is a nuisance ordinance and techniques to deal with neighborhood issues. She asked staff what had been done and what could be done in this situation. Chief Lewis said this has been going on for some time, and the neighbors’ frustration is valid. Police has dealt with the subject property for some time, doing two search warrants and making arrests, but the residents continue to return to the house. The nuisance ordinance requires a certain number of events during a 60 day period of time. Once those residents get to that point, they stop the illegal behavior until that period expires. It then has to re-start. The neighbors have been great to work with, and Police will continue to work with the neighbors and try to apply the ordinance to this house. What makes this somewhat different from others is that the person who owns the house has resources many others don’t. The owner has not paid any house payments in over four years, but it has not been foreclosed. Mr. Grimaldi said they would involve multiple departments to get this addressed and make the neighborhood livable again. Staff may need to come back to Council with some changes to the ordinance so this type of activity can be addressed. Councilor Ralston said he had a house like this across the street from his house. Police were at that house frequently, so if there needs to be some type of trigger to make that happen, then we need to do that to get Police presence there every day. No one should have to go this long with this kind of a problem in their neighborhood. Mayor Lundberg said all of the laws that protect everyone, protect everyone. This is important enough for all of the neighbors to be here and she would like to ensure that we will do everything we can to get a resolution sooner than later. It will take some time, but they will start looking for solutions now. She asked them to talk with the Chief Lewis after the meeting. Councilor Pishioneri wanted to let the neighbors know they are being heard, and them coming to the Council is the right thing to do. It sounds like there are environmental issues so we may need to involve that department. He supports looking at that section of the code again to look at length of time between police actions. Chief Lewis said Code Enforcement has been involved and issued citations. Councilor Pishioneri asked if someone could check to see about foreclosure of the property and ownership. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 21, 2016 Page 6 City Attorney Mary Bridget Smith said the last information they had was that the homeowner had been in default and the foreclosure had not occurred yet. She could check the status. Councilor VanGordon said he is supportive of doing something. It is hard for a neighborhood to go through this. He is open to looking at the health issues. He likes Mr. Grimaldi’s approach to include multiple departments and divisions to get resolution. He hopes the neighbors don’t feel discouraged. The neighborhoods that have resolved this are neighborhoods that are relentless and remain good partners with the City and keeping us informed of the activity. It may not get fixed tomorrow, but we will work towards a solution that makes it better. He encouraged them to continue to come to meetings, meet with the Chief or other staff. He is open to looking at ways to address these issues in the Chronic Disorderly ordinance. Councilor Wylie said she also supports the neighbors. They should not have to live like this. She suggested looking into a task force that involves the City, Police, Springfield Utility Board (SUB), and the bank when we identify these homes that are a danger to the neighborhood. If SUB knew we were working to stop this behavior, they may be able to assist. Councilor VanGordon asked if we could work with our partners at Lane County if taxes have also not been paid. Ms. Smith said there is a procedure for foreclosing a home based on property taxes. The more powerful tool for the City is when we apply a lien on the property for code enforcement violations. That lien may enable the City to foreclose on the property. Mayor Lundberg said it appears many departments have been involved. She would like staff to look at all options to address this particular property. She would also like to look at the ordinance. We may need a broader definition of infractions and what could be added as a nuisance. They need to figure out how to eliminate the loophole of getting to re-set. Councilor Pishioneri said he would like some status updates to Council so they know what progress is being made. One of the neighbors in the audience thanked the Police for all that they have done. They have come to the neighborhood many times. CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS BIDS ORDINANCES BUSINESS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL 1. Councilor Woodrow reported on the Pedestrian Crossings on Main Street. They are in the process of having them completed and operational on Main Street at 48th Street and Chapman Street. We have come in under budget for the original signals, so are looking at doing one near 66th Street. She is looking forward to getting one installed and is seeing results of people using the crosswalks. She appreciates all of the work by City staff and ODOT. She is excited to have it almost all done. City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 21, 2016 Page 7 Councilor Woodrow said she spoke with new Corp Officer at the Salvation Army, Walter Kaptain. He extended an invitation to the Council and community to visit the Salvation Army to see how they are serving the community. Councilor Woodrow said Chris Stole has served on the Human Services Commission (HSC) for many years as the Budget Committee representative. Her term ends on December 31, 2016 so Gabrielle Guidero has been selected to take Ms. Stole’s place as the Budget Committee representative to the HSC. Councilor Woodrow said she truly appreciated Ms. Stole and her service to Springfield. 2. Mayor Lundberg said there was a level of politics in the recent election that hasn’t been seen for a number of years. When she first got on the City Council, she didn’t know what political party any other Council was part of for many years. There is no need to talk about it since the Council is not doing things that are based on political parties. She would like to encourage all to keep in mind that the City Council is nonpartisan. Working within that framework has done the City well for over 100 years. Politics can cloud what we are about and who we are and it’s not necessary. Mayor Lundberg said Commissioner Stewart asked if a statement could be made as a City in Lane County. She read the following from the statement: “Across Lane County and within its cities, we are committed to providing a safe, welcoming and respectful environment for all who reside in, visit and pass through our communities. We, the undersigned, are committed to supporting each other and the public we serve, and providing excellent services for all people. We have heard from members of our community about feelings of anxiety, stress and vulnerability around local, state and national elections. This is particularly true for those who have ever found themselves marginalized because of who they are or where they fall in the political spectrum. In a time of change, our commitment to being a welcoming, safe and inclusive community for all remains constant. We will continue to find ways to support each other, and work to find common ground with those around us. We stand together making the following commitments: Continuing to promote kindness, compassion and respect regardless of political views Supporting each other to speak our minds in appropriate ways, welcome all viewpoints, and disagree respectfully. Understanding that language and actions that are harassing and intimidating are not acceptable at any time. Helping each other to collaborate, problem solve, and resolve our differences using positive language and approaches. Working to bring our teams and our communities together and to maintain a welcoming environment where every person feels safe. We know that collectively our actions today and in the future matter. Let’s do our best to come together, work together, and be an example of unity.” BUSINESS FROM THE CITY MANAGER City of Springfield Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 21, 2016 Page 8 BUSINESS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned 7:42 p.m. Minutes Recorder Amy Sowa ______________________ Christine L. Lundberg Mayor Attest: ____________________ City Recorder