HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/17/2000 Work Session
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MINUTES OF THE JOINT WORK SESSION MEETING OF THE
SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING
COMMISSION HELD MONDAY, APRIL 17,2000.
The Springfield City Council met in Joint Work Session with the Springfield Planning
Commission at Springfield City Hall, Jesse Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, on
Monday, April 17, 2000 at 6:05 p.m. with Mayor Weathers Presiding.
ATTENDANCE
Mayor Weathers, and Councilors Ballew, Fitch, Hatfield, Leiken, Lundberg and Simmons. Also
present were City Manager, Mike Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, Senior
Management Analyst Rosie Pryor, City Attorney Joe Leahy, Administrative Coordinator Shari
Higgins, City Recorder Kim Krebs, Planning Manager Greg Mott, and members of the staff.
Planning Commission members present were James Burford, William Carpenter, Jeff Cole, Steve
Moe, David Ralston and Sean Wilson.
Mayor Weathers welcomed the Planning Commission members and said before the work session
began she wanted to mention the Springfield Spring Clean-up to be held on May 20, and said she
had a sign-up sheet and encouraged all present to volunteer for this worthwhile cause.
1. Joint City Council- Planning Commission Work Session.
Planning Manager Greg Mott was present for the staff report. He said this was the annual work
session scheduled between the City Council and the Planning Commission. Issues on the agenda
for discussion were Team Springfield Goals and Targets (Attachment 1), Council Goals 2000-
2005(Attachment 2), including the Glenwood river front design project. Mr. Mott said each of
the attachments identifies critical tasks or issue targets to be addressed during the next five years.
Many of these identified items require Planning Commission participation during preliminary
stages as well as future policy implementation. He said a discussion with the Planning
Commission regarding the Council's vision of the desired outcome of these goals, and how the
Planning Commission can assist in achieving this vision, is the purpose of this work session.
Mr. Mott said the Planning Commission wanted the opportunity to discuss the many items listed
in the attachments. He said the Commissioners wanted to engage in discussion regarding further
explanation of the council's expectations, and how the Planning Commission might be helpful in
assisting in the realization of its targets and goals.
Mr. Mott introduced the Chairman of the Planning Commission, James Burford. Mr. Burford
said in reviewing the Team Springfield Long-Range Goals, he wanted to confirm with council
what their goals and objectives were. He said he was not expecting any conclusion at the end of
the meeting, but did expect the Planning Commission would meet independently and discuss the
issues in detail. He said at some point it may be necessary to request another joint work session
with the City Council to determine if they were in agreement on the issues.
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Joint Work Session - 4/17/00
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Commissioner Ralston said there were a number of issues that relate to the Planning Commission
that he hoped to receive answers on from council. He said he had already spoken to Mr. Mott
about the issues, and said regarding the mixed-use zoning item listed under "Livability" section
of attachment 1-3, and how it would be applied and implemented. Councilor Hatfield said that
mixed-use was a very smart and diligent way of utilizing the land that is available. There was
further discussion on how to better define this issue.
Planner III Mark Metzger said the city has been awarded a State Grant to begin the first phase of
the mixed-use/commercial zoning ordinance. He said the ordinance is in draft form and the
Planning Commission should have this for their review this summer. He said the grant only
covers this first phase, but thinks it will give staff the frame work to develop the next step on their
own. He said he is in the process of preparing a staff report with an update for council, and they
would be seeing that in the near future.
Commissioner Carpenter said this was a timely issue especially when looking at the
Jasper/Natron Development, downtown revitalization, and the Glenwood issues, and said mixed-
use could have a very good effect on them. Commissioner Wilson asked once the language was
added to the Code, how soon until the actual changes begin to occur. There was discussion
regarding how that would be handled.
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Commissioner Cole spoke regarding the Short Term Project List, and asked for clarification
regarding a defined timeline for these items. Mayor Weathers said there is a committee assigned
to evaluate the different options that may be taken to the public. She said the response from the
committee was due back the second week of May, and said once the committee report is heard,
council would have a better sense of direction.
There was discussion regarding the Gateway/Beltline/I-5 interchange. Councilor Lundberg said
she is the council representative for the steering committee. She said there are two committees,
one is the Stakeholders and the other is the Decision-Makers. She is a member of the Decision-
Makers, and said she thought it was important for the Planning Commission to have a
representative on the Stakeholders. Mayor Weathers asked Councilor Lundberg to keep the
Planning Commission informed of any new developments that may come out of her meetings.
As an informational item Mr. Mott said the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) asked
Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) to delay any decision on the Gateway/Beltline/I-5
interchange, as well as Highway 34 in this region because of issues or concerns they have. There
was discussion regarding the issue of an expressway designation, and whether ODOT was
required to obtain approval from the City of Springfield. Mayor Weathers said the information
states they are required to consult, but not to obtain approval. She said that she has requested
more information be provided.
Commissioner Carpenter said the Millrace Project, downtown revitalization and Glenwood issues
are three projects that are tied together and they are key river development opportunities. He said
it was important to make sure these stay in the forefront of the projects to be addressed. He spoke
about the possibility of the new Federal Courthouse, and the possibility of it being located on the
river in the medical building on Mill Street, and felt this would be a favorable location with it's
location along the river front.
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Mayor Weathers said that each item or task has their own timeline because they are not only at
the discretion of the city, there are otherpartners involved on many of the projects. She said
because of the number of projects, it is difficult to determine which is the most important, and
said that priorities have not be set yet.
Councilor Fitch said each item listed is very important, however, Springfield is a city with a
population of 52,000, and sometimes a project may be brought to the front, depending on the
issue. She also said it was very important to balance each priority and to also take into
consideration the availability of staff.
Councilor Hatfield said when looking at the issue of development plans, affordable housing is a
very important issue as it relates to the Planning Commission. He said it was important when
making changes to the Development Code to be careful to not add costs, unless it was absolutely
necessary. He said the same thing applies to the mixed-use concept.
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Councilor Simmons said he was having difficulty translating nodal development versus mixed
use development. He said it is important to build the framework and follow through, but at the
same time be very consistent. He spoke about the Millrace and how the focus should be on this
issue, as it is partially funded and it will meet a lot of the tests of endangered species. He said
there are a lot of federal rules that will be addressing clean water, and said it will be important to
be prepared to deal with those issues as they will be a part of the future. He also said affordable
housing in a growing senior population is at a tremendous risk and said there are approximately
3,500 people on the Housing Authorities list for Section 8 housing. He said the city has devoted a
lot of focus to this issue and has handled it well, however, there is still a lot of work to be done.
Mayor Weathers said the Planning Commission can be very helpful especially on the Millrace
project, through education in the community and detailed review ofthe development plan. The
new federal rules will have a great impact, and it will be important to be creative in meeting the
requirements, and the assistance of the Planning Commission will be a plus
Commissioner Burford asked City Manager Mike Kelly what funds were set aside for the
Millrace from the Capital Bond Levy in 1996.
Mr. Kelly said the amount was 1 million for inlet control only. He said there is approximately
$700,000. remaining, and provided a brief summary regarding the project to date. He said the
project will be much larger than what was originally planned. Mayor Weathers said the bond
money was a key component to the Corps of Engineers being supportive. There was discussion
regarding the Millrace project.
Commissioner Moe said the possibility of a new Public Safety Building and a Federal
Courthouse, housing and mixed use all fit together nicely.
Mr. Kelly said Mr. Moe has done a very good job in outlining the projects to the downtown
community as well as Glenwood. He said unity in developing ideas and planning are important,
as well as following through to the end result are also very important. He spoke about SRDC and
the future development of downtown.
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Commissioner Wilson asked for direction of council regarding the improvement of bike paths.
There was discussion regarding the bike path issue, and how important it will be to include the
public in what ever discussion there may be.
Councilor Simmons said he attended a meeting last week in Eugene, regarding the revitalizing of
the Friends of Eugene and Springfield Group. He said because of the uniqueness of Springfield
and having WiIlamalane handling the park sites, the concept is looking at more of the open space
process, and does get into a discussion along the rivers. He said there was discussion at the
meeting for Eugene and Springfield to look jointly at the Willamette as an aquatic resource, and
begin to work together on the project. He said it is important to protect the open spaces as part of
the livability issue.
Commissioner Burford thanked council for the opportunity to address these issues, and said he
would talk to Mr. Mott about having the Planning Commission return for another work session to
obtain further direction or clarification on these issues, once they have had an opportunity to
review the items discussed in this meeting.
Mayor Weathers thanked all the Commissioners for their devoted work. She reminded
Commissioner Burford to look at the need for bylaws for the Planning Commission, and asked
them to look at their operational needs to see if they would be helpful for them.
. ADJOURNMENT
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The meeting was adjourned at 7:01 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Kim Krebs
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Maureen M. Weathers, Mayor
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City Recor~
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