HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/15/2000 Work Session
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MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING
OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL
HELD MONDAY, MAY 15, 2000.
The Springfield City Council met in Work Session at Springfield City Hall, Jesse Maine Room,
225 Fifth Street, Springfield, on Monday, May 15, 2000 at 6:04 p.m., with Council President
Ballew Presiding.
ATTENDANCE:
Present were Council President Ballew, and Councilors Fitch, Hatfield, Leiken, Lundberg and
Simmons, Mayor Weathers was absent (excused). Also present were City Manager Mike Kelly,
Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, Senior Management Analyst Rosie Pryor, City Attorney
Joe Leahy, City Recorder Kim Krebs, Public Works Director Dan Brown, Environmental
Services Supervisor Gary Colwell, Planner II Robin Johnson, Planner III Gary Karp, and
members of the staff.
1. Proposed Resolution Setting Local and Regional User Fees.
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Environmental Services Supervisor Gary Colwell was present for the staff report. Mr. Colwell
explained how the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) was created
and described the relationship that occurs between MWMC and the City of Springfield. Mr.
Colwell said it has been five years since rates have been increased. He referred council to a chart
of Comparison ofFY 1999/2000 and FY2000/2001 figures. He eXplained the different funds and
what items are paid for out of each of the funds, He explained how the FY2000/2001 Sanitary
and Drainage Dollar is budgeted. He referred to the primary cost drivers, and said by contract, all
of the regional pump stations are maintained by the City of Eugene. The cost of the contract is
increasing by approximately $85,000, Environmental Services Manager Susie Smith was present
to explain the increase, provide an overview, and respond to questions,
Mr. Colwell reviewed the different options, and referred to the Council Briefing Memorandum
(Attachment A). He said council could choose from several local sanitary and drainage user fee
alternatives. He highlighted each of the alternatives: 1) fully fund proposed sewer budget; 2)
Reduce operating reserve and leave capital "Set Aside" at current level; or 3) eliminate operating
reserve and significantly reduce capital "Set Aside". He said the difference between the various
alternatives is the amount of the operating reserve and the capital "set aside". He said the cost of
the regional portion of the average monthly residential sanitary sewer bill would remain at $8.78.
Mr. Colwell referred council to the proposed "City of Springfield Schedule of Sewer User Fees"
(Attachment C). He said if council approved the alternative #1 fully funded, which is described
in (Attachment C page 1), the cost comparisons are still less than the City of Eugene. Public
Works Director Dan Brown said the reason the City of Eugene costs are higher is because they
are approximately five years ahead of Springfield in implementing the program.
Council Hatfield asked how many residential accounts are currently serviced. My. Colwell said
15,000 residential, and approximately 1,000 business accounts.
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Springfield City Council
Work Session - May 15, 2000
Page 2
Councilor Fitch asked what type of notification was sent out regarding the proposed 45%
increase to the affected commercial accounts. Mr. Colwell said they did not send out special
notification other than the required public advertising. Councilor Fitch expressed concern
regarding the lack of notification to the affected account holders.
Councilor Simmons said the process for publishing and noticing was the same as it has been
historically, and said the rate is defensible and justifiable. He said he respected the process that
had been followed.
Mr. Brown said Councilor Fitchs' point was well taken. He said he would make sure in the event
of future rate increases, notification be sent out to all affected account holders in advance.
Mr. Kelly said there was a public hearing on this item at the regular meeting.
2. First Reading and Conduct a Public Hearing for Multi-Unit Design Standards-Springfield.
Planner II Robin Johnson, and Planner III Gary Karp were present for the staff report. Ms.
Johnson said the design standards project was initiated by the Springfield Planning Commission
at the request of the council. She said council requested a set of design standards be presented for
consideration. In response to that request, the Planning Commission created a subcommittee of
the commission called the "Design Standards Citizen Advisory Committee" (CAe) in the spring
of 1998 to formulate theses standards and guidelines and make a recommendation to the Planning
Commission. The CAC presented their initial recommendations in a report titled Springfield
Multi-Unit Design Standards: Final Report. Ms. Johnson said the Planning Commission has held
four work sessions to review the recommendations.
Ms. Johnson reminded council they had a discussion regarding this issue at their October 11,
1999 work session. On April 4, 2000, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to refer these
amendments to the council with a recommendation to adopt the ordinance. She said the Planning
Commission also approved staffs recommendation to increase building height limits in medium
and high density residential districts to allow greater design flexibility, as well as, approved
changes to building form and transition standards to accommodate the new height standards. At
the April 4 public hearing, there were two Planning Commission recommendations that staff
believes requires additional review. These are the location of trees and the width of planter strips
in parking lots.
Ms. Johnson referred council to the Council Briefing Memorandum, and highlighted the
information regarding the response to council's concerns raised at their October 11, 1999 work
session. She pointed out some of the highlights of the memorandum. She said as a part of the
council's process, staffwas obligated according to Ballot Measure 56, to send out notice to every
owner of medium and high density land, which included 1800 property owners in Springfield.
Notice was also sent to adjacent property owners.
Mr. Karp provided information regarding the changes that have occurred since October 11, 1999,
and said there were three issues he wanted to discuss.
1. Relating to building height and bulk. He explained the proposals, and their differences.
He referred to attachment 3-49 and described the differences in building setbacks,
building height, and transition to Low Density Residential (LDR);
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Springfield City Council
Work Session - May 15, 2000
Page 3
2. Planter Strips in the Public Right-of-Way. Me Karp asked council to provide some
direction on this item to either keep the policy as it currently reads, or modify it in
whatever fashion the council deemed necessary. He said staff suggested deferring the
planter strip issue until some time next year, to allow staff to develop some
recommendations to bring back to council for discussion.
Councilor Hatfield asked for clarification of what staff was asking of council. Mr. Karp said
the question of council is to stay with the curbside sidewalks, or to have planter strips in the
public right-of-way.
After council discussion, consensus was to stay with curbside sidewalks, and delay the
planter strip in the public right-of-way issue for one year.
3. Planter Islands and Shade Trees. Me Karp explained the recommendation from the CAC
on this item. He said there was public input regarding this issue from Honolei Rozen,
and provided information regarding her suggestion. He spoke about staff concerns, and
explained the differences between the options. Staff recommends option "B" which is
one planter island for every eight parking spaces.
After discussion, council consensus was option B.
AD 0 URNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:59 p,m.
Minutes Recorder - Kim Krebs
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Anne Ballew, Council President
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