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Home My WebLink About07/03/2000 Regular . . . '" MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY, JULY 3, 2000 The Springfield City Council met in Regular Session at Springfield City Hall, City Council Meeting Room, on Monday, July 3,2000, at 7:24 p.m. with Mayor Weathers presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Mayor Weathers and Councilors Ballew, Fitch, Hatfield, Leiken, Lundberg, and Simmons. Also present were City Manager Mike Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Attorney Tim Harold, Administrative Coordinator Shari Higgins and members of staff. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Weathers. SPRINGFIELD UPBEAT 1. City Manager Mike Kelly introduced the city's new Human Resources Director Bill Spiry. CONSENT CALENDAR IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR BALLEW, WITH A SECOND BY COUNCIL HATFIELD, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR WITH CORRECTIONS AS NOTED, TO THE MAY 15, REGULAR SESSION COUNCIL MINUTES. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. 1. Claims 2. Minutes a. May 15,2000 - Work Session b. May 15,2000 - Regular Session c. May 22, 2000 - Work Session d. June 5, 2000 - Work Session e. June 5, 2000 - Regular Session 3. Resolutions 4. Ordinances 5. Other Routine Matters BUSINESS FROM THE AUDIENCE 1. Roxie Cuellar, 739 South 70th Street, Springfield, spoke in favor of the city placing a levy on the November ballot. She suggested keeping the components of it simple, further proposing it be labeled a public safety levy. City of Springfield Regular Session - 7/3/00 Page 2 . Ms. Cuellar recommended against having departments vie for funding in a levy, but use public safety as an offset to the General Fund. She felt a public information campaign should occur as soon as possible to allow community groups time to contact their members. 2. Sally Walsh, 1240 West D Street, Springfield, spoke as a member of Springfield Police Planning Task Force. She spoke regarding the importance of having Community Service Officers in the Police Department. She said the department is at a critical place in their long- range plan. Ms. Walsh gave specifics on call-taker and dispatch needs and how if they are not met, that Police Officers would have to assume those duties. 3. Albert Pena, 344 A Street, Springfield, Oregon, spoke of the importance of police officers in terms of numbers needed for quick assistance and response time. He spoke as an officer about the need for more support in the Police Department. 4. Rick Lewis, 344 A Street, Springfield, Oregon, said he was supportive of a proposed levy, as the Police Department is severely understaffed. Mr. Lewis spoke about the low number of officers who work on an average night, only four per shift. He felt the general public did not understand the circumstances in which the department operates, under the largest crime figures in the State of Oregon. Mr. Lewis said the department operates with fewer officers now than in 1980. . 5. Shannon Gadomski, 344 A Street, Springfield, Oregon, said as a dispatcher for the Springfield Police Department, she felt she should reinforce the need for police staffing. She asked council before paring down the proposed levy amount try to educate the community on the department's needs. 6. Zane Wilson, 2443 38th Street, Springfield, spoke as a citizen and a past chair of the Police Planning Task Force during the time the long-range police plan was created and accepted by the City Council. He said the soul of the plan is community policing. The department should serve as a resource to help make neighborhoods more livable, while reducing crime. Mr. Wilson stated people are the most expensive resource for the police department. He felt growth would continue and after reviewing the seven City Council goals, felt the police plan would assist with each one. . 7. Faye Brabham, 644 4th Street, Springfield, spoke on behalf of Springfield Police Department, Community Services Division. She said she is a long-time community member, who volunteers and works closely with Community Service Officers. She also served on the Neighborhood Watch Board of Directors and believes prevention is a key to reducing crime. Ms. Brabham felt the levy would help ensure more community work is completed. 8. Steve Cable, 6100 Thurston Road, Springfield, spoke representing Willamalane Park and Recreation and his membership on the Police Planning Task Force. He said council adopted the police long-range plan five years ago, but that it had not been implemented due to budget restrictions. Mr. Cable felt there were many positions identified that had not been funded to-date. The Community Service Officers are the catalyst that provide the others in the department with the resources necessary to be affective in the community. He felt many officers are working over their heads with a lack of back up and support. . 9. Russ Boring, 344 A Street, Springfield, spoke representing the Springfield Police Association. CitY of Springfield Regular Session - 7/3/00 Page 3 . As a union leader, he gave his support to a proposed levy and offered the services ofthe union to educate the community and promote the opportunity. IO.Paul Esselstyn, 538 6ih Street, Springfield, spoke as President of Firefighters Union (IAFF). Mr. Esselstyn said the union did support the hiring of both police officers and firefighters, but he felt concern over past decisions and what has led to present financial outlook. He spoke about the loss of staff at Fire Station #3, due to staffing needs at the Gateway Station. He felt Police Officers and Firefighters should be placed into the General Fund, not as part of a proposed levy as their duties are critical city services. Mr. Esselstyn recommended budgetary changes, but did support the concept of a levy. II.Roxie Cuellar, 1255 Pearl Street, spoke as the Director of Government Affairs for the Lane County Homebuilder Association. She said the 2000 Tour of Homes would run July 22 through 30. She Invited council to the July 20 kick-off event, invitations to follow. 12.Steve Moe, P.O. Box 847, Springfield, said he was a taxpayer but not a voter yet, as a resident of Glenwood. He spoke in support of a proposed levy and stated he would do what he could to help. BUSINESS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL . 1. Council Simmons stated he attended the Firefighter swearing in ceremonies in both Springfield and Eugene. He said the public safety departments give a lot of their lives and he felt council should place a public safety levy on the November 2000 BaIlot. BUSINESS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 1. Lane County Jail Contract. Finance Director Bob Duey was present for the staff report. Mr. Duey said the city's existing contract with Lane County expired on June 30, 2000. The city and county must agree on a new intergovernmental agreement to continue the confinement of City of Springfield prisoners in the Lane County Adult Correction Facility. Mr. Duey said the contract did not change in content, except for the payment schedule would include semi-annual payments. There were no changes to Exhibits A or C, but Exhibit B changed regarding the daily rate for beds. The first year contract amount would equal $118,004.50. There was a discussion regarding the first hold beds and if the language as presented was sufficient for the upcoming contract period. Mr. Duey discussed the matrix and its affect on the hard beds. He said instances in the past where the beds were given up would not be routine, but rather very seldom. An agreement was reached between the city and the county regarding what circumstances Springfield's beds could be removed from a first hold. . Councilor Simmons said he would like more information regarding Exhibit C. He sought information regarding Municipal Court use versus State citation use of jail space. Police Chief Jerry Smith explained the authority split and the types of misdemeanor cases that are tried in Municipal Court. The use of our local court eliminated a lot of police overtime and provided both control and revenue to the city. . . . . City of Springfield Regular Session - 7/3/00 Page 4 Mayor Weathers stated since the daily bed rate was a large increase that the city should assure the county is providing the best service. It is easy to understand why they would want to recover full costs, but council would like to verify the benefit to the city. By consensus, council asked for a report in January 2001 on the new contract, after the first six months of use. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR BALLEW, WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR HATFIELD, TO APPROVE THE INMATE HOUSING AGREEMENT WITH THE LANE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING mL Y 1,2000 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2002. BUSINESS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY 1. Happy 4th of July! ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Minutes Recorder -' Shari Higgins ~1t\.1UtA~ Maureen M. Weathers, Mayor ATTEST: ~ City Recorde~