HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/12/1998 Work Session
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE
SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
"MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1998
The Springfield City Council met in Work Session at Springfield City Hall, Jesse Maine Room,
225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, at 6:05 p.rn. with Council President Shaver presiding.
Present were Council President Shaver and Councilors Ballew, Beyer, Dahlquist, Leiken and
Maine. Mayor Morrisette was absent (excused). Also present was City Manager Mike Kelly,
City Attorney Joe Leahy, Senior Management Analyst Rosie Pryor, Administrative Aide Shari
Higgins, Development Services Director Susan Daluddung, Public Works Director Dan Brown,
City Engineer AI Peroutka, Maintenance Manager Ed Black, Environmental Services Manager
Susie Smith, Senior Management Analyst Len Goodwin, Management Analyst Eileen Stein,
Traffic Engineer Brian Barnett and Civil Engineer Molly Lindbloom.
1. Gateway Area Traffic Capacity Issues
Public Works Director Dan Brown presented the item. He said a study of projected growth for the
Gateway area confirmed that, assuming the current road system, there will soon be more
intersections which, at more times, operate at a congested level of service. He explained council's
overriding objective to prevent inadequate traffic capacity from constraining development in the
Gateway area and introduced Traffic Engineer Brian Barnett.
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Mr. Barnett presented the status report. He said on June 8, 1998, staff presented a plan of action
and requested council discussion and direction on a preferred method for addressing the issue. In
response, council authorized some initial actions aimed at determining whether a capacity problem
existed given future development plans. Mr. Barnett reported the City Council asked for a status
report on June 8, for a meeting in October.
Mr. Barnett reviewed items listed in the Council Briefing Memorandum (Attachment 1) of the staff
report. He highlighted the goal/objectives and property owner meetings. He explained information
that was obtained from the major property owner meetings, focusing not orily on vacant parcels,
but also areas that are likely to be targeted for more intensive use or redevelopment. Mr. Barnett
also provided information on traffic analysis, accident analysis, and the level of service concept,
build out condition, mitigation, TRANSPLAN LOC policy, and public facilities strategies.
Mr. Barnett discussed the next steps as outlined in the briefing memo, including: continuation of
the 1-5/Beltline refinement planning process, identifying the full range of possible actions including
demand management measures, system improvements, land use measures, access control measures,
and operational improvements. He said staff would have the next report back to council by March
1999.
Councilor Maine asked what the service option levels for TransPlan are at the Transportation
Planning Committee (TPC) level. Mr. Barnett said TPC is currently evaluating the implications of
Systems Development Charge (SDC) language. He added the date of review completion by the
three Planning Commissions is still uriknown at this time.
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Councilor Ballew asked what the impact of development is during construction. Mr. Barnett said
traffic service levels are determined after development, not during construction. The discussion of
impact is quickly becoming reality, but continued review will occur.
Councilor Beyer said she felt the city should not impact development in the Gateway area. It is
difficult for developers to plan for long-range construction with the current traffic uriknowns. She
acknowledged it is not the city's fault, as we are bound by planning processes, but felt the city
should be fair to landowners in the Gateway area.
Councilor Maine agreed and said this issue had been building for some time and the city, now and
in the future, must make good choices and a positive difference for the area.
Councilor Leiken said the city should continually prepare for change and management of growth.
He felt the area is very desirable and construction will continue.
Mr. Brown said prior to the 1980's and the mall development, there were no traffic issues. Now is
a good time for the economy, and with good economics, brings traffic and development issues
which must be addressed. He said staff is looking to keep development occurring in this
prosperous area, with constant traffic evaluation. Staff will continually bring issues and
evaluations forth to the City Council.
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Councilor Shaver said he recently traveled to the East Coast and felt Springfield has a much more
efficient traffic system than in Boston. They have a lack of street signs and proper. signalization
and he cited some specific examples . Councilor Shaver said staff has done a good job at managing
the growing traffic levels. He spoke in favor of the 1-5 Interchange and what steps the city should
pursue to make sure the interchange project becomes a priority.
Councilors Beyer asked what the demand management issues are which have been discussed at the
TransPlan meetings. Mr. Barnett said demand management is not effective on residential zoned
properties and it hard to measure the affects on commercial enterprises due to variables. The city
is looking at industrial and manufacturing type demand management, but currently we do not
require anyone to do it now. Sony Manufacturing uses shift changes, but the impact has not been
measured. The city will continue to look at alternatives with buses and bicycle routes. Councilor
Shaver added that demand management for shift changes during non-peak hours at the. Gateway
Mall might have a positive impact. Other items discussed were how information is measured and .
whether or not the Gateway area is a final destination.
Council thanked staff for the update and work to date.
2. Evaluation of Alternatives to Maintain Flow in the Springfield Millrace
Maintenance Manager Ed Black, Senior Management Analyst Len Goodwin, and Environmental
Services Manager Susie Smith were all present for the staff report.
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Mr. Black provided background information and asked for direction for staff to move forward as
necessary to implement the option recommended to change permanently the Mill Race inlet location
upstream. Also that water quality improvements be developed to eliminate the need to construction
fish screens.
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Mr. Black said the solution would involve working closely with property owners in the area of the
new inlet channel and may also involve the acquisition of rights affecting private property. He
showed a slide presentation, title, Mill Race Inlet. Other visuals included Potential Course of
Changed Diversion, Springfield Millpond Water Quality Improvement Concept, Springfield
Millpond Cross-Section, plus two site maps.
Mr. Black provided information from the Final Report of Otak, Inc. (Attachment 1) of the staff
report. He said it was completed in December 1997. Items discussed by Mr. Black pertained to
the Mill Race in general, Ms. Smith regarding water quality, and Mr. Goodwin regarding water
rights and legislative issues, were: the physical description of the Mill Race, the Georgia Pacific
donation, agreement and obligations, present users and uses, Mill Race flows, permit requirements
and conditions, permit compliance, flow management alternatives, Phase 2 study recommendations,
the mill pond improvement strategy --purpose, Mill Race and pond water quality, proposed
improvements, current actions and the next steps.
Ms. Smith spoke specifically about proposed improvements. She detailed the pre-treatment
measures, inlets, and channeling that provide vegetative edges. She explained the improvements
would total more than the $600,000 that was dedicated in the Capital Bond and that the city has
also submitted for $1.5 million dollars in federal funding, to assist with the project.
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Mr. Goodwin said the city had worked with . both city and . state regulative agencies.. The consensus
of state agencies would be that they support Springfield in their efforts to make the. Mill Race
project successful. He detailed information about claims to water rights, under state law, for water
flowing through Millrace and how the Army Corps of Engineers is assisting the city in looking at
alternative solutions. Mr. Goodwin explained the city would need to change the point that they
take the water without affecting other water rights or impacting property owners.
Another critical issue on a change in diversion is with adjoining property owners, Willamalane
Park and Recreation District and Rodger and Kathy Vineyard, all who were represented. Mr.
Goodwin explained the revetment from Army Corps of Engineers, the existing course of the river,
and the Corps' perpetual easement along the red dotted line for all future water rights.
Mr. Goodwin said the city, Willamalane andthe Springfield Utility Board (SUB) has purchased
125 acres of property, which adjoin the Millrace. While the city agreed to maintain normal
maintenance of flow issues, Willamalane and SUB have agreed that the Millrace is a high priority
to all agencies. To date, no funding agreements have been made, but commitment to the same
goals with a common interest in resolving future problems had been discussed: .
The next steps will be for staff to continue to seek support for legislation to confirm that there
would not be an adverse affect on he city's water rights claim as a result to moving the irilet, while
also reviewing options for additional funding to complete the project. With City Council
confirmation to work with property owners to complete the irilet design without any adverse affect
to any parties, the project could move forward. Other critical components are completion of the
Mill Pond Improvement Strategy; confirm the right to relocate the water irilet; seek regulatory
approval; secure funding for project completion; and begin inlet construction.
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Councilor Ballew asked if there are any federal or state agencies that need to be supportive of the
city's approach. Mr. Goodwin said the Fish and Wildlife Department are not opposed, but would
like additional information on the irilet strategy.
Mr. Black said the Oregon Division of State Lands said the city needs to have exhausted all
possibilities prior their support. There was a discussion of the positions which the other agencies
had and the positive ways which the city has continually worked those agencies.
Councilor Leiken felt the Fish and Wildlife Department should study the facts in more detail and
become aware of the large amount of information and resources that are available. Ms. Smith
replied the city is optimistic that the obstacles surrounding support from the other agencies would
not be a future problem.
Councilor Shaver said he felt optimistic about progress on the project. He encouraged the city to
bring all the agencies to the table for discussion at the same time and said he did like the approach
of water quality enhancement without fish being screened. Since the city would be doing much of
this work anyway, he suggested the process be continued and completed to the partners'
satisfaction. He also spoke in support of the city receiving additional funding.
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Councilor Dahlquist said he felt treating the affected property owners correctly and finding a win-
win solution was vital. He shared his concern over changing the course of the water diversion,
such as the Corps did previously, then having the water flow change.Mr. Black said upstream and
downstream the river has changed its course, but right in this area, over time, the aerial photos
show it has not.
Mr. Douglas DuPriest entered a letter from his clients, Rodger and Kathy Vinyard, into the record
regarding the Mill Race Expansion Proposal. He provided some observations and concerns, which
were outlined in the written submission. He referenced a letter from the Lane County Planning
Department (attachment to submission) and spoke about agency cooperation. Mr. DuPriest urged
the council to consider the pumping alternative that would help to solve many of his issues.
Ms. Smith suggested that the concerns raised by Mr. DuPriest be responded to over the course of
moving forward with the project. The evaluation and response to the concerns raised could be
shared with the council at a future date, as many have already been addressed in the OTAK study,
but other items may need some research.
By consensus, council provided staff direction to continue with the process of permanently
changing the Mill Race inlet and to continue working both with property owners and other agencies
to reach an amicable solution for all.
3. Council Business
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Councilor Shaver said he would like to chair a council subcommittee focusing on the Year 2000
problem. He proposed beginning to work with staff and then into community to help prevent
events out of the city's control. He also said he would continue to head this effort, after his current
term expires December 31, 1998. By consensus, council agreed to form the subcommittee with
Council Shaver as chair.
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Councilor Maine reminded the council that the next Community Conversation will be help on
November 17 - Please mark calendars.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins
Greg
ATTEST:
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