HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/25/1999 Work Session
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE
SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, JANUARY 25,1999
The Springfield City Council met in Work Session at Springfield City Hall, Jesse Maine Room,
225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, January 25, 1999, at 6:00 p.m. with Mayor
Maine presiding.
Present were Mayor Maine and Councilors Ballew, Fitch, Hatfield, Leiken, Lundberg and
Simmons. Also present were City Manager Mike Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi,
City Attorney Joe Leahy, Senior Management Analyst Rosie Pryor, Administrative Aide Shari
Higgins, Police Chief Bill DeForrest, Court Supervisor Kathy Cunningham, Public Works
Director Dan Brown, City Engineer Al Peroutka, Supervising Civil Engineer Don Branch, Senior
Management Analyst Len Goodwin and members of staff.
1. Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority - Update on Air Quality Issues.
Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority (LRAPA) Director Barbara Cole was present. She said
there are many myths about air and water quality which are false. The Clean Air Act and the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) define minimums for how pollution is managed. The
air is cleaner presently than in the past. Issues facing LRAP A currently include growth and
population. Ms. Cole referred to Attachment I - Keeping Our Air Clean, and provided copies of
other general reference materials.
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Ms. Cole spoke about ozone effects and new standards for July 1999, including ground-level
ozone, particulate matter, and the potential health effects. She provided a hand-out titled, Lane
County VOC Emissions and explained the source categories. Ms. Cole then shared how the
pollution index is shown in the Register-Guard, the index trends for Lane County, and how
LRAP A staff works to predict the indexes.
Ms. Cole explained how LRAPA fits into the air quality network, through permits, the
establishment of operating conditions, enforcement, monitoring of air quality, and public
education. There are many challenges ahead, but also a system of Benchmarking which will
enable LRAP A to measure illness and toxic levels of pollution. Ms. Cole spoke about open
burning, which along with transportation issues amongst the biggest challenges facing them.
Due to time constraints, Ms. Cole spoke about ways the City Council could assist LRAP A,
including: the creation of an ordinance to ban burning or garbage; placing tighter control on
backyard burning, and banning it in the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). She said council could
support alternatives to backyard burning; support transportation alternatives, including trip
reduction; and encourage land use planning. She said burning of garbage is a reoccurring health
problem for the area. LRAP A can not monitor what occurs in people's homes, but garbage
burning is an issue. Mr. Kelly said staff would be checking the garbage burning issue and
would report back to council at a future date.
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Councilor Simmons asked about vehicular use and possible ways to reduce road dust. Ms. Cole
replied that she felt routine street sweeping makes a difference, as does the rain in the fall and
winter.
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Work Session - 1/25/99
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Councilor Simmons referred to some older research done on this topic and asked if the reports
could be used to assist council with future decisions on street paving and road dust. Ms. Cole
responded that she would forward copies of the reports to Councilor Simmons.
2. Police, Court, City Prosecutor, Fire and Life Safety Administration Space Needs
Study.
Police Chief Bill DeForrest introduced Jack Berry of Berry Architects; Kathy Cunningham,
Court Supervisor; and Patrick Lucanio (chair), Sally Walsh and Steve Cable of the Police
Planning Task Force. He explained Berry Architects, under authority from the city, had initiated
a space needs study to identify both the current and future space needs for the Police
Department, Municipal Court, City Prosecutor, and Fire and Life Safety Administration.
Chief DeF orrest said the completed study would only identify space needs, but would include: 1)
a determination of interaction/adjacency priorities or the various operational and administrative
units; 2) a determination of site needs and recommended selection criteria; 3) a conceptual floor
plan; 4) a conceptual site configuration based upon a generic site; and 5) an estimate of
construction costs. He said the construction of a new jailor downtown fire station were not
included in this study scope.
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Chief DeForrest explained the study process to date had included a series of workshops and
interviews with affected personnel and work units to determine future operational needs. Input
was now being sought from the council to identify public and community needs, such as access,
meeting rooms, parking, etc. The cost for the study is $17,539. Council was asked to approve
the preliminary review process for the new facility.
Councilor Simmons asked the Chiefs opinion regarding the establishment of a jail in
Springfield. Chief DeForrest replied that no research had been done, but suggested council
contact the city's Municipal Judges to seek their input. There was discussion on whether Lane
County would be able to solve their space problems, helping us solve our local problems. He
spoke of the high costs in operating a regional jail and discussed holding facilities.
Councilor Lundberg inquired about the police/jail facility in Florence and their 72-hour holding
process. She asked if a program similar to that would work in Springfield. The Chief said he
would find out more about their program and process, as he was not familiar with it. Councilor
Lundberg reminded staff that any study on a jail should be done inconjunction with the vision of
a public building and the Civic Entrepreneur group effort.
Councilor Ballew suggested the Chief seek input from the Public Safety Coordinating Council
(PSCC) on the plan as future designs become available. She asked if any plans had been made
for use of the vacant building, which currently houses the Police Department, Municipal Court
and City Prosecutor's Office. Chief DeForrest said no specific site had been identified.
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Councilor Leiken said he favored a space needs study for a jail and would like to see a proposal
to react too. Councilor Hatfield agreed with Councilor Leiken's comment. He said a population
growth would occur over the next few years in Springfield and the city should be ready. Since
Lane County has capacity problems now, he felt this would be a good time for council to address
the jail/fire station issues.
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Councilor Fitch shared her initial support for review of jail needs from a local perspective, so
both the council and Lane County could address increasing costs and needs.
Councilor Simmons concurred with the process of adding a jail study as an element of the larger
study. Chief DeForrest said some newer correction type models are now available to mirror and
could be looked at during the jail study portion.
Mayor Maine asked Court Supervisor Kathy Cunningham if Springfield should consider an
electronic type bracelet, and if we could have that capability. Ms. Cunningham felt the city
could only use the bracelets if we had a jail facility in Springfield, not inconjunction with the
Lane County facility.
Councilor Lundberg said she would be a dissenting vote on correction services versus police
services and would not support a jail. They are very labor intensive, have very strict security
measures, and take much time and money. Councilor Lundberg felt council should work closely
with PSCC and find a regional solution. In addition, she felt the entrance at the current Police
Station is not very welcoming and suggested focusing on a more community environment,
including meeting space or availability to neighborhood watch staff.
Councilor Simmons said although a community feel would be preferred, there are many security
measures which must be followed. A discussion continued about features to review during the
study, including public space, meeting rooms, and an information on police services.
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Councilor Fitch suggested using the Police Planning Task Force as a review body for the study.
3. Draft Capital Improvement Plan - FY 1999/04.
City Engineer AI Peroutka and Supervising Civil Engineer Don Branch were present to review
the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Mr. Branch explained the review process that began by
inviting community and local agency participation and ended with review by the Planning
Commission. The Planning Commission recommended on January 20, 1999, to approve and
recommend adoption of the CIP. Mr. Peroutka reviewed the 1999-2004 Capital Improvement.
Projects via charts: pink = new project and green = carryover projects.
Councilor Ballew questioned who had ownership of the old treatment plant site. Pubic Works
Director Dan Brown said technically the property belongs to the city, but it is considered
regional property and we are under an obligation to the Metropolitan Wastewater Management
Commission (MWMC) to allow their use, due to federal funding which was provided to MWMC
for use on the property. Clarification was provided by City Manager Mike Kelly on "regional
property." He said the city holds the deed and trust, but it is held under MWMC, iffederal
funding was used for any construction on the property.
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Mr. Peroutka reviewed the Summary of Proposed Revenues and Expenditures, which included
figures through 2003-04. He reviewed in detail, the current revenue, grants and donations and
other (Capital Bond) funding, which allows the CIP to continue. Mr. Peroutka then explained
the balance between revenues and expenditures and the city's ability to fund capital projects out
of the Street Fund. He said more focus had been placed on maintenance type activities with the
use of the fund, including overlay, patching potholes, and citizen requests.
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Councilor Leiken asked if Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) which would be constructed with federal
funding, would also receive federal funding to pay for maintenance over a period of years.
Councilor Simmons agreed the city would need an answer to the BRT maintenance issue and felt
other types of issues may also arise regarding whose responsibility such costs are, federal, state
or local government.
Councilor Simmons asked why in year 2001-02, funding runs out in the Street Fund. Mr.
Peroutka said during that fiscal year, the funds received go to operational funding needs versus
street expenditures. Mr. Goodwin said since 1995, the city has been projecting a deficit in the
Street Fund and that 10 year projections lead to fiscal insolvency in 2003.
Councilor Fitch asked about other projects not funded and the city's list of needs. Mr. Peroutka
said only the projects listed were fundable. There was a brief discussion on the process.
Councilor Simmons asked if the City of Eugene would refund System Development Charges
(SDC) to Springfield when the Glenwood Jurisdictional Transfer is complete. Mr. Kelly said
the administrative issues would be worked out between himself and Eugene City Manager Jim
Johnson. Currently, Mr. Johnson is seeking SDC figures from his staff and has agreed to
present and number to Mr. Kelly. Councilor Simmons asked Mr. Kelly to make sure those funds
are replaced.
Mr. Peroutka reviewed specific projects, including: the MillRace (Capital Bond funds will be
more of a project match then a total project cost); the 42nd Street Bike/Ped Path (a project match.
is currently being sought); increasing intersection capacity in the Gateway area (listed as an
unidentified project now); sanitary sewer rehabilitation control (repair and replacement of pipe);
and the Jasper Road sewer extension (for Natron site, after road project begins).
Councilor Simmons cautioned staff about the need to be careful with the flood structure, during
design of the 42nd Street project. There was a discussion regarding the project and funding
sources.
Mr. Kelly said the CIP would not be adopted formally until the budget is adopted, even though it
is scheduled for a City Council public hearing on February 16.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins
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Maureen Maine, Mayor
ATTEST:
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