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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/01/1999 Work Session . . . J :: ;J MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1999 The city of Springfield council met in work session in the Jesse Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, February 1, at 6:30 p.m., with Mayor Maine presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Mayor Maine, Councilors Ballew, Fitch, Hatfield, Leiken, Lundberg (6:35 p.m.) and Simmons. Also present were City Manager Michael Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Attorney Tim Harold, Senior Management Analyst Rosie Pryor, City Recorder Julie Wilson and members of the staff. 1. Update on the Status of the Springfield Sports Center. Development Services Director Susan Daluddung and Economic Development Manager John Tamulonis presented the staff report on this issue. City Staff reviewed the history of the Sports Center, provided an update on recent activities, and received direction on intergovernmental issues important to Eugene City Council. See staff report for additional information. In 1995 the City of Springfield initiated an Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) amendment for a portion of its Sports Center site in north Gateway. As part of the land use process, the boundary amendment was referred to the City of Eugene. Eugene has the prerogative to participate in the process or to opt out and allow the City of Springfield and Lane County to carry out the amendment process. Currently, the Eugene City Council is reconsidering it 1996 decision to opt out of the process of including in the UGB approximately 36 acres of the Springfield Sports Center. The City of Springfield has asked for Eugene City Council's reconsideration based on a recently completed transportation study and a review of its conclusions showing there is no regional impact on the transportation system from the proposed Springfield Recreation Center. A Eugene City Council work session was held January 13, 199 and questions were posed for Springfield's consideration. Eugene City Council will consider the issue at its regular meeting on February 8, 1999. Staff is presented this briefing to acquaint City Councilors with some of the relevant issues and to request further direction on the woodland area of the site. Option 1 is to include the woodland area in the UGB proposal and Option 2 is to scale back the UGB proposal to exclude the woodland. Jan Childs and Roy Gray were available to answer questions from council. Ms. Daluddung discussed the site itself. She reviewed an aerial map of the site. She said Eugene was right across the freeway. A wooded area to the north was also discussed. An environmental impact study and other studies have been conducted. There are no wetlands on the site. Ms. Daluddung discussed the woodland area construction of Sports Way. She said an environmental assessment has also been done. Mr. Tamulonis said a number of local sites have been evaluated. He discussed the wooded areas and the corridor area for wildlife. Mr. Tamulonis also reviewed the site while referencing the aerial map. I . . . Work Session Meeting Minutes February 1, 1999 Page 2 Mr. Tamulonis discussed the following items, 1) the environmental analysis and the need for blackberry vines to be removed; 2) storm water run off; 3) plans to protect the well head; 4) other development in the area; 5) parking availability; and 6) zoning. Also discussed was the Eugene City Council consideration of the Springfield request to 'opt out' of the Sports Center UGB Process. On January 13, 1999, the Eugene City Council discussed the issues relating to the request. The discussion focused on the potential regional impact from the Springfield Recreation Center on the area's road systems, several details in the traffic study, and the impact on the woodlands at the northern portion of the site. Eugene Council requested clarification of the traffic issues, wanted protection of natural resources, and requested staff provide options for the Eugene City Council to consider at its February 8, 1999 regular meeting. Planning Manager Greg Mott discussed natural resource inventory issues and historical information. He said we are in the process of starting up the natural resources study and said MPC representatives would be reviewing this issue in the future. He said for natural resource protection they may go outside the UGB. He discussed findings that may be prepared to address this. He said the city owned the 38 acres and it could all be brought into the UGB and discussed other options. Mr. Mott discussed public land and open space issues. He discussed existing land use zoning and urban designation. He also discussed a possible recommendation regarding bringing the entire site into the UGB and discussed park and open space zoning. Councilor Hatfield concurred with Mr. Mott and recommended support of staff s recommendation to bring the entire area into the UGB, designate it as park and open space along with natural resource protection. Mr. Mott discussed safe migration for animals and a natural system to be tied into the McKenzie River. He discussed possible federal laws that may be imposed on the area. Jan Childs said she did not think Eugene's Council discussion was intended to try to tell Springfield how much of the site they should bring in or anything of that sort. The concern she heard from the Eugene Council was what is important is an Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) amendment. Ms. Childs said Eugene did not have information because Springfield has not made a decision at this point as to what plan designation Springfield would bring forward to process concurrently with the UGB amendment. She thought the Eugene Council wants some level of understanding as to what Springfield is thinking about in terms of what the plan diagram designation is for that property. She stated Eugene does not have any indication if parks and open space designation is what Springfield will consider when it goes forward to a hearing. She said having some action this evening indicating what kind of plan designation is appropriate, will be helpful. The majority of Eugene Councilors are well aware of how long it has taken to move forward with the financial resources study. Most Eugene members feel that ultimately, the designation may include a natural resource type of treatment, possibly of the wooded area to the north, to be determined through the natural resource study. Ms. Daluddung summarized the issues at hand and summarized comments made. t . . . Work Session Meeting Minutes February 1, 1999 Page 3 Councilor Ballew said it did not seem that someone would come in and force the city to use the area as agriculture. She was ready to go forward with the sports center in conjunction with our own UGB and policies. Councilor Simmons asked if the area is designation as park and open space, what would be the net result of a legal action if it were found that this was a commercial site rather than a public site. Mr. Tamulonis said there could be an impact (taxes). He discussed profit activities, non-profit organizations and different situations related to this issue. It was clarified that this is a non-profit corporation and there are IRS standards that have to be met in order to maintain non-profit status. This will be covered under lease negotiation discussions. Councilor Leiken supported option number one and would like council to move forward with this Issue. There was council consensus to go forward and an executive session would be scheduled in the future to further address issues. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:40 p.m. Minutes Recorder - Julie Wilson ~~~ Maureen Maine Mayor Attest: ~ City Recorder \. UU~