HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/03/1999 Work Session
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MINUTES OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION MEETING HELD
MONDAY, MAY 3, 1999
The Springfield City Council met in Work Session at Springfield City Hall, Jesse Maine Room,
225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, May 3 at 6:00 p.rn. with Mayor Maine
presiding.
Present were Mayor Maine and Councilors Ballew, Fitch, Hatfield, Leiken and Simmons.
Councilor Lundberg was absent (excused). Also present were City Manager Mike Kelly,' Assistant
City Manager Mike Kelly, City Attorney Tim Harold, City Attorney Joe Trudeau, Senior
Management Analyst Rosie Pryor, Administrative Aide Shari Higgins, Building Official Dave
Puent, Police Chief Bill DeForrest, Management Analyst Mike Harmon, Public Works Director
Dan Brown, Senior Management Analyst Len Goodwin, Deputy Fire Chief Dennis Shew, members
of the Year 2000 Committee, and members of staff.
1. Liquor License Endorsements for the Renewal Period of 1999-2000.
Building Official Dave Puent presented 109 Liquor License Renewals for City Council discussion.
He said a public hearing would be held during the regular meeting following the work session,
where the council could provide one of the following recommendations to the Oregon Liquor
Control Commission (OLCe): 1) Grant; 2) No Recommendation; 3) Do Not Grant Unless
(application demonstrated commitment to overcome listed concerns): or 4) Deny.
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Mr. Puent provided information on Club 1444, which had a high level of activity listed on
Attachment 20fthe agenda item summary. Mr. Puent said the Mill Camp: would not be renewing
their license as of April 30, 1999, and that the McKenzie Theatre is still under investigation by
OLCC and the city would not know results of the inquiry until late June.
Councilor Ballew asked how close in proximity arrests can occur that were included in the activity
summary provided by Captain Jerry Smith. Police Management Analyst Mike Harmon stated
within one block.
Mayor Maine asked Police Chief Bill DeForrest if he had any suggestions in minimizing the calls.
for police service at Club 1444. Council stated they previously asked for this type of information
on the Mill Camp. Chief DeForrest clarified criminal trespass are calls where the club calls the
Police, not when the Police get calls about the club. He felt it was positive that the establishment
shows concern,
Council further discussed the activity at Club 1444, reviewing the actuals on the hand-out titled,
Summary of Arrest Charges. Mr. Harmon explained why the report looked different this year and
spoke of future enhancements which could be made to the reporting process.
Councilor Leiken asked ifthe city could charge an establishment for having many police calls.
City Attorney Tim Harold said the department would have to charge all businesses, not just ones
with higher levels to make a charge system viable.
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Chief DeForrest said many local businesses use a lot of services, including Sears, Target, etc. and
explained that he did not want to deter liquor establishments from calling the police for fear of
being charged.
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Councilor Ballew asked if the businesses with a higher levels of calls could have their hours
limited. Mr. Harold responded by saying the city could not limit hours when businesses are
licensed by the state to be able to sell liquor until 2:00 a.m. Mayor Maine added the city should
continue to work with liquor establishment proprietors to seek mutual cooperation.
2. Year 2000 Preparedness Status Report.
Senior Management Analyst Len Goodwin and Deputy Fire Chief Dennis Shew presented the
status report. Mr. Goodwin introduced the city's Year 2000 (Y2K) Committee members: Cynthia
Pappas (DSD), Ed Black (PW), Bob Duey (FIN), Brian Barnett (PW), Joe Trudeau (CAO), Mike
Harmon (POL), Craig Gibons (HR), and Dixie Huffman (FIRE - not present).
Mr. Goodwin referred to the council briefing memorandum, an attachment to the agenda item
summary. He specifically detailed Table 1 and spoke about the city's telephone system which is a
leap year not a Y2K issue, and what items would need to be resolved prior to January 1, 2000.
Councilor Fitch asked about the date of September 9, 1999 - which is 9999, as it is a
programmer's error message and could cause computer issues also. Mr. Goodwin said some
devices may fail and that the city can never be 100 percent sure, but there are no current
indications that any problems will occur on September 9.
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Mr. Goodwin said staff is now relatively comfortable that a major failure will not occur on January
1,2000, but the one uncertain the city can not prepare for would be a failure ofthe national
electrical system. He explained the preparations staff is working on now in the event that there is
a failure in electrical power, including plans to be without power for a timeframe of up to seven
days. If the city prepares for a disaster at that level, then it would be prepared to deal with a
disaster of any type.
Mr. Goodwin reported the city is working with intergovernmental partner agencies, as well as local
banks, businesses, etc. He said the fear is not that there will be a major disaster, but the fear that
citizens may feel that something will go wrong. As people panic other things could happen. One
element of the city's efforts includes the revision of the Emergency Preparedness Plan.
Deputy Fire Chief Dennis Shew gave an overview of the Emergency Preparedness Plan, which is
divided into several components and is not Year 2000 specific. Mr. Shew said the first phase
includes updating the plan, the second phase includes preparedness and training, the third phase
includes response information, and the fourth component is a recovery phase after a disaster. The
city is working on the preparedness component now. Mr. Shew referred to the calendar of events
included in the agenda item summary.
Mr. Shew said the city needs to update the plan, distribute the final product, and provide training to
staff and City Council members who will fill roles. Staff will provide council with familiarization
with their roles in plan, as policy makers and ones who would enact emergency ordinances, in
September and October of this year.
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Mr. Shew detailed other elements of the plan and community action and readiness also. He said
Senior Management Analyst Rosie Pryor is currently working on a community education program
with other agency Public Information Officers. This education will occur during the summer and
fall months, as staff is trying to reduce fears by providing information.
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Mr. Goodwin spoke about Table 2, the Service Matrix Options. He said items one through six
would occur and reviewed each item. There was discussion on minimal traffic control and services
for fire suppression and emergency police services.
Councilor Simmons suggested using a ground level building for the Emergency Operations Center,
not City Hall. He felt council may be able to provide input on resources not included on the
matrix.
Mr. Goodwin said the city would provide citizens with a list of resources, but would not provide
shelter or food during an emergency situation or disaster. He said it is a proven fact that citizens
call City Hall when there is an emergency, so staff would be trained to provide referrals and
general information. The matrix was given consensus approval by the Mayor and City Council.
Councilor Fitch questioned the city's observance of the New Year Holiday being moved from
December 3l to January 3. Mr. Goodwin explained why the switch should occur, as it would be
easier to have staff at City Hall and prepared to work on the 31. Others needed on January 3 could
be called in.
Councilor Simmons suggested appointing a council alternate in each city ward. This would assist
in the event that a disaster occurs and a councilors can not attend an emergency meeting, or could
not be located in a timely manner.
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. Councilor Leiken.spoke of inclement weatherpreparedness. He asked if the city solicits
information from those communities who have suffered natural disasters., MLShew replied yes,
referring to a recent report from the State of Maine who suffered an ice storm that lasted over one
week. Mr. Shew said the Emergency Preparedness Plan is based on all hazards, not addressing one
specific situation such as the Year 2000.
Councilor Fitch asked if the purchases included in the agenda item summary would be needed for
any type of emergency. Mr. Goodwin replied yes and said the city would be ordering the
generators soon. There was a discussion of the use of generators for the metro wastewater site.
By consensus, the City Council directed staff to observethe New Year Holiday on January 3,
2000, and to proceed with the proposed level of service in Table 2.
ADJOURNMENT.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins
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Maureen Maine, Mayor
ATTEST:
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