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Home My WebLink About09/27/1999 Work Session . MINUTES OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING HELD MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1999 The Springfield City Council met in Work Session at Springfield City Hall, Jesse Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, September 27,1999, at 5:10 p.m. with Mayor Maine presiding. Present were Mayor Maine and Councilors Ballew, Fitch, Hatfield, Leiken, Lundberg, and Simmons. Also present were Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Attorney Tim 'Harold, Admil}istrative Aide Shari Higgins, Finance Director Bob Duey, Senior Management Analyst Cynthia Pappas, Planner I Kaye Borke, Public Works Director Dan Brown, and Transportation Planning Engineer Masood Mirza. Guests: Micki Kaplan, Lane Transit District and Linda Wanamaker from Parametrix, Inc. 1. Budget Committee Interviews. The City Council reviewed the interview questions. Mr. Duey said official Budget Committee meetings would occur the first part of May 2000, with a possible mid-year budget review occurring in January 2000. Finance staff would prefer a person be selected now to fill the vacant Ward 4 position, so orientation could occur in a timely manner. . The City Council interviewed two applicants for the vacant Ward 4 position on the Budget Committee, including: Cluadete F. Eikenberry and Dwight H. Dzierzek. The City Council asked the following questions: 1. Please discuss why you are interested in serving on the Budget Committee. 2. What do you feel are the most crucial service priorities for the City of Springfield? Which Municipal services are least crucial? 3. If we were in a position of having a surplus, what would you use the surplus for, a) to expand services, or b) to increase reserves, so the city would have it when it is needed? 4. If the city were to realize a shortfall, would you find way to increase revenue or decrease? services? 5. How do you think the city budget influences how the city operates? 6. What background do you have with municipal fund accounting? 7. Do you think the city budget process is open to all citizens? 8. Do you have any questions of us? . The City Council discussed the two applicants. By consensus, council agreed to appoint Dwight Dzierzek to the Budget Committee, Ward 4 position. The appointment will be ratified at the October 4, regular session City Council meeting. Springfield City Council Wor Session - 9/27/99 Page 2 . 2. Springfield Station Draft Environmental! Assessment. Senior Management Analyst Cynthia Pappas presented the staff report. She introduced Planner I Kaye Borke, Micki Kaplan from Lane Transit District (LTD) and Linda Wanamaker from Parametrix, Inc. Ms. Pappas said this item was informational only, to report on the Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding the Springfield Station. The City Council had not reviewed this item since May 1999 and will not take action on the station siting and EA report until their December 6 meeting. Ms. Pappas reminded council that the EA does not determine the final/recommended site, but would assist in the decision making process. Ms. Kaplan provided an update on the Springfield Station siting. She reviewed the project timelines per information in the Agenda Item Summary, Attachment V. If the timelines follow the proposed schedule, then the Lane Transit District Board of Directors would review the preferred siting at their December meeting. Ms. Kaplan reviewed the three site finalists: 1) no build option, current station site; 2) Site G, located on the U.S. Bank site (Main and S. A and 4th and 5th Streets); Site I, located on the south side of S. A (between 4th and 5th, north of the railroad). I . . Ms. Wanamaker reviewed what the EA included. The preliminary draft EA is currently under review by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as the lead agency. She then reviewed the definition, purpose, alternatives, and impacts of the EA. Ms. Wanamaker said the preliminary [mdings showed there were no impacts in the areas of: land use planning and zoning; air quality, wetlands; flooding; navigable waterways; energy; ecologically sensitive areas; historic properties; aesthetics; community disruption; safety and security; secondary development; and consistency with local plans. The environmental elements with mitigated impacts wed:: land acquisition and displacement; noise; water quality; endangered species; traffic parking, pedestrians and bicyclists; and construction. There was a discussion of the options and how the elements impact options for both Sites G and I. Councilor Simmons asked when couBcil might have a chance to review in detail the EA, followed by a discussion of the assumptions in the report. He stated he has found some incorrect statements of fact and would like a chance for further review of the draft. Ms. Wanamaker explained the next steps of the EA, which include: circulation of the draft EA (out by October 1, 1999) for a 30-day public and agency comment period, then public hearings, finalization ofthe EA, and presentation to the FT A for their approval. The FT A approval period could take from two to six weeks. . Mayor Maine clarified that Public Works staffhas been involved with the EA. Transportation Planning Engineer Masood Mirza said an additional work session could be scheduled after the draft was distributed and reviewed by the council, if necessary. I -J Springfield City Council War Session - 9/27/99 Page 3 . Councilor Ballew shared her appreciation of Ms. Kaplan's work on a good process to-date. She said the options now focused on are the most appropriate sites. Councilor Ballew said she served as a council representative on the Station Siting Committee and offered her personal opinion, which favors Site I. Councilor Hatfield chose to wait to share his opinions until more data was available. He felt the City Council should be involved in October, during the public input period, and then hold a formal public hearing, scheduled for December 6. Councilor Leiken asked about the FT A funding Park and Rides, as a new station and Park and Ride seem to go hand in hand. Ms. Kaplan shared other funding sources that may be available to L TD to make the options workable while continuing to plan for a Park and Ride. Ms. Kaplan provided copies of a study done which shows where Park and Rides are located in the northwest part of the country. She said the committee would move forward by reviewing public comment after the 30-day public phase and would review the technical aspects of the EA. No committee meeting would be held in October, but will reconvene in November. After discussion, the council's preference was to receive the document and review it individually, prior to deciding whether questions can be asked of staff or whether an additional work session would be needed on the EA. . Mayor Maine reported that a meeting was held regarding the Wednesday, September 29, Joint Elected Officials (JEO) Meeting. Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi provided an update. The meeting starts at 6:00 p.m., with dinner served at 5:00 p.m., at the Lane County Fairgrounds. There is anticipation that many citizens will testify regarding the TransPlan item. Commissioner Bobby Green will chair meeting and will determine amount of time for people to speak based on the number who attend and sign-up. Mr. Grimaldi said paper would be at all the elected officials places for questions that arise. They will be answered by staff and then distributed to all parties. At the end of the meeting, no time will be held for discussion. It is recommended that each body go back to their own jurisdictions and hold meetings to review the topic of TransPlan and come forward with consensus. If issues are major, then resolution may occur through either another JEO meeting or the Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC). The public hearing will remain open until October 29, for submission of written testimony, which will be included into the record. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m. Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins ~~~ Maureen Maine, Mayor ATTEST: . LD~