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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/16/2018 Work Session City of Springfield Work Session Meeting MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD I TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2018 The City of Springfield Council met in a work session in the Jesse Maine Meeting Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield,Oregon,on Tuesday,January 16, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.,with Council President VanGordon presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Councilor President VanGordon and Councilors Moore, Stoehr,Woodrow and Pishioneri.Also present were City Manager Gino Grimaldi,City Attorney Mary Bridget Smith,City Recorder Amy Sawa and members of the staff. Mayor Lundberg and Councilor Wylie were absent(excused). 1. Amend the Springfield Development Code to Make it Easier to Add and Accessory Dwelling Unit,Journal 9811-17-000057-TYP4. Comprehensive Planning Manager Sandy Belson presented the staff report on this item. This work session is to review the public comments received since the December 4, 2017 Council meeting during the open record period.These comments were to address proposed amendments to the Accessory Dwelling Units(ADUs) in the Springfield Development Code. The comments were summarized in the Council agenda packet. Staff was looking for direction from the Council on each topic. Ms.Belson addressed the first topic of minimum size of ADU citywide. Several comments from the public requested they allow ADUs less than 300 square feet. The Planning Commission did not recommend a minimum size,but said it must comply with the City's building codes. She provided some examples of ADUs smaller than 300 square feet. Emerald Village in Eugene includes structures that are all permanent,rneet the building code,and are less than 300 square feet. She noted that new building codes are being drafted. Building Official David Bowlsby said under current building code,they could have a habitable dwelling that was 70 square feet. Discussion was held regarding making a building ADA compatible. It is not required for single family homes,but could be for other uses. Mr.Bowlsby said to make an existing building ADA compatible only requires one step at a time starting with access into the building. Councilor Pishioneri said he agrees with no minimum square footage as long as it passes code, but he wants only one ADU per tax lot.If allowed by code and a property owner wanted to subdivide to make multiple tax lots, he would be fine with that. He is not opposed to making the original house the ADU if it is small. Councilor Stoehr said the Planning Commission recommendation is acceptable to him. The rest of the Council agreed. City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes January 16, 2018 Page 2 Ms. Belson said maximum size of an ADU was the second topic. Current code lists 750 square feet and 40%of the main home, The Planning Commission recommendation is 750 square feet with no ratio. Councilor Pishioneri said we should model the size with that of Eugene and make the maximum 800 square feet.He feels it makes things easier for builders to have that consistency and would make it easier to determine sewer levels. He would like to see a lot of homes built to allow our population to increase. If a lot can accommodate an 800 square foot home, as well as a larger home,the large one could be the primary home even if it is the second one built. Councilor Moore noted that ADUs can be connected to the original sewer. She agrees with making the maximum 800 square feet to be uniform with Eugene. She doesn't agree with having a ratio. Mr. Bowlsby said based on current code,the ADU could be the same size as the primary house. The State is working on a small homes building code which sets the limit for small homes at 600 square feet. That wouldn't' compel the City to change the maximum size, it would just mean that anything over 600 square feet would follow our standard residential building code.Anything under 600 square feet could use the standard residential code or the new small home codes. Councilor Stoehr said the City should be encouraging people to add ADUs in any way.He supports the larger limit of 800 square feet. Councilor Pishioneri asked if there would be a conflict in the new building code that would require the City to come back and change some of these amendments being considered. Mr. Bowlsby said the only thing that could be affected is if someone wanted to take an existing building and connect it to the primary home. Once connected, the small home elements would have to be brought up to residential code. There is language in the existing building codes that address this type of situation. Council agreed to change the maximum size to 800 square feet. Ms. Belson said the next topic is the home ownership requirement citywide(she noted that the Washbume Historic District would be discussed later).The Planning Commission recommendation is not to include a homeowner requirement. She reviewed some of the comments from citizens on this topic. Council supported the Planning Commission recommendation. Ms. Belson said the next topic was allowing mobile homes and towable structures as ADUs. Councilors Woodrow and Moore supported allowing them as long as they are on a foundation. Mr. Bowlsby said within the City,manufactured homes can be placed on most private lots, but do require a cementous skirting,which is most often cinder blocks. Often the house sits on a cement slab,but the foundation of the manufactured home is a steel frame supported intermittently by piles of concrete blocks with wedges to stabilize it and tie downs. It can sit on pier pads and blocks,but must be anchored to the ground. The hold downs and the City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes January 16,2018 Page 3 requirement for a foundation are based on the use of the structure,not how it is built. He explained.They could consider changing the language in this amendment to 'what is allowed by code'. Councilor Stoehr asked about an example that did not look structurally sound. Mr.Bowlsby responded,explaining what would need to be done to bring it to code. He described the different options for tie downs. Councilor Pishioneri said he is fine with offsite constructed units as long as they meet code structurally and the wheels are removed. He expressed concern that having no skirting around the home could allow vermin to enter. Mr.Bowlsby said the existing building codes for manufactured homes has language to make attempts to prevent infestation by screening vents,solid walls,etc. If it is built under the residential building code, it will be built in. If it is a manufactured home,there is language in that standard which is built in requiring some sort of skirting. Discussion was held regarding moisture barrier requirements. Council was fine allowing manufactured homes,but they must be on a foundation per the code and wheels removed. Ms. Belson said the language in the ordinance goes beyond what is in the Building Code and matches what is in the Development Code for manufactured homes. She explained further. Ms.Belson said the next topic is on-site versus off-site parking requirements. The Planning Commission recommended there be parking on both sides of the street to meet parking requirements as well as abutting property. They also recommend that if there is not parking on both sides of the street,the applicant can go through a Type 11 procedure in which the Director can determine if the available parking meets the requirement. Discussion was held regarding this parking requirement and the options presented. Council agreed with the Planning Commission recommendation on parking. Council President VanGordon said due to time constraints,they will need to continue discussion on the other remaining topics at their next work session on ADUs. 2. Fiscal Year 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report(CAFR) Accounting Manager Nate Bell presented the staff report on this item. He noted the many staff that are involved in putting together this report. He introduced Lynn Kief and Meg Allocco'staff from rn Finance who were in attendance tonight and who were instrumental in.putting together the report. Grove,Mueller& Swank, the City's independent auditors,have completed their audit of the City's Fiscal Year 2017 CAFR and have issued their opinion thereon. Ryan Pasquarella, of Grove, Mueller & Swank,reviewed the audit process,the Independent Auditor's Report, and the City's CAFR. City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes January 16,2018 Page 4 As a preliminary summary for the Council's information, it is noted that the auditor's found no material weaknesses in the City's internal financial controls and they issued an"unmodified opinion" on the City's financial statements. This means that the City is properly accounting for its resources and using adequate financial controls to help prevent the improper use of those resources. Mr. Pasquarella commended staff for their work on this report. He reviewed the few changes made this year.One of the bigger changes by staff was the consolidation of funds from last year to this year, taking away some of the complexity of the audit. Council asked questions regarding the audit. Mr. Pasquarella responded.He noted the great assistance from the Finance Department staff and said he appreciated their work. As a contractor hired by the Council,be reminded the Council they can contact him anytime with any questions they may have. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m. Minutes Recorder—Amy Sowa Christine L. Lundberg Mayor Attest: am Amy Sow� City Recorder