HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-10-25 SEDA Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE
SPRINGFIELD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
HELD MONDAY,OCTOBER 25,2004
The Springfield Economic Development Agency met in the Jesse Maine Meeting Room, 225
Fifth Street, Springfield,Oregon,on Monday,October 25,2004 at 6:37 p.m.,with Board Chair
Tammy Fitch calling the meeting to order.
A 11'ENDANCE
Present were Board Chair Tammy Fitch and Board Members Sid Leiken,Dave Ralston,Anne
Ballew, Christine Lundberg,and John Woodrow. Also present were City Manager Mike Kelly,
Economic Development Manager John Tamulonis and City Recorder Amy Sowa.
APPROVAL MINUTES
1. Minutes of October 18,2004
IT WAS MOVED BY BOARD MEMBER BALLEW WITH A SECOND BY BOARD
MEMBER RALSTON TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 18,2004
SEDA MEETING WITH THE CORRECTION TO THE HEADER REFLECTING THE
CORRECT DATE. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST.
COMMUNICATIONS
1. Business from the Audience-None
2. Correspondence
• Letter from Mayor Leiken to Affected Taxing Agencies Regarding Proposed Urban
Renewal Plan for Glenwood.
Mr.Tamulonis said he has had communications with a number of the organizations and met
with the Glenwood Water District last Thursday. He will meet with the Lane Educational
District on Tuesday,October 26 and may meet with the Willamalane Board and School
District 4J on November 3. Lane County is scheduled for November 10. He has not yet
scheduled a meeting with the Goshen Rural Fire District.
3. Business from the Staff
Mr.Tamulonis said the agenda packet includes a clean and final copy of the SEDA Mission
Statement and Goals.
Mr. Tamulonis said that 28,004 public notices were mailed out from the city on Friday,October
22 to voters of both Springfield and Glenwood regarding the upcoming meeting November 15
for consideration of adoption of the SEDA By-Laws. This meeting is contingent on whether or
not the measure passes on November 2 and gains approval by the Lane County Commissioners
on November 10. The cost was about$10,000 total for printing and postage.
Board Member Ralston said he would like that money reimbursed back to the city from SEDA
following formation of the District,should it pass on the ballot.
Springfield Economic Development Agency Minutes
October 25,2004
Page 2
Mr.Tamulonis said that in the SEDA By-Laws there is a section regarding formation of a
Budget Committee.Once that committee is formed,the budget would be created and can include
reimbursement to the city.
Board Member Ballew asked why this couldn't have been noticed through local media and
papers rather than an expensive mail-out.
Mr.Tamulonis said it is state law that a special notice must go out to one of four groups of
people: 1)all property owners in the municipality that is forming the district and in the urban
renewal area;2)all postal patrons in the municipality and the affected area; 3)all the sewer,
water, electric or other utility customers in the municipality or the area; or 4)all of the registered
voters of the municipality and the area. The easiest and most accurate information was from the
County Elections office for the registered voters of the municipality and the area. The mail-out
was exactly like the letter distributed to the board last week.
Mr.Tamulonis said there was notification of the Public Hearing on one side of the mail-out and
an information sheet on the other side. There was also an addendum that was not available in
time for the mail-out which states that because of some peculiarities with some bonds approved
prior to October 6,2001,the net affect for a homeowner of a$150,000 home,would be less than
ten cents per year. That affect would vanish over time.
REPORT OF CHAIR
REPORT OF COMMITTEES
A Board Member asked whether or not discussion could be held within the SEDA meeting
regarding Political Action Committee(PAC)activities. It was determined that it would be best
not to discuss those issues in this type of public meeting with staff involved.
OLD BUSINESS
a. Further discussion of Modifications to SEDA By-Laws.
Board Member Ballew noted one additional word to be added in Article IV, Section 1, last
sentence. The word"be"should be inserted after'need to' and`given to Board members'.
Board Member Woodrow noted a change that did not get made that was suggested at last
week's meeting. Article IV, Section 4,remove"roll call,and"the ayes and noes . . .
Mr.Tamulonis noted additional changes that were made following last week's meeting in
the new Article VI,Administrative Support.
Discussion was held regarding the staff liaison and the recommendation of that position by
the City Manager as noted in Article IV, Section 3.
Mr.Tamulonis said if a contractor was running the agency,but the books were kept through
the City of Springfield's Finance Department,the Finance Director could be the staff liaison.
Board Member Lundberg said it is the agency's choice.
Board Member Ralston said the City Council could direct the City Manager to recommend
someone else if they were unhappy with the original choice.
Springfield Economic Development Agency Minutes
October 25,2004
Page 3
Mr. Tamulonis said there was also a change regarding the Budget Committee under Article
VII, Section 2. State law requires at least as many members from the Springfield area,
including Glenwood,to serve on the Urban Renewal Agency. It has been left open in the
By-Laws. When SEDA gets to the Budget Committee activities,the board could determine
who the Budget Committee would include.
Mr.Tamulonis noted that on the last page,changes to the amendments would be"by a
simple majority". Also,"abstentions"was added under the roll call vote in case a Board
Member had to abstain due to a conflict of interest.
Board Chair Fitch said a motion would be made on November 1 regarding adoption of the
SEDA By-Laws which would allow for the 10 day notification. Clean copies will be
distributed at that time.
NEW BUSINESS
a. Contract for Legal Counsel
Mr.Tamulonis distributed the draft contract from the law firm of Harold,Leahy and Kieran.
He said the possible contract dates could be November 1,2004 through December 31,2005
Board Member Ballew said there should be something included in the contract regarding a
limited amount of costs with a provision on how to increase that limit.
Mr.Tamulonis said staff could also give the board updates weekly or monthly.
Mr.Kelly said the city has a history with the law firm so they know about how much time is
spent each year,but there is no history with SEDA. Staff could contact other urban renewal
agencies for a reasonable amount. Something will also be added in the contract regarding
reviewing that figure as needed.
Board Chair Fitch referred to Section 1.6,which discussed the agency's insurance program.
She said that it would be nice to see if it would be possible to add SEDA under the umbrella
coverage of the city. There would be less likelihood of a gap of coverage for the board. The
agency is closely related to the activities of the city and the city staff. It could probably be a
very small amount and could be done without very much of a premium. To procure that
separately could be more costly. She suggested contacting the agent on record for that
information.
Mr.Tamulonis said that information would be brought back to SEDA next week. The
attorney contract could be signed on Monday,November 1.
Consensus was to bring it back November 1.
b. Discussion/Questions Regarding Draft Glenwood Urban Renewal Plan and Report.
Mr.Tamulonis noted that several changes were made in the Plan. His computer did not
show the changes in legislative format,but he could go through the document page by page
tonight.
Springfield Economic Development Agency Minutes
October 25,2004
Page 4
Mr.Kelly said the board could direct staff to recreate those changes or Mr.Tamulonis could
go through the document page by page tonight.
Consensus was for staff to recreate it with the changes shown.
Board Chair Fitch asked board members to look over the changed copy once it is distributed
and highlight questions and concerns for next week. Board members can also call Mr.
Tamulonis with questions during the week.
Board Member Ballew said she noticed when looking through the plan that the central theme
is that Glenwood is to be developed for industrial areas. She is not sure that is the best and
highest use of the area. It is such a beautiful area.
Mr.Tamulonis referred to a map which showed the amount of industrial land in the
Glenwood area. Much of the industrial zoned land is vacant. City Council has reviewed this
area regarding zoning.
Board Member Ballew said there is still a lot of the land along the river that is zoned
industrial. She asked if something could be changed within the plan that did not emphasize
industrial as much.
Mr.Tamulonis said the SEDA board implements,builds and finances projects for the
district. If the City Council wanted to make changes in Glenwood,they would have to look
at the Metro Plan and the Glenwood Refinement Plan. Part of the planning that is being
done by City Planner Susanna Julber regarding riverfront development will be looking at
mixed use development in that area. Property owners or City Council can initiate changes.
He discussed changes being proposed, such as putting in Campus Industrial. There are
stylistic changes,which raise the standards,but do not require a zoning change. That is what
some property owners are doing and can continue to do along the river. That change has not
been made at the city yet. SEDA follows the rules of the city. Most of the projects in the
plan are very general to allow for those types of adjustments.
Board Member Ballew said the Metro Plan speaks to an aggressive annexation policy. That
is not a city policy.
Mr.Tamulonis said that is correct,it is in the Metro Plan.
Board Member Ralston asked if the city's policy would supersede that of the Metro Plan.
Board Member Ballew said SEDA would have to work with the existing policy.
Board Chair Fitch said the SEDA Board could request a change from the City Council.
Board Member Lundberg said there is a lot of good information on page 18,Proposed Land
Uses. She said it would be helpful if that information was put into a cheat sheet in bullet
form for easier reading. That would also help direct what council should be looking at
regarding the uses. If changes are needed,it would be helpful. She discussed the mixture of
uses in Glenwood. She asked how that mixture is shown in this plan. SEDA will have to
pick the projects,but council will have to make any changes needed to allow for the projects.
Mr. Tamulonis said under state law,the plan has to conform to the existing land use. The
projects in the plan do not generate land use changes. Property owners or the City Council
Springfield Economic Development Agency Minutes
October 25,2004
Page 5
can initiate those changes. SEDA is the agency that implements the land use. He referred to
pages in the Glenwood Refinement Plan which show the zoning. The Glenwood Refinement
Plan is a very precise plan and adjustments would need to be made at each segment. There
may be more general ways of doing that. He referred to Ms.Julber's work regarding some
of those adjustments.
Board Members requested color copies of the maps from the Glenwood Refinement Plan.
Board Member Leiken said SEDA needs to look at the plan as something to implement. The
City Council needs to look at this as an ongoing,working plan. It is always changing and
evolving. The agency must focus on the implementation.
Mr. Tamulonis discussed an additional change that the City Council is considering which is
mixed use.
Board Member Ballew asked if there was information regarding start and stop times for the
projects listed.
Mr.Tamulonis said that information is available which shows timing for the twenty five
years.
Board Member Ballew asked about the$32M worth of debt that the Urban Renewal Agency
was authorized to incur.
Mr.Tamulonis said it is up to $32M. That number is arrived when adding up the figures for
financing the projects in the plan.
Board Chair Fitch said she may miss next week's meeting due to the impending birth of her
granddaughter,in which case Vice Chair would be presiding over the meeting.
RESOLUTIONS
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:14 pm.
Minutes Recorder—Amy Sowa
J1
Christine Lundberg
Secretary