HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-11-19 SEDA Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE
SPRINGFIELD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
HELD MONDAY,NOVEMBER 19, 2007
The Springfield Economic Development Agency met in the Jesse Maine Room,225 Fifth Street,
Springfield, Oregon on Monday,November 19, 2007 at 6:45 p.m.,with Board Chair John
Woodrow calling the meeting to order.
ATTENDANCE
Present were Board Chair John Woodrow and Board Members Anne Ballew,Bill Dwyer, Sid
Leiken,Christine Lundberg,Joe Pishioneri,Dave Ralston,and Hillary Wylie. Also present were
City Manager Gino Grimaldi,Assistant City Manager Jeff Towery, SEDA Attorney Joe Leahy,
Community Development Manager John Tamulonis and City Recorder Amy Sowa.
Board member Faye Stewart was absent(excused).
APPROVAL MINUTES
a. Minutes of October 8,2007.
IT WAS MOVED BY BOARD MEMBER LEIKEN WITH A SECOND BY BOARD
MEMBER PISHIONERI TO APPROVE THE OCTOBER 8,2007 SEDA MINUTES. THE
MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 8 FOR AND 0 AGAINST(1 Absent—Stewart).
COMMUNICATIONS
a. Business from the Audience
1. Fred Simmons, 312 South 52°d Place, Springfield,OR.Mr. Simmons said there was
a requirement in ORS 457 that in August of each year SEDA publish a financial
statement. He asked SEDA to instruct staff to do that. He referred to a report that he
received by the Finance Department that only showed financial activity during the
fiscal year,but they were required by state statute to produce a financial document
showing revenue and expenditures.He asked that they conform to that requirement.
Board Member Leiken asked that two copies of the report be sent to Mr. Simmons and
Mr. Curtiss Greer.
Mr. Tamulonis displayed the report that was filed in August 2006.They were waiting
until they had been audited before submitting the report for 2007.That material was now
available and would be included in the 2007 report.
b. Correspondence
None.
REPORT OF CHAIR
Springfield Economic Development Agency Minutes
November 19,2007
Page 2
None.
REPORT OF COMMITTEES
None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
OLD BUSINESS
a. Springfield Downtown Urban Renewal Plan and Report.
Mr.Tamulonis presented the staff report on this item. On November 6,2007,the Springfield
electorate authorized the City Council to allocate taxes to a downtown urban renewal district.
Allocation of taxes to an urban renewal district requires the creation and adoption of an urban
renewal plan and report. A draft of the Springfield Downtown Urban Renewal Plan was
reviewed by Council on September 17,2007. Council authorized staff to consult and confer with
other affected taxing agencies and present the draft for review by the general public.
On October 2, 2007,the proposed Springfield Downtown Urban Renewal Plan was reviewed by
the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the
City Council approve the Downtown Urban Renewal Plan and Report with a minor text change
describing how urban renewal could affect school funding. "Town Hall"events were held on
August 7th and September 20th to present the draft plan for public review and comment. These
events were publicized by display ads in the Register Guard,by media stories and by direct mail
(September 20th meeting)to residents and property owners within the urban renewal plan
boundary. Staff also made presentations to numerous community organizations, such as the
Chamber of Commerce,Rotary,and Lions Clubs.
Presentations,consultations and conferring occurred with the staff and elected officials of the
affected taxing bodies including Lane County, School District 19, Lane Educational Service
District, Willamalane Park and Recreation District,and Lane Community College.
Attachment 1 is the Springfield Downtown Urban Renewal Plan and Report and would become
Exhibit A in the adopting ordinance for Council to consider November 19,2007 and November
26,2007.
Attachment 2 summarizes the staff report to City Council for adoption of the Downtown Urban
Renewal Plan.
Attachment 3 summarizes comments and recommendations from the affected taxing bodies,the
public,and those received through the Planning Commission review held on October 2°d. In
response, staff has included in the Attachment 3,a series of recommended amendments that are
intended to respond to these comments and to make changes that staff has identified to improve
the Downtown Urban Renewal Plan and Report.
Springfield Economic Development Agency Minutes
November 19,2007
Page 3
Mr.Tamulonis distributed documentation of the notices sent out regarding the meetings on the
Urban Renewal Plan. The ballot measure for an Urban Renewal District for Downtown was
approved by the electors of Springfield and the official certified results of that election would be
presented to Council on November 26. He referred to the other notices that had been placed in
the newspaper as well as mailed out to the electors of Springfield regarding tonight's public
hearing on the Urban Renewal Plan before the City Council. It was required by ORS 457 that
SEDA look at the plan,make any necessary changes or comments and forward it on to the City
Council.He referred to the attachments in the agenda packet. Attachment 3 included the
recommendations from comments during the Planning Commission meeting.
Mr.Tamulonis distributed a document that addressed the comment from Planning Commissioner
Bill Carpenter regarding benefits of the public buildings projects.Mr.Tamulonis referred to Mr.
Simmons recommendation on the list regarding downtown parking and explained how that could
be added into the project list. Mr.Tamulonis noted that the expenditures in the project list were
just suggestions. The actual amounts would be based on actual projects. He explained further.
Discussion was held regarding surface parking and parking structures.
Mr.Tamulonis referred to the other concerns by Mr. Simmons that were also addressed. He
noted that the recommendations were from the Planning Commission. SEDA could comment on
those recommendations and the City Council would make the final decision.
Board Member Leiken asked if the school board voted on the original plan or the plan with the
recommendations following the Planning Commission meeting.
Mr. Tamulonis said they voted on the plan itself,but it was after the Planning Commission
meeting. He explained the school districts discussion on the resolution.
Board Member Leiken referred to the discussion from School Board Member Al King during
their meeting on the plan and noted that Mr.King was an investment banker and past legislator
and understood the financial issues.
Board Member Dwyer said the school board made their decision based on the way the State
allocated funding to the school per student.
Mr.Tamulonis discussed a request from Willamalane to include the Memorial Building in the
urban renewal district.He distributed a memo from Bob Keefer of Willamalane regarding that
request and noted their other request from the Planning Commission meeting to include Meadow
Park on the project list.
Mr. Tamulonis said his hope was that SEDA would approve the urban renewal plan and forward
it on to the City Council.
Board member Ballew said she thought the School District had bought the Memorial Building.
Mr.Tamulonis said Willamalane still owned it,but the school leased it. There were some
seismic upgrades that needed to be made to the building.
Springfield Economic Development Agency Minutes
November 19,2007
Page 4
Board Member Ballew discussed the recommendation to"Adjust Schools Revenue Forgone
statement".
Mr.Tamulonis explained that it was just an explanation that SEDA tax increment funds would
not be going to the school.
Board Member Leiken recalled that Willamalane had once had the Memorial Building on the
market,but it did not sell. It seemed that Willamalane was asking SEDA to help with upgrades
and then they could turn around and sell it.He would like to ask Mr. Keefer.
Board Member Dwyer said that issue could be accommodated with appropriate language.
Board Member Ralston referred to page 25 of the urban renewal report and asked if the figures
were based on the boundary going out to 23'd Street. He asked if the numbers would change if the
boundary was made smaller.
Mr.Tamulonis said that was correct.
Board Chair Woodrow said when Council met on July 23'd,they approved the boundary to 23'd
Street by a vote of 4 to 2.
IT WAS MOVED BY BOARD MEMBER LEIKEN WITH A SECOND BY BOARD
MEMBER PISHIONERI TO FORWARD THE PROPOSED SPRINGFIELD
DOWNTOWN URBAN RENEWAL PLAN TO THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL
FOR POSSIBLE ADOPTION. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 8 FOR AND
0 AGAINST(1 Absent—Stewart).
Board Member Ballew asked about the Memorial Building.
Mr.Tamulonis said Council could consider the issue on the Memorial Building during their next
meeting.He referred to some photos on display of the 14th Street bike path project,the first
SEDA project in Glenwood.
NEW BUSINESS
Board member Dwyer announced that he would again be raising funds to provide turkeys to be
distributed for Christmas. His goal this year was to raise$10,000 for the turkey feed. St.Vincent
DePaul and the food bank would provide the distribution.
ADJOURNMENT
A member of the audience asked if there were any plans for South A Street between 19th and 23rd
Streets,especially regarding private homes.
Mr.Tamulonis said SEDA had no plans of acquiring any property,although they could do some
housing rehabilitation.There was nothing else planned in that area.
The citizen said she had heard that there was a possibility of improving the couplet at Main
Street and South A Street in that area.
Springfield Economic Development Agency Minutes
November 19,2007
Page 5
Mr.Tamulonis said discussions had been held about making improvements to that couplet,but it
had been discussion only.He said it was likely to be years out before any plans were made.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:13 pm.
Minutes Recorder—Amy Sowa
Christine Lundberg
Secretary