HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 11 15 Planning Commission Work Session W_PPPlanning Commission Minutes Approved 12.06.22
Attested by S.Weaver
1
Springfield Planning Commission
Minutes for Tuesday, November 15th, 2022
Work Session
Meeting held in Council Chambers and via Zoom
Planning Commissioners Present: Chair Matt Salazar, Vice Chair Grace Bergen, Kuri Gill, Michael
Koivula, Seth Thompson, and Steven Schmunk
Absent: Andrew Buck
Staff: Sandy Belson, Planning Manager; Chelsea Hartman, Senior Planner; Sarah Weaver,
Community Development Administrative Assistant; Kristina Kraaz, Assistant City Attorney
Willamalane Staff & Consultants: Kristina Koenig Boe, Landscape Architect; Kenny Weigandt,
Community Engagement Director; Jeffrey Milkes, consultant with BerryDunn Consulting
Chair Salazar called the meeting of the Planning Commission Work Session to order at 6:00 p.m.
1) Willamalane Park & Recreation District: Comprehensive Plan Update
Staff: Chelsea Hartman, Senior Planner
40 Minutes
Staff /Chelsea Hartman: introduced Staff with Willamalane Park & Recreation District who were
presenting on Agenda Item: Willamalane’s Comprehensive Plan Update Project.
Consultant / Jeffrey Milkes gave a PowerPoint presentation on Willamalane’s Comprehensive
Plan Update.
Commissioner Bergen: wanted to know why the Hispanic/ Latinx response was higher during
this survey and what lessons can be learned from it.
Willamalane Staff/ Kristina Boe: The original survey from 2012 relied on a printed hard copy
questionnaire since online survey technology was not very advanced at that time. Posting the
survey online and having it available in both English and Spanish it resulted in a much higher
number of responses. This coupled with the community partnerships and networking
Willamalane has cultivated over time increased the visibility and response from the community
manyfold.
Willamalane Staff / Kenny Weigandt: Willamalane staff attended many Willamalane and non-
Willamalane community events to promote the survey. At each event, there was a voting
component, which comprised of the community members choosing their favorite project by
dropping wooden nickels in project boxes. that were labeled in English and Spanish. The events
Planning Commission Minutes Approved 12.06.22
Attested by S.Weaver
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targeted were heavily trafficked by the Hispanic community. One of the Willamalane events
featured a Cuban band, which was staffed by English and Spanish speakers. This outreach was
effective in advertising our online, open link survey in both languages. About 1,700 community
members took part in the survey at that time.
Commissioner Thompson: asked if the demographic response by community members was
representative of Springfield demographics. The survey identifies parks within the system that
are more accessible than others. Do you make concrete recommendations to rectify
accessibility issues and will those be included in the Comprehensive Plan?
Consultant / Jeffrey Milkes: The survey response by individuals with disabilities were within 3%
of their demographic representation within the community. The Hispanic community members
response was 8% to 9%, which is close to the Springfield population. In the end, the response
numbers are weighted to represent their total population in the community. The survey
response in general had a slightly higher percentage of female and older populations
respondents than the community, which is not unusual for this type of survey research.
The recommendations will not be especially focused on ADA accessibility, since the District has
an ADA transition plan. With regard to playgrounds, there will be a recommendation to move
away from chips to a poured in place surface. It is much more challenging to push a wheelchair
through chips than a poured in place surface. We are also looking at barriers to access parks,
which is partially based on our 8 or 80 rule: considering whether one would let an eight- or
eighty-year-old walk across a street or railroad crossing without concern for their safety. By
correcting/ fixing barriers, the level of service will improve greatly. The Census data used for
this report was pulled from ESRI Business Analyst and Portland State University Population
Center.
Commissioner Gill: was especially happy that the Tribes and Native American populations were
engaged, which can help inform ideas about protecting cultural and natural resources. . How
will the draft plan be shared to let the community see how their input was incorporated into
the vision? Oregon Goal 5 resources and requirements are limited so it’s important to consider
more robust cultural resources that may not be included in Goal 5 if pursuing federal funding.
Consultant / Jeffrey Milkes: Community engagement and public comment will continue
throughout each phase of the process until the Plan is adopted in June.
Willamalane Staff / Kristina Boe: informed the Commissioners that every juncture of Plan
implementation will include public outreach and continued dialogue with the community to
assure the most effective implementation.
Commissioner Koivula: stated that the needs assessment points out that the Senior Center
needs more parking when in actuality the Senior Center needs more of everything. The City
should consider adding another Senior Center in a different part of town to accommodate the
Planning Commission Minutes Approved 12.06.22
Attested by S.Weaver
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growing need and increased usage. He is also concerned that a 20-year Plan is such a long
timeframe that the demographics of the community could substantially change. It is important
to remain flexible. Willamalane received generous funding in 2012 through the approved bond
measure. Is the funding for the Comprehensive Plan based on that bond measure or will a
renewal of the bond measure need to be passed to complete the Plan?
Consultant / Jeffrey Milkes: The Plan is crafted as a 20-year plan, but the financial plan has been
targeted for the first 10 years. The recommendations are grouped in short, medium, and long-
term goals. Many of the long-term goals may not be addressed in the initial 10-year period. The
survey included a question about support for a new bond measure and the response was
overwhelmingly positive – over 70% of respondents said yes.
Willamalane Staff / Kristina Boe: We have completed all projects that were part of the 2012
bond. For more information, visit https://www.willamalane.org/bond_measure_projects.php.
The next phase before adoption of the Plan in June includes looking at all possible funding
sources, including a new bond measure.
Commissioner Schmunk: inquired about park maintenance should funding sources dry up. Is
there a standard maintenance assured or will the parks be tiered – some receiving more
maintenance and others less?
Consultant / Jeffrey Milkes: confirmed that there is a maintenance part in the Plan that will
address financing. Typically, the City’s park maintenance costs $2,000 per acre, whereas an acre
of open space cost $200 an acre. Other similar agencies in Oregon spend about $5,000 per acre.
Based on the survey results, the community appears to be quite happy about the level of
maintenance. The parks in the District that are in areas with the least diversity, highest income
and lowest crime rate tend to have the most components and most resources. The Plan will
attempt to address the issue of parks with less components that are located in more diverse
and lower income areas to make their park experience more equitable.
Willamalane Staff / Kristina Boe: confirmed that the Comprehensive Plan should be a reflection
of the community as a whole, including its diversity. The engagement plan has sought to reach
out to the entire community and base its recommendations on the needs of the park system to
give the community equal access to parks and a comparable experience.
Report of Council Action – None
Chair Salazar: reminded the Commissioners that there is a link at the bottom of Springfield
Oregon Speaks “For Planning Commissioners” that lists the City Council meeting dates. Each
Commissioner will be able to see their meeting dates to report on during this segment of the
agenda. It is not necessary to attend each Council Session live. It is possible to watch the
meeting later once the video is posted on YouTube.
Planning Commission Minutes Approved 12.06.22
Attested by S.Weaver
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Business from the Planning Commission
Chair Salazar: informed the Commissioners that an email was sent to the Commissioners by
Public Works with a link to the 2022 updated housing strategy, including input from the Mayor
and Council.
Business from the Development and Public Works Department
Staff / Sandy Belson: reminded the Commissioners that there is a meeting of the Commission
on Tuesday, December 6th. This is the last meeting before closing out the year.
ADJOURNMENT – 7:19 P.M.
November 15, 2022
Willamalane Park and Recreation District
Comprehensive Plan Update
22
Willamalane’ s Role in Springfield
The parks and recreation
provider in Springfield
Provides recreation,
athletic and aquatics
facilities
The steward of 46 parks,
trails, facilities, and natural
areas
Nationally recognized
leader in parks and
recreation
33
Why Update the Comprehensive Plan?
Last comprehensive plan in 2012
(20-year plan)
Population growth/assumptions
about growth
Increased diversity
Over 850 acres of new parkland
Accredited in 2022
Best practice to update plans
every 5 years
Provides a framework for future
orderly, consistent, and capital
planning
Creates a roadmap for efficiencies and
continual improvement
Recommends resources, programs,
and facilities that can contribute to a
healthy quality of life
44
Project Timeline
January 2022 to June 2023
Updates with study findings
at
www.willamalane.org/future
Project is 50%
Complete
55
Willamalane Planning Process
66
Demographic analysis
Parks & recreation trends
Recreation program analysis
Park & facility assessments
Focus on natural areas and trails
GRASP® level of service analysis (gap
identification)
Maintenance & operations evaluation
Financial and organizational analysis
Alternative funding and partnerships
Implementable recommendations and
updated capital improvement plan
Updated 2012 performance measures and
implementation plan
Comprehensive Assessment & Analysis
77
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice
Frequency of use of programs and
facilities
Importance vs. needs met analysis
Communication effectiveness &
preferred methods of communication
Ease of use of the district website
A measure of how welcome people feel
in parks and facilities
88
Engaging the Community
Special focus on specific needs
•Teens
•Latinx
•Natural areas
•American Indian/Alaska Native
•Trails
•Accessibility and Inclusion
•Community Wellness
3,866 Community engagement participants through October
99
Random survey sent to 3,500 district households in July
Survey link open to all members of the district in August and
September
Survey was statistically valid and provided perspective of both users
and non-users
Total
Survey
Respondents
1598
Statistically Valid and Open-Link Survey
1010
Age Distribution Trends
Source: 2021 Esri Business Analyst
1111
Percentage Distribution of Race Groups/Hispanic in
the Springfield UGB
Source: 2021 Esri Business Analyst
Hispanic
14.84%
Two or
More
Races
5.78%
Other
Race
6.70%
Asian
1.68%
American
Indian and
Alaska
Native
1.65%
Black or African
American
1.29%
White
82.91%The Springfield Urban
Growth Boundary (USB)
is the study area for the
planning process
(UGB)
1212
District Residents With Disabilities
Type of
Disability
Percentage of
Residents with
Disabilities
Hearing 5.7%
Vision 3.4%
Cognitive 8.9%
Ambulatory 9.1%
Self-Care 3.3%
Independent
Living 8.4%
19.1%
State of
Oregon 14.3%
Source: 2020 American
Community Survey
1313
District Areas of Improvement (Engagement)
Better class and activity times
Improve communication with non-users
Provide more volunteer opportunities
Provide more bilingual signage
Improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities
More pool access
Improve parking at Adult Activity and Aquatic Facilities
Provide additional cultural special events
1414
Additional Recreation Activities (Engagement)
Provide more activities for adults (ages: 21-50)
Provide disc golf events and classes
Provide pickleball classes
More swim lessons
Provide environmental education/outdoor programs
More family activities
Expand volunteer programs
Provide enrichment classes
Provide special events in parks (movies, concerts and cultural
festivals)
1515
Barriers That Might Limit Access to District
Recreation (Engagement)
Pedestrian walking routes to parks
Limited district outreach to non-users
Accessibility for individuals with disabilities
Facility availability
1616
Reasons for Non-Use (Survey)
1717
Feelings of Welcomeness in Parks and Facilities
(Survey)
1818
Importance of Facilities and Services (Survey)
Top 10 most Important facilities and services to Springfield households
When rated 1 (not at all important) to 5 very important)
Facility/Service Number of respondents rating 4 or 5
Park Safety and Maintenance 90%
Natural Areas/Open Space 87%
Trails in parks and/or trail systems 85%
Restrooms in Parks 84%
Indoor Pool 58%
Off-leash areas in parks for dogs 55%
Community Centers 42%
Outdoor Fitness Stations in Parks 34%
Pickleball courts 26%
Basketball courts 26%
1919
Top Three Future Priorities (Survey)
Most Important future priorities Percent of respondents ranking
1st, 2nd, or 3rd most important
1.Trails and bike paths 35%
2.Outdoor swimming pool 25%
3.Park safety and maintenance 22%
4.Better maintenance of existing parks and facilities 18%
5.Outdoor splash pad for water play 16%
6.More restrooms 16%
7.Additional dog parks/facilities 14%
8.Open-air covered multi-use space 14%
9.Community farmers market 13%
2020
Top Three Trail System Priorities
2121
Themes From the 600 Survey Comments
The WPRD does an outstanding job delivering parks
and recreation services
There are overcrowded facilities; bathrooms are closed
most of the time
Some fees are too high
Some households are unaware of existing activities
Needs: (In random order –most repeated)
An outdoor pool
Greater access to swimming lessons and pools for
both kids and adults
More access to bathrooms in parks
Parks and facilities closer to my neighborhood
More mountain bike opportunities
Better security in for parks and parking area
More basketball courts
A shuttle for kids and families who live far from
facilities
Better park maintenance
Greater access to dog parks
Longer and more convenient facility hours
Greater access to better quality pickleball courts
Improved locker rooms
More programs for middle-aged people and
children
Feedback:
22
•Good standard for trailheads where there are formal trailheads
•Park signage overall seems standardized
•Playground replacement schedule
•Newer playgrounds at Jasper Meadows, Bluebelle, and Quartz
•Courts need updates
•More shelters seem appropriate
•System lacks a “signature park”
•Seems to be a wide range within the “Neighborhood Park” classification
•Some parks, like Thurston Neighborhood Park, have nice settings with many mature trees
•Some have several components, while others have minimal outdoor recreation opportunities
Inventory Site Visit Observations
23
Mapping Location and Quality of Components
24
Neighborhood Parks
Neighborhood Score Community Score
Average
Neighborhood
Score
Average
Community
Score
Neighborhood Park
Meadow Park 46 79
Fort Park 29 38
Arrow Park 34 34
Thurston Park 24 29
Rob Adams Park 29 29
Jasper Meadows Park 29 29
Volunteer Park 24 24
Quartz Park 24 24
Bluebelle Park 24 24
Willamette Heights 22 22
Royal Delle Park 22 22
Robin Park 22 22
Jesse Maine Memorial Park 22 22
Gamebird Park and Garden 22 22
Pacific Park 19 19
Page Park 18 18
Menlo Park 18 18
Pride Park 14 14
Bob Keefer Center 10 14
Marylhurst Park 13 13
Douglas Gardens Park 12 12
Willamalane Adult Activity Center 10 10
Tyson Park 9 9
James Park 6 6 24 29
Average Community
Park Score = 29
Average Neighborhood
Park Score = 24
25
Walkable Access Demographics
Walkability
% of
population
by Service
Level
Median
Household
Income
Diversity
Index
Crime
Index
No Service 23%$53,833 52.1 151
Low Service 45%$53,677 53.8 146
Target 32%$59,633 49.8 127
23%
45%
32%
% of Population With Walkable
Access to Outdoor Recreation
Percent total area = 0 target
Percent total area > 0 target
Percent total area >= target
Low Service
At / Above Service No Service
26
Drivable Access
0%1%
99%
% of Population With
Neighborhood Access to
Outdoor Recreation
Percent total area = 0 target
Percent total area > 0 target
Percent total area >= target
Low Service
At / Above Service
27
City/Agency Umatilla Canby Wilsonville Corvallis Willamalane Park
and Recreation
District
North Clackamas Tualatin Hills PRD Average
Year 2020 2021 2017 2011 2022 2012 2018
Population 7,723 18,952 22,919 54,462 70,337 115,924 265,078 79,342
Population Density (per acre)2.4 6.3 4.7 3.0 4.8 5.0 7.6 4.8
People per Park 644 824 1,091 1,009 1,465 1,246 982 1,037
Park per 1k People 1.6 1.2 0.9 1.0 0.7 0.8 1.0 1.0
Average # of Components per Site 6.4 3.0 8.4 5.7 5.2 3.2 3.3 5
Average Score/Site 16.0 16.3 52.0 41.1 31.5 23.7 26.4 30
Components per Capita 10 4 8 6 4 3 3 5
GRASP®Index 24 20 48 41 21 19 27 28
% of Total Area With LOS >0 74%98%95%93%100%97%100%94%
Average LOS per Acre Served 112 265 388 289 148 183 489 268
Average LOS/Population Density per Acre 47 42 82 96 31 36 65 57
% of Population With Walkable Target Access 62%87%67%N/A 32%40%72%58%
Better than the Average
Below the Average
Neutral
GRASP®Benchmarking
2828
Project Timeline
2929
Next Steps
Findings Town Hall meeting –November
16th, 6:00 p.m.
Findings and visioning workshops –
November
Review findings, draft plan review,
Willamalane adoption by June 2023
City of Springfield and Lane County co-
adoption as a legislative plan
amendment
3030
Here’s our contact information:
Jeff Milkes
Senior Consultant, BerryDunn
jeffrey.milkes@berrydunn.com
503-481-1838
James Mickle
Senior Consultant, BerryDunn
james.mickle@berrydunn.com
757-535-1942
Thank You For Your Time.