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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/02/1997 Regular "It, .~ ~ ~~ . . . MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1997 The city of Springfield council met in regular session in the Springfield City Council Chamber Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Tuesday, September 2, 1997, at 7:00 p.m., with Mayor Morrisette presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Mayor Morrisette, Councilors Ballew, Beyer, Burge, Dahlquist, and Shaver. Councilor Maine was absent (excused). Also present were City Manager Michael Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Attorney Joe Leahy, City Recorder Julie Wilson and members of the staff. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Morrisette. CONSENT CALENDAR IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR SHAVER, WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR BURGE, TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. 1. Claims 2. Minutes a. August 11, 1997 - Work Session b. August 25, 1997 - Work Session 3. Resolutions a. RESOLUTION NO. 97-39 - A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT PROJECT 1-933. HARLOW ROAD PUMP STATION UPGRADE. FROM EMK CONTRACTORS, INC.. IN THE AMOUNT OF $114,841.62. b. RESOLUTION NO. 97-40 - A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT PERMIT PROJECT 3-021: SANITARY SEWER EXTENSION ON SOUTH 32ND STREET TO SERVE NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL. c. RESOLUTION NO. 97-41 - A RESOLUTION SUPPLEMENTING THE ADOPTION OF THE 1997/1998 SPRINGFIELD CITY BUDGET. MAKING APPROPRIATIONS. LEVYING A PROPERTY TAX AND APPROVING THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD'S PARTICIPATION IN STATE REVENUE SHARING PROGRAM. 4. Ordinances -. ~. -., . . . Regular Session Meeting Minutes September 2, 1997 Page 2 5. Other Routine Matters a. Award the Contract for the Purchase of Traffic Signal System Upgrade, Project 5-024, to Bi Tran Systems, Inc., in the Amount of$70,I05. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Appeal of the Decision of the Springfield Building Board of Appeals, Reference Number 97- 07-103. Community Services Manager Dave Puent presented the staff report on this issue. The applicant is requesting council to hear an appeal of the decision by the Springfield Board of Appeals to deny the applicant's variance request from Section 9-7 -18( 1) of the Springfield Sign Code (SSC) relative to the maximum allowable wall signs. Section 9-7-9 of the SSC provides in part that if an applicant's appeal to the Board of Appeals is denied, the applicant may request an appeal to the city council. The applicant is requesting a variance from Chapter 9, Article 7 of the Springfield City Code. More specifically, they are requesting a variance from Section 9-7-18(1) relative to the maximum number of wall signs. The business is located in the 1-5 Commercial Sign District which allows a maximum of three wall signs totaling a maximum of350 square feet. The applicant is requesting a variance to allow 12 additional wall signs to be placed on their building awnings. The Springfield Sign Code includes a definition which specifically includes artwork or logos and a definition for a Wall Sign which includes signs placed on canopies or awnings. The Building Board of Appeals heard the applicants request on August 9, 1997. Although the Board found favor with the applicants request, the Board agreed there were no findings of fact that would provide the authority to approve the applicant's variance request. The motion to deny the variance request passed unanimously. The council conducted a first and second reading of the proposed additions, deletions and changes in June of this year and approved numerous amendments to the Springfield Sign Code. Amendments or updates to the Sign Code are historically brought before council once each year. Mayor Morrisette opened the public hearing. 1. Don Hescheles, Ethan Allen, 3150 Gateway Loop, spoke in support of a request for a variance from the Springfield Sign Code, Section 9-7-2. Mayor Morrisette closed the public hearing. Councilor Burge respected the role of the Building Board of Appeals. He did not find any fault to the applicants proposal. This was a design issue request. He said it was a tasteful way for the company to display their logo. He found in favor ofthe request of the applicant. ~ ~. ~- . . . Regular Session Meeting Minutes September 2, 1997 Page 3 He did not see any reason for denying tpe request. He said the intent of the Code is not violated. Councilor Shaver welcomed the company to Springfield. He said the Sign Code is updated about once every two years. He said new situations and requests come up every now and then. He recognized the changes in technology. He said it was difficult to draft a sign code to anticipate needs and provide guidelines. He said the Sign Code needed to be amended if this request was allowed. He discussed the need to address these issues. Mr. Hescheles said a grand opening was scheduled for October 10 and he needed approximately three weeks to order the awnings. Councilor Shaver said he recommended denying the request at this time due to being out of conformance of the Code. Councilor Dahlquist supported the request. He suggested they be allowed one logo per awning as long as it did not exceed the allowed square footage. Mr. Leahy said council could direct staff to bring back an idea that allowed the request but did it so narrowly that it did not violate the intent of the Sign Code. Councilor Burge said there was a need to act on the request as soon as possible. Mr. Leahy summarized the findings of fact that must be met in order to make a variance to the decision made. Councilor Burge recommended a revision to the Sign Code be brought back to council next Monday. Mr. Leahy said he was sympathetic to concerns raised by Councilor Burge. He again said the findings of fact must be met for approval of the variance. Councilor Shaver recognized technology changes. He said it was a problem to keep pace and do it fairly with all requests. He thought an adjustment could be made to the Sign Code if it was included in the total square footage. He said this was a trend that was being incorporated into logos and signage. He suggested this become an expedited process. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR SHAVER, WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR DAHLQUIST, TO DENY THE APPEAL OF THE DECISION MADE BY THE BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS (AFFIRM THE DECISION OF THE BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS). THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 4 FOR AND 1 AGAINST (BURGE). IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR SHAVER, WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR DAHLQUIST, TO DIRECT STAFF TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE SIGN CODE, TO ALLOW FOR A REPETITIVE LOGO DESIGN OF THE ESTABLISHMENT, TO BE USED, IF DESIRED, IN MORE THAN THREE LOCATIONS ON THE BUILDING, BUT SUCH USE WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL ALLOW ABLE FOOTAGE FOR SIGNAGE OF THAT BUILDING. STAFF IS DIRECTED TO BRING BACK THE LANGUAGE REVISION WITHIN TWO WEEKS ALONG WITH SCHEDULING A ~, .' . . . '" Regular Session Meeting Minutes September 2, 1997 Page 4 PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER. STAFF IS ALLOWED TO BRING BACK A FUTURE REVISION IN FOUR TO EIGHT WEEKS, IF AN ISSUE COMES UP THAT CAN'T BE HANDLED WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS. A PUBLIC HEARING WOULD BE HELD IN TWO WEEKS. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. BUSINESS FROM THE AUDIENCE 1. Don Anderson, 961 26th Street, expressed concern regarding the Mohawk Boulevard Development Plan. Mr. Leahy discussed the public input process and said there would be ample opportunity for public testimony. COUNCIL RESPONSE CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS BIDS ORDINANCES BUSINESS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL 1. Committee Appointments 2. Business from Council a. Committee Reports b. Other Business 1. Charter Update Staff provided an update on the status of this issue. The deadline to file for the September 16 Special District Election has passed. The filing deadline for the November 4, 1997 Special District Election is September 4, 1997. The next Primary Election is scheduled for May 19, 1998, with a filing deadline of March 20, 1998. A November 3, 1998 General Election is scheduled for September 4, 1998. Mr. Leahy and Mr. Grimaldi will meet to identify and review changes made to the draft document to-date, discuss unresolved issues and provide an update to council. Mr. Leahy also discussed some other changes that were previously recommended. Mayor Morrisette discussed the possible changes and the intent of the project to provide housekeeping changes, not substantial changes. . . . !('. .. . .- Regular Session Meeting Minutes September 2, 1997 Page 5 BUSINESS FROM THE CITY MANAGER 1. Other Business BUSINESS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Minutes Recorder - Julie Wilson Bill Morrisette Mayor Attest: I ~~n-<1Jt' C(j~ City Recorder