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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/13/1995 Work Session (2) Springfield City Council Work Session Minutes . MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1995 The City of Springfield Council met in Work Session in the Library Meeting Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, March 13,1995, at 7:35 p.m., with Mayor Morrisette presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Mayor Morrisette and Councilors Beyer, Burge, Dahlquist, Maine, Shaver and Walters. Also present were City Manager Mike Kelly, City Attorney Joe Leahy, City Recorder Eileen Stein, Public Works Director Dan Brown, Traffic Engineer Gary McKenney, Fire and Life Safety Chief Dennis Murphy, Deputy Chief of Operations Bruce Hocking, Development Services Director Susan Daluddung, Planning Manager Greg Mott and members of staff. 1. Pioneer Parkway Bicvcle /Pedestrian Path Proiect Proaress Report . Members of the Springfield Bicycle Committee introduced themselves. Traffic Engineer Gary McKenney provided the staff report. He gave a status report of the project planning, including public review, funding and design. He introduced Bill Hall and Jerry Lane of OBECConsulting Engineering who would provide an overview of the preliminary project design. He stated city staff is handling the right-of-way acquisition. An appraisal has been received which is currently being reviewed by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and should be presented to the Council at an upcoming meeting. Mr. McKenney indicated staff is comfortable with the appraisal and it is not above what was previously estimated. Mr. Hall and Mr. Lane reviewed the preliminary design and discussed challenges in developing the design in a way that ensures public safety for both motorists and bicyclists. Mr. Hall discussed the issues where Council discussion and input is needed including routing and conceptual design of the information kiosk. He commented on efforts to coordinate this project with another city project to improve Q Street at 1-105 and plans by the ODOT to make traffic flow improvements at the intersection of 1-105 and Pioneer Parkway. Mr. McKenney stated the state project for pavement overlay on Pioneer Parkway from South A to Q Street has been cancelled, so the city will commence with it's two improvement projects. Councilor Burge asked about the funding for the Pioneer Parkway Bicycle/Pedestrian Path project. Mr. McKenney explained the total amount of the project is approximately $900,000, with $764,000 in federallntermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) funding and the balance of just under $200,000 to be funded by the City. The separate intersection project will cost approximately $100,000 which is entirely a city project to be paid from the Street Fund. The Council discussed routing options for the bike path. Councilor Walters stated it was an attractive project which will help achieve Council goals for an improved image of Springfield by creating a livable community. He commented on other communities throughout the country that are converting abandoned railways into other uses such as bike paths. . . Springfield City Council Work Session Minutes Page two Councilor Burge asked about criteria for using federallSTEA funding. Mr. McKenney commented that this project is an "enhancement" project as specified in the grant guidelines for ISTEA funding. Councilor Burge felt that building this bikepath with federal funding for recreational purposes was inappropriate if it was for recreation and not transportation purposes. He commented that a more clear definition of a transportation bikepath versus a recreation bikepath was needed. Councilor Beyer commented that Willamalane Park and Recreation District is ineligible from receiving ISTEA money and so she felt is was appropriate for the City to construct a bikepath for the benefit of the citizens of Springfield and Willamalane. Public Works Director Dan Brown commented further on the ISTEA funding criteria for "enhancements". He said the location on the Southern Pacific railway and location to the Depot, as well as the landscaping improvements were the critical factors in receiving the federal funding. Had it been a simple placing of a bike path, the federal government would not have funded it because it would not have met the ISTEA criteria. Councilor Shaver commented on how this project would beautify the city. He stated he favored Option 1, for the routing. Councilor Dahlquist commented he like the project and asked about public safety issues associated with the existing landscape islands in the street. By consensus, Council concurred with staff's recommendation to pursue Option 1, for routing of the bikepath. They also agreed to direct staff to pursue the hexagonal kiosk design versus the covered bridge design. . 2. Review of Desian Plans for Gatewav Fire Station #5 Fire and Life Safety Chief Dennis Murphy presented the staff report. He reviewed past Council decisions and actions to purchase a site for a fifth fire station in the Gateway area. He introduced Paul Bentley, Project Architect and Deputy Chief Bruce Hocking, Project Manager. Mr. Bentley reviewed the preliminary design plans for the Fire Station #5 project. Mr. Bentley discussed his approach to designing the project, including having reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of fire station designs in other communities, and had a ride along with department personnel. He commented the property was an excellent site for a fire station from a design and engineering standpoint. He reviewed the site layout, building floor plans and building materials to be used. He asked for Council approval of the preliminary design plans. Councilor Maine asked what types of designs at other stations will not be incorporated into this station. Mr. Bentley commented on stations he visited in Lake Oswego. One observation was the use of high grade residential kitchen appliances versus commercial appliances. Other observations were related to roof pitching, design of sleeping arrangements and product material specifications. Councilor Burge commented whether the roof pitch would enable the police room to be added later. Councilor Walters asked what the roofing materials were and whether a metal roof was being used. Mr. Bentley replied that a composition shingle roof would be used which has the same lifetime guarantee (30 years) as a metal roof at half the cost. . . Springfield City Council Work Session Minutes Page three Councilor Shaver commented that it was a nice, basic, common sense design. The balance of the Council concurred. By consensus, the Council agreed to conceptual approval of the design for Fire Station #5. 3. Urban Land Transition Policies City Manager Mike Kelly introduced this item and Development Services Director Susan Daluddung presented the staff report. Ms. Daluddung reported on current annexation requests being received and processed by staff and how in the handling of these requests, numerous issues have arisen that have created confusion for staff, the Council and the Lane County Boundary Commission. Ms. Daluddung indicated that Council direction is requested in order that a formal resolution on urban transition can be brought back for Council approval, tentatively scheduled for April 3, 1995. She reviewed the larger annexation study being coordinated through the Lane Council of Governments and provided a status report of that effort. She indicated that Council would discuss this larger study and make decisions concerning future annexation policy at a meeting in late April or early May. . Planning Manager Greg Mott reviewed the existing methods and tools used for processing annexation requests. He discussed how existing annexation methods and procedures present problems for processing development and annexation requests, including the fact that the Lane County Boundary Commission meets only every two months. He reviewed two options for aligning development requests with annexation processing procedures to eliminate some of the coordination problems. Ms. Daluddung explained the risks associated with the two options. Specifically, under Option 1, an annexation could be processed and approved and a development proposal may not be realized and a vacant parcel could end up being annexed. Ms. Daluddung commented on the components of the formal policy for urban transition. For example, she indicated that although it has been done for past annexations with a delayed effective date, an agreement for police and fire services until the effective date of the annexation would be required for all annexations processed. City Manager Mike Kelly discussed the dynamics of the property tax system in Oregon and how the impact of Ballot Measure 5 has caused staff to capitalize on the delayed effective date method to maximize the City's tax base. Ms. Daluddung indicated that requests processed through the Boundary Commission have caused the Boundary Commission to request that Springfield adopt a formal urban transition policy. Council discussed the two options for processing annexation requests through the Boundary Commission, including the option that a request be made for the Boundary Commission to meet more often. By consensus, Council agreed that annexation would not be required when an application for a building permit for a minor remodel was received, and that if a past circumstance occurred where it was required, then that requirement would be made null and void. Councilor Walters said he favored both options, but if a developer chose Option 1, the development processing fee would not be refundable. He asked what the cost would be and Mr. Mott indicated that it is between $600 and $800. . ,.. . Springfield City Council Work Session Minutes Page four It was agreed that both Options 1 and 2 would be allowed, but that if Option 1 is used and the development is not realized for whatever reason, that the development processing fee would not be refunded. Mr. Kelly reviewed other issues associated with delayed effective date annexations that are proposed to be incorporated into an urban transition policy. By consensus, it was agreed that the components presented be incorporated into a formal urban transition policy which will be presented to Council for formal approval. 4. Sprinafield Tomorrow Improvement Plan Mr. Kelly presented the staff report. He stated one of Council's top priority goals for 1995 is to seek voter approval of a general obligation bond measure for capital improvements. The Council identified the November 7, 1995, statewide election as a target date. He explained in order to meet that target, certain activities must be accomplished by specific dates which are specified in the timeline attached to the staff report. Council discussed the composition of the Springfield Tomorrow Improvement Plan Advisory Committee. Mr. Kelly discussed the advantages and disadvantages of using a citizens advisory committee. After discussion, it was agreed that the representation would include someone from the School District #19 Board, the Willamalane Park and Recreation Board and two City Council liaisons. With the citizen representation explained by Mr. Kelly, this would make a total of 15 members. . 5. Other Business Councilor Shaver distributed the evaluation form for the annual performance evaluation for the City Attorneys. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m. Minutes Recorder - Eileen Stein Fd~~ Mayor Attest: c~ .