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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/01/1995 Work Session City of Springfield Council Work Session . MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY, MAY 1,1995 The City of Springfield Council met in Work Session at Springfield City Hall, Jesse Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, May 1, 1995, at 6:05 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, Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, Administrative Aide Shari Higgins, City Attorney Tim Harold, Public Works Director Dan Brown, Traffic Engineer Gary McKenney, Development Services Director Susan Daluddung, Planner II Robin Johnson, Management Analyst II Lynn Nakamura and members of staff. 1. Bicycle Committee Appointments Traffic Engineer Gary McKenney presented staff report. He stated the committee currently has one vacancy and two applications were received. Mr. McKenney stated both applicants are qualified, have good backgrounds and are avid bicyclists. . Mayor Morrisette recommended appointment of one applicant and "back-up" status for the other applicant. City Attorney Tim Harold cautioned against the Council appointing both applicants with one as a back-up, as it would require a change of the Committee's by-laws to add another member. Council discussed the applications and qualifications for appointment. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR MAINE, WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR BURGE TO APPOINT A.J. ULLMANN TO THE SPRINGFIELD BICYCLE COMMITTEE WITH A TERM EXPIRING MAY 1,1998, AND TO HAVE MICHAEL HIGGINS BE "ON STAND-BY" AND BE APPOINTED (WITHOUT RECRUITMENT) FOR THE NEXT AVAILABLE VACANCY ON THE COMMITTEE. THE MOTION PASSED BY A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. 2. Approval of Euaene/Sprinafield Consolidated Plan for Housina and Community Development Planner II Robin Johnson presented the staff report and told the Council this plan does not vary much from the prior Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) plan. She' explained the plan must be submitted and approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to receive federal funding and is due on May 15, 1995. A 30-day comment period was held between March 20 and April 19, 1995 and two public hearings have already been held. She stated this plan was approved by the Springfield Planning Commission on April 18, 1995, and will be considered by the Eugene City Council on May 8, 1995. Ms. Johnson explained this plan will replace the CHAS plan, but no significant policy changes have been made. Approval is needed to receive funding for Eugene-Springfield Community Development Block Grant programs; Eugene-Springfield Consortium HOME Investment Partnership program; Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) grant and the Lane County Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG). . Ms. Johnson introduced Management Analyst Lynn Nakamura, Housing Programs Specialist Kevin Ko and Tom Johnson, a consultant for the City of Eugene who all worked on the creation of the plan. . City of Springfield Council Work Session - 5/1/95 Page two Councilor Maine noted that not just the 1990 Census information was used, which was updated information from the CHAS plan. She commented on the rental versus owner- occupied unit percentage for the metropolitan area and asked if Corvallis has an increased rental volume also due to Oregon State University. Ms. Johnson replied yes, and stated a high percentage of the areas rental usage is due to the University of Oregon. Councilor Shaver asked if by adopting this plan jointly, but at different times poses any problems if the Eugene City Council has problems or questions regarding the plan. Ms. Johnson replied no, but if they do make any significant changes on May 8, then the HUD timeline will be have to be re-adjusted so Springfield can review the plan again. Mayor Morrisette asked where the information came from regarding housing units in Springfield. Ms. Johnson replied from the 1990 Census, and the figure is 18,121 units. Councilor Maine commented that the state of disrepair or sub-standard housing is not high for Springfield. Ms. Johnson told the Council staff is reviewing statistics prepared on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis regarding the compression of lower-income housing with rental prices rising. Councilor Maine stated she has a major concern over the need to raise wages in the area to accommodate increases in rents and housing prices. Mayor Morrisette referred to the breakdown of low versus median incomes. 3. CDAC Fundina Recommendations for 1995-96 Community Development Block Grant Proaram . Development Services Director Susan Daluddung and Lynn Nakamura provided the staff report. The Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) has prepared funding recommendations for the 1995-96 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Ms. Daluddung stated a total of 11 proposals were submitted totaling $911,125 and a total of $504,363 in uncommitted CDBG funding is available for distribution in FY 1995-96. Ms. Nakamura introduced CDAC members present, including: Chair, Joe Mathieu, Council representative Greg Shaver and community representative Gayle Decker. Ms. Nakamura stated the Planning Commission representative is Randy Harvey, but he was not present. Ms. Nakamura gave background information regarding CDBG funding and stated each project or activity must meet at least one of the three national CDBG program objectives: 1) benefits low and moderate income persons; 2) prevents or eliminates slums and blight; and 3) meets an urgent need posing a serious and immediate threat to the health and welfare of the community where other financial resources are not available. She also detailed past projects which have been funded the CDBG program. Ms. Nakamura explained Attachment I, Summary of CDAC's Funding Recommendations by each individual request. She stated the CDAC funding recommendations total $504,363, with $492,795 of new funds and $11,568 of contingency funds from previous years. Ms. Nakamura explained that in the 1980's CDBG funds were typically used for street projects, but since 1990, no CDBG funds have been allocated for street improvements, as county road tax dollars have been available. The Council discussed the formats (formula) used for both CDBG and road tax funds to subsidize local low income areas. . . City of Springfield Council Work Session - 5/1/95 Page three Councilor Shaver discussed the loan repayment portion of Attachment I. He stated the City is anticipating $55,000 in repayments during FY 1995-96. Council discussed the revolving loan fund and how it applies to housing rehabilitation programs. Councilor Beyer asked if the Child Center and SCAR/Jasper Mountain could also apply to the City of Eugene for CDBG funding, as they serve all of Lane County, not just Springfield. A representative from each agency replied that either by demographics or unknown enrollment, neither have ever applied to the City of Eugene. Councilor Burge stated he was personally disappointed by the recommendations of the CDAC. He provided Council with a copy of a hand-out he created with alternative funding suggestions. Councilor Burge discussed the funding of West M Street and felt it is not the worst street in Springfield, as there are still six miles of existing gravel streets. If CDBG funding is to be used for street projects, then he suggested it be used to repair the poorest streets. He stated he will not support the recommendations for funding, and felt that children are being neglected to complete street projects. Mayor Morrisette asked Gayle Decker to address the Council as a CDAC member. She stated she voted against the funding recommendations due to the distribution of funds for the street project on West M Street and lack of funds for the Child Center and SCAR/Jasper Mountain. Ms. Decker stated her preference for funding would have been $100,000 to the West M Street project and $80,000 to be allocated to SCAR/Jasper Mountain. In closing, she stated children who are at risk should be given the funding allocations, and that most children are safer on the street than in their homes. . Mr. Mathieu responded by stating SCAR/Jasper Mountain is located outside of the City limits and is a long-term need, where the West M Street is a very dangerous, narrow street in which children must walk in a ditch versus sidewalks. He stated a majority of the CDAC members agreed on the FY 1995-96 funding recommendation proposal and the committee did a careful and thorough jOb in their recommendation to the City Council. Ms. Daluddung stated this item is also on the City Council Regular Session agenda and the funding recommendations will be decided after a public hearing. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:52 p.m. Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins fu?~/Ji ATTEST: ~~ City Recorder .