Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/15/1995 Work Session . . . ~ City of Springfield Council Work Session MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY, MAY 15, 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 15, 1995, at 6:03 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, City Recorder Eileen Stein, City Attorney Joe Leahy, Development Services Director Susan Daluddung, Housing Program Specialist Vern Delk, Planner II Robin Johnson, Management Analyst II Lynn Nakamura and members of staff. 1. Revision to the Housing Rehabilitation Program Policies Housing Program Specialist Vern Delk presented the staff report. Mr. Delk discussed the City's housing rehabilitation programs, how they work, and the number of loans that have been made for home repair through the programs. He reminded the Council of a 1994 policy that loan repayments be reinvested into the programs. He invited members of Council to ride along with him in inspecting some home repair projects that have been funded through the program. Mr. Delk discussed the changes in the Substantial Home Rehabilitation Loan Program. He characterized most of the changes as housekeeping, but mentioned two major changes. The first change establishes criteria, and delegates authority from the City Manager to a staff designee, to approve waivers for senior tax deferral and loan subordination requests. The second major change establishes a rating system to look at the need of the applicant. Mr. Delk then discussed the Emergency Minor Home Repair Program. He indicated that the major change removes the existing limit on the assessed valuation of the dwelling. He indicated that in a time of rapidly rising assessed valuations, the yalue of the dwelling is not a good indicator of the owner's ability to afford repairs. The Council discussed the proposed revisions and expressed support for them. They also discussed Mr. Delk's offer to visit some repair projects. 2. Council Review of Draft Springfield Community Housing Plan Planner II Robin Johnson presented the staff report. Ms. Johnson discussed the process used to develop the Plan and indicated the purpose of this work session is to review the Plan which will be presented for formal Council adoption on June 5, 1995. . . . " Council Work Session Minutes May 15, 1995 Page 2 Ms. Johnson discussed how this Plan and the Eugene/Springfield Consolidated Housing Plan (which the Council reviewed two weeks ago) relate to each other. Ms. Johnson commented the Plan was prepared under the direction of the Mayor's Housing Task force and was reviewed by the Planning Commission which held a public hearing on the draft Plan in March. Ms. Johnson discussed the goals and policies of the Plan and indicated that strategies have also been prepared. She indicated Council adoption of the goals and policies is requested, but that the strategies may change from time to time. She indicated that the Mayor's Housing Task Force is committed to meet periodically to review the strategies to ensure the goals are being met and policies are being complied with. The four major themes in the Plan are 1) neighborhood improvement, 2) increase homeownership, 3) opportunities for low and moderate income households, specifically more homeownership, and 4) more housing choices for the entire community - now and in the future. Ms Johnson introduced Mr. John Van Landingham, a member of the Mayor's Housing Task Force and advocate of affordable housing programs. Mayor Morrisette commented that the fourth theme includes an emphasis on providing more high income housing so that people in the future will have greater choice in the high end housing market enabling them to locate or remain in Springfield. Councilor Maine asked about duplex housing, specifically the mix of duplex stock that is rental versus owner-occupied. She indicated there are many opportunities where rental housing is needed, such as student housing. She also asked about the commitment by the Task Force to report back and that reference was made to the Planning Commission in one section of the staff report and to the City Council in another section of the staff report. Development Services Director Susan Daluddung clarified that the Task Force would report back to both the Planning Commission and the City Council. The Council discussed the issue of the mix of homeownerhip versus rental, in relation to duplex housing and other housing types, and the issue of housing densities. Ms. Johnson discussed, in relation to providing the opportunity of converting duplex rental housing to homeownership, the experience of the city of Eugene in converting apartment housing to condominium ownership a decade ago. She discussed Eugene's ordinance and some of the lessons learned from that experience. Councilor Walters asked whether School District #19 participated in preparing the Plan? Ms. Johnson replied they did not, but that there was extensive public notice about the preparation of the Plan. She indicated that many other groups that were also notified but did not participate in the process. Mr. Van Landingham indicated that in much of his experience, school districts have not been involved. He mentioned a current planning project in Eugene where the Bethel School District has been quite involved. .... .. ';'4 . . . Council Work Session Minutes May 15, 1995 Page 3 Councilor Shaver commented he would like to see greater zoning flexibility to allow for lower densities in the higher density residential zones and to redesignate some residential zoning. He commented he would like to see less HDR and MDR zones in the city and requested Council concurrence in this regard. He also asked whether there were any provisions in the Plan, such as an overlay zone, which would allow for only owner-occupied row housing. He also asked about rent control. Councilor Burge commented he is more concerned with lack of open space than density. He felt that design considerations could be given to creating more open spaces, which may mean higher vertical spaces to allow more open spaces on the ground. Councilor Beyer commented it is hard to look through the goals and policies and disagree with them. She commented there may need to be room for discussion on the specific strategies. Councilor Shaver requested his comments about density be incorporated into the Plan. Ms. Johnson indicated it could be incorporated into the periodic review process. Councilor Burge commented that before density is addressed, he would like to see whether additional design considerations would create more open space. Councilor Shaver commented there are places in the city where there is medium density residential (MDR) and high density residential (HDR) zoning in an area that is not adjacent to commercial zones or is not serving as a buffer between commercial and low density residential zones. City Manager Mike Kelly stated that many of the Council's comments can be incorporated into the Residential Lands Study which is being updated as part of periodic review such as lower densities, additional design criteria to accommodate parking and open space, and the location of MDR and HDR zones. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m. Minutes Recorder - Eileen Stein ~i/f?/f~ Mayor ATTEST: ~~~ City Recorder '