HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/23/1995 Work Session
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City of Springfield
Work Session Meeting
MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1995
The City of Springfield Council met to tour the Booth-Kelly site, 303 S. 5th Street,
Springfield, Oregon on Monday, October 23, 1995, at 5:00 p.m. The tour was led by
Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, Development Services Director Susan
Daluddung, Building Official Dave Puent, Property Management Specialist De Little and
Barbara Holman Property Management Aide. Present for the Council were Mayor
Morrisette, Councilors Beyer Burge Dahlquist, Maine and Shaver.
The meeting was recessed at 6:00 p.m. for dinner break in the City Manager's Office
conference room.
The meeting was reconvened at 6:38 p.m. to continue the Work Session. Mayor
Morrisette presided.
Present for the Work Session were Mayor Morrisette, Councilors Beyer, Burge,
Dahlquist, Maine and Shaver. Also present were Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi,
City Attorney Tim Harold, City Recorder Eileen Stein, Administrative Aide Shari Higgins,
Public Works Director Dan Brown, City Engineer AI Peroutka and members of staff.
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1. City Council Ward 3 Interviews
Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi explained two candidates have applied for
. the vacant Ward 3 position, Anne Ballew and James Marr.
The Council interviewed the two applicants and asked the following questions:
1. Please give an overview of the reasons for your interest in the Ward 3 Council
position?
2. In the recent past, what decision has the Council made that you agree with and
what decision has the Council made that you do not agree with, and why?
3. What unique abilities or experiences would you bring to the City Council?
4. Are you more inclined to focus on additional revenues or a reduction of non-basic
services to assist in balancing resources and solving budgetary problems?
5. What is your definition of the perfect City Council?
6. What would you like to accomplish if appointed?
7. Would it be your intent if appointed to run for election in the May 1996 primary?
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City of Springfield
Work Session Meeting - 10/23/95
page two
8. This is a very time consuming appointment, can you commit the time necessary
to fulfill the role as City Councilor?
Mr. Grimaldi stated the Council needs to reach consensus regarding the Ward 3
appointment. He explained if consensus could not be reach, the Council could
use a ballot process. The appointment will be ratified at the November 6, 1995,
City Council meeting.
Council discussed the interviews and qualifications of the two candidates. Councilor
Shaver discussed Ms. Ballew's experience on the Budget Committee and the
Planning Commission and felt that she had the knowledge of city issues to be a more
effective councilor. He stated his choice is Ms. Ballew. Councilor Dahlquist agreed
and stated Ms. Ballew is more familiar with city government due to her service to
the community and her previous occupation as a financial analyst in city government.
Councilor Burge stated he preferred the appointment of Ms. Ballew; due to her
experience. Councilor Beyer agreed. Councilor Maine stated that she gives
preference to those people who desire to improve the community and stated she felt
more of a sense of commitment to the community from Ms. Ballew. Mayor
Morrisette stated he concurred with the City Council and that Ms. Ballew already
understands the process.
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By consensus, it was agreed by Council to appoint Anne Ballew to the City Council
Ward 3 position at the next regularly scheduled
meeting of November 6, 1995.
Mayor Morrisette asked staff to contact Mr. Marr for upcoming openings on the
Budget Committee and the Planning Commission.
Councilor Shaver asked whether the recent Planning Commission applications
could be used to choose new a Planning Commission member. By consensus,
Council agreed to use the recent Planning Commission recruitment applications to
fill the vacancy caused by Ms. Ballew's appointment to the Council. Staff was asked
to provide Councilor Burge with a copy of the agenda item and tape recording from
the commission interviews, held October 8, 1995, since he was not present at the
meeting.
2. Sidewalk Design Standards
City Engineer AI Peroutka provided the staff report. Mr. Peroutka stated the sidewalk
design issue is really part of the Transplan update process, but it is coming before the
Council first, because of the interest and due to the extended discussions on the
M Street and Olympic Street projects. Mr. Peroutka discussed the advantages and
disadvantages of setback versus curbside sidewalks.
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City of Springfield
Council Work Session - 10/23/95
page three
Mr. Peroutka discussed the latest designs in sidewalk ramp access, driveway and
alley approaches, and how the design for curbside versus setback sidewalk is
affected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Mr. Peroutka provided a slide presentation of various sidewalks that exist throughout
the metropolitan area. 'The slides were taken for the TransPlan Visual Preference
Survey. Mr. Peroutka provided the ratings that were given to each slide and
indicated the scores ranged from -10 to +10. He indicated the highest rated sidewalk
slide was a meandering setback sidewalk. Mr. Peroutka indicated the participants in
the survey were self-selected and that their scoring was most likely impacted by the
overall visual impression of the slide and not just the sidewalk itself. Mr. Peroutka
presented additional slides of various sidewalks that exist within the city limits. He
indicated there are'many different types of curbside and setback sidewalks.
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Following the slide presentation, Mr. Peroutka presented a possible sidewalk design
standard recommendation for Council consideration. It included: 1) five foot
sidewalks on both sides of the street where possible, unless precluded by
topography or existing development; 2) for infill projects with average daily traffic
(ADT) count of less than 1,000, sidewalks can be either setback or curbside as
determined by Public Works with property owner input; 3) for infill projects with ADT
greater than 1,000, if curbside, sidewalk shall be seven feet wide; 4) for new
residential development, setback sidewalk shall be standard; and 5) for commercial
or industrial development, curbside sidewalks may be chosen, but if ADT is greater
than 1,000, then the sidewalk must be seven feet wide.
Council discussed the staff recommendation and specifically discussed whether the
sidewalk design should be determined by the traffic count on the street and the width
of curbside sidewalks on local versus arterial and collector streets. They also
discussed what the standard should be for new developments, whether the existing
setback standard precludes interest in infill street improvements, whether setback
sidewalks are' acceptable due to the wet climate in this area and how much flexibility
there should be in the standards, especially for infill development projects.
Mayor Morrisette referenced Fairview Drive off of Mill Street and indicated that there
were some developers in the audience who were listening to the discussion that were
interested in this issue and he asked for their input. Mr. Dennis Wartenbee and Mr.
Earl McElhaney discussed that it was their preference to have curbside sidewalks in
their developments and stated that the city had a listing of the types of street trees
. that could be planted that would achieve the same effect as Fairview Drive.
Council continued to discuss a possible sidewalk design standard. Councilor Burge
stated it was his pr~ference to have a five foot curbside sidewalk standard for all
situations with tree planting requirements, except when an infill project requires
otherwise in order to match the existing development.
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City of Springfield
Council Work Session - 10/23/95
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Mr. McElhany discussed his proposed development. He commented that there
should be some flexibility such as having a setback sidewalk as a higher standard for
residential developments. He felt that the curbside standard would be a minimum
standard. He stated there needs to be some flexibility for infill projects and perhaps
ADT should be used as a criterion for a wide sidewalk.
Council discussed a sidewalk standard for new development versus infill, and
whether to have a minimum and higher standard.
It was agreed by consensus that where the right-of-way permits, there should be
five foot curbside sidewalks as a minimum. If right-of-way does not permit sidewalks
on both sides there should be at least one sidewalk versus none. For new
development, setback sidewalks would be permitted as a higher standard. For
existing development, infill sidewalks should match existing sidewalks. Sidewalks will
be required on each side of the street where the right-of-way allows and a sidewalk
on one side of the street is required regardless of the width of the right-of-way.
Mr. Grimaldi indicated that these standards could be effectuated by a resolution of the
Council that will be brought back to the Council for approval on November 6, 1995.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins/Eileen Stein
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Mayor
ATTEST:
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City Recorde