HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/13/1995 Work Session (2)
City of Springfield
Work Session
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MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1995
The Springfield City Council met in Work Session at Springfield City Hall, Library Meeting Room,
225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, November 13, 1995, at 7:20 p.m. with Council
President Burge presiding.
Present were Council President Burge and Councilors Ballew, Beyer, Maine and Shaver. Mayor
Morrisette and Councilor Dahlquist were absent (excused). Also present were City Manager Mike
Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Attorney Joe Leahy, City Recorder Eileen Stein,
Development Services Director Susan Daluddung, Community and Economic Development
Manager John Tamulonis and members of staff.
1. Follow-up to the Convention Center Market Study
Community and Economic Development Manager John Tamulonis presented the staff report.
He stated the convention center study was presented to the Council in October and now the
firm of Coopers and Lybrand has completed the market study. The report showed the
metropolitan area could definitely support a convention center, but did not recommend a
location for the facility. In the next few months, the level of interest by the three parties of
Springfield, Eugene and Lane County must be determined and two steps need to be
completed: 1) assign a Springfield staff representative to the financial team which will study
how to best to finance the project, and 2) appoint two Springfield representatives to an
intergovernmental policy group to determine where the most viable location, in the metropolitan
area is.
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Councilor Ballew asked how much time the staff person would spend working on the project.
Mr. Tamulonis responded the duration of the project would probably be from now until March,
1996, and the time needed might be once or twice per month for a couple of hours. Mr.
Tamulonis stated Coopers and Lybrand will continue as consultants, but have finished their
analysis phase of the project.
Councilor Shaver asked if an air transportation component was included in the study. Mr.
Tamulonis replied some aspects were reviewed such as the metropolitan area having a
functioning airport with air services improving. There was a discussion regarding air
transportation and local providers and services. Councilor Shaver suggested the metropolitan
area seriously study the ramifications of such a small airport when considering a local
convention center. Councilor Shaver asked how the word "regional" is referred to in the study.
Mr. Tamulonis stated the word "regional" is defined as two or three states or more. Councilor
Maine discussed this issue in terms of sizing which was addressed in the convention center
study report.
Councilor Ballew asked for a full copy of the report. She asked if there would be a joint powers
authority agreement to build the convention center. Mr. Tamulonis replied that an agreement is
a topic that will need to be resolved based on where the construction occurs. He stated at this
time the room tax funds that Lane County collects are insufficient to cover the costs of
construction, so several different types of funding would be needed, possibly even funding
at the state level.
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Councilor Ballew asked if the public has been surveyed regarding the debt that could be
incurred and if the public is willing to accept the financial responsibility. Mr. Tamulonis replied
no, that a survey was not completed as part of the market study and that a survey would most
likely be part of the future study on the project. There was a discussion regarding the current
amount of Lane County's room tax collections and the approximate cost of the construction of
a new convention center in the metropolitan area.
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Work Session - 11/13/95
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Councilor Maine suggested that representatives be assigned to the intergovernmental
groups to continue to discuss issues involved with the project. Mr. Tamulonis stated he has
been involved with the project since it's inception and would be willing to provide the staff
assistance needed to the financial team. Ms. Daluddung stated Mr. Tamulonis would continue
to be assigned the staff role to the project with assistance being provided by Finance Director
Bob Duey. She asked if any Council members had interest in participating on the
intergovernmental policy group. Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi stated if any major
financial issues or items needing Springfield consideration arise, then they will be returned to
the Council for outline or decision in prompt manner.
Councilor Beyer agreed that Springfield should be represented intergovernmentally, even
though she does have additional concerns. She would like to see private businesses support
the proposal also. Councilor Beyer asked if staff will come back to the Council again regarding
the location or will the intergovernmental policy group determine such logistics. Mr. Tamulonis
stated at this point the policy group is not that defined, but suggestions have been made to
include CVALCO, the Lane County Fair Board and possibly even the University of Oregon to
participate in the location decision process.
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Councilor Burge raised issues such as the ability or inability of the three participating
agencies to cooperatively manage a regional facility, the undecided funding mechanism;'
on-going escalating operating costs, and per capita risk. He stated that the agencies need
to look at the benefits a convention center would bring to the community and provide a
comparative analysis along with a final feasibility study and conclusions. He recommended
that the three agencies look closely at market share and cautioned the Council about putting
public funds at risk when there is not a direct benefit to the citizens of Springfield. He stated he
is cautiously pessimistic, but neither in support of or against the project at this time. However,
he is not opposed to further research.
By consensus, Council agreed to provide staff representatives to the financial team, being
John Tamulonis and Bob Duey. At this time, no representatives were appointed to the inter-
governmental policy group.
2. Springfield City Code Recodification - Review of Chapter 2 "Government"
City Recorder Eileen Stein presented the staff report. She reminded the Council that they
awarded the contract for this project in February, 1994, to the League of Oregon Cities. She
indicated that CMO staff is working closely with the City Attorney's Office in reviewing, on a '
chapter by chapter basis, the number of issues that were identified in the legal analysis which
the League prepared.
Ms. Stein stated Council will be asked to review the recodification of the City Code in work
sessions on a chapter by chapter basis, and then take action to repeal the Springfield Code of
1965, and adopt the new code in 1996. She stated that Chapter 2 "Government" is the first
chapter presented for Council review and that the format needs to be approved, so future
chapters can be structured in a consistent manner.
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Ms. Stein reviewed the changes by referencing the table of contents to the chapter. She
commented that most changes in this chapter are minor in nature. Mr. Leahy stated that more
substantive changes may have been made now if the Springfield Charter update had gone to
the voters for approval. There was a discussion regarding why the Charter has not gone to the
voters for approval yet and how it relates to this recodification project.
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Ms. Stein commented that the League of Oregon Cities is looking at the option of placing local
cities codes and charters on-line and accessible via the Internet.
Ms. Stein discussed elections section which has been changed most significantly to enable it to
better coordinate with state elections law. She discussed two areas where the elections
section differs markedly from state elections law. First, the elections section preserves the
existing City Code provision for requiring that the initiative petition sheet to be notarized.
Second, the signature requirement is different. Specficially, the City Code requires the number
of signatures to be 15% for an initiative petition and 10% for: a referendum of the votes cast for
Mayor in the last election. State law uses the number of registered voters. Ms. Stein
commented how the signature requirement is lower under the existing City Code provisions.
Councilor Ballew inquired about the interest rate on warrants set at 10% and that it seems
a high percentage. Mr. Duey replied (section 2.775) was added by the Finance Department
listing 10% as the maximum percentage rate. Councilor Ballew suggested using floating
or market rate language. After discussion, Council agreed the current language was adequate.
Mr. Leahy commented on the purchasing provisions which have also been changed
significantly in an attempt to make the section more user friendly.
Ms. Stein discussed how the,language throughout the City Code regarding fees will be
changed so that fees can be changed via Council resolution rather than ordinance.' She also
discussed upcoming chapter reviews and how staff may need some policy guidance regarding
the business chapter. She indicated that Council can either use this process to just complete.
the recodification or to also address major policy issues.
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3. Lane County Law Enforcement Levy
Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi presented the staff report. He stated on October 2, the
Lane County Sheriff was present to discuss the proposed Sheriffs levy. He explained the levy
is split into two tiers: 1) to fund programs that are used for and paid by all citizens of Lane
County, and 2) to fund services outside the city limits or unincorporated areas and be paid for
only by the citizens in the unincorporated areas. Mr. Grimaldi stated all citizens will vote on
both tiers.
Mr. Grimaldi stated the city has two concerns with tier one. One issue is paying for something ,
that is important to the city regarding police services; He stated the city should be focusing on
the criminal justice system, as it needs maintenance.and enhancements. The levy will address
the criminal justice system problem with regards to quicker book-in times, will provide an
additional 44 beds to the jail, and will open up the work camp with 120 additional beds. Mr.
Grimaldi explained the needed services are due to growth issues, running the jails more
efficiently and keeping the costs Jaw. He stated the levy was larger when the Council saw it in
October and it has been pared down considerably. The amount in the levy is the actual
amount needed to provide the essential services.
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Councilor Burge asked about adding 100 extra beds at the current facility by doubling bunking
and asking the court for permission to do so. Captain Eric Langford of the Sheriffs Office
Police Services Division said that the court order would allow double bunking in the recent
annex of the jail and would add only 48 beds. The jail is already over the designed capacity
and recreational activities areas, as provided by a previous court order. He explained that
there are very strict corrections and court-ordered standards with regards to jail space. He
said that the tier one addresses such capacity issues. Council discussed the current
configuration and amount of cells at the jail and other expansion possibilities.
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Mr. Grimaldi explained the other area of concern is regarding the impact on the combined tas
rate under Ballot Measure 5, which caps the local government combined tax rate $10 per
$1,000 of assessed value. The levy would bring the combined tax rate to $8.60 for tier one.
Mr. Grimaldi explained the number will change over three years and will decrease the amount
available for the other two agencies (the City and Wi/lamalane Park and Recreation District)
from $1.40 to $1.27. Councilor Burge stated he is concerned over reaching compression
and hopes for some definition regarding the amount of the combined tax rate that each agency
has privilege to. Mr. Grimaldi stated Lane County has stated they will not seek another levy
during that three year time frame and the Sheriffs levy would free up some General Fund
dollars in the County's budget, as some of the money would go back for other types of law
enforcement services and some would become available for General Fund use by Lane
County.
Councilor Burge stated he would like to know what county services would receive an
increase funding and in what amount. Mr. Grimaldi stated the County is still working on the
list. Councilor Maine explained she attended a meeting this morning to finalize the tier one
sub-committee recommendations and the decision was made for a rate base levy based on
$1.21 for tier one and that there would be further discussion regarding freed up General Fund
dollars will be proposed to be spent.
Councilor Maine stated she was willing to continue participation in the process and even
though the levy is a County issue, it is very important to the law enforcement in Springfield to
keep a representative involved in the process. She explained the sub-committee has pushed
for a Section 190 agreement to be designed by the two city managers, and the county
administrator to carry the issues into the future. The issues are complex and interrelated and
Springfield needs an on-going say in these issues.
Councilor Beyer asked how long the process will take before the vote is sought and what the
impact is anticipated by Senate Bill 1145 on the services to be funded by the levy. Captain
Langford replied the impacts and discussions related to the levy and SB 1145 are interrelated
and are on-going. He stated there are a lot of unknowns and hopefully the upcoming special
Legislative Session in January, 1996, will help clarify the issues. Councilor Burge shared
Councilor Beyer's concerns over the coordination between the two issues. He stated he is not
impressed with what SB 1145 will do and discussed some specific aspects of the legislation.
By consensus, the Council gave Councilor Maine their support and approval to continue
working on the Sheriffs proposed levy and other related law enforcement issues.
Councilor Beyer commented that she and Councilor Maine attended the annual League of
Oregon Cities Conference over the weekend in Eugene. She announced that City
Manager Mike Kelly was re-elected to a one-year term on the League of Oregon Cities
Board of Directors. '
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
Attest:
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City Recorder t