Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/29/1996 Work Session . City of Springfield Work Session MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 1996 The Springfield City Council met in Work Session at Springfield City Hall, Jesse Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon on Monday, January 29, 1996, at 6:10 p.m. with Council President Burge presiding. Present were Council President Burge and Councilors Ballew, Beyer, Dahlquist, Maine and Shaver. Mayor Morrisette was absent (excused). Also present were City Manager Mike Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Attorney Joe Leahy, City Recorder Eileen Stein, Administrative Aide Shari Higgi'ns, Development Services Director Susan Daluddung, Community and Economic Development Manager John Tamulonis, Finance Director Bob Duey, Planner II Robin Johnson, Public Works Director Dan Brown, Traffic Engineer Gary McKenney, Planner III Mel Oberst and Peter Watt and Tom Schwetz from Lane Council of Governments. City Manager Mike Kelly explained the process for Budget Committee interviews and announced since two of the candidates were running late, agenda items #1 and #2 would be reversed. ' . Councilor Burge announced that he will seek re-election for a second full-term on the Springfield City Council. 1. Appointment to Board of Directors of the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Partnership Community and Economic Development Director John Tamulonis stated there is currently a vacancy on the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Partnership Board of Directors for a Class II Director position. This vacancy 'is due to the term expiration in December 1995, of Lee Beyer, who has re-applied for another three year term. Mr. Tamulonis stated the city received two additional applications from Douglas Chambers and Jack Gischel (who is not a city resident). Mr. Tamulonis explained if the Council chose to re-appoint Mr. Beyer to the Class II Director position, then they could forward the two other applications from Mr. Chambers and Mr. Gischel t9 the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Partnership's nominating committee for two currently vacant at-large positions. ' . IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR MAINE, WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR SHAVER, TO RE-APPOINT LEE BEYER TO A THREE-YEAR TERM FOR THE CLASS II DIRECTOR POSITION AND ASKED MR. TAMULONIS TO FORWARD THE APPLICATIONS OF DOUGLAS CHAMBERS AND JACK GISCHEL TO THE EUGENE-SPRINGFIELD METROPOLITAN PARTNERSHIP FOR REVIEW BY THEIR NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR THE TWO AT-LARGE POSITIONS. THE MOTION PASSED BY A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. . City of Springfield Work Session - 1/29/96 Page two The appointment of Mr. Beyer will be ratified at the Council's February 6, 1996, Regular Meeting. 2. Budget Committee Interviews Finance Director Bob Duey presented the staff report, He explained the Council will be interviewing one candidate for the Ward 3 vacancy, created by Anne Ballew's recent appointment to the City Council and one candidate for the Ward 6 vacancy, created by the term expiration of Audrey Broderick. Mr, Duey explained that Cynthia Anderson was scheduled for an interview but chose not to attend, although she told staff she would be willing to meet with the Council upon their request. Two other candidates, Ronald Miller and Bryce (Rick) Storbeck, were not able to attend the interviews this evening, but would be available on February 5, should the Council decide to conduct further interviews. . Mr. Duey discussed the need to again have three year staggering terms for Budget Committee members. He stated he has been working with the City Attorney to make this process as easy as possible and after discussion, asked thatthe Council' make one appointment for a one-year term and one appointment for a two-year term for the vacant positions in Wards 3 and 6. Council discussed which ward should have which term limitation. IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR BALLEW, WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR MAINE, TO HAVE THE WARD 3 POSITION EXPIRE IN ONE-YEAR AND THE WARD 6 POSITION EXPIRE IN TWO YEARS, THE MOTION PASSED BY A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST. Council interviewed the following candidates: Darrell Smith, Ward 3 Bradley Anderson, Ward 6 Council asked the following interview questions: 1) Is there anything the City of Springfield should not be spending money on, that we are currently spending money on? 2) Are there any areas the city should be spending more money on? 3) How can the Budget Committee bring more citizens into the budget process and create additional public awareness? . 4) With regard to the use of public funds, would you be more inclined to look at ways to generate additional revenue for services, or reduce or limit services to balance the budget? . City of Springfield Work Session - 1/29/96 Page three 5) How do you feel about spending now for benefits of the future, or spending money that will not have an effect on the city for years to come? 6) What is the largest budget you have ever been involved with or reviewed? Council discussed the interview candidates and how to process the candidates who were not able to attend the interviews this evening. Councilor Shaver commented that both candidates interviewed have lived in Springfield for a longer period than the absent candidates, one for nine years and one for 20 years. He felt both candidates interviewed would be an asset to the community. By unanimous consensus, Council agreed to appoint Darrell Smith to the Ward 3 (one- year term) position and Brad Anderson to the Ward 6 (two-year term) position on February 5, 1996, at Council's Regular Meeting. 3. Residential Density Discussion Follow-up . Development Services Director Susan Daluddung introduced Planner II Robin Johnson, Planning Manager Greg Mott and Building' Official Dave Puent. She summarized the Council's responses on the residential density survey and explained the common themes of the survey, Ms. Daluddung asked that the Council give staff direction on the residential density issue, specifically whether the issues shown in the matrix should be referred to the Mayor's Housing Task Force and whether the Task Force should refer any issues to the Residential Land Use and Housing Committee (CAC) for their consideration in making recommendations to the local jurisdictions to amend the Metropolitan Area General Plan. Ms. Johnson explained how she assists the Housing Task Force' and discussed the matrix table, as included in the agenda item summary, Ms. Johnson distributed a Comparison of Housing Types by Number and Percent in Springfield and Further Analysis of Residential Density Issue hand-outs. She referred to the demsityissue hand-out and reviewed the number of votes per category. Ms. Johnson commented that six out of the seven members of the Council returned their original questionnaire. . Councilor Burge discussed his concern over parking related issues, specifically the one and one-half parking spaces required per living unit. He felt this requirement is not adequate and should be more thoroughly addressed by the Housing Task Force and the Planning Commission. The Council discussed "one-size fits all" parking requirements and suggested the Development Code may need to be changed to vary the requirements based on the type of development (elderly, multi- family, etc.) . City of Springfield Work Session - 1/29/96 page four Ms. Johnson reviewed the topics which received the highest number of Council votes, including the quality of open space and the need for the Housing Task Force to review the current Development Code. She stated Increased Home Ownership received four votes and most other topics received only three votes or less, Ms. Johnson told the Council that the questionnaire produced no distinct consensus, but no specific contrasts either. Councilor Shaver commented he liked the list and appreciated the time and effort staff used to compile the information. Councilor Ballew commented the matrix was repetitive at times. Ms. Daluddung stated that future Council discussion will be needed to define what "useable space" is. Therewas a discussion regarding the future of the city and it's development needs. Councilor Burge stated the Council does not want to stifle the development of housing, but that all future housing developments should be evaluated on the basis of whether it would be useful in the future also. He stated . developments should have amenities and values, and not just provide private property owners with rental income; . . Ms. Daluddung explained the process for further review of the residential density issue, which will be done first by the HousingTaskForce and then the Planning Commission. After review and comment by the Planning Commission, a draft density plan will be presented to the Council for their review and comment. 4. TransPlan Update - Travel Forecasting Model for the Assessment of Plan Concepts: Work Session Schedule Lane Council of Government representatives Peter Watt and Tom Schwetz presented information on the TransPlan tentative work schedule and the travel forecasting model. ' Mr. Watt reviewed the tentative work schedule and proposed meeting dates as listed. in the agenda item summary, He explained the suggested public hearing, public review and adoption processes. Councilor Burge asked Ms. Daluddung whether or not the Development Services Department will be filling the vacant Planner III position, Ms. Daluddung explained she is holding off on filling the position at this time, as the funding source has not been secured, She told the Council that the Commercial Lands Study is a high priority for the Planning Commission also, and as soon as the funding can be secured, work will resume diligently on the study. Councilor Burge asked to be kept abreast of the process with both the position anq the work on the study being resumed. . . City of Springfield Work Session - 1/29/96 page five Mr. Watt asked if the Council had any questions regarding the schedule. Councilor Burge stated the sched'ule was acceptable and Councilor Maine stated she appreciated the schedule for consistency, presentation time, and shorter future meetings. Councilors Beyer and Ballew concurred. By consensus, the TransPlan Tentative Scheduled Check-Ins with Planning Commissions, Councils and Boards was approved. Mr, Schwetz explained the travel forecasting model for the assessment of plan alternative concepts, by first reviewing the evaluation process. He discussed historic aspects of the metropolitan transportation system and it's interactions. Mr. Schwetz presented Council with a hand-out titled the TransPlan Evaluation Process. Mr. Schwetz reviewed the four questions being used for the TransPlan Evaluation: 1) is it technically sound; 2) is it environmentally sensitive; 3) is it financially feasible; and 4) is it equitable. . Mr. Schwetz explained to the Council how Lane Council of Governments came up with specific performance criteria. Councilor Burge asked if trips per vehicle miles per person will be part of the measurable criteria used. Mr. Schwetz replied yes, . and explained the current process for measuring the performance criteria, Mr, Schwetz presented the evaluation process which will: 1) review travel model output and data from other sources; 2) identify major tradeoffs among alternatives; 3) summarize the technical analysis in a manner that reflects interim goals and objectives and key areas of policy focus; and 4) develop staff conclusions regarding the relative merits of each alternative. Mr. Schwetz stated he and Mr. Watts will be bringing forward to the Council the alternatives from the evaluation process before the public review process, Councilor Shaver asked if there is still time to ask questions regarding the process and involve citizens, Mr. Schwetz replied yes, that questions can be asked throughout the process and are included in the process/schedule. Councilor Burge asked if the conclusions of the assessments will address transportation planning for the city, the metropolitan area or the entire region. He stated that downtown Eugene's transportation needs may be different than Springfield's downtown area, Mr, Schwetz explained that the model results will be presented to each jurisdiction's staff and they will be seeking input from Springfield's staff when the system improvements are designed for Springfield. . Mr. Schwetz detailed the systematic process for determining travelers choices and stated the model results will be measured against the state mandates for the Oregon Transportation Planning Rule 12, requiring a reduction in vehicle miles traveled and parking spaces per capita. . . . ~ . City of Springfield Work Session - 1/29/96 Page six Councilor Ballew asked about the characteristics of travelers. Mr. Schwetz stated Lane Council of Governments has recently undertaken a survey of households regarding travel characteristics, that had not been completed in over 30 years, using local data. He explained the survey is intended to assist the Council in TransPlan evaluation, but won't be the only information analyzed, He further explained the model, the way it has been changed over the years, and recent efforts through the Oregon Department of Transportation to upgrade models. Mr. Schwetz detailed the model currently used. He said it includes "four-step" factors: 1) trip generation; 2) trip distribution; 3) mode choice; and 4) assignment. He stated the survey would allow staff to improve calibration and maximize the accuracy of future travel forecasting. Councilor Maine stated the model looks like a good common sense tool and that she is impressed with the workplan and forecasting model. Councilor Dahlquist asked Traffic Engineer Gary McKenney if he approves of the model and whether it would assist Springfield in reaching it's transportation goals. Mr. McKenney replied he believes the model is a valid tool for evaluating the transportation needs of the community. 5, Other Business a. Councilor Shaver complimented city staff their assistance in resolving a recent citizen complaint. He stated he is impressed with the complaint resolution process in Springfield, b. Ms, Stein handed-out the draft Capital Improvement Program to the Council and reminded them that this item will be discussed at the February 5, 1996, work session. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:17 p.m. Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins ~ Council President ATTEST ~ City Recorder