HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/25/1996 Work Session
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City of Springfield
Work Session
MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1996
The City of Springfield Council met in Work Session in the Jesse Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street,
Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, November 25, 1996, at 6:03 p.m. with Mayor Morrisette
presiding.
Present were Mayor Morrisette and Councilors Ballew, Beyer, Burge, Dahlquist, Maine and
Shaver (6: 15 p.m.). Also present were City Manager Mike Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino
Grimaldi, City Attorney's Tim Harold and Joe Trudeau, City Recorder Eileen Stein,
Administrative Aide Shari Higgins, Planning Manager Greg Mott and Communications
Administrator Mike Moskovitz.
1. Discussion with Providers of Wireless Telecommunications Systems
Mr. Kelly introduced Planning Manager Greg Mott and stated the purpose for this open
dialogue between the City Council and wireless service providers is to discuss the changes in
the communications industry and provide council with a chance to ask providers questions
before they adopt a telecommunications ordinance.
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Mr. Mott introduced the service providers present, including: Spencer Vale from AT &T
Wireless (previously Cellular One), Kevin Martin, Sprint PCS and Steve Lewotsky, Western
PCS. Mr. Mott stated staff has reviewed information regarding the Federal law and what
type of ordinances other jurisdictions are adopting. He stated the service providers have also
met with the Planning Commission in a similar setting, to provide the commission with
information and answers to their questions.
Mr. Vale opened the discussion by providing council with information on the
Telecommunications Act of 1996. He discussed the issues of frequency and capacity
problems, which have been and will continue to occur happening. Mr. Vale described
universal coverage and explained the differences between Personal Communication
Services (PCS) and cellular usage.
Mr. Martin handed out a one-page summary of Sprint PCS. He explained who they are, how
they are licensed and provide the council with frequency and base station information. He
stated all Sprint sites have been built for initial expansion, and they are currently in the
process of citing approval for three towers in Springfield (MountainGate).
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Mr. Vale explained that all carriers licensed in the State of Oregon, lease space from others.
He provided the council with specific information regarding the size of the siting, which
usually occur on at 40 to 50 square foot piece of property. No siting require water or sewer
service, just electrical service with a phone line. The buildings on the site are small and are
not staffed, rather visited one to two times per month. The typical location ofthe siting are in
industrial or commercials areas, but sometimes a residential citing is necessary, and the group
urged the council not to totally deny that option, but place rigid restrictions in residential
zones.
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City of Springfield
Work Session - 11/25/96
Page two
The providers explained that selecting standards which are obtainable to the providers will be
essential to their success in Springfield. Mr. Martin explained that antennas can be pained to
match existing buildings and the more dense the system, the shorter the pole must be.
Council discussed the height of existing poles within the City and their hopes for shorter poles
as new siting are added.
Mr. Lewotsky stated there are two technologies, PCS and cellular, and he explained how both
can co-locate on the same pole. He explained antenna separation and maintenance issues and
how frequency levels can assist in allowing co-location. Mr. Martin expanded by explaining
co-locates can occur on the same pole, but that antennas can not be shared as they are
individual to frequencies.
Councilor Shaver asked about specific language which could be incorporated into
Springfield's Ordinance which would provide fairness between providers, and not allow one
company to site a tower and then gouge other companies who would like to co-locate on the
pole. Mr. Vale explained that language is already in place between the providers and there is .
no need by the City to further intervene. He explained that providers will not overcharge or
take advantage of each other as they need each others assistance. Currently, sharing or co-
locating towers is a common practice by the service providers.
Councilor Burge asked if providers would consider leasing space that belongs to landlords.
Mr. Martin explained that substations are currently run by those who own towers and then
lease space to providers. PCS equipment is smaller than cellular equipment, but antenna size
is not necessarily smaller. IIi the future, either a coax cable or a fiber optic line will replace
the current copper lines. Mr. Martin added the expense of replacing either poles or lines is
very high.
There was a discussion of the wording the act regarding placement of siting in residential
zones. Mr. Lewotsky asked council to create an ordinance which would benefit both the
community and the providers. He described one tower which is cited in Lake Oswego High
School which is ajoint site used by both Sprint and Western.
Mr. Vale discussed trends in the industry and how it has grown with recent changes in both
PCS and cellular usage. Councilor Maine asked ifthe providers construct towers based on the
amount of people who use their service and when. Mr. Martin replied yes, and stated until
product begins to sell, that the providers will not know the extent of the coverage needs and
what locations they will be needed at.
Mr. Lewotsky asked the council to consider set backs when creating Springfield's ordinance.
He explained if the siting are deemed buildings, then they are very limited in where they can
be placed and how they are camouflaged. He added that ground level screening of the
buildings is acceptable by the providers.
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Work Session - 11/25/96
Page three
Councilor Shaver asked if staff has received model ordinances from other cities. Mr. Mott
replied yes, and the providers stated that they would ensure Mr. Mott receives as much
information as he would like.
Mayor Morrisette thanked the services providers for attending the meeting.
2. Review of Draft Chapter 4 "Utilities" and Chapter 6 "Traffic" Springfield City Code
Recodification
City Recorder Eileen Stein presented the staff report. She commented in the interest of time
that she would be presenting two chapters. After this review, she stated that only three
chapters remained for review by the council.
Ms. Stein explained that Chapter 4 is a combination ofthe old Chapter 3 "Utilities" and the
old Chapter 4 "Sanitation". Both chapters were combined in the recodification project. She
stated the sections pertaining to sewer and garbage rates, which change frequently, will have
wording added which states "Rates shall be established by Council Resolution". This new
wording will eliminate any fee or rate change needing to occur by Ordinance (which changes
the City Code) and will allow the change to occur by Resolution; Ms. Stein stated this change
will cause less changes to the code and be an easier process for staff also. '
Council agreed by consensus to support the use of resolutions versus ordinances once the City
Code is recodified.
Councilor Maine that Ms. Stein have the Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority review the air
quality section. Ms. Stein agreed. She stated the League of Oregon Cities will re-group and
re-number the titles in each chapter, so that they follow a logical order (i.e., all sewer
together, all garbage together.)
Councilor Shaver commented that some things may need to be deleted from the code. Page
A-26, Section 4-2-10 (4), he felt is outdated and need updating. He also asked for cross
references in addition to the index, at the minimum using an asterisk.
Ms. Stein introduced Police Captain Dick Golden and stated he will review Chap~er 6
"Traffic". Captain Golden stated the chapter was updated per the Uniform Traffic Code and
Oregon Revised Statues, plus some housecleaning items. He explained sections 6-1-2 and
6-1-5, regarding bike lane and path usage for both crossing and travel and provided
clarification.
Council had a lengthy discussion regarding page B-9, Section 6-6-3 (3)(c), and whether or not
it should include bus signage, political signs or any other type of a sign on a vehicle. Council
brought up issues with the Sign Code where signs are placed by unauthorized individuals in
the right-of-way for advertising purposes. Captain Golden told Council that a group of staff
(including Public Works and Code Enforcement) are working toward the elimination of'
illegal signage within the city limits.
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Page four
Captain Golden stated staff would review section 6-6-3 (3)(c) and try to use language which
would better represent Council's views on display advertising on vehicles.
Captain Golden explained on Page B-16, 6-10-5, that a new section had been created
regarding nuisance vehicles, which would provide assistance to the Police Department in
removing hazardous or nuisance vehicles in public. Council discussed the length of time
needed by the Police Department before vehicles are impounded.
Captain Golden reviewed Page B-18, Section 6-9-1 regarding Truck Routes. Councilor
Burge asked if only the streets listed are considered allowable trucks routes. Captain Golden
replied that others could be allowed if deemed appropriate by the transportation division and
that staff is currently reviewing and updating the list.
Ms. Stein showed the Council two initiative petitions that were submitted today by a citizen
named Larry Faught. One petition would eliminate the words "health, cleanliness and
ornament" in the City Charter and the second petition would repeal sections 5., 1 ~ lto 5-1-10
of the Springfield City Code. Ms. Stein briefly reviewed the process that the petitions would
take if enough signatures are gathered. Councilor Burge asked that a compilation of Code
Enforcement's contacts and citations to Mr. Faught be provided to the Counci}Yia the
Communication Packet.
3. Springfield Spring Project
Mayor Morrisette stated there would be no costs associated with the location of the original
Springfield spring project. He stated he would be assisted by several community volunteers
and the project would not incur any stafftime or City expense. Mayor Morrisette explained
how the process will occur.
Councilor Burge stated he had asked for review of this item because when he made his initial
request for information, that he did not receive the answers which support this agenda item
summary.
Councilor Burge commented on the board, commission and committee recruitment which was
currently underway. He had specific concern over the amount of applications received for the
Budget Committee and asked Council if they would concur with his opinion to extend the
recruitment deadlin,e to December 20. Administrative Aide Shari Higgins explained that by
extending the deadline, the interviews would then take place in mid-January and
appointments would be ratified in early February. By consensus, council agreed to extend the
recruitment deadline to December 20, at 5:00 p.m.
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Work Session - 11/25/96
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ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins
ATTEST:
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Depu Ity Recorder
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