HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/28/1997 Work Session
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City of Springfield
Work Session
MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, APRIL 28, 1997
The City of Springfield Council met in Work Session in the Jesse Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street,
Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, April 28, 1997, at 6:02 p.m., with Mayor Morrisette presiding.
ATTENDANCE
Present were Mayor Morrisette and Councilors Ballew, Beyer, Burge, Dahlquist, Maine and
Shaver. Also present were City Manager Mike Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi,
City Recorder Eileen Stein, Administrative Aide Shari Higgins, Planning Manager Greg Mott
and members of staff.
1. Discontinuance of permitting requirements for Home Occupations and Minimum
Development Standards Site Plan
Planning Manager Greg Mott presented the staff report. Councilor Maine asked why there
is a vacancy for a Planner position in the Development Services Department. Mr. Mott
eXplained that Julia Hajduk is moving from the area and the vacancy is to replace an existing
planner position. The issue of discontinuance of requirements is to help the Planning
Division streamline their process for land use application review and respond to reductions in
light of Ballot Measure 47.
Mr. Mott said feedback was received from both staff and developers who have been through
the processes of Home Occupation Permits (Home Occ's) and Minimum Development
Standards (MDS). The feedback was then compared to council goals, state law and land use
compliance regulations. Mr. Mott said Home Occ's and MDS are two land use processes that
are not mandated, but still require the same public notice, Development Review Committee
(DRC) review time, staff time and general governance. He stated most applicants believe
Home Occ's are an intrusion into their privacy and MDS requirements have excessive costs
associated with complying with development code standards.
Mr. Mott explained the city's mechanism for enforcement would be basically the same for
Home Occ's, only no application process would occur. The penalty for violations would still
occur, but enforcement would have a little less authority by not requiring people to first apply
and then meet the development code standards. Mr. Mott said most Home Occ's do not
influence or affect adjoining neighbors. Mayor Morrisette clarified that citizens inquiring
about Home Occ's would still receive the rules and applicable development code section.
Councilor Ballew asked who applies for Home Occ's and what purpose they serve in the land
use arena. Mr. Mott explained what types ofhusinesses usually fall under a Home Occ permit.
He said many code amendments have occurred regarding Home Occ's in the past few years
and he provided background information.
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City of Springfield
Work Session - 4/28/97
Page 2
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Councilor Shaver said people need to know what the boundaries are when running a business
out of their home. He said having to pay for a permit would make people comply based on
their financial output. He suggested a Home Occupation license versus a permit. He
suggested the fee would be the same as a permit is now, but it would be a one-time license
fee. In getting the license, people would agree to obey by the rules of the license.
Councilor Shaver commented he is not advocating for a general or annual business license for
other types of businesses in Springfield, but only for Home Occ's. He explained that by
signing for the license and paying the fee, the business agrees to abide by the rules but it would
still allow for enforcement, but less time and expense spent by the Planning Division.
Mr. Harold explained under Ballot Measure 47, it is within the law to charge a new fee if
it is not to off-set a property tax reduction.
Councilor Maine cautioned that incremental costs add up and a license or fee that would need
to be processed which would require additional staff time. Council should take all staff time
constraints into consideration.
Councilor Burge said he is supportive of staffs proposal and did not favor a fee for a Home
Occ license. He suggested a brochure be placed in the lobby of the Development Services
Department and citizens could get the SDC rules without assistance from a Planner. He said
there will always be complaints and they should continue to be forwarded to code enforcement
staff.
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Mr. Mott explained that neither child care requirements or Home Business permits for the
Washburne Historic District are covered under Home Occ permit process and this SDC
amendment would not change the way that either are governed by the city.
Councilor Maine asked if more code amendments will be coming before the council due
to Ballot Measure #47. Mr. Mott replied no, but said other amendments are forthcoming due
to other needs.
Councilor Beyer asked how much stafftime is currently spent on enforcement of Home Occ
issues currently. Mr. Mott explained there are two types of enforcement now, 1) people who
do not have viable permits; and 2) people who violate their current permit agreements. He said
that only two permits have been revoked since the mid-1980's. Mr. Mott said code
enforcement's first direction is to correct Home Occ's who do not comply and then ifthe
situation is not rectified, they are cited or the permit is revoked.
Council agreed by consensus to eliminate Home Occupation permit requirements.
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Council then discussed MDS. Mr. Mott provided background on a past council goal which
provided a budget amount of$50,000 for providing a 50/50 match of up to $1,500 per
property, for public improvements, which would include sidewalk, street trees, lighting, etc.
Private improvements were also a concern and the city set up a bonding procedure to assist
property owners in getting private improvements installed with the balance due at a future
date. Mr. Mott said circumstances involving confrontations frequently occurred between
staff and developers or property owners.
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City of Springfield
Work Session - 4/28/97
Page 3
Mr. Kelly spoke of the subsidy the city has provided in the past to get sidewalks from the
bridge to 77th on Main Street. He commented that assessments were lowered in order for all
property owners to participate in the project.
Councilor Burge discussed his support of MDS and said that developers should be required to
bring substandard properties up to city standards upon change in ownership. He said the city
should continue to do what is good for the community.
Councilor Maine asked for clarification on the effects of eliminating MDS. Councilor Ballew
asked if other code sections would apply to some of the requirements. Mr. Mott explained the
MDS standards become the maximum development standards when site plan review is
triggered. All new construction on vacant property involving multi-family residential, except
duplexes, on individual lots of 10,000 square feet or less; commercial, industrial, public and
semi-public uses including parking lots, parking garages and outdoor storage areas or yards;
and an addition or expansion of multi-family residential, commercial, industrial, public and
semi-private buildings, structures or outdoor storage areas or yards, whichever is greater, and
any addition or expansion totaling 4,000 square feet or more. Existing parking lots and
circulation areas shall be excluded from the calculation determining the percent of expansion.
Mr. Mott said there is currently no fees for MDS or any notice requirements. The planner
currently assigned to MDS spends only 20% less time on a MDS review versus a site plan
review and that there are no fees for MDS, yet a $150 fee is charged for site plan review.
By consensus, council decided to revisit this topic again in the future. Mr. Kelly suggested
council wait until the Development Services Department budget presentation is given so
council could hear all of the proposed reductions planned and then rate MDS as a comparison
to other services currently being provided.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:57 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins
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Mayor
ATTEST:
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.. D uty CIty Recorder
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MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, APRIL 28, 1997
The City of Springfield Council met in Work Session in the Jesse Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street,
Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, April 28, 1997 at 7:26 p.m., with Mayor Morrisette presiding.
ATTENDANCE
Present were Mayor Morrisette and Councilors Ballew, Beyer, Burge, Dahlquist, Maine and
Shaver. Also present were Administrative Aide Shari Higgins, Human Resources Director Frank
Hotchkiss and Police ChiefBiII DeForrest.
1. Municipal Court Judges Performance Evaluation - Judge Curtis
Judge Curtis said he is able to keep up with the trial docket and praised the staff of the
Court for assisting him with the workload. He said it was a good year with some tough
cases, but that overall things are going well.
Councilors discussed their personal experiences in the courtroom and praised Judge
Curtis for his strict, yet pleasant demeanor.
Judge Curtis spoke of the increased security features which were installed during the
Police/Court remodel last year. He said the additional space which the Court was given has
made the working conditions for the staff better.
ADJOURNMENT
Council recessed at 7:37 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins
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Mayor
ATTEST:
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~ty Recorder
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MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, APRIL 28,1997
The City of Springfield Council met in Work Session in the Jesse Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street,
Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, April 28, 1997 at 7:51 p.m., with Mayor Morrisette presiding.
ATTENDANCE
Present were Mayor Morrisette and Councilors Ballew, Beyer, Burge, Dahlquist, Maine and
Shaver. Also present were Administrative Aide Shari Higgins, Human Resources Director Frank
Hotchkiss and Police Chief Bill DeForrest.
1. Municipal Court Judges Performance Evaluation - Judge Strickland
Judge Strickland suggested the city purchase Premise, a computer program manufactured by
WestLaw, which has all of the Oregon Revised Statues (ORS) and Oregon laws on disc.
This would reduce the number of books that the judges/attorneys must purchase and which
need to be updated regularly. He explained the initial purchase cost is $1,600 and then it
would be $400 annually for updates.
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Judge Strickland discussed the problems with matrixing at the Lane County jail. He also
mentioned changing the city's nuisance ordinance would assist him in trials and he
suggested increasing nuisance fines (currently at $100). He said there are increasing
numbers of repeat nuisance offenders and a jail sentence may be necessary when
reviewing the ordinance.
ADJOURNMENT
Council recessed at 7:55 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins
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ATTEST:
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Depu CIty Recorder
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MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, APRIL 28,1997
The City of Springfield Council met in Work Session in the Jesse Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street,
Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, April 28, 1997 at 8:05 p.m., with Mayor Morrisette presiding.
ATTENDANCE
Present were Mayor Morrisette and Councilors Ballew, Beyer, Burge, Dahlquist, Maine and
Shaver. Also present were Administrative Aide Shari Higgins, Human Resources Director Frank
Hotchkiss and Police ChiefBiII DeForrest.
1. Municipal Court Judges Performance Evaluation - Judge Joseph
Judge Joseph commented that things function well in the Court, Court Supervisor Kathy
Cunningham is marvelous and City Prosecutor Dave Logan has very good common sense and
judgment.
Judge Joseph talked about the problems with matrixing and the limited space in the Lane
County jail.
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Councilor Maine suggested holding an informal work session, gathering with all three judges
at the same time to talk about general topics, and possibly invite Dave Logan and Kathy
Cunningham (with the City Manager's approval). Brief Executive Sessions for evaluation
purposes with each judge could then be held separately.
ADJOURNMENT
The Work Session was adjourned at 8: 15 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins
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Mayor
ATTEST:
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