HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/02/1997 Work Session
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MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1997
The city of Springfield council met in work session in the Jesse Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street,
Springfield, Oregon, on Tuesday, September 2, 1997, at 6:00 p.m., with Mayor Morrisette
presiding.
ATTENDANCE
Present were Mayor Morrisette, Councilors Ballew, Beyer, Burge, Dahlquist, and Shaver.
Councilor Maine was absent (excused). Also present were City Manager Michael Kelly,
Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Attorney Joe Leahy, City Recorder Julie Wilson
and members of the staff.
1. The council was provided a memorandum from Administrative Aide Shari Higgins, providing
a status report on the recruitment's for board, committee and commission vacancies. Council
had no questions regarding the memo.
2. Draft Mohawk Boulevard Specific Development Plan.
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Senior Management Analyst Cynthia Pappas presented the staff report on this issue. This
work session is an opportunity to update the council on progress to date on the draft Mohawk
Boulevard Specific Development Plan and briefly discuss the citizen involvement process
conducted in conjunction with development of the plan.
At its August 19, 1997 work session and public hearing, the Planning Commission
determined they wanted additional review time and input directly from the Mohawk Citizen
Advisory Committee. The Commissioners requested a joint work session with the Mohawk
Citizen Advisory Committee. That work session has been scheduled for September 3, 1997.
This work session will provide an opportunity for Council comment on the draft plan.
In November 1996, the city received a Transportation Growth Management grant through the
joint program of the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Department of Land
Conservation and Development.
A Citizen Advisory Committee (CAe) was formed, comprised of neighbors, business and
property owners in the study area, as well as a Planning Commission ex-officio and a council
ex-officio member. The CAC met for eight months to develop the draft plan. Two public
work sessions were conducted, with over 75 neighbors in attendance.
The Mohawk Boulevard Specific Development Plan is intended to facilitate development of a
vibrant, mixed-use area along Mohawk Boulevard. The study area is bounded by E Street to
the south, the Eugene-Springfield Highway to the north, 21 st Street to the east, and 12th
Street and Willamalane Park to the west. The plan emphasizes pedestrian design, to link the
hospital, churches and Willamalane Park with existing retail centers on both sides of the
Mohawk Boulevard corridor.
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September 2, 1997
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The plan can be implemented through a combination of public improvements and regulatory
changes. Public improvement projects that contribute to the character of the Mohawk
Boulevard corridor can help spur private reinvestment efforts.
Ms. Pappas introduced committee members Pat Walsh, Lyle Hatfield and Don Lutes.
Ms. Pappas reviewed four diagrams posted on the wall and answered questions from council
and discussed the parking area around the hospital. She discussed minimum versus maximum
parking regulations, along with the option of a shared facility for the hospital and a nearby
church.
Councilor Burge discussed long term land use planning. He discussed methodology and
underlying motives of those designing the plan. He complemented those that have worked on
the plan. He discussed the need for flexibility. He did not see where the plan was set in stone
and it did provide for opportunity. He said there were traffic issues that existed but was very
complementary on the efforts put into the plan.
Mayor Morrisette discussed pedestrian lighting. He also discussed two-story buildings that
allow living quarters above the business. He discussed design standards. He also discussed
parks and the need for Willamalane to be involved if park issues arise.
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Ms. Pappas discussed the street overlay project, turning and curb radius for buses. She also
clarified that no additional right-of-way existed from G Street South to Main.
Ms. Pappas discussed existing and fill-in trees.
3. Update on Jasper Road Extension Project.
Management Analyst Eileen Stein and Transportation Manager Brian Barnett presented the
staff report on this issue. The Jasper Road Extension Stakeholders Committee is in the
process of discussing alignment and design options for the Jasper Road Extension project and
seeks council input on the street design for the portion of the project within the city limits.
On February 18, 1997, the council received a briefing on this project and was informed of the
creation of a Stakeholder's Advisory Committee to guide the alignment and design process.
The Committee is at the point of making recommendations on alignment and design options
and is seeking council input on the street design for the urban portion of the project extending
south from Main Street to Mt. Vernon Road.
The staff report outlines the various design issues associated with this section of the project.
Staff recommends the construction of a four lane facility built to urban standards in this
section of the project. However, within this context, design options are available due to the
width of the available right-of-way.
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Total funding committed to the Jasper Road Extension project is $3.6 million, including $2.4
million in the County CIP and $1.2 million in the draft Statewide Transportation
Improvement Plan (STIP). This project is expected to be classified as a regional facility,
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September 2, 1997
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meaning the county's assessment policy would not apply. County funding is predicated on an
at-grade 2-3 lane arterial built to city standards in the current city limits and a 2-lane road
south ofMt. Vernon Road to the project terminus (Jasper Road). It does not include costs for
noise attenuation items (soundwall or earthen berm), grade separation of the Union Pacific's
main line at the terminus, a median parkway strip, or the reconstruction of local streets at the
intersection of Daisy and 58th. Since the final design isn't known, its difficult to tell whether
the project is adequately funded at this point.
Ms. Stein discussed right-of-way issues and opportunities to look at width, bike lanes and
reconfiguration of streets. The urban portion was discussed further. Staff requested input on
the design.
Staff recommended the section of the Jasper Road Extension project from Main Street to Mt.
Vernon Road be constructed as a four-lane urban arterial, incorporating some kind of median
treatment. However, staff recommends council direction for staff to examine the full range of
design issues and to report back to council at a future work session.
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Councilor Burge asked if any of this was predicated on the future development of the Natron
site. Councilor Beyer discussed this issue and said there were still questions regarding access,
although, the County would decide on how to build the road at this site. Councilor Burge
raised the issue of railroad crossing and extension of significant infrastructure in the area. He
also discussed the East Main interceptor. Councilor Beyer discussed the need to address
traffic on 42nd Street. Councilor Burge discussed ODOT commitment to 42nd Street
improvements. This discussion occurred during an MPC meeting. Councilor Shaver said it
was felt that it would not only help 42nd Street but also Main Street traffic issues.
Councilor Shaver discussed the urban section and suggested it constructed as if it were a
continuation of the Eugene/Springfield Highway or 1-105, including a median separation and
two lanes in each direction. He said the route should be decided in a way that would
accommodate a grade separation crossing. He clarified his intent and said it should be a true
two lane separation, shoulder, raised median, grassy knoll, something between the two
separate traffic lanes. He assumed it would be for high volume, encouraging use of it rather
than 42nd Street. He suggested development that would reflect what is on the other side of
Main Street.
Councilor Ballew discussed the desire to make it a nice boulevard.
Mr. Barnett discussed the need to identify highway or arterial, identify anticipated traffic
volumes, bicycle lanes desired, different uses and parallel connections.
Council discussed the need for sidewalks and right-of-way issues and said the long range plan
was important.
Mr. Barnett explained that ODOT was clear that this project was not an alternate route to
Highway 58. Councilor Burge raised the importance of the benefit versus the cost.
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Councilor Shaver said he did not hear opposition median strips or two lanes, full width
development within the city limits. He said the level of improvement related to curb, gutter,
sidewalks and bicycle lanes needed to be identified.
Councilor Shaver and Burge would like to discuss their concerns personally with Mr. Barnett.
Councilor Burge said he did not feel comfortable providing staff with direction at this time.
He said there were many unanswered questions.
Lane County Representative Ollie Snowden discussed timelines for the project. He said staff
would like a general sense of what council would like. This information would be forwarded
to see if Lane County was funding the project, most likely, they would make the ultimate
decision.
Councilor Shaver discussed the need to look prior to development. He said if this was a
major thoroughfare, it should be designed similar to Highway 105 or Eugene/Springfield
Highway.
Mr. Barnett said the intent was not to have driveway access at all. He said it would be strictly
limited to local street access and in about one-quarter to one-half mile increments. He said
this was a "high type facility" but not a highway. Councilor Shaver said he thought in 20
years there would be a need for a highway.
Council only provided consensus on direction for a full four-lane development median strip
and the need to identify the level, if any, of curb, gutters, sidewalks, bicycle paths or
something that would mirror the Eugene/Springfield Highway. Councilor Burge raised the
question regarding the timeliness of the project and discussed the Natron site.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Julie Wilson
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Mayor
Attest:
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