Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/08/1997 Work Session . MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1997 The city of Springfield council met in work session in the Jesse Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, December 8, 1997, at 6:00 p.m., with Mayor Morrisette presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Councilors Ballew, Beyer, Burge, Dahlquist, Maine and Shaver. Mayor Morrisette arrived at 6:50 p.m. Also present were Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Attorney Tim Harold, Senior Management Analyst Rosie Pryor, City Recorder Julie Wilson and members of the staff. 1. Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) Application Review City Planner Robin Johnson presented the staff report on this issue. There are five positions vacant on the CDAC board at this time. Two of those chosen will serve the remainder of terms that expire June 30, 1999, the remaining three will serve terms that expire December 31,2001. . Applications were received from Roxie Cuellar, Tanya Miller, Joe Mathieu, Robert Paul Nelson, and Cluadete Eikenberry on August 27, 1997 to fill four vacant positions as advertised at that time. Council reviewed the applications and by consensus agreed to reopen the recruitment during the next period. The remaining applications from Jeffrey Horowitz, Sean Harry, Dan Egan, and Bonnie Peterson were received during the latest recruitment period ending November 26, 1997. The CDAC consists of six at-large positions from the community, one representative from the council, and one representative from the Planning Commission. The CDAC advises the council on housing and community development activities, which are funded al1l1ually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The committee also serves as needed to evaluate complaints regarding human rights issues in Springfield. All of the applicants meet the residence requirements. The appointments will be made at the regular session meeting on December 15, 1997. Also, the CDAC has not met since assuming the duties of the Human Rights Commission (HRC). Their by-laws will be amended accordingly at the next scheduled meeting. Council discussed their top candidates. . By consensus the council agreed with the appointment of Roxie Cuellar, Joe Mathieu, Robert Paul Nelson (terms through 2001) and Sean Harry and Dan Egan (terms through 1999). Work Session Meeting Minutes December 8, 1997 Page 2 . 2. Springfield Station Project Work Plan Management Analyst Eileen Stein presented the staff report on this issue. Lane Transit District (L TD) has received State Surface Transportation Program funding to study the possible relocation of the downtown Springfield LTD station. A project work plan has been prepared and L TD is seeking council input on the proposed work plan, before it is considered for approval by the L TD Board of Directors on December 17, 1997. The existing Springfield station was constructed in 1982 and expanded (by one bus bay) in 1990. The current station is nearing capacity and is in need of some restoration and upgrades to provide improved passenger amenities. Prior to investigating additional resources in the current station, L TD would like to study the option of relocating the station to take into account expected increases in ridership and transit system improvements. The purpose of the study is to determine the optimal location for a Springfield Transit Station in the vicinity of downtown Springfield. If, during the course of the study, it appears the best location is the existing location, the study will not proceed and efforts will be redirected towards determining needed improvements at that location. . The study will be overseen by a steering committee, comprised of elected and appointed officials, as well as members of the community. There will also be a technical advisory committee consisting of staff from L TD, the city of Springfield and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The steering committee is expected to meet bi-monthly during the course of the study and the technical advisory committee will meet monthly. The study process is expected to take 18 months to complete. The work plan outlines the study process and the steps expected to be taken. They include forming the steering and technical advisory committees, establishing project objectives and evaluation criteria, identifying alternatives including opportunities for joint development, collecting information on alternatives, narrowing options for two or three sites, conducting an environmental assessment, and finally, selecting a preferred site. L TD staff will be present at the meeting to answer questions about the work plan. Council recommended that the first step would be to determine whether the station should be relocated from its existing location at all. Council would like a review of the documentation and advantages/disadvantages of relocating the station. If there are no compelling reasons to look at alternative locations, it would be council preference to shorten the length of the study and focus on the modifications needed at the existing location. Other factors to consider in making the determination should include how well the community is served, ability to serve patrons of downtown businesses and services, safe pedestrian access to and from the station to downtown businesses and services and the cost effectiveness of upgrading the existing station. . Council expressed concern about the investment in the reconstruction of B Street. Staff has identified that approximately $140,000 in extra costs were incurred in the reconstruction of B Work Session Meeting Minutes December 8, 1997 Page 3 . Street due to the need to carry bus loads. Council encouraged L TD to recognize the extra road costs for maintenance, preservation and modernization that buses place on cities. Council suggested L TD consider the concept of sharing in such road costs and continuing LTD's awareness of them when designing bus routes. Council discussed the length and cost of the study and felt a decision whether to relocate the station should take less than 18 months and $170,000. Management Analyst Eileen Stein will prepare a letter for Council President Greg Shaver's signature. The letter will include concerns expressed by the council. Councilor Dahlquist will serve as council liaison on the Steering Committee for the Springfield station project work plan. 3. Community Survey Results . Development Services Director Susan Daluddung presented the staff report on this issue. In anticipation of a need for further general fund budget reductions, the council authorized a community survey to learn service priorities of community members. The survey is complete and LaDeane Pryor, Mar%Stat Market Research, presented the results for council review and discussion. On December 16 council will hold a mid-year. budget review. In addition to a review of the current budget, staffwill be seeking direction for preparation of the City Manager's proposed 1998-99 budget. The information contained in the survey is intended to assist council and Budget Committee members in providing direction to staff. The Mar%Stat survey shows Springfield residents consider the life-saving and investigation services of its police and fire departments to be critical. Important services include police and fire prevention, and enforcement programs; taking good care of city streets; buying new books, providing children's programming and reference services, and keeping the library open a sufficient number of hours per week. It was also noted that it was important to assist business development, provide community services such as low income housing, enforce building codes and plan for community growth. Other services, such as community beautification, preserving historic resources, promoting culture and arts programs, using tourism money for events, or providing labor for community events are average in importance. Most residents get information about city issues from the newspaper and about a third also get information from television. More than half feel they don't have enough information, either because the city does not adequately inform citizens or because news reports are biased, incomplete, or even inaccurate. . Springfield residents like the community's comfortable size, natural beauty, and peaceful atmosphere, and they also feel they have good city services with a good educational system. When asked if they receive value for their local tax dollar, 91 % of Springfield residents say yes; 62% rated Springfield a good or excellent value. Work Session Meeting Minutes December 8, 1997 Page 4 . A synopsis of the survey results is contained in the Conclusions: Mar%Stat Survev. November 1997. Ms. Daluddung discussed the process used to conduct the survey. Funds were appropriated for the project, the council subcommittee and management team provided consensus on the survey instrument, residents participated in the survey, data results were completed and the presentation and review of the results are now being provided. Basic service information can be used to evaluate upcoming budget decisions. Ms. Pryor discussed the rating scores, reviewed results for each department, where residents obtain information, and what factors contribute most to the quality of life. Approximately nine to fifteen minutes were spent per person surveyed. She also reviewed comments provided, along with community desires. Ms. Pryor commended efforts of those participating in the community survey process. 4. Review of Draft TransPlan . Planning Manager Greg Mott presented the staff report on this issue. The TransPlan update is in its final stages of completion. At the conclusion of the March 24, 1997, work session discussion of this item, the council requested a wrap-up review before public release and the series of public hearings leading to adoption. The staff report documents go to press the week of December 15 and become available to the public in mid-January. The three planning commissions will hold ajoint public hearing on TransPlan several weeks thereafter. Each policy in Chapter 2 is derived from the 14 strategies approved by council in March. Legal counsel and transportation planning staff from each jurisdiction reviewed and revised these policies in preparation for public release. The sample implementation measures are keyed to the policies and to requirements of the Transportation Planning Rule, but are not inclusive of implementation techniques the city of Springfield may pursue. Because of the uncertainty regarding preferred implementation measures and their costs, staff may recommend that the elected officials not adopt implementation measure as a component of TransPlan. Instead, each jurisdiction could undertake an independent schedule and method of implementation. The elected officials will consider public comments and planning. commission recommendations during the public hearing and adoption process this Summer and Fall. Mr. Mott provided information regarding implementation discussion and affordability. He also said ajoint public hearing would be held in April. A recommendation would be forwarded to elected officials following this period. He also discussed timelines. Mr. Mott was available to answer questions from council. Councilor Shaver discussed page 1-10, finance policies. He questioned how a stable and flexible system could be developed and maintained. Tom Schwetz, Lane Council of Governments, answered questions regarding ODOT issues. . Council discussed the need to have legislator support. Work Session Meeting Minutes December 8, 1997 Page 5 . Councilor Shaver discussed language regarding finance polices and also discussed capacity issues. He also referenced page 1-12, Nodal development and land-use patterns. Mayor Morrisette discussed fixed corridors. Councilor Burge discussed the need for development and transportation plal1l1ing to be reviewed together. Both factors were critical to each other for successful development. Councilor Dahlquist recommended language revisions for policy definition page 1-12. Councilor Burge said he hoped more decisive and timely decisions are made in the future. He said it was hard to appease everyone when making transportation decisions. Mr. Mott said the way the plan is implemented is vital. He said one thing is to figure out what type of incentives can be generated. He said the council itself could come up with a number of incentives that would be useful and would work He said there may be things that can be done to reduce risk and offset costs. "Mayor Morrisette discussed zoning. He also discussed Thurston area development. Council discussed page 1-13, Transportation Demand Management policy language and definition. . Councilor Shaver discussed page 1-19, TSI Transit Policy #3. Information was provided regarding bus queue jumpers. Councilor Shaver discussed page 1-22, Pedestrian Policy #3, Pedestrian Environment and Sidewalks. It was requested that language be clarified regarding lighting and existing sidewalk areas. Council discussed page 1-24, Eugene Airport Transportation. Council also discussed the need for piggy back traffic options (trains). He noted 1-5 truck traffic could possibly be reduced. Councilor Shaver felt this should be considered at a policy level. Councilor Shaver discussed the need to get unlicensed drivers and automobiles off the road. Adequate transportation was need for unlicensed and uninsured drivers. He said this could possibly increase safety. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Minutes Recorder - Julie Wilson . Work Session Meeting Minutes December 8, 1997 Page 6 ~~~ Mayor . i\ttest: r '.~ JU~ City Recorder . .