HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/11/1995 Regular
.. - - -~..
.
.
.
City of Springfield
Special Meeting
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL. MF,:ETING OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1995
The Springfield City Council met in a Special Session at Springfield City Hall, City Council
Meeting Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, December 11, 1995, at
7:10 p.m. with Mayor Morrisette presiding.
ATTENDANCE
. Present were Mayor Morrisette, Councilors Beyer, Ballew, Burge, Dahlquist, Maine and Shaver.
Also present were City Manager Mike Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City
Attorney Tim Harold, City Recorder Eileen Stein, Administrative Aide Shari Higgins and
members of staff.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Morrisette.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Public Hearing on The Impacts of Proposed Gaming Center in Gateway Area
Development Services Director Susan Daluddung presented the staff report regarding
a recent development proposal presented to the city. She stated the Confederated Tribes
of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians have applied to the United States Department
of the Interior, Bureau ofIndian Affairs (BIA) to place the former Smith's Furniture property
in trust for the tribe to conduct gaming. Ms. Daluddung stated a letter received by the city
from the BIA requesting the city provide information on several matters so the BIA can
make a decision based on the facts, supporting exhibits and documentation. She explained
that city staff wrote to the BIA and asked for an extension and the City Manager should
have a response for Council at their December 18 meeting, regarding whether or not the
extension request has been granted.
Ms. Daluddung stated the Confederated Tribes plan to use the former Smith's Furniture
site to conduct gaming involving:
420 Slot Machines
10 Blackjack Tables, 6 Poker Tables
Live Keno Parlor
Off-Track Betting and Sports Betting Parlor
Special Events/Conference/Bingo Center
24 hour Restaurant and Lounge
Ms. Daluddung stated the purpose of this public hearing is to hear the facts and input from
the community so the city will know how to respond to the request made by the BIA.
.
City of Springfield
Special Council Meeting - 12/11/95
Page two
Mayor Morrisette stated the Mayor/City Manager's Office staff is collecting information
and will still ac~ept public input and information this week. He eXplained that individuals
providing information at the public hearing tonight will not be able to present the same
information at the public hearing next week unless the information is new or different.
Mayor Morrisette asked that the audience please complete a request to speak card and
limit their comments to three minutes or less.
1. Dave Jewett, President of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, 644 N. A Street, .
Springfield, spoke about the Chamber's research amongst the business community regarding
concerns and issues surrounding the proposed gaming center. He stated 69% to 70% of their
members oppose the development, 25% support the development and the ~alance have not
formed an opinion yet. Mr. Jewett spoke about the concern the business community has over
the deterioration of the community's image and effects on other entertainment-related
activities. He stated he would present any new and/or updated information at the second
public hearing on December 18,1995.
.
2. John Lively, Executive Director of the Eugene/Springfield Metropolitan Partnership,
1186 W. D Street, Springfield, stated he is speaking before the Council as a
development expert in the community. He explained that the proposed casino is not
economic development, and that from a economic development standpoint, thereiis not
an argument either way. Mr. Lively distributed to Council an article from a recent ~
Review magazine regarding casinos - myths and realities. He commented that the image of
Springfield would change with the addition of a casino. He spoke of clients who considered
Reno for economic development and then changed their minds due to the image of the
community.
3. Wil Hoff, 658 S. 57th #46, stated he resides in the Emerald Isle Mobile Home Park and
commended the Mayor and Council for the stance the city has taken regarding the proposed
casino. He asked if the request for development meant that the same laws apply to the casino
as they apply on a reservation. Mr. Hoff showed concern that some members of the
community would be doing something illegal that others would not be able to do. He
also spoke about the impact the casino would have on the city's police and fire services and
the increased traffic coming off 1-5. Mr. Hoff felt the market for casinos in Oregon is
becoming diluted and so would our community if the proposed development occurs.
4. Steven HOllser, 1164 Olympic Street, Springfield, stated gambling operations have proven
to be a drain 011 local business economies, as money is diverted from other businesses and
services, and spent at the casinos. He stated government would also be losing money
that could be collected from taxes if a different type of business were to develop at the
Smith's Furniture site. Mr. Houser stated his concern over the community losing funding
for social and safety services and stated he is very much against the proposed casino.
.
.
City of Springfield
Special Council Meeting - 12/11/95
Page three
5. Walt VanOrden, 774 Poltava, Springfield, was concerned over the proposed casinos social
issues and they will effect our economy and it's members. He asked if this is the image that
we want to promote for Springfield. Mr. VanOrden stated typically lower-income groups are
the ones who gambleand will sell everything they have to do it. He has lived in Springfield
for 35 years and been through the good times and the bad times. Mr. VanOrden stated his
concern over the additional load the development would have on sewer and traffic systems.
6. Glenn Sofge, 912 D Street, Springfield, stated "NO Casino NO, NO!"
7. Bill Eikenberry, 2380 N. A, Apt. 3, Springfield, spoke in opposition of the proposed casino
as Springfield has already reviewed their gambling rules and regulations. He stated the
image of Springfield would be hurt and it would cause additional growth to the police
department, as more officers would be needed. Mr. Eikenberry commented that the
average wage proposed by the Confederated Tribes is low and wondered if it included any
benefits for employees.
8. Rod Park, 397 Cambridge, Springfield, stated he is opposed to the proposed casino.
Mr. Park said Springfield does not need to import evil to our community and he will stop
doing business in the Gateway area if the casino development is allowed to occur.
.
9. George Pace, 318 Broadway, Springfield, stated he has visited casinos in Oregon and said
it is a much safer environment than the other types of gambling that happen in Springfield.
He explained the casinos are safe and will bring jobs to the community. :He is definitely in
support ofthe development.
10. John Erickson, General Manager of the Red Lion Inn, 2457 Otto Street, Springfield,
expressed his support of the casino development proposal. He stated he has spoken with
motel managers from other cities where casinos are located, and they gave him positive
feedback regarding the increased use of motel rooms. Mr. Erickson explained that by the end
of 1996, there will be over 1,100 motel rooms in the Gateway area and the city can support t
the tourism increase. He commented that gaming is already located in Lane County now, and
is called the lottery. He gave details regarding the lottery system and the benefits that the
State of Oregon reaps from gambling.
11. Jim Wynne, 774 N. 66th Street, Springfield, stated he is definitely against the proposed
casino and he is also opposed to the state lottery system. He said from time to time, he
may travel to Reno, and that does not become a problem. He spoke of his amazement
that gambling can occur, as it currently does, all over Oregon. There are stiff state
gambling provisions and he wondered if the Confederated Tribes must comply with those
provisions. He felt the casinos make it too easy for people to misspend their money.
.
.
City of Springfield
Special Council Meeting - 12/11/95
Page four
12. Howard Smith, 4095 Franklin Blvd, Eugene, owner of Tom's TapperTavern in
Glenwood. He stated he has owned the business for over 35 years and is concerned over the
loss to local businesses and restaurants due to the placement near other establishments. He
urged the City Council to vote against the placement of a casino anywhere in Springfield.
13. Alice Verret, 3195 Wayside Loop, Springfield, explained she sought information from
ACES, which is a state funded gambling program center. America is experiencing a
gambling boom and she referred to gambling addict stories from the brochure she acquired
from ACES. She commented that experts figure over 80% of the public now gambles,
spending $304 billion annually. Ms. Verret's concern that more people in our community
will gamble and develop social problems. She also expressed concern over the traffic at the
Gateway/Beltline interchange and how it could not possibly accommodate any increased
traffic. !
14. Curt Greer, 2150 Laura Street #96, Springfield, stated his concern over local economics.
He asked the Council to make sure that any business locating at the Smith's Furniture site pay
taxes to Springfield.
15. W.G. Willie Combs, 334 Scotts Glenn Dr., Springfield, stated he will save his comments
until the public hearing on December 18, 1995.
.
16. David Lanning, Pastor of the Springfield Faith Center, 6806 C Street, Springfield, stated
he has grown up in Springfield and that a top priority ofthe Council is a safe community for
it's citizens. He felt a gaming facility would be destructive to the comm.unity and spoke of
the manypeople he has counseled regarding their gaming problems.
Pastor Lanning expressed his concern that there are not short-term considerations regarding
this proposal, only long-term, and the real root of the facility will be for financial gain only.
He urged the Council to consider the future effects the proposed casino would have on the
community.
17. ChiLing Li, 3111 Gateway, Springfield, stated she is the co-owner of a business in the
Gateway area and is concerned that more people will spend money on gambling than on
groceries or local dining. Ms. Li explained business owners have concerns over
the heavy traffic in the Gateway area, as well as the public tax exemption that the
Confederated Tribes will receive, which will place a larger tax burden on the other property
owners and businesses in the area.
.
18. Jeff Nelson, 89879 Sprague Road, Springfield, said his comments were directed to the
Council, the BIA, the Governor and the Confederated Tribes. By occupation, he is an
economist and an engineer and he spoke of the traffic and infrastructure impacts in the
Gateway area. Mr. Nelson expressed his appreciation to the tribes for trying to carve out
economic independence in the nation, but stated this proposal is not good for the community
and will not become a self-sustaining development. He spoke of how it would destroy
individuals and the community at-large by deteriorating their spirit.
Jo
.,
oil .',~. -
.
.'
.'
City of Springfield
Special Council Meeting - 12/11/95
Page five
19. Bobby Nott, Pastor of the Church of Springfield, 34017 B Street, Goshen, stated
plenty of observations were already mentioned, and he spoke of a personal
experience when he pastored in Las Vegas. He stated he observed an amazing trait of
those who crossed the line and struggled in their community after developing gambling
problems. Pastor Nott stated Springfield is a good community and the local pastors are
praying that the city leaders make the right choice regarding the image of the community.
Mayor Morrisette indicated that the public hearing will be continued on December 18,
1995. He suggested citizens wishing to address this topic, arrive early and complete a
request to speak card.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Minutes Recorder - Shari Higgins
;6i/J1l~
Mayor
ATTEST:
~
City Recorder