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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/12/1993 Work Session . . . ~ ~ City of Springfield Work Session Council Meeting MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1993 The City of Springfield Council met in Work Session in Meeting Room 2 of the Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, April 12, 1993 at 6:35 p.m. with Mayor Morrisette presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Mayor Morrisette, Councilors Maine, Walters and Burge. Councilors Schanz, Adams and Berg were absent. Also present were City Manager Michael Kelly, City Attorney Joe Leahy, City Recorder Eileen Stein, and members of the staff. 1. Proposed Regional and Local Sewer Rates. Gary Colwell, Environmental Programs Manager, presented the staff report. Mr. Colwell reported that current user fees for local sanitary and storm sewers and regional sanitary sewers were adopted by the Council on June 1, 1992. Current user fees are sufficient to fund anticipated operating costs of the local and regional systems for the coming fiscal year. However, local sewer fees need to be increased to provide capital funding for planned future phases of the Springfield Interceptor Sewer System. It is recommended this fee be increased again by 50 cents per month as was done in 1992. Regional sewer fees are expected to remain the same for the coming year. New sewer user fees for 1993 need to be in effect by July 1, 1993. Council Burge asked whether the fee related to the sewer project was separately identified and accounted for. Mike Kelly replied the answer was yes and no. The fee for the East Main Street Interceptor project is not separated out on billing statements, however the money collected is deposited into a capital account which can only be used for capital projects (versus operations.) Councilor Burge clarified he wanted to insure this money would not be used for other projects such as streets and bike paths. Mr. Kelly said this revenue was dedicated and could only be used for sewer capital projects. Councilor Burge asked how the capital account was used. Mr. Kelly explained there are other capital needs as well as the East Main Street Interceptor project which are also paid from the capital account such as sewer line replacements and expansions. Councilor Maine asked about the use of systems development charges (SDCs). Mr. Kelly explained that SDCs are used for projects that are growth related. This could be new lines or expansions of existing lines if expansion is necessary for growth. Councilor Maine asked if the Main Street Interceptor project was not growth related. Mr. Kelly replied it is and City Engineer Al Peroutka added some SDC moneys will be applied toward the project. .. . . . ,.... Councilor Burge asked what construction materials would be used. Mr. Peroutka replied concrete and PVC piping would be used. Concrete pIpIng would be used in the main part of the line to accommodate the capacity demands, then PVC piping at the end of the line where there would be less demand on the system. Councilor Burge asked how much a 50 cent fee increase would generate. Mr. Colwell replied it wohld raise approximately $150)000 per year. Councilor Maine asked how that would raise the $4 million necessary for the first phase of the project. Mr. Colwell replied that most of the money for the first phase was raised. There was already $3 million in the capital account. Mr. Kelly added by accumulating so much, it is not necessary to borrow as much, or the existing revenue could be used as security for a revenue bond for the whole amount. Councilor Burge suggested that the sewer rate be raised to collect a sufficient amount to finance the whole project since interest rates were currently so low. Mr. Colwell replied the most expensive phase of the project is not scheduled to be constructed until after the year 2000 and is estimated to cost $12 million. Mr. Colwell estimated that the rate would have to be raised approximately $4.80 month in order to service the debt for this phase of the project. Mayor Morrisette commented the sewer needs for the Glenwood area must be taken into consideration as well. Councilor Burge asked how much money could be received from the state revolving loan fund. Mr. Colwell replied that as much as $500,000 to $1 million could be received. That amount could go higher if the President's economic stimulus package were to be funded by Congress, the state would be in line to receive additional federal funding. Council discussed the process for receiving state revolving loan funds. Councilor Burge asked about the original bond proceeds to construct the regional wastewater treatment plant. Mr. Kelly replied that of the original $29 million bond, approximately $4 to 5 million was remaining, but was being held in reserve until the outcome of the federal audit. Councilor Burge again suggested the Council consider financing the East Main Street Interceptor project sooner due to the current low interest rates. He thought it would be difficult to see interest rates so low again and it would be prudent to finance the project at the current rates. Mr. Kelly replied that he would direct staff to prepare a spreadsheet analysis on this issue and return to Council with this information on May 17 when the ordinance would be under consideration by Council. 2. Nuisance Enforcement in the Urban Growth Boundary Development Services Director Susan Daluddung introduced Code Enforcement Officer Jackie Murdoch. Ms. Daluddung discussed the background of the city's practice of enforcement of its code in the urban growth boundary. The city is responsible for all land use and building safety code regulations and enforcement within the UGB. However nuisance enforcement is done by Lane County. Councilor Burge requested this issue be presented to Council for consideration. In order to undertake nuisance enforcement in '" . . . ;-- the UGB, general fund money would be necessary to pay for additional staff, program and legal expenses. Ms. Murdoch presented the staff report discussing the range of options for accomplishing this objective. Option #1 consisted of assuming complete control of nuisance enforcement and animal control. Option #2 consisted of assuming control of only nuisance enforcement. Option #3 consisted of current practices remaining in effect. Councilor Burge indicated that he was not in favor of assuming responsibility for animal control, only nuisance enforcement. However, he also stated he felt this responsibility could be assumed by the city without it being necessary to fund additional staff or equipment. Ms. Murdoch indicated it would still be necessary to amend the city's intergovernmental agreement with Lane County on this issue. City Attorney Joe Leahy added that these cases would need to be heard in the county justice courts. Ms. Daluddung added additional funding would be necessary for citing and litigation. Mayor Morrisette asked about the turnaround time for handling complaints. Ms. Murdoch replied it is currently three days. Ms. Daluddung indicated the process would slow down without adding additional staff to handle additional complaints. Councilor Burge asked about the number of code enforcement officials in Eugene and Lane County. Mr. Kelly replied that Eugene no longer provides this service and Lane County has one person handling code enforcement. Acting Police Chief Dick Golden commented that the Springfield Police Department would only provide "dog" control versus "animal" control in the UGB due to transporting and keeping animals. He added the Police Department would also take on the additional responsibility of providing protection to the city code enforcement staff in the UGB because they would not receive it from the Sheriff's office for state police. Mayor Morrisette suggested approaching the Lane County Boundary Commission for funding. Councilor Maine concurred stating he could not support taking on this additional responsibility without additional funding. Councilor Burge stated that some spotlight needs to be brought to this issue. He felt it was unfair that some unsightly conditions could exist around the city, merely because a property was located just outside the city limits. Ms. Daluddung replied the spotlight would be brought through the Springfield Comprehensive Urban Services Analysis (SCUSA) report currently underway. She added that by withholding city services such as a nuisance enforcement program, it provides county residents incentive to annex into the city. By providing this service, or other urban services, in the UGB, there is no incentive to annex into the city. Mayor Morrisette commented there are areas around Springfield the state police are already not patrolling and this has caused Springfield's force to be spread thin. Mr. Kelly summarized that staff would draft a letter to the Lane County Board of Commissioners requesting funding for this program. ,.. " '" . Mr. Andy Veber, owner of a local towing company, was invited to speak regarding his business. He provides towing service for abandoned vehicles. Mr. Veber was concerned about receiving police protection if he had to retrieve abandoned vehicles in the country (UGB). Acting Chief Golden responded the Police Department is responsible for retrieving abandoned vehicles in the public right-of-way and Mr. Veber provides that service. Mr. Kelly clarified it was Councilor Burge's intention to have nuisance vehicles cleaned up on both private property and in the public right-of-way. 3. Other Business Councilor Burge requested the Council reconsider an earlier decision and recommendation of the Planning Commission to grant conditional use permits for mini storage facilities in the downtown business district. After review, he felt these should not be allowed after all. Ms. Daluddung replied this request would have to go back through the Planning Commission for consideration, but she felt it could be addressed at the first meeting in May. She suggested Councilor Burge could raise this issue again at a joint dinner metting between the Council and Planning Commission scheduled for April 26. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. . Minutes Recorder - Eileen Stein and Shari Higgins M~i# /J!~~ ATTEST: ~ .