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Home My WebLink About02/16/2010 Work Session City of Springfield Work Session Meeting MINUTES OF TIIE WORK SESSION MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16,2010 The City of Springfield Council met in a work session in the Jesse Maine Meeting Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Tuesday, February 16,2010 at 6:15 p.m., with Mayor Lejken presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Mayor Leiken and Councilors Ralston, Lundberg, Wylie, Leezer, Simmons, and Pishioneri. Also present were City Manager Gino Grimaldi, Assistant City Manager Jeff Towery, City Attorney Joe Leahy, Clerk III Jim Larson, and members of the staff. 1. Temporary ErnX Route, RiverBend Drive to International Way. Civil Engineer Kristi Krueger presented the staff report on this item. PeaceHealth was required by Annexation Agreement (May 2002) and Master Plan Approval (June 2006) to construct a north/south connection between RiverBend Drive and International Way. This link was part of the Gateway routing for Lane Transit Districts ErnX route and would not be built in time for the opening of EmX in 2010. ErnX was proposed to be temporarily routed across PeaceHealth land and onto a portion of Baldy View Lane until the north/south connection was built by PeaceHealth. The permanent link between RiverBend Drive and International Way was planned to be built within the next four to five years and therefore would not be built in time for the opening of the 2010 Gateway ErnX route. To complete the route, LTD was requesting to temporarily route ErnX from St. Joseph Place onto Baldy View Lane as shown in Attachment 1 of the agenda packet. Due to the narrow width of Baldy View Lane, LTO was requesting Baldy View Lane be closed to general traffic by placing a gate (accessible by emergency vehicles) and signing on the south end, and signing on the north end. The residents south of the closure would be able to access St. Joseph Place as they were able to do currently. LTD would improve the geometry of the intersection of Baldy View Lane and St. Joseph Place which would accommodate the turn movement of a standard fire truck. PeaceHealth owned the homes directly affected by the road closure and had attempted to contact the four residents. We had been informed that the residents had told PeaceHealth that they were supportive of the proposed closure and temporary ErnX use of Baldy View lane. PeaceHealth had been unable to reach one resident. The pavement structure of Baldy View Lane was unable to accommodate the ErnX vehicle for the life of the temporary route. L TD was planning on overlaying Baldy View Lane with a 2" pavement lift to assure the pavement would not be in worse shape after the temporary route usage than its current condition. L TD proposed to maintain Baldy View Lane, making repairs as needed, while in use as a temporary route. A passing pull-out on the east side of Baldy View Lane would also be built to accommodate two buses passing on the section, or another vehicle conflict with the ErnX bus. L TD would evaluate the pavement structure on St. Joseph Place and would overlay as necessary to obtain an adequate structure to ensure the ErnX vehicle would not compromise the life of that street. L TO was also proposing to build a 23 fqot wide driveway from St. Joseph Place to Baldy View for a City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes February 16,2010 Page 2 length of 270 feet for EmX to access Baldy View Lane. All improvements were within existing right of way and easements. Roadside swales with infiltration would be built on Baldy View Lane and on the 270 foot driveway to treat storm water. Councilor Leezer asked how much this road was used. Ms. Krueger said it was mainly used by the four residents and PeaceHealth couriers. There were alternate routes; such as St. Joseph's. Place to the south. Councilor Wylie asked about the asphalt patch. Ms. Krueger said the asphalt patches at the connection of Baldy View and St. Joseph's Place were to accommodate fire trucks. Councilor Wylie asked why the road was being blocked. Mr. Krueger said it was because the road was not wide enough and they wanted to keep the buses from travelling with the general traffic. She identified the location of the houses owned by PeaceHealth. Councilor Simmons asked how long the bypass would be utilized. Ms. Krueger said until the permanent northeast link was built in about four or five years, or until development in that area. Councilor Simmons said over the course of four to five years the road bed underneath would be deteriorated. The City and PeaceHealth needed to know the impact of driving the articulated buses over that road. He noted the deterioration on Franklin Boulevard that had to be replaced with concrete. After the four or five years, this road would need to be rebuilt. He favored the project because it would get the EmX line up and running soon, but he wanted them to be aware of the financial consequences that needed to be taken into account. Someone would have to pay for it and he didn't feel it should be the City's road maintenance fund. Ms. Krueger said L TD was prepared to return the road to its current condition. Councilor Pishioneri confirmed it would be returned to pre-existing condition. Councilor Ralston asked why this was only a temporary solution. Ms. Krueger said the process and final decision hadn't been made regarding the permanent northeast link. Because the ErnX project was currently underway, they needed to go forward with the temporary link. Councilor Ralston asked if this could end up being the permanent link. Ms. Krueger said perhaps. Councilor Lundberg said she assumed this option was very inexpensive with L TD paying, and if it was made permanent, the City would have to pay and it would be more expensive. City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes February 16,2010 Page 3 Mayor Leiken asked when this would be in use. Staff responded January of 20 11. 2. Budget Committee Interviews. Finance Director Bob Duey presepted the staff report on this item. The Budget Committee had vacancies in Wards 1 and 2 due to previous resignations in both wards. The persons appointed to either of the positions would serve a one-year term that would expire on December 31, 20 I O. The appointees would be eligible to re-apply for a three-year term beginning January 2011. For Ward 2 there was one applicant. No applications were received for Ward 1, so the vacancy would be re-advertised and interviews would be scheduled for a future date. The first meeting of the Budget Committee was tentatively scheduled for April 27. The Council was requested to interview the applicant, Terry Buck, for Ward 2. Budget Committee appointment was scheduled to be ratified at the Regular Session Meeting on March 1,2010. The Mayor and Council discussed the questions in the agenda packet. The Mayor and Council introduced themselves and interviewed Terry Buck asking the following . questions: . Why are you interested in serving on the Budget Committee? (Mayor Leiken) . One of the purposes ofthe Budget Committee is to get the citizens of Springfield involved in setting the priorities of the City. Describe to the Council how you would raise the interest of your friends or co-workers in City Government. (Councilor Wylie) . Local government organizations are often times asked to look to the private sector for ideas and efficiencies. What do you think people are asking or wanting to see from the City of Springfield when making this statement? (Councilor Simmons) . Describe some personal goals that you wish to achieve by serving on the Springfield Budget Committee. (Councilor Lundberg) . Sometimes the members of the Budget Committee have different opinions on how the citizens' money should be spent. Your opinions may differ from other members of the Committee. How would you make sure your opinion was heard? If your opinion was not the majority, how would you describe your participation style in order to deliver the best budget possible? (Councilor Ralston) · The Budget Committee meets on Tuesdays in April and May, generally for a total of four or five meetings. The meetings start at 5 :30 or 6:00 and usually last three hours. There is occasionally a mid-year meeting in December or January. Will you be able to meet the time requirements of the Committee? (Councilor Leezer) · Any service organization must prioritize service levels within its organization to meet budget realities. For the City of Springfield, do you see any potential areas where the Council should consider increasing or decreasing the current level of service to meet what is currently considered hard economic times for our citizens and our organization? (Councilor Pishioneri) Mayor Leiken asked if the candidate had any questions. City of Springfield Council Work Session Minutes February 16,2010 'Page 4 Mr. Buck said he did not, but was just honored to be here. Mayor Leiken thanked him for takIng the time to apply and being here. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned 6:44 p~m. Minutes Recorder - Amy Sowa Attest: