HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/28/2004 Work Session
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MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL AND
LANE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORK SESSION
October 28,2004
6:15 p.m.
Library Meeting Rqom, Springfield City Hall
The City of Springfield City Council and Lane County Board of Commissioners met in a work
session in the Library Meeting Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Thursday,
October 28, 2004 at 6: 10 p.m., with Council President Fitch presiding.
ATTENDANCE
Council President Tammy Fitch called the meeting of the Springfield City Councilors to order
with roll call. Present were Councilors Fitch, Ballew, Lundberg and Woodrow. Also present
were City Manager Mike Kelly, City Attorney Joe Leahy, City Recorder Amy Sowa and
members of the staff.
Mayor Leiken and Councilor Ralston were absent (excused).
County Commissioner Don Hampton called the meeting of the Lane County Board of
Commissioners to order with roll call. Present were Commissioners Hampton, Dwyer and
Sorenson.
Commissioners Morrison and Green were absent (excused).
1. Joint Meeting with the Lane County Board of Commissioners.
Planning Supervisor Greg Mort said Willamalane is presenting a new Parks and Recreation Plan
which replaces the previous plan which was adopted in 1980. Willamalai1e is the Parks and
Recreation provider for the City of Springfield. The Metropolitan Plan recognizes that
relationship and what the district does for the city and their constituents, which includes citizens
outside the city limits. This plan responds to the guidelines of StatewIde Planning Goal 8
Recreational Goal compliance in Chapter III-H Park and Recreation Facilities Element of the
Metro Plan. Because the boundaries ofthe park district go beyond the city, the Board of
Commissioners has a responsibility in adopting this along with the Willamalane Board and the
Springfield City Council.
Mr. Mott introduced Rebecca Gershow, planner from Willamalane Parks and Recreation District.
Commissioner Sorenson asked if the park district was outside Springfield's urban growth
boundary (UGB) and if so, if it pre-dated the Metro Plan. He asked if there was any change
contemplated in *e service for those living outside the UGB.
Mr. Mott said the district is located outside the UGB is a few places.
Work Session Minutes
Springfield City Council/Lane County Board of Commissioners
October 28, 2004
Page 2
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Ms. Gershow said the district was not planning for the area outside the UGB, but already has
several parks in that area that they received mostly from the county. They will continue to
develop and plan for those parks, but are not planning for future parks in the UGB.
Commissioner Sorenson asked ifWillamalane or the City of Springfield were allowed to serve
people outside the UGB.
Mr. Mott said the boundary of the Willamalane Parks and Recreation District is approved by the
Lane County Boundary Commission, not by the City of Springfield.
Councilor Ballew asked if the parks that are outside the UGB would be more natural resource
type of parks.
Ms. Gershow said Harvest Landing is classified as a natural area park, as is most of Clearwater
Park. Ruff Park is a Magnolia Arboretum.
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Ms. Gershow distributed handouts which outlined her power point presentation. Ms. Gershow is
the Project Manager on the Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan project. She noted that
Willamalane Superintendent Bob Keefer was also in attendance to answer questions.
Ms. Gershow said the purpose of the Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan is "To provide a
framework for decision-making over a 20-year period regarding the acquisition, development,
and management of the Springfield area's park, recreation and open space system". She
described the Comp Plan process as outlined in the power point presentation. The steps included
I) Project Start-up; 2) Determining Needs; 3) Developing the Plan; and 4) Adopting the Plan.
1) Project Start-up (Winter 2002): Ms. Gershow described the different groups who met to
discuss the plan. The Citizen Advisory Committee included six citizen representatives, five
alternates from the six planning sub-areas, one citizen representative from the urbanizable area,
two Willamalane Board Members, one Springfield City Councilor (Christine Lundberg) and one .
Lane County Commissioner. The Technical Advisory Committee included the Springfield
School District; Springfield Utility Board (SUB); Lane County Parks; Lane Council of
Governments (LCOG); Department of Land, Conservation and Development; Oregon Parks and
Recreation Department; City of Springfield Planning, Public Works Maintenance,
Transportation, Environmental Services, Public Safety; and others. Elected and appointed
officials from the following organizations also gave input on this plan: Willamalane Board of
Directors; Springfield City Council; Springfield Planning Commission; Lane County Board of
Commissioners; Lane County Planning Commission; and Springfield School Board.
2) Determining Needs (Spring 2002 - Winter 2003): Thefmal result of this portion ofthe
process was the Needs Assessment Report which is included in the Comp Plan. Ms. Gershow
explained the process through community profile, community survey, focus groups and
stakeholder interviews which brought about that report. She explained the park and facility
assessment, program analysis, management and operations analysis, and committee and board
input.
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3) Developing the Plan (Springfield 2003 - Winter 2004): Ms. Gershow described how they
developed the plan through draft strategies and actions, draft capital improvement programs
(CIP), draft performance measures and committee and board input. She described the outline of
the Comp Plan: Introduction; Planning Framework; Highlights of Improvements; Strategies and
Actions, CIP and Operations Plan; Performance Measures; and Appendices.
Work Session Minutes
Springfield City Council/Lane County Board of Commissioners
October 28, 2004
Page 3
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Ms. Gershow said the mission ofWillama1ane is to provide exceptional park and recreation
facilities. She discussed their core values of affordability, accessibility, play, stewardship, and
environment. Willamalane's Vision Summary is: We enhance quality of life in our community
through people, parks and programs. Their mission is: Willalamane provides exceptional park
and recreation services that enhance the livability of our community and the lives of the people
we serve.
Ms. Gershow discussed the eight highlights of improvements I) Partnerships, 2) School
DistrictIWillamalane Collaboration, 3) Park Development, 4) Natural Area Parks, Linear Parks
and Trails, 5) Community Recreation Center, 6) Recreation Services Plan, 7) Park and Facility
Rehabilitation, and 8) Park Maintenance and Operations.
Ms. Gershow referred to maps which were included in the Comp Plan document. The first map,
Map 2, showed existing and proposed park and recreation resources. The second map, Map 3
showed the existing, planned and proposed multiuse paths and bikeways. She discussed some of
the trails and projects being proposed.
4) Adopting the Plan: The Comp Plan was adopted by the Willamalane Board of Directors in
March 2004. At that point they submitted their application for their Refinement Plan adoption
and submitted it to the City of Springfield in June 2004. They met with the joint Planning
Commissions and held a public hearing in September 2004. Both Planning Commissions
unanimously recommended the Plan to be adopted by their adopted officials. That is the purpose
of tonight's meeting.
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Ms. Gershow thanked the elected officials for their participation in this process. Their
participation is in addition to the 750 other residents of the area who have told Willamalane what
they are interested in and what they need in terms of parks and recreation and open space in their
community over the next twenty years. Because of that, this plan is a community plan.
Mr. Mott said sometimes there are things in.a Refinement Plan that would call for a change in
the Metro Plan. Staff performed an audit on all the proposals that are contained in the content of
Willamalane's Comprehensive Plan in terms of strategy and implications if the strategies were
carried out. They considered how those relate to existing plans and policies.\ In every case there
was consistency with policies. That is reflected in the fmdings of the staff report. This is a
perfect fit for a piece that has been missing. The city has relied on Willamalane for many years
to provide this function and service and it has been done without an up-to-date plan. The
original plan was adopted in 1980 and things have changed substantially since that time. It is
nice to have a contemporary document that fits so well with the Metro Plan.
Mr. Mott added that parks and recreation opportunities are important for people looking to locate
their family or business. This plan is something people can refer to for that type of information.
This is a good promotional tool for the City of Springfield.
Councilor Fitch said it was very well laid out and strategic and involved the community.
Councilor Lundberg kept council members well informed of the progress. It was very well done.
Councilor Ballew said she was pleased to see the cooperation between the schools and the Park
District. She asked if there were any barriers in expanding that cooperation.
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Work Session Minutes
Springfield City Council/Lane County Board of Commissioners
October 28, 2004
Page 4
Mr. Keefer said there are some barriers with the schools regarding school safety and integrating
parks. He referred to Guy Lee School and the fence that has been put up around it next to the
Guy Lee Park. It is a challenge, but it is not impossible. It's a matter of how the facility is
designed to work together and how to make the management piece of it work. That is only one
minor complication. The rest will only get better and better. There is a critical mass of public
recreation and education base in one place that everyone considers their neighborhood school
and park. The school and park districts will continue to work through those details.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 pm.
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Minutes Recorder - Amy Sowa
Attest:
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