HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/14/2003 Regular
.
.
.
r
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL REGULAR MEETING OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, JULY 14,2003
The city of Springfield council met in special regular session in the Jesse Maine Meeting Room,
225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, July 14,2003 at 5:30 p.m., with Mayor Leiken
presiding.
ATTENDANCE
Present were Mayor Leiken, Councilors Ballew, Fitch, Woodrow, Burge, Malloy, and Ralston.
Also present were City Manager Mike Kelly, Assistant City Manager Cynthia Pappas, City
Attorney Joe Leahy, City Attorney Meg Kieran, Planning Secretary Brenda Jones and members
ofthe staff.
ORDINANCES
1. An Ordinance Amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan Text
Adopting an Exception to Statewide Planning Goal 15 Willamette River Greenway.
ORDINANCE NO. 6061 - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE EUGENE-SPRINGFIELD
METROPOLITAN AREA GENERAL PLAN TEXT. CHAPTER III. SECTION D. POLICY
#13. ADOPTING AN EXCEPTION TO STATEWIDE PLANNING GOAL 15
WILLAMETTE RIVER GREENWAY; AND ADOPTING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE
(2ND READING).
Planning Manager Greg Mott was present for the staff report. Mr. Mott said the detour bridge has
been the subject of hearings by the Springfield Planning Commission, the joint planning
commissions, and, on June 18, 2003, by the joint elected officials. After the close of the hearing,
the Eugene Council moved approval, conditioned on additional findings in the form of a right-of-
way map, a description of the full width of right-of-way map, a description of the full width of
right-of-way on both sides of the river, and a statement that because the detour bridge is
temporary it will be removed after the replacement bridge is completed, therefore the restoration
plan preserves the Greenway values and is consistent with the OAR for this exception.
Mr. Mott said the Eugene Council moved to delete language in the proposed plan text that refers
to "replacement of the existing bridge" and "future capacity or safety improvements." The
Springfield City Council did not support this proposed change to the plan text; the Lane County
Board of Commissioners deferred any further discussion until after both cities had formally acted
on the Ordinance.
The Eugene Council's proposed changes result in a more accurate relationship between findings
in Exhibit A and the proposed text. The findings cannot examine the effects of the replacement
bridge on the Greenway values because the form, size or construction type of the replacement
bridge is unknown; the same is true for future capacity increases. The findings in Exhibit A are
responsive to the effects of the detour bridge and what otherwise will occur from the centerline of
I-5 east to the edge ofthe right of way. The NEPA process for the replacement bridge should
resolve any issues that mayor may not arise regarding the Greenway.
Springfield City Council .
Special Regular Session Minutes - July 14,2003
Page - 2
..
This is the third reading of this ordinance before council to amend the Metro Plan text and to
approve a goal exception for the Willamette River Greenway to allow construction of the detour
bridge by ODOT. Mr. Mott said that there are two versions of the ordinance in the councilor's
packets. He said that it is staff s recommendation to adopt the 2nd ordinance with the modified
Metro Plan text, which limits the goal exception to the detour bridge regarding both construction
and removal of the bridge. This second ordinance is more consistent with the findings. If council
chooses to pass the ordinance, the Metro Plan text would be changed on attachment 3-4. He gave
council a handout showing the changed language.
Development Services Director Dan Brown gave an update on the meeting that was held with
ODOT on Wednesday, July 9. He gave council a memo which gave a summary of the meeting
with ODOT regarding the Jasper Road Extension and noted some of the highlights from that
meeting.
Councilor Fitch said she feels we have made some baby steps in the right'direction. The bridge
does need to be built, but this is just the beginning. She and the Mayor will be having discussions
with Ray Neff, Director of Intergovernmental Relations, next week and they will let him know
that baby steps are being taken. It will be one of the issues in their discussion with Mr. Neff. She
wants to know what the rules are statewide and that folks from any city in Oregon are being held
accountable to the same standards.
.
Mayor Leiken' asked staff if other states are looking at the same issues regarding developers being
involved in interchanges, etc. with ODOT. He asked if staff could research to see if state
department of transportations are still contributing to public work projects or if they are asking
private sector to pay for these projects.
Councilor Burge is not comfortable moving forward with this ordinance without more definitive
commitments from ODOT. He feels it has not been a good working relationship and seems to be
getting worse. He knows the bridge needs to be taken care of, but it is not the City of
Springfield's fault that ODOT just discovered this bridge needs replacement.
Councilor Fitch said the reality is the bridge is going to happen. She wants to be able to tell the
Governor's aide that we have worked to create a partnership with ODOT. The senior forum of
Springfield is watching this issue carefully and still has influence when needed.
COUNCILOR FITCH MOVED TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 6061 WITH THE
ADDITION OF THE PARAGRAPH ON PAGE 3-4, WmCH INCLUDES THE NEW
METRO PLAN TEXT. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 5 FOR AND 1
AGAINST.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
,<-..
Minutes Recorder Amy Sowa
.
Springfield City Council
Special Regular Session Minutes - July 14, 2003
Page - 3
.
Attest:
~
Amy Sow
City Recorder
.
.