Springfield City Council — April 3, 2023

0:03 I'm going to call the Springfield City Council work session to order with roll call. Mayor Van Gordon. Here. Councilor Webber. Here. Councilor Mowat. Here. Councilor Rodley. Here. Councilor Doyle. Here. And Councilor Pinkney. Here. Thank you. All right. First item tonight is the interim Ward 4 Councilor interview process. That's a mouthful. Yeah, I apologize. It's like a finance resolution name. Okay, we're here this evening to talk about the next step in the process for the Ward 4 vacancy. Um and before we dig into the number of applicants and next step with the interviews, I just want to talk briefly about the schedule. So, meeting tonight in work session to go over the um applications and uh format for the interview questions, that kind of thing like we've done before. April

0:48 17th, which is your next regular meeting, you're scheduled for 45 minutes of work session for interview time. And then later in the meeting, you'll deliberate, but that will be during the regular session. So, stay on a break there. You get into the regular meeting, then come back to this item. Um and then we put to be determined for the actual swearing in. So, once you vote, once you deliberate and vote on somebody, then technically that person should be sworn in. Most likely it'd be at the next meeting or depending on their schedule, we could either do it at a special meeting or the next regular meeting, but that's what the TBD is there. So, then once they're sworn in, then they're on. So. Um moving down to looking at what we're going to talk about tonight. You have five applicants uh in your packet. So,

1:34 some of the questions that we're hoping to have answered tonight would be, you know, of the five applicants, are you interested in interviewing everyone? How you want that interview to look in terms of um last time you had a vacancy, you were all online. So, these interviews most likely would be in person. What you like the format to be in so you can measure time most effectively when um it gets to the 17th. And then the other attachment to the packet are some sample questions. Uh there are 10 questions there. Last time you actually asked seven questions. You picked from there, you took some out. You also added a question about the relationship between the city council, the city manager, and staff

2:20 just to see if the person what their perspective is on that relationship. Um seven questions and then I believe last time you did interview everyone as well. So I don't know what you'd like to talk about first, but I'm happy to um take your questions or feedback and then we can get to our process. All right. Any questions or feedback? About three questions. Okay, so the first question we're going to answer is we want to interview everybody. I there's three that I would like to put forward. I don't feel like I after reading the applications that we were given to, I'm not going to it's not a hill like if everybody's like we want to see everybody, that's fine, but I have three that I'm like these are the folks I would like. So give me your three. Um CJ Mann,

3:05 June Fothergill, and Beth Blackwood. Okay. Um I'm okay with three. With a different three? No. Really? I think. Victoria. I had the same three. Okay. Okay. I'm seeing some head nodding and I You guys go ahead and tell me. Okay, so it seems like we have three. It's going to be CJ, June, Beth. Okay. So that'll give you a little over 10 minutes per person. You know, you have 45 minutes by the time you kind of get in there and sit, you know, get going. Um do you want to now shift to the

3:51 questions to see what you think about Let's do let's do the questions and sort of 4 minutes. Yeah, okay. So, um Last time I went back to look at what we did last time and I actually just read the questions and then you gave me feedback on each of them. Does that work? I mean, otherwise we like circle around these all day. Okay. All right. So, here we go. Uh looking at the in the packet, your primary reasons for being interested in being on City Council is the first question. Are you looking for keep or kill it? I'm looking for keep or kill. Yeah. All right. Keep. They already answered that in the their application. That's why I don't understand why we ask questions that are already asked and answered.

4:37 So, parking lot for the next time. Yeah, let's let's come back let's come back to number one. Okay. So, let's just keep going. Okay, unique abilities and experiences that you would bring to the council. Yeah. I have mixed feelings about that one. I mean, I think it puts people in depression kind of like under pressure. You know, you know, you be like, "Why am I a special?" I care more about uh you know, like what what some of these other questions about what they care about and how they would have like about solve these problems. But but I'm just one person. It's just like that one is not a is not a big one for me. All right. Yeah. On Yeah, on that one unique abilities and experiences, how I how I read that or what I would be looking for is if there's something some special skills that they may possess and bring to the council. I mean, you know, like Victoria's got a big

5:23 background in planning. And you know, etc. I've got a public safety. Michelle's got different boards. Steve's got a incredible background that he brings to council. So, I that's what I would be looking for as an answer. And I know what Corey is saying and makes sense. I don't want to sit there and say, "Hey, what makes me so special?" But really it's like, "Okay, what what what can you bring to council?" So, maybe it's just the wording for you. So, maybe I mean again, like I'm just one person who's just like oh, that one can be kind of tough. Okay, so let's let's go with our initial cut here and I'll get that out. So, let's put two on the parking lot and then we'll come back to it. Uh how do you define success and how do you know you are successful?

6:08 This one I would don't need it all. Yeah, I I don't think I like it. Nobody like it all. Three I would have last time I liked it. It's three um nobody's in love with this question. Okay, kill it. Uh when faced with a complex problem with multiple solutions, what process do you use to select the best solution? Excellent question. Who would like to anchor on that one? What do you like best about Springfield and why? I think that's a good question. All right, five's in. Um if there are three things in Springfield you're permitted to do, whether it be to add, eliminate, or change, what are those three? I'm about to stick with three. I'm going to say You if you have the ability to make changes in the city, what would you do?

6:53 Yeah, I'm okay with not having an answer. You don't need it. Is it the number that people are I saw some promising two. Is it the number or is it the kind of question? Could you say what are the what's what are some things that you I mean it's three. Is that okay? If you start thinking three, that could get really I really got two. Yeah, that's right. You don't need it. What would you change or what things It is what things, yeah. So, it gives me the option to say one. Okay. All right. Can do that. Uh let's see. Number seven, what have you done to further your vision for This one is still close to six and Okay, so I do like it a lot. I don't got to change it right now. I'm attached to it. I don't think you need this personally. This isn't personal. It's helpful to have stuff to react to.

7:39 That's how I figured. All right. Uh since there are six council positions, what do you believe are the advantages and disadvantages of collective decision-making and shared leadership? I like that one. I like that. I like that one. I think that Councils are elected citywide rather than by ward. What are the advantages or disadvantages of this process? I want to know the answer to that cuz that's a good I'm like asking myself. That's why we're asking them to get That's a good job interviewing. You guys can help us understand. I like it. Uh 10, what is your greatest life accomplishment? I don't know. I don't know. All right. Do we allow them to ask us questions? At the end. At the end. Okay, good. Yeah, we'll get into the format piece of it. So, how many did we say yes to? So,

8:24 two five Which is one a piece. Perfect. And you get the last You want the question about um relationship between staff, council, and city manager. Yes. I do like that. Yes, I think I think that and that will and that will give us all of them. So, we only get to keep one more question to ask if we I would And you don't have to make up a new question this time, but I also part of me would love it if we ask people if they like something about what is your understanding of what policy decisions are. And that kind of gets to that, but again, like I am one person, but I think that that's one of the things that sometimes is like hard to grasp is like the difference between policy and administration and all that. Yeah. Victoria, Do we get the opportunity to ask a question if we if we ask each person, but if we have a personal question that we think we'd

9:09 like to ask, are we allowed to do that? A personal question or a follow-up? I mean, you can only do follow-up. And after each person So, we try and have Oh, I'm sorry. I cut you off. Go ahead. My understanding is that you have applicants for our position, you have to ask the same questions of each person. Correct. That's why I'm saying if I had a question that I wanted to ask, and I could ask all three Yeah. See, when I add questions to the I got you. If if you have a question you want to add, we should add we should add it. We should add it in if we all agree. Do you have a question you're missing? Cuz I have a question for you. That the basic counselor should be paid. Well, that's a question I have to get on board. Okay, so I do I do have one question that that that is only applicable to one

9:55 of these candidates. Uh CJ Manz filed for one Moline. Yes. And her what her thoughts are or an experience is or like what like what happens if she wins for both, right? That seems that seems relevant to our decision-making. Since we're not asking everybody, we can do it one or two ways. One of them is I could just ask that at the end or, you know, we could just put that back out to her in an email and put it in packet. I like that the latter one. As opposed to ask her in person. To just send her a thing or somebody call her or whatever. How long would we have it? Looks like he's up to talk. And you got a thought? I was just wondering if you guys had any

10:40 thoughts about this. Well, no, it I mean it that that does come up, right? Because it's not an unusual situation. I think it would I mean Mary and me I could honestly I think, you know, in the interest of the public hearing that answer or I would I would suggest doing that at the very end, you know, due to unique circumstance. Cuz I guess we have to we have to one on the council that is in a position with but not a necessarily a partner. The LPD is still a appointment though. It's an appointment, so I think that that's something that's relevant to ask. Yeah, so I will I think we actually have a rule, right? Like we have a thing in our Well, I don't think it's illegal, right?

11:25 Like she could sit on both of them. Yeah. We made it part of the council procedures. So, let's let's do this. We all are interested in that answer, right? Like, let's, you know, um I will ask it at the end when when I wrap up, and then if you could put it Yeah, just add it I guess add it to the list and then, you know, so she knows. Yeah, so you'll ask her at the end, so it's part of the general discussion. We could send you a like a confidential and privileged memo with sort of the legal like, "Hey, here's here's the deal on this." And so, you would so you're aware. So, then you're walking in knowing. Yeah, that that that that would be helpful because I mean, it'll be like two paragraphs, but that way it's we're not like, you know, as she's answering trying to think like, oh, well, Right, like we just got to plan for it

12:10 and like, you know, but include it in the packet so, you know, it's there and I will ask it in the end. But we don't know if the other applicants may have applied as well, so maybe it is something to ask and put in a way that we could ask all three applicants. Are you interested in other boards and committees, too, or have you applied? And you could do it so that it was all three. I don't think I've seen anybody else say they're interested in Cuz right now people have applied and been appointed to the Oh, okay, it's already on the ballot. Got you. Yeah, okay. I think the only issue that that angst that that brought all this up was the was the potential of the the scope of influence or the scope of authority that the person would be able to exercise in this community holding multiple positions, and that was the biggest concern. You know, what kind of influence

12:55 decision-making influence would they have over other agencies because of that having that of authority. Okay. So, I think we got the questions. Yep. Nervously going to update it. We're going to add the one for CJ, and then we're going to just talk pure. Then, I think the only thing we still have is formatting. Yeah, so. So, um I would prefer that they answer in the form of a song. Okay. I'll tell her that. We need to do some background music or Cuz they're in person now, right? I think Okay. So, in person, I'm assuming that Yes. since you're here Okay. All right. And then I know this really like down to the details, but you know, often we have like the introductions or who's asking the questions or all that can get like take some time away from what you're trying to do. So do you want to start

13:41 that out now or um Yeah, so if you can make us a a sheet to take notes on and then and then if we could sort questions now. I don't know if I'll take question number four. I'll take the last one. I don't care. You can assign me whatever. We're we're going to go to Nancy. A lot of times, you know, obviously we've all been in the interview process either being interviewed or person doing the interviewing. It's nice to start with a good warm-up sort of softball question, and I think that might be number five. If you guys are jettisoning one and two. I like that. It's kind of like, you know, it starts a positive beat and so Yeah. We'll sense their feels about Yeah, actually I was going to be

14:26 your answer next. Rest for asking. The next You want to do the introductions as you're asking the question? Yes. Yeah, I think that works. Or could be could be a thing introduce and then ask the question and then go to the next introduction and ask the question. Would that work? I like that. Yeah. Okay. And anyone else have a preference for a particular question or you good if we just and then we'll just have it on that. Often when you have those notes, you actually have the question and the person's name and then that way you know your question is. It's always What's four? You want four? Got it. Okay. Got that. Okay. Leave it to Joe. All right. And then the mayor will have the last question. Yeah, decision-making processes.

15:11 You would hear the answer no matter who asked the question. Yeah. All right. So I'll be fine. What else do we have What else do we have to settle for the for the actual sort of night up? And I think we're starting at 5:30 that night, so we got a little bit of runway. I think so. Um I think that's it. So, we know the format of the interviews. Um we'll have the questions typed out for you with some lines for notes, so you have that ready. Then um we the three people Um so, we have three candidates that you'll be interviewing. I'm assuming you don't have a preference on that order. I know it will just be a matter really on their availability. I'm missing I think I have something going on. And then um what we can So, since there are only

15:56 three if we want to shift a little bit to talk about voting, and we can talk about We'll talk about this more when you're deliberating. And so, it's a little more simple, you know, before sometimes they'll be like lots of candidates and you'll kind of weed it down or have a straw vote, but with just three, um it's an easier deliberation process, and we can talk about what that vote is, but it's a simple majority um is uh what's required for a voting council. Okay. You could go through by doing names. Um you could do There you don't have to do nominations or anything. It could just be You could just say the person. Which you prefer. So, and if you don't get to a majority Let's say we vote, you don't get to a majority, then you just vote again. Correct. And then the the magic number is three. And you can scratch my preference for question number four. That makes sense with Victoria said.

16:43 It does. It is. I'm already getting feisty, and it is still pretty early tonight. Oh, no, I'm serious. I don't mean it like this. It's like he's already being a ham. He's giving you a hard time. Now I feel like Now I don't know what question to give you, Chris. I think it can be four anyway. So, if we if we're doing good on time that night, we could start into deliberations before we get into the regular session, or do we? Yeah, I think so. I mean, you know, you can have some discussion. It just sort of naturally happens, I think, in between like interviews or at the end. And let's say you have a few minutes. Um I don't think you need to be that strict about it. Don't talk. You want to use that time because I think when you get to the regular session it's more like 20 minutes and you you know when you got other stuff going on tonight. So that would make sense. And they're both public meetings.

17:29 Yeah, they're both public so the deliberation. How we get to a decision and all of that. All right. So are there any more questions about this process? Hopefully we are close to the finish line and we will get there shortly. Okay. Okay. Just I think one item to add just so we're on the same page. The candidates will arrive. Will they be in the room for the entire Will they be outside? We should just make sure it's Do you prefer that they're outside? I do. I mean technically it's a public meeting they can be here. I don't I don't think they will. I don't think they'll want to volunteer to come in. No, like it yeah. I'd be a little surprised. Yeah, I don't think we can tell them either way. My preference would be that they would be outside just to you know allow for a more seamless

18:14 seamless space but But for the person who's being interviewed. Yes. Yeah. Yeah, but you know you've got to have I had to interview in front of everybody. All right. Lots of everybody. All right. Any other questions, concerns, other stuff we have to talk about for word for All right. You're good to go. Great. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you everybody. We're getting better and better.

19:03 Good job, Mary Beth. All right. Look at that. It's supposed to be more expensive. All right, good evening. Well, he didn't give me the map. I thought I was going to have a bunch of colored pens for him to draw on or recreate it from memory. Uh good evening, mayor and councilors. Thank you for having us here this evening. We're here to talk about potential capital bond, kind of review what we've done, where we're at, and

19:48 look to the future. And just looking for some discussion um from the council on that. Um tonight I have I'm Jeff Baskin, community development director. And with me I have Ben Gibson from operations. He's going to run the map. And then I do have some um somebody from finance if we get in any of those questions. I'm not anticipating those tonight. Heavy hitters. Um so, in your packet prepared for you is kind of a review of the street system, the 2018 bond kind of gives a high-level review of what was accomplished, where we were at, um some key points. With $10 million we were able to um rehabilitate and preserve 4.7 miles worth of road. Um compare that to when you look at the

20:34 map, which was has the red on that, compare that to um like what it cost to do Mill Street just for the resurfacing and reconstruction. Less than a mile of road and I estimate, this is just a high-level estimate, $8 million if it was just surfacing, which is basically surfacing and ADA, which is what we did with the preservation. So, for less than a mile. So, that's one reason why we really stress the preservation piece of it and staying on top of these timely overlays, crack sealing, seals, and that sort of thing so that we don't end up with mill street roads. Um, some other items in here and Ben can go through that in the um, in the mapping and show you kind of where we were and where we are today with the visuals. I think there's some really neat tools that help tell the

21:20 story. But you'll also see in your information, um, data that was reported to the state on our transportation system, the number of miles of collectors and arterials in fair and, um, good condition or good and better and then the number of miles in fair and then the number of miles in poor. Um, I've also included just for conversation and dispersion conversation amongst the council and questions, some information that was provided in previous bond that I had worked with finance to put together or at least verify and that's like what a bond would cost if we were to go back out and what that looks like in different, um, dollar amount increments. And then also taking the the

22:05 the information we have from the current projects we completed, looking at current inflation numbers and you'll see that small table that kind of will tell you with what dollars we choose or would be recommended if we were successful again about approximately in 2023 dollars that we could accomplish at different levels of the bond. Um, with the outlet Ben kind of show you what the mapping shows us which is kind of gives us a picture of of how we got to some of the numbers that were reported to the state today. Good evening. Uh, the map that you see here, uh, is the product of a lot of work that was done by our GIS group, um, as well as

22:52 survey applications that we have through the use of mobile field tools. Uh, biannually required by the state to conduct surveys of our road systems and then report those conditions back to the state whether they be good, fair, or poor. And so, the information that we pull from those surveys, this is the first time uh this year that we've had this type of product in the form of a heat map. And what we have highlighted uh for this particular conversation would be our major collectors and our minor collector roads. So, for example, uh just to kind of give an idea on what that would be, your minor major collector roads are going to be your E streets, your G streets. If I were to

23:38 turn on our minor arterials, you're going to see things like Mohawk Boulevard here. And this is a representation of the work that was done through this last bond measure where prior we had a yellow street, which would be in a fair condition, versus now where it's green. And so, this work is conducted over a couple of a month period with my operations group. And um we end up with this result. We are still a little bit kind of playing with some of the condition numbers on how they get recorded. Um and what I mean by that is when we drill down and look at sections where you have a red, yellow, we may jump back a year, and we show all red.

24:24 The reason for that being is that when we have that cut off of like a 50 on the surface condition index, you might you have different people looking at these, so you have a different perspective. So, you might have red at 49, and then the previous year you have a 50 on that. It's kind of like a percentage base, right? And so, they're really very similar, so we still have to dive down a little bit to figure out what that the actual condition is, but um then you know, aside from that, we go in further to get more into the weeds with taking soil samples and stuff for base. The conditions are reported on base failures, uh, raveling, cracking, rutting, and delamination of the roadways was the five conditions we

25:10 use. Uh, the base failure being the one that kind of gives us the most trouble with how the uh, conditions are reported on because we can't see what's under the in that sub-structure. Um, we kind of have to determine what the surface looks like to be able to come up with that that number there. Anyway, this is what we have for our mapping. I think this conversation we're looking at some of these yellow streets, right? So, I yeah, so we have a couple questions for the council um, at following discussion and direction that we're seeking which is should we consider preparing materials for council to consider future bond ask? And then if yes, um, direction on potential amount

25:55 that the council might agree upon or give us direction to go out and look at so that then we can take this mapping and start and give us kind of an idea of projects or areas or things like that. So, then we'll take this, we'll start looking at these in more detail, trying to put some high-level cost estimates together, and actually start doing some more of the testing. One thing that I will say when we did the last bond, which we were really kind of scrambling to put all the stuff together. Um, we were successful. We got all of the segments that we said we were going to get done for $10 million. It was, you know, we had to do some work and some legwork because some of the roads were in a little bit worse condition than we estimated off the surface. So, what I would like to do with council direction is go back and actually do a little bit more in-depth

26:40 um, inspection, maybe do some coring and some testing, have the county come out. They do a testing process where they can tell us what the condition of the base really is under the surface, and then we can come back with a better picture of what we could potentially get done with different size bonds and then give a better picture of which roads might be better candidates for preservation and which ones even though they look okay on the surface, really have a lot more reconstruction or poor things that we can't see underneath going on. Okay. Yes, I have a question. Um around is really around the decision-making as you go and you look at this cuz it sounds like, you know, we're looking at this very much considering the surface of the this these roads. Uh but one of the things I'm curious about is as we move forward

27:25 and make decisions, are we layering this with any other sort of infrastructure investments or looking at, okay, there's going to be a lot of development over here? When we start to prioritize them, do we weave in the other work that we want to do to like invest in the infrastructure of the city and where things are going to go? Is that part of it or not? I I would say yes, we have those conversations, a staff. I wouldn't say that we have a set policy or written down, but when we meet as a group, we talk about that. Marcola Meadows, you know, all of those homes and that new traffic load hitting that, we have conversations. You go out, you drive Marcola Road. It's in it looks on the surface it's in great shape, but if you look at it, it's

28:10 starting to unravel, it's start So, it's like, okay, is it now the time to go out there and do a surfacing project on there as we're starting to see these new um trip trip counts on there. And it is one of our major arterials and it's our one of our key um truck route. So, yes, those conversations do hap- happen. I I would just say we just haven't thought about a a set policy. Sometimes we try to tie them together to like Mill Street's an example where we're paving a a whole street. Well, we we start looking at the sewer and the storm water underneath and making sure if we're going to repave this road, we want to make sure that infrastructure is actually sound and hasn't also reached the end of its useful life or if it's close, it's time to replace it ahead of a paving project. Okay, good. Yeah, that's with that

28:55 exactly answers the question. So, I guess we're talking about all of these things. I want to know how it all fits together. And that does for me it it informs the decision-making about how much to invest in if we think about how much we're or how much to go out for based on all the things we're hoping to do. I would say the key to that is it's not just myself making the decision. It's not just Ben making the decision. We actually have staff. We sit down and we talk about each of the projects and the roads in a in a meeting and then we come together and we look at those and we try and make the best decision possible for the recommendation to the council. Victoria. First off, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for the work that you've done. Um myself as well as Mayor Shawn and um

29:40 ex-mayor or ex-counselor Stare, we were on that committee that went out to the public and we had to convince the public that this was a good project and that you were going to we were going to do what we said we were going to do and you guys did that. And I think that that makes it even easier for me to now be supportive and and say to the community, "Look, we did what we said we were going to do and now we need to continue that good work." And it's because of the work that you've done over the last 5 years. So, I just wanted to tell you that I'm 100% supportive of whatever we need to do to get these projects done because the infrastructure to me is paramount and you guys have done a great job. So. Thank you. So, I know we're going to have a couple of conversations about this. Um so, I'm going to kind of break down the questions that I'm I'm hearing people. I'm hearing yes, people are

30:25 interested in pursuing a bond. Which um the timing really is important to important to me. Uh like like um we really I'm thinking May, right? And that's specifically so we can hit the '25 construction season because the you know, if if we can go out in November and hit the 25 construction season then I would be more interested but I don't see a way we could do that. You're saying May of 24? We will go I I think we should go out May of 24. That will give us some a little bit of time to develop the conversation with the public, start beginning to size the projects, and then and then be able to hit the 25 construction season. That way we're not rushing like we did last time. We we were able to hit the next construction season but it was a bush.

31:13 Um when we when we come back for more projects, I would really love to see at the top of that just an update on 42nd Street and Mill Street which were the two big things like that are not probably are going to be in this bond but is going to be the two big things to public. I can give you a quick update today. Um Mill Street anticipating being out for bid in the late spring or early summer. Next or actually opening bids in late spring 2024. So, might have be in the midst of negotiating contracts in during an election. With construction being obviously I I I was talking to Christie today and her uh capital projects manager and I'm I'm anticipating probably breaking ground on

31:58 that sometime in July of 24. It'd probably be most realistic. So, I'm going to guess timing. I think every every time we talk about a potential bond, just keep telling us that because the more cuz people need we we told people we're going to get Mill Street done. We're going to get Mill Street done but that timing piece is going to be the critical piece. And you know on 42nd Street, we actually received proposals today for a consultant company at the direction of council leadership to take some of the $12 million to do a 10 to 15 year surfacing project, update some of the ADA pieces. Um reason it's 10 to 15 years and I say that because in 10 to 15 years if we don't have a levee project, the road will look about the same. But not wanting to put a lot of money in to fix

32:43 all of the problems, but an interim fix until we identify the funding for a levee to reconstruct the levee because the reconstruction of the levee will wipe out the whole road and have to reconfigure the whole the whole street there. Um so what kind of guidance do you need guidance on money, timing? I I think an idea of size, you know, if it's the 10 to 15, 15 to 20, what what size so that we can I mean we can easily go back and kind of scope all of these. Um the reason I put the just as a a if if you could turn on all of the and show like clear out the Thurston, the minor arterials, too. You want Yeah, that. So you see all of the yellow kind of circle that yellow between 126 and Main Street and those two out in

33:28 Thurston. I I estimated that was like nine or $25 million to basically eliminate all of the yellow in that area, just as an idea. And so when you look at like $20 million, that tells me 7.4 miles. I didn't get the numbers from GIS, but that would probably be everything encompassed by 126 and Main Street out there excluding the two mill and the Thurston roads. Everything east of that? Everything from I-5 to 126 there at 52nd Street and Main to 126. I I that's just off of visual estimating, but just a sense of just a sense of how far different dollars would go and I'm I'm just like from an from an operations standpoint, eliminating all of the yellow in there to green would be a huge

34:13 step. The one thing about red is is that's the Mill Street. The reality is those roads are the condition they are, they're going to get worse, but they're not going to they're they're always going to be reconstruction projects. And as you saw what and I used the 8 million estimate to kind of come up with that one million plus dollar figure to eliminate all of the red that we have out there in the system. So, the red doesn't have any best case scenario. No. No. No. Right. Yellow does. If we The more yellow we turn to green, the more money we save ourselves down the road. So, you can yellow it up before you turn it red. Yeah, and that's your recommendation right now would be to try to get Save some of the yellow guys. Mhm. Yeah, we want to save as many of those. And And I you know, when I What was

35:00 I guess something I should have realized, but when I looked at today's inflation, if you notice, we probably made headway on the miles of streets in moving more miles to green, to really good condition. But if you notice, if you look back at the previous package from 2018, we estimated that we have a had a 35 to 40 million dollar back load backlog on those preservation projects. Where are we at today? 40 million dollars. So, we're never really going to be catching up on the dollars with inflation, but what we can do is start shrinking that number of miles. Okay. So, Court So, and I appreciate how you you um kind of talked to that. And again, with the the like I'm one person, and we have

35:45 been spending so much effort on like how do we invest in infrastructure? How do we make it easier for people to pay the bill? How do we do all of these things? So, I personally would be interested in looking at that 15 to 20 million, and even looking at like the 10-year, you know, looking at a longer range so that we just are like this is our focus. Um because I and I've told the mayor this, you know, because it's in my neighborhood. I firmly believe, and people can tell me I'm wrong, that the work that we've done along at Mohawk has been the impetus for a lot of the development, people coming in and like putting in restaurants, and doing the things that they're doing. So, I I it's I mean And this is one of the things that we as a council get to help drive. So, I am interested in, you know,

36:32 how do we invest in growth? So, I'm going to think small. That's where I'm at. Joel. I agree. No, actually I I I agree and you know, I would take it a step further is that I think the public is very happy with what's occurred in the roads. I think we need to strike the iron where strike the iron while it's hot. And I think that we ought to go with the 20 million. I have no I I really have very little reservations as to whether that will pass or I think the public will will support that. I think it's important for us to seize the moment and go and and repair as much as we possibly can.

37:18 And then we can potentially get ourselves in a position, I know it's a big bite, but it's only it's at the 5-year level. And you know, short-term payoff and then keep that momentum going and the most I mean, it's like if I can if I can fix my fence in the backyard and I got the wood today and I could if I put new posts in the ground today instead of going back and doing it in 5 years, I'm going to put the new posts in today. I'm just going to go for it. So, I think I think I agree we should do the most we can, fix the infrastructure we can, go with the 5-year bond, 20 million, make a big old wish list on it and get it done. Okay. Um Go ahead. Yeah, I have a con-

38:04 I have two concerns with the length of the time. The 10-year, I'm wondering how many of those yellow streets will turn red or will they deteriorate if we do stretch it out to 10 years? Um but then I was worried about going out and asking for double the amount, right? And so that's it's like are taking a risk by doing the 20 million in five when we could do 20 million in 10 and it would maybe be more palatable. I'd rather I'd rather have a yes on part of it than have a hard no. You know, so Well, I I have the finance Nathan well oh Nathan's gone now. All right. I had I had talked to I had talked to finance about this. I think we would get the 20 million and we

38:49 would probably spend it over the five. It just is that 10 years to pay it back. So it kind of puts it on that tax for the 10 years. Yeah, but I'm just thinking for people who are already taxed death. I mean I look at my property tax bill which is almost three times what it was in Cottage Grove and it's like we're telling people okay, we're going to double the amount we you know, I mean $110 versus the 88 now, right? Yeah. It's not a big difference. 177 from 88 is a lot. And so that's just my only concern. I'm not I I think it's a great idea and I'm willing to to go out there and defend it. You know. I think the other part of that question too where what's like about to turn red, right? Is there I think that there is

39:36 still work that we have to do like if we get some good direction on where we're going and we go out and we test further and we figure out okay, is this actually a viable street or not or do we look at this upgrade and shoot this one's not going to work it's more of a reconstruct. So we would still have that work available to get a better list put together. And I think that's that's the critical part here for people to see is like we are at the very first conversation and then we'll sort of hone on about where we want to end up. My my sense my sense is like to me starting with a 20 million dollar five-year bond, you know, and then seeing where this goes like where the conversation goes from there because I think like I think Victoria brings up a really good point which is like when they go red, they get more expensive.

40:21 Um so any other, I guess, question, Joe? Yeah, it's I'm just that's my point is it's knock out as many yellow streets we possibly can with the maximum amount of money we can do it with me and I still get the feeling that even with the 20 million, we're not going to wipe out every yellow street. So, we already know that that's kind of like the bare minimum, but my my other part of my brain's thinking, politically speaking, is that, you know, Victoria brings up a great point, double taxation. However, there's other agencies that are in this area that will be and are considering their own levies and their own bonds, and so are we going to be shot out of the park when those hit the tax rolls, and is

41:07 there going to be compression issues? I don't think they're I don't think a levy these this bond would be a compression issue. Bonds aren't a compression, are they? Could be because this is capital, right? Right. Right. Those are questions I have to ask, you know what I'm saying? Really, I don't think so. No. not really as far as being able to get it passed, if we can get this one passed as opposed to the, you know, asking in 5 years again or in 10 years when they have others out there that we now will be competing with even greater tax dollars. So, I think if we can get away with it, so to speak, we can do it, get it done this sooner the better. And um there's two other points that I want to make here, right? One of them is this is not even talking about residential

41:53 streets that are flat out turning in into gravel that are out there that are a huge huge issue for our neighborhoods, and I just want to point that point out. Like, we're we're dealing with the end of, you know, the fact that, you know, we didn't invest enough in streets 20 years ago, the end of, you know, timber receipts from that we used to get a million dollars from the county that fund for our roads, right? And we're we're cleaning that up right now. So, like, I know that there are residential streets in my ward that, you know, are basically gravel right now. And I think it's worth pointing out to the public that it's going to be a long haul here. And so I think that that's something that and that's feedback that I have gotten from constituents and from people in my circles is that what about our local

42:39 roads? What about the road that's that I have to drive to get to my my house? And so we may want to consider not just looking at the the arterials and stuff, but maybe throw in a few local streets in there because people see that. They they see it. You know, and then they can feel like there's some they're getting some value for that for that buck that's happening in their local like right then. I'm super glad you brought that up. You know, we're just saying So, a few years ago, we had we had a deal where the neighborhood kicked in match money. Have the to have a street their local street worked on. And it maybe worth and having a part of that a fraction of this as to okay, folks,

43:24 want us to do some money match. We know you you know, property owners this road needs some help. We can potentially assist you and if we can do some whatever the ratio is and reduce the cost and use part of this money to do the surface and you kick in the other half or two thirds or one third or whatever it is, then we can get it done. And then you got that whole buy in of the neighborhood. They personally see what their money got spent on and we can get it done for less. We can definitely take a look at that and bring some ideas back to the council when we bring the project list back. That would be great cuz I can tell you one of those roads, right? Second Street from, you know, from Q to I don't know, E probably. Like that is a major that that like if I

44:11 if I asked my end of the city, they would say that. But, okay, so bring us more information. Um do you want more feedback on any specific projects or do you feel like you've got enough to I think I have I think we have enough. I I like I said, I just wanted to give a general feel. We can look at this. We'll work with operations to refine the numbers and I think what we'll do is we'll just start digging into some of the numbers and we'll bring bring that information back, which I'm sure will spark more great conversation and debate on which projects are Yeah, I I'm expecting you to though, I think 28 is important. I think you you're probably going to bring us back $25 million projects for us to Just kind of like we do at the MPO where we're going to bring you that 150% list

44:57 and whittle it down. Um yes, please bring that that piece back. And that the other piece that I would love to see is some of these streets have program dollars on them. Parts of Laura and Do, parts of South 28th and Do, right? So, when we come back, if you have if there's a street that we have an answer for, can you Yeah, that's a great question because we do have some streets that we are doing some work on with federal dollars and and we can actually show you where we're still getting some work done and and reserving some of those street fund dollars in those SECs that we have to leverage those federal grants. Now, you're looking at Mohawk. That that intersection, that strip between the overpass bridge at There you go. Going north to the intersection

45:42 19th there where Thurston and 19th We programmed that, didn't we? There was a pretty in-depth It didn't get It didn't get It didn't make the cut as far as the grant application. That is one seriously deteriorating section. Yeah. The one concern there is is addressing the transportation need, which is the intersection design, too, because it does need a inter- it needs a relook at the transportation network and intersection design. And so, it's another one that as far as in room would be a would be a good look, but Yeah. Anyway. So, Okay. this will be a great conversation when it comes up. And I think for the council, I think it's important that we just we we just kind of prepare ourselves because the public it expects us to fix the right streets

46:27 where the potholes are. And right from a And it's a little bit counterintuitive on how to do this. 42nd is the big one. I hear it all the time. I know. That's I think we're making a really great call to try to try try to get something out there for these guys. So, our goal is August. That's what we're going to have our consultant design for. Our goal is to have a construction contract for August on North 42nd Street. Fantastic. Fantastic. I see nothing but smiles over here. When the sports floor person gets gets here, they'll already get a check box for a win. All right. Thank you. Thank you very much. I actually want to join you and we'll meet in the other other room. Thank you, Sandy. Yeah, thank you. In 13 minutes, I can We'll have them wait.

47:12 What? The what? The what? The what we All right. I'm going to call the City Council regular session to order with roll call. Mayor Van Gordon. Here. Councilor Weber. Here. Councilor Moe. Here. Councilor Roddy. Here. Councilor Doyle. Here. And Councilor Pishue. Here. Thank you. Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands, one one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

48:03 First item, please. Uh first item is Springfield Upbeat. This is uh item number one is a mayor's recognition for a food waste prevention week proclamation. Mayor, this is your item. All right. Whereas up to 35% of all food produced is thrown away rather than than eaten, safe and nutritious food that is currently thrown away could help feed hungry people. Whereas a family of four could save an average of $1,800 a month or $1,800 on uneaten food annually. Whereas the K-12 schools and universities have a special role in educating the next generation to reduce and recover recycled foods. I, Sean Van Gordon, Mayor of Springfield, proclaim April 10th through the 16th, 2023, Food Waste Prevention Week and encourage all residents to commit uh to reducing food waste. And I

48:50 believe Anne from the county is here.

49:44 All right. Next item. Next item is Groundwater Guardians, and Megan Murphy is here for that staff report. Good evening. I'm Megan Murphy. I work for the city in environmental services. I was supposed to be here tonight with Amy Chinitz from SUB, but she had a family emergency and is not going to make it. So, um I you just get me. Um 2022 was Springfield's 26th year as a designated groundwater guardian community. I am thrilled to join you tonight to celebrate this accomplishment. Our groundwater guardian team spreads the message of drinking water protection. A main focus of that message is

50:29 preventing the release of hazardous materials and other harmful chemicals onto the ground or into our storm water system. This map that we have projected tonight is a key resource that guides our protection efforts. It shows the Springfield wellhead protection areas. On this map, each well or wellhead has colored lines around it. Those shapes, which we call time of travel zones, map the flow of groundwater in the aquifer when wells are pumping. In other words, if a molecule of water dropped onto the ground and moved down to the water table, how long would it take for that molecule of water to reach a pumping drinking water

51:14 well? Likewise, if a contaminant reached the water table, how much of a risk might it pose to our drinking water wells? This map helps us understand the areas of our community that are most sensitive to groundwater contamination. And it is an indispensable indispensable tool for communicating the how and the why of groundwater protection. We have used it and its earlier versions for almost three decades, but the key message remains the same. That our drinking water source comes from right here in Springfield. As a member of the city's storm water team, I work with SUB to ensure that both our ground water and storm water are

52:01 protected throughout Springfield because they are connected in so many ways. For example, runoff soaks into the ground within some of our green storm water infrastructure like rain gardens, which helps to replenish our drinking water supply. While allowing runoff to soak into the ground is a host of environmental benefits, we must make sure that that water is clean to protect our aquifer. Amy and I recently worked with the UAO on a project to examine our development code and design standards for ground water protection. The recommendations that came out of this project will help secure both the quality and quantity of our drinking

52:47 water for the future. If anyone would like more information about our water protection programs, you can contact me with the city or Amy at SUB. Thank you so much for supporting our ground water guardian team. Thank you so much. All right. Does anybody want to make a comment about ground water? I missed my script, so just hang on. All right. So, since we've begun the meeting tonight, there are going to be two designated uh times for public testimony this evening under public hearings and business from the audience. If you're attending in person, please complete the request to speak card located at the entrance of the council chambers and give them to

53:32 the city recorder. If you're joining us online with a tablet or smartphone and wish to speak of either of those times, please raise your hand uh in Zoom. The order of the public testimony will be as follows. Anyone in person for the council chambers, anyone who who's raised their virtual hand. Next item, please. Next item is the consent calendar. I move to approve the consent calendar. Second. Neil, could you call the vote, please? Yes, Councilor Weber. Yes. Councilor Mowe. Yes. Councilor Rodley. Yes. Councilor Doyle. Yes. And Councilor Pishioneri. Yes, thank you. Motion passes, five yeses, zero nos. Next item, please. Next item is you have one public hearing this evening. Public hearing number one is annexation of territory to the city of Springfield. Annex 0.36

54:19 acres of residential property located at 4096 North Street. That's map 18-02-06-11, tax slot 0400, and concurrently annex uh, a segment of North Street. Uh, reading into the record ordinance number one, ordinance annexing annexing certain territory, 4096 North Street and approximately a 630-ft long segment of North Street to the city of Springfield and Willamalane Park and Recreation District, withdrawing the same territory from the Willakenzie Rural Fire Protection District, adopting a severability clause, and providing an effective date. This is a first reading and Tom Sievers is here for the staff report.

55:05 Good evening, Mayor and councilors. I am Tom Sievers, senior planner with the current planning section. Tonight, the city council is requested to consider an ordinance to annex an approximately 0.36 acre property municipally addressed as 4096 North Street in Southern Springfield along with a segment of the North Street public right-of-way. Uh, slide two, please. The fully proposed annexation area is highlighted in yellow and the subject site is marked with a yellow star. The site is located on the corner of the North Street and Filbert Lane intersection. The applicants are the property owners and have requested annexation in order to partition the lot for future development and subsequent connection to city services. There is already a 6-in sanitary sewer connection stubbed to the property in

55:51 its southern frontage of North Street and future laterals will extend from the sanitary sewer within Filbert Lane. Staff also received a request by Lane County to include the unannexed segment of North Street with this application. Annexation of the street segment would not constitute a jurisdictional transfer and would remain the responsibility of the county. Slide three, please. The site is zoned R1 with the urbanizable fringe UF-10 overlay. As you can see, it is contiguous to city limits immediately to the northeast and west. If annexation is approved, no other zoning changes are requested except for the removal of the urbanizable fringe overlay.

56:36 There are four criteria of approval of approval for annexations in the Springfield development code. Criterion A, the site is within UGB and contiguous to city limits. As previously stated, the subject property is contiguous to city limits along its northern, eastern, and western boundary. The subject territory is within the city's urban growth boundary and is covered by the urbanizable fringe overlay. Slide four, please. With annexation, the subject property will be removed from special districts such as the urbanizable fringe overlay and service areas such as the Willakenzie-Springfield RFPD.

57:21 Criterion B, the proposal is consistent with policies of the metro plan. Policies from the city's 2030 comprehensive plan's urbanization element, specifically numbers 27, 29, 33, 34, and 35 as found in the staff report are met through this application as the annexed land will be fully within the Springfield urban service area. Criterion C, the site is within the boundary for minimum level of key urban facilities. Policies 29, 31, and 32 from the city's 2030 comprehensive plan's urbanization element are met through this application. If annexation is approved, the subject subject territory can easily obtain key facilities and services from the Fillmore Lane right-of-way abutting the

58:08 subject site to the east. Again, these facilities and services will include sanitary sewer connection, sub water, and electric service, fire protection services from Eugene-Springfield Fire Department, police services from Springfield Police, and the Willamette Lane Recreation District. Next slide, please. Lastly, criterion D, establish an annexation agreement. An annexation agreement has already been signed by the applicants and the city manager. The agreement covers obligations for the applicants and for the city, including any financial responsibilities. The agreement includes details on future connection to key urban facilities and services, street frontage update of the site to urbanize urbanizable standards, and withdrawal

58:54 from the special service districts. If the annexation is approved by City Council, the agreement will be ready for recordation with Lane County. Because all applicable annexation criteria have been met and the annexation will help facilitate bringing this property and abutting right-of-way into city limits, city staff recommends that this application be approved by Council. Additionally, staff requests that the public hearing be continued due to insufficient newspaper notice and the record held open until the second reading on April 17th, 2020 2023 in accordance with SDC 5.1.615A. Thank you, councilors, and I'm here for any questions. Joe. Just a general questions.

59:40 Um when we extend and and make South Redwood Drive all of South Redwood Redwood Drive within the city limits, correct? That's what's been asked. No No, sir. Uh South Redwood Drive is already in. It's North Street. So it's connecting. Okay. Yes. And so those there's properties there as it looks like there's about six nine properties that are to the north and south of South Redwood Drive Mhm. on the west end of that. Yes. And so those are still remaining outside of the city limits. Still within the UGB. Correct. And then so we're creating an island. Is that correct? Yes, sir. Um until there's a reason for them to be brought in through

1:00:25 annexation, either development or a failing um septic septic system. Yes. Uh that that would be uh cause for that. Which is my next question as far as I know that to the north of there on Cherokee several years ago we did a um local area improvement or I don't remember the name of it. The uh Local improvement district. Local improvement district. Which due to multiple several failed septics. So by bringing the city out or if it South Redwood is already in the city and and Douglas Drive is already in the city, correct? Yes, sir. So those properties in between that are creating that island, do we know the conditions of those of that septic system? And then are we going to be compelling or have put us in a position

1:01:10 to compel any of those property owners to to connect to the local sewer system? Correct. Uh so we don't know the condition of any of of septics at this time. Um until they come to us with a reason uh that that would be sufficient. By annexing North Street, that would help facilitate that. Depending on where those properties are and where they're stubbed from, they might draw service from South or Redwood, or they might be able to draw from North or South. So, there's nothing to I guess there's nothing to compel us to check, but would that be wise for us to check? It might be. I'm not sure that we could compel. I think that might not be a good way to go

1:01:56 about that. But, this does certainly lay the framework for them to be able to do that. So, it seems like it'd be this would be a great opportunity to create some communication with those land owners for saying, "Look, we've had these issues in the past. How can we help you check yours?" And is there a way we can help facilitate hookups so we don't have continued leachate in that in that Yes, sir. Absolutely. And I believe we would reach out to the Lane County Sanitarian for that to check. Thank you so much. You're welcome. Okay. other questions? Then, I am going to open the public hearing. And I don't have any cards for this. Neil, do we have any hands being raised for this? All right, very good. And then we're going to We're going to leave the public hearing open.

1:02:41 And this is first reading only, no action tonight. Next item, please. Next item is business from the audience. Okay. I've got four cards in the room. And then, if you are online and wish to speak, please begin to raise your hands and queue up. First person is Jason Profit. Jason, you want to come up, give your name and location for the record, and then you have 3 minutes. Uh Jason Profit, here on Corey Daniel Corey Road, right to water tower. Boy, the city done really good job of cleaning up the downtown area here over last 10 years. It sharp down here. Now, this federal and the state government has got you guys in a corner for the homeless camps. I suggest you put the Conestogas right here in the parking lot underneath the building

1:03:26 or you know, Booth Kelly Mill. And uh go from there. You know, I part of this is the homeless is the fentanyl drug stuff. And years ago, we didn't have the the cannabis shops. And I think the cannabis shops have brought the addictions in. Now, people have moved on to harder stuff. It's really sad to see the state and the city have to have kickback money from cannabis and lottery. That's that's not good. I have a friend on the fire department. We were talking Friday. Making seven or eight trips for the Narcan. Mhm.

1:04:11 Uh um in the 50th Street area. You know, that it's probably by the time they leave, go out, take care of somebody, it's probably an hour. They're probably wasting 8 hours a day taking care of this drug issue that we got. And I don't know the answer, but if you're going to have to put Conestogas in, either put them right here in the in the parking lot or over at the Booth Kelly Mill. And I understand there's a big I haven't seen it myself, but I understand there's a big homeless camp at the old police shooting range. And I understand there's a big homeless camp on South 28th at the rock quarry. Kind of hidden. Most of the homeless I see is on 14th and Main.

1:04:57 Around and right here at the library. But something to think about. I You know, I you guys are going to be in a hard spot with this uh you lost the Shilo. They tore the Shilo out. Which we everybody seen how well that went over. And she got trashed with the homeless. But, thank you. Thank you. Um next person is Julie Sonam. Hi, my name is Julie Sonam. I live here in Springfield on 4th Street, South 4th Street, across the railroad tracks. And I came tonight. I don't know if this is the right place for me to be sharing what I'm wanting to share with you. I The first woman who spoke about the

1:05:42 water, um groundwater, I was thinking, "Oh, great. I have another person I can talk to." cuz somebody I would like to meet. I'm really concerned about the community, about the garbage, and um chemicals in general. With the chemicals, I walk the I live on South 4th, so I walk roughly an hour and a half to 2 and 1/2 hours a day in the morning and in the evening, and um I'm picking up garbage every day. There's a huge garbage problem. I know that there's four people besides myself picking up garbage because I've met them. Um we've been doing it for a long time, like over a year. I'm sure if there's four of us, there's probably more that I don't know. Um but,

1:06:27 it's a big problem. Every day the same routes that I walk, I'm picking up garbage on the same routes. And so, I don't know what the answer is, but I think it it's education because I left garbage in front of the Emerald Art Center and the um Public House and the Washburne and um uh Plank Town just to see if it would get cleaned up. I left it for 8 days, and the exact same garbage was still there 8 days later, and there was a garbage can like 5 ft away. So, people are going in and out of these businesses, and including the people that work there, and they're not picking up the garbage, and it's a big problem. I mean, I live here and I'm I love this place. I really love it here. It's so beautiful

1:07:13 and I really think we could do better. So, I was thinking maybe some kind of education like how they say prevent forest fires, you know, like you know, Smokey the Bear, but like try to get people to want to pick up the litter or pick up the trash or ask businesses send them a letter and ask them to help in Eugene. I have my office. I'm a real estate agent and my office is in downtown Eugene. They have people out on the street. I don't know if they work for the city, but they're out there cleaning. It's very tidy down there and they have a big problem with unhoused people and drugs in Eugene and it's very tidy. I mean, way cleaner and and you guys might think it looks clean, but I promise you it's because we're out there every day picking up garbage, needles, all kinds of things.

1:07:59 Chemicals, I'm concerned about the chemicals. I walk by the schools and I can see where they're spraying Roundup around the trees and around the fence lines. I just don't think it's appropriate anymore. Before we knew we didn't know what we know now. We have water here that we drink. We have the the rivers and the fish and and and you know, we we can do better. So, I have spoke at Willamette Lane and they're working on transitioning away from chemicals and I think we should do the same. I don't think we should wait for legislation. I think we should just do it now. Thank you. Uh Phil Farrington.

1:08:44 Good evening, mayor counselors. Happy birthday, counselor Weber. Um my name is Phil Farrington. Um I represent and work for uh CBC Management Corp owners of the property right across the street at 5th and and Main Street uh 5th and A Street. Uh wanted to just applaud you first for the work that you're doing and with staff of considering developing a new um housing development tax exemption program. As you no doubt know, construction costs are uh soaring, interest rates likewise soaring. Uh it's a very difficult time and a and a difficult proposition to be able to build new, especially in downtown areas. Um my request for you is to consider I know right now that the city uh offers system development charge waivers for local SDCs uh for certain developments

1:09:32 is to consider when you develop your housing diversity tax exemption program that you also consider uh applying as well partial or full SDC credits as well. Instead of making it an either or proposition, I'd encourage you to make it a yes and. If you didn't do it for every location where you might develop the HDTE program, consider places where it's yet again more expensive to develop like downtown or in certain types of housing typologies like mid-rise or or higher-rise developments. Those are very expensive to develop and I think these tools combined could really be um allowed to kind of move the dial on making development happen where it may not otherwise. One other thing to mention about system development charges is just came across

1:10:17 my my desk today, but that the city of Portland is developing its own resolution, I think on Wednesday, at the recommendation of their um business development and and planning staff to uh allow for a deferral of SDC payments for up to 24 months from the date of permit issuance or when a property is sold, whichever is sooner. That's one of the recommendations that me and other uh people in the development community have been recommending to the state as part of their SDC analysis um that's been going on since Representative Lively initiated a SDC uh report um study um that's been recently completed. That's the kind of a tool though that allows for a developer to avoid having the carrying costs for

1:11:03 system development charges really until a project comes online. Um, a closer to the time when construction's complete and then have the space leased and sold or sold. Um, so I I'd encourage you to consider contemplating that with your staff as well. So, thank you very much for the work that you're doing. Hopefully this moves the dial. As you all know, we're in a dramatic housing crisis and anything and everything that you're doing to try and encourage housing development is most welcome. Thank you very much. Thank you.

1:11:50 June Fothergill, um, 317 30th Street in Springfield, apartment 113C. Um, I just want to thank you especially for the, um, willingness to support the work that we're trying to do to shelter unhoused women, um, through Ann's Heart Women's Shelter. Thank you for considering that and and hopefully voting for that. Um, I especially also want to thank the staff that have worked so diligently over the last year, um, Aaron Fifeild and the new staff, Katie Carroll, if you haven't met her yet. Um, we're working on this for a long time. We've been working on this and so I'm really grateful for all of you and you being here and I look forward to, um, after tonight maybe being able to go out soon and find a house for,

1:12:36 um, Ann's Heart Women's Shelter. Thank you. Thank you. That was the last card that I have. Is there anybody that's got their hands raised online, Neil? No hands online. Right. Corey? I just want to thank everyone for coming and sharing. Um it's I I I'm often um very inspired by how passionate folks who live in Springfield are about all of the things that make this community livable and the challenges that we have and I just appreciate everyone taking the time to come down and and share those with us so

1:13:22 that we have a better understanding. So thank you. Anybody else? All right, next item, please. Next item is uh resolution um item number one, a city council adoption of a resolution initiating annexation of tax lots 18-02-04 -00-01511 -01300 in addition to Linda Lane and Mount Vernon Road rights-of-way. Um this is resolution number four, a resolution annexing uh annexation of certain territory to the city of Springfield pursuant to section 5.7 of the Springfield Development Code and Jeff Pascoe's here for the staff report.

1:14:09 Good evening, Mayor Counselors. Uh before you the resolution that you see as uh Neil read in the title is the initiation process. So this basically is giving uh city staff the direction to start the application process for annexation, which um as you saw with Tom's presentation, which is culminating in that public hearing, um that's what you'll see. We'll start the staff process, the review process, and then the public notice process, and bring that back to you for a public hearing with the staff report and findings. Um as you'll see in the um council briefing memorandum in the timeline. The earliest anticipated with approval tonight would be June to see that public hearing.

1:14:56 Um, one thing to note is there was a bit of a communication issue, mostly on my end. Um, the resolution lists two exhibits. There's really only one exhibit. Um, both the items are addressed on that one exhibit. It's attachment three, and so I have a recommendation in consultation with the um, city attorney's office on how to adopt or approve that resolution. Um, the really the intent of the resolution is just so council knows what they're approving. So, what they're giving direction to the city staff to do. There is really no action as far as that property tonight other than initiating the application process. Um, the two attachments listed were maps. Both maps are on one map, and

1:15:41 that's where the confusion is. There's a vicinity map, and then the map that shows the actual area of annexation. And so, um, in consultation with Christina from the city attorney's office, um, if the council were just to adopt resolution four with attachment three three included in place of exhibit A and B referenced in the published resolution, we should be good. I'm going to have you repeat that slowly, please. Uh, to adopt resolution number four with attachment three included in place of exhibit A and B referenced in the published resolution. Good. Victoria. And just a quick question and you and I

1:16:26 talked about it uh, prior in the um, prior meeting, but to confirm that in this annexation request um, process, it includes Linda Lane, Mhm. but the there is no plan within this to upgrade, develop, do anything with the the right of way of Linda Lane. That is just wanted to confirm that. At this time, no. It's a county right of way in their jurisdiction. It's considered a local access road and so I am unaware of any plans that the county has with the right of way and the city has no plans at this time with the right of way other than initiating annexation. Because it will no longer belong to the county, it'll belong to the city, but then there was something about doesn't necessarily trigger

1:17:11 jurisdictional transfer, but we could get into a lot of details on how the county treats local access roads, but it's in essence the county doesn't really manage local access roads. Yeah. That's in the title. That is definitely what I have seen in my experience. Thank you so much for confirming that. Any other questions? I'd like to make a motion to adopt resolution number four with attachment three including exhibit A and B resolutions. Second. Neil, could you call the vote, please? First I want to make sure I said that right. Actually, hang on. It's and I'm going to just email it to you just so you have it there in front of

1:17:56 Okay. Perfect. All right. Hang on there. I unsecond that. Yeah, I un I unsecond the motion and I unmotion the motion. I unmotion the motion. Withdraw my first motion and make another motion. I'd like to make a motion to adopt resolution number four with the attachment three included in place of exhibit A and B referenced in the published resolution. Thank you. Second. Neil. Yes, Council Weber. Yes. Councilor Moe. Yes. Councilor Roddy. Yes. Councilor Doyle. Yes. And Councilor Pishioneri? Yes, thank you. Motion passes, five yeses, zero no's.

1:18:41 And Jeff, keep the communication up with the with the neighbors. I know there's a lot of interest in this and dates and time lines would continue to mean a lot to them. Next item, please. Any business from the city council? Is there any business? No? Of course. we should say happy birthday to Councilor Weber. I didn't know it was your birthday, but happy birthday. Thank you. You're keeping it on the down low. Keep it on the down low. But now it's in a public meeting forever. Yes, yes, it is. Did you have any other Okay. That's it. Next item, please. Next item under business from the city manager, item number one is Anne's Heart funding. Erin Fifield is here for the staff report.

1:19:32 Sorry, Anne Fifield and Katie Carroll are here for the staff report. Um yeah, good evening, Mayor and Council. Katie Carroll and I are here tonight with uh the request before you from Anne's Heart to increase their budget uh up to $600,000 from the federal American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund, ARPA if you will. Um as you may recall, Anne's Heart is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2016 here in Springfield, whose goal is to provide long-term housing to unhoused women. Their project is to buy a house here in Springfield in order to house up to six unhoused women. This would not be a drop-in shelter, uh but more like transitional housing with the aim to

1:20:17 provide stability and case management for women to move on to permanent housing. So, a brief history, if you will, on how we got here. Um these ARPA funds are federal dollars that came to the state and were allocated as part of the 2021 legislative session. Each representative and senator in Oregon received an allocation to put toward projects in their district that they saw had an unmet need. Representative Lively, in consultation with the city, put forward four projects, one of which was $620,000 for long-term affordable housing. This allocation was initially made up of two projects, one a home ownership project by Square One Villages, and the other a transitional housing project for

1:21:03 up to six unhoused women, namely Aunt Heart. In February and April of 2022, during two work sessions last year, staff brought a list of potential projects to city council discussing affordable housing and social services to receive council direction. During those two work sessions, council gave direction to staff that they supported funding Aunt Heart for their capital project needs to buy a house. They did not support helping fund operating costs. We also learned at the time that unfortunately the Square One Villages C Street extension project was no longer viable. Council at the time indicated they were still supportive of using the ARPA dollars just for Aunt Heart. Um they did want to limit funding for Aunt Heart to only $500,000 at the

1:21:50 time, but said Aunt Heart could return and request additional funds if needed. Following that council work session, um and the support given for Aunt Heart, the city then signed the agreement in your packet that you see with the Department of Administrative Services laying out the expectations for the use of those $620,000. Which brings us to today and the request before you by Aunt Heart who's asking to increase their amount for up to $600,000. Um as laid out in the letter, they give reasonings giving the increase in the housing market and real estate prices. Um and so working within the existing ARPA agreement funding, Anthcart is asking for authority for up to $600,000

1:22:36 that they say would give them a greater opportunity to purchase a home in this market. So just some quick some quick points and then I'll stop. Um the award to Anthcart is a direct reimbursement award. It is not a grant to use as they choose. Um funds need to be used to purchase a home, but could also be eligible for pre-purchase and closing costs. Funds are not eligible for repairs or renovations or operating costs. Anthcart will be required to purchase a home by uh by May 1st, 2024 um and to be operating within 2 years. Um they would need to run the home for 10 years, otherwise it would be required to return the funds to the city or work to transfer the home to another organization for a similar purpose.

1:23:23 Joe. So, I'm talking about this earlier last week or not. The Is this the plan or the only plan as written in stipulations on move-in or is there additional work being done? Sorry, I didn't catch the question. Well, you're talking about conditions, stipulations. Right? Must be in New Springfield. Must must Oh, describing that is their proposal. Yeah, that is the project. Okay, so has that plan been approved and or is there any additions to that plan that's going to be made or is that final? In other words, during the negotiations that the city manager's going to have, Mhm. is there expecting to be some more additional information or is that we give her the authority to go ahead

1:24:09 and enter into that negotiation and come up with a uh mutually agreeable That Yeah, that's the um the request tonight is to grant the city manager the authority to negotiate and execute. want to make sure that was final product. Thank you. Yeah, and I was just going to follow up on that and say, I I mean, I'm fine with this and I appreciated you reminding us of the decisions we'd already made around non-operational and all of that, and I have confidence in the city manager to kind of get all of the ducks in a row, and I appreciate you reminding us that if things fall apart, it could come back to us, so it's not, you know, so I understand the risk. So, I appreciate that historical context and have confidence that our city manager can

1:24:55 handle it. Victoria. So, I just wanted to comment because and give a shout-out to Reverend June because I remember when I was on the C-DAC committee in 2016, this project was brought just kind of as an idea, and I remember that happening and thinking this is a great idea, but we didn't know how we were going to pay for it and how it was going to happen, and so you know, a shout-out to to Representative Lively too for bringing this forward and for us being able to see this to fruition. I I really am excited to, you know, having heard something as an idea and now see it actually happen to where it could help women in our community is is pretty awesome. So, thanks for the work that you do. Anybody else?

1:25:41 All right. I've got just a couple a couple of comments before we take the motion. Yes, I think I think June, you getting this to the finish closer to the finish line is, you know, it it has been a Herculean task. I also want to just briefly talk about what I think the negotiation, you know, but what we're authorizing the city manager to do because one of my big my concerns here is this is just the capital component of it, and I really want Nancy to take into account that we really need to see the operating plan and what the plan is to finance it and what what's the plan to communicate with the neighbors, and how do we sort of deal with the you know, is a you know, is sort of a transitional housing. It's going to be cited in a neighborhood, and that communication plan and dealing with

1:26:26 questions around everything from you know, law enforcement to parking to just everything about it really needs to be be be reviewed be reviewed. Um I if Nancy's comfortable, I'm comfortable, but I really just want to say that out loud and in public to and ask her to take all of that into consideration when when the uh nonprofit comes forward with her operating plan because I think that's the key to success here. Can I ask an order of operations question? Sure. Um so the part of the request being to authorize the city manager to negotiate any and all, so that include the loan agreement plus any other

1:27:11 In one version I see this playing out is the loan agreement being signed authorizing them to go find that house, and then it's within that 2-year agreement to be able to have it up and running. And I guess I'm the operating plan, do you see that happening before the loan agreement is happening, or are you saying within those 2 years to make sure I I My opinion is is in the after component, right? Like I think the nonprofit needs an okay for us that we will back, you know, them have shopping around for a home for this at $600,000, but between the part when they sort of purchase and have a location and the part when we actually sort of, you know, sort of execute and start operating, that is where that is where that conversation needs to happen.

1:27:57 Because I think we got the big component of this sort of solved, but like that just the operating funds and everything about it is still up in the air. Joe. Yeah, and I I think um it would make sense to me well, Nancy, it'd be important to get your input, too, on this because to me it seems that I don't know if I would loan money or give money to somebody if I'm not sure what they plan to do with it. I understand the basics, you know, certain rules, but would you give money to somebody with the understanding that this is what you're going to do, but you don't have the rules laid out, and then

1:28:42 we give them the money to buy the property, and then the rules become ambiguous or not followed, then what do you do? So, you have to seize the property, or should you not have that in place before you sign on the bottom line? Um in response to your question, Counselor Pessinary, I would work closely with the City Attorney's Office as well to make sure that we have some benchmarks that would need to be met uh prior to uh purchasing a home. Uh there are a number of factors that need to uh go into place. Uh it's a it's a great concept, and I think, you know, the council supports the idea of helping uh these women in need. Uh there the devil is in the details here. So, I will put my, you know, you you all know that I have uh experience in county

1:29:28 governance, so I'll flip a little bit of my county hat on. Um when I worked for Sacramento County, they used a scattered site housing model uh for um this type of population, and so there is some you have some experience when working in these type of structures. So, there's some things we can draw on and look at, but you definitely want to make sure that the city has the ability to uh cover our interest, so that if in any event that this program, you know, we know that this is a new program, um that we have a way for that home to either be returned to the city. Um you know, you can also, at times, with nonprofits, uh move to another a nonprofit. So we would have to talk more with the city attorney's office about uh what kind of

1:30:13 you know, for lack of a better word, a clawback agreement that we would have if certain benchmarks were not being made. But what a important factor, of course, would be working with the the neighborhood and the community. So that's another component is just, you know, making sure that we have the right structures in place so that we can be a good neighbor so that the we'll we want this to succeed is the whole outcome here. Yeah, and and my concern is is that it's very clear with the receivers of this of this funding that we already have some rules in place where an agreement in place that's very clear. So we don't have to I don't really want to be participatory in taking property back

1:30:58 and now we have a six, seven, eight bedroom house that the city now owns and we're like going, "Okay, now what do we do with this?" So it would be great to be able to have, you know, to enter an agreement with all involved say, "Okay, we're all playing on the same sheet of music. We all agree this is what we're going to do. Pull the trigger as opposed to trying to play catch-up. Correct. You know, I think that that's an excellent point and we we do have time here. That's a benefit. I think also we want to look at interest rates and you know, because that affects housing prices overall in the marketplace and how houses are moving. So you know, we want to look at what's happening in the market. I know they have some ideas for the the size of house that they will need as far as the number of bedrooms so

1:31:43 that also automatically kind of puts some some restraints on what we would be looking at. But you're right, we need to flush out the operational elements as well as the logistics of purchasing the home. Yeah, and I support that as long as we have that in place. Yeah. Right. Any other comments or questions? I'd like to make a motion to approve a budget of up to $600,000 to Ann's Heart to use for the purchase of a home in Springfield to house up to six women and authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute all documents. Second. Neil? Yes, Councillor Webber? Yes. Councillor Moe? Yes. Councillor Roddy? Yes. Councillor Doyle?

1:32:28 I. And Councillor Piscinelli? Yes, thank you. Motion passes five yeses zero nos. Thank you. Next item, please. Any other business from the city manager? No further business, thank you. Any business from the city attorney? No business. All right, thank you everybody. We are adjourned.