Springfield City Council — September 18, 2023

0:04 I'll call the City Council work session to order with roll call. Mayor Vin Gorgoni. Here. Councilor Weber. Here. Councilor Moe. Here. Councilor Rodley. Here. Councilor Blackwell. Here. Councilor Doyle. Here. And Councilor Fishman. Here. Thank you. Uh we have one item on the uh work session tonight and that's A N S Heart funding and that's you continue. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor. Good evening, Council. So this work session is in follow-up to Council's authorization on April 3rd, 2023 of $600,000 in ARPA funding for the purchase of a home in Springfield to house up to six women. The authorization was contingent upon uh City Manager's approval of an operations plan to be submitted by A N S Heart. I think I'm

0:49 referring to myself in the third person. Anyway, you get the gist. After a serious deliberation and significant staff time spent on the issue, my recommendation is to redirect the funding amount of $620,000 toward a different project or projects that align with the funding intent of long-term affordable housing. So and you will note in your agenda packet, uh there is a memo from me to the Mayor and Council outlining the sequence of events that led to this conclusion. Um I'm going to share a brief synopsis of that memo for the record this evening. So from April to July of 2023, city staff exchanged uh draft documents with volunteers from A N S Heart providing feedback on the operations

1:35 plan that they created. Uh the first document received was a shelter proposal which was modified to a draft operations plan by A N S Heart volunteers. Um we continue we then met in person with A N S Heart volunteers in July um to further explain the context and necessity of some items that were still missing from the operations plan such as an outreach plan to the neighborhood and security for the residents and community. When we were having that in-person meeting June Fathergill relate to us that Aunt Harriet was receiving operations funding from Lane County. This is was a new funding source that was provided through the governor's

2:20 executive order and the intent of that executive order was to rapidly increase the state's uh shelter capacity among other things. Uh this new funding uh substantially changed the scope of the project from the transitioning housing housing model approved by council to an emergency low-barrier shelter. And I've included in the packet this evening the funding requirements from Lane County for this for this money. There are many minimum standards required to be considered a low-barrier shelter. Uh one is that residents do not have to agree to be sober to participate in programs, activities, or classes. So my my memo to the mayor and council

3:05 identifies several deficiencies in the operations plan. Uh first being that program participation with the Lane County funding is voluntary. It's that's the requirement. Uh the Lane County funding requires the shelter welcome self-identified family and kinship groups that seek to shelter together. That's not addressed in the operations plan. Uh that's something that Aunt Harriet will have to work with on with the county, but it's outside the scope of what I was told to look at. The operations plan needs further refinement about drug and alcohol use. Uh there's also a section on noise complaints, but is not really addressed adequately. Uh the remote security portion of the

3:52 plan lacks in detail and I didn't go in-depth into it, but I see some potential liability there as far as who the provider of that security might be and whether or not they are trained and certified and insured to do that function. The proposed budget is incomplete is incomplete and it's not sustainable. In fact, the budget submitted was for less than 6 months of operations. The plan does not address the pet accommodation required of the Lane County funding. You know, I bring this forward to say, you know, I want to close with saying that the the volunteers with Greenhill have good intent and I suggest that they receive technical assistance to help them

4:38 further refine their vision. They could you know still you know, I'm they could still probably have the funding from Lane County and work on that and and in a different model, but that's again outside of the scope of what you asked me to to address tonight. So, I'd be happy to take your questions. Are there any questions? How can anything with such good intentions that they worked on for so long and is needed and accepted by everybody in the city suddenly be defeated by the bureaucracy? It's just it shouldn't be. Well, Councilman I wouldn't I wouldn't classify this as bureaucracy. The the council the full council Look at all this bureaucracy.

5:24 Well, there's there's I documents are to show the public the transparency in public funding. And when you allocate public funding I understand that. I don't have to justify it to me, but I'm just looking at the wishes that they've had so long they worked worked towards and suddenly it's not going to happen. I wouldn't characterize it in that way. I think with the funding in Lane County, that if they were creative, they could probably do that in another format. Um I don't I don't think the Lane County funding requires them to have a home. Again, that's not what I delved into, um but I think that, you know, Lane County off- they do offer technical assistance as part of their funding. So, that's something that they could pursue with Lane County. Thank you. Corey.

6:18 Thank you. And Nancy is correct. Um I had a conversation with Kate Budd about this. And the the operations funding that's coming from the county could be used to put if they were to have people in hotel rooms or it they wouldn't have to have a building to start the operations pieces. And I've had several conversations about this because I know that we're all invested and this was an opportunity for us to like, let's do the thing that is fits within the city's purview. And you know, this is this is a big leap for a nonprofit that is a barely a new nonprofit in terms of operations funding and and needing to professionalize the services and the the I want to I don't

7:05 necessarily the services, but professionalize the operations pieces because what can happen with nonprofits that start too fast is that they're not able to sustain because they haven't built up over time and they haven't you know, they might be able to get some funding from us to to buy a home and some funding for some initial operations, but they're going to just sustain that. They're going to need to build donors and they're going to need to reach out and they're going to need to also provide services. And so, as I was pouring over the report that Nancy wrote, which I really appreciate all the work that Nancy has done on this because we we turned it over and said, we trust her judgment. And if she's able to get to an operation plan, we're there." And all the work that she did did not get to an operations plan that we feel

7:50 comfortable with, or by we I mean me. Um and I think that this doesn't mean that we're not supportive of the mission, or doesn't mean that I'm not supportive of the mission. It just is like this just isn't the right time for us to be putting all of that money into a place that they're not going to be able to sustain it, when we could move the money into a way that meets what we all had intended. Um and to maybe work with them some more and help establish the the mission of that organization. Thank you, Corey. Um other questions? Um the one I guess clarifying question that I had is when I read this, it sounded like the last meeting we had with um with them was in late June.

8:35 But you said during the June 26th, 2023 meeting. Actually, it was I I was incorrect in that. Our staff corrected me. It was actually on July 3rd. Okay. And so at that point they get sort of um I guess feedback on their operating operations plan. Was there any revisions to the operating plan from July until today? Um yes, there were but the operations plan that well, from that first July meeting, yes. They uh we received the the final operations plan from June. I think it was around July 17th. Okay. And that what I included in the packet is the last um document that we received. Okay. Other questions?

9:25 I think So, we got to we've got to give her direction. So, we we need to sort of I need a head nod that said people are comfortable with my job. Questions, but I'm just going to comment that and appreciate you. I appreciate your tremendous amount of work. I tried to get to where we wanted to go but couldn't because of what of the facts you're faced with and that's not easy and I recognize that. So, I appreciate your courage. So, I I concur with the outcome of your work and I concur with what Corey says. It's it's not right it's not the right timing for this organization to take off take a bite I want to close with your outcome and I appreciate hearing it.

10:11 It is bureaucratic and that is wrong but more technical goals the legalities of this stuff is surmountable to them. I don't think it's I don't think it's insurmountable Counselor Moe. I think that what we're looking at is a group of very well-intended people that start a non-profit but really need to get a little bit more expertise underfoot to under you know, they have never operated a shelter. They don't have you know, people on their board to do that. If you look at the budget you know, you might I I I want you to hear me that I think that this is an important cause and it's it's difficult to come to this conclusion but I have to be a wise financial steward of the public's resources and it would be irresponsible to start a program purchase a home and

10:56 have it fail. If we started a program in our city, we want it to succeed. We want people to be able to point at that and go look how great that's working. And that's I just didn't see that being feasible under this plan and I encourage people to read the the full packet and I think it gives a greater understanding. It's not bureaucratic. It's simply trying to find a way to be successful. Victoria So, I just wanted to comment really quick because of Counselor Moe's um comments about it being bureaucratic and what have you and I was on the Community Development Advisory Committee back in 2017, 2018 when um um I'm going to say Pastor Paul I June came in and had this idea clear back then. And so to say that it's just something

11:42 that fell apart in this last 6 months is not really being accurate. This is something that that has been talked about and been in the works meaning you knew what was coming down the pike and what you were going to need and you had opportunities to do that and and I don't think that the requirements that we were putting in this was were difficult and they they they spoke to our community and what they want. And then when it came back in and it's and it's different than what we agreed to then we have to question that. We have to look at that. Um but to say that it's a bureaucratic and that that's what caused the the this not coming together isn't isn't being honest in the situation. So.

12:28 Corey. Thanks. And you know, I can understand the frustration. And you know, coming from a world of nonprofit, I also understand that sometimes it takes a while to build up the capacity for a new nonprofit. And and having things like a business plan and you know, a budget and things are important. And then I think of nonprofits as being like small businesses as being very entrepreneurial. So this doesn't necessarily feel bureaucratic. It just feels like we still have to have these things in place. And I'm remembering when we agreed to it, we were like, well, yes, we

13:13 one of our goals and we want to support women and in Springfield who are unhoused or homeless. And if you read through the packet, you know, some of the the low and I think that there's a time and a place for low barrier shelters, absolutely. And in a house in a neighborhood is probably not It's Springfield is probably not the time and the place for a low barrier shelter. So, that's part of it, too. It's like if we could work into some other situation that was going to fit better, I think that that would also be helpful. And just to like work along to build up the plan so that it's sustainable. I don't think like I don't feel like I want to abandon Anne's Heart or abandon these the folks who want to do this. I think what we had agreed to

13:58 do in terms of helping them purchase a house. Doesn't necessarily fit with where the operations or where they want to go with the services they want to provide, and that's fine. I think that's a that that's a really good observation is that it's been an evolving conversation over the last couple of years. Um and that the reality is I don't think that when I read the operating plan that it was necessarily ready for prime time or the right location. And that's And I think the the the piece of this is this money's on a time frame, otherwise it's got to go back to the state, right? So, if we had more time with the money, I would be more more lenient to sort of lean it out or leave it out there for further further sort of I guess development, for lack of a better word. Um yeah, I for

14:46 what this I think the packet did so a very nice job of sort of lining out where it is. And I you know, the community group you all did a lot of work here. I would encourage them to keep ideating and working on it and trying to address some of those gaps, but this isn't the right This isn't the It isn't the right time to hold this money out based on the fact it's got to be done in I think spent maybe February. Yeah, I well, the It depends on which part There's two pockets of funding that's pertaining to Anne's Heart. The one that is through the city needs to be expended by June of 2024, but in reality, it really needs to be done probably in May because we are responsible for submitting a report to the state to demonstrate how that funding has been spent and to show that

15:32 it was spent according to the the requirements. The county's funding is is a different matter and I I didn't look into that deeply. But I do think Councillor Rodli makes an excellent point that they could still accomplish a lot of the intent of what they're trying to do, but be more creative in the model. Yeah. Also, for the interim, I would like to look at and hear about other potential recipients of that money and so we can get that ball rolling or get it rolling so we don't lose track but lose traction on it. Absolutely. We'll bring that back. All right. Michelle. I don't have any questions. I think this was laid out very very well and gave us, you know, a really good basis for understanding what was happening, where

16:19 we were, where we are. Um but I do want to thank Councillor Rodli for her comments because they are really I think really indicative and very thoughtful of where the council where we are as a council and I just want to thank her for those words. Absolutely. So, um you've got enough direction and then you will come back to us with, you know, some options on where where this funding can be re-reapplied to and it but it's got to be in the housing low-income housing world. Correct. But um any other comments before All right. Then We're down until 7:00. We're adjourned. We'll see you here at 7:00.

17:09 I'm going to call the city uh Springfield City Council regular meeting to order with roll call. Mayor Van Gordon. Here. Councillor Weber. Here. Councillor Moe. Here. Councillor Rodli. Here. Councillor Blackwell. Here. Councilor Doyle. Here. And Councilor Picioneri. Here. Thank you. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. As we begin our meeting tonight, there are two designated times for public testimony this evening, under public

17:54 hearings and business from the audience. If you are attending in person, please complete a request to speak card located at the entrance of the council chambers and give them to the city recorder. If you are joining us online with a tablet, smartphone, or computer and wish to speak either of those times, please use the raise hand hand feature in Zoom. The order of public testimony is as follows. Anyone in person in the city council chambers and then anybody who has raised their virtual hand. And Neil, how many people do we have joining us this evening? Um seven attendees online, approximately 55 council chambers. All right. First item, please. First item is Springfield Upbeat, item

18:41 number one, mayor's recognition, plans to get examiner of the year award and Jeff Councilors, do you have this item? Thank you. Good evening, mayor and councilors. Um I'd like to introduce a remarkable individual whose dedication and achievements deserve our recognition. Um Jeff, why don't we have her come up? Yeah, you can pick them up here. You can come sit by me if you don't want to. I know you were trying to hide. Um Michelle Lind Barger is a key member of the community development division within development public works. Um, she's commercial plans examiner. Um, she has been honored uh with an Oregon Building Officials Association Plans Examiner of the Year Award. Um,

19:26 Michelle's receipt of this award is a testament to her outstanding commitment to the community and her unwavering pursuit of excellence. The OBOA selected her for this honor based on numerous nominations submitted by professionals and customers who have witnessed her exceptional service. Um, Michelle has consistently delivered the highest level of customer service to our local community ensuring that our city's development adheres to the high standards of safety and quality. Michelle's impact also extend beyond our city's borders. She is the active voting She is an active voting member of the International Code Council and serves as the vice president of the Oregon Permit Technicians Association. This year OPTA has been recognized nationally by the

20:11 ICC as chapter of the year and Michelle played a crucial role in earning this proceeds prestigious accolade. Her work with these organization organizations not only benefits Springfield, but also contributes to the broader community by fostering education, networking, and upholding safety standards. Michelle's dedication to her professional work outside of the spring outside of Springfield has never detracted from her responsibilities in here. Instead enhances her performance. In the past year alone she has performed plan reviews for significant projects including a roughly 31,000 square foot temple, 53,000 square foot church, and over 500 new part apartment units and more than 215 other commercial structural mechanical permits. Michelle contri- Michelle's con-

20:56 contributions to the development indus- industry are not only impressive, but also deeply impactful. She serves as an impri- inspiration to her peers elevating the standards of the profession and ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities throughout Oregon and beyond. Well, that is a lot of great news. Uh what did you bring with you this evening? Um I brought my two children, Jackie and Sydney, and my dad, Leo. Well, uh last week when it got announced, I'll I'll tell you a quick story, and then um as I you know, during the week I talked to a lot of the other counselors, you know, we just chat and exchange like so more than one of them said, "Hey, did you see this great thing that happened?" And people were were very, very excited.

21:42 You know, we all have seen your contributions over the last, you know, over your career, but to you know, get a statewide award is pretty impressive, and we're all really proud of you. Thank you. I really appreciate it, and I'm grateful to be a part of such a dynamic and professional team of of really qualified individuals within the DPW department, and I know that the last couple of years have been kind of unprecedented as like scope of work being brought to Springfield. And um this is the last 2 years are new in the commercial realm for me. I started off in residential, so I hit the ground running coming to Springfield. It's a huge learning curve, but everybody has been very supportive, and um I'm really grateful to be here and

22:28 establishing deep roots within the Springfield community. Great. Well, before you go, and I don't know if anybody else wants to jump in. I did bring you a distinctly Springfield mug. Uh-oh, she's going to take a picture. Oh gosh. Yeah, stand up. City recorder and photographer. Awesome. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you for joining us this evening. Yes.

23:13 Right now on to that on to the rest of the business of the agenda. Our next item, please. The next item is the consent. I move to approve the consent calendar. Second. You know, can you call the vote, please? Yes, Counselor Weber. Yes. Counselor Bovo. Yes. Counselor Roddy. Yes. Counselor Weber. Yes. Counselor Doyle. Yes. Counselor Fishner. Yes. Thank you. Uh motion passes. Six yeses, zero no's. Next item, please. Uh next item is public hearings. You have two public hearings this evening. Public hearing number one is annexation of territory to the city of Springfield. Annex 0.22 acres of residential property located at 610 Rainier Avenue, Rainier Avenue map 17-03-33-14,

24:02 tax lot 0908, and concurrently annex a segment of Rainier Avenue including an adjoining pedestrian pathway. Again, this is ordinance number two at ordinance annexing certain territory, 610 Rainier Avenue and approximately a 530-ft long segment of Rainier Street and adjoining pedestrian pathway to the city of Springfield and Willamalane Park and Recreation District, withdrawing the same territory from the Rainbow Water District, adopting a severability clause, and providing an effective date. Tom Sievers is here for the staff report. Good evening, Mayor and City Counselors. I'm Tom Sievers, senior planner with the current planning section. Tonight, the council is requested to consider an ordinance to annex an approximately 0.22 acre property addressed as 610 Rainier

24:48 Avenue in western Springfield along with a segment of public right-of-way and a pedestrian pathway. The proposed annexation area is highlighted in yellow and the subject site is located at the southern end of Rainer Avenue. The applicants are the property owners and have requested annexation to receive city services and to decommission an aging septic system. There is already a sewer lateral in place to serve the site. Staff is also requesting to include an un-annexed segment of Rainer Avenue and a pedestrian pathway adjoining the site on its eastern boundary. Annexation of the street segment will not constitute a jurisdictional transfer and will remain the responsibility of the county.

25:35 The site is zoned R1 low-density residential with the urbanizable fringe UF10 overlay. As you can see, it is contiguous to the city limits immediately to the west and south. If annexation is approved, no other zoning changes are requested except for the removal of the UF10 overlay. With annexation, the subject property will be removed from special districts such as the UF10 overlay depicted here and service areas such as the Rainbow Water District. No other zoning changes will occur with this application. There are four criteria for annexations in the Springfield Development Code. Criterion A, within UGB and contiguous to city limits. As previously stated,

26:21 the subject property is contiguous to city limits along its western and southern boundary. The subject territory is within the city's urban growth boundary and is currently covered by the urbanizable fringe overlay. Criterion B, consistent with policies of the Metro Plan. Policies 27, 29, 33, 34, and 35 of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan's urbanization element are met through this application as the annexed land will be fully within the Springfield urban service area. Criterion C, within boundary for minimum level of key urban facilities, policies 29, 31, and 32 of the 2030 comprehensive plan's organization element are met through this application as well.

27:06 If annexation is approved, the subject territory can easily obtain key facilities and services from the Rainer Avenue right of way. Again, these facilities and services will include sanitary sewer connection, sub water and electric service, fire protection services from the Eugene-Springfield Fire Department, police services from Springfield Police and the Willamalane Recreation District. Criterion D, annexation agreement. An annexation agreement has already been signed by the applicants. 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 and withdrawal from special service districts. If the annexation is approved by City

27:51 Council at the second reading on October 2nd, then the agreement will be ready for execution by the city manager, and the agreement would then be recorded 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 considered for approval by Council. Thank you, and I'm here if you have any questions. I I may have missed it, but you mentioned something about the sidewalk. I have a couple of clarification questions if I could, please. Yes. Um so, is that pre-existing sidewalk surfaced? No. Uh it's currently a strip of trees. The right of way has already been dedicated uh at some point in the past,

28:37 but it is uh available as a pathway if we ever want to put one there. So, that's our that's a right of way, but that's no it's not city property, but it's a city right away. Correct. So, if a sidewalk was put in there, how well would that service that neighborhood? What would be What would prompt people to use that sidewalk? What would be the benefit? So, you can see right below the site, um there is a sliver there that is an existing uh concrete surface. So, that is technically operable as a pathway right now. This would serve as a connection to that other side of the street. Rainer currently, you know, dead ends at that um

29:22 cul-de-sac, but having that connection there would facilitate pedestrian uh pathway to go south um towards the river in that area cuz currently there's like the pipe over there that people walk across and things like that. So, this would help facilitate on-street and, you know, safe pedestrian traffic. So, and this is just me putting it out there. I I think that we should seriously look at I'm I'm all about access to resources, and if that sidewalk was present, it seems to me that all those property owners and kids and whatnot, if that sidewalk was there, would now have access towards the river much easier than having to go completely around the neighborhood.

30:07 Yes, correct. So, the owners that are annexing this, they're very aware that that property may end up as a thoroughfare for pedestrians. Yes, correct. I I have talked to them about that, and uh when I posted the site, uh I was able to speak with them on site and point out that this line of trees here is actually a pedestrian pathway uh that is dedicated but not in use. Is anybody looking at making a pedestrian pathway? Not that I'm aware of. Suggest that. I see. I mean, or at least check the neighborhood because it open up neighborhoods to other areas is is a great thing, but then again, you got the property owners on either side, but and most of those sidewalks typically would have a fence on either side to help give

30:54 them privacy, but I'm speaking for myself. It The majority of the council is far as looking at that, but I would like the council to consider the staff looking at that as a as giving access to that neighborhood going south into that into the river area. Victoria? I think that we need to be the neighbors in that neighborhood would need to chime in on that because oftentimes we find that people don't want those paths because of certain elements that they feel like might access their neighborhood. So, I'm To look at it, I would first start out by looking at the staff, but I think that not looking at it would be potentially to their detriment that they would want to have that path. Okay.

31:39 Any other questions before I hold the public hearing? All right. Then, I am going to open the public hearing. I don't have any cards for this item. Does anybody wish to speak? Okay. Is there anybody online, Neil? There are no hands for this item. Perfect. Uh then, I'm going to close the public hearing. Can I Can I speak? I'm so sorry. I'm I'm new, and I live on the other side of the property. Um and I'm just wonder I am concerned about So, so why don't you fill out a card, and let's let's collect your information. Sorry.

32:38 Look for the record, and then I'll have to fill it out a little bit later. Okay, sorry. Could you state your name and address or location for the record? Yes, Yvonne Jacobs. My address is 529 Walnut Place and I'm literally on the other side of the annex. I'm on I'm the backside of their property. They're kind of kitty-corner to me and the pathway, if you will, is currently just a concrete strip along the side of my house that dead ends into a fence and I had no idea the tree I I had no idea it even went through because you can't tell that there's any path on the other side

33:25 of the fence. So, I I wanted to find out first of all if if they do have access to the city sewer and such, would that affect my area behind or is that just restricted to Rainer area? Uh you're going to want to finish your testimony and then then we'll we'll respond. Oh, okay. Thank you. Um and then if if the pathway were to go through, there is no fence there right now. So, I I would have um a huge cost in putting a fence down the entire length of this concrete path that the city owns. That's That's Those are the items. Okay. Um thank you. You're welcome.

34:10 Is there any I don't see anybody else online that wants to testify. All right, so I'm going to close the public hearing. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Um could you get with her and and help work through her concerns? Absolutely. All right. Mayor, so I just wanted to be clear to you of the direction we have moving forward. We have direction to look at that path. In that direction. And also, I just want to make sure we can staff the right direction. So, I think the question that I've got like I think there's some interest in at asking that question, right, with the context of the neighbors, you know, associated to it. My question from from a staff perspective would be would it make more sense to sort of separate this from the annexation?

34:55 Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm sorry. Look, yeah, I'm okay with this moving forward, but I think secondary some follow up. That's That's all. Yeah, I don't have any problem with that. That's all. I think we're good. I think we're good on that. Sorry. Thank you. Thanks, Tom. Thanks, Tom. Uh next item, please. Next item, your second public hearing is public hearing number two, Airborne Holdings LLC liquor license application. Christina Kras is here for this item. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Uh Christina Kras, assistant city attorney. And I am here tonight um regarding a um uh

35:40 application to the city council for a recommendation from you to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, sorry, Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission um regarding 535 Main Street um doing business as The Spot that has been submitted by Airborne Holdings. Um due to a history in the same in this calendar year of excessive police reports and disturbances at this premises, um the recommendation is that you if you if you do not do recommend denial of the application that you recommend uh requirements that OLCC would place on the application. And those are outlined in the uh memorandum from city attorney's office. Most of those conditions are

36:25 security-related requirements that have been imposed on a series of temporary liquor licenses that the establishment is um obtained on a at per event basis um from May to present and those have been and experienced successful at preventing many of the issues that were occurring earlier in the spring. So, we recommend that those continue um at least in this initial liquor license. And then um there are some additional conditions that are um intended to prevent um other issues that are of concern from occurring. One is that there is apparently an apartment or residential type space associated with the premises that um there are allegations that it has been used for

37:12 after hours parties or other events that are um not appropriate to be combined with a liquor license and then that um there is no land use approval for residential uses or an Airbnb or short-term rental at that property. So, it would need to go through a land use and building review um to ensure that it could be used safely and not as a secondary space to a you know, to a bar or event venue. The other um the other um concern is the fire code and maximum occupancy. There was a disturbing event earlier in the spring prior to the temporary liquor licenses where um the fire marshal's office was initially denied access um into the premises and they were able to

37:58 voluntarily get access in um but there are significant concerns about the occupancy. Those Those issues have been addressed for the last several months, but to prevent reoccurrence of that from happening, we recommend that that be an explicit condition on their license. There are already requirements that they allow law enforcement in to check for liquor license violations, so this would just match fire marshal's office having the same authority to check for occupancy or fire code violations. And if there were any Are there any questions I can answer them now or I can do so. This is a public hearing to allow the occupants to provide testimony. They did provide written correspondence to that was emailed on Friday. If you haven't had a chance to review that um I could send that again.

38:49 And I'm going to go into open the public hearing. I don't have any cards for this item. Neil up the owner Come on. My name is Michael Wolcott. I'm the owner and the CEO of the spot. There's been a bit of a lot of information that was more concerning my previous partner who uh uh just spent nearly a month that I have evicting. Um I was the investor and then he was supposed to be running it. He did a miserable job doing it and uh as soon as I could start the eviction procedures with the previous tenant normal, I began those procedures that uh cost $2,000 and at the end the

39:36 lawyer just said, "Do you realize you just paid me to evict you?" And I said, "No, that was me and my former partner. I'm going to be signing a new lease by myself." And since then we have been doing great. We've been following all the rules and TSLs. I am not um just you know, a bar owner. I'm also a disabled veteran. I was uh disabled from Desert Storm. I've got tons of awards. I was one of the first UAV pilots in the United States military flying the Predator drone before anybody even knew it existed. Uh I had a I was military intelligence analyst. I had a vault top secret security clearance. A lot of this stuff has been uh maddening to me cuz I don't have I don't have I didn't have as much control as I wanted to have over it, but once I control and took over it myself, things have been going really well.

40:21 Um that's the hard part about these situations. I wanted to be an investor and not do it. I actually make uh movies for a living and uh documentary films that have awards that are on Amazon and I just won six of eight film festivals for my last one and I also am a uh licensed cannabis grower under OLCC. My farm won uh awards for that as well our first year out. So um you know, my business acumen is is unchallenged at this point in my history. It's just that this became uh whatever it happened there before became put under my name and I wanted to make sure I could come and clarify that there's uh new manager in town and I'm uh I'm taking it over and I have taken um the license uh we we took over right after the first incident that occurred that we

41:06 uh had to address and then we uh that was from the previous tenant and we once we took it over and started doing the TSLs, there's been no problems. We've been working hard with the OLCC and with Cara over there. She came out of there on the uh block party with the giant smile on her face and said she was really happy with all the progress that we've made and how well we've been handling everything. I'm sure they have attempted to send in undercover and um I'm sure it's received a different result than when Mark was in charge back in uh January through March. But uh otherwise, I just wanted to make sure you guys know that there is, you know, a different situation going on over there. We've been having lots of all ages shows. Um the all ages shows have been a hit. Even pulling into the Starbucks one day, the guy was like, "Oh, I saw you at the club the other night. I'm so happy my my son has a

41:51 place to go." A lot of the parents that come say the same thing that they're really happy that a lot of the all ages clubs uh closed down. But we also have plenty of 21 and over club events and we have concerts and we have pool league, women's pool league just signed up. They're going to be coming in. We got True Value Hardware has booked their holiday party. We have uh the Navy Reserve as trying to finish their holiday party booking. We've got this A3 high school down the street booked their prom and we're going to be doing their events and their performances. We're also providing food for the kids that are going to be coming out of school during the day. We're we're going to be keeping our kitchen open to allow them to come in and play games at our video arcade there, use our Wi-Fi and eat food that we are going to price at a price point that's better than anything else on the street so they

42:36 have somewhere to eat. So we're trying to be a good good stewards of the neighborhood and bring a place that had a bad reputation back to life and I think we're doing a really good job of it. If you haven't seen it yet, please feel free to come by and see it and see what we're doing over there. We've got lots of events going on over the next 60 70 days. So Thank you, sir. Thank you. My name is Brandon Williams. My name is on the application as well and so I know there were some concerns that were brought up about some stuff in my past, but that was from 2009 going through a divorce with my daughter's mother. I did get a DUI conviction and I went through and served the went went through the classes and have done everything to you know, correct from from that behavior and and move

43:21 forward in life. And so I just wanted to make sure y'all were aware I have been working with the OLCC exclusively. It's I've been the one handling all the TSL paperwork and working directly with Kira from the OLCC. It has been frustrating because I was brought in after all that the situation that was happening and that was technically another entity called the 535 and no way affiliated with the spot. Those are two separate completely separate businesses and organizations. So it's unfortunate that we've had to be put in that same category and have to deal with all their messes, but I understand the reasoning behind it, you know, so we have jumped through all the hoops. The security requirements that the city has requested, although they have been in an effort to correct what happened at one incident,

44:07 I still haven't directly identified what happened in that incident, which was there was a gun that went off in the back alley outside of our establishment and it had nothing to do with when it no one had come through our building and gone back out there. That back alley is still, you know, accessible by all parties and now with the Simpsons murals back there, we have people coming through there all day, every day. We keep that back door closed. It has to be open as like an access way if people were to go through. So, it has the safety bars inside, but it's locked from the outside. So, we would still love to find a way to appropriately monitor that alleyway because the six security guard requirement does impose about a $2,000 per event cost on our business, which is making it very hard to be successful in this space as a new organization. It's also not in alignment with any other

44:52 venue or business that you look at in the community in terms of how many security personnel are required based on the number of attendees present. We do have a DPSS executive security executive who is in control of our security team and monitors all that and they have worked at a number of different venues around Eugene and Springfield. They've never seen this level of, you know, security guard per attendee requirement placed on them before. But, but we have we we've done it and we'll, you know, continue to do it if that's what it means being in this this space, but we feel like we can find a better medium. Also, there's been a request for two two parking monitors, but we don't actually have a parking lot and I've requested clarification on what what are we supposed to be monitoring

45:38 exactly? Are we monitoring the city parking spaces out in front of our building on the street parking? Are we monitoring the city parking lot across the street from us, which is free parking? How far out are we supposed to be monitoring and exactly what are we supposed to be monitoring? And I was never able to get an answer to that from the from the city of Springfield or from the the police who are signing off on those TSLs. So, that is still a question we have that we'd like to have answered if it is going to be a requirement for us. Plus the gun that went off actually went by Yeah, yeah, yes, sir. Isn't one set of testimony in the same Yes, sir. If you're not It looks like your time's up. So, thank you guys. Um if you can excuse everybody and go back to the Okay. Do we need to fill out a card at all? Are you Please. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. All right. I don't have any other cards. Do you have anybody raising their hand

46:23 online? Do we have All right. And I'm going going to close the public hearing and then open it for council close the discussion. And we Christina, remind us we have to make a decision tonight. Um you do not have to make a decision tonight. Um I recommend you make a decision tonight because the um deadline the the regulations allow maximum of 40-day 45-day extension from the original deadline. The original deadline occurred while you were on recess. Um the reference to prior criminal histories um was related not actually to the recommendation before you tonight, but to the reasons given to OLCC to get that 45-day extension. That extension is tonight. I have spoken with the OLCC officials who are reviewing this license. They will accept information

47:08 from the council um if it comes in at any point before their final decision is made, can't make a promise as to when their final decision would be made. So, if you do not make a recommendation tonight, then there's a chance that a council would make no recommendation before the license decision was made. If the council makes no recommendation, OLCC treats that as a favorable recommendation. Victoria. My morale could be bad, huh? I just want to clarify the timing on this. So, it's um it looks like the incidents that we've been talking about were prior to May. Is that correct? And that is that correlated with the eviction of the previous um owner, the owner that was on site and supposed to be taking care of stuff.

47:53 So, the um the the police reports that were of major significant concern occurred over a couple weekends in March and one weekend in April. There was no from my search of the court records there were no eviction proceedings. My understanding based on my review of police reports is that there was an individual who was involved in a business with Mr. Orlicky and then that individual since May has ceased to be involved in the business but Mr. Orlicky was involved during these incidents that happened in March and April and I cannot speak to I think you heard the testimony from from Mr. Orlicky but I can't speak to that I can speak to what's in the police reports which is that he was present at a location on at least some of these um instances. Okay so I see that as a as a plus that

48:38 someone saw the problem to cure the problem and I also am not a huge fan of bringing up people's past from 14 years ago. I think people have a right to get on with their lives and that shouldn't be thrown in their face so I don't want to use that as an in my opinion that's not part of what we're doing in the decision. So I don't know what other what type of stipulations you want to put on it but I don't have a problem with with us trying to extend some sort of um agreement with these folks that are really trying to get this place together and take care of the problems that happened. Yeah. Christina on um can we do a I'll just let say where I'm at is that I

49:25 like restrictions so that we prevent something that may or may not happen but not into perpetuity. So give them a chance to operate under these restrictions for a period of time to see how the how the whole balances so to speak. Um Okay. So then so then um would it be cuz I I I think you know I'm okay with these restrictions. I don't have a problem with them at all. But I do want to know that would it be a recommendation to approve with the those those listed restrictions, or would it be an or or if they don't want to go with those restrictions that they've agreed upon already, then I

50:10 would recommend denial. So, the option in front of the council is one option for the council is to recommend that OLCC grant a conditional license, and then OLCC would have the opportunity to evaluate whether those conditions if they they would independently evaluate the conditions and determine if they agree with them. The city council's recommendation is certainly a significant factor. And then any conditions that OLCC does place on the license can be revisited upon renewal on the renewal period. And that And I had that up at one point. I believe it's a year but Yes. That's Nancy May. Probably I can confirm that. Yeah, thanks. And and Nancy

50:56 Jenkins is here from business licensing as well. This is the this is a program that her department runs very well most of the time, and this is a unique situation, and that's why I'm presenting it. Excuse me. So, so we could recommend as long as they agree to those current restrictions or agreed upon requirements for the period of of the one year sort of a probationary one year probation type thing, and we don't have police incidences that raises concern, then we can easily go with recommended with or without restriction. Yes, the council could recommend renewal of that license as an unrestricted license when it comes back to you for renewal. And that's the process the council goes through each year. They don't want the restrictions the way they are. I think they're reasonable

51:42 because based on the track record, I would I would be remiss to think that if something was to come up and we had the opportunity to stop and not allow that to happen, then I think that would be um a good thing. So, that's where I'm at. Corey. Thank you. Um I agree with Counselor Pishner. Um I think these are reasonable and you all have done your due diligence and um would like to know that there's an off-ramp which gives them that opportunity to um you know, continue on the road that they're going. I know that it would if if that's what we could do, if we could recommend to the whatever it is now LLC the whatever. Um that

52:27 um we want them to consider the conditions for a year and then when it re-ups, if things are going well, those could slip off. Um I did want to like circle back about the like parking one though. I mean, I can understand like an outside security person, but also if there's a parking lot, I'm just a little bit curious about that. Um do you have Does anybody have any more in info about this or anything like that? Okay, specifically. Why don't you ask your parking question and we'll see if Well, can I just do the parking instead? I I'm trying to understand this uh security six security guards for 75. That seems to me I mean, I get that we want security, but that seems pretty excessive in my opinion. Um that almost seems like it would be a detractor to but anyway, that seems like

53:14 a little bit much. Six six to security guards and expensive. But That was kind of my question or comment as well. I thought I thought also after your comment too that that was a little bit excessive and if that doesn't fall in line with kind of the norm that's out there, I just cost-wise to run a business, I felt like that may be a little bit excessive to look at that particular one up, but agree with the rest. So, and so you do know too that your license goes to the end of June, so it's not a full year even. It's going to about 10 months. To when it comes out again. And I'm not I'm not stuck in the mud in regards to six officers. I think it could be probably revisited and reduced by a couple. But but not less than a not less than four, for sure. Maybe four? Yeah.

54:03 Um I believe that the capacity under the current um with the current fire marshal is about 200 people. So, there could be significantly more than 75 people in that in that venue at one time. Oh, Michelle. So, originally when I read through this and I saw all of the issues that were prior to um you know, coming today to talk about this and and then seeing a letter from the owner and kind of sharing where they have been, where they are, and the direction that they're working hard, it sounds like working hard. I mean, you know, it's all kind of we have to trust what what's being told to us. Uh But I feel like I I we definitely need to put some protocols in place just to

54:48 have that like give us time to build that trust, right? Um but I don't know. I kind of agree that some of this feels a little bit stringent and maybe we could find a compromise. So, so, Christina, you may have to help us here because do do we just need do you need a number we then we feel comfortable with or is there sort of time to kind of go back and revise that with with staff and kind of give you guys a contingent approval? approval, if you will. I I want to turn it over to Chief Shearer, who's here, and see if he has any recommendations on a number that would be appropriate. Good morning, Chief. But these recommendations came from Springfield Police. And so, I'm not the expert in what number of personnel present is appropriate.

55:35 So, I mean, I'd have to defer to the team that worked through these specific recommendations, but I want to be extremely reasonable cuz we know what happened there early in the year. We wanted to have things in place to prevent something similar from that happening. And gunfire is unacceptable in downtown Springfield. Um clearly there's been a lot of effort since that occurred. Um and we are totally open to having reasonable um security requirements and even drawing those back depending on the circumstances. And we are more than open to discussing that. I hesitate to put a number on it right now. Is this the kind of thing where they have that's all or nothing right now or Yeah, unfortunately if you want to get a recommendation to OLCC, but you could have a um recommendation that OLCC require a appropriate amount of security um and then it would be on the OLCC license holder to determine um what's

56:21 appropriate from their perspective or similar venues and smoke under similar conditions. And we'd be we'd be happy to make recommendations to OLCC Yes. depending on the circumstances. and then staff could submit those recommendations directly to OLCC, but the council um the council could make a decision tonight and this wouldn't have to come back to you. Yep. I'm I'm I'm okay with that. I think that that if we put the owners on here right? Um to where she can be looking at that and watching and monitoring because I think it's it is kind of a you know, under 75 people with two officers I think it's completely legit. Okay. From 75 you have 76, 78, 80 people there and all of a sudden it bumps to six. That's kind of a hard line to to follow, but I think that um

57:07 working with that crowd it should go up as those population goes up. If you have 150, which is double the 75, then I'm thinking okay, well four officers are probably pretty good. You add 75, it brings it up to 25, 225 six officers would be appropriate there too. So, I think stair stepped a little bit closer cuz you have six officers there by two officers every 75 folks it seems reasonable. But again, I also appreciate how the chief indicating say, "Hey, look." And And Christina indicating, "Well, we could put it on put it back on OLCC shoulders say, "Hey, you give them the uh requirements in regards to that." But I'm not sure if they have that a- bility to draw an agreement with them on that. We can.

57:52 OLCC can impose conditions on their license. The city counts The city cannot impose conditions on license except under temporary sales licenses. OLCC takes those conditions and imposes them on the temporary licenses. Um so, the city would just be recommending what um you believe that OLCC should do. OLCC will give that a lot of weight, but may change your conditions anyway. So, you could recommend there be no event security and OLCC could say it should be six. Or you could recommend it it should be six and OLCC could say it should be two. So. I know they listen to us. They really do listen to us. We think And so, I think I don't want to put the wrong message to them. We don't want to shut them down, but I think I think if they we recommend two two security folks for every 75 people showing up, I think it's very reasonable. And and of course, you have 225 people

58:39 showing up. They're going to be buying a lot of product. So, I'm not too concerned about making the bottom line there, but I think that um I can be I can just write I mean, your counselor agrees there. I would recommend just the two for every 75 and let OLCC, you know, have them abide by these agreements and let OLCC have them. Victoria. I would differ to the chief and say, "How do you feel about that?" Because you're the ones that have to show up when things go sideways. It's going to be dependent on the event. I mean, there's some events that we might want 10 security guards. There's some that we might want none. Mhm. And so, we need to have the flexibility and rather than putting a hard fast, "You will always have this no matter what the event is." Seems a little um

59:24 onerous for the business owners. So, I would be in favor of an approach that's a little more um a case-by-case basis with OLCC. See, we can make recommendations what we think based on the event what what what is demanded there. I think historically if knowing with OLCC folks that they're going to say you have to have security. That's it. But no number. And that could be a problem. Well, I can phrase this recommendation instead of um what was in there as events expecting over 75 attendees require a minimum six security guards and two parking control traffic monitors present during the event. Um and metal detectors must be used to screen attendees prior to entry. I could rephrase that as um events expecting over 75 attendees

1:00:11 require additional licensed event security to be determined upon consultation um between OLCC and the Springfield Police Department. And then um is the want to get some clarification on the metal detector component of that. That's the one piece of that same event over 75 that I am unsure of the construction if that's I would be in favor of waving the metal detector piece into it. Right, like that seems reasonable at this point. I know we're kind of working through the the security ratio here. the parking thing? No, no, no, the metal thing. No, but that was included in what she just said. Right. Is leaving in that parking control traffic monitor thing and that doesn't Sorry. I would be the parking instead of a minimum of six security guards and two parking control traffic

1:00:57 monitors present during the event, it would state additional licensed event security to be determined upon consultation between OLCC and the Springfield Police Department. So, the traffic or parking enforcement could be part of the Police Department's recommendation for an event um but wouldn't be necessary in other cases. But I the separate sentence in that The bullet point is about the metal detectors. So, I'm hearing that that there's no concern with that. You don't like metal detectors? Okay. Steve. I support I think probation hearing like a good way to get started and get some get some uh confidence in you guys. And uh another thing about downtown is there's a lot of dark area in there. I really like to see

1:01:43 some life in there. Mhm. And it it it will help generate that. We're not We're not But can't conversation Just keep keep going, Steve. You're fine. You you are fine. know what I'm saying. Okay. So, I guess here's here's my take on it. I know we got to work through the details. We're trying to get to a good um uh a good place. Uh I was really concerned with what I read in this letter. And frankly, I was waiting for you guys to to when you guys sat down to hear two things from you. Flawless execution, right? Which is sort of required to move past this, right? And I hear a strong desire to move past this. And frankly, a little bit more ownership in the problems that we've had in there, right? Like it's your problem. And I'm listening for "Hey, we screwed up. We got to fix it." And I would just

1:02:28 strongly encourage you guys. I know that there's been a lot of changes out there. To really think about the fact, you know, the explanation between a look, you know, we we threw out the other guy. Everything's fine now. Because when I read the report, everybody was there, right? And I And the thing I keep coming down to is what we work so hard in this community to make downtown a great place. And the behavior that I saw when I read that was, you know, I had the fear of that we were actually going to go back to the place that we didn't want to be. And while we're working and trying to be reasonable um here, I wanted to at least say that specifically. We're not going back to the way Springfield downtown used to be. And I need you guys to really work with

1:03:13 the PD to make sure you clean up and address these issues. So, where did we land? I have the um I haven't heard anything other than that one Any changes to the recommend staff recommendation other than that one bullet point. So, I think if unless there's anything else, what I'm needing from you is a motion um to adopt that as your as your recommendation to OLCC, and then I will go forward with that to them tonight. Okay. I still would like to recommend two officers per 75 people. Yes, I haven't changed all right. Let me clarify. Um the things that will continue under security related conditions are an ID monitor present for all events serving alcohol. That may just be required under OLCC's provisions. Um bag and purse security check done prior to entry.

1:03:59 Events expecting 25 to 75 attendees require a minimum of two security guards present during the event. If they had less than 25 in attendance, there has not been a requirement for security under the temporary sales licenses. So, Well, I'm just for verification too, the person the ID checker has to be licensed as well. My For my DPSST, that's The DPSST license I license them. So, there's already going to be one person just doing an ID check. Okay. Um and then yes, there is a requirement Any employees used to provide security services, and then I can add in there an an ID checks um should be certified under by by DPSST. And that's that's the law anyway.

1:04:44 Um and then um instead of events expecting over 75 attendees require a minimum of six security guards and two parking control traffic monitors during the event, it would be events expecting over 75 attendees require additional licensed event security to be determined upon consultation between OLCC and the Springfield Police Department. And then keeping metal detectors Metal detectors must be used to screen attendees prior to entry. And then I have no change to the requirement for um that the premises comply with all fire code requirements and occupancy limits and that the license be restricted to require that anytime the business is open to the public or alcohol is being served that the premises allow entry of fire marshals um office and their deputies and law enforcement for for

1:05:29 occupancy purposes. Um and then restrictions on the upstairs apartment use without land use approval. Um and then the two that we hadn't touched on specifically that I'm not hearing concerns about but I want to confirm. Um I don't believe that there are any pending OLCC violations from the temporary um sales um licenses but I didn't know that at the time um that the packet was due. Um there could still be I mean I think there will be temporary sales license temporary sales events happening between now and when OLCC makes its decision so I would recommend that condition stay that if there were any pending OLCC violations that the license um that we that OLCC violation on another license like a temporary sales one be a considered violation of this license and

1:06:15 that they have um do not have any major OLCC violations in the next year. So can you go back and read the ratio again? Yeah. Just go back and just put in two two security per 75 as opposed to a reasonable number. So I it was two security for an event that is from 25 to 75 attendees. And then events expecting over 75 attendees would require additional security. Per Do you want to say per Okay. Is everybody else good with good with that? I mean you don't change it quite yet, Christina. I just make sure we're all good. Like so Christina has for the first 75 two people and then at least two per 75

1:07:00 greater than that. So you're saying at least because I think that chief had said that it's some The chief said that that's not necessarily a gift, it could be a 150 person event that needs more than four. So, I I thought that we were going to leave that to them to decide. between the place and the OLCC. All right. Go ahead. I don't see how it's going to be determined in the event of our stops. Are they going to call you at at that night saying, "Hey, we're going to have a big party here. How many people do you want?" I I I think that there should be some sort of ratio. So, that way it makes it easier for your folks if you're not able to work that closely with them or you don't have the time to, then it's going to leave that as a opening to where then it becomes sketchy. How about How about we put the number on it,

1:07:45 but then if the owners come make a case why they think they don't need that many, I'm open to hearing your case and depending on the circumstances of that event, you would get draw back. So, we're good. Okay. So, maintaining the requirement of six security guards unless agreed to by Springfield Police Department. Correct. Or two per 75 unless agreed to by Springfield Police Department. They actually have to have six. Okay. But, I think that if there's two per 75, which brings the number up to their capacity, that's six officers. And then if they have an event that's going to be There's They're going to make a case saying it's going to be super mellow, we only want to have two guys here, four guy or security folks here, and you folks look at that and say, "Yeah, that's fine."

1:08:30 That's That's my intent. I think that's what I'm hearing the end notes is it's two per 75 and right, they they can come talk to the chief. Or his designee. Yeah. Okay. So, additional licensed event security of at least two per 75 attendees or as determined otherwise upon consultation between OLCC and Springfield Police Department. Thank you for your patience and working this with me. you. Sorry for being so technical. My um normal My normal role is to work with the Planning Commission and they get into the weeds on findings. So, this is part This is very This is fine with

1:09:15 me. Thank you. You know, you got to put that into a motion. Yes. Um like a approve a motion and like to have a make a make a motion as stated by her. As stated. But, how do you want to phrase it? If you If you could have moved to adopt the staff recommendation with the change previously discussed, I think that would be fine. I'd like to make a motion with the staff recommendation of a liquor license for the spa as recommended in our latest rendition. All right. That's going to be close enough. All right, there is a second. Neil, could you call the vote, please? Yes. Councilwoman Weber? Yes. Councilman Lowe? Yes. Councilwoman Roddy? Yes. Councilwoman Blackwell? Yes. Councilman Doyle? Aye. And Councilman Picheny?

1:10:00 Yes. Thank you. Motion passes six yeses and zero nos. Next item, please. Next item is business from the audience. Um So, I know we got a lot of folks in here. Before I call the first person up, your item's already passed. Would you be perfectly willing and able, if you want to step out? You can stay and join us, too, but we still got a lot of business here. All right. Uh first person up, state your name for the record and then you'll have three minutes. Um is Windell Butler Okay.

1:10:47 Good afternoon. Good evening. Mayor and City Manager, my name is Windell Butler. Um I'm here to uh Well, I'm I I uh What part of the city are you from? I live on Spring Street. Okay. So, who are you representing? Yeah, in Springfield. I'm property manager uh I manage my own property management company. I keep my neighbors. I have cars for everybody. If you would like to have one before I leave, let me know. The clock is ticking, but it's not going to take me 3 minutes. Uh okay, I'm here to get your financial support. To express um my two goal a goal in two folds. It's a state driven uh uh state driven uh where they want to address the homeless and the affordable housing. Uh which I'm well familiar with. Um

1:11:32 And uh that's one of my goals also. So, I'm actually a property manager of of 11 units that I own that I work two jobs for 45 years and I acquired property here. I've been here for almost 30 years. Uh Um I know that uh low low income and housing uh is a top this is top priority for the city and as well as state. Um I am a I have been on it as I stated earlier. Um I want to create I've been uh catering to for 19 years to all the organizations that's here, Catholic Community Services, Shelter Care, uh Section 8, Saint Vincent de Paul, which which they uh

1:12:17 house uh they they send referrals to me veterans and refugees. Uh And I'm grassroots and also looking glass. Um I need I want to increase the affordable housing this as well as you do cuz it is a it is a serious problem. All right. And it's it's like I said it's it's a it's a state and a and a world problem actually. It's a United States problem with the homeless. And I'm here to offer my expertise. It's something I've been doing for 35 years. Um I'm really good at it and and I'm not top heavy. And I'm and I hold myself accountable for everything that's that's done and I'm and it can't nobody beat my prices as a private owner. Other than that, I appreciate it.

1:13:02 I look forward to working with you as a partner. Working with the city of Springfield in order to advance my my inventory that will aid assist you in your in the process of accommodating the homeless in the in the Marine Comfort House. I Can I get everybody a card? You can leave them on the table. Thank you. Next person is Teresa Cooper. Hi. Mayor, counselors, staff, thank you all for being here. I know this is a lot of work. Um but this is on and having it

1:13:47 happen. Sorry, could you state your name? I am Teresa Cooper. I live in Eugene, Oregon. Um I have lived in Oregon my whole life. I grew up in Albany. Um the city quite likes Springfield and in a lot of ways I feel a lot of affinity for Springfield. I have been the Egan site lead for the last four to five years. I Before that, I was a volunteer for Egan in Springfield from I'm thinking probably eight years ago. They all kind of blend together after a while, but when it was still in Everett's basement. Um and I remember June talking to me about her vision for a shelter for women that was designed around what Springfield needed. We find or I find that the women I meet, the women are less mobile. They may have

1:14:34 family still in town. They may have relationships that are still in town, but are do not be residential relationships for them. Sometimes they have kids. Sometimes they have other family members on the street. In general, women getting off the street in Springfield is a lot harder for them because they do have these connections. Um, I joined the board of Aunt Martha to take it to the next level. I do have quite a bit of experience as I said with Egan. I also was a pivotal member of the team that ran the um um Respite Center that was in the Memorial Building during the early days of COVID. Um, and I worked for Carry Forward for about a year and a half um in an administrative capacity. I did a number of different projects for them. I was

1:15:21 also their HMIS administrator. I worked with the county to make sure that our data reporting was correct um and had quite extensive contact with those folks. We have been doing big girl things. We might be an all women board, but we have added a treasurer. Um, our previous treasurer was an artist. Our new treasurer is a insurance professional. We have a mental health professional. We have June in her capacity as a previous pastor and with lots of experience of her own. This last year at Egan, she is the only one that I would let replace me um if I needed to take a night off. She has amazing skills, drive, and energy. I was a little bit disappointed um that um we had not had a lot of contact with the

1:16:06 city since um we submitted things. Um, you had asked for some things first week of July, we submitted them by the second third week of July, and then had heard nothing. And I asked June again and again, and she said, "Oh, we've submitted everything. We should hear from them soon. We've submitted everything. We should hear from them soon." Um I'm really hopeful that we can still get to a yes on Aunt Martha being a shelter in the city of Eugene. I hope you consider working with us either through a proposal process um when you take this out to look for other organizations or in another capacity. Thank you so very much for your time and energy. Thank you, Nancy Forest.

1:16:55 Hi. My name is Nancy Forest. I live up River Road unincorporated River Road. Um I work for Carry It Forward and over the four years I've worked for them, I've met a lot of women from Springfield. Some of what some of whom are no longer with us. Um They live in Springfield. They were born and raised here. They had family members here. And they were unable to leave here for many reasons. And so that's the sad point. But in the last year I have in my current caseload they're both in my medically fragile camp in Eugene.

1:17:40 Uh they're they were both living in Thurston until last November. Both of them are over Well, one of them's probably in her 60s, the other one's over 70. Both of them had been long-term tenants in Thurston. And they got for different reasons notices. These are not women that are substance using substances or any of those things. They do have disabilities. But being older, not knowing how much apartments cost anymore they just walked away when they were told, "Hey, you can't be here anymore. Uh we're going to have to call the police." And so one lived in her car and one slept in the alcove at Banner Bank for about 9 months. She would go to

1:18:26 Well, right outside this building all day, especially during the hot of the summer. And I was finally tasked with going out and finding her, locating her, finding out if she was a good for a shelter. She would be Both of these women would be perfect um recipients of a place uh at Ann's Heart Project. They really do They really do understand what's needed. It's really about giving people space, and you'd be surprised how many times people turn it around within a year. What they need is a place to be settled, safe, secure, some people that appreciate meeting them and working with them every day. And the two women I just brought up,

1:19:11 both of them have income. One of them has a voucher. I mean, it's not that simple to put that all together when you're by yourself and you have no one to pick up the phone and say, "Hey, could you help me figure out why my landlord didn't process when I rescinded my notice to leave? I made I gave notice, and I came back and rescinded it, and they said they don't have the paperwork, and I have to leave." But she didn't have anybody to pick up the phone and call cuz she'd been housed for 10 years. I wasn't thinking this was going to happen to her. And so that Those are the people that Those kinds of women, they're already here. And um some of them have passed away cuz there wasn't a place for them to be and to go. So, thank you for your time.

1:19:56 Thank you. Chris McAlister Good morning to the council staff. My name is Chris McAlister. I live on 12th Street, Ward 3. I am very much involved with the unhoused situations and retail plans of the city of Springfield as well as the Eugene and uh greater Lane County. I currently help supervise the car camping program within our city borders. We, just like Ann's Heart, were named in the ordinance recently about what Springfield does to help the unhoused. And so we know that there are a lot of extra ties, red tape, bureaucratic situations. We do feel like some of the information on the situation has been tied up into that. Springfield hasn't

1:20:42 been attending a lot of the regional planning items, and so some of the definitions that were mentioned in the report have been updated since August. And so low barrier, no barrier, what the county will and will not expect has been changed formally. And not only has been changed formally, but it's also been on public record. So I'd love to encourage, I'll sit down with staff as we've offered before. There's been a very hard time to get answers back this summer. And so we who have been part of the process who have asked where is Springfield? What is the next steps? How do we contribute for our population? We have over 455 people recognized as Springfielders who were born in Springfield, who go to school or went to school in Springfield, who work in Springfield to help build this up. And so we're not asking for people to follow

1:21:28 the county's way. We're not asking you to open up camps here. We're not asking you to be Eugene. We're asking you to find a place for Springfield women. And so if taking county money, which we have all fought against, because we believe that Springfield needs to take care of its own people, and taking county money is what's holding us back, let's go back to what worked. Let's go back to what was last on the table, because we were told to go to the county money because this is not Springfield's purview. So if it's not Springfield's purview, and the county rules are too strict, where do we go? These are Springfield folks. These are Springfield hopes. We aren't taxing. We are not asking you to do anything more than work within the process that has been in place for the last 5 years. I've had the honor to serve with the mayor and several folks, Council Roddy, on some of these issues in the field. I had the honor to have

1:22:14 Council Starr before he resigned, come and be a part of Egan to see what Springfield looks like when it's cold and there are no options. To see these very women, such as what Nancy spoke about, in the shelter in the moment. I invite every one of you to come to Egan training to see your people. We've had police from other communities, and counselors from other communities. We've had senators come and do duty with us. We'd love to see you. We'd love to see you on the streets understanding your people. And we love to see more communication, whether it's from this body, whether it's from the community subcommittees, or whether it's from one-on-ones. We serve you at your pleasure to serve the camps, to serve the outreach, and to serve the greater Lane County. We have been with you since

1:23:00 day one, and we will be with you till the end. And hopefully nobody in this room will ever experience what some of these women have gone through. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your service. Thank you. Janet Shreiner. Um Janet I live in Eugene, um and I I'm the secretary at Anchor Point on the board, um but I came uh just to tell a little personal story and maybe put a face to um the kinds of things we're talking about tonight. On May 9th, May 10th of 2009, I was living on the streets and I had been on the streets for about 10 years.

1:23:46 And on May 11th, 2009, I went into free supported housing in Eugene, where I lived. And uh after 1 year there, I was able to hold down a job and pay rent, and I've been paying rent every month, and it's been over 14 years. Um if I was to tell you the value of having free housing at that time in my life and support, I couldn't overstate the value. Um and it's given me a chance to give back to the community, too, and pay taxes. Um and uh you know, there was I made poor choices, you know, maybe I did drugs. I did, you know, and maybe I didn't deserve help. But I needed help.

1:24:31 And I'm so grateful that it was there when I when I asked when I was when I asked for help, that's when I said I'm I'm I'm ready to to do it. You may say, "Well, why didn't you go into rehab? You were on drugs." But it's not the path for everybody. And drugs was just one part of my story. Um once I had the stable housing, I was able to voluntarily stay clean attending 12-step meetings. Um the counseling and uh it that one year of housing gave me a foundation that I built this life that I have now on. So, I'd appreciate your consideration and your concern for people who have been homeless and who are trying to make the kind of change I was able to make. Thanks. Thank you. Uh

1:25:16 Arwen. Hello. My name's Arwen Mos de Spain. I live in Eugene. I work in Springfield. I'm here I wanted to make three main points and some of it's already been said, so I'm going to echo some of the same sentiments that you've heard already. One is that I support Ends Heart wholeheartedly. Um they are uh not operating in a vacuum. They are part of a coalition of organizations that work here in Springfield with the Anna House. And so, any endeavor that they are putting forth is going to be supported by the rest of us and we have been supported by Ends Heart for women in our shelter in our emergency sheltering. And um we also support them

1:26:04 in their efforts. As you've heard, there are women who are in our um in our emergency shelter who would greatly benefit from a house to be in. And I want to emphasize the importance of a house over uh a motel or a shelter environment. There's something about the stability and the humanizing effect of being in a home. And for some people that is a much better fit than being in a congregate shelter situation and I just really want to emphasize the importance of that stability that that provides and that we would work in partnership with on that project. Um After listening to your work session, I'm I'm I was surprised at that sort of about-face is what it felt like in terms

1:26:51 of the support for this project and I kind of found myself just scratching my head at what is it that you will support. Um Your your community needs needs are far surpassing what you have been putting out in terms of support for Springfield unhoused and so I'm I'm just really want to put to you what will you support and I would love for I would love to hear that if not this that that there would be RFPs or RFQPs that could come out that would that would accommodate an addendum or a revised version of Azenhart project because the their project there is such a need and for women particularly coming off the streets there are unique needs.

1:27:37 And their project as it has been crafted over these years of work really meets those needs and so I appreciate your consideration and I'm hoping that we can still come to yes. Thank you. Good stuff. Hello Mayor Council. I'm I'm Jessica Depp. I am with the Springfield resident Ward One, and also a board member of Ansir as well. And I just wanted to say that um

1:28:26 we're still moving and we're still excited about where the women that we're supporting and what we are People like my brother who has mental health issues. The men who I know, my brother, we're there for. And if we weren't there when they opened the doors, let him out on the street in the hospital. He would He would be on the street. And

1:29:13 I have first-hand experience of how people are put into the system and then they said they tell them That's when they get put in the hospital, they get put in jail for whatever mental reasons. In my brother's case, it doesn't involve drugs. And the moment that time is up, there's the door. And here's two weeks bag of two weeks of your medication. And um you know, call a cab taxi. He has no ID. No money. And he's somehow supposed to know how to get back on to health health insurance, how to get some sort of assistance, how to get to even the Eugene Mission. We were given while we were We now have guardianship for him. My parents do.

1:29:59 We were given less than 24-hour notice the last time he was released from the hospital and then we were told he was going to a secure residential facility. Then they said, "Oh, no, I'm sorry. He's coming tomorrow at 10:00." While the guardianship person was in our house talking with us, she gets a call too, he's going to be released tomorrow. And within half an hour, he was out the door. They uh we had to brush down to the jail to pick him up because they transferred him from the hospital. This is what you can't not have place for people to go. He just You just cycle over and over. There's I'm sorry. This is really personal because my brother has just now been able to move to a secure residential facility.

1:30:46 And he's been on a waitlist for a long time, and he finally was able to move. But he has a whole family to support him who won't give up on him no matter what. And it's been over 20 years. I want you to know that as a board, we are willing to consider walking away from all in. We were told to go find more funding for for financial for everything else. We found it, but we were willing to walk away and consider walking away from that. But the work You're at 20 minutes. I have one more card left plus whoever is online. So, normally at this point, I'm looking for the council if they want to continue. Yeah.

1:31:31 Uh I don't know if we have any hands up. I'm trying to look. My name is Ben Wilkinson. Do you mind if I Do you mind if I stand? No, why don't you take a seat? Okay, everybody's taking a seat. All right. Um I live in Ward 4. I'm very happy to finally be a Springfield resident from 2020. I want to say every time I come to one of these things, it's just so special to see a cause that people believe in. Um and I'm here to celebrate Springfield today, but it's a good reminder to know that there are

1:32:17 options and opportunities and challenges that we face. So, I here am here to talk to you about Springfield Block Party. Um I'd like to say it was a wild success um with more citizens, more businesses, more bounce houses, more vendors just sold uh than ever. September 8th was a magical night in downtown Springfield on Main Street um in coordination with Horencia Hispanas Noche Cultural event um and at the same time as the Second Friday Art Walk and A3's mural dedication. It was pretty cool to see everything from swallowtail all the way up to the spot uh activated eight blocks of downtown Springfield coming together as a community. Um we estimate 8 to 10,000 citizens in attendance. Of course, I didn't have my clicker with me, but um you know, that's just my best guess. Maybe some people with crowd experience can help me with that. Um but

1:33:03 we exceeded our expectations and our planning for this event by double. Um it's an exponential growth trajectory. I hope it does slow down a little, but we we've gone up anyway. That's all in the infographic. Um I specifically would like to thank Nancy Jenkins and DPW for just going out of her way to make sure that I knew which hoops to climb over and go around and through and above. Um her team, specifically Robin Holman, for tolerating um the applications, uh Michael Liebler uh in his traffic control, and then from the CMO office, Bahana Horn, uh the CMO, the city council, um specifically operations team for the party as well that helped literally make it happen, including the police department and the

1:33:48 police department support uh for this event as well as Springfield uh Eugene-Springfield Fire. Again, all of these things are necessary to have a celebration like ours. Of course, the party is not without expense, but you know what? We pulled it off, and it was cool to see Springfield come together whether you know, hell or high water to make it happen. What's next for the party? The answer is yes. Um Uh and if you're a fan of my yard signs, you'll know I like to ask questions. Whatever organizations, businesses, civic partners, arts and culture that would like to join the party are welcome. And I think that that's what makes the Purple Block Party so unique. What is it? It's Springfield coming together in a way that we haven't necessarily seen in a while. The demand is apparent, the benefit is both economically astounding and invaluable to the community. We're one of the many events bringing Springfield

1:34:34 back together as residents of Lane County increasingly choose it as their home, their workplace, and their preferred downtown in which to celebrate. So, thank you all very much for the party. I had a really great time. If you weren't able to make it, uh I'm sure it'll happen again. I'll try to figure out how. All right. Thanks. Thank you. All right. That was my last card. Neil, do we have anybody in the queue? Uh no hands up. Yes, sir. I'd like to come on and speak for 3 minutes, please. Um can we maybe take a test take it by email since we've gone kind of over our time limit?

1:35:19 Uh I wish that you guys will give me the opportunity to to speak for the safety to my community. Um so can we get with you after, and then we'll get we'll get you the right information? Okay. All right. Like hang out. So, we'll get somebody we'll get somebody to help you. All right. Next item, please. Um next item, if any council response. Any council response? Corey? Hello. I want to thank everyone for coming down here to share their comments. And I I just I want to provide a little context. And I think that um

1:36:04 And I I feel like I can say this confidently that everyone on this council cares deeply about the unhoused and the homeless people in our community and is willing to try to figure out solutions that are within the purview of what we can do as a city. And I think that um In the In the world of of nonprofit or non-governmental services, it things still have to function. And I think that that's part of what we're we're trying we're we're trying to get to the how, the how to do it in a way that sets this up for success. And I I also care very deeply about this. I started my career in nonprofit working with women who were coming out

1:36:50 of the prison system and trying to retain custody of their children. So, it's like this is this is something that I think many of us understand, and we're just trying to get to the how of it to set this up for success in Springfield in a way that functions. And I don't think that there's anything wrong with having having gone for the all-in funding to get things off the ground and to start providing services and to figure out what it looks like. I just I think there are lots of ways to get there and that I And I'm taking some liberties here to speak for my colleague. I don't think that anybody here has changed heart or doesn't care. I think it's just we're trying to get to the how to make something like this happen in Springfield. Thank you.

1:37:35 Thank you, Corey. Anybody else? Um I guess the one comment I would make, and I don't think anybody's saying that this isn't a significant issue that that our community faces. And I also um want to point out that for a long time Anne's heart appeared in our documentation and you know, in projects that you know, this council's put forward and in in the conversation which gives an indication about about the support that it that it has. I think the the pivot that I would like people to see is please read the memo, right? Like I think this is a question about how and it memo outlines serious issues in the operating plan that are real like the real issues and it's not

1:38:20 just all like outside of the all-in funding which you know, there's several big items in there um that I would encourage you guys to read as you you know, it does not sound like this thing this is going away. That as you iterate and look to improve and get started because I think it's got it's got good advice and and got good guidance on what what some of the gaps are. All right. Next item, please. Uh Mayor, the next item is correspondence and petitions and number one, a draft of letter to the Lane County Commissioners that supports relocating Lane County's Glenwood Transfer Station. All right. I I promised that I would get you to Mary Bridget to talk a little bit

1:39:05 through this process. It's not one that we do every day. Um I don't know, Steve, did you have something first? I I just wanted to say I have a potential conflict of interest but I want to say that. Okay. So just as a way of a reminder, this is a letter on behalf of the whole council. So it's addressed in your operating policies and what it require the vote as a motion and a vote and if it's unanimously agreed to, then the mayor signs the letter on behalf of the entire council. If it's not unanimously agreed to, then the vote is actually reflected on the letter and it can still be sent depending on if the council still wants to do that. And Council Moe has just declared a

1:39:50 potential conflict of interest. He can still participate in the matter. He just is um declaring it under Oregon ethics laws. And if anyone has any other questions, but I know it's not something that you guys do often, so we just want to get the rules out there quickly. Okay, does anybody have questions about this letter? All right. I would like to make a motion, excuse me, to provide staff direction to submit I'd like to make a a motion to direct staff to submit the fully executive letter to Lane County Commission. executed You said oh, did I say execute? You said executive. I think there's a typo in the It says Thank you. And I'm like, it didn't make sense, but I'll say it anyway. You've got a second from Corey. Okay. Neil, can you call the vote?

1:40:36 Yes. Council Weber? Yes. Council Moe? Yes. Council Rodriquez? Yes. Council Blackwell? Yes. Council Buel? Aye. And Council Pishionery? Yes, thank you. Motion passes with the exception of zero no's. Next item? Next item is any business from the city council. Go to cool block party. Yeah, really cool block party. Yeah. It was fun. All right, it sounds like the consensus of the council was that it was a it was a cool block party. Uh and then next item, please. Um business from the city manager. Item number one, ratification of a contract with Springfield Police Association or SPA. Uh Shane Hurts is here for this item.

1:41:23 Good morning, Mayor and Council. Good morning. Or good morning. I've been here a long time today. Uh sorry, good evening, Mayor and Council. That's a rough start for me already. Uh so, I am here uh seeking a motion uh and a vote uh to ratify a contract with the Springfield Police Association. That vote would authorize the city manager to exert to execute a successor agreement. It's a three-year agreement. The details of the agreement are outlined in the packet and it includes an attachment of the red draft. The economic matters are fall within the guidelines that was given to us by council as well as the non-economic non-economic items as well. So, any questions? Are there any questions? I just have to say thank you for your

1:42:10 significant work on this. I'd like to make a motion to authorize the city manager to ratify collective bargaining agreement with the SPA. Second. Roll call vote, please. Yes, Councillor Webber. Yes. Councillor Melo. Yes. Councillor Bradley. Yes. Councillor Blackwood. Yes. Councillor Doyle. Aye. And Councillor Pishioneri. Yes, thank you. Motion passes, six yeses, zero noes. Next item, please. Any other business? No further business. Thank you. Um business from the city attorney. Item number one is a pro tem judge employment agreement and Nathan Bellows here for the staff item. Assuming there's no fixed seat, so this one feels closer. There's no assigned seating.

1:42:55 Good evening, Mayor and Council. So, the item I have here tonight is a request for a motion to ratify the mayor's signature on the employment agreement with Ashley Wiest for the position of municipal court and town judge. Over your summer recess, the presiding judge was having some challenges with pro tem availability for covering planned time off from the bench. He reached out to a qualified peer who was available. Due to that planned time off starting prior to you returning, staff asked for the mayor to sign the contract with the expectation that we'd bring it back in front of you when you returned for formal ratification. I'd just like to mention that this is a a limited duration contract. It expires at the end of this calendar year. Any questions?

1:43:46 No, I think we are good. Yes. I can make a motion to ratify the mayor's signature on the employment agreement with Ashley Reese for the position of municipal court judge number 10 pro tem. Second. All right, you'll call the roll. Councilor Weiss. Yes, Councilor Webber. Yes. Councilor Moe. Yes. Councilor Radley. Yes. Councilor Blackwell. Yes. Councilor Doyle. Aye. Councilor Kushner. Yes. Thank you. Motion passes six yeses, zero nos. Thank you. Next item. Any other business from the city attorney? No other business. All right. We are adjourned. Thank you everybody. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate it.