Springfield City Council — October 9, 2023

0:05 I'm going to call the work session of the Springfield City Council to order with roll call. Mayor Irving Gordon. Here. Councilor Weber. Councilor Moe. Here. Councilor Rodley. Here. Councilor Blackwel. Here. Councilor Doyle. Here. And Councilor Picioneri. Councilor Weber and Councilor Picioneri are excused for the evening. We have two items. The first one is the transportation sidewalk sidewalk project prioritization. Three motions in all. Thank you all. Drew Wilson, transportation planner for the city of Springfield. Thank you for hosting me again so quickly. It's been less than a month since we discussed sidewalk prioritization here in Springfield. So back uh on September 11th, Councilor Council prioritized uh three new

0:50 projects, the Bi-Mart path extension along the Hamlin Middle School, uh new sidewalk along the Douglas Gardens Elementary School, as well as canceling the rectangular rapid flashing beacon at uh the permanent one. RRFB at 69th and Thurston to construct sidewalk on the south side of Darlene Avenue. However, um since then I have learned and again, forgive me, I'm a little still fairly new to this position, so I don't have quite all the history that I wish I had. Um but that RRFB at Thurston and 69th was identified by the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee and also vetted and prioritized by Council and was submitted

1:37 for funding and was specifically called out within the that grant application. I've also, after our last work session, went out and did some just pedestrian counts um in the morning and afternoon before and after school. Uh it was about 15 people used it in about a 45-minute time period in the morning and in the evening. So, it is being utilized. So, kind of with those speeds with school children and the amount of times that the temporary one that we've installed out there being used, it's still warranted. Um so, really um our capital engineering team has actually began planning work and stuff

2:23 submitted with ODOT to get those wheels in motion to do that one. So, staff is truly recommending that we do not cancel that permanent RRFB at 69th and Thurston and reprioritize sidewalks on Darlene to well, we just keep it on the list that we we work on it. Now, the north side of Darlene was a little cheaper than the south side of Darlene. So, with the rapid flashing beacon and potentially sidewalks on the north side of Darlene, I think and I am fairly confident that the funding available would cover the permanent RRFB at 69th and the three other prioritized projects. Now, I would recommend leaving Darlene

3:08 just as a like a blanket statement and if funds are available cuz I most of the cost estimates were fairly conservative and probably hopefully overestimated that we would have all the funds to do the south side and all the projects, but if funding is a little short that we would look to do the north side. And so, I'm hoping that we can just kind of slightly reprioritize this evening. Um and we can certainly have those conversations. I know that uh 66th was also brought up by Council Pishner and um we do have identified funds and funding awarded from the MPO for safety programs. Um initially it was slated for uh bicycle pedestrian like a safety study, but it can also be used for like

3:54 quick build projects, temporary pedestrian bicycle projects to improve safety. And so, I've begun work with ELCOG um and ODOT to look to re-prioritize those things, and I know that our transportation engineer and transportation planning engineer are starting to look at that and work on that and find out what would be best for that intersection. So, again, this evening I'm looking to re-prioritize, un-cancel the Thurston Road uh rapid flashing beacon and move Darlene to just kind of a a blanket Darlene, we'll get as much as we can either on this outside or both sides. All right. So, questions, comments?

4:39 I just have a comment. I I want to say that I appreciate the kind of going back in the due diligence of that, and I'm no longer the rep for the B-PAC, and I'm not sure who is, but I know that those folks put a lot Is it Counselor Weber? Um put a lot of work into that work and trying to say here's and it that it's it is a good representation of people who actually um use the the bike and walking system. So, um I just want to say I appreciate that and that there was some extra work that went into like why we need to do that. So, thank you. Steve. I have a question in in what you have proposed is just fine, but one thing that continues to appear to me, and that is By Golly bike path

5:25 Pioneer Parkway. Mhm. East and West. Are they going to get in the next budget? So, There's got to be It's difficult. I know what it is. I know what the situation is, but something's got to have to be done there because the way they're re-routing it clear up and down, I don't I mean, if they're using that, they're actually go across the road. It's very dangerous. It is. So, I mean, there are 88 pedestrian paths and actual curb ramps that go all the way across Pioneer and then just dead end on that on the east side of Pioneer Parkway East. And so the proposal would be to pick up a sidewalk, actually shrink the travel lane cuz as you're traveling north on Pioneer Parkway East, there's kind of a that slip lane to get onto the freeway. Because we now control Pioneer Parkway East is we would look to shrink that and make that movement a

6:11 little more sharp so that there's plenty of room across the bridge to put a pedestrian connection. Uh I believe Stan was thinking uh just putting down some like curb those big curb barriers and separating that and then doing a new So you're thinking going over not under? Over the existing bridge using all of the existing surface. Yep. Very wide bridge. It is a very wide bridge and that you know the slip lane I've anecdotally I'm out there on I do soccer practice at Hamlin and I watch and that it's used but it's not used frequent enough in my opinion. I'm not a traffic engineer to warrant that slip lane. Thank you. Other questions?

6:56 Okay, thanks. Um going back to 66th so looking at that if you were to um would a flashing beacon still be something that you may be doing then down the road there as well if you were Uh I would not I lean on Michael Liebler, our transportation planning engineer, but my understanding we had a meeting about it. We had kind of three different options where we put in these temporary measures um to address pedestrian safety. Uh and a temporary RRFB, the rapid flashing beacon, could work. There were there were some concerns with sight distance. Initially, uh Brian Barnett, Michael, and Kristy and I all met and Brian seems to think that a a temporary one would work there. Um and we do have those funding

7:42 potentially available for that. We also looked at putting in a permanent one there. The permanent one would be an issue in that the sight lines for all modes of transportation, not just pedestrians and uh really that that intersection needs a larger treatment. Essentially a roundabout. So, if we put in a permanent one, and then we went in and put a round roundabout, the permanent one would have to get ripped up. So, it would be kind of we don't want to spend money and then rip it out. So, I really the the temporary measures, I think is the best way to go. While we look into and try to pursue funding for a larger treatment for the whole intersection. All right. So, um a couple of opinions here.

8:28 I think we should like the order's fine, but I would wait I guess finalize it until Counselor Pishner gets back and talk to them him specifically about that that 66 69th intersection because he's talked community members about it. I'm sure it's going to be fine, but it would be nice to pull him along in the in in the conversation about it. And especially since a lot of the questions around safety from from income from that 66 intersection versus the versus the 69th. And like the the logic you have makes perfect sense, but like I would just give him a chance to digest it and have a conversation with it. And then I'm fine with you guys changing the Darling one to be a just a generic to give you

9:13 as much flexibility as possible to sort of size and scale it. I think you should put Hartman into that one, too, just to give so that you know, whatever money we have left over, whatever we can do on that that, you know, that side would be fine. What do you think, Tony? I just a quick question on the South 37th. Have Have I thought we discussed something about talking to the school about potentially helping with that portion that's on the private property. Uh yes, so the school has been contacted. We are actually going to meet uh well, we sent a meeting invite for this Wednesday. I'm not sure if he's accepted or not. Um so, you have that option in email. You can send a response that I accepted. He may have accepted, but uh that's planned for

9:58 this Wednesday with Brett Yancey and whoever he brings along from the school to have that conversation. Great. Thank you. Perfect. That's what we needed. All right. So, know about the Darling one when you guys get that far. Yes, we will. All right. Yep. Appreciate it. Thank you much. Thank you. Housing programs updates. So, it's Katie and Aaron. We okay to sit here? I think we're supposed to be up here.

10:53 All right. Um Well, good evening, Council. My name is Katie Carroll. I'm the city's housing analyst joined by Aaron Field, our community development analyst, to give an update on the city's housing programs and projects. Um so, Council last saw an overview of the city's housing work in October of last year and requested that staff come back and give an update this fall um on the city's progress towards its housing-related programs and projects. So, in addition to the work the city's currently doing that will highlight tonight, um there are multiple mandated planning processes coming up in the next few years that will see staff returning to Council um for more direction on addressing Springfield's housing needs. So, first will be the consolidated plan, which is something that needs to be

11:39 completed to receive federal HUD funds. And then there'll be the state-mandated housing capacity analysis and production strategy where we'll need to look at making sure that Springfield has enough land that is zoned for residential to meet need over the next two decades and then look at steps that the city can take to help help ensure that the housing need is being built. And then even identifying climate-friendly areas as part of implementing climate-friendly equitable communities or C-FAG will have housing implication. So, those processes will have the city take kind of a holistic look at how to meet housing needs in the community where some of the things tonight have been driven by council direction or state mandates

12:25 or even funding one-time funding we've received. So, those processes will help us kind of pull all of that together in a more holistic way. And as we did in the memo, this presentation sort of organized into categories. So, we've grouped the different programs and projects the city's been working on based on kind of where they fall into the housing continuum. So, we're going to go through and give some updates. And then staff does have a few questions for council at the end tonight. So, briefly turning to some data, this is in your packet. I think it's attachment two, the housing strategy handout. So,

13:11 the city did a pretty big overhaul of that handout last year. And so, this year we've just done minor updates to provide more recent data and then update the list of what the city's working on. Just drawing your attention to a couple of things that are on that handout. So, the city has been issuing a record number of residential building permits in the last couple of years, which is great. But, we are still seeing pretty high year-over-year increase in the average home sales price, low vacancy rates, and a high number of cost-burdened households. So, making progress on getting housing built, but certainly there is always more work to do there. And then, I'll turn it over to Aaron. Great. So, we'll start with the strategy

13:58 and efforts that city's working on as it relates to affordable housing development. And as you may recall, the city receives an annual allocation of federal home funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as we've received some one-time funding sources. These have been to primarily help developers of affordable housing with their development costs. Home funds have been a significant resource for development of this type, but they generally represent a small portion of the overall funding needed to get multi-unit projects built. So, up on the slide, we can see on the left St. Vincent de Paul's Myrtlewood. This is, if I'm recalling,

14:44 I want to say about a 40 40-unit project over on 12th and Main. On the right, you can see Homes for Good's Hayden Bridge Landing. This is about 70 70 units just north of Fred Meyer on 5th. The Hayden Bridge Landing received home and CDBG funds, and the Myrtlewood received our low-income rental housing property tax exemption. Okay, we have Yep. So, continuing with this, on the left, you see a schematic of Cornerstone's proposed Springfield Apartments, 39 units of low-income affordable housing over on 16th and Q. Um so far they've been awarded

15:29 tentatively awarded home funds as well as gap financing by uh city council and are waiting to hear back on their application from the state for additional financing. Is there an update on on piece of property or is that I know at some point we were going to turn it into letting park cars there. So we talked with the city attorney's office about this um and Christina's reading of the right of first refusal that the city and sub have with their neighboring properties precludes sort of that use on our own without going to sort of sub first and getting that approval. Um At the same time I mean I maybe the park cars is a little bit in that wiggle room

16:14 um as far as planning is concerned. I don't think there was anything we could work what like we could view their temporary use as a permanent part of what would be required with the project without kicking into the the sort of relationship with sub. Yeah, well okay. Well, this is just this continues to be a good opportunity for phase two and when we talk about public entities that own land that they don't need um I'm hoping the sub board will one day come around to developing that piece of property. Um on the right is the property that Cornerstone has bought um at least a part of it. Um

16:59 And one more slide on the affordable housing development. Um if you recall um we uh recently came to you um and council directed staff to um well first find and purchase land um for development of affordable housing as part of the strategy. Um we found in talking to developers that land acquisition has what been one of the biggest barriers to development of affordable housing. Um, we are currently working with a broker to identify suitable sites. Um, and if you can recall, we recently came to council with the trans with the request to transfer two small county-owned tax foreclosed lots um, for the development of affordable housing. Um, that transfer process for a nominal fee is allowed by both state and county

17:45 the county manual. Um, and in August the Board of County Commissioners approved that transfer and so we're working right now, um, to sort of record that deed. Um, this is the picture of one of those two sites on the left off South 52nd Street. Um, and the right we've got two pictures related to the Habitat for Humanity of Central Lane's Fisher Village. Um, one of the other affordable housing development incentives that council has put in place, um, uh, has been the SDC waiver for home ownership. Um, Habitat for Humanity is one of two recipients so far of that waiver, particularly for Fisher Village. Um, and then we've also received another approved application from a private developer.

18:37 Okay, sorry. We'll jump again, um, to the next sort of category of, um, council efforts, um, renter and home ownership assistance. Uh, the city's renter and home ownership assistance programs are funded through federal grants. Uh, the city the council has prioritized CDBG funds, community development block grant funds, for the city's home repair program and down payment assistance program. Uh, the home repair program assists very low-income homeowners with essential repairs via grants. Um, we've seen that program continue to be in demand. Um, in fiscal year 23, 71 households were served with that program, of which over 80% were seniors. Um, the council um has also directed staff through the CDBG program

19:22 to revamp the down payment assistance program, also known as the SHOP program. Um, we've been trying to address a multi-year period where we have not been able to issue a loan uh for down payment assistance due to the difficult housing market. And so as part of that revamping, we've partnered with DevNW um to help identify potentially qualified buyers to apply for the program. Uh and since making those changes, uh the city has awarded three loans um interest-free. Um and finally, I just wanted like Could you say that again? Cuz I am so excited about that. Um and I think I mentioned it to the mayor, too. I was just like, that is so exciting because that's that's something we've been talking about in my first couple of

20:08 years on council. Well, we need to How do we do that? So, I just really appreciate that and I'm so excited to see that starting to move again so that we have more people able to afford homes in Springfield. So, sit in the glow of that for just a minute. Well, and not to totally throw this off, but something that we've been talking about also as a potential future thing to look at is is there a way that we can pair the SDC waiver for home ownership with these down payment loans? Um because we put that developer, the private developer that received that waiver, in touch with DevNW, and they've already said we have a list of buyers. So, that's gotten the wheels turning, so we make And with the market shifting a little bit to make it so people have a

20:54 little more time, I'm just So, good work. Yeah. Um Yeah, I mean, part of that process is I think it's interesting taking it to the the Council Community Development Advisory Committee and them saying, yes, we really support this and we'd rather take another year to invest. How can we perhaps change the program and then council agreeing and so it is a process and a discussion and it yeah, we can just say a comment, but you're right, it does take years of those discussions to figure it out. So Thanks for the pause, counselor Lee. Um I'll add so on the left that's the I didn't know what picture so we just did brands um Springfield Eugene Tenant Association um council awarded funds to CEDA um with one-time COVID relief

21:39 dollars that the city received. Um the funds are intended to help CEDA funds their tenant hotline that assists, educates, and empowers renters on housing rights issues. Um we are still in the process of contracting with CEDA but anticipate that contract to be signed soon um with those funds being spent in fiscal year 24. All right. And then um in addition to kind of those affordable housing focused things, the council has done a number of actions to increase the overall supply and diversity of housing in Springfield um such as the recent development code updates to allow middle housing and streamline development

22:24 approval that were um put into place last year and then also council's decision last year to extend the SDC waiver for ADUs for several more years to keep incentivizing that. Um and then actually later this month a property tax exemption that council's been considering to incentivize development of multiple unit housing near transit will be coming back to you um for further discussion. So we'll be back to chat about that. And this picture on the screen here is the first middle housing development that was approved after the new code was put in place. This is a nice little infill project on A Street over uh around 10th and it's a cottage cluster.

23:15 Great. Um so we'll jump back now to the final category within the Council Housing Strategy, which is sheltering. And so technically recognizing that sheltering is not housing, um but knowing that it is a continuum and that sheltering can provide interim assistance, which may increase one's stability and contribute towards helping that individual eventually become housed. Um currently in Springfield, there are multiple legal ways to permit sheltering. Um we're going to talk about three of them. One is House Bill 2006, which was adopted by the Oregon Legislature and requires cities to permit sighting of emergency shelter outside the land use process um as long

24:00 as certain requirements are met. Um Springfield currently has two sites approved under House Bill 2006 um and one of them is a picture on the left, um Main Street Housing, um approved under an emergency order uh during COVID but then came in officially under House Bill 2006. Um that site, I believe, is approved for up to 15 units pallet shelters, includes um facilities like showers, baths, kitchen facilities, and an on-site manager as well. Is that the Sorry, is that the one that's over between 42nd and It's where they're planning on doing something with that half that faces 42nd. I don't believe it's part of this they

24:45 are. I think they bought They did buy the site long-term for permanent housing and until they figure out what that project looks like, they wanted to offer sheltering for their clients. Um so I think fencing it off where they did just helps them manage the site. Um, oh yeah, I know. Um, another uh, pathway is uh, the council's temporary RV allowance. Um, as you may recall, council approved a temporary suspension of the enforcement of codes that would otherwise prevent people from occupying RVs as temporary housing on private property. Again, as long as certain requirements are met. Um, and the third pathway um, is the city's overnight parking program, which

25:31 you'll see an image on the right. Um, this is a site at Seventh-day Adventist. There's a bit of a alleyway, if you will. The church is on the right, um, and those are two Conestoga Huts. Um, the overnight parking program is allowed under the city's municipal code, and it permits up to three vehicles, campers, or trailers to be parked in parking lots of churches, social institutions, or industrial sites. Um, sites are overseen currently by two nonprofit agents who administer the program as required under the code. Uh, Catholic Community Services works with the Oasis program to serve families with children under this program, and Carry It Forward serves adults and adult

26:17 singles and couples. And currently, there are four properties, there are four sites uh, participating in the parking program. Um, so as detailed in your packet, the parking program is facing some challenges right now, and the result of that is that the non uh, profit agent that's administering the adult-only sites has shared that without changes to the program, they may not be able to continue operating those sites beyond the end of their contract, which runs through the end of this calendar year. Um, so notably, the city has um, seen a loss of two sites this year. Uh, Those were adult-only sites. So, as Erin mentioned, there are currently four sites. One of those serves families, and the other three serve adults only. Um,

27:04 and they were serving a total of 13 people as of the beginning of September. Um, so the challenges that have been brought to staff, um, around this program are first that case management isn't included in the program, um, for adult-only sites, but it is something that the churches that are hosting and the program agent have identified as a need for the program to be a success. And then the second is that the current municipal code limits the allowable types of shelter and host site locations, um, which has made it difficult to expand the program. So, in regards to case management, churches have, um, to my understanding, for several years requested that the program include case management to help folks meet a variety of needs, but especially to identify

27:50 housing and move on. Um, and without that case management, there are, um, folks that are staying in the program for long periods of time, and sometimes, um, in some cases, years. Um, so there is case management for the family sites right now. Um, as Erin mentioned, Catholic Community Services, um, has the Oasis program, which provides case management for families that are part of the parking program, and that receives, um, funding through the city and the county to support that program. Um, and the adult-only sites do not receive that same support as case management is not funded by the city or county right now. And then in regards to the code, um,

28:35 this summer, Catholic Community Services, they used to have two parking program sites, um, but they were looking to upgrade, um, their existing Conestoga huts at the G Street site to pallet shelters this summer, um, but the city did not extend interpretation of the existing code which allows vehicles or campers or trailers to allow pallet shelters. Um so Catholic Community Services in order to make that transition had to come in with a House Bill 2006 application. Um that application process has kind of more stringent requirements under state law than what the parking program requires and then also kind of just caused a a delay in making that transition for them to put together the

29:20 application, wait for the city to review it. Um and then kind of the other half of the code piece is the allowable sites. So um over several years the city has received various inquiries from property owners interested in hosting parking program sites, um but due to the zoning of their property they have not been able to participate. And then the program agent running the adult-only sites has said they've sort of exhausted um exploring avenues under the existing codes that would allow them to expand. So given um these challenges, staff is requesting direction from council on how it would like to move forward with this program. We have kind of a series of questions that are not I guess all

30:06 mutually exclusive, um but so the first one being does council want the overnight parking program to continue for adult-only sites and if so, does council want case management to be included for the adult-only sites similar to the Oasis family sites? Um and then kind of the two not mutually exclusive questions under it sub questions that I guess are does council want to increase um the budget to funds for the program to fund case management either through the program or by contracting with the county and or should Spring Hill advocate to Lane County uh for Lane County funding to serve as case management for parking program participants. And then the second, I

30:51 guess, question there is does council want to consider changing the municipal code to address types of shelter allowed and or um if that's permitted. So, we have a lot to unpack there. We're happy to answer clarifying questions. All right. It's always the the housing folks that always have the slide with, you know, four interlocking questions. It's like choose your own adventure. Um I have a clarifying question about the case management piece. Did our Did the agent there apply uh for the recent RFPs that were coming from the county at all for case management for Springfield sites? No. Okay. So, and I know that you're not you may not have the answer, but like I seemed really uh curious that thing to me. Do we know why they didn't apply for Springfield sites?

31:40 I'm going to In short, no. Okay. Yeah, so the thing that I just find really interesting is that same group has gotten, you know, we've got CCS that applied for funds when the county was running that RF RFP from uh from for CCS and then you know, the same group our agent applied for the same uh case management funds for Cottage Grove. And so, it just it just sort of struck me as odd like there's a little I don't know like we don't have the whole story here. And I guess my question and then I'll open it up to folks is I think if if they're the agent and they're running for case management, if they want to go back and apply for the county, I'm supportive of that. Um but like I don't think that that that those necessarily need to be city funds associated with that.

32:30 Okay. Other people have questions. Good. I just have a question. Um you mentioned there was a loss of two sites with the adult um program. And I'm curious as to the why of that. Um it doesn't have to do with that like what's happening? That's exactly what I was going to ask. So, thank you for asking that. We all want to know that. In short, I think it's complicated cuz I think it's a lot of things, but to my understanding um the case management piece is definitely a contributing factor or at least one of the sites that was lost um because some of the folks that were staying there I guess I can't speak to exactly how long, but um for quite a while and they were sort of saying, you know, this isn't what we understood or intended this to

33:15 be. We want to see folks move on to housing. So, I mean all of us have questions about that. And I realized and I thought you were kind of going to go there with the case management. Like I also would want to know like what does that actually look like? Right? Um and so it'd be interesting to see like what is CCS doing and what is their case management and what is that you know like what is successful about that? And what is case what would case management look like in this situation um because we might have to like I might think of case management is like we're going to get people into services and we're going to move them from being you know what I might think of may not be what it is. It might be like we're checking up people you know whatever. I just want to know more about what that

34:00 actually entails um to to help with the decision-making around what's the where do we want to go with it? Those are exactly so thank you for asking those cuz that's exactly what was in my mind as well. And I think the answer to what that could look like might depend on you know it's sort of like a chicken or the egg thing, too. It's like if council prefers to advocate to the county, then I think it all depends on what the county funding requirements are versus you know, if the city wanted to go directly To the mayor's point, you know, if if the if the agent that's doing this for

34:47 us in Springfield is doing it say Cottage Grove, we should be able to say, "What are you What are you doing there?" And how successful is that compared to like what would happen in Springfield? And I don't see us as taking the first uh the first step here. When I describe that, I was mainly meaning like we have a lot of nonprofits that provide, you know, so social services in here. If they want to go out and request, you know, request money from the county, we could be supportive of that. It's not our, you know, it's not necessarily our responsibility to go out and find the dollars for them. But I have some concerns about the last one there with changing the municipal code um unless it specifically addresses neighbors and people that would be affected by those changes. So, if even

35:32 industrial or anything like that that um the other businesses, the other residents around there have some sort of an input in that because it is their neighborhood as well. I am I don't have the code in front of me, but if I recall, there is a provision that has the city manager um to sort of There's a that is part of sort of Sandy, she's got it. I don't mind, but your fridge looks like it's ready. Yeah, the um city manager can revoke or limit the emergency shelters if they're not following the rules or are inappropriate and do that as well. So, is that what you're talking about or No, I'm talking about the neighbor that lives next to the person that has that. I'm talking about the people that are in that neighborhood. They don't have any

36:17 right. They shouldn't the city manager shouldn't have to be the evictor of that. I mean, and I'm just saying that to even put it there in place if if I someone was going to move you know, a year or whatever with people living in it next to me, I want to be a I want to know about that. And if I had a business and another business was wanting to do that, I'd want to have some conversations, at least have some sort of input on that cuz it could affect their their stuff. Yeah, I think we're sending it kind of an interesting thread here, right? Because when I read that's the question about whether or not we should update the code to allow pal- pallet shelters or clar- clarify the rules for pallet shelters, right? And I think I would be interested in more information about that and like to kind of address Victoria's point, but also

37:03 I don't know if Ted clarified the process as opposed to like we're relying on an you know, these things are getting cited off of an emergency, you know, bill that is, you know, coming from the county, you know, coming from the state. And I think it would just be good kind of pull back and be like thoughtful about like, okay, what what does that path actually look like? It's not like an ADU where you have specific rules regarding how it can be built and how it's developed and all that stuff. So And there's a couple And maybe I'll just clarify these questions are tied specifically to the overnight parking program and not House Bill 2006 um and so there are those limitations there in terms of vehicle, camper, or RV slash Conestoga hut, but not a pallet

37:48 shelter. So one of that part of that question is, would you want to consider allowing a pallet shelter under the overnight parking program as it currently exists within church parking lots or industrial sites or social institutions. And then another subset of that is and would you like to consider additional zones or site hosts that would be Don't get us too far ahead here, right? So let's so can we go to Nancy first cuz this seems like a and then we'll come back to Well, I don't want to stifle any discussion, but I think for the purpose of clarity for tonight, I think um that's a that's a rather broad question regarding pallet shelters. I would like to maybe peel that off from this particular discussion and have a separate work session around that so we can have staff get some information

38:34 about what that might look like and how we can address the concerns of council and so and that's that's its own discussion I feel like because we don't really have it doesn't it's different than the parking program. I think it's different enough where it would merit its own examination. Good Corey. Yeah, and I just and I'm and I'm going to try to say this as gently as possible. Um because I know I've said it before and I'm just trying to make sure it lands the way I intended to do. I also when we start talking about this I've always also like we only have so many resources and how do we prioritize that? And you know I and I I want you know none of us wants anybody to freeze to death and we all want to like work with people and I want to get

39:20 people into permanent housing. So that's also part of it for me is like how do we balance that and how do we figure out where the sweet spot is particularly with the the changes in the environment and you know the all in funding that's coming in and knowing that things might look different in six or eight months than they look now. And so that's also part of it for me wanting to just like gather some more information and know like how many people are impacted. What are really the challenges to it? Is it on the city of Springfield to try to figure out how to pay for all of that or not? You know like what like what really like it just feels like there's like some like subtext and things that we don't quite understand and I want to get people into permanent housing. I mean that's the that's the

40:05 dream. So that's what I want to say. Nancy. Um I'm glad you brought up that question Counselor Roddy. Um I think you know in the I I it would be us a staff to kind of connect with our providers and ask them that question about what structures they have in place or what provisions they have to you know, is there a timeline attached to the utilization of their service because ideally when you're dealing when you have emergency shelter or transitional shelter, like you said, the goal is that that is indeed transitional. Somebody gets a a more permanent, a better arrangement for themselves so that that spot is then freed up for somebody else. And I think that's that's what we're getting to here. So, I think that would be helpful information for us to gather

40:52 as we look at our our housing in the city and um I guess my other comment is I'm going to date myself a little bit on this, but when I worked um in county governance in Clackamas County uh the Association of Oregon Counties put together a really interesting chart that talks about what different local government services what local governments do as far as service provision, like for instance, the state does schools and you know, the counties do social services and cities do you know, you roads and you know, I mean I'm I'm way over simplifying this this, but it's to me it was a very interesting um graphic they put together because it kind of helps people understand the different lanes and roles of government.

41:39 And so, I've always kind of said as far as a city context that we kind of try to stay in our lane that you know, we like counties be the social service providers because they have the structure in place to do that. They have social workers that work for them. They have the experience of doing that. And don't create another duplicated system when we can tap into something that already exists. But then the larger question that Councillor Rowley said still remains is how then though and you know, and that is kind of a budget committee and budget discussion about prioritization. We know that our general fund is going to be facing a really steep fiscal cliff in a couple of years. Uh our funding smoothed it out for a short period of time and we need to have

42:24 some serious dialogue about diversification of our funding sources. So, for me, while I think that these types of programs are important, you have to take a much larger view and view them in the context of other competing um issues. So, um I think the discussion is really is is that something that our community would want because you are the elected representatives are of our community and how would we want to priori- how would the community want us to prioritize our funding as a city? You know, we're very we're even though we're somewhat medium-size city um in Oregon, we're rather still a small city in a lot in a lot of respects and we run very very lean. So, when you do

43:09 have something additive, added, there's something else that you have to kind of take away at this point in our financial picture. So, I think that's I mean, a lot more information is going to be helpful. I don't not think, and I'm looking for an answer about the zoning question, I don't think we're even ready to tackle that conversation about expanding this to community commercial. That is a a lot of different different issues and if if we're not going to have, you know, and we've got some bigger questions to answer for this uh uh I don't have the current I don't have the current employment. And does anybody have any more thoughts on that? So, what I wrote down um first off follow up on is to be providing more information around um

43:57 kind of digging into what are the challenges more um you know, what is the landscape of how this could be made more think we're looking into understand the county's funding, too, a little bit better. Um and then looking at the provider, also, to help explain kind of my choices around applications. Um And then looking at kind of some more information about the pallet shelter piece of it as a little discussion. That's what I was hearing. Mhm. I Yeah, and I guess I just want to highlight um And I I think it was in the packet. I forget if we went over it, but the parking program site for adults only, currently that contract with the agency is only through December. Um so, we can

44:43 go back and relay this conversation. It sounds What I'm getting is, yes, council would like the program to continue. And right now we're not in the position to pay for it, but certainly if they were to look to the county, we could support them in doing so. Um and we can report back how that goes. Um We should put more details to set it up for success. Yeah, I I think I hear the thread kind of developing around the difference between the family program, right? They're they're transitioning out of that at a relatively consistent basis. I don't know if quickly's the right word, but and then you've got sort of people that are sort of staying long term, which, you know, is not like you're sort of getting stuck in the

45:28 adult program. We really want people to transition to more up the the housing chain. Yes. And how why that's so is Yeah, a different conversation, but happy to Can I say one more thing? Go ahead. Um This is a little bit off topic, but you know I love the flyer piece that you all do, and I'm hoping that we could get that like as a PDF, cuz you did a new version of it. Yes. Um because people like to see that, and it gives me a chance to talk about what's happening in Springfield. It's in the packet. Um we can certainly figure out printing it off and having it available and then we'll update the website. Yeah, and we can send that link as well. Okay, I've got it. Two more questions. You showed the building permit slide for 2022. Is our

46:15 2023 building permits on pace to like are we having a good year? Are we having a bad year? Are we having an a Um We don't have year We don't have year-end data, right? So Your director could speak to that. I can't remember what the numbers are off the top of my head. We're a little slower than 2022. 2022 was a record year, but we're still in the top five as far as what I recall. And what I did write down on here is that August in particular was pretty record for this year. Um As of August 2023, city had or was about to issue building permits for 495 apartment units in particular. So that's exciting, too. And I the second question you brought up

47:01 CEDA, not CEDA, but CEDA. CEDA is That is a political advocacy organization and they do our nonprofit and I think the question I have is when you guys are looking for the contract, how are we segregating the the money, you know, that we're giving them to provide a nonprofit, you know, service away from their political advocacy arm? And I can speak to that having worked on the contract. It's tied specifically to the hotline, which is answering renters' questions about their particular situation. So it's not um a flexible dollar amount that they can put toward anything, but specifically to pay for that time of the hotline manager as they sort of work through that program with volunteers to answer

47:46 specific questions of renters in Springfield. But they're not delivering for off thought and I don't know enough about the nonprofit. So they're not out of that hotline, they're not delivering political advocacy at all. They're delivering sort of technical expertise current As I understand it, exactly. They're delivering other resources that that individual can go to to get information. Okay. All right. Thank you. I'm up next. We We could leave, but I think we have to come back. Yes. Well, just hang out cuz we're going to switch out the executive session. All right, we are adjourned um and then we're going to reconfigure for executive session and then we will be back at it.