Springfield City Council — February 23, 2026

0:02 council work session every single time. I'm going to call the Springfield City Council work session to order with roll call. >> Mayor Van Gordon >> here, >> Councelor Weber, Councelor Mo, Councelor Rodley >> here, >> councelor Buck >> here, >> and councelor Stout >> here. Thank you. >> Uh, Councelor Weber is excused for the evening. We are still waiting for councelor Mo. And for the record, since we only are a council of five right now, three is a quorum. So, uh, we have two items this evening. Bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee end of year report with Emma Newman. I think you brought a bike ped person here too. So, >> microphone's not on. And guys, feel free to rearrange the whole room. Bringing up

0:47 an extra chair for >> So, good evening, Mayor and Council. I am Emma Newman, your transportation planning manager. It's a pleasure to be back with you. And here I have Keith Dicki who is the chair of the bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee and Alan Linhares who is also a committee member. So tonight they're just going to speak to you for a little bit about what they've been up to in 2025 and what the year ahead um and beyond might look like for the committee. >> Uh great. So I'll start out here. Um we um did I look at that those notes? I'm fing I'm filling in here u at the last minute. So >> um the events. >> Okay. So uh this last year one of the

1:33 the goals we had was to to really kind of reach out and to other partners in the community and to build some new relationships. And one of one of the things that we did was um try to reach out to our our friends at at the ATC in Eugene, which is kind of their BPAC. Uh and uh we were able to to come up with some some projects working together that I think help both communities. Uh uh specifically, one of them is uh improving the wayfinding uh uh between the two cities. I mean, if you've ever ridden a bike pass in Eugene, Springfield, especially in Eugene, there's I don't think there's to this day there's hardly a sign that points to Springfield. Um, and so, uh, especially through the

2:18 Alton Baker area and our our the the Woodlands area, the the, you know, by the freeway, uh, and that's on the Walane bike path. There just is not very good wayinding there. So, we've we've worked with Wamlane. We're actually have agreed that we've got a process going now. We're going to improve that. So that will help. Uh and then Eugene has agreed to work on their end. So that that's good. So it's kind of creating more of a you know of a bike superighway between Eugene and Springfield which is I think is really important. Um we also uh are working with them. they they brought a concern from their side which was wayfinding to u uh peace health the hospital um and uh because there really isn't good way finding now for bicycle

3:04 bicycling you know especially once you you know even from Eugene but when you get into Springfield through the gateway area how you would get to the hospital and so we're we're working with that to improve that um you know that whole corridor as best as we can um so that's good and then uh Another project we're working on with them is u uh and we've addressed this with I think ODOT is the uh Centennial overpass uh the uh if you've ever walked to a football game across that overpass uh or even just at any time. It's just it's not really pedestrian and bicycle friendly and there's super amount of traffic there. So, we've got some ideas how that might be improved and it's sort of a it's a jurisdictional issue because it's

3:50 actually ODOT and it's not really in Springfield. It's not really Eugene, but you know, we're working with them to try to come up with some ideas there. Um, so um so that's some of the the things we've been working on there. Um uh events, we did a lot of events last year um and we'll continue to do that. try to, you know, get out in front of the the folks in in Springfield, let them know that we're here. Um, you get feedback from them. Um, you know, we did, um, you know, the egg the Easter egg hunt with Lamelane. We done the um, uh, uh, the block party. Um, we sponsored a bunch of walks this year for Walktober. And thank you, Mr. Mayor, for assisting with that. And that was a lot of fun.

4:36 Sorry I couldn't have been there, but >> thank you for not factchecking me along the way. Guess I could just make up all the stories. >> Well, you know, there's May's bicycle month, so I'm hoping maybe we can reach out to you and come up with a mayor's bike ride, too. So, we'll work on that one. >> Um, so, uh, so the events we will continue to do. Uh, that that's, you know, it's important to us to to to get out there and to to talks to talk to folks, get feedback from the community, and um uh so that that's also something we worked on. Um, and what else was on that that I'm >> I think you covered it. Okay, it's Alan's turn. >> U, but you know, we this is going to be this will be a a kind of a consequential year, I think, because of the walk and roll uh that Drew Larson is working on

5:23 the the bike pad master plan uh revamps, updates. Uh so we'll be really involved with that for sure. And um uh you know it's uh we we really you know appreciate the support that we get from council uh and that you know hopefully you're you're watching what we're doing and uh if you ever have any you know you're certainly all welcome to you know to come to any of our meetings or um and would encourage you to you know keep track of what we're doing because I think this will be a year where you'll begin to start to see some more and more of uh you know areas that we're involved with. >> All right, >> Alan, you want to say a few words?

6:08 >> Uh sure. Um thank you. Um the um other sub subcommittee of the BPAC um uh we did um safety and um transportation active transportation audits for uh two areas this year. uh the Glenwood area and the Centennial Mohawk uh uh area and um we uh uh gave recommendations for those and um we also um play a big part in the way finding which is a lot of what we found in our findings too would be a lack of weight wayinding. Uh so like signs that

6:54 tell uh uh bicycle users uh and pedestrians sort of where to be in certain uh con congested areas. Um we are also looking forward to next year as Keith was mentioning um with the uh beginning of the active transportation plan uh walk and roll. Uh the BPAC has been designated as the community uh advisory committee for this initiative where uh we will serve as a bridge between uh the planning and the public um with a goal of ensuring that uh walk and roll Springfield reflects the needs of people living in Springfield and to build a safer, more connected

7:39 Springfield for everyone. >> Um I've got a couple pieces of feedback. First of all, >> thank you. >> Don't uh underrate the the work that you're doing, right? Like we see it as you go through the year and you know, all the little things, you know, um from the events all the way through from the advocacy like I think the community sees it and you know I when people always talk to us about the importance like this year you're going to see a lot. Well, we already do see a lot. Um the two pieces of feedback I would would would give you is one of them is about that bridge is maybe talk to you know ask the question of ODOT around what the seismic seismic schedule on that bridge is because it feels like all the things are being driven by seismic work right

8:26 now. >> Um I don't have any idea any of the facts about that bridge. So, you know, um I would defer to defer to staff, but if um if there's serious conversations around when it when it's scheduled to get retrofit, whenever ODO can come up with the money, that would be a good place to plug in around um really doing something in particular about access. Anything anything in between that is simply just going to be a short-term, you know, a short-term fix. The other piece about that bridge I think is a good advocacy point and especially that connection with uh with uh with Oddsen Stadium is as the as UFO grows into this moment of being in Big 10 football, right? Like those connections that is an

9:11 that is a really important transportation connection. Mhm. >> And uh I think the last point I would just bring up is I don't the the the bike superighway was a great way to phrase it. you know, it takes it's a anything that you can do to share the amount of people that go down that road uh you know, um to the community would mean would mean a lot because people aren't used to really seeing and understanding what a highused bike traffic area looks like. So when people understand that that connection between us and Eugene through West Centennial and through the park there is the most used connection regionally that always opens up conversations and I don't know

9:56 what the right number is but telling telling telling folks the story about that is really important because when the staff has shared that with me I went oh really that many people right because it's just not it's not intuitive if you're not over there. No, it's not. And and I mean, I live in that area, so I see it all the time, but uh you know, and I think I mentioned this last year when I was here, but you know, it's the technology with ebikes is changing the game in terms of how people, you know, access jobs and live their lives. And um you know I think ultimately we need to start looking at at you know some of these bicycle pedestrian paths and the whole bicycle infrastructure is really part of the transportation network and not just a recreational thing. Uh and

10:44 you know and there's all sorts of stuff going on. I mean there's safety issues obviously and I mean I think uh I've read somewhere where this I think the state of New Jersey is has enacted a bunch of really you know making e e trans bikes like licensing them and and making sure they're insured and stuff like that. So there's going to be a lot of and I think this is just the beginning of a lot of stuff around this that is going to impact you know states cities everybody regul you know regulatory but it also means that the infrastructure has to be looked at differently um and um so you know I'm glad that you know you guys are aware of that and you know I think as as these projects come up you know like Mil Street's a great

11:30 example where where we can, you know, fold that into, you know, an update and and, you know, not not have to redo the whole thing, but just, you know, maybe add a little bit more money here and there and improve that network somehow and safety wise, you know, those things are great to look at. >> Yeah. Thank you, Council Rod. >> Thank you so much. Um, and I'm glad you mentioned Mil Street because that was one of the things I was going to mention. I've heard a lot of feedback from people who are so happy with the the bicycle and pedestrian additions that happened on Mil Street. And just to second what the mayor said, um I think looking at Centennial and the bike just everything over there because I I travel along there a lot and that it's definitely like a prime transitional

12:16 area in terms of what's happening. you know, we did we already repaved the roads and did some work over there, but so much happens over there and there's buses and you know, Eugene just changed the way the traffic is routed on the other side. So, um, since I'm over there all the time, I just it's it's such a good place to dig into all of these things. Um, and I also want to second what the mayor said. I so appreciate the BPAC. I got to spend like the first year or so when I was on council as a BPAC member before I got booted off and moved to other things and it was such it was so great and now I can look back and see how far things have come. So I appreciate all of the work you do and this is totally unrelated but I'm quite certain Alan that my Girl Scout cookies came from your Girl Scout. So I just

13:01 want to do a shout out for Girl Scout cookies. Um, >> thank thank you for supporting Troop 1121. >> There you go. >> Anyone else is interested in cookies. >> It is Girl Scout cookie time. So, and Alan has an adorable daughter who does a great job of selling them. So, >> thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Anybody else? Uh, councelor Stout, >> thank you for the work you guys do. It's so important. Um I I'm the deliverables are just magnificent and and I think I sincerely hope do you feel that your feedback is integrated with a lot of the plans that the city is doing when there is a development when there is an update? I think that's something that's really important and do you feel like you're being asked your opinion because as a counselor I'm thinking okay these these folks who are

13:48 invested with this program are really the ones who are sort of this brain power. They have the on the ground experience. They're doing the walks. are doing the work. And so I just I want to make sure you're being asked sufficiently at the times that you need to be asked. >> I I mean we get great support from the staff that we work with on the city. U you know Emma having Emma now is uh and Drew is great. Emma's I'm really excited about having Emma on board. You know obviously Michael has been great. Um, and you know, I I would just I mean, and they do they're very they're great. And I I guess one thing I would ask council would be to make sure that u when you can that that that you let other folks,

14:35 you know, not only the people that we work with directly, but just the city staff as a whole understand how important this kind of work is. because sometimes I get I get you know I get the feeling like you know well it's bicycle stuff you know it's not not that important or you know so and not from the folks we work with but just overall I think it there's a tendency I think there's still a tendency for everybody to think that bicycles are just a recreational vehicle >> and that it's not you know they haven't made that that leap yet to understand you know how how much more of important it is as a transportation to a lot of folks it's their primary transportation And uh so I would just ask you guys you know when you're working with with you know with staff and these projects come

15:21 up just just to let them know that you know what when when we can do a value ad here and look at something where it's you know where it doesn't cost a lot of money or doesn't cost a lot extra to do this. Let's let's not you know let's look at that you know let's think let's be thinking about that when we're doing these projects uh and those opportunities to improve the network without you know you know at efficiently I guess from a cost perspective >> councelor Buck um I also I also wanted to kind of chime in and thank you guys for the work you guys do um and I think that it's a really important point that thinking about bicycles The game has changed with ebikes, you know. Uh the there was once a time where

16:08 it's like, you know, taking your bike from Thirstston to downtown Springfield felt like a really really like long ride. But >> on an ebike that's a whole different game now. And I think that I think that more and more that's um that's that's just a reality that many of us didn't grow up with, right? I mean, I'm I didn't grow up with ebikes. Um, and just kind of understanding like what that technology kind kind of brings and and I'm always an advocate for um anytime any place we can keep bikes, pedestrians, and and vehicles separate. Um, so much the better. And so much of your work is doing that because it's it's separating that traffic. And when

16:54 and where we can, I think that it's important we do that because um nothing good happens when there's an accident that involves those and and so um I just think that what you're doing is is incredibly important and for no other reason than it literally saves lives. you know, if there's bikes that are on our network that are not on the road, that's an accident, one less accident potentially. So, thank you for all that you do. >> All right. >> Thank you so much. We appreciate the uh input. >> All right. The next item is the CDBG update.

18:00 Good evening, mayor and council. Um, I will try to be quick. Um, I'm here tonight with the draft fiscal year uh 2027 community development block grant CDBG annual action plan. I'm looking for your direction tonight to publish a draft for public comment. The plan is to come back to you later in April for final adoption. Um, so, um, as you all may recall, the city of Springfield is entitled to receive an annual allocation of federal CDBG funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD, uh, each year to be primarily used to benefit low and moderate income households in Springfield. So, it's on the screen, which is also in your packet, um are a list of the six strategic goals that were identified through the 5-year 2025

18:46 to 2030 consolidated plan. Um those uh strategic goals outline um the strategies that the cities of Eugene and Springfield have decided we will use to address local community needs over the next 5 years. So, I'll point out these goals are to serve like a menu of options. We do not need to fund each strategy every year. Um, they are used for multiple funding programs, not just CDBG, also for the home program and both Eugene and Springfield. And then I'll also add that Springfield has a number of other other supports that we use and strategies that support these goals, but not necessarily with CDBG funds. So, the

19:31 work of the Springfield Economic Development Agency. Um, some of the housing work we've done that is outlined in the housing strategy. So, that's the updated housing strategy that's included in your packet. Recognizing development code changes, fee waiverss, support the work that's in these goals, but not necessarily with CDBG funds. So, um, also in your packet, this is a graph of CDBG funds over time. I think we've received entitlement funds from HUD since about 1989. This graph just shows you our allocation since 2004, so the last 20 or so years. Um, this does not account for inflation. I think our allocation about 20 years ago was in the

20:16 mid700,000s. It's now 200,000 less than that about 20 years later in 2025. Um the graph is depicting some of the uses that the city has allocated CDBG funds toward over the last over 30 years actually. But that includes the funding for human services. Again, that's one of the strategic goals. That's the blue. Um also since about 2017 on the graph, but over 35 years, um the city has um allocated CDBG funds toward the home repair program. So in your packet you'll see a brochure for that program sort of outline outlining the um the roles of that program but

21:02 that is a program that we run ourselves using CDBG funds to assist very lowincome homeowners with necessary repairs to address health and safety or to improve accessibility. Um you can see since 2017 in green the costs of that program have increased. That's due to cost of materials, cost of labor, but we've also seen a increase in demand for those services as well. In fiscal year 24, the city served about 60 individual households with the home repair program. In 2025, we served 109. I'll also just point out um for over 30 years the city has also taken a portion of its CDBG funds the blue line in the

21:48 middle 15% and contributed to the home cons uh sorry excuse me the human services commission uh this is an intergovernmental commission cities of Eugene Springfield and Lane County are a part of this councelor Rodley councelor Weber sit on the commission um the cities in Lane County sort of pull our funds um for us that CDBG as well as general funds and sort of collectively make decisions around local priorities to address human services. Um in this last or in this current fiscal year um the funds for that program about 94,000 are going to support Catholic Community Services Community Service Center up on G Street um to help lowincome

22:34 Springfield residents with basic needs. Um, so this is the draft plan that's in your packet. Um, I would say based on limited funds expected and based on current demand, uh, staff recommends putting forward a draft allocation that is similar to last year. It includes funding for the home repair program. Uh, it includes funding to the human services commission and it includes funding to pay for the planning and administrative costs of the program. uh the process next steps. Um following council direction tonight, uh staff will put forward a draft plan for public comment for 30 days. Um the

23:22 council's community development advisory committee will then meet in beginning of April to hold a public hearing on this draft plan, discuss any comments received and then make a recommendation to council on final adoption and then we'll come back during regular session. I'll bring that at I'll bring that recommendation from the committee and then you'll have you'll make a final decision. Um, my based on timelines, I anticipate receiving a final allocation from HUD by that date so that when I come back to you, we'll have the exact numbers to plug in. Um, but again, looking for direction for tonight, >> councelor Wley, >> thank you. Thank you so much for this. So, um, probably nothing will surprise

24:07 you. First, I love to see money in the home ownership program. So, I'm like, "God, there's nobody in that because I know we didn't for some years because of the way the market was and then we were able to help some people buy homes." So, um, maybe you can speak to that and then I'm going to put you on the spot a little bit. you you talked a bit about the home repair program, but I think that there's an opportunity for us to talk a little bit more about that because I know that before I got involved with council and got involved with this, I didn't understand the depth of that or the fact that we're working with local contractors and vendors and the majority of the homes are seniors and and I mean it is really a fantastic program. It's something I'm really proud that we do and we don't always tell the

24:52 best stories about the work that we do. And so I want to put you a little bit on the spot and I also want to just poke a little bit about the why we don't see anything in the home ownership programs. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um outlined in the packet and then um but I can touch upon. So, the Springfield Home Ownership Program, which we've lovingly referred to as SHOP over the years, um we used to fund that program with home funds up until about 10 years ago, and then we switched over to funding that with CDBG funds based on some HUD home regulations that changed the incentive for doing it that way. Um, I would say recently we've

25:39 seen that the cost of homes in Springfield has sort of increased to a point that the income limits that we need to serve with this program have created a gap in funding that we can't necessarily easily bridge with CDBG funds. So, CDBG funds can be used for down payment assistance or closing costs, but they're also requiring a contribution of 50% of the down payment from from the home buyer. And so, in some cases, the program has chosen in the past, for instance, we've allocated a 100,000 of that 500,000 toward this program and said, "We'll try and serve four households with a contribution of $25,000 for each home that someone's buying." In

26:24 that case, the 25,000 sometimes hasn't been enough to cover that gap. And so we have allocated in the past and then in one instance we went 18 months without seeing a single loan. We had requests come in but not not a request that we could ultimately sort of issue a loan for. Um so with discussions with the SEAKC and then with council decided maybe that wasn't the best use of funds despite still seeing home ownership as a priority. Um, so you've seen that on the home on the housing strategy sort of we note home ownership through land acquisition. For example, South 52nd, the council went ahead and acquired land from the county to put forward for home ownership, put an RFP out, and now Dev Northwest has a proposed development for

27:10 six units through a community land trust model for home ownership that looks to be successful but isn't using CDBG funds. >> All right. Anybody else? So, um the question I have related to shop is do with the additional funds and when you think about the demand level that we're going to that that we see in that program are we going we're there's no issue we're going to expend all of these funds over the next year. Correct. >> For home repair program like as allocated. Yeah. That is our I think what's tricky to estimate right now is this year's a little wonky. Um we didn't receive a signed contract from HUD for

27:55 this year's funds. This year's that started July 1. We didn't receive a signed contract until December, so just 6 weeks ago. Um so we have put part of our funding on pause because we weren't sure that we would be reimbursed. So, the demand of what we've spent so far is hard to calculate what we're going to I guess is is all the demand going to creep up? Is it going to be delayed? I don't know. >> Okay. And I think I think the the repair program is one of the most undertold parts of stories of what we do in Springfield. The idea that we're continuing to make sure that emergency repairs are done to keep people in their homes is really really important for this community. Um, and I think the other piece that happens at uh at United

28:41 Front is that every year we go and we ask for more money for these programs. And I think that's something that the council has to has to continue to do because if we find ways to fund, you know, support uh down payment assistance and emergency home repair, right? That that's tr impactful. And then I think the last point and you started off with this is when you think about all of our strategies around housing and human services, you you one of the things you noted is like CDBG isn't the only thing that sort of contributes to that strategy. Could you just rattle off all the different, you know, programs that kind of contribute to our overall housing strategy? Again,

29:28 >> you on the spot. Yep. Oh, you're you're you're saving us from going to executive session before too long. >> Well, I'll use our handy updated housing strategy that's in the packet and accessible on the website that anyone can >> which is an amazing set of statistics about our housing stock. >> Um, was it a it wasn't a rhetorical question, but like >> No, just Yeah. And I don't need you I I don't need you to rattle them all off, but just just talk a little bit about like other things that contribute. So, it's home, >> it's hid. What else? >> Sure. Um, some of the housing efforts have been to um make updates to our development code, making it easier for folks to um encourage housing development, comply with state law. Um,

30:14 we've instituted, council's instituted an SD waiver for ADUs. Um, there've been other fee waiverss. Um, you've got a property tax exemption for both lowincome rental housing, um, but also incentivizing housing diversity for multi multiple unit housing, not just affordable housing. um SDC waivers for home ownership, um development application fee waivers, um using ARPA funds to um create a land acquisition funding program, um allowed the use of RVs as temporary housing on private property. um have operate through the municipal code an overnight parking program that allows um

31:01 sort of folks in vehicles or campers to shelter um in private or fraternal spaces in town. Um and then we're about to undergo a housing capacity analysis and production strategy that is really going to look at what else can the city do. So, and the we've done a lot from a housing perspective and I think we all appreciate the appreciate the work. So, all we need to do tonight is just simply head nod and say put this out for public comment >> if it works. >> Yep. All right. Thank you, Erin. I am going to adjourn the work session and we are going to reconfigure the room for an executive session.