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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/13/1987 Meeting M I NUT E S e Eugene City Council City Hall--McNutt Room and City Council Chamber May 13, 1987 11:30 a.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Debra Ehrman, Freeman Holmer, Emily Schue, Cynthia Wooten, Roger Rutan, Jeff Miller, Rob Bennett. COUNCILOR ABSENT: Ruth Bascom. The adjourned meeting of May 11, 1987, of the City Council of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Brian B. Obie. I. ITEMS FROM THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, AND CITY MANAGER A. Addition To Agenda Mayor Obie said he asked that an item about improvements to Hayward Field at the University of Oregon be added to the agenda. He said he will ask David Dix, a State Legislator from Eugene, to address the council when he arrives. Mayor Obie said Mr. Dix will discuss current efforts to finance the renovation ~ of Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. Mayor Obie said he, Mr. Rutan, and Ms. Schue have met with community groups attempting to fund the Hayward Field renovation. He said Mr. Rutan will attend a meeting this evening and needs to know if the other councilors favor the proposal Mr. Dix will present. B. Installation of Nuclear Free Zone Signs Ms. Wooten said councilors are invited to a ceremony for the installation of the first IINuclear Free Zone" sign at 52nd Avenue and Willamette Street at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 1987. She said Mayor Obie and Gerry Gaydos, chairperson of the Nuclear Free Zone Task Force, will speak. A van will leave City Hall at noon. C. Status of Millrace Maintenance Ms. Wooten said some University of Oregon faculty members are concerned about maintenance of the Millrace. She said they believe it may become unsanitary because of debris and stagnation. She suggested the City cooperate with University officials to maintain the Millrace during the summer. Answering a question from Ms. Schue, Mr. Gleason said the City installed pumps under the 1-5 bridge for the Millrace and pays the electriCity charge for the e MINUTES--Eugene City Council ~ Session tmf' May 13, 1987 Page 1 e pumps from storm sewer revenue. He said ; t has been assumed that the University will maintain the Millrace. He said he will investigate the matter and report to the council. D. Nuclear Free Zone Task Force Mr. Rutan said he is concerned about plans of the Nuclear Free Zone Task Force for Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Commemoration Day on August 6. He said the purpose of the Nuclear Free Zone Task Force was to resolve questions about structure, legality, and constitutionality so that the ordinance would be workable and express the spirit of the people. He said it seems parts of the ordinance are being implemented without review by the council and without resolution of fundamental questions about the legality, constitutionality, and enforceability of the ordinance. He said he is concerned about activities of the Nuclear Free Zone Task Force. He suggested the council discuss the matter at the quarterly process session on May 18, 1987. Answering a question from Mayor Obie, Glen Potter of the Intergovernmental Relations Division said the council authorized implementation of the notification and sign installation sections of the ordinance. Councilors were notified of plans for a Commemoration Day. Ms. Wooten said the Nuclear Free Zone Task Force is addressing the issues mentioned by Mr. Rutan. She said the ordinance is the law and there did not seem to be controversy about a Commemoration Day. e Mr. Rutan said he understood the council intended to enforce and carry out the ordinance after fundamental questions were resolved. He said the Commemoration Day is one of the most objectionable parts of the ordinance to many of his constituents. Ms. Ehrman said she did not think a Commemoration Day was controversial and, therefore, it should be planned. Ms. Schue said the council acknowledged that the Nuclear Free Zone Ordinance is the law and parts where there are no legal questions should be implemented. She said people may not like parts of the ordinance but that is no reason to postpone implementing it. For example, the signs are being installed even though some people may not like them. Mr. Bennett said he represents the council on the Nuclear Free Zone Task Force. He said he will not represent the council on the task force if the task force is only to consider technical legal issues. He said direction from the council to the task force went beyond the technical legal issues. He said the composition of the Nuclear Free Zone Board and the cost of implementing the requirements of the ordinance should be addressed by the task force. Mr. Bennett said he and Ms. Wooten wrote a memo to the council that indicated that they understood the charge to the task force included more than the technical legal issues. Ms. Wooten added that the charge includes the scope of the ordinance. Mr. Bennett emphasized that the other councilors should tell them if that understanding is wrong. -- MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session May 13, 1987 Page 2 - Mayor Obie said the task force should recommend each implementation to the council. Parts of the ordinance should not be implemented without approval of the council, he said. Answering a question from Mr. Holmer, Mr. Potter said an interim report will be submitted to the council in June. Mr. Rutan said he agreed with Mayor Obie1s direction. Mr. Rutan said plans for a Commemoration Day should be presented to the council. Mr. Miller said no funds have been approved for observance of a Commemoration Day. E. Recent Drowning in Willamette River Mr. Rutan suggested the City Manager investigate ways the City can prevent drownings in the Willamette River. Other councilors agreed with his suggestion. F. City Costs Associated with 4-J Teachers' Strike Ms. Ehrman said she is pleased that the 4-J Teachers' strike is over. She said the council will review the actions of the police. She asked for a report about increased costs to the Police, Fire and Emergency Services Department and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department caused by the strike. G. Ordinance 2109 e Mr. Holmer read Ordinance 2109 which declared earwigs to be a public nuisance. The ordinance is no longer in effect. H. Joint Parks Committee Ms. Schue announced that the Joi nt Parks Committee di scussed ci t i zen involvement with the Fairmount Neighbors. She said the committee agreed that references to citizen involvement in the Parks Master Plan should be changed. She said she expects future projects similar to the expansion of the laurelwood Golf Course to go more smoothly. I. Eugene Sports Program Mr. Bennett said he will speak at a coaches' meeting next week which begins the baseball season of the Eugene Sports Program (ESP). He said ESP contributes much to the community. He said he hopes the cooperation among the ESP, the school districts, and volunteers continues. H. Industrial Recruitment Activities Mayor Obie said some Italian industrialists are enthusiastic about Eugene and the councilors' breakfast with them seemed to be effective. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session May 13, 1987 Page 3 K. Move to Council Chamber e Mayor Obie said many people were standing in the McNutt Room. ConsequentlYt he recessed the meeting about 12:10 p.m. so people could move to the Council Chamber. Mayor Obie reconvened the meeting in the Council Chamber at 12:15 p.m. II. PROPOSAL TO IMPROVE HAYWARD FIELD Assistant City Manager Dave Whitlow distributed a report dated May 8t 1987t and titled IlHayward Field Proposal Financing Scheme.1I He noted the information was compiled by the office of State Representative David Dix. He discussed the proposal to fund the renovation of Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. He said the first phase of the project involves moving the east grandstand and reconfiguring and resurfacing the track. It will cost about $644tOOO. About $462t419 has been received in gifts and pledges to pay for the first phase. About $177,000 will be needed from another source. He said the proposal before the council is for a .5 percent increase in the Eugene and Springfield Transient Room Tax and annual contributions from Lane County of $10,000 and the University of Oregon of $15,000. He said the increase in the room tax will generate about $90tOOO annually. e Mr. Rutan said most of the representatives of hotel and motel owners and managers in the area have told him they support the .5 percent increase in the transient room tax. Only one major hotel or motel manager opposes the increase. He said industry representatives want the increase in the room tax earmarked for the renovation of Hayward Field and a fund to promote the area. He said the Oregon Track Club members have worked hard on the project. He said approval of the proposal will make the track facility competitive with facilities in other cities and Bill Byrnet University of Oregon Athletic Director, supports the proposal. Mayor Obie introduced State Representative David Dix. Mr. Dix said passage of a bill before the State Legislature (HB 2800) would enable the Board of Higher Education to sell $1 million in bonds to provide debt repayment to the University of Oregon, east grandstand rehabilitationt construction of a weight room and storage facilitiest construction of a warm-up trackt and west grandstand and field house rehabilitation. He said the debt service to the University of Oregon would repay the $177tOOO shortfall in the first phase of the project. Mr. Dix said the field will not have to be reconstructed again if the proposed funding is approved. He said the cost of the project has been reduced to pay for the essentials only. He emphasized that the University of Oregon track program brings track athletes to Oregon but the community benefits economically from non-collegiate track meets. He said Eugene may lose five non-collegiate meets if Hayward Field is not renovated. Scott Lieuallen. Executive Vice President of the Eugene/Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, said many people in the motel and hotel industry in Eugene and Springfield support the proposal. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session May 13 t 1987 Page 4 e Mayor Obie said several motel and hotel industry representatives asked him to tell the council they support the proposal. He said Mr. Dix and Mr. Rutan need to know whether the councilors approve the concept of the proposal. He said the councilors will be informed of the details of the negotiations later. Mr. Holmer said the cost of the renovation was originally estimated to be $3.5 million. He wondered if $1.5 million would be sufficient. Mr. Dix responded that the original plans included a 15,OOO-square-foot building at one end of the track for showers, training and coaching rooms, and press facilities. The present proposal substitutes a 1,SOO-square-foot building with weight room and storage facilities for the larger building. He said other savings will be accomplished by using $150,000 in pledges for part of the rehabilitation of the east grandstand. Mr. Rutan said Oregon Track Club members have received bids on the projects and they say $1.5 million will accomplish the renovation. Ms. Schue said she supports the proposal. Club on its efforts to build facilities, world-wide. She said the field should be City is involved. She congratulated the Oregon Track raise funds, and solicit events renovated and she is pleased the Ms. Ehrman said funds are needed for many projects and the councilors must make difficult decisions in the budget process. She said she supports this proposal because it is important to the area1s economy. She said the whole community benefits from track and field activities and the City must make a commitment to help provide facilities. e Ms. Wooten said she supports the proposal. She said the council should consider increasing the room tax more than .5 percent because other facilities are needed for tourism and destination point projects. Mr. Miller agreed with Ms. Wooten. He suggested an additional increase in the room tax could be used for such things as restoring funds for the Visitors and Convention Bureau which were cut from the budget recently. Mr. Bennett said he supports the proposal. Summarizing, Mayor Obie said the council seemed to approve the concept of the proposal. He said the City should continue to be involved in decisions about the renovation. He thanked Mr. Dix for his work on the proposal and other things that benefit the community. Mayor Obie said the council will have to consider the justification for additional increases in the room tax suggested by Ms. Wooten and Mr. Miller. III. ANNOUNCEMENT: NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced Public Works Director Christine Andersen. She said May 18 through May 22 is National Public Works Week and National Transportation Week. She said the Eugene Department of Public Works e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session May 13, 1987 Page 5 - will hold a Community Open House at the Public Works Maintenance Yard at 1820 Roosevelt Boulevard. She reviewed the displays and activities that will be provided at the Open House. IV. FORMATION OF COUNTY SERVICE DISTRICT FOR EXTENSION SERVICE City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the item. Assistant City Manager Dave Whitlow gave a status report. He said the council held a public hearing in March on a request from the Lane County Extension Service to include Eugene within a County Service District. The district would fund extension service programs. He said the council asked the staff to investigate other ways to fund extension services. Mr. Whitlow said the staff discussed the matter with Lane County officials and they asked City officials to see if a County Service District could be created for only one specific purpose. He said the City Attorney will provide a written opinion in about two weeks. Answering questions from Mayor Obie and Ms. Ehrman. Mr. Whitlow said the Springfield City Attorney is researching the same request but the Lane County Counsel probably is not researching the matter. He said the council is not holding a public hearing tonight. e Mr. Miller said extension service programs are worthwhile but City policies oppose the creation of special service districts, especially when means to fund the services exist. He wondered if it would be advisable to spend money for a City Attorney's opinion. Answering a question from Mr. Holmer, Mr. Gleason said the Lane County Board of Commissioners is the administrative body for County Service Districts. If the Boundary Commission is abolished, the Lane County Comissioners will be able to add services to a special service district anytime. Ms. Wooten said consolidating services is important. Consequently, she usually does not support special service districts. However, she would like a legal decision about the possibility of creating a special service district exclusively for the Extension Service. Ms. Schue said the Extension Service programs are useful and respected but there is no reason to create a special service district to fund them. She said the Lane County Commissioners could finance the Extension Service with a serial levy just as they finance the County library. She said a special servi ce di stri ct costs money to operate and one is not needed for the Extension Service. Mr. Holmer said he agreed with Ms. Schue. Ms. Wooten moved that the council direct the City Attorney's Office to investigate the possibility of creating a single purpose special district for the Lane County Extension Service. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session May 13. 1987 Page 6 - e e The motion died for lack of a second. Mayor Obie said money should not be spent to investigate a special district for the Extension Service. V. AWBREY/MEADOWVIEW METRO PLAN AMENDMENT PROPOSAL City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the item. Teresa Bishow of the Planning Department gave the staff report. She said the council asked the Planning Commission to prepare an amendment to the Metropolitan Area General Plan for the Awbrey/Meadowview area. She said the council can decide to initiate a Metro Plan amendment for the Awbrey/Meadowview area or to hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment. Discussing the Planning Commission recommendation about what should be included in an amendment for the Awbrey/Meadowview area, Ms. Bishow said the commission recommended that a new goal, five new findings, and two policies be added to the Economic Section of the Metro Plan. She said the Oregon Department of Economic Development and Eugene/Springfield Metropolitan Partnership staffs indicated that a site as large as the Awbrey/Meadowview site meets regional needs. The new goal addresses regional needs and large- scale heavy industrial sites that use existing transportation systems. Ms. Bishow said the staff has learned that many firms need access to railroads. Us i ng a map, Steve Gordon of the Lane Council of Governments, i ndi cated existing heavy industrial sites in the metropolitan area. Ms. Bishow said none of them have direct access to railroads. She said one of the recommended findings states that the Alternative Industrial Growth Areas Study indicates that the Awbrey/Meadowview area is the most suitable area outside the urban growth boundary for a large heavy industrial park with railroad access. She said Springfield officials have said the Natron site is within the urban growth boundary and is appropriate for heavy industrial use. Ms. Bishow said the Planning Commission recommended that the amendment include a change to the description of special heavy industrial uses in the Metro Plan Diagram text and that the Murphy Mill Site, the Enid/Awbrey Area, and the North of Awbrey Lane Area shoul d be descri bed as speci a 1 heavy i ndustri a 1 sites. Ms. Bishow said the Planning Commission also recommended the amendment include a change to the Metro Plan Diagram that would expand the urban growth boundary to include the 200-acre Awbrey/Meadowview area. She discussed the sludge treatment site north of Awbrey Lane and the reason the commission recommended it not be included in the urban growth boundary. She said construction of a spur from the Southern Pacific Railroad would require approval of an exception to the Statewide Agricultural Goal. Planning Director Susan Brody indicated the location of the Southern Pacific Ra il road west of the Awbrey/Meadowvi ew site and the Burl i ngton Northern Railroad east of the site. She said vacant industrial land with access to two railroads is rare. MINUTES--Eugene City Council ~ Session May 13, 1987 Page 7 - e e Answering questions from Mr. Bennett, Ms. Bishow said the Enid/Awbrey industrial area has about 300 acres. Some vacant sites in the area are near the Southern Pacific Railroad but do not have direct access to it. One of the properties has access to the Burlington Northern Railroad. Mr. Gordon said almost all the properties within the urban growth boundary adjacent to the Southern Pacific Railroad and the Burlington Northern Railroad are developed. Ms. Bishow said representatives of 70 firms out of 205 indicated to the Oregon Department of Economic Development that they would like new sites with railroad access. She said the current Metro Plan Economic Goal concerns the metropolitan economy. A new goal is suggested because a 200-acre site would improve the economy of the whole region. Ms. Brody said a new economic goal would not be required if the proposed amendment is initiated but a new goal would strengthen the justification for the amendment. Replying to questions from Ms. Ehrman, Ms. Bishow said the Southern Pacific Railroad probably would require a developer to pay for the railroad spur. She discussed the possible location of a spur. Ms. Ehrman moved, seconded by Mr. Holmer, to conduct a public hearing on the framework of the Awbrey/Meadowview Metro Plan amendment proposal prior to its initiation. Mr. Holmer said he seconded the motion reluctantly. Ms. Schue said the proposal has changed since the council asked the Planning Commission to address it. Previously, the proposal was for a 200-acre site and now it includes 40- to 50-acre sites. She said she needs more information about it. She said the owners of the Awbrey-Meadowview site were permitted to address the council at a work session and, therefore, it would be fair for the council to have a public hearing on the proposal to hear from other people. Mr. Rutan said several hearings would be held if the council initiated the amendment now. Mr. Miller said he wants to stimulate economic growth in the community. He said he would like to initiate the amendment. Mr. Bennett said he supports the motion. He said the issue has been controversial and public comment will be helpful. He said he has gained new knowledge about the market for industrial sites from the staff comments and the hearing may provide additional information. He said he would like to gain support for the final council decision. Mr. Obie said he supports the motion. He said he would like to know the property owners' plans for the site if the amendment is approved. The motion carried 5:2 with Councilors Ehrman, Holmer, Schue, Wooten, and Bennett voting aye and Councilors Rutan and Miller vot i n9 nay. MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session May 13, 1987 Page 8 VI. SISTER CITY RECOMMENDATIONS e City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the item. Ms. Ehrman presented the proposal to the council. She said Sister City Committee members developed criteria for selecting sister cities and heard from proponents of a Soviet Sister City. She said there is much support for a Soviet Sister City. She said a meeting will be held soon in Seattle to develop US-Soviet Sister City relationships and the Eugene proponents would like concurrence from the council about the program before the meeting. She said Eugene has a very viable relationship with Kegegawa, its Japanese sister city. She said the committee recommends that a Sister City Commission with subcommittees be created. Mr. Holmer moved, seconded by Ms. Ehrman, to adopt the reorganization plans as presented in the March 5, 1987, memorandum (Attached as Exhibit A). Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 7:0. Ms. Ehrman moved, seconded by Mr. Holmer, to adopt the "Criteria for Sister City Relationships" (Attached as Exhibit B). Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously. 7:0. Ms. Ehrman said some Eugene Sister City relationships may be eliminated by the criteria. e Ms. Ehrman moved. seconded by Mr. Holmer. to formally designate the existing structure of the Soviet Sister City Project as the decision-making body which will decide on the contents and order of the list of Soviet Sister Cities which will be submitted to Sister Cities International. Ms. Ehrman said the steering committee for a Soviet Sister City welcomes council participation in its activities. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously. 7:0. Mayor Obie said the Sister City Committee has done excellent work. He commended the volunteers who have proposed the Soviet Sister City relationship and said they encourage world peace. VII. COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION FUND UPDATE City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the item. He said council consideration of policy guideline changes recommended by the Loan Advisory Committee on May 11, 1987, resulted in a tie vote. Jesse Smith of the Development Department gave the staff report. He said some flexibility is needed in the loan program and the fiduciary responsibility of the program to the City should be assured. He suggested the following guidelines for grants: - MINUTES--Eugene City Council ~ Session May 13. 1987 Page 9 e 1. No more than $35,000 in grants will be approved annually; 2. A report identifying the grants will be presented quarterly to the council; and 3. A substantial public and private investment will be required before a grant is approved. Mr. Smith said the private investment could include bank and equity financing and public investment could include other non-conventional programs such as the Business Loan Program. Answering questions from Ms. Ehrman and Mr. Holmer, Mr. Smith said no more than $35,000 would be granted each year. The present interest rates are 6 and 10 percent. When the rates in the Business Development Fund were changed, the council was notified. He expects such notification to continue. He said a grant would be a "last resort.1I Ms. Ehrman moved, seconded by Mr. Bennett, to adopt the policy guideline changes recommended by the Loan Advisory Committee. Ms. Wooten said she will not support the motion because she does not approve of the provisions for "forgiveness of debt.1I Mr. Bennett said the proposed guidelines address very unusual circumstances that would be very important. He said such circumstances affect many other things. Mayor Obie reviewed the council's action on May 11. He said the proposal ~ before the commission constrains the City Manager's authority. Ms. Schue said a similar loan program with Community Development Block Grant funds has been successful and not controversial. She expects the commercial revitalization program to be as successful. Ms. Ehrman said she opposed the pol icy on May 11 but she wi 11 support the guidelines. Answering her question, Mr. Smith said copies of the guidelines will be submitted to the councilors later. He reviewed the three modifications. Noting that the modifications were not submitted to the council in writing, Mr. Holmer said it is disconcerting not to have written proposals. He said he will oppose the motion because the modifications do not include limits or advice to the City Manager from the Loan Advisory Committee about changing the terms, the rates, or approving grants. Mr. Smith responded that the Loan Advisory Committee reviewed proposed rate changes and made a recommendation to the City Manager the last time rates were changed in the Business Loan Program. He said written modifications will be presented to the council and will require a review by the Loan Advisory Committee before rates and terms are changed. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council ~ Session May 13, 1987 Page 10 e e e Roll call vote; the motion carried 6:1 with Councilors Ehrman, Holmer, Schue, Rutan, Miller, and Bennett voting aye and Councilor Wooten voting nay. Mayor Obie adjourned the meeting at 1:30 p.m. to May 20, 1987. RespectfU~~y sUb..m;::~ ~ -- ~i~~leaso City Manager (Recorded by Betty Lou Rarick) mncc0413 MINUTES--Eugene City Council ~ Session May 13, 1987 Page 11