Loading...
City Council Minutes - 11/17/2015 City of Tigard Tigard City Council Meeting Minutes November 17, 2015 1. WORKSHOP MEETING A. Mayor Cook called the City Council meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. B. Deputy City Recorder Alley called the roll: Name Present Absent Mayor Cook ✓ Councilor Goodhouse ✓ Councilor Henderson ✓ Council President Snider ✓ Councilor Woodard ✓ C. Mayor Cook led the Pledge of Allegiance. E. Mayor Cook asked Council and Staff for any Non-Agenda Items-None 2. JOINT MEETING WITH THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD Park and Recreation Advisory Board (DRAB) Member Brown introduced PRAB members Tim Pepper, Sara Darland, Linda Shaw, Holley Polivka, and Scott Winkels. Mr. Brown stated he was very excited for the recreation coordinator to get on board and for the programs to begin. Mr. Pepper stated the Tigard Recreation Program Study (RPS) has a five year implementation plan and inquired of the council how they were going to financially invest in this five year plan and the recreation coordinator. Mayor Cook said he is uncertain of the direction that will be taken as the next year's budget is just starting to be developed at the staff level. Public Works Division Manager Martin said it is anticipated to refer to the RPS when developing the budget and for the recreation coordinator to help form next year's budget to include events. Ms. Shaw asked what the council's vision was to continue with a recreation center. City Manager Wine stated there is a desire for a community center in the city. The city is embarking on a facilities strategic plan for all city facilities. It is the city's intention to get that study done as soon as possible to know how the needs of a community center fit in the overall facilities study and needs. The most acute need for facilities is with police right now. We will figure out the sequence and priority on how to move those forward. If we could figure out a credible plan,it could happen in the five year window, but we will not know until we get the facilities strategic plan finished. Ms. Polivka said PRAB supports making all our parks non-smoking, but did not know how it will be enforced. Mayor Cook said it is on the agenda December 8 and encouraged PRAB members to attend and testify at the meeting. TIGARD CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES—NOVEMBER 17, 2015 City of Tigard 113125 SW Hall Blvd.,Tigard,OR 97223 1 503-639-4171 1 www.tigard-or.gov I Page 1 of 7 Ms. Polivka stated concern that the Park and Recreation Utility Fee may not be the best way to create revenue for parks and recreation, but does believe it makes sense to remove the parks and recreation from the general fund. Council President Snider asked if PRAB had any discussion about funding options if the matter went before the vote of the people and they turned it down and what they thought about the option of a vote. Mr. Brown said he thought it was a good idea to put it before the voters because people would be more appreciative if it goes to the vote of the people. It sounded as if the two options for revenue are a fee or to go to the voters, so taking it to the voters is better as there will be more ownership. Ms. Polivka did not agree it should go to the voters, but was concerned with other fees causing increased costs on the utility bills. Councilor President Snider said citizens cannot live in a city with the lowest permanent tax base and not have fees or expenses increase. At some point we have got to approve some of these fees. Oregon has some very poorly thought through tax law, on a twenty year legacy, which has created some serious problems for cities. Mr. Pepper said there are things that our city could use and we need to have honest discussion about how to fund them in a sustainable way. He said he is not in support of going to the voters with multiple options. Deciding something on that granular level should fall to the elected officials as our leaders. Mr. Winkels said he understood sending it to the voters and expressed the importance of looking at the timing of when it will go on the ballot in order to be successful. Ms. Polivka stated it would feel disingenuous to send the matter to the voters,they shoot it down and then council enacts the fee anyway. She suggested enacting the fee while being cognizant of the voters' budgets and make the fee as affordable as possible. Councilor Henderson commented that his litmus test for this is if there is a need; if a need is established then he is there to get it done. Mr. Winkels suggested the city look at developing off-road cycling trails on the Fields property or Bull Mountain which would be more environmentally sound. There are bandit jumps and trails built that are unsafe or environmentally unsound. There are opportunities to develop and share costs with Metro. Mayor Cook said he had no problem with working with other organizations to see parks and trails built. It is really appreciated when someone wants to take the initiative to fundraise and build a park or trail. Ms. Polivka suggested the city not forgot about all the parks and not provide funding for neighborhoods because they have done so much for themselves. These parks,like Bull Mountain, should be equally funded even if they do so much for themselves. Mayor Cook said we prioritize the city's funding and try not to forget any of the parks. Mr. Brown thanked council for their time and Mayor Cook thanked PRAB for their continued volunteering,time and support. Mayor Cook encouraged the PRAB to continue to bring ideas forward. TIGARD CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES—NOVEMBER 17, 2015 City of Tigard 113125 SW Hall Blvd.,Tigard,OR 97223 1 503-639-4171 1 www.tigard-or.gov I Page 2 of 7 3. CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON THE PARKS AND RECREATION CHARGE Finance and Information Services Director LaFrance introduced this agenda item and summarized the staff report accompanied by a PowerPoint. Present to provide input on the discussion was FCS Group Representative Doug Gabert,Public Works Director Rager, Assistant Public Works Director Wright and Public Works Division Manager Martin. Mr. LaFrance reported that parks are one of four things funded by the general fund, which has revenues growing by about 3.5 percent but expenditures growing at four percent. Small changes have been made to balance the general fund, but the parks' needs are growing faster than the city's ability to fund them. Tonight's discussion is a follow-up from the feedback received from the October 20 workshop. Input from October was to keep the fee structure simple, be mindful of all taxes and fees paid by residents, assume annual inflation escalation,compare rate options of other cities and charge both residential and non-residential. Mr. Gabert reviewed the slides in the PowerPoint showing comparisons of utility rates and cost of living of other cities, seven park service scenarios and the different fee rates for each of the seven scenarios. The financial model is built for the city to select the layers wanted and identify the required revenue for that scenario. Mr. LaFrance said three parts need to be addressed to keep the project moving forward. First, find out if council wishes to continue down the path of seeking an additional funding source for parks. Second, direction from council which of the park service scenarios are more or less desirable and which ones council would like to move forward with. Third, what means the council would like to pursue to collect revenue such as utility based revenue collection or a local option levy. Councilor Henderson said a need for scenario one had been established, so he was okay with moving forward with that one and desired for a more concrete need to be established with numbers for the remaining six. Councilor Goodhouse asked if there was a program that could be implemented for low or fixed income residents. Mr. LaFrance replied West Linn provides a low income discount reducing the fee by half of the regular as does Gresham. Details of what those entail or thresholds were not researched for tonight, but it is an option staff can look into. Council President Snider asked by doing that,the amount others would pay would have to go up to pay for that discount. Mr. LaFrance answered yes,in theory. Mr. Gabert replied if the parks remained in the general fund, you could charge cost based rates in utility the fee and then use a little general fund money as a subsidy for the low income discount program. This keeps the rates whole, defensible and the council accomplishes the policy objectives. Council President Snider suggested moving forward only with scenario one in the form of a utility fee or charge and take scenarios two through seven to a vote. One benefit of having it on the property tax statement is that it becomes a tax deduction. Charging it on the utility bill bears the burden on the person paying the utility bill, which means they cannot write it off on the taxes. On the property tax bill it is usually the owner. We could initialize the charge on the utility bill,take it to a vote and then remove it from the utility bills if it passes on the ballot. TIGARD CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES—NOVEMBER 17,2015 City of Tigard 113125 SW Hall Blvd.,Tigard,OR 97223 1 503-639-4171 1 www.tigard-or.gov I Page 3 of 7 CJ Mayor Cook said the city currently has fees on the utility bill that will be increasing in a few months, so being a part of the property tax and a deduction for homeowners is a deciding factor. The way the revenue is assessed can hit residents differently. Mayor Cook stated he did not like levies because a city has to go back to a vote every five years to ask for more money. There are a few scenarios that do not qualify for a levy, but could qualify for a capital 20 year bond. He said with all the options,he was a little uneasy right now. Councilor Woodard said he was only in support of scenario four and six to free up enough dollars to accomplish what needs to be done now, only create a $2.00 charge on the utility bill and ensure the library to open on Thursdays. Mayor Cook commented scenarios four and six did not offset any funding. Councilor Goodhouse added only scenario one would free up money in the general fund and two through seven are new funding source requirements. Councilor Woodard said he would be comfortable with the other scenarios as long as the dollar amount is not above $2. Mayor Cook suggested starting with scenario one and then phase in the rest. Mr. LaFrance replied the quick answer is yes, if the goal is to take existing service levels and not address deferred maintenance. Then take the existing parks maintenance program and phase in the funding over a certain amount of time to free up an equivalent amount in the general fund. Councilor Woodard said maybe we need to look at two fees for scenarios four and six. Mr. LaFrance said that would not free up money, but council could decide to not pull parks out of the general fund and a fee could be implemented to fund those additional items. Councilor Goodhouse suggested implementing scenario one starting at 50 percent and increasing it over the next four years. This will free up more money for the general fund, allow us to get input on what is more important to the community for two through seven and then can look at adding something if it is important. Councilor Goodhouse also suggested doing a phase in for scenarios one and two with a level out during the third, fourth and fifth years. Scenarios three through seven would be looked at in the future. Council President Snider said he could support that approach. Mr. LaFrance summarized the discussion and said staff would return in January to implement a park charge based on scenario one and two with discussion during the hearing regarding how council wants to phase it in. This would include information about low income discounts. 4. UPDATE ON THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS (SRTS) PROGRAM Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator Hormann summarized the staff report accompanied by a PowerPoint. Present to give support and input on the discussion were SRTS National Partnership Representative Kari Schlosshauer, Tigard-Tualatin School District Facilities Manager Phil Wentz, Templeton Elementary Principal Todd Robson, Amy Reilly and Jen Vasicek. Ms. Hormann said the SRTS program focuses on getting kids safely to their schools through events, education, infrastructure and enforcement. To build awareness about the program staff has meet with principals, been involved in back to school nights, worked with parents, and held the walk and bike to school day event. All elementary schools participated in this event and over 1,000 students participated. Staff is currently working on data collection of how students are getting to and from TIGARD CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES—NOVEMBER 17,2015 City of Tigard 113125 SW Hall Blvd.,Tigard,OR 97223 1 503-639-4171 1 www.tigard-or.gov I Page 4 of 7 school and then will produce safe route maps for the students. Staff is also working with other cities to learn about their programs such as the sidewalk gap program,Metzger school park, and a walk friendly community strategic plan. Ms. Reilly stated she used to walk her kids to school, but last year one of her kids wanted to walk to school only with her friends. She appreciates the education opportunities at the schools teaching parents and kids safer ways to walk to school and all the city is doing to make the community safer for the kids. Ms. Vasicek said her family bikes to school and is proud to live in Tigard where biking and walking is such a forward vision for biking and walking. The SRTS is her family's way of supporting the vision. Mr. Wentz thanked Tigard and complimented the staff on all their great,hard work on the SRTS program and obtaining the grant to fund Ms. Hormann's position. He stated he is excited to see the infrastructure being put in place for the program to be utilized the longest and most. An example of this is in the Metzger area where a pathway was built and will be used for years to come. As for the maps showed tonight and the data being collected, we will see boundaries changing to held safe routes. Ms. Schlosshauer said SRTS is fundamentally looking at the one mile to mile and half radius around the school where the kids do not have the opportunity to get picked up by a bus. This provides safe travel skills for crossing the street or riding their bike to school. She said she loves that is it complements the goal of being the most walkable community. Mr. Robson thanked the council for supporting this opportunity. Templeton Elementary's parking lot does not have the capacity to hold all the cars that come through during drop off and pick up times. This program helps families think about other alternatives to free up that congestion allowing kids to access the school safely. He said he was excited for the future. Councilor Woodard asked what the next project will be. Ms. Hormann answered Student education with a jump start bike education event, school improvement and action plans and to continue encouraging students to engage in walking and biking. Councilor Goodhouse stated parents have shared with him how the morning of the event there was so much traffic that the parents had to drive the kids, but they walked in the afternoon. This is true for every day. Parents are saying they want sidewalks to get the children to the schools. Mayor Cook thanked the group for their presentation and encouraged them to stay for the next presentation as it relates to sidewalks and a safer walking community. 5. CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON THE SIDEWALK GAP PROGRAM Finance and Information Services Director LaFrance summarized the staff report, accompanied by a PowerPoint, starting off with reminding the council this is a high level analysis, looking at this at a programmatic level, focusing on the primary routes and trails. He showed the gaps and the summary from the October 20 meeting on the PowerPoint. The program cost estimates discussed this evening will be for sidewalks only inside the city limits and will include sidewalks on both sides of the streets. Funding options were reviewed in a PowerPoint. TIGARD CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES—NOVEMBER 17, 2015 City of Tigard 113125 SW Hall Blvd.,Tigard,OR 972231503-63941711 www.tigard-or.gov I Page 5 of 7 Tigard Transportation Advisory Committee Member Elise Shearer voiced support for this program as it reaches the goal of walkability and assists the SRTS program. Focusing on connecting the sidewalks on major streets will also support transit users. Adding more bike lanes will help bikers travel and encourage less cars on the road. Ms. Shearer proposed phasing in sidewalks on one side of the street with completion of bike lanes. Sidewalks on at least one side of the street provide safe routes. TTAC Bike and Ped Subcommittee Member Ben Gooley said focus on building the arterials and collectors to provide a good alternative to get to desired destinations. This supports the smaller routes like parks and commercial districts. He suggested getting the job done first and then thinking of beautification later. Council President Snider suggested starting with the arterials and collectors. He shared an interest in refining the plan further with the type of approach TTAC is recommending of getting some sidewalks everywhere. Councilor Goodhouse said he has heard from parents that they would financially support this project. He suggested slightly increasing the gas tax and some having some on the utility bill. Council President Snider asked for clarification on the methodology and where the funds are coming from.Mr. LaFrance said it is estimated 20 percent will come from other sources like development and grants; not the gas tax. There could be another 20 percent reduction if the whole gas tax option is considered. Councilor Henderson said he has great sympathy for safety and sees a need for protection, but has concern that all this is accumulating past what people can pay. Councilor Woodard expressed his concern that we are adding too many fees and how successful something like this would be on the ballot. He wants to make sure this process is done right in order to support it. Ms. Shearer said if this goes to a vote the story will have to appeal to people's safety. Councilor President Snider asked which election this would be on. Mayor Cook suggested May as November is going to be crowded with other measures. Council President Snider asked what would need to be done for the May date. Mr. LaFrance said the council would have to approve the amount to seek by March and public information material will need to be created. City Manager Wine added the information campaign would have to be in place by the beginning of the year in order for the city to put something on the ballot in May. Mr. LaFrance noted the discussion is scheduled to continue to the December 8 meeting and will bring back more information for a ballot measure. Mayor Cook thanked everyone for attending and their presentation. 6. UPDATE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS Economic Development Coordinator Purdy summarized the staff report and introduced Project Engineer Newbury.Mr. Newbury described the engineering components of the Hunziker Street and Wall Street Project saying in order to serve the future fire needs a 12 inch water line will be TIGARD CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES—NOVEMBER 17, 2015 City of Tigard 113125 SW Hall Blvd.,Tigard,OR 972231503-639-41711 www.tigard-or.gov I Page 6 of 7 constructed as well as a sanitary line. The request for proposal (RFP) was sent and the city received six responses. The project is currently at the negotiation stage. Mr. Purdy said he applied for an EDA grant for $8.5 million and a grant of$3 million of federal money. That leaves $5.5 million in a local match,which could come from current CIP projects and developer contributions. He said he felt optimistic in getting the grant. Councilor Woodard asked if there would be any additional saving on the engineer's estimate of$8.5 million. Mr. Newbury said until the city gets to the 30 percent design phase staff would not know. The city is currently in predesign phase. There is some contingency in those numbers. Mr. Purdy added staff expects to get to the predesign phase in March. Mr. Purdy presented a proposed enterprise zone intergovernmental agreement between the city of Lake Oswego and Tigard to create the Tigard-Lake Oswego enterprise zone. He stated this would be coming to a future council meeting for approval. Mr. Purdy stated the fourth company was certified for expansion in Tigard's enterprise zone,business roundtables are being held, and Tigard Downtown Alliance is putting finishing touches on the tree lighting ceremony and they continue to work on their cross street banner project. Lastly, a new economic development program has started to cultivate food entrepreneurs called Tigard's Table. A series of field trips for this designers table has been set up with the next visit being tomorrow. Mayor Cook thanked Mr. Purdy and Mr. Newbury for the presentation. 7. NON AGENDA ITEMS -None 8. EXECUTIVE SESSION-None 9. ADJOURNMENT At 10:34 p.m. Council President Snider motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Goodhouse seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote of City Council present. Name Yes No Mayor Cook ✓ Councilor Goodhouse ✓ Councilor Henderson ✓ Council President Snider ✓ Councilor Woodard ✓ ,� Norma I. Alley, Deputy City l,4 6rder Attest: c-, Mayy, City of Tigard Date: X07�v TIGARD CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES—NOVEMBER 17, 2015 City of Tigard 113125 SW Hall Blvd.,Tigard,OR 97223 1 503-639-4171 1 www.tigard-or.gov I Page 7 of 7