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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSSM051909CITY OF CENTRAL POINT City Council Study Session IlAay 19, 2009 I. (MEETING CALLED TO ORDER City Administrator Phil Messina called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. I1. ATTENDEES Mayor: Hank Williams -excused Council Members: Carol Fischer, Bruce Dingier, Allen Broderick and Mike Quilty were present. Kay Harrison arrived at 6:45 p.m. Matt Stephenson was excused. City. Administrator Phil Messina; Parks and Recreation Manager Matt Samitore; Planning Manager Don Burt; Public Works Director Bob Pierce; Floodplain Specialist Stephanie Woolett; and City Recorder Deanna Casey were also present. III. BUSINESS A. Flood Study Update Floodplain Specialist Stephanie Woolett presented a power point presentation regarding an update to the Central Point floodplain maps and Twin Creek Development. She explained back ground on National Flood Insurance and program requirements for floodplain management. A good community rating system helps the citizens by lowering their flood insurance payments. The city could implement standards for building in a floodplain and .ensure that future buildings will not be required to pay high insurance rates. Staff recommends changing the city code by approving an ordinance requiring low to moderate risk zones to be elevated and built above the floodplain. Ms. Woolett showed a comparison between the 1982 Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and the 2008 draft FIRM. The amount of structures in the 100 year floodplain .will be increasing, with the 2008 FIRM. She explained the process for updating the FIRM. FEMA will submit maps for Jackson County Public Hearings. Staff is anticipating a completion date of June, 2010. There will be hundreds of homes that are currently not in a floodplain that will be in the new projected floodplain. Staff will be working on an outreach program to help inform the new owners of this issue. City of Central Point Citv Council Studv Session May lg, 2009 Paae 2 Ms. Woolett explained possible improvements that could be done along Griffin Creek and Highway 99 to improve the areas in Twin Creeks that will be affected the most. They need to be careful because mitigation upstream may cause issues downstream that were not projected. Council members Broderick and Fischer are welcome to come to City Hall for further details on Griffin Creek and other areas in the City that have been discussed at previous meetings. Canclusion~ Staff is looking for direction in how to help the low to moderate risk areas. They would like to bring back an Ordinance with changes to standards and elevation for the vacant lots that will be in these areas. If the code is changed it will require a slight elevation to the buildings, and will save the final property owner on flood insurance costs- Council agreed that it was a good idea to update the standards and start an outreach program to inform the citizens what may be coming. Kay Harrison arrived. B. Enterprise Zone 8~ Urban Renewal Districts Interim Community Development Director Matt Samitore refreshed the Council on areas that have been discussed in the past to designate as Enterprise Zones. These areas are the South Haskell vacant lots, Rogue Creamery Redevelopment, Microvelium Business Complex and some other larger pieces of property in the city limits that may qualify. He explained the tax exemption to draw new construction into the area. There may be some legislative updates regarding prevailing wage in these areas which may deter companies from using the program. Planning Manager Don Burt explained other aspects of having an enterprise zone in the city limits and the draw that it may be for certain companies. The council was not in favor of designating the shovel ready site as an enterprise zone. Mr. Burt explained options available for Urban Renewal Districts and their pros and cons. They can be used to eliminate blight throughout the district. An urban renewal district does not need to be limited to the downtown area, it could include industrial areas. He explained types of projects that could be included in an City of Central Point City Council Study Session May 1~, 2009 Page 3 urban renewal district. There are specific limitations for cities with population under 50,000. Urban Renewal is a long term process, there are no current required terminations. dates. It depends on how soon the city reaches its maximum amount of indebtedness. On average it takes about 18 months to put an urban renewal district together and implemented. Concbusion: Council agreed that we should start the process for an Enterprise Zone so that we can be included in the process when the County is ready to present it to the State. They fee! there should be more discussion on an Urban Renewal District. 1!/. ADJQURD~911VIIENT The Study Session for May 19, 2009, was adjourned at 8:06 p.m.