6A | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | SIUSLAW NEWS CITY from page 1A • Identify and create vegeta- tion preservation opportunities such as greenbelts and setbacks • Perform an Old Town Parking Assessment • Identify locations for, de- sign and install Wayfinding Signage in Old Town • Review commercial district use codes for opportunities to improve readability and use such as reducing use lists, ad- dressing on-site outdoor cafes, and neighborhood commercial use • Consider reintroducing compact standards and create consistency in ADA dimen- sions • Update the Stormwater Design Manual by evaluating Portland’s (the basis for Flor- ence’) and applying as reason- able their recent changes such as reduced planting density and setbacks clarity. • Identify and implement affordable housing incentives such as density bonuses, tax ex- emptions, parking reductions, and CET • Encourage rehabilitation of housing stock through incen- tives and code updates • Prioritize capital improve- ments for affordable housing projects • Create pathways for sus- tainable local food production and security • Look at opportunities for Old Town Fire Station reloca- tion and adding amenities such as parking and restrooms • Monitor city population and state ORS for needed ac- tions to comply with new rules related to housing and other land use related statutes. • Partner with CLPUD to ex- plore opportunity to add LED street lighting • Revisit Phase 1-Residential housing code update to address inconsistencies and go-backs • Add Planning Commission members as ex-officio on oth- er committees and include on land use related sub-commit- tees and ad-hoc committees. The CEDC has been tasked by the city council to make rec- ommendations and implement the provisions of the goals and workplan mainly related to the areas of Business and Economic Development, Housing, Parks and Recreation, and Commu- nity Development. In his presentation to the council, Chairperson Robbie Wright included the following comments in his committee’s presentation. “The Community and Eco- nomic Development Commit- tee understands the large scope of work that they have been tasked with by the city council and has many different ideas on how to focus on the commit- tee’s strengths and interests,” Wright said. “The Committee has identified several projects for inclusion in the upcoming City of Florence Workplan.” There were also number of suggestions from committee members as to ways to increase development, improve local parks and improve housing op- tions for residents. All will be discussed at a future meeting of the committee and council. Wright made it clear that the housing issue is at the center of plans for future economic growth and there were a num- ber of related ideas forward- ed in a packet provided to the council and public, including to develop marketing programs that promote the SDC program and ADU program in order to support more “missing middle” housing being built in the city. Suggestions included: • Builder’s Forums — Sup- port staff in developing events and literature that would al- low builders and developers in Florence to ask questions and learn more about the newly de- veloped residential code chang- es. • Florence Rental Housing Market Study — Collect infor- mation from local rental prop- erties about the rental market in Florence to provide infor- mation for future builders and grant opportunities • Facade Improvement Pro- gram — continue to support facade improvement programs inside Florence Urban Renewal Agency’s boundaries and be- yond • Promote the building of more affordable and workforce housing within City limits Once again, discussion fol- lowing EMAC’s presentation turned tense due to a lingering divide among members re- garding the subject of climate change and disagreement on what role — if any — the com- mittee should play at the local level. After a brief presentation by committee chair Katie Prosser, who provided a modest agen- da that touched on expand- ing the bio-solid composting facility, improving recycling options and maintaining Flor- ence’s “Tree City Designation,” Greene addressed the commit- tee and the council. “The 500-pound gorilla in the room is acknowledging climate change, and there are many things we can do that at the local level in terms of edu- cation and changing habits and teaching people to begin to be responsible,” said Greene, who then discussed his opinion that Prosser and Vice Chairper- son Michael Titmus appeared fundamentally opposed to the inclusion of language acknowl- edging climate change as part of EMAC’s agenda — and was the reason the issue was not be- ing taken up by the committee. Prosser responded that she was not responsible for the EMAC decision not to include the issue as a city goal, and that it was a committee decision. “I am a little confused. I am only the chair of the committee, I am not the committee,” Pross- er said. “The committee votes how the committee votes. It is the committee that is making decisions about the workplan.” Henry reminded Greene the issue of climate change had been discussed and voted down three times, by the full commit- tee. “I believe that our city and this community have much concern about the environ- ment and are doing things to take care of the environment, but what we are not doing is signing a climate change proc- lamation just to make someone feel better,” Henry said. The lingering disagreement over the acknowledgment of climate change and how it could impact other discussions regarding city policy will likely continue after the new council members have been sworn in this January. In the meantime, there was no attempt to add or modify the EMAC suggestions given to the council for the city’s overall workplan. The Public Art Committee next made a presentation re- capping the accomplishments of the previous two years, with chairperson Harlen Springer touching on the Art Exposed program as a cornerstone of future plans, as well as the eco- nomic potential attached to the increased opportunities to view art locally. Springer stated the commit- tee will continue its pursuit of artists, funding and display locations, as well as grants for future exhibits. PAC’s proposed projects are: • Central Lincoln PUD Mu- ral — Install LED lighting • Art Exposed Rotating Gal- lery — continue marketing of program and current pieces, and research locations to ex- pand the program • Public/Private Partnership Program — Determine via- bility of the development of a private property art program/ match program • Master Plan — Prepare comprehensive, long-term plan for the city’s Public Art pro- gram and sustainable funding avenues for council consider- ation. • Installation of Jesse Swick- ard’s pieces — Purchased at a low price during the previous group of Art Exposed artists. Next steps are to finalize loca- tions and install the pieces • Art Quest — Prepare and market a quest (scavenger hunt) for the Oregon Sea Quest program through Oregon State University • Art Inventory and Mainte- nance Planning • Featured Pieces — De- termine funding strategy, timeline, and installation of sculptures within the ReVision Florence streetscape project and larger • Mural Code Updates — Work with city council and le- gal counsel to make the mural code easier, cheaper and more accessible to the community • Grants/Funding Sources Development and Management • Marketing/Public Out- reach projects • Education System Partner- ships/Projects — Work with school system and home school programs to support and pro- mote the program • Indoor Public Spaces Pro- gram — research and create program to install art inside local public buildings • Support community events, including outdoor arts opportunities, specifically for performing arts groups • Support other local Flor- ence arts organizations, like the FEC Gallery Committee, CROW, FRAA and others updating councilors inspired by the need for COVID-19 models for sheltering the un- housed this winter. (See full story on A1). FECWS is coordinated and managed locally. The group re- quested the council authorize a temporary series of small, cab- in-like residences be placed at an undeveloped parcel of land owned by local non-profit First Step at 5300 Highway 101. Lane County, through the “Winter Strategies for People Who Are Unsheltered” initiative, has or- dered about 120 Pallet Shelters to be distributed throughout the county. The overarching goal is to stand up 500-1,000 beds county-wide so there isn’t an over-reliance on warming centers around the county. The cost per shelter is ap- proximately $4,800, which would be covered by Lane County. The FECWS has re- quested 20 of those shelters for the Florence area. Lane County is also willing to cover other associated costs for this type of sheltering plan in partnership with the FECWS. City Manager Erin Reynolds presented the application for the temporary approval to the council, which included en- Next, the Transportation Committee made its presenta- tion to council, touching on the following committee goals: • Updating the Florence Transportation System Plan • Increasing ridership on the Rhody Express • Continue to promote busi- ness opportunities for the air- port • Research opportunities for grants to develop General Ben King Memorial Airport Gate- way • Continue to implement air- port improvements according to Airport Master Plan. Later that evening, the reg- ular session of the city council took place with a short agenda dedicated in large part to a pre- sentation from representatives from the Florence Emergency Cold Weather Shelter (FECWS) tering into a limited duration intergovernmental agreement with Lane County. There were numerous objec- tions to the placement of this sheltering facility submitted to the city, as well as letters of support. Issues raised were re- lated to trash concerns and the oversight which would be nec- essary to ensure a safe situation for residents and short-term tenants. The request for temporary approval of the shelters was passed unanimously by the council. Though the cold weather proposal was a large part of the evening’s discussion, there was another discussion during the public comments section of the meeting initiated by resident Michael Allen, which centered on his continued urging of the city to adopt some form of offi- cial climate position. Allen referred to the day’s earlier work session, directly calling out Henry as the indi- vidual responsible for the city’s position of not proclaiming a “Climate Crisis” and asking the mayor to change his position on the matter. See PLAN page 9A Buying or Selling? I can help. Mike Blankenship Broker 541 991-7826 Sutton Lake Rd #127 – Nice .30 acre lot near Sutton Lake in a great neighborhood. 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