City to study Glenwood renewal.

Byline: CITY BEAT/SPRINGFIELD By Bob Keefer The Register-Guard

SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield Economic Development Agency is tan, it's rested and it's back. After almost 20 years of inactivity, the public agency will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in the Jesse Maine Room at Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth St.

The agency, which consists of the mayor and members of the City Council, has been resurrected to oversee possible creation of an urban renewal district in Glenwood.

The district will be on the November ballot for approval or rejection by city voters.

"We're just getting ready so if the urban renewal district passes for Glenwood we'll be ready to go," Mayor Sid Leiken said. "It's just a meeting to get prepared."

On the agenda is electing a chairman, reviewing the agency's mission statement - which is dated Sept. 10, 1986 - and sending the Glenwood urban renewal plan to the Springfield Planning Commission.

The city's last try at urban renewal - which would have created a district in the Gateway area - was turned down by voters in 1989. The city charter requires voter approval of tax increment financing, the method often used to fund urban renewal projects.

ODOT a nuisance?

The bridge between Glenwood and Springfield has long been a favorite area for transients and panhandlers, to the irritation of property owners nearby who object to the public drinking and the littering.

Until last year, the Oregon Department of Transportation authorized Springfield police to arrest people for trespassing on ODOT property around the bridge. But ODOT withdrew permission following settlement of an unrelated court case, according to Police Chief Jerry Smith.

Now the city is making noises about annexing the bridge. "Annexation of this geographical area would add some tools with which to deal with some of the problem," the chief wrote in a memo to City Manager Mike Kelly.

That would mean people could be arrested for drinking in public by the bridge, an offense when it is committed inside the city limits.

Another approach is mapped out by Mel Oberst, a city planning manager. If the city annexes the land, then property owners in the area of the bridge would be responsible under city ordinance for public nuisances on their property.

That means ODOT. "If ODOT was unresponsive to the city ... regarding trash and debris under the bridges, the code enforcement officer would cite ODOT into Municipal Court," Oberst writes in another memo. "Please note that the code officer would not cite the transients."

Arts grants available

The Springfield Arts Commission Heritage Arts Grant program is offering grants of $100 to $500 for Springfield-based organizations that represent the community's history, culture or ethnic diversity. Projects must be arts related, must result in public performances or exhibits and must be completed during 2005.

Last year grants went to several schools, the Springfield Museum, the Emerald Art Association, the Springfield Alliance for Equality and Respect and the Springfield Public Library.

Applications are available at the Springfield Public Library, 225 Fifth St., or by calling Barbara Thompson at 726-2287. Deadline is Oct. 29.

Bob Keefer can be reached at 338-2325 or bkeefer@guardnet .com.