DEVELOPMENT & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER - SPRING 2025 | | |
Welcome to the "Spring Cleanup" edition of the Development and Public Works newsletter. You're receiving this newsletter because you have participated in Spring Cleanup in the past or are currently subscribed to the quarterly DPW newsletter.
Read below for details about this year's Spring Cleanup, including date, time, location, and acceptable items.
If you don't normally receive the DPW newsletter and want to learn more about Development and Public Works projects and activities, click the button below to sign up.
| | Spring Cleanup - Save the Date | | |
Have you been tackling spring cleaning and aren’t sure what to do with the items you no longer need? We have good news!
Mark your calendars for the annual Spring Cleanup on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at EcoSort in Glenwood.
This free event offers an easy way to dispose of large or hard-to-recycle items. Just drive up, show proof of residency, and let our friendly volunteers take it from there. They’ll unload and sort items directly from your vehicle, making the process quick and hassle-free.
Accepted items include appliances, electronics, yard debris, and more. Please note that household garbage, chemicals, and oversized items such as hot tubs and boats will not be accepted. Proof of residency within Springfield city limits is required.
For a comprehensive list of acceptable materials and further details, visit the official Spring Cleanup page by clicking the button below.
| | Springfield Answers the Call: Supporting Flood Recovery in Burns | | Six public works technicians from the Operations Division were in Burns earlier this month, providing critical support for flood recovery efforts. As first responders, public works staff play a vital role in emergencies, jumping into action when communities need them most. In Burns, the team has worked around the clock to keep essential systems running, including checking and refueling bypass pumps, monitoring water levels at lift stations and ditches, and clearing debris from flood-impacted areas. | | Their efforts didn’t stop there. The crew also inspected and cleaned wastewater lines, repaired a damaged hydrant, and maintained key equipment to ensure it was ready for continued use. We’re proud of their dedication, skill, and willingness to serve—especially in challenging situations. Their work is a powerful reminder of the essential role public works plays in keeping communities safe and functioning. | |
Get the facts on your water!
Water is essential to our health, homes, businesses, and future. But did you know that stormwater, wastewater, and drinking water are managed separately? It’s easy to assume they’re handled by the same agency and paid for from the same budget, but that’s not the case!
We’ve put together a new “One Water” brochure to clear up the confusion. It explains who’s in charge of each system, how they’re connected, and – most importantly – how your choices impact your water quality.
Keeping our water clean is a responsibility we all share, from preventing pollution at storm drains to being mindful of what goes down the sink. Check out the One Water brochure now!
Contact:
Your rivers and your future, thank you!
| | Mill Street Reconstruction Hits Milestone with Concrete Pour | | |
The Mill Street reconstruction project is moving right along, with visible progress taking shape between South A Street and Main Street. Curbs, sidewalks, and the concrete street surface have been poured in this section, with only a few small areas left to be poured. Wastewater and stormwater lines have been installed on Mill Street, and work has now shifted to excavation and preparation for the next phase of concrete pouring, starting at Main Street and moving north.
During this phase of work, flaggers will be on site and traffic may be delayed for up to 10 minutes at a time. If possible, please avoid the area. Flaggers will direct drivers around the work zone when they can, your patience and safe driving help protect everyone.
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Mill Street serves as a collector street for nearby residential and commercial areas, connecting to two key Springfield arterials: Centennial Boulevard and Main Street. The full reconstruction is necessary due to the street’s deteriorated condition, which had advanced beyond what regular maintenance could fix.
The project includes:
- New concrete pavement
- Reconstructed sidewalks and driveways
- ADA-compliant curb ramps
- Upgraded stormwater and wastewater systems
- Improved street lighting
- Raised crosswalks and speed humps
- New bike facilities to support safer, more accessible travel for all users
Thank you for your patience as we work to improve this vital roadway. To learn more about the Mill Street reconstruction project and the other ongoing construction projects, click the button below.
| | City Staff Named Oregon Surveyor of the Year for 2024 | | |
We are thrilled to share that our City Surveyor, Jeremy Sherer, was selected as the 2024 Oregon Surveyor of the Year by his peers! Jeremy started his career here in Springfield as a survey rodman with a local engineering company over 30 years ago. His grandfather, a surveyor, inspired him to join the profession.
Jeremy was presented the prestigious Oregon Surveyor of the Year award at the Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon Annual Conference in Salem, January 15-17, 2025. This award, the highest honor in the field, recognizes Jeremy's outstanding contributions and leadership to the profession. He has served as the State Association’s Secretary, Treasurer, President-Elect, and President. His commitment to supporting their Emerging Leaders Program and mentoring others entering the profession is commendable. The association’s mission is to improve Oregon Land Surveyors' status and promote high standards of practice and ethical conduct.
We are grateful to have such a knowledgeable and dedicated City Surveyor as Jeremy! Please join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved recognition. You can learn more about Jeremy’s career and the Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon by clicking the button below.
| | Advisory Committee Opportunity | | Are you interested in helping make more housing happen in Springfield? Are you interested in reviewing how State requirements for people-oriented design could shape Springfield’s development outcomes? Do you generally want to be more involved in Springfield and in decisions that affect our community? If so, we encourage you to apply to join the Housing + Design Initiative advisory committee by May 9, 2025! Click below or visit our project webpage to learn more and to get the application! Feel free to reach out to the project manager, Haley Campbell, with questions at 541-726-3647 or hcampbell@springfield-or.gov. | | |
The City recently began this effort to continue focusing on Springfield's Housing Strategy by amending the Springfield Development Code to include clear and objective development standards for new housing in mixed-use districts while ensuring our adopted land use plans provide a consistent policy framework. The Housing + Design Initiative project aligns with the City’s goals to facilitate housing production, affordability, and choice by reducing regulatory barriers. While reviewing the Development Code and adopted land use plans for ways to clarify requirements for mixed-use housing, we will also find opportunities to coordinate with other recent State requirements to foster a welcoming pedestrian experience in and around Springfield’s residential, commercial, and mixed-use districts.
If you have followed the City’s efforts to streamline the Development Code and review of planning applications, you might be familiar with an ongoing Development Code Update Project that began in 2018. The updates for the Housing + Design Initiative will cover the housing-related sections of the Springfield Development Code that Phase 1 (Housing - focused on Middle Housing) and Phase 2 (Employment Lands) did not address.
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