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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-0107 Council Mtg MIN MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING • ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL January 7, 1997 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Golden called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., Civic Center Council Chambers. ROLL CALL Councilors Laws; Reid, Hauck, Hagen, Wheeldon and Thompson were present. OATH OF OFFICE City Recorder Barbara Christensen administered the Oath of Office to newly-elected officials, Teri Coppedge, P ks Commission; JoAnne Eggers, Parks Commission, Steve Hauck, Council Position Don Laws, Council Position #1; Carole Wheeldon, Council PositionJK -1P=) and Catherine Golden, Mayor. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the Regular meeting of December 17, 1996 were approved as presented. MAYOR'S ANNUAL ADDRESS "The State of The City." Mayor Golden explained the procedure that took place from the time flooding threatened the city and when City Administrator Brian Almquist declared State of Emergency in the City of Ashland and the activation of the Emergency Operation Center. • Those who functioned in the EOC; Incident Commander: Gary Brown and Mel Clements; Operations: Keith Woodley and Don Paul; Planning: Dick Wanderschied and Kelly Madding; Logistics: Mike Biondi and Jill Turner; Public Information Officer: Barbara Christensen and Linda Hoggatt and Scribe: Trish Burrell and Wendy Svarin. Noted the allied agencies, SOSC, Ashland Public Schools, Ashland Community Hospital and US Forest Service. Mayor gave update of flood situation and current status of Plaza buildings and challenges that face the city. Mayor explained the components necessary to be gathered in order for the city to receive funds from the Federal Emergency Management Assistance (FEMA). Gave update on Water Treatment Plant and Waste Water Treatment Plant. Also, when water may be available, along with sewage system. The integrity of the dam had been questioned and Mayor Golden clarified that there was never any danger to the dam. Clarified that timber that fell due to the flood were "live" trees and not dead timber. • City Council Meeting 1-07-97 1 Golden gave information on how to volunteer in various ways. Commented on the • extraordinary ways that the public has helped in this crisis. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Minutes of boards, commissions, and committees. 2. Monthly Departmental Reports - December, 1996. 3. City Administrator's Monthly Report - December, 1996. 4. Approval of Liquor License Application from Ken Williams for an ESTABLISHMENT, Trinity Lanes at 1505 Siskiyou Blvd. 5. Memorandum from Fire Chief Keith Woodley regarding City Burning Regulations. Councilor Hagen requested that item #5 be pulled and placed under New & Misc. Business. Councilors Hagen/Reid m/s to approve consent agenda items #1 thru #4. Voice vote: all AYES. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Continuation of hearing on request for Outline Plan approval for a seven lot subdivision under the Performance Standards Option located at 25 Westwood Street (Continued to 1/21/97). • Continued to January 21, 1997. 2. Adoption of an increase in the Transportation Utility Fee to establish an "Arterial Street Assistance Account." Continued to January 21, 1997. PUBLIC FORUM Linda West Eckhardt/108 Bush/Spoke regarding health issues and long term solutions to future water supply. Rick Landt/Scott English/324 Terrace/Submitted information to council regarding their proposals related to the watershed and their recommendations for future related problems which included forming an Ad Hoc Committee of citizens and local experts including those at SOSC, and give it staff support to identify and assess watershed related problems. Mayor encouraged this group to gather information and documentation of flood related damage to be submitted to the appropriate entity. Group would not be appointed as formal • City Council Meeting 1-07-97 2 Ad Hoc Committee by Mayor until specific.information regarding this group is presented to • the council. Ron Roth/6950 Old Hwy 99/Gave suggestions and shared observations regarding the flood. Commented on ways to decrease future damage to the Plaza area. Would like to see Ashland Creek have a larger area. Gary Schrodt/681 Liberty/Reported on what he had observed on the lower end of Ashland Creek. Shared concern with the broken sewage line. Steve Willing/725 Beach St/Spoke regarding the problem of the Talent Irrigation Ditch and flooding. Explained that he was the lucky recipient of having the entire TID into his back yard. Felt that there is a need for retaining walls and possibly cutting back the mountain along with access roads. Does not believe the city has a system to deal with this problem. Mayor explained that this has been a topic of discussion in regards to maintenance and the possibility of culverts. This situation will be put on the list of things to look at. Monte Stern/552 Beach St/Spoke regarding the status of Beach Street in relation to the Talent Irrigation Ditch. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Authorization for Mayor and Recorder to sign agreements with ODOT for • Sherman Street and Central Ashland Multimodal Path. Councilors Reid/Hagen m/s to approve. Voice vote: all AYES. Motion passed. 2. Election of Citizen's Budget Committee Members (2). Councilors Wheeldon/Thompson m/s to elect Richard Nichols and James Moore, Jr. for the positions on the Citizen's Budget Committee with Ken Maloney as a potential alternate. DISCUSSION: Councilor Laws voiced his concern on individuals that submitted applications and who have been leaders in the business community but were not duly considered. There was discussion on how all areas within the community have a need for representation. Councilors involved in the interview process shared their observations and the method of how their recommendations were determined. Voice vote: Reid, Hauck, Hagen, Wheeldon and Thompson, YES; Laws, NO. Motion passed 5-1. City Council Meeting 1-07-97 3 . NEW & MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS • 1. Proposal from RVTD for restoration of 15-30 minute bus service from January 13 to June 30, 1997. RVTD is prepared to offer the City of Ashland a proposal to extend current service. This would restore 15 minute service on fixed routes and to provide complimentary paratransit for people with disabilities. The cost to the City of Ashland to restore this level of service from January 13, 1997 through June 30, 1997 will be $50,000. Councilors Hauck/Hagen m/s to approve proposal. Voice vote: all AYES. Motion passed. 2. Notice of Special Meeting of City Council at 11:00am Thursday, January 9, 1997 at Council Chambers, 1175 East Main, to adopt a resolution calling for a special election on flood restoration bonds. Information for council attention, time of meeting was changed to 1:00 at the Council Chambers. 3. Memorandum from Fire Chief Keith Woodley regarding City Burning Regulations. Councilor.Hagen explained that he pulled this item from the Consent Agenda because he was • concerned with doing away with the sunset clause. He believes that in the interest of air quality and the interest of getting the watershed cleaned up, that this be looked at each year. Discussion regarding anticipation of special requests regarding burning of debris due to the flood. Chief Woodley concerned that if we don't take action on the current ordinance, it will roll back to the one that allows burning year round. He commented that the Outdoor Burning Ordinance has been very easy to administer, but if council would like to review it annually, it is their purview to do so. Council discussed changing the language in the ordinance dealing with the sunset clause date. Councilors Reid/Hagen m/s to approve placing an the next agenda an ordinance dealing with outdoor burning which includes amendment adding annual review. Voice Vote: all AYES. Motion passed. • City Council Meeting 1-07-97 4 ORDINANCES. RESOLUTIONS AND CONTRACTS • 1. Second reading by title only of "an Ordinance Replacing Chapter 18.106 of the AMC in Order to Modify Approval Standards for Annexations." Councilors Hauck/Hagen m/s to approve Ordinance # 2792. Roll Call vote: Laws, Reid, Hauck, Hagen, Wheeldon and Thompson, YES. Motion passed. 2. Resolution Exempting from Competitive Bidding Certain Emergency Contracts Related to the-New Year's Day Flood, January 1, 1997. Councilors Reid/Hauck m/s to approve Resolution # 97-04. Roll Call vote: Laws, Reid, Hauck, Hagen, Wheeldon and Thompson, YES. Motion passed. 3. A Resolution of the City of Ashland, Jackson County, Oregon, declaring Official Intent to Issue Reimbursement Bonds to Reimburse Expenditures Incurred for Flood Damage. TO BE HEARD AT SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ON THURSDAY, JAN. 9, 1997. 4. A Resolution Ratifying the Declaration of Emergency Made by the City Administrator and Assuming Additional Emergency Powers During the Emergency. • Councilors Laws/Wheeldon m/s to approve Resolution # 97-03. Discussion: Councilor Thompson questioned the number of people allowed to gather, indicated in the Declaration of State of Emergency. City Administrator explained that this was actually only during the height of the emergency and it would be reasonable to strike this from the declaration at this time. Motion was amended to include striking section C number 3 from the declaration. Councilors Laws/Wheeldon m/s to approve Resolution # 97-03 with discussed amendment. Roll Call Vote: Laws, Reid, Hauck, Hagen, Wheeldon and Thompson, YES. Motion passed. OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS Councilor Reid questioned the post-ponement of goal setting session and supported meeting and discussing major issues surrounding the flood crisis. Concerned with how departments had been affected and did not want to put off the goal setting session indefinitely. City Administrator Almquist stated that this could take place in early February. Councilor Hagen shared problem with phone numbers and gave out his correct phone number. Hagen also commented on how difficult it is on citizens when the agenda is changed without notice. • City Council Meeting 1-07-97 5 • Councilor Wheeldon requested update on the Parks Department. Ken Mickelson, Director of Parks gave update on Lithia Park, including how he had numerous calls regarding volunteers. Mickelson stated that he had hopes to open some facilities this weekend, including the skating rink. It was mentioned that the male swan was killed in an accident involving a private work truck. Councilor Wheeldon commented that she felt it was very important that de-briefing be allowed on the flood crisis. Wheeldon announced that beginning in January she will hold office hours on Monday, between 9am and noon at City Hall. Councilor Thompson brought to the attention of council the role that KSOR played in getting information out to the public during the crisis. Suggested that in the budget process there be some way that their importance and value be recognized. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. Barbara Christensen, City Recorder Catherine M. Golden, Mayor • City Council Meeting 1-07-97 6