HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-0403 Study Session MIN
City Council Study Session Meeting
April 3, 2017
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MINUTES FOR THE STUDY SESSION
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
Monday, April 3, 2017
Siskiyou Room, 51 Winburn Way
Mayor Stromberg called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. in the Siskiyou Room.
Councilor Morris, Darrow, Rosenthal, Seffinger, and Slattery were present. Councilor Lemhouse was
absent.
1. Public Input
Susan Hall/210 East Nevada Street/Spoke at the last Study Session on the Public Works Director's
authority regarding Transportation Commission decisions and had not received a response to her
inquiries.
City Attorney Dave Lohman explained Mr. Faught planned to call her directly. Ms. Hall responded Mr.
Faught had stopped her before a meeting and explained in cases his recommendation was different from
the Transportation Commission, they presented their recommendation, and he presented his.
Louise Shawkat/870 Cambridge/Thanked everyone for their response regarding the 10x20 ordinance.
2. Look Ahead review
Interim City Administrator John Karns reviewed items on the Look Ahead.
3. City Recorder/Treasurer Appointment Process
City Recorder Barbara Christensen explained advertisements were in the paper for two weeks that
resulted in three applications. If Council was satisfied with the applications received, they needed to
determine next steps for interviewing and the appointment process.
Council discussed appointing a City staff person living within the city limits to cover duties until Council
decided whether to keep the position elected or put it on a ballot to make it appointed. There was concern
that appointing an employee might go against the City Charter. If the public voted the position as
appointed, it would involve a decrease in pay. Another discussion on an appointed position was whether
the offer went directly to the Interim City Recorder or opened to the public. Staff would establish a job
classification with a pay range in the event the position changed to appointed instead of elected. Also
discussed were types of questions to ask the applicants and training.
Council would interview each candidate individually by April 22, 2017 and make a decision at the May 2,
2017 Council meeting.
4. Discussion of upcoming meetings regarding budget prioritization
Mayor Stromberg reviewed the Possible Additions to the 2017-19 Baseline Budget document with
Council. For item No. 3 Police Staffing Increase, Council did not want a utility surcharge tied
specifically to the Police Department. Council would discuss the matter at the following night's meeting.
The Parks and Recreation Department would not have additions this budget cycle.
Interim City Administrator John Karns addressed item No. 10 New Phone System, and explained the new
system would allow a higher volume of calls from the public during weather events and emergencies.
Currently, citizens often encountered busy signals during these events.
City Council Study Session Meeting
April 3, 2017
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Mr. Karns confirmed the deadline for budget additions had passed. The Mayor and Mr. Karns would
prioritize the items by rating each one. They would also review citizen survey results in regards to the
budget items.
Assistant to the City Administrator Adam Hanks addressed replacing roofs with solar panels. There was
a state house bill that required a percentage of project costs to be renewable energy.
Councilor Darrow addressed the City Recorder's position and asked staff to review if there was adequate
or available staff that could fill in that position until an election occurred to either fill the Recorder's
position or propose a Charter amendment to make it appointed and not elected. She would email her
request to the Mayor and Mr. Karns who would research options.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Dana Smith
Assistant to the City Recorder