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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-0116 REG MINMINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL January 16, 1996 CALLFX} TO ORDER 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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the Regular meeting of January 2, 1996 were approved as presented. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Minutes of boards, COmmisSiOnS, and committeeS. 2. Monthly departmental reports - December 1995. 3. Liquor license application from Ashland Creek Bar & Grill, 92% North Main Street. 4. Memorandum from director of Community Development regarding County Health Department's inspection requirements for Trave!lers' Accommodations by Jackson County. 5. Approval of request to cut pavement on Hersey Street (under moratorium until 9-18-97). Councilor Wheeldon questioned if the Planning Department could include a narrative report in Council packets giving status of projects. Planning Director John McLaughlin clarified for Council that those reports would be included in their packets beginning next month. January actions would be reported in the February packets. Councilor Hagen requested that there be a narrative from both the Planning Department and the Building Department to address issues. Councilors Hauck/Hagen m/s to approve consent agenda. Voice vote: aH AYES. Motion passed. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Request for modification of Chapter 18.92 of the Ashland Municipal Code Land Use Ordinance pertaining to off-street parking. Modifications include changes to the bicycle parking section and other general housekeeping changes. Planning Director John McLaughlin presented the proposed modification to the off-street parking chapter of the Ashland Municipal Code Land Use Ordinance. He stated that it was an opportunity to clean up the chapter and make some improvements in the way the off-street parking issues are handled. Changes are made throughout the chapter making better references, cleaning up language, making it more specific and making improvements in the bike parking requirements. Reported that the modifications have gone through many reviews, including the Planning Commission. Staff recommends approval and adoption of the ordinance as presented. Councilor Reid stated that it had been brought to her attention that when a new business is requested by the City to install a bicycle rack, it doesn't happen. She questioned how this is enforced. McLaughin explained those are items that are required before issuance of certificate of occupancy. He stated that there have been problems with code enforcement, but in general is working well. Thresholds listed under residential uses was discussed and it was clarified by McLaughlin that there had been research by observation made. He explained that in some sections an update was done, using state wide standards. Compared to what most cities had, our current requirements were greater for off-street parking. Discussion by Council relating to decreasing the spaces allowed for single family dwellings and parking for Business. McLaughlin explained that under Business, parking area went from 250 square feet to 350 square feet. He states that this matches up with the current demand. McLaughlin clarified that on page 4, section D, item 3 regarding golf course spaces is an industry standard. Councilor Thompson suggested that the section providing additional spaces for auxiliary uses, be striked out. Councilor Hagen commented that on the sketches prepared for the handicap parking it should indicate where to locate the signpost. PUBLIC HEARING: OPEN 7:20 p.m. Rees Jones/107 N. Wightman/Concerned that the bicycle ordinance was not being enforced. Felt that the ordinance was very good in regards to bicycle parking. He requested that 2 council reconsider the way bicycle parking is dealt with downtown. Stated two concepts, long-term parking for employees and short term parking for patrons of businesses. Currently there is no long-term parking provided downtown. He felt that although the Bicycle Commission recommendation would have only effected new construction, the Planning Commission decided that was too much. He reported that the Planning Commission had stated the City should provide long-term parking and secured sheltered parking downtown, the same as they provide other parking. There was no dollar figure attached to this recommendation and there was no request made for the Budget, he stated they just said, "do it". He requested a commitment from Council to go ahead with the next step in funding and pursue getting parking provided for bicycle riders who work in the downtown area, if the City is not going to require the businesses to provide the parking. It was clarified for Council that this would be a budget item for Public Works. McLaughlin stated that we currently have sheltered spaces downtown for bicycle parking. He explained that what Mr. Jones is speaking of is a bike locker system, with lease arrangements for long-term employee parking. These would encourage employees to ride to work. An additional issue raised by Mr. Jones dealt with the question of the number of sheltered spaces per unit in multi-family residential. He stated that the first thing on the Council's priority for Goal Setting was, encouragement of multi-modal transportation. He requests that the City require bicycle parking and provide the opportunity to have bicycle parking when it occurs. Mclaughin clad fled for Council that enforcement of the ordinance on existing facilities is dealt with in the ordinance that applies to all parking. It states that the required bicycle parking facilities shall be constructed when an existing residential building or dwelling is altered or enlarged by the addition or creation of dwelling units, or when a non-residential use is intensified by the addition of floor space, seating capacity, or change in use. Councilor Wheeldon stated that she would like to explore and look further at the disparity of this issue. Councilor Laws suggested that this should be referred to the Bicycle Commission, TPAC and then sent back to the Planning Commission to review their comments. Councilor Hauck noted that for auto parking, there is differentiation made on the non-parking required, based on multi-family size of units. That same kind of differentiation is not made between bicycles. It was questioned as to why there isn't a differentiation. Discussion by Council to determine the cost by the city for downtown bicycle parking for budget purposes. The costs involved would not be used to weigh a decision but as an alternative toward a requirement. Council discussed sending ordinance back to Bicycle Commission and TPAC. McLaughlin stated that the Planning Department could prepare the background information on focused issues to help explain items of concern. It was pointed out that the majority members of TPAC were in attendance at this time, and it would not be necessary to send it back to TPAC. Councilor Laws suggested that just the relevant items be sent to the Bicycle Commission for review. It was clarified for Council that the Bicycle Commission did review the ordinance and made recommendations to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission also reviewed the ordinance and changed the recommendations by the Bicycle Commission. Councilor Hauck requested that Council move forward and if additional comments are directed from the Bicycle Commission, they can be part of the first reading of the ordinance. PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED: 7:50 p.m. Councilors Thompson/Laws m/s to place modification of Chapter 18.92 on next agenda for f'wst reading. Staff is directed to re-examine and offer some alternatives to the number of bike parking places required in multi-family units, other thresholds to compare and a proposal for a more structured parking scenario in the downtown with DISCUSSION: Councilor Hagen commented that in designing multi-family residential, when there is shelter for one space per unit, two could be accommodated by better planning. Councilor Hauck would like to look at ways to differentiate the size of the unit in a multi- family unit dwelling. City Administrator concerned with how cost would be formulated. Roll Call vote: Hauck, Thompson, Laws, Wheeldon, Reid and Hagen; YES. Motion passed. It was clarified for Almquist that Council is not requesting a large scale cost report, but to pull the information from magazines that have structures and quotes of prices. Councilor Reid stated that she is concerned with enforcement of existing ordinance and would like to look at how well our present bicycle structures are being used. She would like to see full utilization of what is present, enforcement of what is on the books and encouragement of the proposed ordinance. It was agreed to determine the number of parldng spaces downtown currently and what that compares to. 4 PUBLIC FORUM None UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Mayor's assignment of council liaison to various boards, commi~ious, and committees. Assignment post-poned until next Council meeting in February. Election of Council president will also be included at the next Council meeting in February. NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS 1. Request of Councilor Hagen for the Council to consider an appeal from a decision of the Planning Commition on Plannine Action No. 95-131, a request for a site review to construct a health spa and residential units located at 665 and 685 "A" Street. Councilor Hagen was concerned because the driveway that accesses this development is right along the Central Ashland Bicycle Path. He stated that the design was an alley system and the intent was to access as many of these properties as possible from the rear. It was noted that the property has a parking lot facing A SWeet. When it was first envisioned it was to have parking in the rear. Councilor Reid voiced support for Councilor Hagen's appeal. Council voiced their concern with Planning Commission re-designing proposals. It was felt that the proposals were presented in one form, processed through pre-application and then an entirely different proposal was presented to the Planning Commission, without going back to staff to review changes. It was noted that in the second proposal the design standards were ignored. Councilor Hauck felt the general policy question, as to where parking should go and how it has been encouraged in the back areas, should be explored. Councilors Hauck/Laws m/s to appeal Planning Action No. 95-131. Voice vote; aH AYES. Motion passed. Request of Ashland Parks and Recreation Commir, sion to direct staff to prepare a ballot title for the May 1996 primary election for the renewal of Recreational Serial Property Tax Levy for swimming programs and maintenance of non-dedicated park properties. the City Administrator read memo submitted by Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission. The current Recreational Serial Levy property tax expires on June 30, 1996. 5 It was clarified for Council that the pennies per thousand is less than ten cents and that the Parks Commission does not have the ability to increase their tax base for recreation purposes, only for dedicated land. Mayor Golden stated that this may jeopardize the Counties tax base by putting a competing measure on the ballot. She felt that this should be incorporated into the tax base. Discussion was made as to whether the Levy could be renewed and at the same time a measure be put on the ballot to pull it into the general tax base. It was determined that at the present there is no other source for this money. It was noted that the Parks Commission was asked three years ago to put this into the general tax base, but nothing was done. It is also brought up at each Budget season. Councilors Laws/Reid m/s to take steps necessary to place on the ballot. Voice vote; aH AYES. Motion passed. ORDINANCES. RESOLUTIONS, AND CONTRACTS 1. Second reading of "An Ordinance Amending Chapters 6.12, 6.16, 6.28, and 6.32 of the Ashland Municipal Code to Standardize Permit Procedures for Business Licenses; Amending Chapter 6.24 to Conform Regulation of Peddlers to Existing Law and Deleting Chapter 6.08 Pertaining to Dance Hail Licenses and Chapter 6.20 Pertaining to Places of Amusement." City Attorney Nolte noted three changes to sections 6.24.020D; 6.24.030A and 6.24.045A. Councilors Hauck/Hagen m/s approve Ordinance # 2774 with proposed changes. Roll Call vote: Thompson, Laws, Wheeldon, Reid, Hagen and Hauck; YES. Motion passed. Second reading by title only of "An Ordinance Amending the Procedures Chapter of the Land Use Ordinance; Reconciling Other Sections of the Land Use Ordinance and the AMC to the Amendments; Amending the Various Criteria and Repealing Resolutions 78-38 and 88-20." City Attorney Nolte noted changes on page 8, sub-section 3; page 13, section 18.108.160B; page 17, section 8, amends section 18.04.020 of AMC. It was clarified that there were no changes to building permit issuances. Councilors Hauck/Wheeldon m/s to approve Ordinance ir277~ with proposed changes. Roll Call vote: Reid, Hagen, Thompson, Laws, Hauck, Wheeidon; YES. Motion passed. 6 F'wst reading of an Ordinance Amending Section 18.24.030.K.7 and 18.28.030.K.7 of the AMC -- the Land Use Ordinance Regarding Health Inspections for TraveHers' Accommodations. Council voiced concern with information provided to them indicating they were under the mistaken impression that any facility that serves meals would be inspected. The correct information is that two unit or less Bed & Breakfast's, do not fall in this category. Councilor Reid stated that because there is a Bed & Breakfast ordinance that regulates all lodging businesses outside the commercial district, they have to be in compliance with that ordinance. She stated that for some small businesses they are nothing like the larger Bed & Breakfast's. She felt that the proposed ordinance helped to better define the difference between two unit or less B&B's and larger B&B's. It was noted that the State and County has responsibility for matters of health in restaurants and dwellings that provide food. This is a function that is already being done. Council not convinced that our ordinance needs to be more strict than what is being enforced by the State and County. Councilors Laws/Thompson m/s to approve rust reading and place on next agenda for second reading. DISCUSSION: Councilor Hauck noted that the County does not have a choice on what they exempt, they have to follow State statute. Voice vote: Wheeldon, Laws, Hagen, Thompson; YES. Hauck; NO. Reid; declared conflict of interest. Motion passed 4-1. Reading by title only of "A Resolution Authorizing an Interfund Loan for the Ambulance Fund." Finance Director Jill Turner explained that the Ambulance Fund will need to borrow to finance the initial down payment as well as for initial cash flow needs. Requests authorization for the Director of Finance to borrow up to $150,000 from the Insurance Services Fund. It was explained that an Enterprise Fund would be set-up and it would become a self supporting entity, the money that it brings in and expends would stay within the Enterprise Fund. Turner explained that what was presented to Council was a short summary. She is getting ready now to do the formal application to the County and it appears that there will need to be authorization to borrow up to $150,000. She estimates that we will borrow around $130,000 to $140,000 of which $100,00 is for the down payment and the $30,000-$40,000 is for the up front working capital. 7 Turner informed Council that the plan in the Fail is to work with a subscription service, where you purchase pre-need ambulance. This will help with the cash flow and the subscription service will extend into other parts of the state. The program should start sometime in October or November. Mayor explained that the intention is to set-up an Independent Fund with the Fire Department and it not necessarily, be a part of the General Fund. Turner stated that the General Fund pays for basic fire support. When extra costs are incurred over providing basic fire support, those are the costs that will be charged to the Ambulance Fund. Councilor Laws questioned how you get money from the Enterprise Fund into the Generai Fund. Turner felt that there will be some adequate revenue string to transfer some monies in the future. For example; charge a rental fee for the ambulance portion or build another facility where 4051; is Ambulance and 60% is General Fund, jointly owned and split for the debt service. Laws questioned if it were legitimate to charge as much as was possible from the ambulance toward new buildings, without doing tricky book work. Turner stated that you would need to have a justifiable basis. Turner stated that it is not illegai, but not aiways the most logical. Turner clarified that an Enterprise Fund does not restrict you with what can be done within that Enterprise. An Enterprise Fund can legaily give money to another public function. Councilors Hauck/Reid m/s to approve Resolution ~s)6-06. Roll Call vote: Hagen, Wheeidon, Thompson, Reid, Hauck and Laws; YES. Motion passed. Reading by title only of "A Resolution Transferring appropriations for the 1995-96 Budget." Councilors Laws/Reid m/s to approve Resolution//96-07. Roll Call vote: Thompson, Wheeldon, Hagen, Laws, Hauck and Reid; YES. Motion passed. 5 Reading by title only of "A Resolution Authorizing Reimbursement of Ambulance Capital Costs with Tax-Exempt Borrowing." Councilors Hauck/Reid m/s to approve Resolution//96-08. Roll Call vote: Hagen, Thompson, Reid, Wheeldon, Laws and Hauck; YES. Motion passed. 5 Approval of contract with ODOT for inCtaHation of opticom traffic signal control at eleven intersections. City Administrator Almquist explained to Council that this installation would ailow Ambulance and Fire the ability to control traffic signais. Councilors Reid/Hagen m/s to approve ODO T contract. Voice vote; all AYES. Motion passed. OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL M'EMBERS Councilor Thompson reminded Council to return the Regional Planning questionnaire to him. He stated that he had an open and frank discussion with County Commissioner Jack Walker. Councilor Hagen voiced his concern with the Ashland Community Hospital disclosure issue with the Mail Tribune. Councilors Hagen/Hauck m/s to place ACH disclosure issue with Mail Tribune on agenda. Voice vote; all AYES. Motion passed. City Attorney Nolte stated that he had read the material the Hospital Administrator did not want to disclose. It was his opinion, that there was nothing in those materials that would make them exempt from disclosure. The Hospital Administrator does not agree with this opinion and opinion was discussed with Hospital Administrator and his retained Council. His Council articulated an argument supporting the Administrators desire, Nolte disagrees with the argument. Councilors Hauck/Reid m/s to direct City Attorney Noite to release the packet to the press from the November meeting of the Board of Trustees and to direct City Attorney Nolte to review 12 months of records as requested by the Mail Tribune. City Attorney Noite is directed to do what he deter...ines is legally correct. Roll Call vote: Reid, Laws, Hauck, Hagen, Wheeldon and Thompson; YES. Motion passed. Councilor Reid requested that interim Public Works Director Jim Olson share plans of Highway 66 planting of trees at Council Study Session. Study Session scheduled for January 17 would include update of sidewalks on Highway 66 and Oak Street; possible report on computer services and additional discussion on bike parking. ADJOURNMF~NT Meeting was adjourned at 8:47 p.m. ~Barbara Christensen, Recorder Catherine M. Golden, Mayor