HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-0220 REG MINMINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
February 20, 1996
CALLED TO ORDER
Mayor Golden call the meeting to order at 7 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 February 6, 1996 were approved with a correction to page
12, paragraph one; Councilor Reid was indicating purchasing of "green" electrical power.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minute of boards, commissions, and committees.
2. Monthly departmental reports for January 1996.
3. City administrator's monthly report for January 1996.
4. Approval for a liquor license for Don Schamanek, dba Chevron Food Mart, 2500 Ashland
Street.
Councilors Laws/Hagen m/s to approve Consent Agenda. Voice vote: all AYES. Motion
passed.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Continuation of Request of Councilor Hagen for the Council to consider an appeal from a
decision of the Planning Commission on Planning 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.
Planning Director John McLaughlin presented to Council plans submitted by the project architect for
the revision to the "A" Street frontage for the parking lot area of this project. The design shows a
low wall and hedge for most of the frontage, with a 10' wide pedestrian entrance to the parking
area.
He stated that staff was concerned that there was no grade change between the parking lot and the
pedestrian entrance, especially with the pedestrian entrance being 10' wide, which is wide enough
for an auto to pass through. Staff would recommend that the width of the pedestrian entrance be
limited to no greater than 6' to provide the visual appearance of not being able to exit an auto
through this opening.
Staff also noted that the lighting proposed for the entrance and along the front of the parking lot is
not in keeping with the lighting that has been installed in front of the park and elsewhere along "A"
Street. Staff recommendation would be that the lighting design be modified to coordinate with the
existing efforts of the City and other property owners,
PUBLIC HEARING OPEN: 7:10 p.m.
J. Ellen Austin/625 A Street/Spoke in opposition to A Street parking.
2-20-96 COUNCIL MINUTES 1
Bill Emerson/90 5th Street/Spoke in favor of Concept 3 as submitted by applicant.
Tom Giordano/Spoke on behalf of applicant and stated that them would be no problem with
changing of street lights.
Patricia Murphy/Applicant/Spoke on how she felt that the original design is the best design. Felt
there is still a safety issue and that ingress was the only good suggestion. Felt she has done a lot
of compromising already. Feels it will be confusing for customer in not knowing where they are
suppose to park and that they will park on the street rather than in the parking lot.
PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED: 7:24 p.m.
Planning Director John McLaughlin clarified for Council that them would be no difference between a
10' driveway as opposed to a 8' driveway. Noted that staff is considering changing the use of the
word "alley" to "lane".
Councilors Reid/Laws m/s to approve concept 3 as submitted by applicant with staff
recommendations of changing driveway to a 6' width and that lighting be changed to match
the existing pedestrian fighUng In the RR District Neighborhood. Roll Call vote: Hagen,
Wheeldon, Reid, Laws and Hauck; YES. Thompson abstained as he was not present during
the initial hearing on the application. Motion passed.
2. Revision of sewer rates and resolution adopting proposed schedule of rates.
Finance Director Jill Turner presented sewer rate model for 1996-97 through 2003-2004. The study
indicated that rates should increase 22% in 1994 and 15% each year through 1998. It also
indicated that the largest share of these increases should be born by the commercial customer
class. The rate model was updated and recommended rate increases of 15% for the next four
years.
PUBLIC HEARING OPEN: 8:36 p.m.
David Fadden/326 N. Main/Read statement on his opinion of sewer rates and classification of
assignment of sewer rates. Asks Council to postpone making decision with further investigation of
classifications.
Gary Schrodt/681 Uberty/Ashland WeUands Coalition/Proposes that there an incentive program
for users to not use garbage disposals and this could be reflected on their billing.
PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED: 8:53 p.m.
Finance Director, Jill Turner, clarified for Council the rate structure and how the sewer rates are
classified.
Councilor Laws stated that he felt that there should be one rate used for commercial and residential.
Is not convinced that there is a heavier load by commercial use compared to residential use.
Believes that the textbook data used is based on a small amount of data available.
2-20-96 COUNCIL MINUTES
Paula Brown, Sewer Treatment Plant Coordinator clarified for Council that in looking at commercial
uses, especially by restaurants, there is higher strength characteristics both in BOD and Suspended
Solids. The study done in 1994 is accurate based on the textbook ranges, they use 185 BOD and
185 Suspended Solids. The average use is normally 200 for residential.
Council asked if it were possible to differentiate between different kinds of use. Brown confirmed
that it could be done by a study and it would be possible to use this information from the study to
do billing.
Councilors Rid/Hagen m/s to approve Resolution #~/~'/Tapproving proposed schedule of
sewer rates. Roll Call vote: Wheeldon, Thompson, Reid, Hauck and Hagen; YES. Laws; NO.
Motion passed 5-1.
Council requested that Administrator note this issue as a side-bar item.
PUBLIC FORUM
June Bryant Pruett/P.O. Box 32, Talent/Spoke regarding her concern of the vandalism in the
cities cemeteries. Asked Council if there was anything that could be done.
Finance Director, Jill Turner, clarified that fences have been installed and repaired recently. In the
process of putting sidewalks in to encourage use of sidewalks and not cemetery. Vandalism is
difficult to control, and the police department continues to deal with this problem.
Phil Arnold and "Pepper the Grccd RghUng Possum" represenUng the 25 drivers of the
RVTD/Presented a proposed resolution in opposition to the Rogue Valley Transit District board of
directors decision.
Council voiced concern about how the resolution was being proposed for Council approval without
being first put on the agenda and also in the manner in which it was presented.
Susan Hunt/220 Nutley/Presented Council with letters regarding Barton/Roberts mediation
agreement with Scenic neighbors and response to a memo from John McLaughlin, Planning
Director.
Council suggested that Ms. Hunt attend Study Session on February 21 st at 4 p.m. to discuss this
item further.
UNFINISHED BUSINFSS
1. Committee process for allocation of CBDG funds.
City Administrator, Brian Almquist recommended by memo to Council that the Resolution delegating
the allocation of CBDG funds to the Ashland Housing Commission be amended to delete the
section designating the Housing Commission as the body charged with making recommendations
on the allocation of CBDG funds. He also recommends that a 5-member subcommittee of the
Budget Committee continue to hear all of the requests for funds, and make a recommendation for
allocation to the full Budget Committee.
Eventually this will be the committee that will make the decisions, but until a few years have gone by
and the members are up to speed.
2-20-96 COUNCIL MINUTES 3
Councilors Wheeldon/Laws m/s to approve Resolution # ?~-/~committee process for CBDG
funds. Roll Call vote: Laws, Reid, Hagen, Wheeldon and Thompson; YES. Hauck; NO. Motion
passed 5-1.
NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
1. Approval In concept of Definitive Agreement for Ashland Community Healthcare Services.
James Watson, Ashland Community Hospital Administrator and Jim Whitman, consultant for ACH,
presented proposed concept in draft form of Definitive Agreement for Ashland Community
Healthcare Services.
Brief overview of draft included 1) History/Study; 2) Creation of new corporation/appointment of
board; 3) Transfer of assets and liabilities; 4) exclusions from transfer; 5) lease of real property and
improvements; 6) Termination and recovery of assets, *material breach, *insolvency, *capital
depletion, *debt service coverage, *license, *accreditation; 7) provision of financial and operating
information; 8) right to dissolve ACHS; 9) offer of employment to all former ACH employees; 10)
comparable benefits/continuation of PERS; 11) arrangements with foundation, auxiliary and medical
staff 12) notifications, filings, tail coverage, etc. 13) indemnification; 14) transaction costs; and 15)
miscellaneous provisions.
Clarification and discussion of debts and obligations, triggering devices used for Council and
Ashland Board of Directors, City cooperating in facilitating such performances as needed as a
conduit, differences of fixed equipment, obligation of employee employment, accumulated vacation,
sick leave and that "city" relates to the old ACH not the City of Ashland was made for and by
Council.
It was confirmed for Council that there will be the normal Public Hearing process done once there is
a concept to bring forward.
Mr. Watson explained the current dilemma in surviving the new environment for providing health
care in the medical field now.
Councilors Thompson/Hauck m/s to approve concept. Roll Call vote: Thompson, Reid,
Laws, Hauck and Wheeidon; YES. Hagen, absent. Motion passed.
2. Authorization to proceed with acquisition of Imperatrice property for spray irrigation
purposes.
Paula Brown, Wastewater Treatment Plant Coordinator presented recommendation to Council that
they authorize the City Manager proceed with the final acquisition of the Imperatrice property for
spray irrigation of treated effluent.
City Administrator Brian Almquist noted that of the 828 acres, approximately 224 acres of Talent
Irrigation District water rights would be allocated to the City.
Gary Schrodt/681 Liberty Street/Gave perspective on the long term issue. Was not opposed to
purchasing of Imperatice property. Requested that the wetlands demonstration be continued to be
considered.
2-20-96 COUNCIL MINUTES 4
Councilors Hauck/Hagen m/s to approve authorization of acquisition of Imperatrice property
for spray Irrigation purposes. Roll Call vote: Reid, Laws, Hauck, Hagen, Wheeldon and
Thompson; YES. Motion passed.
3. Wastewater Treatment Plant - Facilities Plan Update
Paula Brown, Wast.water Treatment Plant Coordinator presented to Council a detailed letter from
the Department of Environmental Quality regarding submission of the Facilities Plan. There are two
major issues, temperature and schedule.
Council discussed the comments by DEQ and how to respond. Brown was instructed by Council
to continue working with DEQ, but not to make any commitments.
Ron Roth/6950 Old Hwy 99S/Presented to Council letter regarding resentment of DEQ who he
feels is trying to untrack the wetlands demonstration. Also read letter submitted to Governor
Kitzhaber regarding the issue of stream flow.
ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, AND CONTRACTS
1. Second reading by title only of "An Ordinance Amending Chapter 18.92 of the Ashland
Municipal Code Pertaining to Off-Street Parking. Modifications Include changes to the
bicycle parking section and other general housekeeping changes."
Councilor Hauck noted amendment to first reading of Ordinance as follows: Multi-Family Residential:
One sheltered space per studio and 1-bedroom unit; 1.5 sheltered spaces per 2-bedroom unit; 2.0
sheltered spaces per 3-bedroom unit.
Councilors Wheeldon/Hauck m/s to approve additional amendment of Ordinance amending
Chapter 18.92 pertaining to Off-Street Parking. Roll Call vote: Hauck, Hagen, wheeldon,
thompson, Reid and Laws; YES. Motion passed.
Councilors Laws/Hagen m/s to approve second reading with amendments of Ordinance
amending chapter 18.92. Roll Call vote: Hauck, Hagen, Wheeldon, Thompson, Reid and
Laws; YES. Motion passed.
First reading of an ordinance amending various sections of chapter 6.40 of the Ashland
Municipal Code to clarify requirements for emergency services and to exempt neonatal
transports and airport transports assisting air ambulances from licensing requirements.
Keith Woodley, Fire Chief clarified for Council proposed changes. It was stated that these changes
do not change the integrity of original approved ordinance.
Councilors Reid/Hauck m/s to approve first reading and move to second reading ordinance
amending various sections of Chapter 6.40 clarifying requirements for Emergency Services
and to exempt neonatal transports and airport transports essisUng air ambulances from
licensing requirements. Roll Call vote: Hagen, Wheeldon, Reid, Laws, Hauck, Thompson;
YES. Motion passed.
2-20-96 COUNCIL MINUTES 5
3. ResoluUon endorsing Jackson County's tax base measure proposition in the amount of
$15.7 million.
Councilor Thompson voiced concern of endorsing resolution without further discussion.
Has great concern that Jackson County is not doing all that they can do to protect farm and forest
land in the County. Also, would like more clarity that they are following the spirit of the Oregon
Land Use law. Has issues with how Jackson County handles urban sprawl and reducing vehicle
trips.
Councilor Laws raised the issue of how this tax base is for the basic needs of the people of the
County. He strongly endorses the measure proposition.
Mayor Golden informed the Council that a new tax base has not been approved by the voters since
1916. She stated that if the County does not have an adequate tax base, departments such as
Planning would be further hurt because of limited funding and staff shortage.
Councilors Reid/Hauck m/s to approve Resolution # 96-17 endorsing Jackson County's tax
base measure proposition. Roll Call vote: Hagen, Wheeldon, Reid, Laws and Hauck; YES.
Thompson; NO. Motion passed 5-1.
OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS
Council Reid informed that Council that she attended a State Governors Regional Review
Conference for regional power system. Requests that the Council write a letter to the Governor via
Roy Hemminway, his representative. Letter would talk about regional benefits from a publicly
owned asset like Bonneville.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 10 p.m.
Barbara Christensen, Recorder
- Ca herine M. Golden, Mayor
2-20-96 COUNCIL MINUTES 6