HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-0905 REG MINMINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
September 5, 1995
CALLED TO ORDER
Mayor Catherine Golden called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m., Civic Center Council Chambers.
Councilors Reid, Hauck, Hagen, and Winthrop were present, Councilors Laws and Thompson were absent.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the Regular meeting of August 15, 1995 were approved with the following corrections;
page 5, paragraph 5, deletion of wording on condition #11 "If the"; page 8 paragraph 2, motion does
not indicate the vote of the council, should indicate Roll Call vote: Laws, Reid, Hauck, Hagen,
Winthrop and Thompson YES. Motion passed.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS
1. Ten-year service certificate with perfect attendance record to Larry Murphy, Street Department Utility
Worker III.
Mayor Golden spoke and presented Larry Murphy with certificate for perfect attendance.
2. Twenty-five year service certificate for Brian Almquist, City Administrator.
Mayor Golden acknowledged Brian Almquist, City Administrator for his outstanding excellence and
achievement in 25 years of service as City Administrator.
Former Mayor of Ashland, Gordon Medaris stated that the City has been rewarded by having Mr. Almquist
as its Administrator due to his accomplishments and knowledge.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of Boards, Commissions and Committees.
2. Monthly Departmental Reports for August, 1995.
3. City Administrator's Monthly Report for August, 1995.
4. City Attorney's Monthly Report for evaluation.
Councilors Reid/Hauck m/s approval of Consent Agenda. Voice vote: aH AYES. Motion passed.
PUBLIC FORUM
Joe Eckhardt/108 Bush Street/statement was read in reference to City Council goal #5, he felt the goal to
be pertinent and relevant to current issues. Because Council had not responded to a previously mailed
statement by himself, he was concerned that this council goal was not being addressed and does not believe
that citizens are being offered the opportunity to voice their opinions.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Proposed adoption of "An Ordinance adding Section 9.16.055 to the AMC to require removal of
dog waste from public areas.*'
PUBLIC HEARING OPEN: 7:40 p.m.
Leon Danie!le/1201 Park Street/In favor of proposed ordinance, sites his bad experience with dog waste.
Feels this ordinance will make people more aware and that it is the owners responsibility to clean up after
their dogs.
Jane Street/180 Mead Street/In favor of proposed ordinance and feels that dog waste is becoming more of
a hazard. Sites that dog waste is a real health hazard and would like to educate the public of this hazard.
Notes that other cities have this type of ordinance.
Rick Landt/487 Rock Street/In favor of proposed ordinance. Concerned that ordinance should cover all
animal waste rather than just dog waste.
PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED: 8:50 p.m.
It was dadfled for Council that the fine of this ordinance would fall under the general penalty for violation
of a City Ordinance which could be a maximum fine of $500.00.
Discussion by Council regarding how the ordinance would work regarding city fight-of-way and personal
property and how these areas were defined.
Council requested staff to take steps in publicizing this ordinance for increased education.
Councilors Winthrop/Hauck m/s approve f'wst reading of ordinance and move to second reading. Roll
Call vote: Reid, Hauck, Hagen and Winthrop YES. Motion passed.
2. Proposed amendments to Open Burning Ordinance to ban open burning from November through
February and during f'we season.
Regional Affairs/Conservation Manager Dick Wanderschied and Fire Chief Keith Wooalley reviewed open
burning options and presented review of current ordinance.
PUBLIC HEARING OPEN: 8:05 p.m.
Hershel King/791 Faith/Due to past opposition to open burning in Ashland felt that the burning ban was a
good step forward and is concerned that any change would be step backwards. Encouraged the Council to
not relax the effort for clean air. Would like to see proposed option reviewed in 1-2 years and is not
opposed to recommended option.
Vern Crawford/923 Harmony/Encourages balance of air quality and fuel reduction, supports option 4.
WaHy Sterman/4588 N Pacific Hwy/Central Point/Representing citizens with breathing difficulties.
Notes other means of dealing with fire issues. Asks for a two year sunset on the proposed option.
Bob Palzer/1610 NW 118 Ct/Portland/Concemed that past progress toward clean air was being
challenged. Would like to see burning scheduled at times when it would be a less impact on air quality.
Supports the addition of March to allow burning. Does not support any burning during critical period of
November 1 st through end of January. Supports option 4 and would like to retain a sunset provision.
Jan Young/350 High/Supports proposals by Mr. Palzer.
Vera Morrell/3196 Dark Hollow/Served on Jackson County Woodstove Committee and is concerned with
message that is being sent out regarding air quality.
Gordon Wenker/Senior DEQ officer/Noted that we have a delicate air shed and this area is being
continuously monitored. State implementation plan states that the area has to maintain a certain air quality
level. Concerned that there would need to be balance. The overall amount of pollutant released in the air
would need to remain the same, which would need to be monitored.
CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING: 8:25 p.m.
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Mayor noted that at the time the decision was made to amend the Open Burning Ordinance, the air quality
issue was taken seriously. The intention of the ordinance was only to set a two year window in allowing
time to clean up the watershed for potential fire danger. The burning would only be allowed if certain
criteria was met; moisture content, ventilation regarding pollutants, no fire danger and was not based on
dates.
After discussion by Council, Fire Chief Woodley and agreement by the Conservation Committee, it was
determined that the burning ordinance should be open for entire city and not just property owners who need
to do the fuel reduction.
Councilors Reid/Winthrop motion to accept staff recommendation of Option #4 with inclusion of ban
on burning of lawn clippings and leaves and direction to staff to review ordinance in two years. Voice
vote: ALL AYES. Motion passed.
UNFINISIIF~D BUSINESS
1. Adoption of rmdings, conclusions and order on Planning Action #95-036 (Double D Corporation).
Councilor Winthrop noted on page 6, ending of first sentence it should read "includes auto, pedestrian,
bicycle, and public transit. "; and page 7, paragraph seven sentence should read "The City Council finds
that the two accesses to the property require the crossing of Interstate 5, and that the two overcrossings do
not provide adequate transportation facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians."
Councilors Hauck/Reid m/s to approve rmdings, conclusions and order on Planning Action ~95-036
with the noted corrections. Roll Call vote: Reid, Hauck, Hagen, Winthrop YES. Motion passed.
NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
1. Request for sewer connection to property outside the City Limits but within the Urban Growth
Boundary on Hwy. 66, east of Dead Indian Memorial Road (Virgil Osborn).
Public Works Director Steve Hall presented request by Virgil Osborn for City sewer service to four tax lots
with two houses, one located on lot 900 and one on lot 1000. Map provided to Council indicating where
property is located. It was noted that from previous ordinance wording and Council actions and discussions
that connections for vacant lots is not specifically provided for under Ashland Municipal Code Section
14.08.030. There have been several instances where connections have been given for future constructions.
The previous wording of that section contained limitations as to connection to existing buildings built prior
to 1973. In later revisions this wording was dropped but there still exists some confusion as to the actual
intent.
It was clarified for Council that County verification on the failing of the septic system was not made as it is
not required by the City for property inside the urban growth boundary.
Virgil Osborn/4770 Glendale Ave N.E./Salem,Or/Requesting connection to City sewer system due to the
cost of replacing septic tanks and future costs of connection to City services.
City Attorney Nolte clarified for Council that under the current ordinance, the council may allow
connections of existing buildings.
It is noted that in Councilor Thompson's absence he submitted a letter stating his opposition to this request
for city services.
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Clarification for applicant that dollar amount for SDC charges would be due at the time of connection and
that future amount of these charges is not known, but more likely increase. It was also clarified for
applicant that these charges could not be waived.
Mayor recommends to council that there be an amendment to current ordinance to include verification on
failing systems inside urban growth boundary and that premises include an existing occupied dwelling.
No action taken by Council at this time.
2. Oral report on Emigrant Lake Camping Voucher Program proposal.
Assistant City Administrator, Peggy Christiansen presented to council update on Camping Voucher
Program proposal. The committee spent many hours trying to find programs which would give the ability
of this community alternatives for individuals specifically for this community. Continuing progress will be
made on the Camping Voucher Program, a hotel/motel program will be enhanced to provide additional
services and a Church Emergency Shelter Program is being reviewed. She reported that the Camping
Voucher pilot program was not properly presented to the Jackson County Commissioners and because of
this was not well received. Committee will continue work on an improved Camping Voucher Program.
3. Request by Councilor Hagen to proceed immediately with RFP for wetlands testing.
Councilor Hagen presented memo regarding the WWTP and Wetlands. He reported that due to calls and
comments from concerned citizens following the August 15th meeting, he would like to request further
council deliberation over the issue of when to begin weftands testing.
Council discussion regarding deferring the solution and whether or not to begin wetland testing.
Councilor Hagen was concerned with waiting to begin wetlands testing and whether wetlands would be
possible in 1996.
Council directed staff to provide the following information for next Council meeting: 1) Current WWTP
data on alum use; 2) What it would take to write an RFP, ie. time, costs, etc. and how it would effect the
timeline; 3) Could an RFP for weftands be put out at the same time as spray irrigation is being evaluated
and 4) Report on the benefits of wetlands even if the process through wetlands doesn't meet effluent limits,
ie. stormwater runoff.
OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS
None
ADJOURNlVlENT
Meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
Barbara Christensen, Recorder
Catherine M. Golden, Mayor