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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-0919 REG MINMINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL September 19, 1995 CALLED TO ORDER Mayor Golden called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers. ROLL CALL Councilors Reid, Hauck, Hagen, Winthrop and Thompson were present. Councilor Laws was absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the Regular meeting of September 5, 1995 were approved as presented. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS 1. Proclamation declaring October, 1995 as "Crime Prevention Month in Ashland." 2. Proclamation declaring October, 1995 as "Disability Employment Awareness Month in Ashland." 3. Presentation of Certificate of Appreciation to Councilor Rob Winthrop. Mayor Golden presented Councilor Winthrop with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Mayor and Council and Citizens of Ashland. Councilor Winthrop thanked the Council for the Certificate and the valuable experiences and relationships he has had while on the Council. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Minutes of Boards, Commitions and Committees. 2. Monthly Departmental Reports for August, 1995. 3. Approval of intergovernmental agreement from Oregon Department of Energy for the Resource Conservation Manager Program. 4. Conf'trmation of Mayor's appointment of Janlne Reynolds to Bicycle Commission for a term expiring April 30, 1997. Councilors Hauck and Winthrop m/s approval of the Consent Agenda. Voice vote all AYES. Motion passed. Mayor Golden invited Regional Affairs Manager Dick Wanderscheid to explain the pilot Resource Conservation Manager Program under Item 3. Gary Curtis, ODOE representative, reviewed program that will fund a position at the Ashland Chamber of Commerce for one year to work with ODOE and Ashland businesses to use energy resources wisely. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Proposed adoption of "An Ordinance adding Chapter 2.41 to the Ashland Municipal Code establishing contribution and spending limits for candidates for City offices and for City measures." Councilor Hauck explained background for this Ordinance. Councilor Hagen stated his concern that the Ordinance could be a fundraising hindrance to first-time candidates challenging incumbents. Councilor Reid stated she was considering running for the Mayoral election next year and asked the City Attorney if her vote in favor of this tonight could be seen as a conflict of interest. City Attorney Nolte did not think it violated the State Code of Ethics. Council discussed election campaign reform and how this Ordinance could be beneficial toward this reform. It was questioned whether this Ordinance is necessary in Ashland. The Public Hearing was opened at 7:28 p.m. There were no speakers. The Public Hearing was closed at 7:28 p.m. Councilors Hauck and Thompson m/s Ordinance to second reading. Roll call vote: Reid, Hauck, Hagen, Winthrop, Thompson YES. Motion passed. PUBLIC FORUM No one spoke. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Report by Phil Beverly, project engineer with Lee Engineering on water filtration plant construction progress. Director of Public Works Steve Hall introduced Lee Engineer's Project Engineer Phil Beverly who presented a progress report and slide show on the water filtration plant construction. Completion is expected by late February, 1996 or early March, 1996. Adoption of lrmdings, conclusions and order on Planning Action ~95-058 of 7.96 acres located on North Mountain Avenue and the westerly extension of Munson Drive; 43-1ot subdivision (Mary Powers and Doug Nenman). Councilors Hauck/Hagen m/s to adopt. Roll call vote: Reid, Hauck, Hagen, Winthrop YES; Thompson, NO. Motion passed. Report by Wastewater Treatment Plant Project Coordinator Paula Brown on revised schedules to accelerate wetlands testing as proposed by Councilor Hagen. Project Coordinator Paula Brown reviewed the four items referred to her by Council at the September 5 Council meeting. Councilors Hagen/Thompson m/s direct staff to prepare the RFP package for 3- acre wetlands demonstration. Voice vote aH AYES. Motion passed. 2 4. Approval of Wastewater Treatment Plant Facilities Plan and recommendations. Councilors Winthrop/Reid m/s approval of Facilities Plan and Recommendations. Voice vote all AYES. Motion passed. NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS 1. Letters from Councilors Brent Thompson and Ken Hagen regarding inf'dl, annexations, and sewer hookups. Councilor Thompson asked to move discussion regarding sewer hookups to Item 4 under Ordinances, Resolutions and Contracts. Councilor Thompson reported that the Planning Department was gathering data for a vacant lands and underdeveloped lot and lands inventory. Councilor Thompson would like to direct staff to prepare proposals to approach development of these under-developed lots for Planning Commission and Council to review. Proposals should include information on the affordability of annexations. Provisions should be made for public hearings on the issue of annexation criteria vs. infills. Mayor Golden asked for clarification on other issues that could impact these proposals regarding increased school populations, water and other resource capabilities, air quality and transportation, sewage and infrastructure. After a brief discussion, Councilors Thompson/Hauck m/s that staff complete its vacant land inventory and provide information to Council as to what population might be accommodated using current zoning within the existing City Limits. Voice vote all AYES. Motion passed. Councilor Thompson discussed his thoughts on annexation criteria. He would prefer not annexing at all and still accomplish affordability. Discussion was held to consider dropping the affordability criteria from the annexation process until the affordability factor was clarified. Councilors Reid/Thompson m/s to request staff to begin process with Planning Commission to remove affordability from the annexation needs criteria. Councilor Reid requested staff begin public hearing process on this policy with Planning Commission. Councilor Reid withdrew the motion from consideration. Mayor requested staff to review annexation process and criteria regarding affordability housing. Report by Public Works Director and Councilor Reid on agreement to participate in water intertie with the cities of Talent and Phoenix. Councilor Reid stated the City had been requested by the cities of Talent and Phoenix to review a feasibility study to improve the distribution of water in the south valleys. They have expressed a desire to develop a working relationship with other cities for future Council's that might be impacted by other agencies' decisions affecting this region's resource. Public Works Director Steve Hall reviewed background information on current water rights and noted the importance of a feasibility study for future water needs and solutions. This study could provide the key to providing water to our existing city and the city we will have in the future. He agreed with the recommendation by Councilor Reid that the Mayor authorize approval to proceed through the feasibility study phase only. Councilor Hagen opposes this agreement. He would approve requesting our Conservation Department to work with the cities of Talent and Phoenix to develop a conservation program for their communities. He is concerned that this is the forerunner to considering piping water in from the Rogue River. Councilor Hauck supports our participation in the feasibility study at this stage. Barbara Ryberg, 373 Vista Street: Alarmed at this agenda item on agenda without public notice. She thinks this agreement would make it very easy to move water in the future and is a step towards growth in the future. Feasibility studies are fine and she does not understand why Talent and Phoenix need our input in their studies. Not all options have been explored. Urged Council to open issue to a Public Hearing in future. Mayor Golden suggested the topic be opened to a vote of the people if there was any inclination to tie into this pipeline. Her concern is that the cost of bringing water from Talent to Ashland is prohibitive. Not planning for catastrophes would be irresponsible. Councilor Reid brought this forward because she believes we have to continue to be proactive and plan. Worldng with Talent and Phoenix is the right thing to do. Councilor Thompson thinks the agreement being discussed is warranted for future planning. Councilor Winthrop suggested it was good planning to know what the cost, capacity, etc. would be if water was piped to Talent and Phoenix and the question to outsize this pipe for Ashland's possible later use was explored during this feasibility study period. Councilors Hauck/Reid m/s to continue meeting past 10:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Voice vote all AYES. Motion passed. Councilors Reid/Hauck m/s approve participation in feasibility study. Voice vote: Reid, Hauck, Winthrop, Thompson AYES; Hagen, NO. Motion passed. 4 Report by Public Works Director on proposed revisions to the Sewer Ordinance for sewer connections outside the City and inside the Urban Growth Boundary. Public Works Director Steve Hall reviewed the suggested revisions he prepared in response to Council's request. Councilor Reid suggested a workshop on septic systems be held during a Council Study Session. Councilors Hauck/Reid m/s Ordinance to 2nd reading. Roll call vote: Reid, Hauck, Hagen, Winthrop, Thompson YES. Motion passed. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS 1. Second reading by title only of "An Ordinance adding Section 9.16.055 to the AMC to require removal of dog waste for public areas." Mayor Golden requested the proposed Ordinance be amended regarding the removal of dog waste for private property as well as public property. City Attorney Nolte read proposed amendment. Councilor Thompson objected to enacting this Ordinance rather than educating the public for the next year. Councilor Hagen considered the Ordinance to enforce basic civility. Councilors Hauck/Hagen m/s approve amendment to proposed Ordinance. Roll call vote: Reid, Hauck, Hagen YES; Winthrop, Thompson NO. Motion passed. Councilors Hauck/Hagen m/s approve adoption of Ordinance No. 2765. Roll call vote: Reid, Hauck, Hagen, Winthrop YES; Thompson, NO. Motion passed. First reading by title only of "An Ordinance prohibiting the burning of lawn clippings and leaves by amending AMC 10.30.010, redefining the season for outdoor burning by amending AMC 10.30.020 and removing the sunset clause from this section." Mayor Golden read proposed amendments to Ordinance submitted by DEQ Representative Gordon Wenker. Wally Skyrman, 4558 Pacific Hwy North: Concerned that this is a temporary ordinance that would take care of the period of time it took to clean up the watershed area and then the City would revert to the regular Medford-Ashland SIP. Gordon Wenker, DEQ Representative: stated that he was not aware that the original burning ordinance was being revised. The additional days could affect their pollution rating. 5 Regional Affairs Manager Dick Wanderscheid suggested adopting the proposed Ordinance now with or without the proposed amendments to stop the burning season and examine amending the burning season next March. Mayor Golden stated she would make an executive decision to request staff return with wording on this for the October 3 Council meeting. First reading by title only of "An Ordinance adding Chapter 2.41 to the Ashland Municipal Code establishing contribution and spending limits for candidates for City offices and for City measures." Councilors Hauck/Thompson m/s to second reading. Roll eaH vote: Reid, Hauck, Hagen, Winthrop, Thompson YES. Motion passed. First reading of "An Ordinance amending AMC 14.08.030, clarifying standards for connecting to sewer outside the City." Councilors Hauck/Reid m/s to second reading. Roll call vote: Reid, Hauck, Hagen, Winthrop, Thompson YES. Motion passed. Reading by title only of "A Resolution creating the Ashland Housing Comrni~ion and establishing its objectives and responsibilities." Councilors Hauck/Winthrop m/s adoption of Resolution No. 95-25. Roll call vote: Reid, Hauck, Hagen, Winthrop, Thompson YES. Motion passed. OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS Councilor Reid asked City Attorney Nolte and Community Development Director McLaughlin to review compliance with the archeology site protection standards with LCDC. Councilor Winthrop expressed concern that the City may be violating standards without any specific policy established. Councilor Reid asked that information be presented at either of the Council meetings in October. Councilor Hagen encouraged people to help with the Bear Creek cleanup this Saturday (September 23) at 9:00 a.m. either in Medford or Talent. Councilor Winthrop thanked his wife for all the effort and time she has contributed which enabled him to accomplish all the items mentioned on the Certificate of Appreciation he received. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Barbara Christensen, Recorder Catherine M. Golden, Mayor 6