Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-0105 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 5, 1993 SWEARING IN OF ELECTED OFFICIALS: Municipal Judge Allen Drescher swore in the following officials to terms ending December 31, 1996. Mayor Catherine Golden, Councilor Stephen Hauck, Councilor Don Laws, Councilor Rob Winthrop, Park Commissioner Teri Coppedge, and Park Commissioner Patricia Adams. ROLL CALL: Mayor Golden called the meeting to order and Led the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:45 P.M. on the above date in the Council Chambers. Laws, Reid, Hauck, Acklin, Winthrop, and Arnold were present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 15, 1992 were approved as presented. MAYOR'S ANNUAL ADDRESS: Mayor Golden highlighted the accomplishments of the City Departments, Citizen groups and Council during 1992. (Attached and made a part of the record) CONSENT AGENDA: Acklin moved approval of the following items: 1) Minutes of Boards, Commissions & Committees; 2) Monthly Departmental Reports; and 3) Electric rate forecast by City Administrator. Hauck seconded and the motion carried on voice vote. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration. Arnold told of the program "Living The Dream, Let Freedom Ring" to be held on January 18 at Noon in the Britt Ballroom, SOSC. Sharif Abdullah is the featured speaker. Newsrack Ordinance. Arnold moved to postpone discussion of Item 3 under ORDINANCES... until the next meeting in order to try and resolve issues brought forth by newsrack users. Laws seconded, all AYES on voice vote. Assessment Ordinance. Reid moved to postpone discussion of Item 2 under ORDINANCES... in order to discuss it at a meeting which will provide more time for citizen input. Hauck seconded, all AYES on voice vote. PUBLIC HEARINGS: P.A. 92-048, Recreational Vehicle Parks (Rudolph J. Wertepney, Applicant) Acting Planning Dir. John McLaughlin said the record is included in the Council packets and a small photo album submitted by Joann Johns was passed around for viewing by the Council and made a part of the record. The request is for a zoning ordinance text change to allow recreational vehicle parks as a Conditional Use in the E-1 zone and request for a C.U. permit to allow a park at the South end of Clover Lane. The criteria for approval was read and McLaughlin said the Planning Commission is recommending denial of the application based on the low employment opportunities which would be generated by this type of use. The public hearing was opened and Rudy Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - Jan. 5, 1993 - Page 1 Wertepney, Applicant, said the park would be beneficial to other area businesses and would generate revenue through the Transient Occupancy Tax. Laurie Bixby, 571 Oak Hill Circle, is concerned with traffic congestion, air pollution, littering, late night noise, and the limited E-1 lands within the City. Otto Frohnmayer, 1656 Spring St., Medford, gave the history of the Oak Knoll area as a residential use, and spoke in opposition to the application. Joann Johns, 650 Spring Creek Drive, spoke in opposition. Lynn Wallis, 640 Spring Creek Dr., agrees with comments made by Bixby and is opposed. There being no further comment from the audience, the public hearing was closed. On a question from Reid concerning County zoning, McLaughlin said they are a conditional use on open space reserve lands, and Arnold said they are also a conditional use in interstate commercial zones. Winthrop said this is not a wise use of E-1 land and moved to deny Planning Action No. 92-094 and direct Staff to prepare Findings. Arnold seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. P.A. 92-148, Street Design and Dedication (City of Ashland, Applicant). The application is a request for modification of Policy X-3-h of the Comprehensive Plan to encourage interconnected street networks while not encouraging through traffic. McLaughlin said our current policy is not in line with current practice and staff is recommending a language change as shown on page 4 of the record. Reid moved to direct Staff to bring back implementing ordinances, Arnold seconded, all YES on roll call vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Open Space. Laws moved to place only one proposal on the March 23rd ballot, Winthrop seconded, all YES on roll call vote. Arnold moved to allow 15 minutes for comments on each proposal, Reid seconded, all AYES on voice vote. Golden proposed that the prepared food and beverage tax (if that proposal is approved by Council) be raised to 5% with 1% dedicated to open space program and 4% for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Facilities Project. Michael Donovan, 1120 Beswick Way, said there are 82 restaurants in Ashland (not 127 as previously stated by the Parks Dir.), and sales taxes are inefficient and not popular in Oregon. He recommended a parking lot fee for the Hargadine and Pioneer/Lithia Way parking lots during the six-month peak season, to either replace the property tax element or retain both and generate additional funds. Michael Gibbs, 35 S. 2nd St., will fight a prepared food and beverage tax. Ken Mickelsen, Parks & Rec. Dir., said Donovan is correct regarding the number of restaurants in the city limits, and believes the Park Commission's previously submitted figures as to revenue generated by the tax are conservative. He said the only way to find out what those figures actually are is to implement the tax. Gary Schrodt, 681 Liberty St., said 5% F&B tax makes more sense than raising utility rates. Teri Coppedge, 2927 Barbara St., Parks Commissioner, said citizens already pay for development of parks through property taxes and the 1% (not 5%) F&B tax should be placed on the ballot. Reid would like to explore the parking lot fee concept. Winthrop said the downtown plan included free parking in order to make Ashland businesses more competitive with the Mall. Acklin would like to explore the parking Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - Jan. 5, 1993 - Page 2 lot fee idea, and feels the Parks Proposal is the most divisive, and the 5% F&B tax proposal has not been thoroughly discussed. Arnold said a fee on all parking lots would generate an estimated $160,000/year, does not have to be submitted to the voters, and makes more sense than a sales tax burden on one type of business. Almquist said it is not cost-effective to put gates on the smaller parking lots. Hauck expressed concern about the growth factor and Arnold said the Council can raise the parking lot fees if necessary. After further discussion, Laws moved to postpone action on this issue until January 19 and request Staff to prepare an ordinance and ballot measure to include the parking lot fee element. Arnold seconded, all YES on roll call vote. NEW & MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: (Moved forward) Wetlands Study Consultant Recommendation. Greg Williams, 744 Helman St., former Council Liaison to the WWTP TMDL Committee and member of the Constructed Wetlands Selection Committee, said the latter Committee is recommending the team of Woodward-Clyde Consultants, Hydro-Resources International, and Westech Engineering, which they feel are the most innovative of the firms which submitted proposals. Acklin moved to authorize the City Administrator to sign a professional services contract with Woodward-Clyde based on their proposal. Arnold seconded and the motion carried on voice vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Adopt Findings P.A. 92-104 (Forest St. Dedication) (Ordinance not read) Winthrop moved to adopt the Findings, Conclusions & Orders, Reid seconded, all YES on roll call vote. Hauck then withdrew his vote, even though he had reviewed the record. NEW & MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: B.P.A. Presentation. Bob Laffel, BPA, formally announced the re-opening of the environmental process for proposed substation sites through January 29, 1993, after which time an open house will be held showing proposed sites and accepting public input. Acklin and Winthrop thanked BPA for their attendance and forbearance. Linda Redding, 31 Garfield St., spoke as a representative for several area residents who are in opposition to siting the substation on City property on E. Main St. WWTP Process. Hall said the time frame is short for the wetlands consultant and he may be requesting special Council meetings. Sewer System Connections. Hall reviewed his revised memo of December 30th, and the restrictions contained therein, should Council endorse this policy. Acklin is comfortable with the restrictions and Laws moved to direct Staff to prepare implementing ordinances. Acklin seconded, and on a question from Winthrop, Hall said monthly fees could be charged in-lieu of taxes. The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. TPAC/WWTP TMDL Representation. TPAC representatives will be Laws/Golden; WWTP TMDL will be Winthrop with Laws as back-up. Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - Jan. 5, 1993 - Page 3 City Admin. Monthly Report - Dec. 1992. Information only. Council Liaison Assignments. As follows: Aoklin: Historic Commission, Hospital Board, Band Board, Chamber Business Facilitating Committee; Arnold: Bicycle Commission, Traffic Safety Commission; Laws: Planning Commission, Street Tree Commission, Transportation Plan Advisory Committee; Reid: Bear Creek Greenway Committee, Recycling Task Force; Hauck: Airport Commission, Senior Program, RVCOG Alternate; Winthrop: RVCOG, Parks Commission, WWTP TMDL Committee; Golden: Chamber Board, TPAC. PUBLIC FORUM: Steven Boyd, Lithiagraph, asked about the Newsrack Ordinance and was told it was postponed until the next meeting. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS: Bicycle Parking. Second reading by title only of an ordinance amending Chapter 18.96 of the Land-Use Ordinance to require that 50% of all required bicycle parking be covered and protected from the weather. Laws moved adoption, Reid seconded, all YES on roll call vote. (Ord. 2697) Assessment Ordinance. Postponed. Newsrack Ordinance. Postponed. OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS: Reid said she may not be able to attend the January 19 meeting. Conference Call. Laws moved to place this item on the agenda, Reid seconded, all AYES on voice vote. Nolte explained that the call was concerning a Federal Judge's proposed resolution in the matter involving the City, OSFA, and the Thormahlens. Arnold moved to approve such resolution, Hauck seconded, all AYES on voice vote. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 10:45 P.M. Nan E. Franklin City Recorder (d~\mm\l-5-93) Catherine M. Golden Mayor Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - Jan. 5, 1993 - Page 4