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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-0302 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL MARCH 2, 1993 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Catherine Golden called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:35 P.M. on the above date in the Council Chambers. Laws, Reid, Hauck, Acklin, Winthrop, and Arnold were present. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS: Marge Ellsworth. Mayor Golden presented Marge Ellsworth with a Proclamation of Appreciation for the many hours she has worked at the Senior Program Office as a volunteer, and the numerous other ways in which she has assisted Ashland's senior citizens. A Proclamation was read declaring March 1993 as Women's History Month. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 16, 1993 were accepted as presented. CONSENT AGENDA: Acklin moved approval as follows: 1) Minutes of Boards, Commissions & Committees; 2) Departmental Reports; 3) Memo from Fire Chief on fire facilities study and approval of study committee; 4) Memo from Dir. of Finance regarding process for selection of financial consultant for future bond issues; and 5) Memo from Police Chief regarding motorcycle traffic enforcement program. Hauck seconded, all AYES on voice vote. PUBLIC HEARINGS: P.A. 92-057, 5-lot Subdivision on Granite St. (Gary & Diane Seitz, Applicants). Paul Nolte, City Attorney, explained the background of the case, and said Council may either accept the amended application and hold a public hearing taking testimony on the street length only; or deny the application. Arnold said Council should hear legal arguments on whether or not the amended application will be accepted or a new one required. Gary Seitz, applicant, 1136 Ril Circle, Anchorage, AK, said he has owned the property for 20 years, and began the procedure to develop it four years ago. He has agreed to reduce the lots from 7 to 5, provide 3 acres of common area, increase property setbacks to 30 ft., donate 13.3 acres to the open space program, and provide an easement for a trail. He is submitting an amendment concerning the street length which has been recommended for approval by the Planning Dept. Doug Schmorr, attorney for applicant, said Seitz has followed the City's guidelines and the issue at hand is one of fairness. Dennis Friend, 355 Granite St., read a letter from area neighbors (included in the record) which expressed their concern about fire danger and asked that Council require a new plan which meets current standards. He distributed photographs of the aftermath of the Oakland conflagration. On Winthrop's request, Acting Planning Dir. McLaughlin said the application would need to be amended as follows to bring it up to current standards: street grade of not more than 15%, driveway lengths greater than 50 ft. would need a grade of not greater than 15% with variances allowed up to 18%, and submission of a fire control plan for subdivisions. On a question from Acklin, Nolte said Council may require submission of fire control plan as Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - March 2, 1993 - P. 1 condition of approval, however the published criteria states that testimony will be taken on the street length only. Schmorr said his client is willing to submit an updated fire control plan. Golden asked about emergency vehicle response time, and Fire Chief Woodley said a 15% grade is a workable standard, and, under current standards, if 200 ft. at 18% is allowed as a variance, residential sprinkler systems are required. Winthrop said the amended application should be accepted if Seitz submits and adheres to the currently required fire control plan. Reid said the plan should meet the new standards, and Arnold agreed. Acklin said new fire safety standards can be applied and the street length issue should be heard. Acklin moved to open the public hearing and Winthrop seconded. Laws said the fairness issue is important. Hauck said Seitz should submit a new application, as this is an important forest interface area. The motion was tied on roll call vote as follows: Law, Acklin, and Winthrop, YES; Reid, Hauck and Arnold, NO; Mayor Golden broke the tie with a NO vote. Acklin noted that the previous action on this application included a motion by Arnold to waive the one-year re-application period. She asked Nolte about Council's ability to waive the application fee and Winthrop moved to instruct staff to waive further application fees, if possible, and deny the application without prejudice. Hauck seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. Nolte said the Council needs to deny the original application on basis that it does not meet standards and the street is too long. Arnold so moved, Reid seconded, all YES roll call vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Capital Improvement Program - Set Study Session, All agreed on March 1 lth at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers. NEW & MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS. Affordable Housing Ombudsperson. Larry Medinger, Planning Commissioner, said one of that group's yearly priorities was to revitalize the Affordable Housing Committee, and hire a part-time person to work with the Community Development Corporation. Winthrop said Conservation Coordinator Dick Wanderscheid has a limited amount of staff time available. The committee could: 1) evaluate the progress and effectiveness of current policies; 2) consider new approaches to link more closely affordable housing and economic development; and 3) give Council guidance on how to spend the money in the affordable housing trust fund. Sharon Goddard, Affordable Housing Coordinator for the Community Development Corp., requested more city staff time to aid in securing and administering community development block grants. Acklin asked that Winthrop work with staff to address this request in the budget. Madeline Hill supports the request. Reid said requests for staff time to administer grants should be presented to City Council and Arnold agreed. Winthrop will meet with staff in the next 2 weeks and bring back suggestions on how to proceed. City Administrator's Monthly Report - February 1993. Reid asked that item 19 concerning Economic Development Subcommittee responsibilities be placed on the next agenda. Economic Dev. Subcommittee - Policy Direction. Reid asked that Council set policy/guidelines for economic development grant money expenditures i.e., business facilitation, tourist promotion. She said economic development ties in with the planning Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - March 2, 1993 - P. 2 process and needs to be Council policy. Acklin said it was agreed at goal-setting that work should continue on diversification of the non-tourist sector and a formal policy should be adopted based on that discussion. She is concerned that a number of people involved with economic development are not present. Acklin said John Riordan's proposal includes many elements used by the Chamber in developing the Business Facilitating Committee, and moved to request the Economic Development Subcommittee to consider allocating all growth in the economic development portion of the General Fund to non-tourist business development, without tying anyone to specific projects. Laws seconded the motion which carried on voice vote with Reid and Hauck dissenting. Winthrop moved to reaffirm the Council's position to the Budget Committee, Reid seconded, and the motion carried with Arnold dissenting. Plaza Kiosk. City Administrator Almquist said the Chamber of Commerce is interested in using the kiosk to dispense information this Summer as they have in the past, and Marjorie O'Harra said the Community Service Volunteer Program can provide volunteers. Laws moved to direct staff to take no further action on the request for proposal until the Chamber submits their proposal. Acklin seconded and the motion carried on voice vote. Darrell Boldt, 1950 Tamarack Place, representing the Chamber's Business Facilitating Committee, said Sandra Slattery, Chamber Director, is preparing details of the past year's work of that committee. Le Hook, 393 Oxford St., former member of DPAC, said when the plaza island master plan was being developed, public hearings were held and there were strong feelings that it not be used for commercial purposes. Michael Donovan, 1120 Beswick Way, representing the OSFA, said the Festival Board is concerned about a cap on tourism dollars, which comes from the hotel/motel tax. John Riordan, Budget Committee member, suggested the development of an economic development plan to serve long- and short-term needs. Golden recommended that the Budget Committee review the Comp. Plan's Economic Element, the Business Facilitating Committee's plan, and Riordan's plan. Acklin suggested that those interested in giving input should attend the Economic Development Subcommittee meetings. PUBLIC FORUM: Robert Johnson, 955 N. Mountain, asked about future paving on N. Mountain Ave. Acklin requested that it be put on a future agenda. Arnold moved to place it on the March 16th agenda, Winthrop seconded, all AYES on voice vote. J.B. Kell, All Seasons Real Estate, requested an emergency sewer hook-up at 843 Fox St. because of a failing septic. Staff recommends approval. Laws moved to place same on the agenda, Reid seconded, all AYES on voice vote. Arnold moved to approve the request subject to verification that the septic system is failing, Reid seconded, all AYES on voice vote. Almquist said the ordinance does not require failure of the septic system as a condition for hookup. Arnold moved to reconsider the vote, Acklin seconded, all AYES on voice vote. Arnold moved to approve the request, Reid seconded, all AYES on voice vote. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS: Cabill Annexation. Second reading by title only of an ordinance annexing a contiguous area, withdrawing the area from Jackson County Fire District No. 5, and zoning at C-1 Retail Commercial. Acklin moved to adopt same, Hauck seconded, all YES on roll call vote. (Ord. 2702) Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - March 2, 1993 - P. 3 Health Care District. Second reading by title only of an ordinance amending the Comp. plan Map and the Zoning Map for the area around Ashland Community Hospital, and including an amendment to the Land Use Ordinance adopting a new "HC" Health Care District. Acklin moved adoption, Arnold seconded, all YES on roll call vote. (Ord. 2703) Sewer Service Connections. Second reading by title only of an ordinance amending Section 14.08.030 of the A.M.C. by revising requirements for sewer connections inside the Urban Growth Boundary, and adding a new Section 14.08.031 providing for sewer service connections outside the Urban Growth Boundary. Hauck moved adoption, Acklin seconded, all YES on roll call vote. (Ord. 2704) Local Improvements/Special Assessments. Second reading by title only of an ordinance completely revising the Local Improvement and Special Assessment Chapter and deleting the sidewalk assessment chapter of the A.M.C. Arnold moved adoption, Hauck seconded, all YES on roll call vote. (Ord. 2705) Adopt Airport Master Plan. Second reading by title only of an ordinance adopting the Ashland Municipal Airport Master Plan Final Report as a supporting document of the Ashland Comprehensive Plan. Hauck moved adoption, Winthrop seconded, and the motion passed on roll call vote with Arnold dissenting. (Ord. 2706) Serial Tax Rate Levy. Reading by title only of a resolution calling a special election on May 18, 1993 for a three-year serial tax rate levy to provide funds for operation and maintenance of a city swimming pool program and recreation facilities. Winthrop moved adoption, Hauck seconded, all YES on roll call vote. (Reso. 93-07) N. Mountain Ave. Sanitary Sewer. Reading by title only of a resolution of intention to provide for sanitary sewer improvements for property located in the area of North Mountain Ave., North of Bear Creek. Jim Olson, Asst. City Engineer, gave the background of the request, and said there are 12 participating lots, all signed in favor. There are 2 lots outside, but adjacent to, the proposed district and within 100' of the sewer main who do not wish to be included. Acklin suggested that Staff prepare recommendations on an ordinance amendment to be presented at a later date. Acklin moved adoption of the resolution, Hauck seconded, all YES on roll call vote. (Reso. 93-08) OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS: None. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned 10:35 P.M. Nan E. If:ranklin City Recorder Id:\rnin\3-2-93) Mayor Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - March 2, 1993 - P. 4