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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-0316 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL MARCH 16, 1993 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Golden called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30 P.M. on the above date in the Council Chambers. Hauck, Acklin, Winthrop, and Arnold were present. Laws and Reid were absent. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS: Proclamation: "Telecommunicators Week in Ashland", April 12 - 16, 1993. Police Department Employees of the Year for 1992. Steve MacLennan, Reserve Officer of the Year; Teri DeSilva, Dispatcher of the Year; Linda Hoggatt, Employee of the Year; Lynn Parlette, Officer of the Year. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Winthrop asked that the first paragraph on Page 3 of the 3-2-93 minutes be amended to reflect that his motion to reaffirm the Council's position to the Budget Committee involves the policy of applying growth in the general fund to economic development funding. The minutes of the Special Meeting of February 23 were accepted as presented and those of the Regular Meeting of March 2, 1993 were accepted as corrected. CONSENT AGENDA: Acklin moved to approve same as follows: 1) Minutes of Boards, Commissions & Committees; 2) Departmental Reports - Feb. 1993; and 3) February Snow Report. Winthrop seconded, all AYES on voice vote. City Admin. Almquist read testimony he had given during a public hearing before a State Land Board in 1976, concerning sluicing and the watershed, and then gave the history and background of the sluicing project. Public Works Dir. Hall reviewed the February snow report. Regarding the sluicing project, Hall said the only time frame the reservoir cleaning can be done is between February 1 and March 31. The sluicing project will not be done this year due to the small amount of sediment at the bottom of the reservoir. Hall said the wetlands study consultants will hold a meeting on March 23rd from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. to give an update on their progress. He also reported that the TID Board is considering converting the City's contract for 795 acre feet of water which expires in 1996, to permanent municipal and industrial uses. PUBLIC HEARING: P.A. 93-036, Peerless Rooms Building Sign. Acting Planning Dir. McLaughlin said the new owners are applying for preservation of the sign on the building at 243 Fourth St. He said the application meets all criteria and Staff and the Historic Commission recommend approval. The public hearing was opened, and Crissy Barnett, applicant, said research shows the sign was handpainted circa 1915. There was no further comment from the audience and the public hearing was closed. Winthrop moved to include the Peerless Rooms sign on Historic Sign Inventory, Hauck seconded, all AYES on voice vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Affordable Housing Community Development Block Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - March 16, 1993 - P. 1 Grant. McLaughlin reviewed his memo included in the packet. He said the final deadline for grant applications is June 1, 1993, and Dick Wanderscheid is completing the pre-application form. McLaughlin will report back with the Oregon Economic Development Department's comments at the next meeting. Acklin asked that Staff keep an eye on Federal programs and participate in available training opportunities. Winthrop asked that the Affordable Housing Committee be re- established, and Arnold said the problem of staff time still remains. Acklin does not feel there is enough activity to re-activate the committee but knowledgeable citizens can be consulted if necessary. Economic Development Subcommittee Responsibilities. Acklin moved to refer Riordan's recommendations to the Budget Committee, Arnold seconded, all AYES on voice vote. NEW & MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: Pavement Cut Request - 243 Fourth St. Hall said staff recommends approval of the request. Arnold moved to approve with conditions indicated by staff, Acklin seconded, all AYES on voice vote. Motion to Reconsider Council Decision - P.A. 90-057 (Seitz). Nolte said Council has the power to reconsider their previous decision to not allow the applicants to file an amended plan, but is not required to do so. Arnold said procedural issues should not be left undecided and moved to reconsider, Winthrop seconded. The motion passed unanimously on voice vote. It was agreed to hold the public hearing on April 6th. Findings - P.A. 90-057 (Seitz). Not adopted due to above action. Demolition Request - 267 8th St. A memo was read from the Historic Commission recommending approval. Acklin moved to approve the request, Arnold seconded, all AYES on voice vote. N. Mountain Ave. Paving Discussion. Robert Johnson, 955 N. Mountain Ave., said the last section of N. Mountain Ave. from Hersey St. to the top of the hill needs paving. Almquist said a sewer district was recently approved in this area and paving may be required in the subdivision process. Acklin said it is not the policy to pave streets with City funds, however the City participated in the paving of Hersey Street because of safety issues, and it was designated a collector street. No action taken. Wastewater Treatment Funding. Arnold submitted a memo requesting authority for the City Admin. to write to Sen. Hatfield, Packwood, and Congressman Smith and to notify them of Ashland's support for the public works portion of Clinton's economic recovery program, and of our need for the sewage treatment plant upgrade. All agreed. Golden said if the citizens vote yes on 15-1 we may have better chance of getting Federal funding. Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - March 16, 1993 - P. 2 PUBLIC FORUM: Joe Eckhardt, 108 Bush St., submitted a letter for the record opposing the sluicing of the reservoir and, offered to meet with Council and others to solve the problem. Lee Michalson is also opposed and is willing to help get volunteers together to do the necessary work in the watershed to mitigate problems of erosion. He questioned the legality of the memorandum of understanding in relation to the Clean Water Act. Susan Powell, 28 Nutley St., appreciates the background information and feels the City should revisit the sluicing issue. She asked that the City Administrator be directed to drop the criminal charges against those individuals who chained themselves to the gate in protest of the sluicing. Scott Monell, Voice of the Wild Sjskiyous, a Student group at SOSC, said acceptance of ecological damage cannot continue. Deborah Clarke is opposed to sluicing and said damage to fish runs can open up a lawsuit by the Oreg. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife. She's willing to serve on a task force. Richard Ernst thanked the city administration for taking care of city water supply. Susan Hunt, 220 Nutley St., is interested in looking at alternatives to sluicing. Bryce Lowell, 283 Scenic, is opposed to sluicing, and said Council should take a more ethical and moral position. Hall said he is willing to meet with sluicing opponents and discuss the issues and views after the wastewater issue is resolved. Acklin said the sediment occurs naturally and sluicing has been done over the last 60 years. She noted that experts participated in the determination that sluicing is the most practical alternative, and said the creek has come back from prior sluicing projects. Arnold said there is a need to continue to look at the problem. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS: BPA Agreement - Reciprocal Operation and Emergency Repairs. The resolution was read by title only. Acklin moved adoption, Hauck seconded, all YES on roll call vote. (Reso. 93-09) OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS: Arnold said he would like to not pursue further action against the persons who were arrested in protest of the sluicing. Winthrop moved to place the item on the agenda and Hauck seconded. The motion passed with Acklin dissenting. Arnold moved to instruct the City Attorney and City Administrator to seek dismissal of the charges. Acklin seconded. Winthrop can support the motion with the understanding that the Public Works Director, Police Department, and City Attorney acted properly. Hauck agreed. All AYES on voice vote. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:45 P.M. Nan E./Franklin City Recorder C~~ather~ine~M .~G~ Mayor Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - March 16, 1993 - P. 3