Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-0519 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL MAY 19, 1992 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Catherine 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. Laws, Williams, Acklin, Winthrop, and Williams were present. Reid was absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Winthrop noted a correction in the third to the last sentence of the first paragraph on page two of the May 5 minutes follows: "..., and this would csscntially ~i be a contribution to a religious organization." The minutes of the'Regular Meeting of May 5 and Special Meeting of May 11, 1992 were accepted with the above amendment. CONSENT AGENDA: Item #3 was pulled for discussion. Acklin moved to approve the remainder of the Consent Agenda as follows: l) Minutes of Boards, Commissions & Committees; 2) Monthly Departmental Reports - April 1992; 4) Set public hearing on Forest Management Plan for June 2, 1992; and 5) Set public hearing on Storm Drainage Master Plan for June 2, 1992. Winthrop seconded, all AYES on voice vote. Public Works Dir. Hall reviewed the information in the packet on item 3) Water Supply Report - April 1992. Reeder Reservoir should be nearly full by the target date of June 1 and conservation measures will be promoted via the utility bills, newspaper ads, and advertising on RVTD buses. An updated report will be presented at the next meeting. Laws moved to approve item #3, Winthrop seconded, all AYES on voice vote. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: A proclamation was read declaring the week of May 17 - 23, 1992 as "National Public Works Week". P.W. Admin. Asst. Barlow told of a display of public works equipment to be held on Thursday, May 21 from 12:00 Noon - 3:00 P.M. on the Plaza. NEW & MISCELLANEOUS: Oregon Dept. of Forestry (ODF) Presentation - Fire Protection in Wildland Areas. Fire Chief Woodley introduced Cliff Liedtke, District Forester, and Dan Thorpe, Unit Forester, who explained their fire protection procedures and costs. Liedtke said assessments are .0563 per acre per year, with a minimum of $18.90/yr. for parcels under 33 acres with no improvements. Assessments for parcels with improvements are higher due to the increased chance of fire and costs involved in fighting those fires. Thorpe explained the city's alternatives as follows: 1) stay with the existing mutual aid agreement which provides reimbursement to ODF for their assistance in fighting wildland fires in the City limits; 2) contract with ODF for the 1188 acres of mostly privately-owned wildlands within the City limits; or 3) add these areas to the ODF tax rolls and assess property owners for the fire patrol tax. Thorpe said the subject areas will be protected by ODF when Council requests they do so, but the owners will not be assessed until the next tax bill is prepared. On a question from Golden, City Attorney Nolte said the ODF would ultimately impose the tax, with endorsement by the City Council. Woodley explained that Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - May 19, 1992 - P. 1 Oregon Dept. of Forestry (Continued) the Ashland Fire Dept. is neither equipped nor trained to fight wildland fires and will never have the resources that ODF maintains, but will still protect structures in these areas. Laws expressed concern about costs to low-income individuals. Acklin moved to request Staff to send letters of notification to affected property owners including information provided by Liedtke and Thorpe, and prepare a resolution for the next Council meeting. Winthrop seconded, all AYES on voice vote. Golden commended Woodley on the presentation and his fire prevention/education efforts. Waive Banner Fee. A request was received from the Alzheimer's Association to waive the installation fee for their Memory Walk banner to be displayed the week of September 28 - October 4. Arnold moved to approve same, Acklin seconded, all AYES on voice vote. R.V.T.D. Service Boundaries. City Attorney Nolte explained that property should be annexed into the District at the time it is annexed into the City. He is researching the procedure to annex properties into the District, which were excluded from same when annexed into the City, and will report back with his findings. Special R.V.T.D. Bus Service on July 4th. Councilor Laws explained that the Transportation Advisory Committee discussed this idea and the R.V.T.D. Board is willing to provide bus service from Medford to Ashland for $1.00 round trip on the Fourth of July. Council agreed that Police Chief Brown, Laws, and Almquist will work with RVTD and the Chamber of Commerce to work out the details, which will be included in the utility bill newsletter. Request to Waive Airport Standards. P.W. Admin. Asst. Barlow explained that Randal Sedwick is requesting waiver of standards which require office space, classroom space, customer parking etc. for his flight instruction business. The Airport Commission recommends approval of the waiver due to a lack of space for these facilities. Law moved approval of the request and Williams seconded the motion. Arnold expressed concern about the impacts on the remainder of the City with expanded use of the airport. Winthrop noted a similar request for an air taxi service which was approved a few months ago, and Williams said flight instruction is necessary for the airport to remain viable. The motion passed on voice vote with Arnold dissenting. PUBLIC FORUM: No response. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS: Transient Occupancy Tax Increase. Second reading by title only of an ordinance increasing the Transient Occupancy Tax to 7%. Acklin moved adoption and Winthrop seconded the motion. Williams would like to see a timeline for reviewing revenue sources in light of this and the open space issue. Acklin said it will be discussed at the May 26 Budget Meeting. The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. (Ord. 2674) Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - May 19, 1992 - P. 2 Final Assessments - LID 64. Second reading by title only of an ordinance levying special benefit assessments in LID No. 64 (Lori Lane street improvement/Peachey/Paradise sanitary sewer) and declaring an emergency. Williams moved adoption, Arnold seconded, all YES on roll call vote. (Ord. 2675) Vacate Grover Street. First reading of an ordinance vacating the unopened portion of Grover St. between Sheridan and N. Main and reserving a 15-foot wide pedestrian easement. Arnold moved to second reading, Winthrop seconded, all YES on roll call vote. C.P.A.C. Re-organization. A Resolution was read calling for land-use hearings on a revision to CPAC's organization. Williams moved to adopt same, Laws seconded, all YES on roll call vote. (Reso. 92-25) Airport Rental Rates. A Resolution was read establishing rental rates for T-hangars and tie-down spaces at Ashland Municipal Airport. Winthrop moved approval, Williams seconded, all YES on roll call vote. (Reso. 92-26) BPA Amendatory Agreement. A Resolution was read approving Amendatory Agreement No. 3 to the Energy Smart Design Option 3 Utility Agreement with BPA. Laws moved to adopt same, Williams seconded, all YES on roll call vote. (Reso. 92-27) OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS: Winthrop expressed concern about the wording of the Urban Runoff Water Quality Program Plan which does not acknowledge Ashland's existing plan for reducing effluent in Bear Creek. This Plan will be the subject of a public hearing on June 2, 1992. Laws asked that Staff research installation of a better public address system, and replacement of Acklin's microphone post haste. Acklin is troubled about the ordinance which prohibits sewer connections to existing houses with failing septic systems, which are outside the UGB but within a reasonable distance to a City sewer main. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:12 P.M. Nan E~ Frankl in City Recorder Catherine M. Golden Mayor Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - May 19, 1992 - P. 3