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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-0915 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 15, 1992 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. Laws, Williams, Acklin, and Winthrop were present. Reid and Arnold were absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 1, 1992 were accepted as presented. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS: A proclamation was read designating October 4, 1992 as ,,Crop Walk Day in Ashland". CONSENT AGENDA: Winthrop asked that item 3 be pulled and Golden asked the same for item 4. Williams moved to approve the remainder of the agenda as follows: 1) Minutes of Boards, Commissions & Committees; 2) Monthly Departmental Reports - August 1992; and 5) Liquor license requests for Great Wall Restaurant, 2270 Ashland St., and Foris Vineyards and Winery, 33 N. Main St. Regarding item 3) City Administrator,s Monthly Report - August 1992, Winthrop was pleased to receive it but feels it would be more useful if the City Administrator presented the main points orally for the benefit of the public. Williams suggested a regular update on Council goals may be appropriate also. On item 4) Financial report for year ending June 30, 1992 by Director of Finance, Golden is concerned about raising water and electric rates. She also asked about a report expected from Department Heads concerning ways their respective departments can save money, to which Finance Dir. Turner said these will be prepared by the end of September. Concerning water rate increases, Turner said the water fund lost money for the last three years and the prior plan was to implement water rate increases for three years in a row. Golden questioned losses in the sewer fund and Public Works Dir. Hall said 90% of Sewage Treatment Plant Alternatives study will be reimbursed by a Federal grant. Williams moved to approve items 3 and 4, Laws seconded, all AYES on voice vote. PUBLIC HEARING: Appeal of P.A. 92-064, Oarus McGee - Applicant. Senior Planner John McLaughlin gave the staff report and said the Planning Commission approved the application with the inclusion of a pedestrian way on the east side of the property. A neighborhood meeting resulted in a proposed design of the area with access on Peachey Road. The public hearing was opened and the applicant, Oarus McGee, 393 Courtney St., said he dedicated 20' for the widening of Ross Lane and followed all of the applicable criteria. Grace McGee, 393 Courtney, said the applicant paid for 4 sewer connections and has paid taxes on the property for 42 years. Don Rist, 260 Joy Drive, Talent, said the applicant also gave an easement for a sewer line from Harmony Lane up Peachey Road and he is in favor of the application. Tom Cox, 450 Guthrie, owns the abutting tax lot (700) and he is in favor of the application. John Tredway, 961 Harmony Lane, is the Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - September 15, 1992 - P. 1 Appeal of P,A. 92-064 appellant, and said the 75' lot width requirement should be upheld, a better access would be off Peachey Rd., the Catholic Church was denied access off Ross Lane, oak trees will be lost, and the pedestrian walkway required by the Planning Commission should have been a part of the public discussion. He feels the application should be referred back to the Planning Commission for consideration by the entire Commission. Tom Olbrich, 904 Garden Way, agreed with Tredway and expressed concern about additional traffic on Harmony Lane and Garden Way. Jean Maxwell, 950 Harmony Lane, is also concerned about traffic congestion. Olivia Parrish, 913 Garden Way, said traffic should be routed to Peachey Road. McLaughlin said a condition of the annexation of the property was that additional right-of-way be dedicated along Ross Lane for future development. Gloria Tredway, 961 Harmony Lane, spoke against Exhibit S-10 which provided for the closure of Ross Lane between Harmony and Garden Way and open space in that area, and read letters from Kerry & Janice Lay, 965 Garden Way, and Robert & Ellen Wright, 935 Harmony, in opposition to the application. Gwen Davies, 860 Harmony, is concerned about traffic on Harmony and Garden Way. Len Costantino, 892 Harmony, spoke in favor of Exbit S-9 with access off Peachey is better. Dean Moreland, 964 Harmony, said the variance should not be granted, and access should be off Peachey with Ross Lane kept as walkway/bikeway. McGee said his four lots face Ross Lane. There being no further comment from the audience, the public hearing was closed. Laws noted the following: 1) that both Harmony Lane and Garden Way are under capacity according to objective standards adopted by the Council; 2) trees may be threatened if Ross Lane is paved but hopes it will remain unpaved as long as possible; 3) the Peachey Rd. access alternative would require cooperation with other lot owners and McGee would lose 1-2 lots; 4) and the criteria for a variance has been met. Laws moved to deny the appeal and adopt the Findings of the Planning Commission and Winthrop seconded. Winthrop agreed that the variance meets the criteria and McGee should be allowed to develop his property. Acklin agreed and said if the Council had not down-zoned the area years ago, the lot could be divided without a variance. Williams said the grid street system is better than a cul-de-sac. The motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Water Allocation Appeal. Public Works Dir. Hall said the intent of the curtailment ordinance is to cut back water use, and the Tolman Creek Park has very seldom exceeded their allotment of 33,000 cu. ft. per meter. A memo from Building Inspector Mike Broomfield indicated that the 2" meters were appropriate for the use. Winthrop moved to deny the request, Acklin seconded, all YES on roll call vote. Sewage Treatment Plant - Wetlands Discussion. John Holroyd, Brown & Caldwell, said wetlands are complex, hard to predict, have to be purged to remove contaminants, and require large land areas. The limits imposed by DEQ are more stringent than wetlands treatment can Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - September 15, 1992 - P. 2 Sewage Treatment Plant provide. He showed charts comparing the proposed nutrient limits for Ashland with those imposed on the wetland systems of Arcata and Davis, California, and Cannon Beach, Mount Angel and Hillsboro/Forest Grove, Oregon. Holroyd said Brown & Caldwell has delayed further meetings with DEQ due to the consideration being given the Medford alternative but will proceed on direction from the Council. Hall said a response to questions posed to the Regional Rate Committee should be received within 30 days. Acklin said its important to realize that each permit issued by DEQ is done on a case-by-case basis. Cecil Nicholson questioned if the problem is Ashland's sewage treatment plant or fields which drain into Bear Creek. Ron Roth, 6950 Old Highway 99 S., farms at 100 Eagle Mill Road and needs water in Bear Creek for his business. Golden suggested he work with growers to meet with TID concerning diverting water to TID ditches then to Bear Creek. Gary Schrodt, 681 Liberty, owns a business next to Bear Creek and suggested a combination of wetlands and other treatment systems. Rick Landt is in favor of Alternative 3A, and said growing hardwood trees on the irrigated lands would be good for the economy. Carl Oates, 776 Glendale, said Arcata wetlands flow into Humboldt Bay, not the ocean, and marshes do help remove phosphorous. Klaas Van De Pol, Reiten Drive, said the Arcata engineer agreed their phosphorous level would not meet DEQ's proposed 0.08 mg/L. Laws moved to extend the meeting for 1/2 hour, Acklin seconded, all AYES on voice vote. NEW & MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: Request to Purchase Water from WWTP. Tony Paxton, City Administrator of Talent, requested that Council authorize Staff to work with Talent City staff on an agreement to enable Talent to purchase water discharged from the Ashland waste- water treatment plant. On a question from Acklin, he said they need 1.5 to 1.75 CFS at their intake plant, and average City flow is 2.5 CFS. Laws moved to authorize Staff to approve the request with consideration given to the cost of Ashland's participation, and Winthrop seconded the motion. A letter was distributed from Attorney Kip Lombard, 622 Siskiyou Blvd., which offered an opinion on the proposed agreement and was summarized briefly by Public Works Dir. Hall. Paxton expressed appreciation to Hall, Water Plant Foreman Daryl McVey, and Sewage Treat. Plant Foreman Richard Marshall for the assistance the City of Talent has received from them. Laws said the price of the water should be based on the cost to Ashland to assist Talent in this effort. Golden is concerned about downstream irriga- tion users such as Eagle Mill Farm. The motion carried on voice vote. Letter from Jim Sims Concerning Sewage Treatment Plant Alternatives. Acklin moved to place on file, Winthrop seconded, all AYES on voice vote. Water Status Report. P.W. Dir. Hall said the total water production savings over 1991 is 19%, which provides an additional 31 million gallons of water. He expressed appreciation to the residents and businesses in Ashland for their efforts, and recommended against implementing Phase II of the water curtailment ordinance. Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - September 15, 1992 - P. 3 Ashland Municipal Airport Operations. Hall said the interim manager, Greg Reeser has taken steps to bring in revenue for the airport including leasing space, collecting back tie-down fees, and selling more fuel than projected. A recommendation for a Fixed Base Operator should be ready for Council approval within 60 days. Rock Crushing/Extraction Operation. A memo was received from Planning Staff and City Attorney requesting authorization to intervene in a land use action before Jackson County concerning a Conditional Use Permit for a rock crushing/extraction operation near Grizzly Peak, which is in the Ashland viewshed. The request was denied by the County Hearings Officer and appealed to LUBA by the applicant. Laws moved approval, Acklin seconded, and the motion carried on voice vote. PUBLIC FORUM: No comment. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS: Advance Refunding Plan. A resolution was read approving an advance refunding plan and authorizing its submittal to the State Treasurer for review and approval; and designating the law firm of Rankin, Mersereau & Shannon as Bond Counsel. Willjams moved to adopt same, Winthrop seconded, all YES on roll call vote. (Reso. 92-48) OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS: None. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 11:30 P.M. Acting City Recorder (d: \mts\9-15-92) Catherine M. Golden Mayor Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - September 15, 1992 - P. 4