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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-0402 REG MINMINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL APRIL 2, 1991 CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Catherine Golden called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:32 PM on the above date in the Council Chambers. Laws, Reid, Williams, Acklin, Winthrop, Arnold and Arnold were present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - The Minutes of the regular meeting of March 21st were approved as written. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS Designation of April 8-12, 1991 as "Building Safety Week", Golden read the proclamation. Presentation of Tree City USA Award to the City of Ashland by National Arbor Day Foundation. Cliff Litke, Dept. of Forestry said this was the 6th year in a row that Ashland has received this award sponsored by National Arbor Day Assoc. Don Todt, Parks Dept. gave a brief presentation and Golden thanked Robbin Smith for all her work in achieving this award for the City. CONSENT AGENDA Winthrop moved to approve the minutes of boards, commissions and committees and Reid seconded thanking whoever was responsible for providing the hospital board minutes. PUBLIC HEARINGS Adopting a methodology for assessing Systems Development Charges pursuant to ORS 223.297 to 223.314. Almquist said Council is considering strictly the methodology and will not be adopting the ordinance or fee structure. Bob Moore of Breithaupt and Assoc. presented a final report, and a brief summary of the methodology. He stated that SDCs are charged to new building construction to enable cities to serve new growth and development. A state law was adopted by the 1989 session of legislature allowing cities to charge impact fees to new development in five separate areas: water, sewer, storm drain, transportation (including bicycle paths & mass transit), and parks & recreation. Legislation provides for two elements: reimbursement or improvement. For instance, the Sewage Treatment Plant is about 2/3 used, and the reimbursement fee would enable new development for the unused capacity. The methodology must set forth a rational way to determine what these fees should be and three components need to be considered: water supply, treatment and distribution. Moore recommends charging reimbursement fees because new development is served by the existing supply. Of the total fees, 3/4 are of the water system which has to be expanded for every component of development. Water services comes to over $2200 - part would be reimbursement fee for contributing to unused capacity of the Sewage Treatment Plant. New single family residences would pay to extend the trunk sewer system ($420). Major storm drainage projects would be determined by impervious areas such as roofs, sidewalks, parking lots, and driveways which accelerates the run off into the system. This charge would be 8.5 cents per square foot for the impervious area brought into Ashland by new building construction. Transportation charges would be based upon a standard which measures the amount of traffic generated by the new development, and the need of laying the street and all that entails ($870). Parks & Recreation is determined on adopted number Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - April 2, 1991 - P. I of acres currently providing to existing residents and future acquisition and development. Keeping to those standards, appropriate funding is $626 for SFR proportion. Almquist asked Moore to give Council a sense of the time line. Moore recommends replacing the existing code with an ordinance which provides a framework for a new approach in compliance with the state law and an umbrella under which to examine the methodology to collect 100% or subsidize in providing a new infrastructure. The City must develop a methodology by July 1, 1991 in order to implement fees. The existing fees will terminate on June 30, 1991 because they do not comply with State law. There is a 60 day challenge period before it can be adopted. Arnold noted a contradiction between the report and what Moore said regarding the water source (change to unused capacity approach rather than expansion). Moore said report has been changed and a copy is available to the Council (Hall passed them out). Reid said she doesn't want to vote until she reads the new material. Also, the public has not seen it and she suggested postponing the public hearing or continuing it. Almquist said it could be continued. Golden explained that Council has had study sessions on this subject, and has read a preliminary report. Winthrop suggested opening and continuing the public hearing. The public hearing was opened. Larry Medinger, 520 Terrace, said there are no federal funds available any more so the money to cover these development charges have to be raised locally. He referenced California's Proposition 13, and explained when expansion charges were imposed onto new houses, all sales prices rose (existing and new) because of the systems development charges. If this policy is approved, all housing will go up and affordable housing will not be available. He suggests the real estate transfer tax is a more equitable way to spread the burden for capital improvements. Marcia McNamara had questions but said she would get a copy of the new report and speak at the next meeting. Ed Houghton, 185 Scenic, noted the difference between the price of a lot with services as opposed to one without. He felt Ashland charges more than most cities (about 1/4th higher) and is becoming an elitist community. Reid asked what Houghton thought a ball park figure should be and Houghton said it would vary because of terrain. Rick Harris asked if Council will adopt the methodology at next meeting? Laws said it depends on the outcome of the public hearing. Winthrop said they will probably adopt the ordinance and formula would be determined later. Golden continued the public hearing for two weeks from tonight. Council asked staff to have information on the Sewage Treatment Plant and the hospital. Acklin hopes people will read and study the new methodology before the next meeting. Winthrop was concerned with the affordable housing aspect and asked that discretion be used to apply a sliding scale to match the value/size of a home to temper the SDC on lower income families. Laws reminded we have to pay costs one way or another, and existing homeowners are now subsidizing new housing. This proposal would impose charges on new housing. Proposed vacation of a portion of Spring Creek - Steve Hall referenced a memo from Jim Olson dated January 7, 1991, and pointed out the area being vacated on a map. Council should direct staff to come back with ordinance to vacate that portion of Spring Creek. Bob Milts, Marquess & Assoc., offered a proposed subdivision plat which explained how it is affected by proposed vacation. Joanne Johns, 650 Spring Creek Drive, adjacent property owner, was concerned that this proposal would allow the extension of the street. She said she was not notified about this meeting. Acklin said the right of way will be kept and a small portion on each side of the street will be vacated. Golden said the issue on the agenda is the vacation of a portion of the street and the installation of a cul-de-sac, not the extension of the street. There was a question about notification of adjacent property owners and Fregonese said the abutting property owners on Clover Lane have agreed 100% to vacate a portion of Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - April 2, 1991 - P. 2 the street. Because the street plug is in the City right of way, the extension of the street would not require any notice at all. Council has to create a right of way between Clover and Spring Creek. The public hearing was closed. Willjams moved to instruct staff to bring back ordinance with condition that cul-de-sac be likewise be dedicated. Arnold seconded and the motion carried unanimously on roll call vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Report from Park & Recreation Commission on proposed ordinance limiting access and parking on Calle Guanajuato. Laws moved to direct staff to bring back an ordinance and Winthrop seconded, all ayes on voice vote. NEW & MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS Recommendation from the Park and Recreation Commission regarding dedication of land for Open Space. Mickelsen said this involved only one parcel. Hall noted that if this parcel is in the Strawberry Lane area near Alnut, he needs to review the proposal. Acklin moved that staff come back after public works Director review with a cost estimate of the survey. Reid seconded, all ayes of voice vote. Report by Director of Public Works on Water Treatment Plant Master Plan. Hall said the structure of the plant is stable and referenced his memo dated March 26th. Laws commented that report was the best Hall had ever done, concise and condensed. No action necessary. Review of final design for Plaza Improvement as approved by DPAC and Ashland Historic Commission. All the proposed plans were on the wall for Council review. In order to stay within the curb line of finances, only part of the plan will be done for now, i.e., benches under trees, irrigation. Further expansion will be done after all of the downtown plan is completed, including parking lots and restroom facilities. The location of phone booths is still being disputed. Designer Bill Emerson reviewed the plans. Winthrop asked about newspaper stands? Fregonese said there are four proposed locations, 200 ft. apart. Arnold noted only two of the five ramps are handicap accessible. He recommended making it possible for a handicapped person to go anywhere a pedestrian can go. He also recommends that the phone booths be handicap accessible. Reid was concerned with directing pedestrians onto street into traffic without a crosswalk. Winthrop moved to endorse the Plaza plans as amended, Acklin seconded, all ayes on voice vote. Approval of renewal liquor licenses for all licensees for 1991-92. Laws moved to approve and Williams seconded, all ayes on voice vote. Liquor license request for Primavera Restaurant, 241A Hargadine Street. Laws moved to approve and Arnold seconded, all ayes on voice vote. PUBLIC FORUM Cate Hartzell, 881 E. Main St. On a recommendation by the EMF Subcommittee, Hartzell asked the Council set a date for a public hearing to get input from the public about the results of the committee. Laws said it would not require a formal public hearing but when the issue came up on the agenda, the public would have a chance to discuss it. Golden said the committee should come up with its recommendation the Thursday before the next Council Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - April 2, 1991 - P. 3 meeting. Acklin went through a tentative time schedule and suggested to Hartzell that it appear on the agenda as a regular item. Hartzell requested a reason why it would not be a formal public hearing and Acklin explained that a formal public hearing was a quasi-judicial action required by law. Laws said this issue is less formal but people will still be allowed input. There was no further comment from the audience. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS Resolution authorizing Amendatory Agreement No. 2 to the BPA Energy Smart Design Assistance Program - Dick Wanderscheid was present for comments. Almquist read the resolution, Arnold moved to adoption, Laws seconded, the motion carried unanimously on roll call vote. (Reso 91-08) Second reading by title only of an ordinance prohibiting the sale and distribution of cleaning agents containing phosphorus within the City of Ashland's City limits. Willjams moved adoption of the ordinance, Reid seconded. Acklin confirmed with the City Attorney that she could vote even though she was absent at the last meeting. The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote. (Ord. 2623) Second reading by title only of an ordinance with respect to implementing recommended programs of the affordable housing plan, "Affordable Housing in Ashland". Laws moved to adoption, Winthrop seconded, the motion carried unanimously on roll call vote. (Ord. 2624) First reading by title only of ordinance regarding systems development charges. Williams moved passage to second reading, Arnold seconded, the motion carried unanimously on roll call vote. First reading by title only of an ordinance establishing expanded emergency water curtailment regulations. Postponed. Resolution setting public hearing for LID on Lori Lane. Almquist read the resolution, Winthrop moved to adoption, Acklin seconded, the motion carried unanimously on roll call vote. (Reso 91-09) Resolution urging passage of HB 2779, the "Oregon Housing Fund Bill". Winthrop commented that RVCOG passed this bill. Almquist read the resolution, Winthrop moved to adopt, and Arnold seconded, the motion carried unanimously on roll call vote. (Reso 91-10) OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL- None ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 P.M. Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - April 2, 1991 - P. 4