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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-1217 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL DECEMBER 17, 1991 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, Reid, Williams, Acklin, and Arnold were present. Winthrop was absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Arnold moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 3, 1991; Acklin seconded, all AYES on voice vote. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS: Mayor Golden read a Proclamation declaring January 4 as ',CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLE DAY". Boy Scout Troop 112 will pick up trees left at the curb and, with assistance from the Parks Department, will chip them to be used on park trails and as mulch for park vegetation. Councilor Acklin noted that today is the 104th Anniversary of the Driving of the Golden Spike in Ashland. Mayor Golden noted that this is the last Council meeting for Chief of Police S. Victor Lively, who is retiring after 28 years of service to the Ashland Police Department. Lively expressed his appreciation to the Mayor and Council for their support. Laws asked that Council recognize the Ashland High School Grizzlies for winning the 1991 State Football Championship, at the next meeting. CONSENT AGENDA: Laws asked that Item 5 be pulled for discussion. Reid moved to approve the remainder as follows: 1. Minutes of Boards, Commissions, and Committees; 2. Departmental Reports - November 1991; 3. Letter from TCI Cablevision relative to rate adjustments effective February 1992; 4. Memo from Dir.of Public Works concerning status of left-turn project at Maple and N. Main Streets. Acklin seconded, all AYES on voice vote. Laws asked if the Audit Committee will follow up on recommendations made in the Report to Management which accompanied this year's Audit Report. Acklin is Liaison to that Committee and said each item was discussed with the Auditor and will be pursued. Finance Dir. Turner said a formal response will be submitted for the Council's goal-setting session. Laws moved to accept the Audit Report for Fiscal Year ended June 30, 1991, Williams seconded, all AYES on voice vote. NEW & MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: Recycling Task Force Grant Application. Julian Henry, Recycling Task Force Member, explained that the $32,000 grant application, if awarded from the DEQ, will fund the following: 1) education/promotion of backyard composting; 2) demonstration site at the recycling center/seminars and lectures; and 3) composting bins. Reid moved to support the application and expressed her appreciation to members of the Task Force for their efforts; Arnold seconded, all AYES on voice vote. Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - December 17, 1991 - P. 1 Forest Management Plan. Ronald J. McCormick, Grants Pass, explained the proposed process for developing the Forest Management Plan for City-owned and forest-interface lands, which will include formation of a citizens advisory group scheduled to meet on January 8, preceded by several public meetings, and the plan presented to Council in April/May. John Hoffman, McCormick & Assoc., said the main goal is to prevent a catastrophic fire in the watershed, and maintain the ecosystem. SDC Credit Request - H. Albertson. City Admin. Almquist read a letter from Hank Albertson, Lakeview, requesting a systems development charge credit for off-site improvements in conjuction with a condominium project on Clay Street. He then reviewed a staff memo explaining why the request should be denied. Albertson said the storm drain system was of no benefit to his project but was required as a condition of annexation by the Council in order to provide a pedestrian way along Clay St. Public Wks. Dir. Hall said this is not a part of the Storm Drainage Master Plan and does not qualify as a public improvement for SDC credit. Arnold moved to deny the request, Williams seconded and the motion passed on roll call vote with Reid dissenting. Tolman Creek Road L.I.D. Hall said he met with affected property owners and noted five properties which should have been included in the signal L.I.D. He asked that Council re-open the public hearing and said transportation SDC's from the Tolman Creek Plaza totalling $18,000 could be used to help off-set costs. Williams said he would abstain from voting due to a conflict of interest. Acklin noted the policy of forming an L.I.D. with 50% signatures in favor. Arnold said the L.I.D. boundary should be as broad as possible, S.D.C. monies not used, and non-profit organizations re-noticed. Laws said the 2/3 rule is reasonable for other than residential L.I.D.'s, i.e. employment/ commercial/manufacturing. Acklin suggested including commercial property on Highway 66 from Tolman to the overpass also; but excluding the Tolman Mobile Park. John Zupan, Summit Investments, said Croman and L.T.M. should share in the signal cost. Zak Brombacher, Independent Printing, agreed and added that all funding sources should be researched. Barbara Allen, 2622 Ashland St., also said Croman and LTM should be included. Vicky Neuenschwander, 455 Tolman, said the district should be formed on the basis of impact, not acreage. Estelle Richards, 463 Tolman, said this is the only LID formed to place a traffic signal on a State highway. Acklin moved to request that staff expand the properties notified as shown on Map 2 in the agenda packet, excluding the Tolman Mobile Park, but including commercial properties up to the overpass and the 5 properties previously omitted. Arnold explained that the boundaries can be set now, but the assessments will be prepared later and can be made on impact. Reid noted that the agreements were signed as early as 1983 prior to the Tolman Plaza project application. The motion passed on roll call vote with Willjams abstaining. Northwest Conservation Act Coalition Membership. next meeting. Postponed until the Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - December 17, 1991 - P. 2 PUBLIC FORUM: Bill Helm, General Delivery, agreed with re-opening the hearing on the Tolman L.I.D. No further comment from the audience. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS: Off-Street Parking Ord. Second reading by title only of an ordinance amending Chapter 18.92 relative to off-street parking. Williams moved to adopt same, Arnold seconded, all YES on roll call vote. (Ord. 2659) Sign Regulation Amendments. Second reading by title only of an ordinance amending Chapter 18.96 of the A.M.C. relative to sign regulations. Arnold moved to adopt same, Acklin seconded and the motion passed on roll call vote with Reid and Williams dissenting. (Ord. 2660) Warrant Procedures. First reading of an ordinance repealing Chapters 4.04 and 4.08 of the Ashland Municipal Code. Laws moved to second reading, Williams seconded, all YES on roll call vote. Manufactured Housing Dev. First reading by title only of an ordinance replacing Chapter 18.84 relative to Manufactured Housing Developments. (Copies furnished in accord with Charter) Williams moved to second reading, Arnold seconded, all YES on roll call vote. Street & Driveway Grades. First reading by title only of an ordinance amending the Land-use Ordinance concerning street and driveway grades. Williams said the word "and" in the last sentence, last paragraph of Section 4 should be "or"; and the last sentence, final paragraph of Section 5 should be deleted. Williams moved the ordinance to second reading with the noted corrections, Reid seconded, all YES on roll call vote. Water System Improvements General Obligation Bonds. A Resolution was read authorizing the issuance of $2,060,000 in General Obligation bonds for water system improvements. Arnold moved to adopt same, Acklin seconded, all YES on roll call vote. (Reso. 91-47) Adopt Water Rate Schedule. A Resolution was read adopting a water rate schedule to be effective January 1, 1992. Public Works Dir. Hall reviewed his memo included in the packet which explained the reasons for the increase, the majority of which will go toward the water bond. Williams moved to adopt the resolution and Acklin seconded. Arnold said this is an approximate 25% increase and the same will be needed for the next two years. This should be addressed in the budget process, with expenditure issues and rate structures reviewed. He recommended using approximately $97,000 in the Water Division budget ($50,000 Water Treatment Plant Study, $12,000 carbon feeder, $35,000 for 700 feet of pipeline) to off-set the water rate increase. Reid could not agree with deferring the treatment plant work. Acklin agreed with Reid, but said the other $47,000 could be deferred. Williams needs more information from Staff on these items prior to deferral. Hall said the carbon feeder cannot be installed due to safety regulations; and the 30" pipeline can be deferred. The Water Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - December 17, 1991 - P. 3 Water Rate Increase (Continued) Treatment Plant work has to be done. The motion passed on roll call vote with Arnold dissenting. Laws moved to place the item on the next agenda to discuss items identified by Arnold, Reid seconded, all AYES on voice vote. (Reso. 91-48) O.D.O.T Agreement. Public Works Dir. Hall explained that the Tolman Creek/Hwy. 66 traffic signal plans and construction have to be reviewed and approved by the Oregon Dept. of Transportation. The review fee is $3500. Acklin moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the contract with a request that ODOT absorb the review costs, Laws seconded and the motion carried on voice vote. OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS: City Admin. Almquist reported a recent meeting with Golden, Laws, and Winthrop in which it was decided to hold a staff retreat on January 10 to discuss long-term goals, problems, etc. with Department Heads. A strategic issues retreat will be held by Council toward the end of January. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 10:20 P.M. Nan E. Franklin City Recorder Catherine M. Golden Mayor Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - December 17, 1991 - P. 4