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Home My WebLink About1990-0109 REG MINMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 9, 1990 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Catherine Golden led the Pledge of Allegiance and called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. on the above date in the Council Chambers. Reid, Acklin and Winthrop were present. Donovan arrived later. Williams was absent. UNFINIBHED BUSINESS Ashland Mine Road L.I.D. - Second reading by title only of an ordinance authorizing the improvement of Ashland Mine Road from 110 feet West of Fox Street to the Ashland City Limits by constructing curbs, gutters, asphaltic paving and storm drains. Acklin moved to adopt same, Winthrop seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. (Ord. #2550) Street Standards/Minor Land Partitions - Second reading by title only of an ordinance amending the Municipal Code with respect to minimum street standards for minor land partitions. Acklin moved to adopt same, Winthrop seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. (Ord. #2551) Ban Installation of Non-Certified Solid Fuel Burning Devices - Second reading by title only of an ordinance adding a new Chapter 15.06 to the Municipal Code, banning the installation of non-certified solid fuel burning devices. Winthrop moved to adopt same, Reid seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. (Ord. #2552) Set Public Hearing - Adroit Annexation - Second reading by title only of an ordinance dispensing with an election and setting a public hearing on the proposed annexation of property on the South side of Washington Street. Acklin moved to adopt same, Reid seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. (Ord. #2553) Set Public Hearing - City of Ashland Annexation - Second reading by title only of an ordinance dispensing with an election and setting a public hearing on the proposed annexation of property on Dead Indian Road. Winthrop moved to adopt same, Acklin seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. (Ord. #2554) PP&L Agreement - City Administrator Almquist gave the background of the agreement, showed a map of the Ashland service territory boundary, and said this will settle the issue and serve the City well. Acklin moved to authorize the Mayor and City Recorder to sign the agreement, Reid seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. Special Meeting - Ashland City Council - January 9, 1990 - Page i City Administrator Evaluation - Councilor Reid moved to include Acklin's suggestions as written, which are included in the agenda packet, Winthrop seconded and the motion passed on roll call vote. Winthrop asked for more time to make evaluation next year, and Reid would like an executive session dedicated to this subject. SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS Open Space Funding - On a question from Reid, City Attorney Salter said public input heard at this session will not affect the voting power of the Councilors who were absent. Golden said the object is to direct staff to prepare draft proposals for discussion at the January 16 public hearing. Winthrop requested clarification of the wording for the charter amendment concerning City Council and Parks Commission control of funds for land acquisition. Donovan arrived at 8:00 P.M. Planning Director Fregonese told of ten neighborhood meetings held recently, and said proposed city-wide trails are not popular. He then showed revisions recently made on the map, and said the Jones-Bryant Park is included but not the Golf Course or Lithia Springs. Property will be acquired on a willing buyer/willing seller basis. Almquist presented a list of possible funding sources, and said a pay-as-you-go plan would allow interfund borrowing. Public Input - Citizen: have you considered property transfer tax?; Golden: Legislature outlawed for four-year period. Citizen: surcharge on utility bills to spread over whole community?; Almquist: 1/3 electric revenues already used for city services; same citizen: establish additional surcharge on utility bills; Golden: would create greater burden for those who have difficulty in paying bills. Sharon Thormahlen: extend transient occupancy tax to rooms rented by SOSC; Almquist: Attorney General said cities can't force State agencies to collect revenue on the cities' behalf. Thormahlen asked about entertainment tax and commented on the proposed I-MAX theater; Acklin: Council rejected by consensus vote in September. Donovan declared conflict of interest and said he won't discuss or vote on the proposed prepared food and beverage tax. Reid won't participate in discussion or vote on the proposed lodging tax. Leo Jensen, speaking for Lodging Association, said they would support the proposal if the costs are equally distributed between all facets of the tourism industry, and left over monies are put aside for off-season tourist promotion, by charter amendment. Lois Wenker, President of Chamber of Commerce, read a statement from the Board of Directors as follows: "The Ashland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors does not feel we have enough information to take a position on the open space program, we do, however believe if it goes ahead, the funding should be shared equally between tourists, the business community and residents .... ". Acklin said a built in element is funding of the Parks Department's development and maintenance costs from property taxes. Mavis Cloutier, 904 Beswick, questioned the benefit to businesses and asked about total cost and maintenance costs per year. Ken Mickelsen, Parks Special Meeting - Ashland City Council - January 1, 1990 - Page 2 Open Space Funding (Continued) Dir., said maintenance of the new natural and active parks would be funded by an increase of 35 cents in the Parks Levy. Bill Moffet, Vice Pres., OSFA, would like to see specific proposals. Rick Harris feels costs should be shared by everyone and smaller steps taken to provide open space. Dennis Slattery said the program should be looked at again, and doesn't understand importance of getting on the March ballot. John Schweiger feels a percentage added to the electric utility fee would be fair. Reid is concerned that the structure of the electric utility fee should be looked at for possible changes. Winthrop said an across-the-board increase in the electric utility fee is not appropriate and would not speak to new development. Tourism should be a an element in the funding and alternatives should be offered on the ballot. Acklin, in response to Slattery's question, outlined other items which will possibly go before the voters in upcoming elections. Donovan asked for that Attorney Salter clarify ethics questions regarding the advisability of Councilors voting on the proposed business license tax increase. Reid said she is not ready for a public hearing. Donovan agreed. Winthrop moved to direct Staff to prepare a ballot measure with language for Council implementation of the systems development charge and electric utility surcharge, and if the utility fee is approved, the lodging tax be included. If the electric utility fee is not approved, the prepared food and beverage tax be included with no electric utility fee increase. On Acklin's request he amended the motion to include the property tax increase, and Acklin seconded the motion. Acklin and Winthrop voted YES. Donovan and Reid abstained. Salter said the motion is not allowed because a majority of the Councilors in attendance did not vote. Acklin moved to make the subject of the next meeting funding by property taxes, Donovan seconded and the motion passed as follows on roll call vote: Donovan, Reid, and Acklin, YES; Winthrop, NO. Reid moved to place the ticket tax on the next agenda, Winthrop seconded and the motion passed as follows on roll call vote: Donovan and Acklin, NO; Reid and Winthrop, YES; the Mayor broke the tie with a YES vote. Acklin moved to place on the next agenda the lodging tax and the systems development charge and Winthrop seconded. Acklin and Winthrop voted YES; Donovan and Reid abstained. Acklin moved to place the $2.50/per bill electric utility surcharge on the next agenda, Winthrop seconded and the motion carried on roll call vote with Acklin and Winthrop voting YES; Donovan abstaining and Reid voting NO. Reid voted against the motion because it was a flat fee rather than a percentage. Special Meeting - Ashland City Council - January 9, 1990 - Page 3 open space Funding (Continued) Jean Crawford does not want the property tax included and asked that the food and beverage tax be placed on the next agenda. Donovan moved to extend the meeting, and Winthrop seconded. The motion carried with Reid voting NO. Donovan said the public hearing will bring out people who are opposed to the property tax. Jim Sims said the Lodging Association is not against the tax if other tourism industries are taxed equally. Bob Johnson spoke against including property taxes for this program. Winthrop moved to adjourn, Acklin seconded, all AYES. The meeting ad~urned at 11: 10 P.M. Nan E. nklin Catherine M. Golden Mayor City Recorder Special Meeting - Ashland City Council - January 9, 1990 - Page 4