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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-0306 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL MARCH 6, 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. Donovan, Reid, Williams, Acklin, Winthrop and Arnold were present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the regular meeting of February 20, 1990 were approved as presented. CONSENT AGENDA Councilor Winthrop asked that item no. two be discussed. Acklin moved to approve the remainder of the consent agenda as follows: 1) Minutes of Boards, Commissions & Committees; 3) Memo from City Attorney concerning conflicts of interest; 4) Memo from Bicycle Commission requesting joint study session with City Council on June 18, 1990; 5) Recommendation from Historic CommiSSiOn for approval of special assessment of property at 35 Granite Street; 6) Recommendation from Planning Commission re: amendment to Land-use Ordinance concerning hearing procedures (set public hearing for April 3, 1990); and 7) Letter from TCI Cablevision concerning changes in basic channel lineup. Reid seconded the motion which carried on voice vote. 2) Memo from City Administrator concerning fire hazard abatement on private property in forest interface areas. After a short discussion, it was decided that the Fire Chief will be asked to notify property owners prior to surveying their properties in the forest interface for potential hazards. Williams moved to approve the City Admin. recommendation of surveying the area, Winthrop seconded and the motion carried on voice vote. NEW & MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS Chamber of Commerce - Open Space Funding Proposal - Lois Wenker, Chair of the Chamber, said a majority of their members are opposed to the gross receipts tax because of high costs, confidentiality concerns, inaccurate data used to obtain gross receipts, and opposition to businesses paying for acquisition of land. The Board feels the scope of the program should be scaled down and more clearly defined. The Chamber mailed a survey to 430 members with results to be presented at the March 12th public hearing. Donovan moved to put proposals from Acklin, Arnold and Winthrop on the agenda. Winthrop seconded, all AYES on voice vote. Arnold commended the Chamber of Commerce on their hard work and unselfish efforts, and feels the City Council should Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - March 6, 1990 - Page One Open Space Funding (Continued) decide funding by other than property and utility fees. Acklin expressed appreciation to all the groups who have worked on funding alternatives and presented her proposal as follows: 50 cents per month on residential utility accounts ($36,000/year); and business license tax base of $100 and $30 per employee over one ($130,O00/year), for a $2.9 million program. Donovan disagrees with business license tax. Reid likes the scaled-back program and a review every year or so. Arnold intends to vote to put a charter amendment measure and some funding mechanism on the ballot. Winthrop agrees. Donovan will vote to put charter amendment on the ballot and likes Arnold's comment about Council deciding funding. Jill Iles feels that people who want open space will donate trees and time. Reid thinks the March 12 public hearing should be cablecast. Election of Budget Committee - Councilor Arnold moved to appoint Andre Allen, and re-appoint Don Laws and Sabra Hoffman to the Budget Committee. Donovan seconded the motion which carried on voice vote. Fred Roberts. C.U.P Fee Refund - Public Works Director Hall reviewed the memo from Admin. Almquist explaining that the Planning Commission is considering reducing the fee for this type of planning action to $150. Roberts paid $450 in fees. Arnold moved to reduce the fee by $300, Winthrop seconded and the motion carried on voice vote. Fred Roberts, 143 Nutley St., said the zoning on his property on Water St. was changed from M-1 to E-1 without his knowledge. Clean Air Fair - Paul Wyntergreen, Regional Dir., Oregon Environmental Council, said the Fair is scheduled for September 15th at Hawthorne Park in Medford. Donovan is concerned that the city monies are being used to sponsor a commercial exhibition. Wyntergreen said he doesn't want to raise booth fees until the Fair is well established. Arnold feels this request should go to the Budget Committee and so moved. Donovan seconded and the motion carried on voice vote. Walker Avenue Bikelane - P.W. Dir. Hall gave the history of Walker Avenue and said the State Bicycle Advisory Commission recommended changing the two-way single bikelane to two separate one-way lanes to meet current state standards. The Bicycle Commission adopted a plan which includes removing all parking on Walker from East Main to SiskiyOU BlVd., and allowing for two 5' bikelanes and two 12' travel lanes on Walker north of the railroad tracks; and two 5' bikelanes and two 13' travel lanes south of the railroad tracks. The Traffic Safety Commission recommended an interim plan which allowed for parking on the west side of Walker, south of the railroad tracks.. On a question from Reid, Williams said he talked to the School District about paving the parking lot at Ashland Middle School and they said it is not a priority. Ron Bolstad, SOSC, expressed concern about losing parking for athletic field activities. He said an alternative would be to enforce no parking on both sides during school hours, but allowing Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - March 6, 1990 - Page Two Walker Avenue Bikelane (Continued) parking on the West side in the mid-afternoon and evening. Arnold, liaison to the Traffic Safety Commission, asked that the TSC be invited to the June 18th joint study session between Council and Bicycle Commission. He feels the Bicycle Commission recommendation is correct. Winthrop moved to adopt the recommendation of the Bicycle Commission, Arnold seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. A resolution will be prepared for the next meeting. Donovan asked that Staff follow up with efforts to get the parking lot at the Middle School paved, and provide turnout bays for student dropoff at Walker Elementary. Varsity Theater Alley Dedication - Planning Dir. Fregonese explained that John Schweiger, Varsity Theater, will repair the alley paving and construct a stairway from the alley to the City parking lot behind. In exchange the City would perform $3,600 of transformer work without charge. Arnold said the brick walkway from the Hargadine parking lot to Pioneer will be made handicapped accessible. Reid told of a box on a light standard at Third and Lithia Way which is hazardous for blind people, Arnold said he will look at it. Acklin moved to authorize acceptance of the deed and transfer of funds from Downtown fund to the Electric Department, Winthrop seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. Arnold noted that the Varsity Theater is handicapped accessible.. PUBLIC FORUM Zelpha Hutton, 59 Sixth St., asked why storm drain installation and other construction on C Street were not being done at the same time. Hall said $14 million of storm drains need to be built, only $80,000 is available each year, and priority is given to those running under homes. Jill Iles encouraged the City to use recycled paper and was told we do, she feels a skateboard ramp should be built, and concerning downtown improvements, that tourists should not be catered to so much. Arnold said the skateboard issue should be addressed to the Parks Commission, and Donovan said pedestrian amenities are for the benefit of citizens of Ashland also. Sharon Thormahlen asked that the Council rescind the re-zoning of Shakespeare from R-1 to C-l-D, because she was not notified of the Planning Commission hearing for this item. Winthrop said proper notice was given at Council level and there is no basis to nullify the ordinance. Arnold suggested asking the City Attorney to research this issue and Winthrop asked that it be tabled for two weeks. Hall asked that Staff determine timing so that Fregonese and Salter will be present, and Thormahlen asked that the OSFA bowl decision be postponed. Acklin said Findings won't be signed until after Council discusses the notice issue. Arnold said Thormahlen should not delay legal action while waiting for Council action. Thormahlen said she has no plans to take further legal action. Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - March 6, 1990 - Page Three ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS: Position Classification Plan - Second reading by title only of an ordinance amending the position classification plan for the City of Ashland. Winthrop moved adoption, Reid seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. (Ord. #2565) Marking Public Streets - Second reading by title only of an ordinance concerning private marking of public streets and related facilities. Acklin moved to adopt same, Donovan seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. (Ord. #2566) Paradise Lane Annexation - Second reading by title only of an ordinance setting a public hearing on March 20, 1990. Winthrop moved adoption of same, Donovan seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. (Ord. #2567) Children in Vehicles - First reading of an ordinance concerning children confined in vehicles. Arnold moved to second reading, Donovan seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. Scenic Dr. Improvement - Public Wks. Dir. Hall said 100% of abutting property owners have signed in favor of the improvement. A resolution was read setting a public hearing for March 20, 1990. Winthrop moved to adopt same, Arnold seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. (Reso. 90-06) Flow Monitoring Station - Hall said EQC nutrient limits are based on measured flow in Bear Creek, and the USGS will construct and maintain the gaging station, with a construction cost to the City of $11,390, and annual maintenance fee of $3,160. Acklin moved to approve the agreement with the USGS, Williams seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. Superior Lumber Agreement - Hall said the agreement allows Superior Lumber Co. to remove a portion of the trees on their land which will not damage the aesthetics, and remove dead and dying timber from the Watershed. Arnold said the Sierra Club's timber specialist's services should be used, as they have offered. Reid would like a penalty provision in place should trees be taken which are not marked. Acklin asked that this item be placed on the next agenda when the City Administrator and City Attorney are present. OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS Hall said the water content of snow is still low but has improved a little. Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - March 6, 1990 - Page Four ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10:33 P.M. // ~ ~ Nan E. P~rankl in City Recorder Catherine M. Golden Mayor Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - March 6, 1990 - Page Five