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Home My WebLink About1990-1002 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 2, 1990 CALL TO ORDER Mayor 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. Laws, Reid, Williams, Acklin, Winthrop, and Arnold were present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the Executive Session and Regular Meeting of September 18, 1990 were accepted as presented. SPECIAL PRESENTATION8 & AWARDS Proclamations were read as follows: a) Declaring October as "Disability Employment Awareness Month"; b) "Fire Prevention Week" - October 7-13, 1990; c) "Recycling Awareness Week" - October 6-13, 1990. CONSENT AGENDA Laws asked to discuss item three and Reid, item two. Williams moved to approve item 1) Minutes of Boards, CommisSiOns & Committees. Reid seconded and the motion carried on voice vote. 2) Letter of resignation from Fire Chief effective January 1, 1991. Mayor read same and Fire Chief Lee Roy King expressed appreciation for the opportunity to work as Ashland's Fire Chief, and also thanked his wife Jo Anne for always standing by him. 3) Memo from Finance Director adjusting assessments. Laws expressed concerns about errors in notices and asked that the City Administrator look into clerical errors which cost the city money. Acklin said that even if Mr. Bills had received his alley assessment notice in a timely manner, the amount was incorrect, which was due to a decision made by the City Council. Laws moved to approve items 2 and 3 of the Consent Agenda, Reid seconded, all AYES on voice vote. PUBLIC HEARINGS P.A. 90-172 - Senior Planner McLaughlin gave the background of the planning action which is a request to not allow variances to vision clearance requirements. Arnold said the Traffic Safety Commission favors the amendments. The public hearing was opened, no comment from the audience. Acklin moved to direct Staff to bring back implementing ordinances, Arnold seconded, all YES on roll call vote. P.A. 90-175 - McLaughlin explained the request to limit all new driveways to a maximum grade of 20%; and limiting flag drive and private drive grades to those allowed for public streets under the Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - October 2, 1990 - P. i P.A. 90-175 (Continued) Performance Standards. The Fire Department also requested limitations on grades. The public hearing was opened, no comment from the audience. Laws moved to direct Staff to bring back ordinances implementing the amendments proposed by the Planning Commission, Williams seconded, and the motion passed as follows on roll call vote: Laws, Williams, Acklin, Winthrop, and Arnold, YES; Reid, NO. Appeal of P.A. 90-168 - Logan Drive Relocation Request - Houghton - Mayor Golden read the statement concerning conditions for appealing to LUBA. Winthrop made a site visit and received letters from Mark & Cici Brown and Steve & Crissy Barnett. Reid made a site visit and received same letters, as did Williams and Laws. Acklin made a site visit, received same letters and talked briefly with Houghton's attorney but learned nothing new. Arnold made site visit, talked with Dr. Barnett, and received letter from Tom Howser, attorney-at-law. Golden made a site visit and had a meeting with the Barnetts. McLaughlin gave the history of planning actions for this parcel, and noted a recommendation from Asst. City Engineer Jim Olson that the road be moved slightly to the West, toward the Grandview/Scenic intersection, which Staff believes is the best location. The Planning Commission voted to deny the request to leave the road as it is being constructed at the intersection, and Council's charge is to decide the safest location. The criteria for final plan approval was read and McLaughlin said the Planning and Engineering staff believe that the approved construction drawings best meet the criteria. Public Works Dir. Steve Hall strongly urged Council to approve staff's recommenda- tion of leaving the road at the intersection. The public hearing was opened. Duane Schultz, 245 Northwest B Street, Grants Pass, Attorney for the applicants, reminded Council that this is a "de novo" hearing and they are not bound by the Planning Commission's decision. He said the present location is the best possible balance of all considerations, both public and private. He then reviewed the history of the planning action. Ed Houghton, 185 Scenic, applicant for the project, said the road was redesigned to Staff recommendations at considerable cost to him and would cost even more to relocate. Steve Barnett, 182 Scenic, said the present intersection is dangerous and Logan Drive would make it more so. He raised no objections to the plan in 1988 because the road was further east, and asked Council to think of the safety issue and deny the appeal. Crissy Barnett, 182 Scenic, said the neighbors were not notified of the change in location of Logan Drive, and urged denial. Jerry Hirschfeld, 361 Scenic, feels the original location (further east, or towards the Plaza) is better from a vision clearance standpoint. Mark Brown, 171 Church St., showed a video of City Street crews cleaning up debris after a rainstorm, and he feels the location closer to town is better. Tom Burnham, 451 Thornton Way, said Grandview is heavily travelled and spoke against the present location. Winthrop moved to continue the hearing, Reid seconded, all AYES on Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - October 2, 1990 - P. 2 P.A. 90-168 Appeal (Continued) voice vote. Paula Sohl, 283 Scenic, is against the present location. David Kirkpatrick, 101 Scenic, is against the present location and urged denial. John Mayben, 160 Scenic, said original location is better. David Sugar, 177 Westwood, said the road should be located further towards town. Annie Paup, 125 Scenic, wants a decision made soon because of the unstable hillside, and is concerned with who will pay for relocation. Dennis DeBey, 2475 Siskiyou Blvd., asked how moving the road further east would create a safety hazard, and Hall said its not an ideal intersection but will function better if the streets are closer together, and the grade on Logan Drive will be steeper if its moved. Steve Koskella, 215 Scenic, asked that the stop sign be moved back to Scenic. Joanne Houghton, 185 Scenic, applicant, said the dangerous intersection should be addressed by the City i.e., more stop signs, widening and paving Grandview. The present location offers a wider area to maneuver vehicles in hazardous conditions. Mike Mirsky, 290 Skycrest, is against present location. Isabel Sickels, 170 Church, feels the city should bear some of the cost to move the street. Attorney Schultz encouraged Council to heed advice of the city's professional staff. There being no further comment from the audience, the public hearing was closed. Reid would like to see city funds spent on improving the intersection. Acklin said the applicants have done what the Planning Commission and Engineers requested. Arnold asked if the appeal is denied, should moving the road 60' east from its present location be approved. Winthrop noted problems of vision clearance and congestion at the present location and will vote to deny the appeal. Laws feels safety should outweigh other concerns and moved to deny the appeal. Winthrop seconded the motion. Reid reiterated her position but will vote to deny the appeal. Arnold agrees with the neighbors because of the uniqueness of the intersection. Williams agrees with Arnold. Acklin said the subdivision has been approved and asked where the road will be located. On roll call vote the motion passed as follows: Williams, Winthrop, Arnold, Laws, and Reid, YES; Acklin, NO. Acklin explained that her NO vote was due to the fact that the road location question has not been answered. Winthrop said applicants will need to submit a new proposal for the location. Arnold said there is no evidence before Council to enable making a decision on the location. Acklin asked that the neighbors, applicants, and city engineers meet to try and work out a solution. She moved to waive the Type I filing fee and Reid seconded the motion, which carried on voice vote. On a question from Reid, Hall said the intent is to make the intersection an all-way stop. It was agreed that Staff will bring back Findings. PUBLIC FORUM Halloween - Roger Hawkins, 546 Fairmount St., Medford, asked that Council not discourage the Halloween festivities. He feels that leaving East Main Street open to traffic will be dangerous and people will wander Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - October 2, 1990 - P. 3 Halloween (Continued) outside of the downtown area. He asked why the street was opened at 11:00 P.M. last year and Laws said experience shows this to be when the trouble starts. Winthrop moved to continue the meeting for one- half hour, Reid seconded, and the motion carried on voice vote with Arnold dissenting. Reid said various establishments will be open and people are welcome to dress in costumes and patronize them. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS Noise Standards - City Attorney Salter asked that this be delayed so he can research it further. OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS Concerning the Logan Drive issue, Winthrop asked that mediation between the parties be expedited, Laws asked staff to look at the costs involved in relocation, and Arnold asked that the liability issue be addressed. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 11:20 P.M., to Executive Session on October 11, 1990 at 6:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers. Nan E. Franklin City Recorder 'Catherine M. Golden Mayor Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - October 2, 1990 - P. 4