Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-0106 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL January 6, 1987 ROLI~ CALL INVOCATION OATH OF OFFICE: ROIA (;ALL MAYOR'S ANNUAL STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS APPROVAL OF MINUTES MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS COI~Clt_ CHAIRMAN CITIZENS BUDGET COM. PUBLIC HEARING Susan Lane Impro Mayor Medaris led the Pledge of Allegiance and called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. on the above date in the Council Chambers, Revo B. J. Holland recited the invocation for the first meeting of 1987. Teachers and students of Ashland Senior High School were introduced and welcomed to the meeting. The oath of office was administered to Park Commissioners Pat Adams, Tom Pyle and Gary Nelson. Councilors Susan Reid, Pat Acklin and Phil Arnold were give the oath of office for new terms. All members present. Mayor L~ Gordon Medaris presented his annual "State of the City" address which is on file in the City Recorder's office. Elerath moved to approve minutes of the regular meeting of December 16, 1986; Bennett seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. The Mayor made appointments and reappointments to various Boards, Commissions & Committees as outlined in the memo included in the agenda and said that others will be appointed to fill the vacancies remaining at a later date. Laws moved to approve appointments; Acklin seconded the motion which passed with all AYES on voice vote° Acklin nominated Laws for reelection; Elerath nominated Arnold° Reid moved to close nominations; Acklin seconded and the motion passed unanimously on voice vote. On vote for Arnold, Elerath and Reid voted in favor. On vote for Laws, Bennett, Acklin and Arnold voted in favor and Laws was made Council Chairman by majority vote~. Bennett moved to postpone for more applicants; Arnold seconded the motion° On roll call Reid, Bennett, Acklin, Laws and Arnold voted YESI. Elerath opposed and the motion carried. The Mayor left the meeting at this point (8:15 p.m.). A memo from the Engineering Department was reviewed by the City Administrator who noted the improvements proposed for Susan Lane are estimated to be approximately $36.50 per front foot and should the bids come back exceeding 10% of the estimate, the City will come back to the property owners. The public hearing was opened and Ronald Kramer, 120 Wimer Street (Lot 8101) said he will not benefit from the project as he faces on Wimer and doesn't plan to develop the rear of his loto Kramer noted that he was unable to get necessary information from the Engineering Department in order to identify easements etco and for location of the roadbed. He said he wouldn't want to see the lane used for High Street parking and said only two existing lots will benefit. Kramer asked that Council not go head with the proposal at this time° 1/6/87 P, 1 Regular M~eti~ng Ashland City Council 1/6/Bv Po 2 PUBLIC HEARING cont. Susan Lane Impr, Kramer said the cul-de-sac planned would be too large and that only two lots will benefit. He asked that another formula be used because of the configuration of the lots involved. Kramer asked that Council postpone for more information and allow him to comment on the plan. William Welch, 132 Susan Lane spoke in favor of the proposal. Doug Chaney, 335 High Street (lot 7601) spoke in opposition saying there are only two houses on the lane and the granite street there is adequate for the little vehicle traffic it gets and that it needs to be graded only once a year. Chaney expressed concern about some trees he has close to the lane and urged Council to wait on the proposal° He said the cost/benefit ratio doesn't make it feasible to spend that much money to accommodate two or three cars a da . Elinor Berman, 341 High Street said a lot of children walk on ~usan Lane and would not like to see it developed further. Bennan said the area is rural in nature and she would like to see it kept that way. Roy Nason, 338 Scenic Drive spoke in favor of the improvements pro- posed saying he would like to build on his property and needs access. Director of Public Works Alsing said he is puzzled that more informa- tion was not available in the Engineering Department but that final drawings are not done until after the public hearing and Council decision° Alsing said that the improvements would eliminate maint- enance and whenever property owners are willing to petition for improvements, it is a step ahead in the City's efforts to pave where- ever possible~ About the cost formula, Alsing said the general policy is to go by front footage but said that square footage could be used in some cases to make the costs more equitable. Terry Kerby spoke in favor of the improvements saying he would like to build on Roy Nason's lower lot and said he doesn't care to have a dirt street and said that lots of children use the lane to go to the upper neighborhoods° At this point the public hearing was closed. Acklin noted that the question of equity has come up before and in this case it looks like some of the lots could be looked at for that reasono Reid said she would like to see an alternate formula worked out and noted that some of the problems stem from new subdivisions clustered in old neighborhoods. Arnold said he doesn't see any gross inequities in this proposal. First reading was given the ord- inance and Arnold moved to second reading; Bennett seconded the motion° Arnold explained to the people who spoke at the public hear- ing that he is voting in favor because of the benefit derived by paved streets in the City° On roll call the motion passed without opposition. Liquor Lico Applica- tion - Safeway Stores Bennett moved to approve application by Safeway Stores; Reid seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. 1/6/87 Po 2 Regular M~let_i_ng __ Ashland City Council 1/6/8v P o 3 TRAFFIC SAFETY REC~ NEW & MISCo BUSINESS Fin. Commentary Audit Report 85/86 AuditLors term PUBI, [ C FORUM A memo from Director of Public Works Alsing was reviewed requesting that a "20 mile per hour, when children are present" be established on E. Main Street adjacent to school property at Walker Avenue as recommended by the Traffic Safety Commission. Alsing noted that East Main Street has 40 MPH limit prior to reaching Walker coming from the railroad tracks and there is a problem with pedestrians and cyclists. Alsing said if we get a grant for the Forensics Lab, there will be money to widen the street. Alsing said the City is working with the County and that in time the County may take over that street but it is in the future. Alsing said the 20 MPH would go to 40 MPH when there are no children in the area. Chief Lively said that a portion that is now in the City is limited to 25 MPH due to the residential area. Reid moved to approve recommendation; Acklin seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. Arnold moved to accept the Monthly Financial Commentary and place on file; Bennett seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote° Bennett moved to accept and place on file; Acklin seconded the motion, Reid noted that Parks & Recreation plan to install a com- puter system and heard that Jerry Burns, Auditor, has been said to be counseling the Commission on what they need etc. and suggested there could be a conflict there. The City Administrator said he would check into the matter and report back. On voice vote, the motion passed unanimously. A memo was reviewed from the Director of Finance relative to the term an Auditor should be contracted to do the City's work and requested a policy from Council. After some discussion Arnold moved to set policy for 3 year term; Bennett seconded° Elerath said that in large corporations the option to rehire is each year and that the Auditor is rarely not asked to return the next year. On voice vote the motion passed unanimously. Paul Marks~ 44 Morton suggested that if the City is concerned for the school children as discussed earlier that the Police car be parked in plain view so that motorists will act accordingly° Marks suggested that the City pave bike paths rather than a street used by only a couple of vehicles. Marks also asked Council to be aware of any attempt for a police officer who is suing the City to settle out of court saying he has reason to believe such a settlement would not be fair for the City due to behavior pattern of police officer in this instance° Marks criticized the neon light ordinance saying that all flourescent lights would be illegal and used the ones in the Chambers as an example. He said he will install neons lights all over his building for spite. He then asked for cost of Christmas tree lighting in downtown including installation. He then cited a federal law citing finger printing and mug shots as unconstitutional. Marks said he will no longer pay the tax on his electric bill until it is proven to be a legal charge to him~ 1/6/87 P. 3 Regular ~eeting Ashland City Council 1/6/87 m 4o ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS House Moving Ord. Sign Code Trailer & Camping Park~ ng Regulations OTHER BUSINESS ADJOURNMENT Second reading was given an ordinance by title only amending the Building Code with respect to the moving of buildings. Acklin moved to adopt; Elerath seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote° (Ref. Ord. 2410) First reading was given an ordinance amending the Sign Code after striking "or when a sign is internally illuminated" and Elerath moved to second reading; Acklin seconded the motion. Paul Marks said he likes neon lights and will put them up. Acklin noted the ordinance does not e-fect preexisting lights. On roll call, Elerath, Bennett, Acklin, Laws and Arnold voted in favor. Reid abstained because she has a neon light. The City Administrator presented~an ordinance amending the_Code so as to make parking restrictions apply to trailers. Arnold noted there was a complaint brought to the Traffic Safety Commission on this matter. After Council discussion it was decided to add "campers" to the ordinance° First reading was given the ordinance and Acklin moved to second reading; Elerath seconded the motion which passed passed unanimously on roll call vote. The City Administrator reminded Council that a Study Session will take place on Tuesday, January 13th with the Forest Service for a progress report on siltation in the Watershed. The meeting adjourned at 9:45 PoM. Nan E. Franklin City Recorder Don Laws, Cha i rman Mayor ( Act i ng) 1/6/87 P~ 4