HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-1117.SS.MINMINUTES FOR THE STUDY SESSION MEETING
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
November 17, 1999
Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Shaw called the meeting to order at 12:06 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers.
IN ATTENDANCE
Councilors Laws, Hauck, Hanson, and Fine were present. Councilor Reid arrived late. Staff present: City Administrator
Mike Freeman, Assistant City Administrator Greg Scoles, Telecommunications/Marketing Manager Ann Seltzer,
Director of Community Development John McLaughlin, Public Works Director Paula Brown, Administrative Services
Director Dick Wanderscheid, Chief of Police Scott Fleuter, Parks Director Ken Mickelsen, Fire Chief Keith Woodley,
and Finance Director Jill Turner.
DISCUSSION REGARDING CERT PROGRAM
Fire Chief Woodley introduced Rees Jones, who is handling the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
training, gave a brief overview and introduced CERT program graduate Betty Camner. Woodley briefly explained the
curriculum and budget information that had been provided to council, and noted that the goal of the program is to extend
emergency services to all neighborhoods in the event that emergency response personnel are unavailable. Provided a
map to council showing the various team locations in the city, and emphasized that there is a need for self-sustaining
communities that are able to stand alone for up to 72 hours in emergencies.
Rees explained that the program began as a means to extend the emergency response capabilities, but suggested that
it has deepened as it progressed.
Betty Camner/868 A St./Emphasized that the CERT program is very empowering. Noted that she is a single mother,
the owner of a traveler's accommodation, and a business owner, and stated that she found the training to be an incredible
education. Explained that she now knows how to turn off utilities and use a fire extinguisher; she carries a first aid kit
on her person and in her car. Stated that, all in all, she is more prepared to take care of herself and her family, and the
community if necessary. Emphasized that her feeling is that this training has made her someone who would be able to
contribute in a disaster, and someone who would act from educated knowledge.
Jones noted that many participants speak of personal empowerment, and pointed out that two city councilors have
completed the program. Suggested that this is good for the city and the citizens. Explained the handouts that were
presented to council, which are samples of the ones used by the teams in canvassing neighborhoods. Also emphasized
the commitment on the part of the program trainees, who are required to provide their own equipment for classes that
may cost as much as $150-200.
Woodley noted that training costs to the city are $104 per citizen, and that 25 hours are required to train each participant.
Woodley emphasized that there is a need to include CERT volunteers in future disaster drills, and stated that the money
invested in this program gives a high return. Concluded that in two years, all of the teams will be up and running and
the costs will decrease significantly.
Reid inquired about the possibility of involving high school students in the program to provide valuable training that
would benefit the community and empower young people. Jones noted that all interested parties over 14 years of age
are welcome, and pointed out that there are two high school students now in the program. Jones questioned spending
tax dollars to train a high school team, when so much of the money invested could leave the community as these
participants leave at graduation. However, he agreed that students could be included in other teams, and recognized
Cit.x Council Study Session 11/17/99 Page I of 6
that this might be looked at again in the future. Reid suggested that once the program is established, it would be
valuable to have an ongoing class run by school faculty as trainers.
Jones emphasized that the existence of CERT teams provides a tremendous improvement in disaster response
capabilities. In a weekend training, over half of the trainees showed up for a dry run of an assessment, and covered all
of the ground in neighborhoods on foot within two hours. In contrast, city staff would take four hours and make
guesses as they drive by in emergency response vehicles.
Woodley stated that graduates will train their families, and eventually graduates will train new trainees in classes. Jones
suggested that this will reduce costs, and emphasized the level of professionalism present in the trainees.
Woodley thanked Paula Brown for providing a meeting place and for assistance in creating the maps used. Woodley
also thanked Rees Jones for all of his efforts.
REPORT ON PROVIDING TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
This item was postponed to a fi~ture meeting. (Freeman noted this had to do with policy issues around providing High
Speed Data (HSD} sen, ice to customers outside the city.)
2000-2001 STRATEGIC PLANNING UPDATE
Freeman noted documents distributed as draft for review, and asked for council input on whether these are indeed
priorities to move ahead with. Then, suggested looking at items by department projects.
Freeman noted concern with the amount of projects identified for Community Development, and stated that he would
like council to look at the workload here in depth. Reid stated that her preference would be for Community
Development to finish the items which are underway before moving on to other items.
Freeman suggested going through the 2000-2001 Strategic Plan Draft together to determine consensus. Laws stated
that before moving ahead, he would need to have an idea of costs and staff priorities. Emphasized that he would need
these details before giving final approval, but stated that he could give preliminary approval to the wording of the draft.
Freeman stated that cost estimates would be brought to the next meeting, and asked the council to go over the draft
wording as a group here.
On page 1, Laws asked that the document title be changed to "Strategic Plan Priorities" as this would help to clarify the
purpose of the document.
On page 2, Laws suggested that he would like the "Community Values Statement" to be more comprehensive. Reid
concurred, and suggested that the statement be made less cumbersome. Shaw stated that the "Community Values
Statement" looked good to her, and asked that wording be kept as brief and concise as possible.
'[here were no comments on the "Citizen Participation and Involvement" section on page 2.
Also on page 2, under "Environmental Resources," Reid pointed out that recent actions allowing homes to be built in
an unpaved area is out of compliance with part of this item. Laws stated that goals are to be worked toward, but
emphasized that this can be over a period of time. Also under "Environmental Resources," Shaw suggested that the
introductory paragraph be corrected to read "Ashland seeks to retain its natural beauty as it continues to grow and further
development. The City seeks to strike a balance between urbanization and pratezting preventing air, water, and noise
pollution as well as protection from soil erosion and loss of small creeks and wetlands."
On page 3, "Housing," Hauck stated that the community land trust item has been implemented and can be removed from
this list as it is in place and operational. Reid questioned the re-development/re-modeling changes to the City's SDC
charges, and asked how difficult this will be. Director of Community Development John McLaughlin stated that any
Cilv Council Study Session I 1/17/99 Page 2 of 6
time SDCs are discussed, it becomes involved and complex, and noted for Reid that this item also involves issues around
the Historic District and the demolition ordinance.
On page 3, under "Economic Strategy" Fine suggested correcting the wording in the second item as follows: "Review
the City's land use ordinances to ensure they are meeting or will meet the community's needs¢ and values as i~ they
pertains to parking requirements, environmental constraints (i.e. trees), structure size, mixed use, landscaping and
promoting alternative transportation." Under the next item in "Economic Strategy" Freeman stated that the living wage
item could be made a directive from council to staffand could be removed from the strategic plan priorities. Council
agreed, and this item was removed.
On page 4, "Public Services" item 2, it was suggested that the second sentence beginning "Combine the grant
program. "be changed to begin "Coordinate the grant program..
In "Public Services" item four, it was noted that the word "for" should not be capitalized.
In "Public Services" item five, Reid noted that the green power item will be coming up soon, and Freeman pointed out
that it may be an on-going item that is addressed incrementally. Hanson suggested that this item be reworded as
"Develop a Green Pcwer alternative green power alternatives for the community."
In the sixth item under "Public Services" dealing with regional partnerships, the word "electrical" was changed to
"electricity."
In the seventh item, Freeman clarified for Reid that the "street improvement and financing plan" referred to developing
more of a long term plan to address this issue over time.
In the eighth item, the word "need" was changed to "capacity."
Freeman noted that last item in "Public Services" will be presented to council soon, and can be removed from this list.
On page 4, items #1 and #3 under "Transportation& Transit" were combined. There was discussion of the jurisdictional
exchange item, with Reid noting that there is a need here to keep the long-term maintenance costs in mind in the f'mance
element of this matter.
On page 5, under "Energy, Air, and Water Conservation" Reid questioned the status of the solar power program.
Administrative Services Director/Conservation Manager Dick Wanderscheid explained that implementation of the
residential portion of the program (Phase II) will depend on the institutional phase's (Phase I) success.
On page 5, under "Parks, Open Space, and Aesthetics," Shaw questionedthe status of the update of the open space map.
Parks Director Ken Mickelsen confirmed that this update is underway. Freeman noted that he and Mickelsen had
already met and discussed operational redundancies. Mickelsen stated that he was agreeable to continuing this dialog,
and stated that information will be brought back to council after further discussions can take place.
'Fhere were no changes made to the "Urbanization" items on page 6.
On page 6, under "Historical Sites & Structures," Fine questioned suggested that the second item be placed in "Public
Services" and reworded to indicate the need to "Ensure that all public buildings are properly maintained, with
appropriate attention to the special needs of historic buildings."
Under "Regional Strategies" on page 6, Freeman noted that he has not pursued study sessions with other bodies due to
workload. Asked for guidance from council as to the priority on this item. Hauck stated that he would prefer to delay
.joint sessions with other bodies in the region until specific issues arise. Cited the Urban Growth Boundary agreement
(ity Council Study Session 11/17/99 Page 3 of 6