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Home My WebLink About1986-0805 REG MINMinutes of the Regular Meeting Ashland City Council August 5, 1986 ROLL CALL INTRO- DUCTION APPROVAL OF MINUTES LABOR DAY RUN LIABILITY INSURANCE Chairman Laws led the Pledge of Allegiance and called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. on the above date in the Council Chambers. Present were Elerath, Reid, Bennett, Acklin and Arnold. Mayor Medaris was absent. Laws introduced the Honorable Arnold Spencer, member of the Greater Manchester Council, London, England, Chairman of the Plan- ning Commission in Manchester, Chairman of the Nuclear Free Zone Committee and teacher. Spencer said he has been overwhelmed by the reception he has received in Ashland and said it had been a privilege to have Councilors Reid and Smith visit them in England. Spencer said Manchester was the first Nuclear Free City in the world and there are now seventy cities in the United States that have passed ordinances to join them as Nuclear Free Cities. He said the purpose of a Nuclear Free Zone is not to exclude medical work using nuclear for its work but it means using other means to settle disputes without using nuclear weapons. Spencer said he was visiting Oregon to support the nuclear initiative slated for a vote at the November general election. Spencer said he would like to extend friendship from Manchester and presented the coat-of-arms to the Council. Spencer was then presented a book with a history of the first 50 years of the Oregon Shakespearean Festival. Acklin moved to approve minutes of the regular meeting and execu- tive session of July 15, 1986; Arnold seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. A letter from Patrick Barfield, Race Director, was read requesting road closure on August 31, 1986 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. along the race route beginning at the top of Lithia Park on Granite Street, proceeding down Granite to Winburn Way and down around the plaza, proceeding out Main & Siskiyou Blvd., then left on Highway 66 turning at the YMCA following the same course back, ending on Winburn Way adjacent to the Community Center. Almquist said the race has been held for the past two years along the same route and there have been no problems. Arnold moved to approve; Acklin seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. A memo dated July 17, 1986 was read from Director of Finance noting improvements in liability insurance claims history. No action was necessary. APPOINT- MENTS PUBLIC FORUM "A" STREET IMPROVE- MENT STREET TREES Laws read a memo from Mayor Medaris requesting the appointments of Bev Lamb, 288 Harrison St., and Walter Schraub, 1566 Woodland Dr., to the Traffic Safety Commission in order to bring the membership to seven members. Arnold moved to approve; Bennett seconded the motion which passed on voice vote with all in favor. George Foster, 501 Euclid, said he was concerned about the action Council took concerning the request by the Oregon State Ballet of Oregon for use of the Community Center for rehearsals at no cost. Foster said growth and entertainment were important to Ashland and he feels the Council is shortsighted in not allowing them to use the center rent-free, and urged that the decision be reconsidered. Reid said she did not attend that meeting but had received several calls. She said she feels there was some confusion on denying use when the building was not in use. Elerath said the ballet is much improved over the past year and he is sympathetic to their needs, and hopes they can find ways to support themselves. Acklin said it was an unfortunate situation that they are not allowed to ask for donations due to Park policy, but the City has supported the Ballet through the budget process. Acklin noted that other organizations also need help and if the request had been granted, it would have opened the door for similar requests. First reading was given an ordinance ordering the improvement of "A" Street from 6th Street to 7th Street, under the Bancroft Act. Arnold moved to second reading; Bennett seconded. On roll call vote, all AYES. First reading of an ordinance was given amending the Street Tree Ordinance requiring a permit for permission to prune. Almquist said there is a permit request to move the Peace House on Laurel Street and it would pass by the Methodist Church where a large Cyprus tree would need to be trimmed. Reid said she is concerned about wording and using cosmetic purposes is nebulous. Elerath questioned who owns the trees in parkways and Almquist said pro- perty owners own them, but the City can control. Laws said he doesn't think the Council wants to deal with individual requests and feels it is appropriate to have the City Administrator administer the permits. Alsing noted that as well as the Electric Department, other City departments need to trim. Salter said the word electric could be taken out of the Ordinance. Arnold said he did not like to give unlimited right and would prefer adjacent property owner get a permit if for other than cosmetic purpose. Almquist said the Tree Commission would be contacted and the mover, plus himself, would view the area before a decision would be made and any decision could be appealed to Council. Acklin moved to delete the word electric and pass to second reading; Arnold seconded. Motion passed on voice vote with Elerath, Bennett, Acklin, Laws and Arnold, YES; Reid, NO. 8/5/86 Page Two INITIATIVE Separate Police & Fire Depts. OTHER BUSINESS A resolution was read calling a special election on the 4th day of November, 1986, in the City of Ashland for the purpose of submit- ting to the legal voters a measure calling for the amendment of the Charter of the City, to provide for permanently separate Police and Fire Departments. Arnold moved to approve the Resolution, Bennett seconded. Edwin Chapman, 113 Pine Street, said he does not recognize the authority of the Council to take this action and change the date of the election. He said the intent of the ordinance passed, allowing the Council to change election dates, was intended to apply to Restore Emergency Services Quality and this initiative. He said RESQ has looked into possible legal action against the Council. Bennett said the decision to hold it at the General Election will save funds. Acklin said historically more people vote in the General Election. Reid questioned the technicalities of petition if initiative was circulated with the September 16th date and then Council changing to November 4th. Laws said the purpose was to allow more people to vote on a major issue and to save money having it on a General Election rather than a special date. Arnold said Council has a duty to place the issue on the ballot and he feels the Council does have the right to change the date to the General Election. A1 Willstatter, 128 Central, said people did look at the date when petition was circulated and feels the ordinance passed to change the date was politically motivated. Don Rist, 310 Bridge Street said he feels this is like a problem the County has just had and reported that Ray Phelps felt the County did not have the right to change the date. On voice vote to pass the resolution, Elerath, Bennett, Acklin, Laws, and Arnold, YES, Reid, NO. Reid asked Alsing to notify Council when sluicing of lower reservoir is to be done. Alsing reported on the progress on the lower part and said sluicing will not take place this summer but possibly in the fall or if close enough to be done with regular sluicing. Bennett moved to place on the agenda the matter of a report to DEQ on future sluicing; Reid seconded, on voice vote all in favor. Bennett moved for Council to endorse comments from City Administrator which were passed out to Council prior, and send to the DEQ, Acklin seconded, all in favor on voice vote. Almquist reported there was a conflict on the August 26 date scheduled for the study session on Capital Improvements. September 9, 1986 was agreed upon. 8/5/86 Page Three ADJOURN Laws read a letter from the Mayor of the City of Sandy requesting the City of Ashland to support the City of Sandy in the problem of dealing with juvenile offenders. Acklin asked that the matter be placed on the next agenda. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 P.M. Nan E. Franklin City Recorder Don Laws, Chairman Acting Mayor 8/5/86 Page Four