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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-0319 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL March 19, 1985 ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES WALKER AVE IMPROVEMENTS OAK KNOLL STOCK CEMETERY PRICE STRUCTURE ODOE/BPA Grant OAK KNOLL LEASE RVCOG REPORT Mayor Medaris led the Pledge of Allegiance and called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M., on the above date in the Civic Center Council Chambers. Laws, Bennett, Elerath and Smith were present. Reid arrived at 7:40 P.M. Acklin was absent. Bennett moved to approve minutes of the regular meeting and execu- tive session of March 5, 1985; Laws seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. A letter from County Administrator Steinbrenner was read agree- ing to participate in the paving of a section of Walker Avenue and to transfer jurisdiction of the street to the City of Ash- land and prepare an agreement to that effect. Almquist noted that considering the county's share in the amount of $19,400 will reduce the cost to the abutting property owners by 30%. Staff was directed to acknowledge County's offer to participate. A letter from Buddy Sullivan requesting permission to purchase stock in the Oak Knoll Enterprise Inc. was read and Smith moved to approve request; Laws seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. Deferred to April 2 meeting. Energy Coordinator Wanderscheid reveiwed the offer of the Oregon Department of Energy to make a grant available in the amount of $5,000 to have an outside engineering firm conduct an energy analysis of the Westewater Treatment Plant. Wanderscheid out- lined the scope of the study and was asked by Elerath why the work couldn't be done by staff. Wanderscheid said he is not qualified as an engineer and that the City will benefit by the results and recommendations without any cost to the City. Director of Public Works agreed saying that information genera- ted from the study would serve to target losses of energy and produce findings for long-term plans for the operation. A res- olution to facilitate the energy analysis was read and Smith moved to adopt; Elerath seconded the motion which passed with- out opposition on roll call vote. A memo from the Director of Finance was read recommending that the City insure the buildings at Oak Knoll at a savings and then bill the lessee for the cost. It was noted that indirectly the reduced cost would benefit the golfers. Laws moved for approval as directed the City Attorney to prepare an addendum to the lease for signature by the Mayor and City Recorder; Bennett sec- onded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. Councilor Bennett reviewed her report as liaison to RVCOG which covered mainly the distribution of lottery funds and saying that the three areas considered for funding to be public works, State business loan funds and Team Oregon which is an economic devel- opment program. Bennett asked for input from Council as to ........ continued 3/19/85 P.1 Regular Meeting Ashland City Council 3/19/8J, P.~ RVCOG REPORT cont. SOLAR ACCESS ORD REV. R-1 ZONE AMENDMENT PP&L ACQUISITION administration of the funds and that COG would be the logical agency representing Jackson and Josephine Counties as District No. 8. Laws expressed concern that cities with less economic problems than some would be given monies and that the lottery funds spread thin would be inadequate to make any impact. Laws used Portland as an example saying that it's economy is doing quite well where other areas of Oregon are devastated econom- ically. Laws said he sees no reason that the funds would be passed out automatically but they would be given according to need and potential. Council agreed that RVCOG would be the logical agency to handle the distribution of funds ~ Bc_naGtt. Almquist noted that Council might be interested in input as it relates to the declaration of Entitlement Cities based on previous project participation rather than need and cited Medford as being in this category. Bennett said she would report back to COG on that issue and other suggestions made by Council. A public hearing relative to the revised Solar Access Ordinance recently approved by the Planning Conmission was set for the April 2 meeting at 7:30 P.M. A memo was read from the Planning Conmission noting approval of an amendment to the AMC Section 18.20.030 to include "Board and Rooming Houses, Group Homes." Lucy Harrell was in the audience and related wherein she was unable to sell her property for use as a group home (Adult Foster Home) and noted it would have no impact on the location of such a facility because it surround- ed by the railroad, schools and various other non-residential uses and said it would have a lower use than a convalescent home. Laws urged that input be saved for public hearing which was set for April 2 meeting at 7:30 P.M. Smith moved that discussion of PP&L acquisition be put on agenda; Laws seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. Almquist noted that Goal #1 was to develop an electrical utility acquistion and growth management plan and that the concept was first initiated about four years ago when Bill Parrott was man- ager at Medford PP&L. Almquist said he just recently received a letter from PP&L reporting that the annual revenue from the 316 meters is $207,898.00. Almquist noted when the acquisition was first studied that the Urban Growth Boundary had not been completed and the Comprehensive Plan calls for the City to pro- vide all services including electric. Almquist said the system would be more equitable with all property owners contributing to the costs of City services. Almquist and Williams illustrated the proposal shown on a map depicting the areas and services being considered in the proposed acquisition from PP&L. It was noted that the Airport would not be taken in nor the surround- ing area. Council discussed the possibility of further develop- ment in the North interchange area and possible annexation and Almquist said it wouldntt be feasible at this time noting that it is comprised of heavy commercial use as opposed to residential. Almquist said the system would be too costly to purchase in that area. Almquist said the $207,898 gross revenues reported by PP&L are naturally based on their rates and the depreciation 3/19/85/ Regular ~eeting Ashland City Council 3/19~_~5/3 PP&L Acquisition cent. PUBLIC FORUM value was reported to be $122,181.00 based on the Hittle Report which was recommended as an initial offer to PP&L. Elerath asked if there has ever been a public hearing to see how the property owners would feel about the proposal and he was told there has been no public hearing. Smith said she didn't see any need for a public hearing for people receiving City services and noted our rates historically are lower than PP&L's. Almquist said it is the keyston~ of the Comp Plan that we serve all people in '~UGB including electric and can't see purpose in public hearing. Elerath and Bennett agreed that a letter should be sent asking for input from potential consumers and Almquist said it would be awkward if for some reason they opposed the proposal because it is necessary anyway. Smith said she feels the people elected the Councilmembers to make such decisions and if it was ever necessary it should have been done before the study was made. The City Attorney said that such letters would make the negotiations with PP&L counterproductive. The Mayor agreed that the letter would be inappropriate. Laws said if we send a letter PP&L may also send a letter to compound the problem. Bennett withdrew her suggestion relative to communicating to the property owners for input and Smith moved to direct the City Administrator to proceed with negotiations with PP&L based on the depreciated value of $122,181.00; Laws seconded and the motion passed unani- mously on voice vote. A1 Willstatter of 128 Central commended Council for opening the PP&L matter as a public meeting. Pat Lahr, 151 Gresham expressed concern as a resident of a neigh- borhood where there has been a large buildup of debris at 168 Meade Street and noting it is the largest piece of property in the area. Lahr noted that when the property owners had a caboose placed in his backyard that the neighbors tolerated it as Krahel's hobby but that when additional cars were being moved in last week that most of the neighbors felt that they had reached the breaking point. Lahr said the lot is strewn with parts, barrels of oil, tons of gravel etc. and the view from her home has been cut off and replaced with the various railroad cars parked on the lot. A lady living in an apart- ment nearby said she feels like she's living next to the railroad tracks and would appreciate not having to look at the "Burlington Line" sign on one car. Dave Hill, 348 Pearl said he has recently built an addition on his home to enhance the view and at this time his neighbors were notified of his intentions. Krahel, he said, gave no notification. Charles Lahr said there is a public nuisance ordinance to keep one from obstructing traffic etc. in going through town and that Krahel's railroad cars should not have been allowed on City streets. Krahel expressed concern that his neighbors did not come to him to let him know their feelings and noted that some of the things in his yard have been there for fifty years~ ...... continued 3/19/85 P. 3 Regular_Meeting Ashland City Council 3/19/85 ~. 4 PUBLIC FORUM cont. Krahel Property ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND CONTRACTS MIP Fines Greenway Property OTHER BUSINESS ADJOURN}~NT Krahel said he has done a tremendous amount of work inside the railroad cars and he thinks it is going to be a very lovely place. Krahel said he has lived there for thirty years and their view is not going to be blocked. The City Attorney said the caboose meets the Zoning ordinance standards as a mobile home because of the wheels and designed to be lived in. Salter said that mobile homes are not allowed in residential areas and could be removed by court order. Reid said she lived in the neighbor- hood when there was only one caboose and saw no problem then but agrees that the problem has been compounded with the added cars. Laws said it appears the neighbors have notgotten together with Krahel and suggested that there be a meeting to come up with recommendations or alternatives and report back to Council. The Mayor appointed Reid to act as liaison with the group. Lahr said he had a conversation with Mr. Krahel and he said two years ago he wouldn't bring in any more cars. Pat Lahr expressed con- cern about toilet use in the caboose area and asked how it could be checked to make certain her garden is not subjected to pollut- ion. Smith suggested Lahr call the Dept. of Environmental Qual- ity. The public forum was closed at this point. (Elerath left the room). First reading was given an ordinance amending the penalty sec- tion for possession of liquor by a minor. Laws moved tO second reading; Reid seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. (Elerath absent from the room) A resolution accepting a donation of property by Jerry & Mary Turner for Greenway purposes was read and Smith moved for adopt- ion; Reid seconded the motion. The Administrator was directed to send a letter of appreciation to the Turners. On roll call vote the motion passed unanimously. Reid noted that she was late to the meeting as she had attened a meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission at 6:30 P.M. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 P.M. Nan E. Franklin City Recorder L. Gordon Medaris Mayor