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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-0416 REG MINCOMPREHENSIVE PLAN APPROVAL OF MINUTES PUBLIC HEARINGS Solar Access Street Fund Revenue Proposal MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL ApriI 16, 1985 Planning DireCtor Fregonese presented the Mayor ~ith Ashland'S Certificate of Acknowledgement of Compliance to State Require- ments of the Comprehensive Plan and noted that planners have been working on the project since 1978. The Mayor thanked the staff and the hundreds of citizens who had a part in the effort. Smith asked that page 5 be corrected relative to the Wastewater Treatment Buffer plans to show that Parks & Recreation Depart- ment was commissioned to do planning etc. rather than "planting". Reid noted that adjournment of the meeting should have read 12:30 A.M. not P.M. Smith moved to approve minutes of the regular meeting of April_2, 1985 as corrected and the adjourned meeting of April 4, 1985; Reid seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. Jeff Barnes, 27% No Main Street, said he has worked with solar designs for a period of ten years and expressed concern about changes made in the solar ordinance which would preclude a certain percent- age of the property owners from their rights to the benefits of the sun as they relate to solar energy. Barnes illustrated problems with topography and subdivision layouts which make solar access diffi- cult to implement.along with the typically uphill slopes to the South in Ashland. Larry Medinger, 520 Terrace Street, agreed that the ordinance has problems and illustrated a building location problem he has on Scenic as it relates to a future structure and its solar affect. Fregonese said that the ordinance is realistic and that he sees a smal~ ~cen a e.of diffi ult overall in imple- menting.the o 'nance. ape o~ public ~earing is on file). Almquist gave first reading by title only of an ordinance amending Chapter 18.70 of the Land-use Ordinance relative to Solar Access and declaring an emergency. Acklin moved to second reading and Smith seconded the motion. Laws asked why there was an emergency clause and Fregonese said the present ordinance is not clear and there is litigation pending on it.and permits are being held up pending the adoption of the amended ordinance. Laws agreed with the need for the emergency clause and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. Councilor Laws noted that the third goal of Council was to evaluate various ways to fund street maintenance and noted several attempts have failed_in %he past. Laws noted Revenue Sharing will no longer be available after 1986. AlmquiSt said that Ashland has never had its streets sealed and that money could be saved With such apre~ ventstire maintenance program which would cost about $110,000 ~ year. Almquist said we will be losing about $200,000 a year because of the demise of Revenue Sharing.and noted that whenever citizens have been asked what they consider the biggest problem in Ashland they invari- ably say the condition of the streets is the major problem. Almquist said the City is now faced with replacing the R.S. mo~ies by a new revenue which can be earmarked for street maintenance on a year to year basis and noted the Budget Committee unanimously recommended .....***.,..continued 4/16/85 PUBLIC HEARING cont. Street Mainto Fund to Council that we have a street fund with several revenue~ turned over to that fund. Almquist said the proposal being made is to establish two new revenues to be earmarked for the fund - 5% natural gas utility user tax which would go to the street fund and bring in between sixty and one-hundred thousand dollars per year and in addition would transfer 5% from Water and Sewer utility to the street fund. Almquist said this in the current year would necessitate no new Water & Sewer charges but at some time they may need to be increased 5%. Almquist ~oted both natural gas utilities and water & sewer utilities use the streets and thus it is reasonable to ask for street utility funding. It was noted that electric users already have 25% and seems fair to ask that natural gas users pay 5%. -. Almquist said that hewill be meeting with C. P. National to negotiate a new franchise and will discuss their willingness and ability to collect the tax. Almquist said the public hearing is for input only and that no decisions on the proposals would be made at this time. Laws said that there is a possibility that Council would ask that an ordinance be drawn up. Acklin said Council is doing something about how to take care of the streets and invited the citizenry to share any ideas they may have for implementation when the revenue sharing monies are lost. Smith said ~he is impressed with the com- parison of costs of electric utilities and property taxes and that Ashland has always been between 47 and 51 in rank of lowest costs. The public hearing was opened on proposed revenues for street fund. Fred Binneweis said he is in strong support of street funding and noted that the streets in most of Ashland are in deplorable condition but doesn't believe that the utilities should be charged for the use of the streets and asked why the electric users shouldn't be taxed the same amount. Binneweis recommended that gasoline tax be looked at again and disagreed with previous comments when gasoline tax was suggested that Ashland consumers would drive to Medford to avoid the tax. Bill Capp agreed with Binnewels' remarks and said that more careful inspection should be made of the streets cut by the various utilities. Capp said gasoline tax would be one way and that a tax levy such as maintains Parks & Recreation should be researched as a way to generate funding for streets. Capp said that better work on the streets as needed would preclude some of the potholes which just get larger. A1 Willstatter expressed concern that the proposal could be implemented by July 1 according to an article he read in a newspaper. Willstatter stated his opposition to any tax increase for natural gas and that users should be given time to speak up. Laws said electric utility users are charged 10% and that the City used to transfer 20 to 33% to the General Fund but now it's done through taxes. Willstatter said this proposal singles out natural gas users and people are already faced with another tax of 5% for water. Willstatter asked Council if they realize what this increase will do to Laundromats, car wash businesses etc. ......... continued 4/16/85 P. 2 legular Meeting Ashland City Council 4/16/85 P~B PUBLIC HEARING ON STREET FUND PROPOSALS cont. Don Rist, 310 Bridge Street asked Council not to make a decision on the proposals until they hold more public hearings or study sessions on the matter° Rist recommended that the City look at the legislation (HB2686) which the City of Salem had requested support on which would reimburse police & fire protection costs on state lands. Rist said the City might get State funds. On Laws' question as to whether Rist would support the proposal, Rist said he would not support anything he hasn't seen. John Nicholson, 1575 Greenmeadows Way, said he is willing to pay his share of the costs to serve the need but advised against setting up too many funds which could cause straightjacketing the finance officer. Nicholson said continued use of the general fund and additional revenue proposals plus proposed tax on natural gas users wou]d be unfair particularly to low income people of the community. Nicholson urged that more public discussion be held on the street proposal . Cliff Moran, 1193 Siskiyou, said emphasis should be in cutting the government costs in other places and added that no one ever thought revenue sharing was going to be permanent. Merle Mills, 34 Scenic Drive, opposed the proposal. May Lou Stewart, 791 Glendower, speaking for the League of Women Voters commended Council for having a public hearing on the matter and giving the community an opportunity for further input before making a decision. Stewart said LWV has no stand on the matter as there hasn't been sufficient time for study. Chuck Gates, Area Manager for C.P. National, said while he is con- cerned with the financial services he is also concerned with the rates and noted the last three rate cases for CPN were for decreases. As a point of interest Laws reminded Council and citizens that an automobile gasoline tax was passed by this Council and was referred to the people and the people turned it down, Laws said that the tax levy which supports the Parks & Recreation services law has changed and if the City were tO go to a property levy we could only go for three years at a time and otherwise we would have to go to the property tax. Of the Salem legislation mentioned earlier, Laws said there is little chance that will go through as they have been trying since 1953 and there is only a handful of Cities with that kind of impact, LaWs asked the audience how they would publicize the proposal to get the most input. Willstatter suggested the City utility newsletter. Moran recommended that the Daily Tidings give people opportunity for input on the subject. Capp said it would be a good idea to put the hearing notices in paper located in section other than the want ads, Smith noted that the City publicizes the agenda more than other cities and citizens have opportunity for STREET FUND PROPOSALS continued Marketplace Request Historic Preservation Land-use Ord. Amendments Traveller's Accommod. Traffic Safety Recommend. No Parking 607 Park St. Community Center Building input and attendance at meetings. A letter from Wink Jean, Marketplace Manager, was read requesting use of the 12-space parking lot at the apex of Guanajuato and Winburn Way to add a Saturday Farmers Market to the Saturday ~rket complex. Jean said that since the letter was written they have changed proposed hours for the Farmers' Market to operate until noon rather than 3: P.M. Wink introduce Susan Wallace who plans to head up the Growers' Market° The City Administrator noted that a request had been received from the Chamber of Commerce asking that any decis- ion be delayed until such time as the Chamber could study the plan. Wallace reviewed the plans for the market saying that it will make fresh vegetables available without a middleman and give local growers an opportunity to sell their produce. Reid supported the produce proposal. Laws said the Parking Facility Committee has been working to create spaces for downtown use and that twelve spaces may have a tremendous impact on Saturday shopping. Laws recommended post- poning the growers market opening until a report is available from the Parking Committee which is being worked on and added it could be done by the first meeting in May - otherwise the second meeting. Laws moved to postpone until the second meeting in May; Acklin seconded the motion. Laws said he would attempt to have the report for the first meeting in May. On roll call Elerath, Bennett, Reid, Laws and Acklin voted in favor. Smith voted N0. A letter was read from the State Historic Preservation Office relative to the nomination to the National Register of Historic Places of the Emerick-Phillips House at 1068 E. Main Street and the Roper, Fordyce and Julia House (Winchester Inn) at 35 Second Street. Reid moved to direct staff to send letter nominating the two houses; Bennett seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. A memo from the Planning Commission relative to a proposed amendment to the Land-use Ordinance to exclude Hostels from the Travellers Acco~odation Ordinance was reviewed and a public hearing was set for May 7~ 1985 at 7:30 P.M. A memo from the Traffic Safety Commission requesting a "NoParking" sign in front of 30 mailboxes at 607 Park Street was read and the matter discussed by Council. 'Laws move to approve and instruct staff to bring back a resolution; Acklin seconded the motion. Reid said she didn't like the exception and Elerath agreed saying the same problem exists all over town. Almquist noted that the Post Office has asked us to encourage grouping mailboxes. On voice vote the motion pass with all AYES except Elerath who opposed. Planner Fregonese reported on the increased use of community activities at the Community Center and showed the activity graph on the screen. ........ continued 4/16/85 P~ Community Center Bldg.~ Fregonese introduced Serene St. Clair who is in charge of the build- ing and she reported on the community interests shown in the use of the building etc. Reid complimented St. Clair on her initiative in creating uses at the Center and being there for the public, Joyce Ward reviewed the plans for restoration of the building to it's original look and the repairs planned. Ward showed a picture of the building taken in 1922. Committee Nominations Philip E. Gates was nominated to the Traffic Safety Commission; Willmort Knowles to Airport Commission; Don Daoust to Bikeway Com- mittee and Frank Long t~ the Bikeway Committee. Mayor requested approval of the appointments and Laws so moved; Elerath seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. PUBLIC FORUM Daniel Greenblatt requested consideration of an interim approval of his liquor license application in the absence of background information on his parents being returned to the Police Department, Greenblatt said his is anxious to open and cannot do this until he gets the license approval and offered documentation on the integrity of his parents, Council discussed the matter and the backlog of applications in Salem caused by a cut in personnel. The City Rec- order noted that she has other applications which have been approved based on receipt of the information. Elerath said he had planned to help Greenblatt but hadn't realized others were also waiting and didn't feel we could waive the policy for one applicant. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS Trans. of Approp. A resolution transferring appropriations within funds was read and Acklin moved to adopt; Laws seconded and the motion carried on unanimous roll call vote. Resolution authorizing funds/accounting methods A resolution authorizing funds and accounting methods for 1985/86 fiscal year was read. Laws recommended that the resolution be deferred since it deals on Exhibit ?A" with creation of the Street Fund which had been discussed at the earlier public hearing and on which it had been decided to postpone decision for further input from the public. Finance Director agreed with Laws and noted that the Budget hearing will be held on May 7, 1985. Council agreed to postpone, Walker Avenue Agreement An agreement with Jackson County concerning the improvement of Walker Avenue from E. Main Street to S.P.R.R. was reviewed and Smith moved to authorize the Mayor and City Recorder to sign the document; Reid seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. OTHER BUSINESS Elerath commended the City Administrator for coming in 153rd in the annual Pear Blossom Run. ADJOURNMENT ~ The meeting adjourned to Executive Session at 10:20 P.~{. '? ' ' ' Nan E. ~ranklin, City Recorder L. Gordon Med~rim. Mavor ~/1~/~ ~ ~