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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-0903 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL September 3, 1985 ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES PARK PROPOSAL LIQUOR LICENSES STREET FUNDING The regular meeting of the Council was called to order by Mayor Medaris who led the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30 PoM. on the above date. Present were Elerath, Reid, Bennett, Acklin, Laws and Smith. Bennett moved for approval of minutes of the regular meeting.of Aug- ust 20, 1985; Laws seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote° A letter from Brent Thompson was read urging that Council consider acquisition of a hilltop park site called for in the Comprehensive Plan. Almquist said he had no particular comments on the matter but alerted Council to the possibility of a land trade for future reser- voir site on nine acres at the top of Strawberry Lane owned by Red Gentry and having the balance of the land for park use. Almquist noted the land being suggested is comprised of five of the best view lots in the City and there is land further to the North which would serve the purpose. Smith noted that there are many ways of acquiring property for park purposes other than paying cash and suggested the Parks Commission identify park sites and then come to the Council with ideas. Acklin suggested Council work with Parks & Recreation for recommendation of sites. Smith moved to ask P & R for recommendation of sites; Acklin seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. Almquist noted that the Police Department had recommended approval for liquor license application from Robert Comfort, Michael Bingham and Stephen Sacks dba Ashland Bakery & Cafe and Smith moved to approve; Elerath seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. Almquist reported the Police Department had completed background check on applicants Paul and Charlotte Niestrath dba Sandwich ShaCk and Laws moved to approve; Bennett seconded the motion which passed with- out opposition on voice vote. The Director of Public Works reviewed the history of street resur- facing and maintenance of streets and recommended that a new mainten- ance concept be adopted whereby the streets are maintained to give them a longer life as opposed to repairing deteriorating streets. Alsing listed options as 1) do nothing, 2) do what we do now, and 3) rehabilitate and prework. Alsing said that a seal coat could be applied every six years and that resurfacing could be done every 30 years and said the cost for sealing would be $99000 and resurfac- ing $89,000 and patching $1,000 for a total cost of $189,000 per year° On question of Elerath as to whether this amount would cover labor, Alsing said it would be for materials only. Elerath asked what the employees would do should monies not be available for materials and Alsing said they would continue to sweep streets, install and paint signs etc. Almquist reviewed the Revenue Sharing negative impact and said that the street program this year would not be much with funds available, 9/3/85 Po 1 Regular,Meeting Ashland City Council 9/3/85 P. 2 STREET FUNDING cont. WINBURN WAY CLOSURE POLICY PUBLIC FORUM Almquist noted that two revenue measures were discussed, one being 5% user's tax on natural gas and the other a 5% transfer in lieu of franchise tax for water quality. Almquist said that at one time a 1¢ per gallon tax was proposed for automobile fuel and a 2¢ tax on aircraft fuel was proposed and was defeated on a serial levy with 3 to 1 voting against the proposal° Laws noted there have been several public forums on the revenue ideas and they were not acceptable. Reid said with education program the people may understand and the gas tax principal would lend to sharing by the tourists in the cost of maintenance of the streets they use. Almquist said one of the reasons the gas tax idea didn't take hold was that the monies could have been transferred to another account .and agreed that the education idea saying that the gasoline tax to support street maintenance would be an acceptable rationale. Laws recommended that Almquist and Director of Finance Nelson study and come up with alternatives for Council con- sideration. Elerath expressed concern for property taxes and asked what would result in cutting personnel° Acklin reviewed results of a Citizens Revenue Committee which studied each departmentTs work and came up with recommendations which did not include cutting person- nel. Acklin said the staff is already honed down and that people she has spoken with are interested in having the vital City services at an appropriate level. Reid said that in her election work she learned that the condition of the streets was a number one concern with the citizens and noted the need for public parking to accommodate local people and tourists to justify the gasoline tax proposal. Acklin moved to ask staff to set date for a special meeting at which time a public hearing could be held to discuss street funding, and after that meeting ask for an ordinance to be brought back; Smith seconded the motion. Almquist noted that October 8, 1985 would be a good date to try for. On voice vote the motion passed unanimously. The City Administrator reported on a meeting with Parks & Recreation Director Mickelson regarding suggested policy for closure of Winburn Way noting the circumstances under which the Administrator has been authorized to close the street now. In addition the policy would authorize the Administrator to close Winburn when crowd size would pose a hazard to those attending events. Any decision the Adminis- trator should make disapproving an application would automatically be referred to City Council for consideration at their next regular meet- ing and the last criteria called for no selling or soliciting on any public street within Lithia Park (Winburn Way from Guanajuato Way to Granite Street). Smith objected to the criteria which would not allow selling in the case of non-profit organizations in particular who fund their programs etc. by this means. Laws moved to adopt policy as proposed; Reid seconded the motion° Smith moved to amend motion to delete no. 4 which called for no selling in the Park or on street in Park and the motion died for lack of a second. On motion to adopt Elerath, Reid, Bennett, Acklin and Laws voted YES. Smith opposed and the motion carried. Jeff Golden told Council he continues to be interested in serving on the Budget Committee and noted he first applied when Phil Arnold was appointed and he now understands there has been another vacancy° Mayor Medaris said he has been waiting for more applications and a full Council to consider them at the September 17 meeting. The Public Forum was closed° !~ular ~ing Ashland City Council 9/3/85 D, 3 ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS A resolution transferring appropriations within funds was read and Council discussed a $7,200 transfer in Public Safety and Public Safety Transfer of Approp. Director Lively noted that Civil Defense and Community Service Volunt- eers have been combined with Frank D'Entremant as Director with over 100 volunteers. Acklin moved to adopt; Reid seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. Low-income Energy Assistance The City Administrator reviewed the program and Smith moved to author- ize Mayor to sign; Acklin seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCILORS "BAG-IT DAYS 85" Bennett reviewed the statement by Governor Vic Atiyeh relative to a proclamation of "Bag-It Days 85" calling for cleanup of litter from roads, streams and shores etc. Bennett asked for a commitment from any or all of the members of the Council for participating in the planned cleanup of Bear Creek so that she can advise Eric Dittmer who headsup the effort every year on behalf of RVCOG. Council generally agreed to participate. EVALUATIONS Smith expressed concern that the evaluations of the City Administrator and City Attorney have not been done for last year. The Mayor said he is waiting until he receives them as all of them have not been received. ACLU COMMUNICATION A letter was reviewed by City Attorney Salter from ACLU challenging the City's Occult Arts Ordinance and Salter advised Council that the matter should go to court because of the uncertainty of the City's position~ Council asked about costs and Salter said he wouldn't charge fees. The City Attorney was asked to advise ACLU of CounciI's position that they should go to court. PARKING FACILITY MTG. Laws noted there will be a meeting of the Parking Facility Committee at 4:00 P.M. Wednesday to consider the final draft of the Committee Report and invited Council to attend the meeting at the Civic Center. LOC MEETING The City Administrator reported there will be a meeting of the League of Oregon Cities for a Legislative briefing in Grants Pass on September 12 and asked that they notify the Secretary of intentions. Almquist added that a car pool can be arranged. NORTH INTERCHANGE LIGHTING Salter informed Council he had heard from the County relative to the lighting contract for North Interchange approach and area and said it should be discussed upon his return from Salem. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 P.M. Nan Eo Franklin L. Cordon Medaris City Recorder Mayor 9/3/85 Po 3