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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-1119 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASFLLAND CITY COUNCIL November 19, 1985 ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES Governor's Award Fitness Leadership PUBLIC HEARINGS Mobile Home temporary occupancy INTRODUCTIONS PUBLIC HEARING Transp. Utility Mayor Medaris led the Pledge of Allegiance and called the meeting to order at 7:30 PoMo, on the above date in the Council Chambers. Present were Reid, Bennett, Acklin, Laws and Smith° Elerath was absent. Reid requested that the minutes of the regular meeting of November 5, 1985 be corrected to read that the neighborhood around SOSC be notified of the vacation of Webster Street (rather than notification of SOSC). Webster Street item was in third paragraph of page 5o Bennett moved to approve minutes as corrected; Reid seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. Mayor Medaris presented Mark Gibbons, Health Promotion Director of Providence Hospital with the Governor's Physical Fitness Leadership Award and one from the League of Oregon Cities for First Place in Employee Health Promotion Programs. The Mayor commended Gibbons and thanked ~he City Administrator and Tom Weldon for the successful Well- ness Program for the City of Ashland's personnel° Gibbons thanked Council saying it was an exciting milestone in his career. A memo from Planning Director Fregonese was read clarifying conditions under which a mobile home may be used for temporary occupancy citing permission only in conjunction with the construction of the applicant's ~esidence on the site. The Mayor opened the public hearing and since there were no comment, closed the public hearing. First reading was given the ordinance and Acklin moved to second reading; Reid seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote° Mayor Medaris noted that Ann McKibben was present representing The League of Women Voters and would be covering the meetings for the League. Medaris also introduced Managing Editor Hunter Jameson of the Daily Tidings. The City Administrator reviewed the proposed transportation utility fee ordinance to enable fees to be levied for funding for the maint- enance of improved streets. Almquist said the transportation utility is being established due to the termination of Revenue Sharing funds and the lack of support of the 5% in-lieu paymant by the Water and Sewer Utility as well as the 5% Utility User Tax on natural gas which had been proposed by the Budget Committee. Almquist reviewed proceeds available from gas tax revenues for the next three fiscal years and said that the final payment of Revenue Sharing will be $140,00 but it isn't known at this point how much of that amount will be available for street purposes° Almquist said that the revenue sh~rin~ funds have been used for street maintenance over the past few years. Almquist reviewed the surface sealing program which will cost $98,8~l~a year but that the new preventive maintenance concept will protect t~e interests of the taxpayers by a chip sealing method~ch will routinely preserve the improved streets for a longer life. Almquist said that it is anticipated that homes will be charged a monthly fee of $1.00, apartments 0.75¢ ..... continued 11/19/85 Po Reg~]ar Meeting Ashland City Council 11/19/8_5 P. 2 PUBLIC HEARING cont. Transportation Util. PARKS & REC. LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION and parking spaces a 0.35¢ fee. Almquist reviewed the options out- lined in his memo to Council of October 8 for the October 15 meeting and asked the Director of Public Works to outline proposed street maintenance program. Alsing reviewed the preventative maintenance concept saying that the intention is to catch the street problems before they need resurfacing. The public hearing was opened. Don Lohr asked about plans for prioritizing street work and the Mayor said the Street Department works from a schedule. Alsing noted that streets will be treated based on a 7 year cycle and all improved streets will be treated on the revolving cycle. Lohr noted that a typo in the Tidings article confused the issue. Cliff Moran, 1193 Siskiyou said he doesnvt doubt the need for street maintenance, but feels that levying fees on the business community will further impact the affects of the depressed economy. Moran maintained that the necessary funds can be found in the budget and if the issue goes before the people for a vote it will not pass. Reid asked if the fees would be used for new streets and Almquist said the intent is for improved streets only. Reid said the property owners will be paying for the streets while the School District won't be charged and will enjoy the use of the streets. Reid said the schools should share the burden. The Mayor noted that tourists are paying part of their share through the motel/hotel room tax. Acklin said that apartment and hotel owners are in a position to pass the additional costs on to their tenters. Smith noted that the voters overruled the gasoline tax which seemed the most equitable. On Bennett's question as to why the fees are not in the ordinance, Almquist said that they will be levied by resolution in the Spring when the Budget Committee deals with the issue. Laws noted that the amounts discussed are not set as yet, nor are they promised to stay at the rate mentioned in the meeting. Reid said the newspaper did not clarify in their article that this will be a new Utility and feels the citizens have a right to know what is proposed. Acklin noted that the newspaper had reported that this was a tax and not a Utility. Almquist noted that six or eight months lead time would be necessary for the Street Department to line up the equipment necessary to carry out the project. Almquist gave first reading by title only and noted that it will be clearly defined that only improved streets are qualified. Smith moved to second reading; Laws seconded the motion. Reid said she supports street maintenance but had hoped for another way of funding. On roll call voted the motion passed unanimously. A letter was read from Parks & Recreation Commission relative to the proposed "Hilltop" Park and the City Administrator noted that the subject will be covered under "other business" later on the agenda. Reid expressed disappointment that the Parks Commission has not identi- fied future park lands. Reid asked Council members to consider going to the Parks Commission meeting on Thursday evening to represent her as liaison since she will be out of the City. Acklin moved to approve request for liquor license by James & Daryl Reel dba Giovanni's Pizzeria at 5 Granite street; Smith seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. 11/19/85 P. 2 DOWNTOWN PARKING DISTo LOOP ROAD IMPROVEMENT LCDC GRANT APPLICATION LOTTERY FUNDS FOR WATER ST. PARKING LOT BUDGET CALENDAR SITE DESIGN BOOKLET PEILFORMANCE EVALUATION Councilor Laws reported that he had met with the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and they had agreed that an ordinance for down- town employee/employer parking should be enacted on a trial basis for the summer season of 1986 and that an educational program be implemented with the City to pay for part of the publishing costs. The Chamber also recommended that the City park City vehicles at other locations rather than the Plaza. A public hearing was set for December 3, 1985 at 7:30 P.M. to consider the Downtown Parking Ordinance. A letter from the Director of Public Works was read recommending certain standards on a section of Loop Road which will serve Park Estates which calls for 4" thickness of Class B asphaltic concrete; , pavement withth of 20'- or two 10' traffic lanes - with enough dedicated right of way to accommodate necessary cuts and fills and the width should be reviewed at the time of final design in those areas where a 20 foot wide pavement might be impractical° Curb and gutter was rec- ommended for the inside edge of the roadway to provide extra travel width and run-off of storm water° Laws moved to approve standards as recommended and that Planning Department be notified of standards; Smith seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. An offer of a Plan Maintenance Grant for data gathering costs etc. was reviewed by Council and Planning Director Fregonese cited the need for the funds for updating the Comprehensive Plan. Acklin moved to authorize signature by City Administrator Almquist; Smith seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. The City Administrator read a memo requesting authorization to prepare a grant application for an Infrastructure grant from Oregon lottery funds to improve the Water St. parking lot and that a public hearing on the proposed application be called for December 3, 1985 at 7:30 p.m. Fregonese asked that the Rehab grant public hearing also be called for that time. Almquist agreed and the public hearings were called for December 3, 1985 at 7:30 p.m. The Budget Calendar was submitted and accepted by Council. Planning Director Fregonese made copies of the new Site Design and Use Guidelines booklet for public information on development of properties in Ashland and introduced Steve Calfee, Assistant Planner who he credited with co-authorship and the informational and editing efforts° Council commended Fregonese and Calfee on their professional contribution of the much needed format for public education. The City Administrator presented a memorandum suggesting an addendum to the guidelines for administration of the Performance Evaluation Pay Plan to include the position of City Administrator, and that the Mayor be authorized to grant a merit increase based on the annual evaluation of the Administrator by the entire City Council on September 1 of each year° Smith moved to approve; Acklin seconded° Laws expressed a reservation that only the Mayor would make the decision, and although it would be satisfactory at this time, it would depend on future Mayors' relationship with the Administrator and personalities could become involved° The Mayor stated he would be willing to discuss any proposed increase with the Council first to obtain consensus° On voice vote the motion passed unanimously. 11/19/85 Po 3 Re~ul~lr Meeting Ashland City Council 11/19/85P.4 PUBLIC FORUM ORDINANCES, RESOLU- TIONS & CONTRACTS Water & B Sts Parking Parking Restrictions Lithia Way & "C" Sts. Trans. of Approp. Planning Director Addt'l Responsibilities OTHER BUSINESS SUMMIT MEETINGS & NUCLEAR FREE ZONE PLAQUES Parks Comm. Meeting No response. Second reading by title only was given an ordinance ordering the imp- rovement of a 52-car parking facility at Water and "B" Streets and Smith moved to adopt; seconded by Reid and passed unanimously on roll call vote. First reading was given an ordinance amending Section 11.28.010 of AMC as it relates to subpart 5 and limiting parking to five minutes for 3 parking spaces immediately adjacent to the Post Office on the norther- ly side of "C" Street and limiting four hour parking on "C" Street between First and Second Streets with the above exceptions. Laws moved to second reading; Bennett seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. A resolution transferring appropriations within funds to cover 85/86 wage settlements was read and Acklin moved for adoption; Laws seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. The City Administrator recommended assigning additional duties to the Director of Planning to include responsibility for all computer programs and systems in the City and noted that Fregonese is totally familiar with data processing equipment and would be available to train, program and develop systems as needed. Almquist noted that the proposal calls for Fregonese to have the same salary range as the Director of Public Safety. Smith moved to adopt resolution; Reid seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. The Mayor reviewed a news release calling attention to an I & M pro- gram which would est vehicles free of charge at the City parking lot in Lithia Park across from the childrens' playground. Councilor Smith encouraged citizens to keep front porch lights on as a symbol of concern for the Summit meetings in progress. Smith also asked the Mayor if the Nuclear Free Zone placque is hanging in City Hall as requested and the Mayor said he hasn't found a place as yet and would talk to Smith about the matter. Reid reminded Council that she would like attendance at P & R Commis- ion meeting. Reid also noted she had read the letter relative to the City Attorney's evaluation and suggested that he work with depart- ment heads as they are familiar with his work. Council discussed and said it wouldn't be appropriate. 11/19/85 F. 4 Regular Meeting Ashland City Council 11/19/85 P. 5 LAND EXCHANGE/HILLTOP PARK & RESERVOIR SITE The City Administrator reviewed a proposed land exchange of properties located in the Northwest section of Ashland which could provide the City with a Hilltop Park through the purchase of the Gentry property located at Westwood & Strawberry which is on the market for an asking price of $90,000. ~lmquist noted tha% here is sufficient acreage for ba c o [ vea tion the Hilltop park site and a lan e/w ic~ cou~e~e traded for a por of George Harshman's property which is undevelopable and in Urban Growth Boundary. Almquist said Harshman's property could be used for a reservoir about 1/4 the size of the Tolman Creek Road reservoir and such a facility would relieve the moratorium situation in the Northwest hills. Almquist requested authority to talk to property owners and to hire a geologist who could research the stability of the Harshman property. Smith moved to place on agenda; Acklin seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. Smith moved to investigate purchase of the property and hiring of geologist to study feasibility; Laws seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. PRESS CONFERENCE No questions. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:23 p.m. Acting City Recorder L. Gordon Medaris Mayor 11/19/85 P. 5