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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-0807 REG MINMinutes of the Regular Meeting Ashland City Council August 7, 1984 ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES PUBLIC HEARING Rental fees 59 Winburn Way 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. Present were Arnold, Reid, Dale, Laws and Smith. Absent was Acklin. Smith asked that on page two of the July 17th minutes, discussion of London Bus Historic Tours, the minutes should reflect that she does not feel there is any more support for this type of tour than there was for the cable car tour request. Smith moved to approve minutes as corrected; Reid seconded the motion, which passed unanimously on voice vote. Planning Director Fregonese reviewed the history of the building built in 1922 and known as the Women's Civic Center. He noted the Department of Community Develop- ment is now administering the remodeling/renting of the building, and the question of how to utilize the build- ing with no burden on the tax payers should be answered. He said the building has been used by some groups with no fees, and a proposed fee schedule has been submitted for review. Serena St. Clair briefly reviewed ideas that are proposed, and a fee of $5.00 per hour for week- days and $10.00 for weekends. She said based on these fees, the building should be self-supporting. Reid noted the City is utilizing part of the building. Fregonese reported the Public Safety Volunteers is run out of the Fireside Room, and the budget to operate the building for a year is $10,800. The goal is to raise this much. The public hearing was opened and a list of current user groups were reviewed. The list included the Ashland YMCA, which pays $5.00 per hour, or $150.00 per month, whichever is less. Garden Club President Hildegard VonFuchs, 2270 Ranch Road, reviewed the work their club does in the City parks and opposed any fee for their group. Almquist said the Women's Civic Club has never been charged because of an agreement of unlimited use of the building after they donated it to the City. The Duplicate Bridge Group has agreed to the new fees. Wes Hoxie, 821 Hillview Drive, spoke for the Senior Club, opposing the fee and said the City had taken an oral obligation in the past to allow their club free use of the building. The Misty Mountain Cloggers Dance Group has agreed to the new fee schedule. George Foster, 501 Euclid, spoke on behalf of the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) and asked that the group be exempt from the rental charges since they are a non-profit organization. Ray Inlow, 776 Valley View Road, spoke representing the Senior Pinoehle Group, noting that this is a Park and Recreation Program made up mostly of senior citizens, and they have never paid for building use in As nd City Council Minutes August 7, 1984 Page 2 the past. Robert E. Wright said the World War I Vet- erans meet for a monthly luncheon and meeting and have not paid for use of the building in the past, and opposed future fees. The Ashland Folkdancers' spokesman, Arthur J. Clemons, said he feels they give a service to the community and proposed to pay a $25.00 per evening fee for continued use of the building on Friday nights. Director of Parks and Recreation, Ken Mickelsen, spoke in opposition to charging fees to groups that have in the past been exempt, and reviewed how the clubs are an asset to the City. Bill Ashworth, 201 Gresham Street, opposed the new fee schedule and said the building should be a community center and not support itself. Seth Ullman, 36 South 2nd Street, representing the Ashland Community Center for Performing Arts, said this building could be used for a proposal he had submitted to the Council, and asked that the Center continue as it has been. The public hearing closed. Reid moved to approve con- tinued use by groups represented and accept their pro- posals, approve the fee schedule and have a committee appointed to work with Fregonese. Smith seconded. All in favor on voice vote. Medaris appointed Reid and Arnold to work with Fregonese and Almquist. Smith thanked the groups represented for coming and express- ing their views. PUBLIC HEARING Liquor License Review Policy Almquist reviewed 1983 legislation passed allowing cities to require that property tax be current prior to liquor license request being approved. He said the proposed ordinance is patterned after the Jackson County Board of Commissioners'. Arnold said he was concerned about item #10 and ll of the proposed ordinance because it could open the City up for litigation. City Attorney Salter agreed it could be left out. The public hearing opened and closed after receiving no comments from the audience. Laws asked to postpone to next meeting. All agreed. LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION Red Pepper Cantina Almquist noted there is a confidential memo to Council relative to a delinquent tax situation. Reid said she was opposed, since this criteria has not been used in the past and application was submitted prior to this recommendation. Laws said the privilege of a license should be denied if property tax is not current. Smith moved to approve, contingent on property tax being brought current. Laws seconded. On voice vote, Arnold Dale, Laws and Smith in favor; Reid opposed. SPRR WARNING BELL Mountain Avenue A letter from Jeannine Roberts, 167 North Mountain, was read requesting Council support for a change in the Southern Pacific Railroad warning bells at Mountain Avenue crossing. Laws moved to send letter to Southern Pacific As nd City Council Minutes August 7, 1984 Page 3 Railroad requesting the change. Smith seconded, and on voice vote, passed unanimously. NORTH CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT Iowa Street Almquist briefly reviewed that meetings have been held with College President Siccuro and the Committee has reached a compromise. He noted there will be costs involved and recommended the report received be filed and sent to the Budget Committee. He said there will be public hearings on any proposed street closures. Smith said she was pleased with the report, but would like to discuss some of the issues. One question was the partial closure of Webster Street. Almquist reported there were certain parking lots that would need access. On question of landscaping, Almquist said it would go through site review. Laws suggested a meeting when the first action is needed. Reid said she would like Parks and Recreation input, due to involvement with softball fields. Smith moved to accept report in principal, and Laws seconded. All in favor on voice vote. WALK FOR THE HUNGRY A letter from Beverly Smith was read requesting Council's support and participation in the second annual Ashland Walk for the Hungry, to be held October 14th. The walk will be a lO kilometer walk, and 25% of the receipts will be returned to local hunger projects. Beverly Smith said the City of Medford would be having a walk on that date also. Shirley Patton also encouraged people to participate and said the goal was to have 500 walkers. She said it is the City's birthday and urged that Ashland give money for the hungry. Dale moved to endorse the "March for the Hungry". It was seconded by Arnold, and passed unanimously on voice vote. Medaris will issue a Proclamation. STREET CLOSURE Running Event A letter was read from Elliott Reinert, Executive Direc- tor of the Chamber of Commerce, for closure of Main Street, one side of Siskiyou Boulevard and Highway 66 from Lithia Park to the Inside Edge near the railroad overpass, for approximately 1½ hours on Sunday morning, October 14th, starting at 9:00 a.m. The race would be sponsored by the Ashland Chamber o£ Commerce Founders Day C0n~ittee and help to celebrate Ashland's llOth anniversary of the rounding of the City. Smith voiced concern in the areas where traffic would have to stop for runners crossing the street. Public Safety Director Lively said there is a problem because all runners will not be together and a guard would be needed at each intersection to direct traffic. The State would also have to give approval, since it is a State highway, said Lively. Reinert said volunteers would be used to block streets and they would provide barricades also. Jason McCrory, chairman of the fund raising committee, said this is one function to increase tourists and let people see Ashland. He challenged the City to help get the As nd City Council Minutes Au~_.st 7, 1984 Page 4 event going and said it can happen if the Police Depart- ment, City and Chamber of Commerce work together. Laws said the Council was not negative to the idea but there are traffic problems that needed solving. Arnold suggested putting it on next agenda in order to give time to work out problems. Laws moved to approve request contingent on Public Safety Department approval. Dale seconded and motion passed unanimously on voice vote. WATER SERVICE REQUEST Fordyce Street A letter from Carl Borgstrom requesting water service outside city limits for property at 616 Fordyce Street, was reviewed. A memo from Director of Public Works Alsing, a letter £rom prior owner Peabody, minutes of City Council meeting September 5, 1967, a memo from former Water Quality Superintendent and a map were entered into the minutes relative to past history of service for this lot. City Attorney Salter reported that he did not believe there is a completed gift in this matter, and request should be the same as other requests the City receives for water outside the city limits. John Eads, Attorney representing Mr. Borgstrom, reviewed his understanding of the history of the matter and requested that Borg- strom's request be approved based on the accepted gift theory, or upon his interpretation of the charter pro- visions in Article XVI. He also noted there was a health factor from a report received after the well was inspected. Smith said she felt there are special circumstances in this case. The property is in the Urban Growth Boundary and a consent to annex could be required. Laws said he felt there was a need for a charter amendment to clarify, and in this case, people could be forced out of their homes without the City water. Laws moved to extend water to the residence, subject to annexation consent and have a hold harmless clause in agreement. Smith seconded. Arnold asked that motion include "in 1967 the City made a gift of service to the predecessor." Laws and Smith agreed to include; the motion passed with all in favor. AGREEMENT Duane Smith Smith moved to authorize Mayor and City Recorder to sign prior approved agreement for proposed opening of Wimer Street. Laws seconded. All in favor on voice vote. MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS Councillor Arnold as liaison to Historic Commission and Band Board, and to Electric Subcommittee o£ the Budget Committee. Councillor Reid to Ashland Parks and Recre- ation Commission. Laws moved to approve and Smith seconded the motion, which passed unanimously on voice vote. As nd City Council Minutes Au~ ~t 7, 1984 Page 5 Airport and Historic Committee appointments: George Kramer to Historic Commission, Kenn Conger, Bob Milts and Willmott (Bill) Knowles to Airport Commission. Laws moved for approval and Dale seconded. Voice vote, all ayes. PUBLIC HEARING Land Exchange Toney/Golf Course City Attorney Salter briefly updated events to date and said a three-way agreement between the City/Oak Knoll Golf Course/Erv Toney has been drafted. A public hear- ing was set for August 21st. STOP SIGNS High Street A memo from the Traffic Safety Commission was read recommending stop signs be installed on High Street at Bush Street. Reid moved to have staff bring back Resolution, Dale seconded. All ayes on voice vote. PP&L CO. Customer Purchase Almquist read letter from Pacific Power & Light Co. declining offer of City of Ashland to purchase 311 cus- tomers from PP&L. Almquist said this is the City's highest priority and recommended that consulting pro- posals be solicited from firms which specialize in the appraisals of utility properties. The cost of such an evaluation is unknown at this time, but a proposal would be returned to the Council for further direction, Almquist said. Laws moved to direct Almquist to get proposals and bring back recommendation. Dale seconded. All in favor on voice vote. FRONT YARD PARKING A public hearing date on August 21, 1984 was set on pro- posed ordinance relative to parking in front yard areas. PUBLIC FORUM No response. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND CONTRACTS Airport Commission Second reading by title only was given an ordinance establishing an Ashland Airport Commission. Smith moved to adopt; Dale seconded. Motion passed with all in favor on roll call vote. LIQUOR LICENSE PROCEDURE Deferred. TAX EXEMPT BUSINESS LICENSE First reading was given an ordinance providing for busi- ness license tax exemptions for non-profit organizations. Laws moved to second reading. Reid seconded, and motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. SEWER REGULATIONS First reading was given an ordinance relative to sewer regulations. Laws moved to second reading; Smith seconded. All in favor on roll call vote. DRIVE-UP WINDOWS First reading was given an ordinance regulating the establishment of drive-up windows. Reid questioned procedure for implementing 'getting in line' to receive available permit. Fregonese said the first request A~ ~nd City Council A~ ~t 7, 1984 Page .6 Minutes received that meets requirements would be his recommen- dation. Smith moved ordinance be passed to second read- ing. Dale seconded. All ayes on roll call vote. LOCAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS Kensington/Ashland Business Park Assessments Resolution of the City of Ashland, Oregon authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds. Councilman Russell Dale declared, for the record, that he was employed by Paine, Webber, Jackson and Curtis, Inc,, stockbrokers, and that his firm may well bid on the bonds. The resolution was read in full. Motion by Smith, seconded by Laws to adopt the resolution. Roll call vote, all ayes. YIELD SIGNS Resolution was read establishing yield signs at various locations throughout the City. Laws moved to adopt and Arnold seconded. On roll call vote, all ayes. PAY PLAN Management/Confi- dential Employees Resolution amending pay plan for management dential employees was read. Smith moved to Reid seconded. Roll call vote, all ayes. and confi- approve and COUNCIL BUSINESS Fregonese asked that study session be set to allow input from Council on Capital Improvement recommendations. September ll, 1984 was agreed upon. Laws said there are legal steps that are necessary in the litigation with the T.I.D. Domestic Inter-Tie, and moved to place the item on agenda; Smith seconded. All in favor on voice vote. Salter reviewed court ruling in case and said Lininger is asking for an agreement from the City to continue litigation against Beale Pipe to recover their costs. Arnold moved to approve and instruct Salter to prepare necessary agreement; Laws seconded; all in favor on voice vote. Smith voiced concern that Planning Commission agenda was not in newspaper and asked the Tidings reporter to put in paper. Almquist reported that action is necessary on 911 tax money and asked that it be placed on agenda. Smith so moved and Dale seconded. All in favor on voice vote. Public Safety Director Lively briefly reviewed 911 tax money and said an agreement is needed for disbursement of funds. Smith moved Mayor and Recorder sign agreement, and Arnold seconded. All ayes on voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Nan E. Franklin City Recorder Mayor