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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-0105 MAYOR'S ADDRESSNAYOR S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS JANUARY 5, 1982 WELCOME TO THE FIRST MEETING OF THE ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL IN !982. THE OLD YEAR !981 HAS GONE BUT WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN, IT WILL LONG BE REMEMBERED AS THE YEAR WHEN INTEREST RATES SKY-ROCKETED TO RECORD HIGHS AND THE BOTTOM FELL OUT OF THE BUILDING INDUSTRY~ IT WILL ALSO BE REMEMBERED AS THE YEAR THAT A NUHBER OF CONTROVERSIAL AND EHOTIONAL ISSUES CONCERNINC LAND USE PLANNING., TAX PROPOSALS AND ORDINANCE REVISIONS CAME BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL WHICH TESTED THE PATIENCE,, PERSEVERANCE AND LOYALTY OF CITY OFFICIALS AND CITIZENS ALIKE, FORTUNATELY EVERYONE CAME THROUGH UNSCATHED AND I BELIEVE STRONGER IN A UNIFIED DETER?.IINATION TO MAINTAIN THE UNIQUENESS AND LIVABILITY OF OUR CITY, NEWS 1 AM ONLY HAVE ONE THING FOR SURE - CITY HALL ACTIVITIES IH ~8! PROBABLY MADE THE HEADLINES AS OFTEN,, IF NOT MORE OFTEN~ THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN ~83, REMINDED TO QUOTE AN OLD CLICHE~ - FOR A POLITICAL FIGURE - THERE IS ONE THING WORSE THAN HAVING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT YOU - AND THAT IS r~OT TO PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT YOU~ "RING OUT THE OLD - RING IN THE NEY.!" - AS WAS SAID BY THAT IMMORTAL BARD WHOSE .NAME IS INDIGENOUS TO STRATFORD ON AVON - (AND ALSO TO ASHLANDs,) "THE PAST IS PROLOGUE", STARTING THIS Y~,~_R., THE CITY OF ASHLAND IS FACING SOME LEAN AND TOUGH YEARS AHEAD -- TO ASSURE ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO HEET BUDGET REQUIRE,~!ENTS TO SUPPORT THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS, LET ME GIVE YOU SOME SPECIFIC,c. FIRST~ tT IS A CERTAIN REALITY THAT WE WILL SEE A REDUCTION IN BOTH FEDERAL'AND STATE FUNDS ALLOCATED TO CITIES, FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING FUNDS WHICH WE HAVE USED TO PURCHASE THE HEV PUMPER LAST YEAR FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT - TO HELP FINANCE THE BUILDING OP THE NEW CIVIC CENTER~ PLUS OTHER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING HAS BEEN USED EXCLUSIVELY TO FUND REQUESTS FROM CITY SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS - FORTUNATELY - AND THANKS TO THE WISDOM OF THE CITY BUDGET COHMITTEES AND STAFF - ASHLAND HAS ELECTED TO ~EVER ALLOCATE FEDERAL REVENUE -1- 'St ~G TO THE GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY (FIRE AND POLICE) OTHER OREGON CITIES HAVE DONE SO AND NOW THE SAFETY OF THEIR CITIZENS IS IN DANGER' THE SEVERE FINANCIAL CRISIS FACING THE STATE OF OREGON WILL CERTAINLY ADVERSLY AFFECT OUR STATE REVENUE FUNDS. AMONG THE VULNERABLE PROGRAMS ARE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, STATE REVENUE SHARING AND STATE SUBVENTIONS, PRIMARILY GASOLINE, LIQUOR AND CIGARETTE REVENUE, THIS REVENUE WAS DOWN $56,000 IN '79- SO THE TREND IS DOWNWARD~ ~ FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS COULD POSSIBLY BE REDUCED OR EVEN ELIMINATED WHICH COULD FURTHER RESTRICT THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF OUR CITY. ONE LAST EXAMPLE~ AS A RESULT OF THE DEPRESSED BUILDING ACTIVITY THE CITY.IS SUFFERING A DROP IN REVENUE FROM THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT - THE SLUGGISH ECONOHY COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A DROP IN THE MOTEL TAX AND THE BUSINESS LICENSE REVENUE IR THE F~ONTHS TO COME. THESE ARE JUST A FEW FACTS, AND THERE ARE OTHERS, WHICH IN THE IMF1EDIATE FUTURE COULD VERY SERIOUSLY AFFECT THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STABILITY -- SO LET ;';E EMPHASIZE AGAIN THAT IN THE MONTHS TO COME WE WILL BE FACED ~'~ITH SOME VERY TOUGH BUDGETARY DECISIONS IF WE ARE TO CONTII~UE TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY CI7 SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS WHICH IH TURN WILL HAINTAIN THE LIVABILITY OF OU~ UNIQU!E CITY, SO~'~E OF THE ACTIOHS WE MAY BE FORCED TO TAKE MAY HO~ BE 'rOZ, POPULAR ~.'!9R SO!:E OF OUR CITIZEr:S ~U7 I WOULD RESCIND YOU WAr:7 YOUF: CITY TO PROVIDE YO~'. WITH EFFECTIVE AND FIRE PROTECTIG::., A FINE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEH, GOOD S~D~'t;rr' - ....... == " :';L.:! ..... r o EVERY CITIZE[: THAT EFFICIENT POLICE STREETS AND OTHER /:. 'i'Ei,:; FACING OL'~. CiTY AT THAT TIHE WAS WOULD ALLOW 'THE CITY TO CONTINUE FRO:".: THE SALE OF ELECTRIC POWER. ONE HiLLION DOLLARS A YEAR, AND l NCLUD I NG l;! THE AiZ[;UAL ADDRESS I STATED THAT THE MOST SERIOUS PROZLE" THE NEGOTIATIOH OF A NEW POWER COr,ZTRACT TO SUPPORT THE GENERAL FUHD ;','ITH THIS SUPPORT HAS TOTALLED APPROXtZ'iATEL': OF COURSE FINANCES ESSENTIAL TO CITY SERViCEE POLICE, FIRE AND STREETS, I AM PLEASED TO REPORT TONIGHT THAT AFTER MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIO;.~S A TWENTY YEAR POWER CONTRACT HAS BEEN SIGNED W.ITH BONNEVILLE POWER, EFFECTIVE FEB. z, THE CITY OF ASHLAND WILL START RECEIVING ELECTRIC POWER FROM BONNEVILLE AT THE COST OF 11.4 MILS PER KILOWATT WHICH REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 4,4 MILS THE 7 MILS PAID PP&L OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, ALTHOUGH THE PRICE AND CONDITIONS OF THE CONTRACT AREN"I' AS GOOD AS WE HAD HOPED, THE AGREEMENT WILL ALLOW THE TRANSFER OF $60O``00O ANNUALLY TO THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS, HOWEVER IN [987 THIS AMOUNT WILL DROP S!jBSTAI'?TIALLY WHICH WILL CREATE A DEFICIT THAT WILL NECCESSITATE ONCE AGAIN FINDING A NEW SOURCE OF REVENUE TO HELP SUPPORT THE GENERAL FUND - BASED ON INFORMATION RECEIVED AND PREDICTIONS FROM ENERGY AUTHORITIES HERE~S THE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK FOR THE CITY~S ELECTRIC UTILITY FOR ].982-83: THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT'S 1982-83 WHOLESALE ENERGY BILL MIGHT INCREASE OVER 1981-82 BY APPROXIHATELY $1,154,000, WHICH tS AN INCREASE OF 104% _ DUE TO THE VARIETY OF REASONS THE TOTAL RATE ADJUSTMENT NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE THIS $1,154,000 COST, PLUS INFLATION AND ALL OTHER RELATED DEMANDS IN THE ELECTRIC UTILITY WILL EE ~'l,j]2~_0,0j, i. THEREFORE,, THE AMOUNT SUGGESTED TO BE PASSED THROUGH TO THE RATEPAYERS WOULD BE 3,~ LESS THAN THE INCREASE IN WHpJ._~ALE .P_OWER COST,_ (LOOKING AHEAD TOWARD 1983-84, HOWEVER., IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT RETAIL RATE INCREASES h'ILL BE LII,;ITED TO MERELY ABSORBING WHOLESALE ENERGY INCREASES,, BECAUSE SYSTEHS NEEDS WILL ALSO I3E A MAJOR FACTOR). THE ESTIMATE OF $l..]5Li``0L3:] IS BASED UPON 19-NIL POWER, SOME ANALYSTS LOOK FOR 17.5 MILS`` AND OTHERS FORECAST 29 OR 2.L,.so THE 19 IS IH THE HIDDLE, AS YOU CAr'! SEE, THERE ARE MANY UNCERTAINTIES I[: THE POWER DAYS t'!ITH NO DEFINITIVE SOLUTIONS Ilq THE ]M!'IEDIATE FORESEEABLE ONE THING IS CERTAIN EHERGY COST WILL CONTINUE TO ESCALATE~ INDUSTRY THESE FUTURE ' BUT C.:j ]'H:': F:OSZTIVE ~'IDE HOYEVE[:,, THE POWEF,TM COi~TRACT t','E HAVE JUST SIGNEZ WITH ~ONNEViLLE ASSURES THE C]'FY OF A RELIABLE CONSTANT 20 YEAR SUPPLY OF ELEr=FTPTTv - 1~ ADDIT]O:~ ASHLANZ~ CONSUMER RATES %,,T~ L CONTINUE TO CO~~o~: FA'VOR/,Z.,,', :'ZT~; lhL AVE~;t.2E ELECTF~IC RATE FO~: OTHER OREGO:: C]TiES - ACTU,'~LL' WHD: CS::T]NU~[':G OUR C;~, PROFERiY TAX AND ELECTRIC RATE~ THERE ARE O[jLY TW: CITIE? OUS OF THE FIFTY OF LIVE, THE LARGESi CITIES IN OREGON WHERE ITS CHEAPER TO COI~CLUDE REHAR.KS ABOUT THE POWER CONTRACT LET ME SAY THAT WE THINK IS A GOOD CONTRACT AND WILL BE MOST BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY FOR 20 YEARS - LET HE EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE'OF FORMER MAYOR GARY PRICKETT, COUNCILMAN DON LAWS AND BRIAN ALMQUIST FOR THEIR DEDICATE: EFFECTIVE EFFORTS tN THE SUCCESS ILLUSTRATED BY THE CONSUHATION OF THE 20 YEAR BONNEVILLE CONTRACT. -3- ANOTHER BIT OF GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE ANTICIPATED 82-83 BUDGET SHORTFALL 'MAY BE FAR LESS THAN ANTICIPATED - THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY REASONS WHICH BROUGHT ABOUT THIS IMPROVED FINANCIAL PICTURE FIRST, ACTION TAKEN BY THE CITY BUDGET COMMITTEE LAST YEAR IN REDUCING THE BUDGET BY $131 M - (5% FROM EACH DEPARTMENT) AND SECONDLY, INCREASED REVENUE FROM UTILITY USER TAX, dOTEL/MOTEL TAX AND~ OTHER SOURCES r THIS COMBINATION OF A 5% BUDGET REDUCTION AND INCREASED REVENUES MAY VERY WELL BRING THE GENERAL FUND INTO BALANCE. I MUST HASTEN TO SAY THAT THIS IS ASSUMING.THAT THE GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS WILL REMAIN AT THE REDUCED LEVEL OF SERVICES SET BY THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL FOLLOWING THE REPEALS OF THE GASOLINE AND PROPERTY TRANSFER TAXES AND THAT FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH '82-83 AT ABOUT THE SAME LEVEL AS NOW. SPEAKING OF CITY FINANCES LET ME PASS ONTO YOU FOUR SIG- NIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS ATTAINED BY THE CITY FINANCE DEPARTMENT IN 1981. UNDER THE DIRECTION OF BOB NELSON AND WITH THE COOPERATION IN PART BY CITY RECORDER NAN FRANKLIN - 1, WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE REBATE AND DIVIDEND TOTALLED $].64,569. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT OPERATING DEPARTMENTS COOPER- ATING WITH SAFETY PROGRAM INITIATED IN 1975, AND COUNCIL'S WILLINGNESS TO SWITCH TO RETROSPECTIVE RATING IN 1979. DURING 81-82, INTEREST ON TEMPORARILY-IDLE FUNDS REACH AN ALL-TIME RECORD OF $428,623 (INCLUDING PARKS, HOSPITAL AND ALL OTHER DEPART- MENTS), THE LARGEST BENEFICIARY WAS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUNDj WHICH RECEIVED $185,891. 3, THE CITY'S ACCOUNTING RECORDS WERE BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE WITH RECENT CHANGES IN GENERALLY-ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, RECENTLY ACQUIRED FIRE INSURANCE HAS BROADER COVERAGE AND COSTS $3,181 PER YEAR LESS THAN THE OLD POLICIES. 5. THESE ACTIONS RESULTED 1N SAVINGS AND ADDITIONAL REVENUE TOTALLING NEARLY $600,000 - AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE - THANKS TO BOB - AND NAN~ SO MUCH FOR '82-83 AND THE SHORT RANGE PLANS - WHAT ABOUT '84-85 AND BEYOND? THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE SOURCES OF GRO~;TH REVENUE TO MEET FUTURE BUDGET DEFICITS BUT SINCE THE CITIZENS REVENUE COMMITTEE'S FINAL REPORT WILL ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS AND THE CITY BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL BEGIN SCHEDULED MEETINGS SHORTLY I PREFER NOT TO GET INi"O SPECIFICS, ] WILL SAY THAT IT IS MY OPINIONj THAT WE CAN OFFSET SOME OF THE POSSIBLE FUTURE BUDGET DEFICITS THROUGH A COMBINATION OF ACTIONS WHICH COULD SAVE THE CITY MONEY AND ALSO GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUE, FIRSTLY., CONSOLIDATION OF CITY DEPARTMENTS AND DIVISIONS AND STREAMLINING OF CITY GOVERNMENT FOR INCREASED EFFICIENCY COULD SAVE NEEDED REVENUE WITHOUT REDUCING CITY SERVICES - CITY ADMINISTRATOR BRIAr' ALMQUIST AND STAFF ARE WORKING TOWARD THIS OBJECTIVE WITH THE FIRST STEP BEING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A PERSONNEL EVALUATION, JOB PERFORMANCE REVIE;'.' AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PLAI~. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY FOR INCREASED EFFICIE~:CY IN CITY GOVERNMENT, IN LINE WI>H THE REORGANIZATION OF CITY GOVERNMENT~ THE ESTABLISHHENT OF ,L, UTILITY BOARD HAS BEEt': DISCUSSED. THE BOARD WOULD ~E COMPOSED OF 7-_c CITIZENS (NON-SALARY) ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE~ WITH AUTHORJTY TO LEGISLATE POLICY~ ESTABLISH UTILITY RATES ETC, WITH FINAL APPROVAL BY THE CITY COUNCIL, WITH THE COMPLEXITY OF THE NEW BONNEVILLE CONTRACT MANDATED CONSERVATIOH MEASURE CO;:TRACTS~ AND ESCALATING ENERGY COSTS IT WOULD BE HIGHLY ~ENEFICIAL TO lEE CZT',' TO TURN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ELECTRZC:, WATER AND SEWER DEPART- F, ERTS OVER TO QUALIFIED CITIZENS WHO COULD DEVOTE THE NECESSARY TIME TO THESE IHPORTA::T DEPARTHERTS FOE ]HPROVED EFFIC!EHCE Ar:D IRCREASED REVERUE, t~t! SURE THERE/.RE ANY NUi:EEr~ C,F C]T]ZENS (SOt.:E RE~iREZ)) WHO HAVE EXPERTISE THIS FIELD WHO WOULD GLADLY SERVE AND ~E A REAL ASSET ~O THE CITY. T-:E C!TIZEI':S REVE..UUE CO,%.I]T]EE~S Fli:.t.L REPORT ~,'.iLL IN ALL PROBABIL.TT':' REcCZ' L;.2, CO;~SC_:L,/-TiOI~ OF SOt.iE DEPARTI:ET;TS t,;:Z, STREAtiLt!:G OF OTHERS,, THEiF SUGGETTIC'::~ ',;iLL CERTA]NLY 5E STUDIED /,::3 CONS.'DERED VERY CAREFULLY. L/',STL.' ORE VERY LIKELY SOURCE OF ADDITIOI;AL REVEI4UE iS 1',~; OVERALL [I,!CREASE C: Uc,~.X FEE2 IR OTHER ~';OR[DS 'I HOSE CITIZENS ;';HO PURCHASE CITY SERVICES V/OUL:: PRO'.."iDE IIICREASED REVENUE. WITH THE DEPRESSED ECONOMY I DON"T THINK ANY LEGiS- LATED TAXATION WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE. THEREFORE I THINK WE MUST LOOK FOR A COMBINATION OF ACTIONS TO OFFSET THE BUDGET DEFICIT RATHER THAN ANY O~;E NEW POTENTIALLY LARGE SOURCE OF REVEUUE SUCH AS PROPERTY OR INCOME TAX. 1 AM OPTIMISTIC AND CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT IMPOSING ANY REAL FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ON THE TAXPAYER, ANOTHER PROJECT THAT I AH ENTHUSED ABOUT IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CITY · INDUSTRIAL PARK WHICH WILL ENABLE US TO AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE PLANS TO ATTRACT I~OU-POLLUT!I'~G Ih'DUSTRY TO OUR CITY. !','E HAVE TWO AND POSSIBLY :FHREE SMALL COMP'ANIES NO~.';, WHO HAVE EXPRESSED VERY HIGH INTEREST IN RELOCATING THEIR PLANTS IN ASHLAND. FOR OBVIOUS REASONS I WILL NOT GIVE ANY SPECIFICS TONIGHT - HOWEVER THE ECONOI'tlC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WILL MEET LATER THIS MONTH AT WHICH TIME THERE MAY BE MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE - I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE COUNCIL~ E.D.C. AND STAFF ARE COMMITTED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ATTRACT AND GET MORE LIGHT INDUSTRY TO OUR CITY WHICH WILL PROVIDE dOBS FOR OUR PEOPLE AND STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMY OF OUR CITY, NOW LET ME blAKE A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT THE CITIZENS REVENUE COMMITTEE WHICH, I APPOIi'~TED LAST AUGUST I',!ITF; THE SPECIFIC CHARGE TO EVALUATE EACH CITY DEPART' MENT AND RECOMHEND PROCEDURE FOR IMPROVED EFFICIENCY IF SUCH NEED EXISTED. THE RESULT OF SUCH SCRUTINY COULD AND SHOULD NOT ONLY SAVE MONEY BUT ESTABLISH MORE CREDIBILITY IN CITY GOVERNME[;T, THE SECOND OBJECTIVE GIVEN THE COMMITTEE WAS 70 FINZ3 A NEV,' SOURCE OR SOURCES OF GROWTH REVENUE TO OFFSET THE LOSS OF REVEUUE FRO:', THE SALE OF POWER BY THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT - EACH AND EVERY MEi'iBER OF THE CO[".MiTTEE HAS PUT IN MANY~ MANY HOURS OF DEDICATED EFFORT ]I~ ADDRESSING THEIR INDIVIDUAL SUB-CO~'IMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AND IN ATTENDING THE FULL CO~':::ITTEE I'iEEi ]NGS AT 7 A;I ON THURSDAY t'IORNINGS ' DR. ETHEL HANSER HAS BEEN TOTALLY DEDICATED A[:Z:, AS USUAL, HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB AS ~ ~ ~S CE CHAIRt.;A:2 r.= THE COMKZTTEE. ~iARjOR2E O~HAR~,/, SERVI AS SECRE'i'APY HAS BEEh ]HVALU/.~LE. TO EACH Of THOSE DEDICATED CIV~C-MINDE~ CITIZENS WE EXTEU~ OL': E~'~'~c= AP>:EECIAT]O[~ FOL YOUR ~LL]NGi:ESS TO BE INVOLVED iN THIS CITY PROjE'C'i", ] FEEL CONFIDENT THE FINAL REPORT >~ILL BE POSITIVE AND STRENGTHEN SUBSTA[.~T~.-.L[" THE CREDIt]LIT",' OF CITY GOVERNMENT. ] A~.I ALSO COUFIDERT THAT THE EEFC"T, ~L~ CO',:T/,::. SUGGEg]~O:. FOR ]MF-EOv'E> EFFICIEi:C, !~: CERTAIn: 'CITU 'DEF:AETE-:2[", :: /,:'.9 S'~.iE RE~LISTIC F:ECOZ.:,'-~EI:DAT!rS[:S FOF~ NEW SOURCE] Of REVEI~rL:E FOP. THE C:T, S ~nr'~" FU~jZ PLEASE PEA:-Ii7 Z'iE AT THiS TIME TL~ ACKNO;',~LEi::[ SO:'~E ':[~'A__E ACCGZ~F'LISHZ.iEZ:]3 t~,[~ ~n=~ i":: ~ ~"~: P [HE CITY DEPARTZ':EZ:T HE/.2~L (i ~VE ALEE/.:',' ACKNOYZLEDGED THE FIZjAZ,~CE DIRECTOR SOE NELSOU~S FINE JOS) - THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT ONCE AGAIN TURNED PROVIDING EFFICIENT~ RELIABLE ELECTRIC SERVICE ING ONE i'iILLIO[~ DOLLARS TO THE SUPPORT OF THE ADDING AI'!OTHER YEAR OF NO TI~'~E LOSS ACCiDENT'. ~ OF NO TIME LOSS INJURIES~ A TRULY PHF:NOMENAL SAFETY RECORD - THIS HAS THE CITY LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN WORKMENfS COMPENSATION COSTS~. IN AN OUTSTANDING YEAR IN TO THE COMMUNITY PLUS CONTRIBUT- GENERAL FUND - ALL WHILE THEY ARE NOW INTO THEIR ]5 YEARS SAVED THE ELECTRIC DEPARTHENT IS PLAYING AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE CITY~S ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM SUBSIDIZED BY BONNEVILLE POWER - DIRECTOR BERNIE KRUG AND HiS t.iE[; AF:E REPLACING 1800 HERCURY VAPOF: STREET LIGHTS TO HI'OH PRESSURE SODIU51 AND ARE WRAPPING HUNDREDS OF WATER HEATERS THROUGHOLIT THE CITY TO CONSERVE ENERGY - OUT GRATITUDE AND SINCERE THANKS TO BERNIE KRUG AND HIS FINE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT CREW~ NOW A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT - AND WITH YOUR PER- MISSION I'LL QUOTE FROH A REPORT GIVEN ME BY OUR MOST CAPABLE PLANNING DIRECTOR JOHN FREGONESE, THE PLANNING STAFF THIS YEAR REWROTE THE ENTIRE COMPREHENSIVE PLAIt AI:2! t.iA~E ~;AJOR REVISIOHS TO THE PLANIIING CODES IN AN ATTEHPT TO BOTH UPDATE THE PLAN TO CURRENT CITY DESIRES AND STANDARDS AND ACHIEVE COYPLIANCE AND ACKNOWLEDGEHENT FRO;~ LCDC. IN REWITING THE COMPREHEN- SIVE PLAN, WE MADE SEVERAL REVISIONS TO THE PLAN MAP, REVISED THE EHTIRE DOCU:.IENT TO MAKE IT MORE READABLE TO THE GENERAL. PUBLIC~ AND ADDED A BRAND NEW HOUSING ELEMENT~ ECOHOt':IC ELEMEI;T~ TRANSPORTATIOI: ELEHEi:T~ ENERGY ELEMENT~ AND ALSO THE HISTORY OF ASHLAND AS THE !NTRO- DUCTZOIZ, WRITTEN BY bIARJORIE 0 HARRA AHD KAY ATWOOD. WE ARE VERY PROU2' OF WHAT '.':E C ~I TO ,& ATTRACTIVE AND READABLE DOCUHENT. ON~ DER 2E VERY O::E WHlC~ WILL ~E USEFUL TC ~OTH ORDIKARY CITIZENS AND THE DECIS~O[:- ~:,','.:E:7 :'2 TL" CiT'~ %'.'E TElEl:' CUE :='= mR MAKE THE PL~U ~cqc THATt / T,',., GO'.'EE:::':E::T DOCUF'IEf:T, A:;Z.,. jLrZSEHF FPC':' THE REACT]O:: OF CP/,C ......... ~: .... SUCCEEZZ: ,, ~;L',.[SING THE CO~?REHE~:ZI','E PLAN, WE MADE SO:',E PcuIcIOr".? 7l 'i: _ F_:: ::i;:5 CODES 70 REF.._Z_jZ THE SIT'." GEi:EF.',L PHiLC:iC!FL,' ';'~l," FEF:E:r_';:Z::.Z-L STANDARDS Ar:E .: !ETTEn t~Et,'-jUBE OF L,t,,HD USE IHPACTS TH/.: ........... tt~,hZ.t~r, Uc, j-.:Z, z'r: i[: THE ~;ORE OLD-F,4,,SHIONED I r- = ~'-"' ?LAHHING CG~;~:IZ?!G[, ,~;:Z~ F'fSELF FEEL ;"-"":' THIS ic ,: "' , '!.'TURAL HARKET FORCES -r, ~'t i"= THE DECIS!r' '~ IN THTM ,z,.:;:.,,THEREFORE, KEEP GOVERH:-tE;;T OUT OF AREAS WHERE IT IS NOT WHILE STILL RETAINING OUR DESIRE FOR ATTRACTIVE AND BENEFICIAL GROWTH IN THE CITY. WE~'RE VERY EXCITED BY THE REVISED CODES, AS WE FEEL WE HAVE ~:~"' ABLE TO STREi~G'FHEN THnc-,': A. REAS OF CONCERi,I WHICH WE FEEL APE THE NOST IHPORTANT TO THE CITY., WHILE ALLOWING MORE FLEXIBILITY TO THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER IN WHAT USES HE CAN MAKE OF HIS LAND, ALSO REVISED THE CITY"S SIGN CODE IN ACCORDANCE W[Ttt COUNCIL DIRECTiVES, -7- ALL OF THESE REVISIONS IN BOTH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE ZONING CODE, AS WELL AS THEIR ASSOCIATED MAPS, WILL BE COMING TO THE COUUCIL IN APRIL FOR HEARINGS. WE EXPECT COMPLIANCE FROM LCDC WILL BE FORTHCOMING. OUR PRELIMINARY CONTACTS WITH LCDC STAFF HAVE BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING AND WE FEEL THAT WE'RE FINALLY ON THE ROAD TO ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE WITH THE MINIMUM OF PROBLEMS. DURING 1981., ASHLAND WAS NOT DORMANT AS MAY BE THE PUBLIC IMPRESSION. OUR POPULATION INCREASED BY 290 PEOPLE TO 15,230. THIS IS REFLECTED BY AN INCREASE IN OUR ACTIVE ELECTRICAL RESIDENTIAL ACCOUNTS FROM 5571 IN APRIL 1980., TO 57!i IN JULY, 1981. THE ECONOMIC SECTOR WAS ALSO ACTIVE., AS MUCH OF OUR CONSTRUCTION WAS IN THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR: AS YOU Kl,~Oi,'., THE TOURIST SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY WAS QUITE HEALTHY THIS YEAR,, ADDING SEVERAL NEW RESTAURANTS AND OVER 60 NEW MOTEL UNITS FOR TRAVELERSj ACCOMMODATIONS IN ASHLAND DURING 198.]1. WHILE THESE ARE NOT UNDER COHSTRLICTIOU YET, WE FEEL THAT MOST OF THESE UNITS WILL BE BUILT DUR]I!G 19S2, INCREASING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MOTEL UNITS IN ASHLAND TO OVER 60~j, IN GEh'ERAL., CONSIDERING THE GENERAL STATE OF ECO[~O?.?'i' IN THE i~ATION~, AKD ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHERN OREGON., ASHLAND CAN lEE THANKFUL THAT OUR ECONOIqY HAS BEEN RELATIVELY HEALTHY. DESPITE T~',E LAYOFFS I[,' THE LUHBER HILLS, WE HAVE BEEN UNAFFECTED AS A COMHUNiTY.,, A~ZZ:> UE ARE HOLDI[;G OUR OWN AND EVEN GROWING iv~ARGINALLY EVEN IN THESE WORS'F OF TiHE:. OF SFECiAL It:'i'ERES7 Z-L ;,E::_,',iD'S SOL,&.R ACCESS CODE AR,':) PERFORMAHCE STANDARDS GUIDELINES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY IN jlgSi. ~"= '~:"'."E EECE.~'..'EZ. REO'jESTS FEED: OVER ~50 COt'I.t'iUNIT!ES AROUND THE COU:~'FR" i;,..._UZ ;,S CINC~N;;,.TZ_ OHIO; FHC, E:;:;,, ,:,F, IZC,;,A.., .BCSTC;,, I~ASSACHUSETTZ,., ?.*,, PAU_., t;INE:ES:".;, /,~t:. i':.-j. eTHERS TOO NUriEROUS TO I:ENTION, OL!F SOL,,; ,-.SCESS CeDE H/..T BECOF-:E O::E mr THE EASIS OF:D];~ANCES, l;; FACT.. HHE;: CINCZI';NA12., 0~:1:-, CALLED Z:A'.':,:,; C,'.L. IFORN!A, FOR SOLAR ACC;._SS IUFOEF',ATICh, THEY WERE REFERRED EY DAVIS TO ASHLAN:, 6. CONGRATULATIONS TO PLANNING DIRECTOR JOHN FREGONESE AND HIS STAFF FOR A FINE 1981 PERFORMANCE. -8- NOW A BRIEF REPORT ON THE ASHLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT - 1 THE FIRE DEPARTMEN~ BEGAN ITS RESERVE PROGRAM IN EARNEST IN 1981 WITH SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WHO COMPLETED THEIR 40 HOUR INTENSIVE RECRUIT TRAINING AND ARE NOW ASSIGNED TO SPECIFIC SHIFTS. WE CONTINUED OUR COMMERCIAL INSPECTION PROGRAM, SMOKE DETECTOR PROGRAM AND FIRE AWARE- NESS IN THE SCHOOLS, THE DEPARTMEKT RECEIVED A NEW 1500 G.P.M. PUi4PER ORDERED PREVIOUSLY, WHICH UPGRADED OUR FiREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT TO SOME OF THE BEST II'. THE VALLEY. 911 WAS MADE A REALITY IN ASHLAND THROUGH THE COOPERATIOU OF ASHLAND POLICE AND FIRE DPEARTMENTS AND BEGAN OPERATION IN APRIL OF lg:j,L OFFERING CITIZENS IN THE 482-488 PREFIX AREA A SHORTER,. Iv, ORE RECOGNIZABLE EMERGENCY NU,',IBER, THE LATEST UNIFORM FIRE CODE WAS ADOPTED GIVING OUR PREVENTION DIVISION THE TOOLS TO DO A BETTEF JOg Ih' FIRE PRE\~ENTION, 'o0'7 I'IF PLAN TO STRENGTHEN THE RESERVE AND STUDENT FIREFIGHTER FOR IJu~., PROGRt:.t:S'~ INSTITUTE A HOME FIRE INSPECTION PROGRAM THROUGH OUR RESERVES AND/',. PREFIRE PLANNING PROGRAM FOR OUR REGULAR PERSONNEL, WE WILL BE OFFERii:G AH ENT II AI'ZD PERHAPS AH Ei.iT I]t TRAINING PROGRAt.: THROUG~ THB DEPARTNEr:T FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO UPGRADE THEIF, TECHNICAL KNO~"LEDGE ARD SKILLS TO BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC. i<E WILL ALS2 iNVESTIGATE FU.qDIR6 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SOLAR HEATED HEAD- C'U:F'T-'-' ST/,TiC, i TO REPLACE THE DOY,'i'~TO'¢.':~ STAT!OH, ALTERNATIVE ING i:;L~.o Y,,'LL ~ ~_,-,~ GET STRONG SCRUTINY DURING 1982. A FEE-BASEZ c.,cm:., ~n~ :~ D~P~DT,~um OPERATIONS~ MUNICIPAL FIRE INSURANCE AND 19[' i. NL) I;:j.-; F.:Z DRT OF ,qSHLAND COK!.IUE~ITY HOSPITAL_ OPERATIO,qS DURI['~G .... : ~,,,.,~_~ l~-~; HoSF.~t lhu DiD I;OT REALIZE A;; iNCREASE iN OVERALL OPERATiO,,L DURZRS Z~2, IT DID SEE A GREA1 lbIPROVE~:EKT li", COLLECTIOUS AND FISCAL POSZTION. THE HOSPITAL DECREASED ITS OUTSTANDING ACCOUNTS RECEZV/,LL~ ~Y .$205,769.92 AND ~NCREASED ITS CASH POSITION BY $129,q69,29. THE DECISION OF THE HOSPITAL TO EXPAND AND I~PROVE ITS FACILITIES HOVED CLOSER TO A REALITY WHEN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DECIDED NOT TO ASK FOR A BOND ELECTZC' BUT CUT THE SIZE OF THE PROJECT DQYIN TO FIT THE AMOUNT OF bIONEY ALREADY IN ITS BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FUND, -9- PLANS ARE NOW ON THE DRAWING BOARD~ AND IT IS HOPED THAT CONSTRUCTION CAN BE STARTED AND COMPLETED BY THE END OF 1982. THE HOSPITAL WILL CON- TINUE TO LOOI~ TO IFIPROVING THE QUALITY OF CARE IT PROVIDES AND AT THE SAME TIME WILL PUT A HEAVY EMPHASIS ON COST CONTAINMENT. ADMINISTRATOR BOB STROWBRIDGE AND HIS ASSOCIATES AND FINE MEDICAL STAFF ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR PROVIDING TRULY QUALITY MEDICAL SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, BRIEFLY,' HERE ARE A FEW WORKS DEPARTMENT: SIGNIFICANT 1981 ACTIVITIES REPORTED BY THE PUBLIC t981 WAS A WATER SHORT YEAR THROUGHOUT OREGON. ASHLAND WAS FORTUNATE IN HAVINGbEVELOPED ITS ALTERNATE TID/DOMESTIC SOURCE. TID WATER WAS USED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND NO SUPPLY PROBLEMS WERE ENCOUNTERED. A MAJOR PROGRAM OF REPLACEMENT OF LARGE WATER METERS WAS UNDERTAKEN IN AR EFFORT TO REDUCE REVENUE LOSSES BECAUSE OF INACCURATE,, UNDER- REGISTERIi~G METERS, SEVERAL ADDITIONAL WATER RIGHTS ON ASHLAND CREEK WERE OBTAINED WHICH WILL HELP ASSURE FULL USE OF THE ASHLAND WATERSHED DOMESTIC SUPPLY, SEVERAL THOUSAND FEET OF WATER MAINS WERE INSTALLED AS PART OF THE OVERALL t,iAI R REPLACEMENT PROGRAm-;, STREET D]V!S_IO: 1, PORTIO::S OF THIRTEEN STREETS WERE RESURFACED WITH REVENUE SHARING FUNDS, PORTIOI!g OF FOUR ADDITIONAL STREETS WILL ALSO BE PAVED NE>:T SPEZT2 TC CC'-':LE'TE THE CURRENT JUUDGET YE,'.F.'S PROGR;.;., z, A HE','.' TYPE C: WINTER STREET PATCHING t'IATERiAL HAS SEEN OBTAINED.1K [,;~ EFFC7'7 TO PRODUCE LOf2GER LASTII;G TEMPORARY WINTER PATCHES, 3, A BRIDGE WAS INSTALLED IR ASHLAND CANYON., CONTINUI!;G THE PROGRA.tl OF REPLACING THE TEMPORARY BRIDGES CONSTRUCTED AFTER THE 1974 FLOOD, ENGINEERING DIVISION 1, A PROGRAM WAS INITIATED THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO REPAIR ALL HAZARDOUS SIDEWALKS. THE ENGINEERING DIVISION HANDLED THE INVENTORY,' WROTE THE SPECIFICATIONS, LET THE BIDS AND DID THE INSPECTIONS. TOTAL WORK UNDER THE CONTRACT WAS APPROXIMATELY -10- A MAJOR ASSESSMENT DISTRICT WAS FORMED FOR THE SOUTH BESWICK WAY AREA, ENGINEERING DESIGNED UTILITIES~ CURBj AND PAVING FOR THIS DISTRICT. AIRPORT 1. THE AIRPORT WAS ANNEXED TO THE CITY, THIS WILL ALLOW BETTER CONTROL AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE AIRPORT THROUGH THE YEAR 2000, A CONTRACT WAS LET FOR UPDATING OF THE AIRPORT MASTER PLAN, THE PLAN WILL COVER USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE AIRPORT THROUGH THE YEAR 2000, WORK WAS INIT,IATED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL UNIMPROVED AIRCRAFT TIEDOWN AREA, THIS WILL HELP RELIEVE CONGESTION AND GENERAT~ ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR THE CITY, iB_UI [.DI+N.C.-.__DI\"_iS I ON 1. BUILDING ACTIVITY WAS DOWN CONSIDERABLY. BY THE END OF NOVEMBER PERt,',iT REVENUES WERE DOWN 48~ FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, /. TWENTY I~U]LDING PERI,~ITS WERE ISSUED IN THE BUILDING MORATORIUM AREA, 16% oF 128 .... S i~ THE TOTAL WHICH WILL BE ALLOWED., PENDING RESOLI;~'iO:~ OF THE WATER DISTRIBUTION PROBLEM 1N THE AREA. A GRANT OFFER WAS ACCEPTED BY THE CITY FOR COHSTRUCTION OF A B;KEP,L'ii: .-':OL!TH OF THE RAILROA]3, BETWEEN CALIFORNIA STREET AND WALKER A\zEI~UE, CO[:STRUC'i'iO;.; H/.,S BEEH HELD UP PEr~DI!,!G RECEIPT OF At.! EASEKEN7 FF:C)r' SOt_!THERr~ OREGOh' STATE COLLEGE, ,c, BiKZ COUNTER WAS II~STALt_ED ON HORTH FIAIN STREET NEAR WIt-IER STREET. THIS ,'ILL AID IN THE PLANNING OF FUTURE BIKEWAYS ',';ITHIN THE CITY, HERE IS A BRIEF UPDATE FROM POLICE CHIEF V!C LIVELY BUT FIRST, SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL THAT IN MY ADDRES~ LAST YEAR I CALLED ATTENTION TO THE DRAMATIC INCREASE OF CRIME ON OUR CITY STREETS, SOME PEOPLE DID NOT AT THAT TIME REALIZE THAT WE HAD A SERIOUS PROBLE?~ FRANKLY WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM - IN 1979 THE'RE WERE TWO MURDERS AND LAST YEAR ANOTHE: WHICH WERE THE FIRST HOMICIDES ASHLAND HAS HAD IN YEARS - RAPE WENT FROM 4 IN ]980 TO ]3 LAST YEAR - BURGLARIES FROM 203 IN '80 TO 274 IN '81 - vANDALIS~,I 300 TO 316 - NARCOTIC VIOLATIONS FROM 77 TO 170 - IN 1980 THERE WERE 2,,595 PART 1 g 2 CRIMES REPORTED COMPARED TO 3,,226 FOR THE FIRST ELEVEN MONTHS OF 1981 .- THIS Is A 24% INCREASE~', YOU'LL NOTE THAT NARCOTIC VIOLATIONS MORE THAN DOUBLED - IT IS A KNOWN FACT THAT MANY OF THESE CRIMES REPORTED ARE DRUG RELATED - ADDICTS ROB AND STEAL TO SUPPORT THEIR HABIT.-- IT'S NOT A PRETTY PICTURE - BUT IF THIS TREND OF ESCALATING CRIME CONTINUES,, THE STREETS OF ASHLAND WILL NO LONGER BE SAFE FOR LAW ABIDING CITIZENS, I FOR ONE DO NOT WANT TO LIVE IN A CITY WHERE 'CITIZENS LIVE BEHIND DOUBLE LOCI<ED DOORS AND ARE AFRAID TO GO OUT ON THE STREETS A[_ONE~ UNDER CHIEF LIVELY'S ABLE LEADERSHIP WE HAVE A SPLENDID POLICE DEPARTMENT - 21 SWORN OFFICERS AND 10 RESERVES BUT TO COMBAT THE INCREASING TEND OF RISING CRIME MORE POLICE PROTECTION IS NEEDED, THE STAFFING LEVEL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS REMAINED STATIC WHILE THE CRI~'IE RATE CONTINUES TO RISE, CHIEF LIVELY AND HIS MEN HAVE HAD TO CURTAIL OUR CRIHE PREVENTIO~ PROGRAM DUE TO TIME AND FUND LIMITATIORS ~ THE NEED TO HAVE THE OFFICERS INVESTIGATING THE ~AJOR CRIMES BEIr~C REPORTED, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE COUNCIL AND BUDGET COMMITTEE ADDRESS THIS PROBLEm4 AND HOPEFULLY PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL POLICE IN ATTEMPT TO REDUCE THE CRIME II.," OUR CITY, WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING GROU~ OF DEDICATED POLICE OFFICERS AND CERTAINLY THE FINEST,, MOST MODERN EFFICIERT FACILITY-(JUDGE PETERSON WHEN HE WAS HERE FOR THE DEDICATION V;AS HIGH'._.Y CO~.:PLIMEI'ITARY OF ROT ONLY THE FACILITY BUT OF THE HIGH CALiBRE OF OUR POLICE PERSOI',:NEL) - BUT THE DEPARTt,IENT IS UNDERSTAFFED AND F]r,!AI~CE2; FOR THE JOB THEY HAVE TO DO', LAST,, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, LET ME EXPRESS PlY APPRECIATION OF AND TO BRZA',~ ALtIQUISi", OUR MOST CAPABLE CITY AD!.I!NISTRATOR. HZS SUPPOF:T AND COOPERA]ION THE PAST YEAR HAS BEER TOTALLY COrlPLETE., LEAVING UNDOh'E IN r.IEETING HIS RESPONSIBILITIES AND OFTEN GOING FAR ABOVE BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. I HAVE NEVER SEER ANYMORE MORE DEDICATED TC' HIS JOB. HIS LOYALTY l'O THE CITY IS UNQUESTIONABLE. IN HIS POSITIOi,., THERE ARE TIMES WHEN HE HAS TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT DO .NOT PLEASE SOME PEOPLE AND AS A RESULT HE IS UNDULY CRITICIZED. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT BRIAN DOES HIS BEST TO BE FAIR TO EVERYONE IN ACCORDANCE TO THE CITY CODES I KNOW THAT FIE IS HONEST AND' TRUST;'ZORTHY IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD, I THINK THE CITY HAS BEEN INDEED FORTUNATE TO HAVE HIM FOR 10 YEARS AND I CERTAINLY HOPE WE HAVE HIM FOR AT LEAST THREE MORE YEARS~,~ THANKS BRIAN, -12- THE MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS I SEE FACING THE CITY AND WHICH SHOUhb BE RESOLVED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE ARE: 1. 'New source, or sources of growth revenue to offset the reductio:_ of available revenue from the sale of electric power for transfcr to the General Fund. 2. Upgrading of the City water system to eliminate the loss of millions of gallons of treated water annually and to maintain adequate water pressure for fire protection throughout the City, and in turn permit the lifting of the Uater Moratorium in t~e ~ - ' · · ' nd ' ' r~' 4. Development and agressive promotion of a City I ustrla,. Pa k " to attract new industry to our City. 5. Construction of a new City warehouse and Garage Facility and City yard on East Main adjacent to the new Civic Center. 6. Implementation of the New ~aster Transportation Plan which includes an on and off ramp at Mountain Avenue & 1-5. 7. Address the increasingly intolerable downtown parking prob167..