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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-0216 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL February 16, 1982 ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES MINUTES OF BOAYCDS HOSPITAL BUILDING FUNDS LITHIA WATER LANDMARK REEDER GULCH ItYDRO PLANT Having led the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Medaris called the meet-- ing to order at 7:30 P.M., in the Council Chambers on the above date. Present were Sims, Dale, Acklin, Laws and Peterson. Hexjard arrived at 8:40 P.M. The City Recorder noted an error on page 2, pp 3 where in the last sentence it read 10% as bond interest. It sbould have read "12%". Peterson moved to approve as corrected; Sims seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. Acklin moved to accept and place on file minutes of boards, commiss- ions and committees; Peterson seconded the motion which passed without opposition on voice vote. A memorandum from Hospital Administrator Strewbridge was read requesting release of building funds in order to go ahead with hospital alterations and Strewbridge skid he would also need the release of the, building monies along with permission for the hospiZ tal to be it's own contractor. David Bassett, ~ngineer for the project showed the plans and revieGed the modifications of the hospita~ and parking areas. Laws moved that all three requests be approved; Howard seconded and the motion. passed unanimously on voice vote. Director of Public Works Alsing reported on the acceptance of the Lithia Water fountains on the plaza as a Landmark by the American Water Works Association and showed the bronze plaque given by the AWWA and recommended that the Historic Commission have charge of an appropriate ceremony unveiling such plaque for installation on the Plaza fountains. The City Administrator reviewed the report submitted by Finance Director Nelson relative to the proposed hydroelectric plant and said that it is imperative that the City proceed by ordering plans and specifications of the project in order to have begun the pro- ject before November 1982 or be challenged by other entities filing for doing their own project and that nothing could be done about such preemption should our project not be actually started. Aim- quist said that procurement of the plans and specs would constitute the beginning of the project and that it will take about five months to have them produced. Almquist reviewed alternative financing covered in Nelson's memorandum and illustrated the costs showing the City could save half of the costs by working through existing resources in the Electric Utility Reserve portion of the Capital Improvements Fund and showed the interest which would be savedby such interfund loan. Almquist noted that State law gives the City authority to borrow such funds and that this would be a poor time for economic reasons to go to the citizens for bonding purposes. Almquist outlined reasons to avoid a bond issue which had originoily been considered, and told of the negative-results in the bond market because of changes/failures in nuclear plants in the North- west. Almquist said the income of resources from the hydro plant would amount to approximately $165,000 per year and this income could be used to repay the internal loans. 2/16/82 P. Ifi'DRO PROJECT cont. TRAFFIC SAFETY RECOMMEND- ATIONS JAZMIN'S Liquor License T.I.D. WATER PUBLIC FORUM Don Rist asked Council what would happen if the Utility fund was exhausted & we had emergLIncy. Laws said it is unlikely but would have to go to the people like we did after the ].974 flood. Rist wondered why the measure couldn't go on the May ballot anj still have time to meet the November deadline. Carroll Corllss said we should go ahead with the order for plans &specs as will need them anyway and will save time. Estella Soblet ask~ the City Administrator how long it has taken to build up the utility fund and A]mquist said it was authorized in 1973 and bad grown due to the fact that the City raised it's rates at th~ s,,t~e time PP&L did but tbat the rates were a less percentage and the fund was set up to keep the electric system in good repair etc, Duane Taylor ~,sl, ed why we bays money in such a fund and the Mayqr said it was for emergencies. Almqu~st said if the resezve ~ere used to offset or decresse rate it would be exhausted in one time. Sims exp]azined the reason for the rate increases along with PP&L's was to gradually get the rate near to what the con-- stm~er would be paying when the contract with PP&L has run out. John Connor likened the o~.~nership of the hydro plant as with the Hospital and wondered why the cost wouldn't be cheaper to the residents of Ashland. Dale explained that the Hospital is self- supporting. Laws moved to authorize staff to employ R. W. Becll~ for preparation of plans & specs and charge to Electric Utility Fund; Sims seconded the motion which passed unanimously on w, lce vote. Handicap parking spaces recommended by the Traffic Safety Comn~iss- ion were considered to be erected from 9 AM to Noon on Sunday adjacent to the Methodist Cburcb side entrance and also one handj-- cap space and one loading zone space at Hunter Park for the Sep~ol Center were considered and Laws moved to approve and bring back Resolutions; Peterson seconded and on voice vote, all AYES. City Administrator Almquist requested that liquor license request be placed on agenda for consideration. Dale moved to place on agenda; Peterson seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. Dale moved to approve; Acklin seconded and the motion passed without opposition on voice vote. Director of Public Works Alsing reviewed his memo outlining needs for T.I.D. water service and asked that a study session be schedu- led to establish policy decisions on which to plan for future use of the T.I.D. water. Laws so moved; Sims seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. ~nile Cloutier expressed concern over an action taken at the last Council meeting during which tim~ a reqvest was granted for use of $12,796 for baseball fields out of unexpended Revenue Sharing Funds. Clout]or said he was clarifying the positions of Councilmember tlowsrd and Parks Commissioner Nelson in order to put to rest allegations of "conflict of interest" among citizens. Cloutier said criticism arose from the fact that both Howard and Nelson are employed by Southern Oregon State College, proposed site for one of the ballfields. Salter was asked for an opinion 2/16/82 P. 2 PUBLIC tTORUM cant. relative to a possible conflict of interest and he said there is such a possibility but note~ci~.n~n~%r~~ ~oo that ~oward would be obligated to vote/ ~Ifter cont~nue~ [~st each member must ask himself the question and so state should he feel it a conflict of inter'est. He said that there would have to be a financial gain before it could be considered a confleet and in this i~stance is simply something Howard would give strong sup- port because of his vocation. Laws moved to place item on agenda; Peterson seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice Parks Director Ken Mickelson reviewed the plans for the ballfield=. and said if the facilities were good that the costs ~f maintenanc~ could be picked up out of income from softball tournaments and at the same time would prosper the City. Mickelson asked that Council consider underwriting the maintenance cost for the term the contract. Don Kiernan sa~d the Little League has money to contribute to the development of the field but could not guarantee any assistance with the maintenance. On Willstatter's question as to whether Mickelson contacted the County, Mickclson sa~d he had but they are having budget problems themselves. Kiernan noted that when the fields are ready they could also be used for Soccer. Howard asked Mickelson if he felt User's Fee method could be esed and Mickelson said it could. Director of Finance Nelson recom- mended that some of the monies collected in sale of wood could be used and proceeds from rental of building at Hunter Park. Mickelson said the rental money is used for maintenance. Sims aske~ about money donated by Shakespeare and if it had been used and Mickelson said it has been used and that it was a one-time thing. Karen Smith asked Conmissioner Nelson about the impact of the neighborhood and was told by Nelson there would not be a great impact. Sims recommended that such commitments should he sought during the budget process. Laws expressed concern abouu the de~ar!d for Revenue Sharing in the future and the requests for these funds which are more critical than those of recreation needs. Ran Kelso agreed with Sims and said he could see no problem with the request coming before the budget committee on a yearly basis. Sims moved to table to next meeting; Peterson seconded and on voice vote passed unanimously. Laws asked that the Ordinance amending the Administrative and Operative Ordinance be moved to the first item on the agenda due to audience interest. Mayor Medaris asked Almquist to read the Ordinance in it's entirety for clarification. Laws expressed con- corn that people hadn't had the opportunity to study the ordinance and suggested a Study Session be held next Tuesday night (23rd) and that the public could present questions at that time and said copies will be available at the Recor~er's office. Laws reviewed how the title change from City Administrator to City Manager had come about saying it was discussed in an executive session called to discuss the salaries of management positions in the City and Almquist said he would like to see his position title changed to City Manager and Laws said it was a form of compensation for the work he has done, and that Almquist would just as soon have the 2/16/82 P. 3 ORDINANCES , RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS Administrative Ord. cont. Sign Ordinance the title change as a raise in salary. Laws said that the title City Administrator goes along with small cities and for th~s reason the title conflicts with Almquist's role with other cities and professional organizations. Laws said the title is receguition of the job Almquist has done for the City and it will not chang~ his job. Laws said he disagrees that Council erred and that the law was violated, and said the purpose of the study session is to allow public input. Laws said the matter was discussed prev- iously on a trip to Bonneville Power for a contract meeting and discussed it in the framework of how we could be more effective as a City. Laws said it is the responsibility of the City Admin- istrator to periodically bring recommendations to the Council for consideration and this brings the City into compliance with State law and the way many things are being handled because of State law. Laws concluded by saying that the public is invited to the study session next week. Laws said there may be some places where the ordinance changes the City Administrator's authority and make it different than it is now. Almquist said the reading would take quite some time and said it could be post- poned. Laws moved to postpone reading of the Ordinance until after the study session; Peterson seconded the motion. W~llstatter said he is concerned that it is not merely a change in title but a change in the Charter. Tony Nunes suggested the matter be brought before the people of Ashland. Don Rist recommended that an Attorney General's opinion be sought. On voice vote the motion passed unanimously. Planning Director Fregonese reviewed the amended portions of the sign ordinance as a result of the last meeting and the City Administrator gave first reading by title only with amendments. Acklin moved to second reading with addition of an emergency clause for expediting; Sims seconded. Laws said he will have to vote against the ordinance if the emergency clause is added since he doesn't consider it an emergency. Acklin explained that people may take advantage of the thirty day interim to modify signs etc. Laws moved to amend the motion to delete the emergency clause; Dale seconded and on voice vote there was one AYE (Laws) and five NAYS. Motion failed. On Acklin's original motion to pass to second reading with emergency clause Howard, Sims, Ackl~n, Peterson and Dale voted AYE. Laws opposed. Emile Cloutier spoke for Chambe~ of Commerce and criticized 18.96.050(C), P. 6 & said ordinance would not be enforceable because some signs are corporately owned; the Planning Commission wcluld have to accept any estimate presented and people who carry insurance on signs would simply drop the insurance and in many cases damaged signs wouldn't be repaired. Fregonese agreed and said he felt uncomfortable about this section of the ordinance. Cloutier said if the business changes or the logo is changed, it could be changed at that time. Cloutier recommended deletion if the cost is less than 50%, and suggested that "Projecting Signs" be placed back into the ordinance for businesses on side streets and limit them to 15 square feet. 2/16/82 P. 4 Sign Ordinance cont. Prim St., Improvement Ord. Granite St. Paving Nuisance penalties Airport Annexation Legal Des. correction Walker Annexation Transfer of approp. within funds DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS FOREST SERVICE INPUT Sims moved to reconsider; Peterson seconded, and on voice vote, all AYES. On rccompendation of Planner Fregonese, Laws moved to amend motion to put "projecting sign" section back into the ordin- ance; Sjms seconded and the motion passed unanimously on voice vote, Howard meved to delete a portion of Sectin C, page 6 in the fourth from the last sentence beginning "if the cost ............. " and Peterson seconded the motion which passed with four AYES and two NAYS on voice vote. Cloutier asked that emergency clause be deleted and Laws so moved; Howard seconded and on voice vote there were two AYES four NAYS. Planner Fre onese read all of sect'o s as modi fed and Acklin move~ to pass Ordinance~h~cameaSeT to seconj ~ad~ng; Sims seconded and on voice vote Howard, Sims, Acklin, Peterson and Dale voted AYE on voice vote; Laws opposed. Motion cnrriad. First reading was given an ordinance authorizing and ordering the improvement of Prim Street from Tucker to Wimer Streets and Sims moved to second reading; Peterson seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. Full reading was given an ordinance authorizing improvements of Granite Street at the previous meeting on February 2 and City Administrator read in full Section 2 with minor change. Peterson moved to second reading; Laws seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. First reading was given an Ordinance amending the nuisance pro- visions of the Municipal Code relative to penalties and Sims moved to second reading; Peterson seconded the motion which passed unanimonsly on roll call vote. First reading was given an Ordinance correcting the legal descript- ion for the Airport Annexation and Acklfn moved to second reading; Dale seconded the motion which passed with all voting in favor. Second reading was given by title only of an Ordinance setting a public hearing for an annexation and withdrawal from Fire District No. 5. (Walker Annexation) Laws moved to adopt; Dale seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. A Resolution transferring appropriations within funds was read and Laws moved to adopt; Peterson s-conded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. Peterson moved to accept and place on file; Laws seconded and on ~oice vote passed unanimously. Council Chairman Laws reviewed a letter from Rogue River National Forest relative to Resource Planning Act and wondered if the City has any input. Almquist said we have been meeting with them and he would have A1 check and notify Council. 2/16/82 P.5 ~AIF Refund Mayor Medaris noted that the City received an insurance refund from SAIF Jn the amount of $83,735 due to safety/accident record of the City and said the monies were deposited into the Insurance Fund. %DJOURNED The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 P.M. and Council was reminded of the Study Session set for Tuesday, February 23 at 7:30 P.M. Nan E. Frankr{n L. Gordon Medarjs Zity Recorder Mayor