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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-1221 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGLrLAR MEETING ASHEAND CITY COUNCIL December 21, 1982 ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES PUBLIC HEARINGS COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS &. REMONSTRANCES 911 Emerg. Service Funds Mayor Medaris led the Piedge of Allegiance and called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. on the above date. Present were Howard, Reid, Dale, Laws and Corliss. Acklin was absent. Corliss moved that minutes of regular meeting and executive session of December 7, 1982 be approved and placed on file; Reid seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. The City Administrator reviewed a proposed five year renewal of the Taxi Franchise and noted that a memo from the City Attorney indicated the need for further research in view of recent legis- lation relative to Cable TV franchising which could preempt the City from letting a franchise. City Attorney Salter said the legislation needs clarification and recommended the matter be tabled. Corliss so moved; Laws seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. A letter was read from residents of upper Granite Street relative to activities of owners of Lithie Homes P.U.D. Mayor Medaris asked Planning Director Fregonese if the Planning Cowmission has dealt with the subject and was told they have not on this issue. Fregonese reviewed activities of Mark Cooper as they relate to his property on Granite Street (and in area) and said that nothing he has done is against criteria set down by Planning and that it is not related to proposed P.U.D. which development will net become a fact of life until a bond is recorded. Marilyn Marthowski said that Cooper has legal easement up her driveway but that routes and methods he is using for access don't make sense. Marthowski said the access for the seven acres Cooper bought would be from Marklyn Drive. Mark Cooper spoke to the issues brought up in the letter and said he is the one being harrassed and reported that cars have been parked to block access to his property and that he has by necessity gone another route. The problems surrounding the Granite Street property was discussed at length and Laws said that such discussion could accomplish nothing on the Council level and that should any ordinance, criteria or conditon of Planning Commission be ignored or in dispute then the matter should come to Council from the Planning Commission with recommendation. Mayor and Council agreed the matter seems to be totally a civil concern and asked that Fregonese carefully review and make available maps and informa- tion to Council for any future consideration which may come to them. Laws moved to table the matter and Council unanimously agreed to the recommendation. Almquist reviewed a report from Chiefs Lively & King relative to future plans and funding for the 911 Communications Center, and said a Resolution appears later in the agenda which would implement provisions set forth should Council approve recommendations. 12/21/82 P. 1 Reg~,lar Meeting Ashland City Council ___12/21/82 P. PRIM ST. LIGHTING PARKS & REQUEST REQUEST }~R LABOR ASSISTANCE ANNEXATION FEE SCHEDULE LIQUOR LICENSE REQUESTS CITY HALL REMODEL A memo was read from the City Administrator relative to street lighting on Prim street as requested by Developer Duane Smith. Almquist explained that street lighting is not usually included in L.I.D. petitions but that there is funding for safety lighting for intersections where requested by property owners. Almquist noted in this instance that the petitioners for formation of a L.I.D. did not include lighting and that in fact 100% of the prop- erty owners did not sign in favor complicating matters. Council agreed to using funding available to install lights at three inter- secting streets on Prim and Corliss so moved; Reid seconded the motion. Laws questioned the decision being made before priorities are researched but was reassured by Almquist that such a request is in order and funds available for installation. On voice vote, the motion passed unanimously. A memo from Parks & Recreation requesting force account labor for drainage work on proposed site for swimming pool at Huuter Park was considered. On question of Alsing as to whether this would hold other programmed work up Alsing said that the new Warehouse and water system work may come ahead of it but he sees no problem in doing the work which will take only three days or so. Laws moved to approve use of force account labor; Howard seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. On question of use of Revenue Sharing funds, Almquist said he will bring back an amendment to the Budget at next meeting. A memorandum on the fee schedule for annexation fees was reviewed by Almquist who recommended that an ordinance imposing the fee be amended to permit Council to set terms on case-by-case basis by making fees payable prior to the issuance of a building permit rather than before second reading of the ordinance. Laws moved to second reading; Dale seconded the motion which passed with all AYES on voice vote. L ws then move to take the Peterson annexation proposal Off the table/%~[c~e~ea~g~M Sessions planned would be for future policy and present proposal should be acted upon; Reid seconded the motion. Dale asked that entire packet on proposal be made available to Council for next meeting. On roll call motion passed all AYES. Liquor license requests for La Familia and Change of Heart were considered and Laws moved to approve; Corliss seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. Fregonese reviewed his City Hall Remodel report noting the decadent condition of the heating & duct system, ungrounded electrical wiring with a maze of wiring/conduit and generally touched on the work needed including replacement of beams etc. Fregonese said that if the City does it's own demolition $8,000 will be needed and if the Contractor does the work $9,700 more than original proposal will be needed. Fregonese showed slides of conditions prevailing which must be coped with and suggested there may be many problems encount- ered as the work progresses. Almquist assured Council that any un- toward problems will be brought to Council's attention immediately. ......... continued ]-2/21/82 p. 2 City Hall Remodel cont. Accounting Procedures Commercial Utilities 83-84 Electrical Rates Joe Garfas from Schoolhouse Electric cautioned Council that there may be expenses beyond the $1,000 allowed for undetermined needs that may be encountered. After further discussion Laws moved to approve the $9,700 increase for remodel and that resolution be brought back to the next meeting; Reid seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. A memo from the City Administrator was reviewed relative to a long- standing utility policy on both commercial and residential customers which has been so lenient that it leaves between $].5,000 & $18,000 outstanding on delinquent accounts. Almquist recommended a more stringent policy for commercial accounts saying that some customers have historically held back payments until they are past due and disconnects are threatened and essentially benefitting by the use of the City's money. Dale took exception to the policy recommended which would shorten time for payments and give commercial customers a certain time to bring their utility bills to a current basis. Almquist reveiwed the problems from bankruptcy filings and said the City stands to get only a portion of that owed if anything. Dale said commercial should not be treated any differently than resident- ial. Laws said that the City must address the criteria set by P.U.C. relative to leinency on hardship cases. Almquist said he plans to continue to work with such residential cases. Dale said that due the present economy the recommendation would threaten businesses which are already faltering under current conditions. The Mayor said that a business should consider cost of utilities as a fixed expense and that the City stands to continue losing money unless the policy is tightened. Reid urged to change the ordinance to total compliance. On Dale's question of the difference between the resi- dential and commercial accounts Almquist said it is a quantitive difference with conmercial delinquents owing up into the hundreds. Dale said he is not opposed to looking at the issue but feels the short period of time is too stringent. Corliss moved to enforce provisiom of our Ordinance effective February 1, 1983 and that Staff bring back recommendations for residential accounts; Laws seconed and Council agreed to amend motion to give customer three months after the first thirty day notice to become current; motion passed with Howard, Laws and Corliss voting YES;.Reid abstain- ed and Dale voted NO on roll call vote. Almquist reviewed his memorandum relative to 1983-84 electric rates and said that State law requires that an estimate of operating ex- penses be forecast for the coming year, that a rate is proposed to meet expected expenses and that a reserve fund is created to meet future systems requirements. Almquist said no action is necessary and that the information will be submitted for more careful examina- tion in the future. 12/21/82 P. 3 LITItIA MILL ACQUISITION Almquist reported that ~ a.qyes of the Lithia Mill property is ear- marked for park or open spa~.m and requested that $500 be deposited for option to acquire said ~,'reage from the County for a purchase price of $35.000 and said "p~ien be exercised on August 1. ]983. Almquist said the County 11~ $35,000 invested in the property in $18,000 in delinquent uti]i~l~ charges and $16.000 delinquent property taxes at the time of forec~,,qure. Almquist said he would l~ke to finalize the acquisition ~|= ~:oumcil is willing so that the money is budgeted and the deal can I,~ closed by August 1. 1983. Howard moved to grant request; Corliss ~eonded the motion which passed unanimousl~ on Voice Vote. PUBLIC FORUM No comments from the audience, ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS Ordinance on infract. Electric Connect Fees Police Officer Assist. Second reading by title only was given an ordinance relative to the maximum fine for infrat]on~ aud Corliss moved to adopt; Howard seconded the motion which pI,~!~ed unanimously on roll call vote. Second reading by title on~ was given an Ordinance relating to elect i Second reading by title only was given an OrdinaDce relating to assistance of police office~ and Laws moved to adopt; Corliss seconded the motion which p~nscd unanimously on roll call vote. Special Licenses Second reading by title on];, was given an Ordinance relative to special licensing and Cor] l~I~ moved to adopt; Reid seconded the motion which passed unanim~u,r~y on roll call vote. Resolution - T of A A Resolution Transferring Alu,roDriations within a Fund was read relative to 911 Communicat{.u~ Center and Corliss moved to adopt; Reid seconded the motion wh~ vh passed unanimously on roll call vote. Resolution - T of A A Resolution transferring app~-opriations within funds was read cov- ering expenses of Goals Se~{ou & Audit Committee meetings and professional services etc. ~.d Laws moved to adopt; Corliss seconded the motion which passed unauhnously on roll call vote. Resolution - Audit A Resolution was read accepllug the 1981-82 Audit Report by Burns and Updegrove and Dale moved to adopt; Laws seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll ,';Ill vote. Council Liaison None Other business from Councilmembers Corliss noted that this is h{~ last meeting and that he will coatinue to contest Council actions ut'om the other side of the room in the future. Mayor Medaris thanked Corliss for his community service and welcomed his future presenc~ f~t the meetings. Adjournment Nan E. Franklin City Recorder Meeting adjourned at 9:55 1,, Gordon Medaris }layor