Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-0116 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL January 16, 1979 ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES PUBLIC HEARING Comp Plan Chg. 10 MINUTES OF BOARDS ETC. JOHNSON RESIGNATION HODGINS RESIGNATION NOTICE OF CLAIM Alcock (Sloan et al) RANDY ST. IMP. After leading the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Prickett called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. Present were Councilmembers Phelps, Sims, Ragland, Medaris, Laws and Hamilton. None were absent. A correction of the January 4, 1979 meeting was requested to read $1,375,000 relating to the Highway 66 widening project and Ragland moved to accept as amended; and minutes of January 2, 1979 and Jan- uary 9 as submitted; Hamilton seconded and on voice vote, all YES. The City Administrator read a me__~andum from the Planning Commission dated December 8, 1978 and asked that minutes of the Planning Commiss- ion dated on the above date; st~f~_repor__t dated 12/8/78; fi~ipgs an~I orders signed by Planning Commission Chairman, and the legal notice ,1 publishing the outside city limits redesignation from Suburban Residenl~ ial to Rural Residential. Mayor Prickett opened the public hearing and asked for comments in opposition and there were none. James Cor- bett spoke in favor as owner of the property and submitted a petition signed by residents of 1775, 1833, 1523, 1586 and 1585 Ashland Mine Road in favor of redesignation. Corbett showed a plat of the lots involved and explained that a draw going horizontally through the property would make it impossible to construct as many homes as the present zoning would allow and said he is in agreement. Phelps moved approval of redesignation and requested an ordinance be brought back; Ragland seconded and on roll call, all YES. Ragland moved to accept and place on file all minutes from boards, commissions and committees as submitted; Phelps seconded and on voice vote motion passed unanimously. A letter from Stewart Johnson was read in which he submitted his res- ignation from the Airport Committee. Mayor Prickett asked that a letter of appreciation be sent. A letter of resignation was read from Charles E. Hodgins as member of Ashland Community Hospital Board. Resignation accepted with regrets. A notice of claim letter was received from Gerald C. Neufeld and read by the City Administrator claiming personal injury to Suzanne Alcock on July 17, 1978. Almquist recommended the letter be passed on to insurance carrier and Ragland so moved; Hamilton seconded and on roll call, motion passed unanimously. A petition for street improvement of Randy Street from Helman to Laurel and Laurel from Randy to Otis was received and Director of Public Works reviewed-.the project supported by 72.25& of total footage. (Improvement Resolution later on agenda). 1/16/79 Pg. 1 Regular__Meeting Ashland City Council 1/16/79 Pg'2 PUBLIC FORUM 72-hour Parking Ord. Mayor Prickett advised Council that a meeting had been held with PP&L and as a result was assured that installation of a hydroturbine genera- tor would not jeopardize our contract with them. Prickett asked that a letter agreement be drawn up for execution with PP&L. The Mayor brought up the fact that a requested report had not been received by the Budget Committee on quarterly activities of the Housing Bureau and reminded Council that a change had been made in the operation and recommended a letter be sent requesting that a report for the first one-half year be submitted for the Budget Committee. Edwin Chapman said that in a recent Planning Hearings Board meeting held on January ll, 1979, Commissioner Billings had asked that an 8 ft. piece of land owned by Chapman be granted for right of way along Helman Street and that he had no say as the decision. Chapman said it is his understanding that property adjoining is owned by Billings and asked Council investigate what he considers a violation in that Billings owns property involved. Chapman said that Billings not only did not admit he owned the property but made a point in his conversa- tion which would make it clear he did not own it. Mayor Prickett requested transcriptions of both written and recorded minutes by tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 17) before any conclusions are made and said a meeting of Council will be called. Salter reminded Chapman of 15 day appeal time. Ragland moved to place the issue of 72-hour parking on the agenda; Phelps seconded and on roll call all YES. (Item omitted by error). Sim reviewed the 72-hour parking ordinance which often inconveniences students away during holidays etc. and requested modifications in the ordinance because of the lack of off-street parking in so many areas of town. Laws asked what the definition of an "abandoned car" is and was told by Acting Chief Lively that it is not defined. Sims suggest- ed that vehicles be tagged as a warning and that drivers be asked to bring their automobiles to the Police Department as evidence they are in running condition. The Mayor described problems posed by cars not moved as a nuisance to property owners who can't park near their homes and of maintenance of streets, storm drains etc. because of a collect- ion of leaves and debris. Phelps said the Police Department had shown much constraint as regards violations around the College during the holiday vacation. Medaris suggested people could get a parking permit and cited situations where there are more cars than people in a house. Ragland agreed with the permit concept and Yecommended that off-street parking become a concern to help eliminate the problem. Mayor asked Lively to go back into his records to see if the count of violations was abnormally high. Ragland said the ordinance was written after many complaints by the citizens of Ashland and was not done to inconvenience the owner of the vehicle. Mayor recommended that when first marked as abandoned that note be left to indicate a permit mast be obtained. Michael Bassett spoke from the audience on the operation of the Plan- ning Commission and asked if Council had overseer on the activities of that body and suggested it function strictly as a research group. 1/16/79 Pg. 2 Regular Meeting Ashland City Council 1/16/79 P. 3 PUBLIC FORUM cont~ Michael Bassett on Planning Comm. operation Traffic Count CITIZENS BUDGET COMM. MAYORS APPOINTMENTS Phelps told Bassett that he is liaison and attends Planning Commiss~ ion meetings and feels they do a good job. The problem was reviewed whereby some people come to the Council and testify at public hearings on appeals where they neglected to appear with facts before the Plan- ning Commission. A property owner on Scenic Drive asked why a traffic count was taken during the Christmas holidays when traffic could be miscalculated because of the holidays. Alsing said it was taken at that time on request of Planning Commission and that further counts would be taken in the future so that the basic figure would not be that first taken. Ragland nominated Carroll Corliss to the Budget Committee; Sims nominated Russell E. Dale; Medaris nominated Harl J. Clark and Laws nominated Clarence Williams to be retained. On election of Russell Dale, Phelps, Sims, Laws, and Hamilton voted YES; Medaris and Ragland opposed on roll call vote. Elected. On Harl Clark, Phelps andMedaris voted YES. Sims, Ragland, Laws and Hamilton voted NO. Clark defeated. Councilmembers voted unanimously to elect Clarence Williams and Carroll Corliss. Mayor Prickerr appointed George Krebs and D. H. Dickinson to the Traffic Safety Commission and asked Carroll Corliss if he would want to continue on that committee since his election to the Budget Comm- ittee and he agreed to serve on both groups. Prickett appointed Bill Emerson and Sherry McLeod to serve on the His- toric Commission. Richard Moore was named to the Ashland Bikeway Committee. Jim Smay, Mark Sheldon and Frank Parsons were named to serve on the Airport Committee. Also appointed was H. L. "Weezie" Hampton to the Airport Committee. Mayor Prickett appointed Don L. Greene to serve a two-year term on the Planning Commission and noted that he had sought appointment for four years and felt him to be capable and a native of Ashland. Phelps said he was surprised there was not alternate and the Mayor said if Greene is not confirmed he will bring alternate. Discussion ensued relative to occupations of members and Hamilton said it is her under- standing that two members of any vocational field could not serve at the same time. Concern was expressed that builders, developers and realtors may have a conflict of interest. Prickett said in some cases the vocation may not be principle occupation in life and that many people have real estate licenses who don't earn their living by such licensing. Prickerr asked that the ordinance be researched before alternate appointment. On Ragland's motion to accept Mayor's recom- mendation and Hamilton second, Hamilton and Ragland voted in favor; Laws, Phelps, Sims and Medaris voted in opposition. Motion failed. Laws said he would be supportive of Greene if someone with a like occupation no longer served. 1/16/79 Pg. 3 Regular Meeting APPOINTMENTS cOnt~ Citizens Plann. Adv. R.V. HOSP. VS. C OF A WATER SUPPLY & INTERTIE HERSEY ST. FAUS PROJECT SKATEBOARDING GRANT ST. "NO PARKING" CETA PROGRAM Ashland City Council 1/16/79 P. 4 Medaris Mayor Prickett appointed Councilman/to act as liaison to the Hospital Board; Sims to Parks & Recreation and Historic Commission; Medaris to Airport Committee. Other liaison positions were reappointed. Ragland moved to confirm all appointments; Hamilton seconded and on roll call motion passed unanimously. Mayor Prickerr nominated Lon Holston, Doreen Walsh and Ross Coldwell to CPAC and reappointed Medinger, Shepherd, Petersen and Foster. Ragland moved to confirm; Hamilton seconded and on roll call, all YES. Mayor asked that ordinance on commissions etc. be brought up at next meeting of Council. City Administrator Almquist read a memo from City Attorney Salter advising that Rogue Valley Memorial Hospital had abandoned its law- suit against the City. No action necessary. A report on the status of Water Supply and TID/Domestic pipeline was submitted and the Director of Public Works reviewed forecast for water supply and its impact on various systems. Alsing said that normally this would be the time to sluice the reservoir but that he would pre- fer to wait to see how close to normal precipitation we will come. The proposed configurationon sidewalks, parking lanes, bikeways and travel lanes for Hersey Street project was reviewed. Alsing pointed out that the plan as shown will necessitate acquisition of right-of- way and slope easements and is planned for an ultimate four lane road should it become necessary at some future time. Alsing also noted the State Highway Division will have a preliminary design soon and will review that with Council when it becomes available. There followed considerable discussion relative to the needs of secondary roads in the City and possibility of a third interchange sometime in the future. Sims complained about the connection of surfaced and unpaved streets and questioned the wide improved Hersey being fed into a narrow street. Laws moved to approve configuration; Ragland seconded and on roll call, passed unanimously. Sims volunteered to research poss ibility of getting County to improve Walker Avenue o/s City.Ccl. agreed A memorandum from Chairperson Pinnock of Parks and Recreation was read advising Council that after consideration of high cost of liabil- ity insurance, equipment and facility costs for a skateboard park, the Park Commissioners voted against pursuing such a project. Phelps pointed Out the fact that the Central Point park for skateboarding has gone bankrupt due to the high costs although it was a popular con- cept for the recreation. Ragland suggested the door be left open on the proposal and felt at a future time perhaps physical assistance with the youngsters might be considered. Hamilton said she would like to read the Parks Commission minutes on the item and suggested the Youth Council might be interested in taking on the project with the help of the City. A memorandum was read as received from the Traffic Safety Commission recommending a "No Parking" zone be established on Grant Street and North Main. Laws moved to accept recommendation and directed Staff to bring back resolution; Phelps seconded and on roll call, all YES. Almquist reviewed the new changes in the CETA program and asked Council direction on making application for funds on lower level and noted all job descriptions would have to be modified to qualify. Almquist said two outreach people in the Senior Citizens will be affected as their Re~ujar Meeting Ashland City Council 1/16/79 Pg'5 CETA PHASEDOWN discussion Council agreed that Almquist should apply for positions. Almquist said there would be a meeting at 4:00 P.M. on Monday, Janu- ary 22 and he will report back. ORD. RESOLUTIONS & CONTS. Annexation Bdry. Ord. Second reading by title only was given an Ordinance adding a new pro- vision relative to Annexation Boundary Descriptions and Ragland moved for adoption; Hamilton seconded and on roll call passed unanimously. Elkader St. Improvement Second reading by title only was given an ordinance authorizing and ordering the improvement of Elkader Street from Prospect to Ivy Lane. Ragland moved for adoption; Laws seconded and motion passed without opposition on roll call vote. Res. Transferring Funds A resolution transferring appropriations within funds to provide for Municipal Court Bailiff was read and Laws moved to adopt. Phelps seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. Resolution - Randy St. A resolution setting a public hearing on the proposed improvement of Randy Street from Helman to Laurel, and Laurel Street from Randy to Otis was read and Sims moved to adopt; Hamilton seconded and on roll call passed unanimously. RVCOG EQUIPMENT LOAN A letter agreement was read between the City and Rogue Valley Council of Governments for use of surplus water quality monitoring equipment and Phelps moved to authorize Mayor's signature; Ragland seconded and on roll call, all YES. HAYOR'S ADDRESS Mayor Prickett advised Council that because of the hour, he would make address available through the mail. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS Sims moved to accept Departmental Reports for December 1978; Laws seconded and on roll call, all YES. ett ' ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 10:20 P.M. / ~~ Nan E. Franklin . ' City Recorder Mayor ih