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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-0217 REG MINMINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL February 17, 1976 ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES CATV CO~MITTEE APPOINT- MENTS SENIOR FORb~ EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES OF BOARDS, COM- MISSIONS & COMMITTEES League of Oregon Cities re: L.C.D.C. Helen Wilson Claim The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Prickerr who called the meet. ing to order at 7:30 p.m., on the above date in the Council Cryambers. Present were Councilmembers Hoffarth, McCannon, Laws and McDowell; Ragland arrived at 7:35 p.m. Allen was absent. McCannon moved to apprpve minutes of the Executive Sessioa and Regular Meeting of February 3, 1976 and place on file; second by Hoffarth and passed unanimously on voic~ vote, _Ij~ ~ Mayor Prickerr appointed Merle Mills, Bob Wilson, Tom Withenbury, Allan Essex and Councilmembers McDowell and McCannon to serve on the Cable TV Committee saying that he plans to appoint more as soon as he is able to contact them relative to their willingness to serve. Laws moved to confirm; Hoffarth seconded and on roll call, all YES. In the absence of hearing that they would not be willing to serve, Mayor Prickett reappointed the present committee known as Senior Citizens Executive Committee as follows: M. A. Kline, Chairman, Steve Maple, Alma Willjams, John Osfield~ Janet Mayo and Councilmembe~ Laws and McCannon. McCannon moved for confirmation; second by McDowe] and passed unanimously on roll call vote. Councilman Hoffarth presented a question relative to the minutes of the January 12, 1976 of the Planning Commission meeting concerning the public hearing on conditional use and site review as applied for by James Benson for construction of dental offices at 1129 Iowa and requested cost information on the undergrounding or relocation of utility poles and whose responsibility such cost wou~d be. City Admit istrator said that he would research and return answer to next meetin~ Hoffarth moved to accept minutes of all boards, commissions and com- mittees; second by Laws and pas~d unanimously on roll call vote. City Administrator Almquist presented a letter from the League of Oregon Cities reporting their concern with actions of the Land Conser. vation & Development Commission relative to L.C.D.C's arhitrari!y selecting its own advisory committee to settle problems arising out of the comprehensive plan of the City of Salem. Almquist said the letter was for Council information and no action was necessary. Hoff. arth requested that a strong letter of objection be sent to the attention of Chairman L. B. Day registering our complaints on recent actions. Mayor-Prickett agreed and stated further that copies of the letter would be sent to all State representatives, the League of Oreg Cities and the Governor. I. A letter from Helen Wilson of 1495 Woodland Drive was read by City Administrator Almquist filing a claim against the City for costs allegedly arising out of a parking ticket for attorney fees, expenses etc. The City Administrator recommended that claim be denied and passed on to City's insurance carrier for response. McDowell so move seconded by McCannon. Hoffarth directed a question to City Attorney Salter as to x~hy Helen Wilson was allowed to go to the expense of $500 if the City would end up dropping the case and wondered why the costs should not be reimbursed to Ms. Wilson. City Attorney Salter 2/17/76 Page 1 Regular Meeting Ashland'City Council 2/17/76 Page 2 Wilsea Claim cent. Court-appointed attorney fees - Harry Skerry CATV Cu~m~ittee Jackson County Over- all Economic~ Dev. said that the Ei~s case was good enough to have Judge Munsell find claimant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and that his thinking on dropping charges resulted from the fact that it appeared sufficient money had already been spent by Mrs. Wilson on the case. Salter added that both he and ~ity Administrator ~lmquist are personally being sued by the defendant in the case. On roll call, motion to deny claim and pass it on to insurance carrier passed unanimously on roll cell vote. A letter from Harry Skerry, Attorney,,requesting consideration regard- ing higher fees for court-appointed attorneys was read by City Admin- istrator Almquist. Ragland moved to accept and place on file; second by Laws. On roll call, all YES. On question from Mayor, Almquist explained that an Ordinance on the subject takes precedence over the Charter which says to follow district court fee schedule. McCannon moved to take the matter from the table where it had been placed at the previous meeting and that the subject be placed on next agenda. The motion was seconded by Hoffarth and on roll call Hoffarth, McCanno and McDowell voted for the motion. Ragland and Laws voted NO. Motion to place on next agenda carried. A letter was considered from Allan B. Essex relative to the size of the Cable TV Committee. It was denided that since Essex was appointed to the committee,he would have opportunity for input. City Administrator Almquist read a letter from Jackson County Overall Economic~ Development Committee relative to 100% funding from the federal government for public works construction projects and noted that a workshop would be held on Thursday, February 19 on the matter. Mayor Prickett suggested that priorities be considered on public works projects at a study session and mentioned the Justice Center as a possible priority. Lm~s moved that staff be directed to take part by attending the meeting and'tha~ a study session be called for next Tuesday (February 24) at 7:30 p.m. McDowell seconded and on 'Jill call passed unanimously. Public Forum Telman Creek Road Jack Mills of the Parks Commission suggested that a type of bicenten nial certificate be given candidates for office and like recognition for those who have served the City. Mayor Prickerr said the matter would be considered at the study session on the 24th. A memorandum was read from Public Works Director Alsing in which costs were estimated for improvement of Telman Creek Road betTeen Highway 66 and 99 showing the County's share of $46,117.50 and property owners at $52,776.37 or an estimate of $7.54 per front foot for !property owners. Alsing showed a map depicting those in favor and opposed stating that on a recent ocassion the proposed project was abandoned because of the opposition of property owners who stated they would prefer chuckholes to a fast travelled road. McCannon felt that if the majority is against the project, it should be dropped. During discussion it was brought out that the elderly in the low income brackett could have assessment payments deferred. Laws said that if the City should decid. on its own that the street should be paved as an essential part of it'~ system, then it should be prepared to pay for it. Mayor Prickett said he felt the street should be left alone and Ragland agreed. It was concluded that the street should be left in it's present condition and that no action is necessary. Re~ul~f Meeting Ashland City Council 2/17/76 Pa~e_.3 Investment Program Battalion Chief's status SOSC Central Fire Alarm A memorandum from Director of .Finance Nelson was read by City Adminis- trator Almquist relative to an investment program as recommended by City Recorder Butler in which not over $100,000 would be deposited in each of the two savings and loan associations. Recorder Butler review, the advantages of the proposed program. Action deferred until later ix the meeting when resolutions would be presented. City Administrator Almquist explained reasons for recommending that the position of Battalion Chief be placed in the supervisory category adjustment of salary and reported that the recruitment examination pro- cess would begin to fill the two vacancies. Recommendation was also made relative to the salaries of the three Sergeants in the Police Department who have opted out of the Union and who can now be identifi~ as supervisory emDloyes. McCannon moved to declare Battalion Chiefs supervisory; seconded by Hoffarth. On Laws question as to ~nether the E.R.B. would accept status, City Administrator said he does not know but that he plans to respond on the fire positions and assumes the Board will look strictly at the facts. On roll call, all YES. On adjustment of Battalion Chief's salaries, Hoffarth moved that increase be affected; seconded by Laws and on roll call, passed unanimously. Almquist asked authority to increase salaries of Police sergeants accordingly retroactive to January 15, 1976, McCannon so moved; secon~ by McDowell and on roll call vote, all YES. City Administrator Almquist presented a letter from Jim Henshaw, Dir- ector of the Physical Plant at SOSC relating plans for a central fire alarm system which would be tied into the City fire department. City Administrator Almquist made three recommendations for Council consider- ation and cited a need that alarm charge be covered by ordinance; that additional fee be charged after the third false alarm and that bona fide fires a rate of something like $235 each instance be charged. The City Administrator added that support should be sought through leg- islation from state institutions on fire and police services. Mayor P~ickett suggested that points be covered in a study session and that out-of-pocket charges should be considered as opposed to all-inclusive costs and that he would rely on Chief Reed's figures. Chief Hays said that investigations would take a lot of police hours and that the College has the administration and could do their own work on the campus. Because of the computer type system, the Chief said that everything would ring in the police department and tie the lines up. Mayor Prickett suggested a flat monthly rate 'like bnsinesses in Ashlan< saying that it seems unfair to charge $235 to the college when busines~ can get by on a $5 a month fee. The Chief said the difference is that the pranks create a bigger volume. Carroll Corliss of 520 Fairview discussed the need for personnel to monitor a system and pointed out need for smoke detection in nursing homes saying that more people are suffocated than are burned in fires. Corliss suggested that any modif] cation be postponed until centralization be implemented if such direct- ion is innninent. Laws moved that staff be requested to present reason- able alternative to best deal with this problem. Chief Hays asked tha: an ordinance be drawn to outlaw use of pre-dialing type of alarm unless it could be hooked up to an unlisted number thereby by-passing the direct line into the Police Department. Laws clarified his motion by asking that City Attorney Salter bring ordinance dealing with annual fire alarm fees.. and actutual cost to the City and that spaces be left 2/17/76 Page 3 Regula "%eeting Ashland City Council 2/17176 Pg.~ Central Fire Alarm cont. blank if necessary. McDowell seconded. Prickett asked City Attorney Salter for the definition of a false alarm to which Salter answered "no reasonable basis for submitting the alarm." On roll call, all YES. Comprehensive Plan Planner Mawson reported he sent a letter to LCDC about February 6th ~requesting a time extension on completion of the Comprehensive Plan. Mayor Prickett questioned Mawson on costs of plan and length of time two planners will be needed on staff. Mawson said he assumed two planners will be required until September, 1976. Discussion followed on LCDC's requiremants. The Mayor expressed concern over requirements by state with no clear answers from them as to participation in costs, and asked Mawson to bring costs of the plan to the study session on February 24th. Beau Club Transfer Recorder Butler presented application for transfer of liquor license for Beau Club, 347 E. Main, from Howard Dreiszus to Robert L. Dreiszus. Chief Hays recommended approval. Hoffarth so moved; McDowe!l seconded and on roll call, all YES.. Appointment' of Committees Ordinance First reading of anordinance amending Ordinance No. 1845 was read by City Administrator Almquist. McCannon moved to second reading; seconde by Laws and passed unanimously on roll call vote. Street Imp. Dist. #42 City Administrator Almquist gave second reading by title only of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of city improvement bonds in the matter of construction of paving in what has been designated as Street Improvement District No. 42. Hoffarth moved for adoption; seconded by Laws and passed unanimously on roll call vote. Savings Acct. Depository Resolution - Equitable City Administrator Almquist read -esolution designating savings account depository, and City Officers a~'~orized to withdraw money therefrom - Equitable Savings & Loan Association. McCannon moved to adopt; second by Hoffarth and passed unanimously on roll call vote. Savings Acct. Depository Resolution - JCF City Administrator Almquist read a resolution designating a savings account depository at Jackson County Federal Savings & Loan and giving authority to City Officers to withdraw money therefrom. McDowell moved for adoption; second by Ragland and passed unanimously on roll call vot Mountain Ranch Agreement City Attorney Salter reported that work needs to be done on the agree- ment drawn up with Oredson on the Mountain Ranch Subdivision because there is no legal description covering Ranch Road and that future property owners would not be liable for assessments for improvements. McCannon moved to table until correction is made; seconded by Laws and passed unanimously on roll call vote. Departmental Reports McDowell moved to accept departmental reports for the month of January; seconded by Laws and on roll call, a ~S. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 10 00 p e or Mayor