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Home My WebLink About1976-0302 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL March 2, 1976 ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES MINUTES OF BOARDS, COM- MISSIONS & COMMITTEES PUBLIC FORUM ATTORNEY FEES FAUS Projects & Light- ing Recommendation After leading the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Prickerr called the meeting to order on the above date at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers. Present were Councilmembers Allen, McCannon, H0ffarth and Laws. Ragland and McDowell arrived a few moments late. McCannon moved to approve minutes for the regular meeting of Feb. 17, 197 Hoffarth seconded and on voice vote, all YES. Allen moved to accept minutes of Boards, Conmissions and Committees; second by McCannon and passed unanimously on voice vote. Richard Cottle, attorney representing Duane Smith distributed a plat show ing the alley dividing the property owned by Smith and requested that Council consider initiation of alley vacation by the City to save time an explained that the alley is not being used and abutts Safeway parking lot Cottle said that owner (Smith) would pay for publishing of notification and posting and that the Planning Commission is aware of plans for prop- erty necessitating vacation. McCannon moved that item be placed on agenda for action; Allen seconded and motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. McCannon moved that public hearing be called on date deemed appropriate by Staff. Laws asked that fee be paid by owner and that prop erty owners be notified by Smith by registered mail; McCannon added rec- ommendation by Laws to motion. Allen seconded and on roll call, all YES. A letter from Donald M. Pinnock, Attorney, was read by Mayor Prickett relative to compensation for court appointed attorneys urging that the fees be raised to equal or exceed the fees set for District Court. Hoff- arth a~ked City Attorney Salter to approximate how many instances for such ,aty that each attorney is called. Salter said calls are infrequent and tl.~t they are rotated. McDowell suggested that Budget Committee be asked to consider rate schedule. Mayor urged some decision be made that would conclude the problem. Hoffarth moved that request be denied; Rag- land seconded and on roll call, Hoffarth, Allen, Laws and Ragland voted YES: McCannon and McDowell voted against the motion to deny. Carried. A memorandum from Director of Public Works Alsing relative to FAUS prior~ ties was read by Mayor Prickett who invited spokesman from the audience i signal recommendation to speak. Dave Vilarino of 285 Palm Avenue gave statistics on accidents at Siskiyou Boulevard and Mountain Avenue, repor ed a petition signed by some 539 persons of the surrounding area, academz community of SOSC, Ashland High School and Lincoln School recommending that signal light installation at instersection of Siskiyou B!vd. and Mountain Avenue be implemented and that the State Board of Higher Educa- tion will pay up to $2,750 toward the cost of the project to help make up the City's share in the effort. Letters of support were also distrib ted. Cleatis Mitchell, State Representative, said that he had made contacts with various agencies and got some commitments and urged City to match with 5½% funding as recommended by the Traffic Safety Commission and college representatives. Mayor Prickerr asked Mitchell why the State Re~ular~Ieeting Ashland City Council 3/2/76 P. age Signal Light Sisktyou & Mr. Ave co~lt . FAUS Priorities pulled out of its responsibilit~ of funding the total amount for the lighting especially in view of the obvious need. Mitchell explained that the light was Priority #12 and that the State was out of money and that it would be some time before the project would gaim in priority and noted that the City had not spent all of its funds as derived for FAUS projects. Prickerr expressed resentment that State woul strongly recommend that City would sponsor funding in an effort the State had chosen to opt out of. Hoffarth said that 5~% + 78% of FAUS funding might be spent in other areas so that actual cost to the City exceeds the 5½%, and reiterated the State's responsibility in the project. Hoff- arth presented a memorandum from the Traffic Committee dated 1969 in whic it reported that SOC had agreed to pay in full the cost of the signal light at Siskiyou & Mountain and said that perhaps the City should take the petition of 500 signatures to Salem. On Laws question as to when the State might fund the project, Mitchell said not in this biennium. Laws asked Director of Public Works Alsing if all of the $60,000 balance of FAUS funds could be used before July 1, 1976 so they aren't lost and Alsing said he believed they could and noted that the funds must be committed to a project and not actually spent. Alsing added that it would depend on how long it would take to g~t signatures for assessments on paving jobs etc. Holly Swanson said that it didn't seem to be the full responsibility of the State to maintain the Boulevard as it is also ~ City street. The long proposed perimeter road was discussed and it was concluded that it would not materialize because of opposition of a prop- erty owner who would not grant permission for a right of way° McDowe!! felt that the previous Council who granted the vacation of Palm Avenue acted in haste. Council agreed that once the Palm Avenue vacation took place, the College's immediate solution to the traffic problem on campus was met. Prickerr recommended that project be funded up to 5~% and that all avenues of funding be pursued. McCannon so moved; Allen seconded. Laws recommended that the student s Ld young adults on Stop Light Committe continue to pressure the State Boa:d of Higher Education and the Highway Department to assist in funding. Ragland reminded Council that if projet is taken on by the City, that the memorandum of 1969 saying the college would fund the project will lose its impetus. The Mayor said that he hopes if it is a bona fide commitment, the College will honor it. On roll call, Allen, McCannon, Laws and McDowell voted in favor of the pro- Ject. Ragland voted NO and Hoffarth voted in opposition also saying tha~ he is not against th~ signal light but the method of funding. Motion to implement carried. Alsing asked Council for list of priorities based on memorandum submitted for balance of FAUS funding of $213,000. (Attachment "A") Allen .felt th Mountain'Avenue project should be a lower priority unless it is a maint- enance problem. Hoffarth recommended that we set match per front foot to property owner and the Mayor said we had approved the concept of $10.00 per foot. Hoffarth moved that Director of Public Works contact property owners along project items 1, 3, 4 & 5 to explore interest in formation of assessment district for improvements. Discussion ensued and Hoffarth agreed to amend his motion to include items 1, 3 & 5 and asked Alsing to come up with costs of #7; McDowell seconded and on roll call, motion passed unanimously. 3/2/76 Pg. 2 Undergrounding Utilities ~ndergrounding Utilities Human Resources Report City Administrator Almquist read a memorandum from the Planning Commission relative to undergrounding the existing utility lines for a dental .office to be constructed at 1129 Iowa Street and asked that the matter be deferred until the next meeting when the applicant will be present. Hoffarth so moved; second by Allen and passed unanimous~ by voice vote. City Administrator Almquist read a memorandum from the Planning Commission relative to undergrounding the existing utility lines for a dental office to be constructe~ at 1129 Iowa Street and asked that matter be deferred until next meeting for a planning representa- tive could be present. Hoffarth so moved; second by Allen and passed unanimous on voice vote. Councilman Laws reviewed reconmendations by Human Resources Implement ation Committee and said that applications for funding would have to be submitted to County by next week. Laws requested consideration by Council of combining the services of the Senior Center and establish- ing an Information & Referral Center to be headed by a Human Resource Director and hopefully to be housed in a downtown office. Laws said that if it was decided not to participate in the proposed program and the funding was not wanted, it could be refused at a later time. Laws said that the Multi-service approach would maximize services. Mayor Prickett said he felt the matter should be decided by the Bud- get Committee. Laws said that the priorities could be set at 1) Senior Citizens program and 2) Information & Referral Services. Allen moved to table saying that he can't see reason for doubling the budget in one year and that as a member of the original committee that he had concern that Human Resources would multiply its needs and that this was not the original intent of that committee. On roll call Allen and Hoffarth voted YES. McCannon, McDowell, Laws and Ragland voted NO. Motion to table failed. Atlen said it is qot the 'City's responsibility create Jobs for the directors of the programs. McCannon disagreed saying that it should be funded, by Revenue Sharing monies. Allen said he would agree with McCannon if we could afford every program. McDowell said when the programs were started their needs were not fully explored but since that time the needs have been proven to exist and feels it is the responsibility of the City to provide a share of the costs. Allen reminded Council that the original intent of the City was to get the program started until different agencies could Join in the effort and in the cost of making services available and that it didn't work out that way. McDowell said that since we will not be having services here that we should be willing to assist in making agencies not represented here available to those in need. On Hoffarth's question as to why we need a paid person to be Human Resources Coordinator, Laws said that 1) a coordinator could be assisted by volunteers, 2) he would be responsible for human resource program development and 3) coordin- ator would supervise and cordinate contacts of the Sr. Center with other agencies. Mayor Prickett said if we start expanding we should be responsible for hiring, firing, evaluating personnel and managing program. Laws moved that Council authorize submission to County and further negotiate with Area on Aging (Page 4 & 5 of budget rec- ommendations, Attachment "B") McDowell seconded. On roll call, Rag- land, McCannon, Laws and McDowell voted YES. Allen & Hoffarth, NO. Meeting Ashland City Council 3/2/v~ Pa Human Resources Cont. Farks & Recreation Request Reimbursement Unemployment funds Monthly Financial Commentary Mo'nthly Financial Commentary Parks & Recreation Comm. Tr ~ffic Safety Commission Patrol Car Bid Three-phase electric McCannon moved that when presentation is made to the County we make clear that if not enough money is available for both programs, that Senior Center program gets priority; Laws seconded and on roll call, passed unanimously. Request from Parks & Recreation for reimbursement for unemployment insurance paid in connection with f~ood restoration employees in the amount of $754.00 was read by City Administrator Almquist. On McDowell's question as to whether more of such requests could be ex- pected the City Administrator said they would qualify for 26 weeks. Hoffarth moved to authorize Director of Finance Nelson to issue chec~ in the amount of $754.00 to Parks Commission; McDowell seconded and on roll call Hoffarth, Ragland, McCannon, Laws and McDowell voted in favor of the motion. Allen was absent from the room. Motion passed~ The Monthly Financial Commentary was presented - no action necessary, Finance D~rector Nelson said the BOR audit had been delayed another week. Hoffarth recommended that letters of commendation be sent to City departments losing no time for accidents. Mayor Prickett asked City Administrator Almquist to follow through. On Mayor's question as to plans for repayment of debt, Nelson said that progress looks even better than expected for repayment. Councilman Ragland said the Parks Department is exploring building of a baseball diamond with the cooperation of S.O.S.C. The Mayor said he had received a request to call a meeting of the college, County Parks, City and Parks Dept and mentioned that $75,000 or so might be available from County. On Rag- land's comment that Parks Department is supposed to bring plans to Council first, the Mayor said it is still in embryo state. A memorandum from the Traffic Commission was read recommendlr~ that three taxi parking spaces on Oak Street be changed back to ~c ~al parking spaces and that monies budgeted for street painting be increa sed in the 1976-77 budget. Laws so moved and McCannon seconded. On roll call, all YES. Finance Director Nelson reviewed bidon patrol cars explaining that only one bid was available as the second one had arrived late. Laws questined Nelson as to why the patrol cars were not let out for bid instead of trading them in. Nelson explained that such process had been used in the past and had not proved successful. Prickett wondered about the wisdom of receiving only one bid and Nelson state~ that it was unfortunate but that the time and expense of securing bid from outside the area made it impractical to do so. McDowell moved to authorize purchase of vehicles with air conditioning included; Hoffarth seconded and on roll call the motion passed unanimously. A recommendation from the Citizens Budget Committae relative to cons- truction of three-phase electric circuit from the Oak Knoll Substatic was read by City Administrator Almquist who outlined plans for the line. McCannon moved for authority to prceed with construction, seconded by Laws and passed unanimously on roll call vote. 3/2/76 Pg. 4 R_~al~ ' eting Ashland City Council 3/2'-.~a~e · Ordinaf~ce 1845 Second reading by title only.was given by City Administrator Almquist of _an o~dinance amending Ashland Ordinance No. 1845 and amending Sec. 2.04.080 of the Ashland Municipal Code. Laws moved for adoption; second by McDowell and on roll call, all YES. Resolution - Abandoned automobiles (towing) A Resolution regarding charges for tha towing of abandoned vehicles was read by the City Administrator. McCannon moved for adoption; second by McDowell and on roll call, all YES. Cemetery Trust Interfund Loan to Cap. Improvement City Administrator Almquist read a Resolution authorizing interfund loans from the Cemetery Trust to the Capital Improvement Fund in con- Junction with the Watershed Study Project. Ragland moved for adoption seconded by McCannon and on roll call passed unanimously. Adjournment Meeting was adjourned at 9:50 P.M. / oseph M. Butler ~ ~City Recorder Mayor