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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-0805 REG MINMINUTES 0F THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL August S, 197S ROLL CALL: MINUTES: MEISTER ANNEXATION ABANDONED: EASEMENT VACATION: R.VoC.O.G. REPORT: PUBLIC FORUM: Mayor Prickett led the Pledge of Allegiance and called the regular Council meeting to order at ?:30 p.m. on the above date in the Council Chambers. Council members Allen, Hoffartl Laws and McDowelt were present. Ragland arrived at 7:35. McCannon was absent. C~unc ~woman McDowell moved to accept and file the minutes of the regular meeting of July 1Sth, and the adjourned meetings of July 22nd and July 24th. Hoffarth seconded, and motion unanimously approved on voice vote. Laws moved to accept the minutes of the Hospital Board of July 18th. Hoffarth seconded, and motion approved on unanimous voice vote. Administrator Almquist read a letter from Richard Meister in which he said he is abandoning the proposed plans for a trailer park. Almquist also read a memo from Recorder Butler which reported that Meister had ad~anced an annexation fee in the amount of $2,891.40 and an additional $30.24 for retirement of Talent Rural Fire Protection District Bonds, and called attention to an agreement between Meister and the City which provided for fees to be returned if the annexation does not take place. Hoffarth moved to refund the fees; McDowell seconded the motion. Allen asked permission to abstain from voting, which was granted. Hoffarth, Laws and McDowell voted in the affirmative on roll call vote. A letter from Irving and Cynthia Lord was presented in which they requested that an easement for underground drainage on their land on Glenwood Drive be vacated. P.W. Director Alsing said the easement was no longer needed since the installation of storm sewers and paving on Glenwood Drive. Laws moved to grant the request and that the City Attorney prepare any ne- cessary documents and that the Mayor and Recorder be authori- zed to execute same. McDowell seconded, and, on roll call vote, passed unanimously (including Ragland, who arrived at the beginning of discussion on matter). A report from the Rogue Valley Council of Governments was presented in which priority ratings were given by the RVCOG Water Quality Task Force. The report indicated a rating of first priority for Ashland's watershed study. No action was required on the subject. Cynthia Lord, 710 N. Mountain, asked why the watershed study is so expensive and why aren't the existing reports satis- factory? Mayor Prickett said the existing reports are adequate so far as he is concerned, but that D.E.Q. has made rules as to things we can and cannot do, and if we do not comply, we must give data satisfactory to D.EoQ. He said we recognize the need to purchase a dredge, but until D.E.Q. gives us authority to use it, we are hesitant to buy one. In August 5, 197S PUBLIC FORU]vl (cont inued) HISTORIC COMMISSION STUDY SESSION: WALKER AVE. PAVING: LARKIN LANE: RECORDER'S SALARY: ZONE CHANGE: PAVING CUT: answer to Mrs. Lord's suggestion that this is a Forest Service problem, the Mayor agreed and said they had been asked to pay for the survey, but said they did not have the funds. Ragland said we had also appealed to our congres- sional representatives, and they reiterated what the Forest Service answered, and suggested that we seek asistamce through federal grants. Ragland asked for a study session on August 12th with the Historic Commission. Mayor Prickett scheduled the meeting for 7:30 p.m. on August 12th. Atsing submitted a report on the survey of property owners affected by proposed xmprovement of Walker Avenue from Hiawatha Place to Peachy Rd. He reported a total cost of $8,926 with the County to pay $2,437, the abutting property owners within the City to pay at the rate of $7.33 per foot or a total of $1,998, the abutting property outside the City to be assessed at $3,383 but charges deferred until annexed, and the properties in Timberline Subdivision to be assessed $17.87 p~rlot for a total of $1,108. These estimates were made on the basis of curb and gutter being installed only on the West side of the street. Hoffarth suggested that the installation of curb and gutter on the East side of the street be made a condition of annexation. (A resolution for a public hearing on the matter appears later on the agenda). A report from the Planning Commission to approve the naming of Larkin Lane was presented, but action deferred to a resolution later on agenda. Almquist presented a memo relative to the Recorder's salary, guoting the Charter on salary adjustments to be in the same percentage as the average adjustments of other supervisory employees. He reported the current salary of $1,158 per month, and that the average adjustment for supervisory employees for 1975-76 was an increase of 9.68 per cent, and that the Recorder's salary should be adjusted to $1,270 per month. Laws moved to authorize the adjustment; Ragland seconded, and motion passed on unanimous roll call vote. A memo and staff report from the Planning Commission for zone change on Strawberry Lane was presented. A public hearing was set for 7:30 p.m. on August 19, 1975. Alsing presented a memo requesting permission to cut into new paving on Granite Street and Taylor Street, but found that the cut required on Granite Street is in the old block of paving and did not need a request. He said a minor land partition was granted after Taylor Street was paved, and water and sewer connections are now being requested. Laws moved to grant permission to cut the street. Hoffarth se- conded. Mayor Prickett commented on the detrimental effects to paving in cutting through the streets, to which Ragland said he supports the 5-year moratorium on street cuts. Laws agreed, but felt changes in ownership created circumstances that may require permission to make connections. Hoffarth said he also agrees with the principle of saving the quality 2 August 5, 1975 PAVING CUT: (continued) COUNCIL COMMITTEE: BUSINESS LICENSES: POLICE RECLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC UTILITY USERS TAX: of our streets, but feels we need to develop areas within the City rather than annex more land. Allen agreed with Hoffarth, and said our ordinance on street excavation has helped to save the streets, but occasional exceptions are necessary. McDowell suggested Planning Commission should consider date of paving when analyzing land partitions. On question from the Mayor, Alsing said he did not know if prior owner, who had notice of paving and S-year moratorium, or new owner requested the cut. Laws moved to table request for more information. McDowell seconded, and motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. Mayor Prickett said he suggests a five-man standing committee to evaluate current administrative structure and its effi- ciency and relationship to economics. McDowell moved to establish the committee. Hoffarth seconded, and motion passed on unanimous roll call vote. Mayor Prickett then appointed Craig Hoffarth to represent the Council, Police Chief Hays to represent department heads, Dr. James Sours of S.O.S.C., Mayor Prickett, and said he would name another man from the business community as soon as he had acceptance from the man, and also named Administrator Almquist and Labor Negotiator John Bodilly as ex-officio members. Almquist asked for Council approval to "invite" banks and insurance companies to participate in our business licenses. Allen moved that the Administrator write to the businesses to invite their participation, seconded by Laws. Hoffarth asked if it is legal for us to do so because of exemptions granted to banks and insurance companies by state law. City attorney Salter said it is legal to ask for their voluntary participation. On roll call vote, motion passed with Allen, Hoffarth, Ragland and Laws voting YES and McDowell voting NO. Police Chief Hays asked to reclassify Police Clerk Kay Leybol. to position of Police Matron in order to allow more flexi- bility in rotating shifts. Almquist asked fer budgetary classification of three Police Clerk-Matrons and three Police Clerks. Hoffarth moved to grant the request. Secondel by Ragland, and motion passed on unanimous roll call vote. Almquist and Nelson presented letter from I.R.S. and Dept. of Treasury indicating that a utility users tax is not a tax deductible item, and discussed the effect on allocation of Revenue Sharing if a utility users tax is adopted. The Mayor said Nelson is writing to Wheeling, West Virginia, to see how they have handled similar taxation, and Almquist also planning to contact Senator Packwood regarding the allocation of revenue sharing to cities that profit from utilities. Mayer Prickett asked that a carbon of the letter be sent to all Oregon cities in similar situations and ask their support in a united effort to change allocations. Ragland moved to authorize said letter. McDowell seconded, and motion passed on unanimous roll call vote. 3 August 5, 1975 RESOLUTION, P.H. on PAVING: RESOLUTION, LARKIN LANE: RESOLUTION, WORK PERIOD FIRE DEPARTMENT: RESOLUTION WORK PERIOD POLICE DEPARTMENT: SWIM LEASE: ASPHALT USE: Almquist read a resolution setting a public hearing for August 19th on proposed paving of Walker Avenue from Hiawatha Place to Peachy Rd. McDowell moved for adoption of the resolution. Laws seconded and motion passed on roll-call vote with unanimous YES. Almquist read a resolution designating the extension of Holly St. west from Beach St. as Larkin Lane. McDowell moved to adopt the resolution. Seconded by Ragland and passed on unanimous roll call vote. Almquist read a resolution declaring a work period to be used for purposes of computing overtime for employees en- gaged in Fire protection activities. Hoffarth moved to adopt the resolution. McDowell seconded. Motion passed on unanimous roll call vote. Almquist read a resolution declaring a work period to be used for purposes of computing overtime for employees en- gaged in law enforcement activities. McDowell moved for adoption; Hoffarth seconded. Motion passed on unanimous roll call vote. A lease agreement with S.O.S.C. for summer use of the college swim pool as negotiated by the Parks and Recreation Depart- ment was presented by Almquist. McDowell moved that the Mayor and Recorder be authorized to sign the lease. Laws seconded, and motion passed with unanimous YES on roll call vote. Mayor Prickett asked that the Public Works Director bring suggestions to the next meeting for economically feasible ways to use hot asphalt left over from paving jobs. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. cd - 4 - August 5, 1975