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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-0221 ADJOURNEDMINUTES FOR THE ADJOURNED MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL Pebruary 21, 1974 ROLL CALL Canvass of Vote and Resolution Proclamation by Mayor Public Hearing Resolution Supplemental Bud. Resolution General Oblig- ation Bonds The adjourned meeting was called to order by Mayor Fries at 7:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers on the above date. Allen, Prickerr, Roble, McCannon and Conklin were present. Soderberg was absent. Councilmen were furnished with an:Abstract of Votes of the Special Election of February 19, 1974, which showed 851 votes were cast in favor of authorizing the issuance .of Flood Damage Restoration Bonds and 574 votes in opposition. City Administrator Almquist read Resolution No. 74-8 declaring the canvass of the vote at the Special Election held in and for the City of Ashland, Oregon, February 19, 1974. d Roble moved for adoption, seconded by Conklin an passed unanimously on roll call vote. Mayor Frles read a Proclamation relative to the passage of the measure for the Charter Amendment. Public Hearing was opened relative to the adoption of a supplemental budget for FY1973-74, establishing a Flood Damage Restoration Fund. Finance Director Nelson read the supplemen- tal budget figures and explained the need for separate accounting of funds for state and federal requirements and would like to have Council establish priorities and to listen to the opinions of interested parties in the audience. On question from Prickerr, Nelson indicated the figures were compiled on January 22nd, one week after the flood began (see attachment to Minutes of 3anuary 29, 1974) and that estimates were currently being refined. Almqui~t said that first estimates were a little high - water hauling estimated at $86,000 came to about $69,000. The five bridges estimated at $30,000 each may be somewhat less if parts of the structures can be salvaged. City Administrator Almquist stressed the requirement 3f keeping Disaster Relief funds in a separate fund, and that the fund will be audited and that the Council will need to approve projects. Reimburse- ment to the City by the federal government for equipment rental will be based on a federal schedule of rates. Cliff Moran, 1065 Siskiyou, spoke from the audience and asked about the $294,300 in flood damage estimates. Finance Director Nelson explained that estimates were taken shortly after the flood where there were unseen damages, outside engineering and inspection on major projects and other related costs. Moran asked what the interest cost on these bonds would be and also what it will cost per $1,000 to the taxpayer. City Administrator Almquist said both of those items would be covered later in the evening. On question from Prickett, Nelson said there will be some unexpended balances in some funds on June 30th. Prickerr asked for accountability of the funds. The public hearing was close& City Administrator Almquist read the Resolution adopting the supplemental budget, making appropriations and increasing revenues. McCannon moved for adoption. Conklin seconded. On roll call, passed unanimously. Nelson reported that in excess of $119,000 had already been spent on flood damage repair, excluding city payroll and park items. City Administrator Almquist reported he had received the Damage Survey Report from the Corps of Engineers on the road to the reservoir and the dredging of the reservoir, which indicated estimated costs of $399,544 including the dredging work contract but not purchase of a dredge. He said this work should be completed in the next ninety days in order to fill the reservoir for the summer. Due to the emergency nature of the project, the federal people suggest we do not use the time required for formal bid procedures. Conklin questioned the lack of bidding and hoped we could save the federal government and ourselves some money by exploring every avenue of dredging and restoration. Almquist said it will take two or three months before we will receive any federal funds. He said numer- ous other federal and state agency reports are now in the formative stages. Almqulst said the federal government will reimburse us for the amount of a dredging job, including mov- ing costs of the dredge, but if we purchase the dredge, the added cost will be the City's. Mayor Fries reminded the Council that at this time we are only considering authorization to sell bonds and will have the opportunity at a later date - after the proposals are in - to act on the expenditures. Prickerr asked why he had not seen a copy of the Corps report prior to the meeting, and would like more time to analyze the report before acting on a resolution to sell bonds. Almquist explained that in just the past two days Staff determined the only work of an emergency nature., and that the purpose of the meeting was to approve the bond sale. Discussion ensued on the relative merits and probable need for a larger bond issue, rather than more than one bond issue. City Attorney Salter commented that we must sign an arbitrage certificate in which we need to certify how 95% of the bond issue will be spent, and therefore questioned a larger issue at this time. ~ourn: -eting Ashland City Council g 2 Gen. Obligation Bonds cont. Hospital.Board Luncheon Meet Adjournment Nelson explained a proposed time schedule of bond redemption, and said at six per cent, the tax levy will be about 4S cents per thousand of true cash value. Salter said he had proposed a callable date of four years after issuance, on the assumption that we would receive the last of our assistance funding in about four years, but that a later call date would probably get a better interest rate. Mayor Fries felt we would keep faith by using a four year time period if that is when we can reasonably expect final assist- ance. Nelson pointed out that we do not have to. levy a tax if we can meet principal and interest payments on the bonds without a tax levy. City Administrator Almqulst read Resolution No. 74-10 relating to the issuance of City of Ashland General Obligation Flood Damage Restoration Bonds in the amount of $400,000; providing for the form of said bonds and maturities thereof; and directing publication of a call for bids thereon. Conklin moved for adoption, seconded by McCannon. Passed unanimously by a roll call vote. Mayor Fries announced the Hospital Board had invited Council to attend a luncheon meet- ing at the hospital on Tuesday, February 26, 1974, at noon. The meeting was adjourned at 8:47 p.m. Mayor