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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-0625 ADJOURNEDINVOCATION ROLL CALL BUDGET HEARING MINUTES OF ADJOURNED MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL June 25, 1974 Ray. Roy Kooshian of the First Baptist Church gave the invocation which was followed by the pledge of allegi'ance. The adjourned meeting 'was called to order at 7:38 p.m. on the above date in the Council Chambers of City Hallby Mayor Fries- All council members were present. Mayor Fries opened the public hearing relative to the adop- tion of the budget-for 1974-75 as recommended by the Citizen Budget Committee. Helen Wilson, 1120 Fern Street, spoke in favor of funding a multi-service center, and expressed the thought that since so many people cannot afford to drive, some of the money designated for streets should be instead allocated to the center. Morton Newman, 123 Central Avenue, also pleaded for the funding of a multi-service center for Children's Services Div., Food Stamp Services, Employment Agency, Public Health, Social Security and other public agencies, and also sug- gested the use of street resurfacing monies to fund same. Dick McDaniel, 277 Almond Street, suggested a reallocation of funds for the center, and suggested the center could fall in the domain of the Planning Department. Bruce Smith of Jackson County Legal Services added his plea for the multi-service center, saying his agency has been · seeking office space in AshIand since 1972. Joan Eggers, 221 Granite Street, said she works on the Loaves and Fishes program, and thus meets many elderly who do not have transportation to agency offices. She pre- sented a petition in favor of using Revenue Sharing funds to support a multi-service center in Ashland ~hich bore 152 signatures, and also read a letter from Janet Mayo, Director of Ashland Senior Center, in support of the center concept. Mayor Fries directed her to file the.documents with the Recorder. Paula Cracas read a statement from the Ashland Community Food Store in support of funding a multi-service center. Paul Salerskie, S6Z Fairview, added his support to previous pleas for center funding. Councilman Roble said he, McCannon and Soderberg had sup- ported the multi-center concept through the budget meetings, but that it was a majority opinion that in the year of tight finances, money could not be appropriated to it, but he moved that a committee be appointed to investigate the inception of a multi-service center if and when a rate increase is proved in the fall. Prickerr seconded, but said the budget committee had asked Parks Director McGuire to meet with Norman Wyers regarding the possible use of the park build-- ing for some of the services suggested. McGuire said he had not yet been able to reach Wyers, but felt that such a solution was possible. Soderberg said at COG meeting on June-24, Larry Chapman re- ported that the Department of Welfare has budgeted money for an office in Ashland in September. On question from Mayor Fries, Chapman felt Welfare would not be adverse to sharing costs in a multi-service center. Adjourned Meeting Ashland City Council 6/25/74' '-Page2 Prickerr said he supported the idea of the proposed committee, but questioned who the official representative is for a multi- service center. McCannon questioned the ability of Parks. Department to add many agencies to the Senior Forum, to which McGuire said that at times there tends to be some friction over the sharing of facilities. Conklin asked that the com- mittee also contact Public Welfare regarding their plans. Roble said the intent of his motion was that the committee act on a downtown location. On roll call vote, motion passed unanimously. Mayor Fries appointed Allen to chair the committee, with McCannon, Conklin and Roble to also serve on it. Mayor Fries told the audience that the Council is lending its moral support and will not drop the ideas advanced. Joan Egger asked if the Council is willing to make budget- ary changes, to which Prickerr answered that the budget can be changed, but that this concept was discussed in public budget meetings on several occasions, as were many other financial items, some of which he would also like to see changed. Dick McDaniel asked if the proposed budget included a rate increase, and was told by the Mayor that it did not, and that at the present time we are only speculating that Pacific Power ~ Light will be granted an increase, and if so, it would be prudent for us to also increase rates. On question from McDaniel regarding our contract with Pacific Power ~ Light, Prickerr said the present contract has about eight years remaining, but with graduated increases, and added that the Council has not yet voted to seek a rate increase. McDaniel suggested that if rates are raised, the increase be treated as a tax, which Soderberg said we are investigating. The public hearing was clOsed,.and Budget Officer Nelson went through the budget as approved by the Citizens Budget Committee, and called attention to items that were changed by the Budget Committee. Conklin asked if the Parks Department was current in paying its utility bill, to which Nelson replied that the resolution for interfund loan to be considered later in the meeting would enable the Park to bring their utility payments up to April, and were proposing that in the next two years they would pay 13 months of utility bills each year, thus becoming current at the end of two years. Prickett questioned the use of Park employees on the down- town project while we hire temporary help for flood rest- oration. Almquist said it is the Park maintenance that is suffering from this transfer of manpower, but that it only amounted to a few days' time. Conklin questioned the use of band money, and suggested part of their funds could be used for band shell restoration, but Fries and Prickerr felt the charter prohibited the use of band funds for anything but band operation. Roble moved that the ordinance adopting the budget be read. Conklin seconded. On roll call, Soderbert, Roble, McCannon and Conklin voted YES, Prickett and Al~en NO. ZONB CHANGE - OREDSON INTERFUND LOAN ADJOURNMENT Mayor Fries read the title of an ordinance amending Zoning Ordinance relative to prezoning the Oredson land to residential, single-family district. Soderberg moved for adoption, seconded by McCannon. Passed on roll call with Soderberg, McCannon, Prickerr and Allen voting YES; Roble and Conklin NO. Nelson presented a resolution which would authorize a loan in the amount of $10,000 to the Parks and Recreation Depart- ment from the Hospital Construction Fund until such time that the $20,000 B.O.R. grant was received by the Parks Department. McCannon moved for adoption, seconded by Allen, and passed unanimously on roll call vote. Prickerr moved to adjourn to 4:00 p.m. Thursday', June 27, and asked that the s. tudy session scheduled for June 27 be rescheduled for July 9. Seconded by McCannon and passed unanimously on roll call vote. Meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Mayer