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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-0619 REG MINMINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL June 19, 1973 AdTING RECORDER ROLL CALL APPROVAL of MINUTES DEPARTMENTAl, REPORTS COB~UNICATIONS Parks & Recreation Loading'Zone Request Color Center PUBLIC FORUM Sanitary Service Discounts Bluebird Park Fence Amigo Celebration Curb Painting Kiwanis Club Centennial Committee SOC Council Rep. In the absence of the City Recorder, who is on vacation, Mayor Fries appointed Robert D. Nelson as Acting Recorder. The regular meeting was called to order by Mayor Fries on the above date at 7:30 p.m. Allen, Conkljn, McCannon, Prickett, Roble and Soderberg were present. Prickett moved that minutes for the regular meeting of June 5, 1973 be approved and placed on file. On roll call vote, passed unanimously. Roble moved to approve departmental reports and place them on file. On roll call, motion passed unanimously. Mayor Fries read letter from Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission inviting the Council to meet jointly with the Parks & Recreation Commission and Planning Commision to discuss open space land acquisition on June 21 at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. City Administrator Almquist read letter from Julia Beam and and Dorothy Huntley, owners of Color Center requesting loading or IS minute zone at 353 E. Main Street. Roble ~]oved to establish 15 minute zone. On roll call motion passed unanimously. No one spoke from the audience. McCannon announced that Mr. & Mrs. Wenker of Ashland Sanit~y Service have offered the same discount for sanitary service to senior citizens as the city allows for utilities. McCannon mentioned that consideration had been given to offer the opportunity to defer assessments to all Senior Citizens who want to take advantage of it. Roblc moved that ordinance be prepared to present at the next meeting to consider acceptance of McCannon's proposal. On roll call, passed unanimously. Roble col~m~ented on the fencing of Bluebird Park and dir- ected City Administrator Almquist to thank all those people who under direction of Planning Commission Chairman Ragland. were responsible for construction of safe and attractive fence. Council concurred. Mayor Fries announced that there would be a Mexican celebra- tion on Guanajuato Way on July 2, !973 during the day. The Mayor went on to say that the Mexican Nationals would provide strolling musicians and that they would be needing a microphone for the festivities. Prickett moved to grant request. On voice vote, motion passed unanimously. Mayor presented letter from K4wanis Club requesting per- mission to paint house numbers on the curbs for the City of Ashland during the summer as part of their youth service assistance program. Roble moved that permission be granted. On roll call, all YES. Soderberg, Chairman of the Centennial Committee announced names of three proposed members of her committee; Vita Car- ter, Rose Robinotto and Kathy Hcring. Roble moved that names presented be accepted. Ou roll call vote, all YES. Mayor Fries said that it was decided that students would be encouragcd to attend Council meet]ngs with no offic]al status designated and that lines of commnnication be ]cept open. No action necessary on matter. egular Meeting PUBLIC HEARING Sign Ordinance Ashland City Council Page 2 _ Public llearing was opened relative to proposed rcclass- ification of land located on the north side of Ilighway 66, east of I-5 freeway, from Count), C-1 and R-F to City of Ashland C-I, John Valentine, Applicant. Richard Cottle, attorney representing Mr. Valentine submitted a Staff Report, Planning Commission Resolution PC-73-03 and certain information which is being made part of the record. Troy Reynolds of 820 Elkader spoke as a businessman, Rotarian and volunteer "Redcoat" for the Shakespearean Theatre and stated that Ashland has need for a Convention Center with accommodations to serve some five hundred people many of which come from all over the country to attend plays. tle said that with enough rooms available in town that clubs like the Rotary could havo conventions and that tourists account for some 50% of the business dm)e in Ashland. Dick Calkins, President of the Chamber of Commerce who resides at 103S Timberline said that laost of the inquiries h~d been from people for conventions.. "Ohm business we. fee] willhelp Ashland economy is the proposal that John Valen- tine has",Calkins said. Mr. Bob Voris of 633 Iowa spoke in favor of the proposal. Voris said the project proposed is excellent and lie can see a definite need for accommodating groups of up to five or six hundred people involved in functions at the College. Tom Kennedy of Singmaster Insurance Agency spoke out in favor of motel complex for many reasons particularly that it would serve the need for a place to have many insurance seminars which are usually held in Eugene or Medford. In functions at the college such as tournaments etc., a place Call often be made for students to stay but there has been a need for adults attending. Don Kiernan said that Ashland loses business by having people enjoy Ashland and then end up in Medford for a place to stay. He also cited statistics from the Highway Department Information Center indicating that there had been an increase in inquiries as to available motels and restaurants in Ashland. Mayor Fries read a letter from Oregon Shakespearean Festival Association roques~ing that favorable consider- ation be given an individual or group planning to develop a truly first class motel of major size featuring dining and convention facilities for up to SO0 persons. Cottie read a letter from Gary Scott, Director of the Jackson County Planning Department citing the proposed use of the land as being compatible with the new County Zoning Ordin- ance and requested that it be made part of the record. Soderberg moved that zone change be approved as applied for by Valentine through his attorney Richard Cottie. On roll call vote, motion passed unanimously. City Adminis- trator Almquist submitted Findings of Fact and Determin- ation with supportive data for Council approval. Roble moved that Findings be adopted. On roll call passed unan- imously. 5~f ~/~/~ ~ ~r2-~ ' Public hearing was opened relative to proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance regulating signs. Conklin moved that audience be heard before Council discussion. On voic,e vote, passed unanimously. Bob Voris of 633 Ioh'a represent- ed a group to be known as Ashland Business Council and sub- mitted a request outlining four major changes in the pro- posed sign ordinance alonp. with a petition signed by one hundred six (]06) people. The recommendations included a Grandfather Clause, No Control. Inside Premises, No Color, Graphi.cs or Type Control and Home Clccupation Signs Be Allo~'ed. 'ular~Meeting Ashland City Council Page 3 Site Review Ordinance Class B Liquor License Application (R.W.Voris) ORDINANCES Bicycl~ Ordinance Assessmeut Liens An]lexation Fees Fred Taylor of 1193 Siskiyou Boulevard representing Motel & Restaurant Association spoke in opposition of the pro- posed ordinance and resented the fact that the association had not been asked to be consulted in the drawing up of such an ordinance. ~Irs. Jessie Fitch spoke in support of sign controls as presented in proposal and cited how in La Jolla, California such controls had brought order out of chaos and had enhanced property values. Mrs. Betty Bamforth of Bard's Inn opposed the measure and said that signing is important ~vhere tourists are looking for recommended Western Motels and suggested that duo to lack of signs as they now exist could well cause Ashland to lose 50% of it's tourist trade should snch controls be put into effect. Guy Edmonds of 725 Terra, Manager of the Colony inn Apartments spoke in favor by saying two small signs are adequate for his business and feels no need for giant signs and flashing lights. Conklin moved that City Attorney Satter research constitutionality based on recent judicial decisions relative to amortization and that study session be held at which time the issue could be gone into in depth. On roll call, all YES. Study session set for July 24, 1973 at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor and'interested parties invited to attend but no comments will be heard from the audience at that time. Public Hearing was opened relative to proposed amendment to Zoning Ordinance establishing a site review process. City Administrator Almquist read letters of support from Mrs. Marjorie Hipp, Dr. Marjan Manly, Mrs. Louise Antz and a letter supporting the ordinance with the signatures of thirteen citizens. Cathy Newcomb, speaking on behalf of the League of Women Voters outlined benefits of the pro- posed amendment. Bob Voris of 633 Iowa spoke in opposition stating that cost of plans are prohibitive and without more guidelines that modification of plans would become too ex- pensive. Stanford Dew of 282 Scenic said he feels that the ordinance needs flexibility to make it work. Allen moved to reject ordinance. On roll call, Conklin, Allen, Roble and Prickett 'voted for motion to reject; Soderberg and McCannon opposed. Prickett moved to schedule meeting with Planning Commission to study site design propos~i. Motion carried unanimously.. Mayor Fries directed City Administrator Almquist to arrange meeting with the Plan- ning Commission. Mayor Fries presented application from Robert W. Voris for Class B License for proposed restaurant to be situated at 2520 Highway 66. Chief }lays advised that there was no apparent basis to reject applicatioD. Roble moved for approval. On roll call vote, motion passed unanimously. Roble moved that bicycle ordinance to repeal Ordinance No. 997 be rejected and study session be set to draw up new ordinance. On roll call, all YES. Study session set for June 29, 1973 at 7:30 p.m. City Administrator Almquist gave second reading by title only of an ordinance authorizing and directing that liens be a.ssessed against real property described lierein at the rate of one-half cent (1/2¢) per square foot for the cost of installing trunkline sanitary sewers in accordance ~'ith Ordinance No. 1201 and at the rate of one-ball (1/2) cent per square foot for fire and police protection inl acco~-d- ancc v~'ith Ordinance No. 1342, and declarinS; an emergeucy. Conklin moved thai ordinance be adopted. On roll call, motion passed unanimously. City Administrator A~mquist gave second reading by title only of an ordinance prescrH~in,~l annexation fees for land annexed to the City of Ashlaud, fo]lowin?~ the date of this ordinance; limiting the application of Ordinance No.~, 1201 Regular Mecting Ashland City Council Page 4 Ordinances Cent. Annexation Fees Budget Adoption Adjournment and 1342, and declaring an emergency. Conklin moved for adoption. All YES on roll call vote. City Administrator Almquist gave second reading of an ordinance adopting the annual budget. McCannon moved for adoption. On roll call, motion passed unanimously. Roble moved for adjournment. On voice vote motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 9:26 p.m. Robert D. Nelson Acting City Recorder Archie C. Fries ~ayor ~h