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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-0504 REG MINMINUTES FOR REGULAR MEETING ASIII,AND CITY COUNCIl. MAY 4, 1971 The regular meeting of the City Council was held in the City Council Chambers, Cffty IIall, on the above date. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Roberrs, as Mayor McKeen was delayed in getting to the meeting. Councilmen present: Conklin, NcCannon, Roberrs, Soderberg and ~Villstatter. Council- man Roble was absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: It was moved by -McCannon, seconded by Soderberg, that the minutes of t}~e April 20, 1971 regular meeting and April 27, 1971 adjourned meeting be accepted and placed on file. Motion carried unanimously. DEPARTMjENTAL REPORTS: None. j STANDING COM,MITTEE REPORTS: a. Finance & Property Committee None b. Public Service Committee None c. Streets & Traffic Committee - None COMMUNICATIONS: Oral from the Audience This was a new agenda classification; Nayor }.IcKeen felt that an opportunity should be available on the agenda for the audi- ence to speak on issues which ~-ere not on the agenda. Dr. Stewart Johnson of the Ashland Economic Development Commis- sion then arose and outlined costs and programs for the coming year and cited some problems in the operation of the Commission. He gave a visual demonstration through charts to aid his presentation, The AEDC was created in 1958 when the City Council and Chamber of Commerce realized mills were declining and the freeway increased competition among small com:nunities for industrial firms. The business comlnunity proposed a bond with the City, forming a business leasing fund to promote the economic development of Ash]and. It proposed to use such funds to develop the economic resources of the City of Ashland for -2- such purposes as extending indnstrial services, direct contact with prosp. ective business to encourage establishment in Ashland, ~ncreasc tourist trade, and encouraging retired and working people to locate in Ashland ..... in short, the pro- motion of Ashland. Among the problems, it was decided that the City of Ashland could not hold property for economic purposes. The fund developed had many requests for funds for various promotional activities for Ashland: ~t helped the college in attracting prospective students, advertising tourist va3ue of Ashland, etc. However, last year financial control was lost by the Commission; therefore, the fund was removed from the AEDC and transferred back to the general fund as of the 1970-71 budget Because of these various things, the Commission initiated a survey to find out what the business taxpayer had in mind. At the same time~ the AEDC started declining non-economic requests made to them. The survey asked how many new jobs should be created. Eighty percent (80%) of those responding said new jobs should be created in Ashland. Seventy-eight percent (78%) felt the AEDC should have some control over its finances. It was also felt that the AEDC should be a part of the Chamber of Commerce. In the opinion of the AEDC, Mr. Johnson said the response clearly justified the program. The needs of the AEDC were enumerated as follows: (1) an adequate financial budget and control over its administration; (2) the authority to acquire land for industrial and commercial sites (not in deed but options) in order to be able to offer them to prospective industrial firms; (3) a positive policy that if there is any ground in the City, or if there is ground located adjacent to the City, that we clearly guarantee to the potential businessman that services (sewer, water, etc.) can be provided to him within a reasonable amount of time; (4) proper zoning to be guaranteed, not tentative; (5) follox~- up on inquiries; (6) City must be responsive to industry; cut down on red tape; have a uniform building code. Dr. Johnson pointed out that in the case of single family dwellings (four to an acre) the cost of City services provided exceeds the revenue received. Commercial and industrial devel- opments are needed to pick up the slack. Multiple family housing does not improve the revenue situation. Gain from industry would be approximately $960 per acre, plus -3- salaries paid to the people, money in Ashland. The AEDC a more solidified connnunity ':bedroom" COmmullity . who in turn, would spend this promised to bring Ashland into and not have it revert to a Dr. Johnson indicated that out of the three hundred question- aires mailed to businesses in Ashland, one hundred fifteen have been returned. Mayor McKeen pledged his support to the AEDC in solving their problems. Roberts mentioned the request by the AEDC to utilize the Regional Development Center at Southern Oregon College. Dr. Johnson said the requested survey had been tabled, and that the intent of tbc request was to utilize the services of the RDC on a piecemeal basis. COM~iUNICATIONS: Written 1. It was moved by Conklin, seconded by Willstatter, that the minutes of the April 12, 1971, Planning Commission meeting be accepted and placed on file. Motion carried unanimously. 2. It was moved by Willstatter, seconded by McCannon, that the minutes of the AEDC meeting of April 14, 1971, be accepted and placed on file. Motion carried unanimously. SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS a. Unfinished Business It was moved by McCannon, seconded by Conklin, that the first meeting of the Budget Committee be set for May 24, 1971, at 2:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. Motion carried unanimously. b. New & Miscellaneous Business 1. 8:00 p.m. Public Hearing A public hearing to consider a proposed change of street name for Peachey Road between Walker and Pinecrest Terrace to Pinecrest Terrace was opened by the Mayor. City Administrator Almquist gave the first reading of the proposed ordinance, as prepared by the City Attorney. This change was previously recommended by the Planning Commis- sion and a petition signed by residents in favor of the name change had been received. It was moved by Willstatter, seconded by McCannon, that the ordinance be passed to second reading. On roll call, carried unanimous ]y. c. Ordinances, Resolutions and Contracts 1. The first reading of an ordinance reclassifying property -4- from R-i:B-8 Residential-Single Fanlily, to R-3:2.4 Residential- Multiple Family (Zone Change No. 025) was read by City Adminis- trator Almquist. Almquist explained that R-I:B-8 meant 8,000 sq. ft. minimum tots, and that R-3:2.4 meant one unit for each 2,400 sq. ft. of lot area (about 18 units per acre). It was moved by Conklin, seconded by Roberts, that the ordin- ance be passed to second reading at the next regular meeting. On roll call, carried unanimously. 2. City Administrator Almquist gave the second reading of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of City Improvement Bonds for street paving in Street Improvement District No. 36. Conklin moved that Ordinance No. 1677 be adopted; motion seconded by Willstatter. On roll call, carried unanimously. 3. A r~solution authorizing an interfund loan in cornjunction with the Lithia Park Extension Project was read by City Administrator Almquist. A second grant distribution of $45,000 is anticipated from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, but a loan will be necessary to provide working capital to finish the contracts already underway. A loan of $50,000 is proposed from the Utility Fund to the Capital Improvement Fund at 4 1/2% interest until monies are received from H.U.D. Almquist explained that payment from H.U.D. could be expected approximately three months after application. Soderberg asked the statusof the applica- tion; Almquist indicated it was in the process of being completed. City AdministratorAlmquist then read the proposed resolution authorizing the loan. It was moved by Conklin, seconded by McCannon, that the resolution be passed to second reading by title only. Councilwoman Soderberg inquired if adequate funds were left in the fiscal budget for such a loan. A]mquist responded that three issues would be maturing the following week, thereby providing the necessary funds. On roll call, motion carried unanimously. It was moved by Willstatter, seconded by Conklin, to adopt the resolution. On roll call, carried unanimously. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned subject to call of tile Mayor. nk City Recorder