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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970-0901 REG MINMINUTES FOR REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER I, 1970 The regular meeting of the City Council was held in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, on the above date. The meeting was called to order by Mayor McKeen. All Councilmen were present. At approximately 7:45 p.m. the meeting was recessed in order to find an alternate location to accommodate a large audience. At 8:20 p.m. the meeting was reconvened in the English Build ng of Asialand High School. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: It was moved by Bailer, seconded by Jones that the minutes of the August 18, 1970, regular meeting and August 27, 1970, special meeting be accepted and placed on fi!e. Motion carr unanimously. ed DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS: None STAND NG COMMITTEE REPORTS: a. F nance & Property Committee - Chairman Bailer reported that the committee studied a letter dated August 15, 1970, from the Economic Development Commission requesting that Council consider a policy in which they would agree to provide municipal services to new industry locating in an acceptable Iocaticn adjacent to the city limits, providing the industry will agree to annex +o the City one year from completion of construction. Bailer reported that it was the committee's recommendation that ffhe Ashland Planning Cohlmission and City Attorney Scannell coord hate study of the subject letter with the County Planning Commiss on. No Council action taken. b- Public Service Committee Chairman Roble recommended to the .Mayor that his committee be directed to investigate the possibility of securing larger Council Chambers for future meetings. Mayor McKeen suggested that this investigation be coordinated with staff. c. Streets & Traffic Committee - Chairman Willstatter reported that his committee recommended that stop signs be installed on Third Street at B Street as recommended by staff. No Council action taken. SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS: None Counci! Minutes -2- September I, 1970 COMMUNICATIONS: I. City Administrator Almquist presented a letter dated August 24, 1970, from residents of the Lith!a Springs area protesting the use of the Ashland-owned property known as the Lithia Springs area as a motorcycle racing facility and listing several problems created by the situation. It was the committee's recommendation that Council action on the matter be deferred pending a recommendation from the City Park & Recreation Commission. 2. City Administrator Almquist presented a letter from seven residents on Crowson Road requesting connection to the City water line now in existance on Crowson Road between Highway and 99.The Mayor referred the matter to the Public Service Com- mittee for study and recommendation. 66 3. City Administrator Almquist presented a letter dated September l, 1970, from the Ashland Chamber of Commerce requesting that the Council delay inactment of an ordinance amending Ordinance ~io. 1399 until the next regular Council meeting in order that the Chamber of Commerce may have the opportunity to pol'e its membership and present its findings in the form of a recommendation to the Council. Mr. Almquist also read a letter dated August 31, 1970, from Harold A. Cloer, Library Board, urging the retention of the Development Coordinator and completion of the development projects. It was moved by Bailer, seconded by Dodge that the two letters be placed on file. Motion carried unanimously. SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS: Unfinished Business: None New & Miscellaneous Business: None Ordinances, Resolutions & Contracts: i. City Attorney Scannell read ordinance prescribing duties of recorder/treasurer of the City of Ashland (second reading). It was moved by Bailer, seconded by Willstatter that Ordinance No. 1658 be adopted. On roll call, carried unani- mously. 2. city Attorney Scannell read ordinance (second reading) amending Ordinance No. 1399 concerning the administrative and operating departments of the City of Ashland and declaring an emergency. It was moved by Bailer, seconded by Willstatter that the ordinance be adopted. Council Minutes -3- September I, 1970 At this time, Mr. Lloyd Selby, Ashland Development Commissioner, asked Council to reconsider its decision to adopt the subject ordinance. He pointed out that Ashland is already reaping the benefits from Phase I of the EDA Shakespeare Project. He informed the Council that an individual has, on this date, donated the balance of funds needed to complete the Plaza Island development. He pointed out that that particular area has been taken care of because the people have faith in the Council, faith that the Council will continue to improve the community by further paint- up programs, clean-up programs, improvement of the business climate, etc. He indicated that fhe Commission was given a list of questions prepared by City Attorney Scannell regarding the two federal projects currently underway. He emphasized the necessity of retaining a qualified coordinator to assist in answering the technical aspects of the questions and to carry the two projects through to completion. He felt the workload too great a burden to place on a new administrator at this time and requested that Council delay action on the ordinance for at least four months. Mr. Cliff Moran asked why Mr. Soderberg kept in his desk for over two years deeds from the Shakespearean Project; and our acting City Administrator had to ask him for these deeds and record them himself. Mr. James Conkiln asked Council to read the questions contained in City Attorney Scannell's letterto the Commission. City Attorney Scannell read the questions at this time (a copy of the memorandum dated August 2!, 1970, is on file in the City Administrator's office). Mr. Jim C. Busch, Chairman, Ashland Development Commission, pointed out tha.t the commission has gone over these questions in their meetings; however, the development coordinator is needed to answer the technical aspects of the questions. Mr. Joe Sayre indicated that Mr. Scannell was present at a recent meeting of the Development Commission, the City and OSFA where an explanation of the handling of the deeds was given. He then asked Mr. Scannell to explain why the deeds were not recorded by Mr. Soderberg. Mr. Scannell indicated that he had heard several explanations; however, Mr. Soderberg told him that he had been given the deeds for safe keeping; and while he was on vacation, they had been removed from his office. Considerable discussion followed regarding the deeds~ Mr. Sid Ainsworlh, Development Commissioner, and Mr. Scannell discussed the Stiles and Briggs property and their relationship to the EDA and HUD Projects. Roberts expressed cdncern that Council was becoming "bogged down" in an attorney's deba~e and requested that Council concentrate on the main issue--that of consolidating the positions of Administrator and Coordinator. Council Minutes -4- September I, 1970 Mr. Leigh Johnson requested that Council postpone any decision on the matter until it has another opportunity to meet with the Development Commission and give further consideration to the issue. Some discussion followed regarding possible law suits initiated by contractors for the EDA Project. Mr. Val Bubb, Auditor with Tischauser & Bubb, Accountants, indicated that he has been retained to complete an audit for the EDA Project. He expressed concern that a time extension would be required for completion of the audit if Council votes to dismiss Mr. Soderberg, since Mr. Soderberg has been of considerable assistance in supplying information for the audit. Roble recommended to Council that they change their attitude regarding this issue and defeat the ordinance. He pointed out that future consolidation of the two positions would perhaps be aovantageous; however, action at this time is certainly untimely. Mr. John Flynn suggested that Mr. Soderberg answer the questions outlined by Mr. Scannell in his letter to the Commission. Jones indicated that he felt the two positions should be consolidated at once, since the City has many competent people who could assist the new administrator with the projects. Mrs. Dodge also indicated that the two positions could be handled by the new administrator, with the assistance of staff members. She said that she wanted to get the projects moving and it has been impossible to communicate with Mr. Soderberg. Following more discussion, on roll call to adopt Ordinance No. 1659, carried 4-2, with Roberts and Roble dissenting. At this time, Mr. Sid Ainsworth indicated "in view of the · action taken, if the Council would now see it fit to adopt an ordinance or resolution to return the powers and authority to act as an urban renewal agency to itself and, by 'that, abolish the Development Commission." Mayor McKeen indicated that the request would be taken under consideration by the Council; he added that the ordinance just adopted still must be approved by the Mayor. City Attorney Scannell read resolu'fi~en setting September 15,. t970, at 8 p.m., for a public hearing on the appeal of Planning Commission'=s decision on Zone Variance No. 109 by Mr. Karl WinObigler, 1470 Peachy Road. It was moved by Bailer, seconded by Willsfatter that the rules be suspended and ordinance Council Minutes -5- September I, 1970 passed to second reading by title on y. On roll call, carried unanimously. Following second reading ~y title only, it was moved by Willstatter, seconded by Bailer that the resolution be adopted. On roll call, carried unanimously. City Attorney Scannell read resolution thanking Mr. E. C. Biegel for his services to the City of Ashland. It was moved by Bailer, seconded byeJones that the rules be suspended and resolution passed to second reading by title only. On roll call, carried unanimously. Following second reading by title only, it was moved by Bailer, seconded by Jones that the resolution be adopted. On roll call, carried unanimously. City Attorney Scannell read resolution proposing amendments and revisions to the 1889 charter of the City of Ashland as amended by charter amendment of 1898 as amended by the special Primary Election of May 26, 1970. It was moved by Bailer, seconded by Dodge that the rules be suspended and resolution passed to second reading by title only. Mrs. Audrey Hawk, Chairman, Charter Revision Committee, asked wh~ this matter' had not been referred to the Charter Revision Committee for study and recommendation. She asked if it was the intention of the City Attorney that this resolution would declare the charter passed at the May Primary null and void. Mr. Scannell indicated that the resolution would amend the charter passed at the May Primary; it amends the charter to spell out the duties of the recorder/treasurer. He pointed out that the amendments would also include removing power from the Mayor to suspend and remove any appointed official of the City and gives such power to the Council. Considerable disCussiom followed. Mrs. Hawk asked for a reading of the ballot title included in the resolution. City Attorney S~annell read the following ballot title: Ashland Charter Revision--Referred to the .People by the Mayor and Council Purpose: To revise and amend the 1889 charter of the City of Ashland as amended by 1898 and subsequent amendments, by defining the duties of the city recorder and c!ty treasurer and making certain other substantive changes. City Recorder Bartelt indicated that the filing date for any measure to appear on the General Election ballot was September 2, 1970, at 5 p.m. Roberts pointed out that he was not notified of any Council meeting or study session called to discuss this matter. He indicated that he h~d not seen the proposed amendments before this Counci! meeting. He asked City Attorney Scannell if ~he Council had directed him to prepare such a resolution. M~. Scannell Council Minutes -6- September I, 1970 replied that Councilmen Jones, Dodge and requested such amendments ~o the charter. discussion followed. Willstatter had Considerable On roll call to pass resolution to second reading by title only, carried 4-2, with Roberts dissenting and Roble abstaining. Following second reading by title only, it was moved by Bailer, seconded by Dodge that the resolution be adopted. On roll call, carried 4-2, with Roberts dissenting and Roble abstaining. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the Mayor. Icr City Recorder