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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1969-0923 REG MINMINUTES FOR REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 23, ].969 The regular meeting of the City Council was held in the Council Chambers of the City Hall on the above date. The meeting was called to order by Mayor McKeen. All Councilmen were present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: It was moved by Haines, seconded by Jones that the minutes of the Septmeber 9, 1969, regular meeting be accepted and placed on file. Motion carried unanimously. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS: Following discussion of monthly reports, it was moved by Haines, seconded by Bailer that the report of the Ashland Municipal Airport be rejected as incomplete and the complete report filed, with the gasoline gallonage report included, with the Council at the next Council meeting. Motion carried unanimously. It was moved by Haines, seconded by Jones that the balance of the monthly reports be accepted and placed on file. Motion carried unanimously. STANDING CO~ITTEE REPORTS: a. Finance & Property Committee - Chairman O'Harra reported that said committee met last Thursday and decided to tentatively set up meetings every Thursday for study with the Sign Review Conmittee. The Sign Ordinance was discussed, including exterior signs, removal of registration forms and permits to be furnished by Building Department; grandfather clause, etc. After final review, the com- mittee will bring back recommendations to Council. The matter of new annexations was discussed and it was the feeling of the committee that before any future annexations would be considered, all curb, gutter and paving, utilities, etc., be laid out at the expense of owners of the area requesting annexation. b. Public Service Committee - no report c. Streets & Traffic Committee Chairman Jones stated ~hat a report from the Streets & Traffic Committee would not be made at this time due to the fact that he was unable to secure information from the Office of the Director of Public Works without approval of the City Administrator. City Administrator Hoshears indicated that any information would be provided upon request; however, he would prefer that requests from individual Council members for detailed studies be routed through him rather than a department head or employee. Considerable discussion followed. It was ,~ ~1 Minutes September 23, 1969 Page Two moved by Jones, seconded by Haines that any information be given by department heads or staff to Councilmen upon request without prior permission by the City Administrator. On roll call, carried 4-2, with O'Harra and Roberrs dissenting. No action was taken on the City Administrator's request for clarification of the motion. SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS: Unfinished Business: 1. 8:00 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING: Appeal of zone variance regarding fence at Emerick and B Streets. NO appearance being made by appli- cant, it was moved by Willstatter, seconded by Bailer that the finding of the Planning Commission be upheld in denying said zone variance. On roll call~ carried unanimously. COMMUNICATIONS: 1. Minutes of the Ashland DeVelopment Commission meeting of September 12, 1969 - It was moved by Haines, seconded by Bailer that the minutes of the Development Commission meeting be accepted and placed on file. On roll call, carried unanimously. 2. City Administrator Boshears read letter approving Phase III Park DevelopmentaLand & Water Conservation funds. No Council action required. City Recorder Bartelt presented a liquor application from Black Forest Enterprise, Inc., located at 1664 Highway 66 (formerly known as Shakey's). It was moved by Haines, seconded by Willstatter that the application be granted. On roll call, carried unanimously. City Administrator Boshears presented a letter from Municipal Court Judge Ronald L. Salter requesting appointment of counsel for indigents in the Ashland Municipal Court. Following considerable discussion, including comments by City Attorney Skerry, it was moved by Haines, seconded by O'Harra that the matter be referred to the City Attorney for preparation of an ordinance regarding all facets of this matter; and that counsel serve on a voluntary basis (without pay) until an ordinance can be adopted. On roll call, carried unanimously. Unfinished Business: (continued) 2. 8:30 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING: Application for zone change of property located at ~'~SS~iyou Boulevard. Following comments by Dr. Elliott MacCracken, member of Planning Cormmission, City Attorney Skerry read Ordinance No. 1622 rezoning above property from residential to co~nercial. It was moved by Haines, seconded by Willstatter that rules be suspended and ordinance passed to second reading by title only. On roll call, carried unanimously. Following second reading by title on]y, it was moved by Willstatter, seconded by Haines that Ordinance No. 1622 be adopted. On roll call, carried unanimously. Council Minutes September 23, 1969 Page Three 30 Award of bids--crushed rock for Street Department - City Administrato~ Boshears presented bids for crushed rock for Street Department which are as follows: M. C. Lininger & Sons $4.89/cu. yd. Concrete Steel $5.50/cu. yd. It was moved by Haines, seconded by O'Harra that the low bid be accepted by Lininger & Sons as recommended by the Public Works Director. On roll call, carried unanimously. 4. City Administrator Boshears presented the matter of calling for bids on a van for the Public Works Engineering Department. He brought to Council's attention a memorandum of recommendation from Public Works Director Alsing, in which he indicated that the difference between the purchase price of a new pickup and a van type vehicle would be approximately $18. He, therefore, recommended purchase of the van. Following some discussion, it was moved by Haines, seconded by Bailer that the item be tabled. On roll call, carried 4-2, with O'Harra and Roberrs dissenting. 5. City Administrator Boshears requested authorization to disperse EDA ProjecY Payments to architects on both Phase I and Phase II of the Shakespearean Festival Expansion Project. Phase I Phase II $3,271.58 1,717.58 $4,989.17 Following considerable discussion, it was moved by Haines, seconded by O'Harra that Director of Finance Nelson be authorized to issue warrants in the amount designated. On roll call, carried 5-1, with Jones dissenting. Coordinator Soderberg invited the Council to attend the Friday noon meeting of the Ashland Development Co~nission, at which t~me Phase II will be discussed and Architect Afseth will explain 'preliminary planning and cost estimates of said project. New Business: 1. City Administrator Boshears presented a petition requesting curb, gutter and paving of Oak Court Subdivision. Following brief discussion, it was moved by Haines, seconded by Jones that the City Attorney prepare an ordinance setting a public hearing for the said petition and present ordinance at next Council meeting. On roll call, carried unanimously. 2. City Administrator Boshears presented a petition from R. W. Voris to pave 110 feet of Cambridge Street east of Willow Street. It was indicated that Mr. Voris will contract for the above petition according to City specifications. It was moved by Haines, seconded by Bailer that the City Attorney prepare an ordinance setting a public hearing for the above petition and pre'scnt it at the next Council Minutes September 23, 1969 Page Four Council meeting. On roll call, carried unanimously. 3. City Administrator Boshears requested that a loan be authorized from the Hospital Fund to the Hospital Bond Sinking Fund in the amount of $4,100 to cover interest payments on the Hospital Bonds due October 1, 1969. Tax money for current year's levy will not be received until latter part of November. It was moved by Willstatter, seconded by Roberts that the above loan be authorized. On roll call, carried unanimously. Ordinances, Resolutions & Contracts: 1. City Attorney Skerry presented Ordinance No. 1623 amending Ordinance No. 1184 as amended, which establishes rates for electrical service and rules and regulations with regard thereto to provide an increase in certain rates under the provisions of Article II, Section 3; deleting Subsection 3 of special conditions of Article II, Section 3; establishing as Section 4A a governmental rate and declaring an emergency. It was moved by Haines~ seconded by O'Harra that the rules be suspended and ordinance passed to second reading by title only. On roll call, 3-2, with Haj.nes, O'Harra and Roberts voting in favor and Bailer and Jones voting against the motion. Willstatter passed. At the request of the City Attorney that Willstatter vote either for or against the motion, he voted against the motion; thus, creating a tie Vote of 3-3. Considerable discussion followed. Councilman Jones stated that people had already defeated three tax elections and he considered the increase in utility rates another tax. He also indicated that he felt there was no need for a utility bill collector. It was pointed out that the increased utility rates were necessary to build a reserve. More dis- cussion followed regarding further study of the 75¢ increase, further rate breakdown and the possibility of a water rate increase. Mr. R. E. Jeter opposed the increase in rates and remarked that he felt something was wrong with the present management. Mr. Robert McCoy felt that the rate increase was no way to punish tax payers for defeating the tax measures; he also indicated that the present profit of the electric system was too high. Mr. McCoy also expressed dissatisfaction with the present water meter reading procedure. Mr. Sherman Gardner opposed the rate increase and the development of the downtown. At this time, City Attorney Skerry stated that the effective date of October I, 1969, had been omitted in the first reading by Ordinance No. 1623 and requested that this be acted upon. It was then moved by Roberrs, seconded by Haines that the date of October 1~ 1969, be included.in said ordinance. On roll call, carried 5-1, with Jones dissenting. Following further discussion, it was agreed that Ordinance No. 1623 be re-read following inclusion of effective date. Following reading by City Attorney Skerry, it was moved by Haines, seconded by Roberrs that the rules be suspended and ordinance passed to second reading by title only. On roll ca!l, 3-3, with Haines, O'Harra and Roberhs vo~ing in favor of motion ~nd Bailer, Jones and Willstat~er voting against the Council Minutes September 23, 1969 Page Five motion. Mayor McKeen vcted in favor to break the tie--motion carried 4-3. Following second reading by title only, it was moved by Haines, seconded by O'Harra that Ordinance No. 1623 be adopted. On roll call, carried 4-2, with Bailer and Jones dissenting. City Attorney Sker~y read Ordinance No. 1624 authorizing the increase of interest from 4% to 5~ percent per annum on all warrants heretofore authorized for improvements and repealing Ordinance No. 1482. It was moved by Haines, seconded by Roberts that the rules be suspended and ordinance passed to second reading by title only. On roll call, carried unanimously. Following second reading by title only, it was moved by O'Harra, seconded by Ha~nes that Ordinance No. 1624 be adopted. On roll call, carried unanimously. It was moved by Haines, seconded by Bailer that staff, the City Administrator and City Attorney meet to consider establishing an Airport Development Fund and that a $] per plane landing fee be made with exemption to student f!yers and mercy flights. Following some discussion, Mayor McKeen referred the matter to the Finance & Property Committee. Mr. Robert McCoy commended Mayor McKeen for devoting part of his summer vacation to making himself available to talk with the public. He also expressed concern that the public was not well informed on City government matters. He requested that the Council study the stop sign problem at the intersection of Van Ness and Helman. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the Mayor. lcr City Recorder