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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1968-0604 REG MINMINUTES FOR REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY CSU~]CIL June 4, 1968 The~ regular meeting of the City Council was held in the Council Chambers of the City }{all on the above date. The meeting was called to order by M~yor Richard Neill at 7:30 P.M. Councilmen Baker, Cottle, Jones, Roberts, Whitham and Ward were present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: It was moved by Ward, seconded by Roberts that the Minutes of the last regular meeting of May 21 be accepted and placed on file. Motion carried unanimously. DEPARTMEnT. REPORTS: None STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: a. Finance Committee - none b. Property and Structures Committee - none c. Public Protection Committee - (1) Chairman Jones indicated that the Public Protection Committee, after, study, is satisfied with the general rules for the Ashland Fire Department and recommended that they be adopted by the Council. It was moved by Jones seconded by Roberts that the General Rules for the Ashland Fire Department be adopted. The motion was carried unanimously. (2) Chairman Jones presented a communication from the Human Rights Council, written by James Dean, regarding the desirability and nec~3sity Of establishing a Human Rights Commission. The Public Protection Con~ittee indicated that establishment of a Human Rights Co~nission would be unnecessary at this time feeling that the currently established Human Rights Council will be sufficient. It was moved by Jones, seconded by Whitham that the report be accepted and D!aced on file. '?h~ motion was carried unanimously. d. Streets and Traffic Ce~ tree - none e. Utilities Committee SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORT: A survey rep~rt with regard to parking meters was made by Chairman Jones and his !lxoi~'=t~e~. Merchants were interviewed (approximately 50) regard- ing the ~ al of parking meters, with 2-hour parking limits posted for shoppers~ etc., and t5-minute zones at various places for loading pur- poses. ~2 Jones recommended that the meters be removed and these park- ing lim~!_~ be established. Administrator Boshears indicated the Staff has rev7ia'l~-'Y the economic impac~ ~f the meters, and this information is availabl~ ~.= study by any co~nittee wishing to review this subject. Council Minutes -2- June 4, X~68 Following some discussion, it was moved by Ward, seconded by Roberts that the report be accepted and rer~erred to the Finance Committee for review. On roll call carried unanimously. SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS: a. At ~his time the Ashland Development Commission presented a report on the Plaza Stage I Area Development and requested. City Council's approval of using the funds ($46,200) allocated in last year's budqet for exercising options on various properties in this area. Commissioner Selby, Chairman of the Ashland Development Commission's Finance Committee, gave the presentation. He indicated a meeting h~d been held June 3, 1968 with regard to the Plaza Area Development. A majority of the Plaza property owners and merchants were present and indicated their willing- ness to participate in this development. A vote was'taken and there was a unanimous approval of the general plan with, of course, minor changes to be ironed out. The reasons. for choosing the PlazaSArea for Stage"I are: It is'the heart of th~ City;'ithas historical value; it is cen- trally located; it has been planned to, and can be, an extension of Lithia Park; and there is indeed a problem of vacant buildings in this area. During the meeting with the property owners and merchants, it was brought out that the parking situation was their greatest concern. They cannot possibly support cleaning and remodeling of their buildings if nothing is done with the parking problem. They cannot possibly accomodate their customers and 'justify their expense of improvements. There has been an i~dicationby the Shriners that their parking lot may be used for public parking; the Swedenberg property adjacent to the Hillah Temple parking lot will possibly be donated as parking area; the existing City parking lot will also be used. The Plan indicates a one-way service drive beginning at North Main Street routing Behind the Plaza buildings and exiting onto Winburn Way. It is proposed that merchants and property owners will assume half the expenSe- for the service drive behind the buildings. Mr. Selby indicated there were questions and some discussion regarding problems that must be worked out, but generally all the merchants and property owners present at the June 3 meeting accepted the Plan. Councilman Ward questioned whether or not the Plaza Area was designated as the first project in the CH2M Plan. Commissioner Selby indicated, that according to the Plan, it was to be one of the first priorities. (At this point, Mayor Neili noted the public hearing at 8:00 p.m. for the Cospan Enterprises.) There was no one present to represent Cospan Enterprises, Inc. At the last regular meeting, the Council expressed their concern regarding a similar conditional use 'permit granted to Mr. Leland Houk on July 10, 1967, for a carwash at this samelocation. City Administrator Boshears indicated he had received a communication from Mr. Houk addressed to the Mayor and City Council indicating that at this time he wished to relinquish all rights and privileges to which the conditional use permit entitled him. Following some discussion, it was moved by Cottle, seconded by Baker, that the Cospan Enterprises, Inc. appeal for a conditonal use permit be denied. On roll call carried with Ward abstaining. (Continued--Plaza Area) Coodinator Soderberg' indicated that the road construction costs, development of the park land~ the bridge, the ~ouncil Minutes -3- June 4~ 1968 arcade, changing of curbing for parking, and several other projects will amount to approximately $27,000. Coordinator Soderberg stated that the Development Commission is re- questing Council approval of $46~200 to cover options on property in the Plaza Development Stage I Area only. At thls time, it was requested by Councilman Cottle that those property owners and merchants affected by this Plan or any other individual wishing to express their ideas please do so. Messieurs Joe Albachten, Fred Kuest, Elmer Biegel, Kelsy Smith, Edd Rountree, A1 Lohman, Dom Provost, E. C. McGill, all verbally expressed their approval and recommendation of the Plaza Development Plan. Councilman Cottie stated that presently a traffic conjestion exists in the Plaza Area for unloading merchandise; the service drive will eliminate this type of congestion and allow for easier flow of traffic and mDre parking spaces (proposed diagonal parking). He stdted that it is now impossible for the Police to patrol the rear of these buildings and for the Fire Department to adequately serve these buildings, as the road exists now. Councilman Cottle also repozted that there was an Ashland Development Commission meeting held May 31, 1968; at that time, it was voted unani- mously to present this $46,200 for Council approval to ex~rcise options. City Attorney Skerry indicated that the options will expire soon; action must be taken now. It was felt that prices ~or properties will surely go up if they are gathered again at a postponed date~ Councilman Jones indicated he was opposed to approval of monies for the purchase oi these options. At this time, it was moved OF Ward, seconded by Bake~ that the Ashland Development Commission be authorized to spend the budgeted money in order to exercise the options obtained for acquisition o~ pro- perties in the Stage I Area= C~ty Attorney Harry Skerry indicated to the Mayor and City Council that a resolution must De formulated grant- ing the right £or the Ashland Development Commission to exercise the options. At this time, A~torney Skerry composed such resolution, It was moved by Ward, seconded by Roberts that the rules be suspended and the Resolution passed to second reading by title only. On roll call carried 5-1, Jones dissenting. Following the second reading, it was moved by Whitham seconded by Cottle that the Resolution be adopted. On roll call carried 5-1, Jones dissenting, COMMUNICATONS: From Ashland Economic Development Commission conce[ning recommenda- tions for use of Industrial Park Property - Dom Pro¥ost, %epresent- ing the Economic Development Commission, submitted a memorandum fact sheet outling responsibilities of the Economic Development Commission and responsibilities of future industries to Ashland. He requested approval of acquisition of a designated area speci- fied for Industrial Park Land development only, outside the exist- ing City limits. He reported that the Economic Development Commis- sion unanimously approved thms proposal. Admmnistrator Boshears and Councmlman Baker both commended the Economic Development Commis- sion on the excellent 3ob of studying and reporting on this project. tounci~ Minutes -4- June 4, 1968 Messieurs Harold Buck, E~ C. McGill, Ph.D. and Loy Prickett, Ph.Do supported the Economic Development Commlssion's recommendations and plans. Baker moved that this report be accepted; Jones seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously~ At this time, Mr. Dom Provost read an appeal to the Mayor and City Council in regard to construction o~ windows in a building he is re- modeling for o~fice spacer According to Ashland's Building Code, these windows are indicated to be a fire hazard because they are too close to the property line (20 feet would be allowable for construction of windows). Mr. Provost felt that the building is located ~ar enough away from other existing buildings so that a fire hazard would not exist (his building is presently adjacent to a parking lot), He stated that if another structure is constructed next to his building, he would board up the windows. Mr. Provost felt that his appeal was not unreason- able and requested action by the City Council at this particuj. ar time, There was some discussion by the City Staff, City Attorney and City Council regarding Mr. Provosts's appeal. Councilman Cottie felt that the stafi should work ~or the applicant to see what could be done and how they could be of assistance in solving the problem. He also in- dicated that the Appeals Board should expand their authority to accomodate citizens who have problems such as Mro Progost'!s~ Attorney Skerry indicated that the State Building Code laws are strictly [nfofced; however, cities can ~ormulaEe their own ~ndependent code, Attorney Skerry also indicated a "restrictive covenant" could De added to the existing code, It was generally agreed that a specmal study session be scheduled to review some of the problems of remodeling which have arisen from the strict code. Mr~ Provost was not 9ranted the special right to construct the wilndows at this t~me. From American Legion Post 14 requesting waiver o~ license =;nd bond ~or benefit dance. It was moved by WhLtham, seconded by Jones that this request be granted. On roll call carried unanimously~ From Ashland Lithid Cab requesting permission to change location to 77 Oak Street. They requested three parkzng space~ which is the number they now have at theiK present location, one mn front of the building and two across the street. It was moved by Roberts, seconded by Jones that the request be granted. The motion was carried unanimously. Petition for annexation of Doctor Ca~l Spencer's property on Clay StKeet. Ward indicated that it would be advantageous to get other property owners in this same area to annex t~eir properties also. Jones indicated that he rs opposed to this and any other annexa- tion. Mr. Alsing, Director of Public Works ~or the City oi Ashland, indicated the only expense that the City will be responsible for, that he could foresee, is the extension of the wate~ main ~or fire protection services if the property is beyond the existing City limits. Glenn Munsell, representing Doctor Spencer indicated that Doctor Spencer ~s willing to put in water lines for his property. It was moved by Cottle, seconded by Roberts that this request be referred to the Planning Commission for study and recommendation, On roll call carried 5-1, Jones dissenting. Council Minutes -5- June 4, 1968 City Administrator Boshea~:s read a letter from the Chamber of Commerce commending the Jay Cees on the spring clean-up project. Mayor Neill stated that he also commends them in their efforts~ Administrator Boshears read a communication from the Retail Trades Committee of the Chamber of Coxmmerce~ by Lyle A. Knower~ requesting Council approval to hold the Fifth Annual Sidewalk Baazar on July 5 and 6, They indicated all tables would be removed Friday night and replaced Saturday mornlngu It was moved by Roberts, seconded by Ward that their request be granted° Motion carried unanimously, At this time, the Council canvassed the Certified Abstract of Votes On the Measure Establishing a New City Tax Base Results of the May 28, 1968 Election, prepared by the Jackson County Clerk. Following completion of canvass, Mayor Nelll issued a Proclamation stating the o~ficial results being: Yes 1,258, No 2,376. It was moved by Whitham, seconded by Cottle that the report be accepted and placed on file. Motion carried unani- mously, Administrator Boshears indicated to the Council that a Public Hearing for the 1968-69 Budget has been scheduled for Thursday evening, June 27, at 7:30 p.m. in the Councml Chambers~ In the interim~ the Council and the Budget Committee will have time to review the proposed provisions. It was moved by Cottle, seconded by Whitnam that thms d.a~e be set for the Public Hearing, Budget 1968-69. On roll call carried unanimously, Administrator Boshears reported that the assignment of the McGrew Mill lease to CIT Corporation, due to refinancing for construction purposes, be approved. Baker moved nhat this be so approved; the motion was seconded by Whitham~ On roll call carried unanimously. At this time, Attorney Skerry presented a resolution authorizing the inter-fund transfer of $5,950 ~om the Hospital Operating Fund to the Hospital Bond Sinking Fund for repayment of a prior loan. It was moved by Baker, seconded by Cottle that the rules be suspended and the Resolution passed to second reading by title only~ Following second reading, mt was moved by Whitham, seconded by Cottie that the Resolution be adopted. On roll call caviled unanimously. At this time, residents of Emma Street present a petition for curb, gutter and paving~ One additional s~gnature is needed ~.or the 50 percent of the £~ont footage property owners, There will be a letter from another property owner, who is presently out of town, confirming his approval of the petLtion. Followmng Attorney Skerry's review of said petition, he discovered that the Engineer's bid prices had been changed by the petitioners. Therefore, it was his decision that this petition would not be legal and another should be recirculated with the original bid figures, It was moved by Baker, seconded by Cottie that Attorney Skerry prepare an ordinance setting date for hearing on the recirculated petLtion. Motion carried unanimously. At this time, a Boazd of Appeals meeting was scheduled for Friday~ June 7, 1968, with the Councml to review the Building Code and all other applicable codes ~n regard to the remodeling of build~ngso touncil Minutes -6- June 4, 1968 There being no further business at this time, the Council unanimously agreed to adjourn, subject to the call of the Mayor, City Recorder cew