Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-0417 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL APRIL 17, 1990 ROLL CALL Mayor Catherine Golden called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:35 P.M. on the above date in the Council Chambers. Donovan, Williams, Acklin, Winthrop, and Arnold were present. Reid was absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 3, 1990 were accepted as presented. CONSENT AGENDA Donovan requested that item 3 be pulled for discussion. Acklin moved to approve the remaining items as follows: 1) Minutes of Boards, Commissions & Committees; and 2) Monthly Departmental Reports. Winthrop seconded and the motion carried on voice vote. On item 3) Liquor license renewals for 1990-91, Donovan declared that he holds a liquor license. Acklin moved to approve the renewals, Williams seconded and the motion carried on voice vote with Donovan abstaining. PUBLIC HEARING Proposed Open Space Plan - Planning Dir. Fregonese told the history of the proposal and said the Planning Commission has heard from citizens that open spaces are needed in light of increasing growth. The Future Plan Festival for the Comprehensive Plan update also indicated a growing interest in creating open space. Environmentally sensitive lands were identified and neighborhood meetings held for public input. The types of parks and their proposed locations were noted, and overheads shown of the acreage and assessed values of each type. He said lands zoned R-l-5 and R-1-3.5 will need to be replaced in the comp. plan, and a compromise has been worked out for some areas with T.I.D. whereby the maintenance road will be used for T.I.D. only. williams said he owns property on Ashland Creek and will abstain from voting on the Ashland Creek trail. Golden owns property on Ashland Creek and Bear Creek. It was decided to take testimony on the proposed plan except the Hospital site and Ashland Creek trails, which will be discussed later in the meeting. The public hearing was opened. Bob Fredinburg, 2275 Siskiyou Blvd., owns property on Clay Creek and spoke against the plan. Tim Kelly, 1314 Woodland, spoke for Concerned Neighbors of Ashland, and recommended removing property of those who object to the plan and is concerned that future Councils will condemn property. Rick Landt, 487 Rock St., representing C.P.A.C., asked that his revised survey of February 20, 1990, be made an appendix to the plan. Myra Erwin, 300 Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - April 17, 1990 - Page One Proposed Open Space Plan (Continued) Grandview Dr., thanked the participating citizens for the clear, concise and eloquent plan which she feels meets the needs of most citizens and asked that Council adopt it. Beverly Miller, 240 E. Hersey, said existing parks should be maintained and parks which are spread out will draw customers away from small businesses. Don Schofield, 465 Tucker, spoke against the plan. Allen Sandler, Prospect St., suggested provisions in the master plan whereby no changes in financing be made without a vote of the people and no land taken with undue pressure. Donovan responded by saying this kind of action is only binding by charter amendment. Jeff Monosoff, 1835 Ashland Mine, said Council should not adopt this plan but create a different one. Paul Mace, 206 Alicia, owns property in Bear Creek area, and asked why the condemnation issue was not included in the Charter amendment, and said putting property on this map devalues it. Bill Emerson, 90 Fifth St., said the Railroad District needs a centrally located park i.e. between 4th and 7th, not 6th and 8th. Eric Siebrecht, 165 Sixth agreed with Emerson's comments. C.D. Anderson, 2300 Siskiyou Blvd., said the impact of the plan should be made clearer to the citizens. Rick Harris, Ashland Board of Realtors, said neighborhood parks should be within 1/2 mile radius of the area they serve not 1/4 mile; easements should be sought at development, not sale of property; park overlay creates down-zoning of property; use of TID areas creates great liability to City; and areas along creeks should be conserved without public accesS. Personally he feels E-1 land across the railroad tracks should be used as a large active park; scenic zoning should be created to preserve the visual corridor; continued cooperation between the City and School District for maintenance of school playgrounds should be an ongoing goal of the Comp. Plan; and an active park should be created on the City-owned property leased to the Gun Club. Donovan moved to continue the public hearing, Williams seconded the motion which carried on voice vote. Barbara Jarvis, 1159 Emma, said more neighborhood parks are needed to preserve the sense of community due to increasing development, and urged Council to adopt the plan. Lowell Smith, 700 Terrace, agrees with the staff draft whereby a trail will be going over the ridge, not down his driveway, and expressed concern about allowing the public access to the watershed. Debbie Miller, 160 Normal, thanked all for the efforts, feels property owners concerns should be addressed, and supports the plan. Audrey Hawk, 1555 S. Columbus, Medford, owns property on Mountain Ave., and asked for clarification regarding impacts on her property, which Fregonese explained. John Yeamans, 376 Crowson Rd., is in the urban growth boundary and wants City services in exchange for open space designation. Ella Fredinburg, 2275 Siskiyou, is opposed to the plan. Acklin moved to continue the public hearing, Williams seconded, all AYES on voice vote. Jackie Reid, 1040 Clay, expressed concern about the proposed trail along Clay Creek and if it will be maintained by the City or property owners. Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - April 17, 1990 - Page Two Proposed Open Space Plan (Continued) Discussion was opened on the Hospital site and there was no comment. Steve Haskell, 622 Helman, said city employees have done a good job; he wants an easement along Ashland Creek but not a trail; there's a problem in knowing what is included and what is not; and priorities should be sorted out concerning what people want and costs involved. Jack Blackburn, 805 Oak, has no problem with conservation easements on Ashland Creek; feels the land should be acquired on a willing buyer/- seller basis, and other public needs should be weighed. Rick Landt said the Ashland Crk. trail will not occur with present owners and urged the Council to include the trail section as a link between the Bear Creek Greenway and Lithia Park. Landscaping elements should also be considered to make trails more compatible. Donovan moved to suspend the rules and continue the public hearing. Acklin seconded and the motion carried on voice vote. John Fields, 845 Oak St., thinks citizens need more information prior to the May election and spoke against the trail on Ashland Creek. John Morrison, 500 Helman, spoke against the trail on Ashland Creek and asked Council to answer concerns prior to adoption of the plan. Bob Quaccia, 885 Oak, said he has no problem with the proposed trail on Ashland Creek. Florence Keener, 128 W. Nevada is against the trail as is Jim Nagle, 520 Helman. Kate Golden, 845 Oak, is against the trail and thinks people should be able to vote on what goes in the plan. There being no further comment from the audience, the public hearing was closed. Winthrop said the plan is an answer to many concerns he has heard about preserving open areas and noted the many letters received commending the Planning Staff. He suggested discussing broad policies now and details later. Arnold suggested voting on the Ashland Creek trail and inclusion of the Hospital property in the plan. Williams moved to continue the meeting for one-half hour, Acklin seconded, all AYES on voice vote. Acklin declared many ex-parte contacts due to her position as Council Liaison to the Hospital Board. Arnold spoke with Jim Watson, Hospital Admin., as did Winthrop who also spoke with appellant Marc Heller. Arnold moved to reject the Parks Commission recommendation to place the Hospital land in the open space program. Winthrop seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. Concerning the Ashland Creek trail, Acklin expressed appreciation to the Planning Comm. and C.P.A.C. for their vision but feels there are too many concerns. She then moved to adopt the Planning Staff recommendation of a conservation easement between Nevada and Hersey rather than a trail. Donovan seconded the motion. Arnold likes the trail system but feels a number of compromises are necessary. Donovan thinks the problem is access and voluntary acquisition of property. The motion passed on roll call vote with Williams abstaining. Proposed changes to the map were discussed and Arnold moved to include the following: Add floodplain areas at 50 foot width for Tolman Creek, Neil Creek, Hamilton Creek, lower Clay Creek and Paradise Lane Creek; add Open Space and floodplains from current Comprehensive Plan; Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - April 17, 1990 - Page Three Proposed Open Space Plan (Continued) all Bear Creek and Kitchen Creek floodplains within the Urban Growth Boundary to FEMA widths. Acklin seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. Donovan asked that the new trail through the drainage at Walker be put aside for further clarification on the location. On a question from Arnold concerning the A Street park, Fregonese said the Fourth St. area is more commercial and toxic chemicals have been found around the old depot site. On a question from Williams, he said the E-1 land is inappropriate for parks because an active rail line would be on one side and industry on the other. Acklin moved to adopt the Staff recommendation to locate the park on A St. between Sixth and Eighth. Arnold seconded and the motion passed unanimously on roll call vote. Concerning the property at Prim, Sheridan and Tucker, Acklin said attention should be focused on the pioneer cemetery as a "quiet" open space in that area and not a new park. Arnold moved to continue the meeting for one-half hour, Donovan seconded, all AYES on voice vote. Acklin moved to delete the Schofield property from the map; Williams seconded, all Yes on roll call vote. Fregonese said the reservoir trail to Ashland Falls is not in the watershed. In reference to a letter from Marilyn Briggs, 590 Glenview Dr., Acklin said the use of natural areas should be examined when a management plan for the forest interface area is developed. Acklin moved to adopt Staff recommendations concerning conservation easements for all undeveloped sections of Wrights Creek. Winthrop seconded and the motion passed on roll call vote as follows: Williams, Acklin, and Winthrop, YES;' Donovan and Arnold, NO. Acklin moved to adopt the Staff draft of the map as amended. Winthrop seconded. Hugo Halpert, 1037 Canyon Park Dr., expressed concern about the Canyon Creek Park trail and Fregonese recommended dropping it from the map. No further action taken. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 12:00 midnight to Thursday, April 19, 1990 at 7:30 P.M. Acting City Recorder Catherine M. Golden Mayor Regular Meeting - Ashland City Council - April 17, 1990 - Page Four