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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-0616 REG MINMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL June 16, 1987 ROLL CALL Mayor L. Gordon Medaris led the Pledge of Allegiance and called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. on the above date in the Council Chambers. Elerath, Bennett, Acklin, Laws and Arnold were present. Reid was absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Arnold moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 2, 1987; Bennett seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. PUBLIC HEARINGS: Appeal - Planning Action 87-058 Planning Director John Fregonese reviewed the ordinance concerning requirements for the width of access to a flag lot, which include a 15' drive with 12' paving for one unit; 20' drive with 15' paving for two units and 20'paving for three or more units. The appeal involves using a storage shed for a studio cottage to be rented out. The Planning Commission approved Planning Action ~87-058 on the condition that four parking spaces be provided, the development be limited to one single-family unit on each parcel of the proposed land partition, and the access be paved to the maximum width feasible and screened. Morjig said the subject cottage is 13 x 18 feet and would only have one occupant. On question from Arnold, Morjig said he agreed with the conditions of not expanding the cottage and developing only one unit on the partitioned lot. Laws moved to grant the appeal with the conditions of the Planning Commission, that the cottage not be expanded and only one unit be developed on the partitioned lot; and adopt the findings and conditions of the Planning Commission. Elerath seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS & REMONSTRANCES: Future Plans - Ken Mickelsen, Director of Parks and Recreation, gave Greenway Property a short history of the Greenway property and the plans for developing these properties which include the Bryant-Jones Property, the Senior Investment Property and the Wade Property. The key elements in the Green- way Plan are to provide an area along Bear Creek which people can enjoy, while also protecting and enhancing the natural habitat; and to put in a trail system which would connect the cities along Bear Creek. Mickelsen briefly explained the proposed plans for each of these properties and felt the developments would be a major asset to the City of Ashland. Karen Smith, Greenway Coordinator, noted there are only two small properties left to acquire, and thanked the Parks and Recreation Commission for their enthusiasm in the Greenway project. 6/16/87 P. 1 R~ular Meeting Ashland City Council 6/16/87 P. 2 COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS & REMONSTRANCES: A.B. Wilson Land Donation, Ditch Rd. (Continued) Director of Public Works Alsing remarked on the location and size of the property and explained the City's interest in it as a future right of way for a water line to the Strawberry Lane area. On a question from Laws, Alsing said a small cabin would have to be removed. Laws moved to accept the deeded property, Acklin seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Hersey Street F.A.U.S. Proj. Public Works Director Alsing explained that Mr. & Mrs. Vogel have signed in favor of the project on Hersey between Water and Oak Streets. Their portion of the project is 56%, and signing in favor would be 57% with the City's 1% included. He suggested a public hearing be held on this section only and that it be a local improvement district separate from the rest of Hersey. Bennett moved to set a public hearing for the next meeting of July 7, Acklin seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. Sidewalk Seating for Restaurants Planning Director Fregonese explained the research which had been done and the desire of the ad-hoc committee, comprised of the Planning Commission and the Ashland Downtown Association, to implement an experimental program this summer using guidelines they have established. The program would be terminated on October 1st and evaluated at that time; or the City Administrator could revoke a permit if problems arose. Bennett moved to permit an experimental program until October 15, 1987, and Laws seconded the motion. Arnold expressed concern about the lack of guidelines and that the program be controlled and not done in an arbitrary way. On voice vote, the motion passed unanimously. NEW & MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: Mt. Ashland Ski Public Works Director Alsing noted the comments from Area Expansion our Consultant on the E.I.S. had not yet been received but he had discussed it with same, who agreed with Alsing that issues such as erosion, parking lots and the proposed septic tank had not been fully addressed in the draft E.I.S. Arnold noted deadline for comments to Forest Service was June 29th, and requested a chance to read the consultant's comments prior to that deadline. Fred Bennewies, 1009 Oneida Circle, member of the Natural Resources Committee of the League of Women Voters, expressed concern regarding the impact of the expansion on the watershed, and requested Council to ask the Forest Service to delay approval until a proper E.I.S. had been prepared. 6/16/87 P. 2 R~ular Meeting Ashland City Council 6/16/87 P. 3 UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Mt. Ashland Ski Area Expansion (Continued) Award of FBO Lease Dick Nesbitt, 809 Garden Way, was concerned with the procedure which would be followed and who would monitor the project. Glenn Menzie, Area Manager of Ski Ashland, said the E.I.S. is only an outline and Ski Ashland wants to work with the City and Forest Service on this project. He further explained that the facilities in existence at Mt. Ashland were not adequate for the operation to be financially sound without the expansion. Richard Goff, 1974 Mohawk, also spoke of concern for the watershed and the impact of the proposed projects. Laws said the City cannot tell the Forest Service what to do with the land, and the difficulty of voicing concerns without benefit of knowing exactly what was planned. Acklin explained that the National Environ- mental Policy Act sets up the process of distributing draft E.I.S.'s to agencies, which does not provide for a public hearing. Arnold expressed appreciation to the citizens who spoke on the matter, and said the City cannot make mistakes where the watershed is concerned and needs a better procedure in place to comment on individual matters. Sue Rolle, 311 High Street, an employee of the Forest Service, said the E.I.S. is conceptual not site specific and there would still be an opportunity for site specific reviews. She said NEPA would do an environmental analysis or E.I.S. for each specific project. Acklin moved to contract with an attorney for comments or future problems with the E.I.S., and to authorize Staff to submit comments to the Forest Service. Laws seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. Dir. of Public Works Alsing explained the recruiting process for a Fixed Base Operator, noting that the present lease expires on August 8th of this year. Bill Knowles, Chairman of the Airport Commission, submitted a memo reviewing the qualifications and experience of Laura Smith and Jeremy Scott dba Ashland Air, Inc. Bennett moved to accept the recommendation of the Airport Commission; Elerath seconded the motion which passed unanimously on voice vote. 6/16/87 P. 3 R~qular Meeting Ashland City Council 6/16/87 P. 4 PUBLIC FORUM: Chip-Sealing on Barbara & Diane Streets High Street Hedge Mountain Ave. Hazards Mark Ahalt, 2970 Diane Street, said he felt the City made a gross error by chip-sealing Diane and Barbara Street; that the property owners paid for improvement of these streets in 1979-80, and he would like Council to investigate this new process being used on streets which had been smooth and nice prior to the chip- sealing. A petition was signed by 23 of the 32 people living on these streets requesting they be returned to their prior, smooth condition. Peter Messenger, 2959 Diane Street, expressed concern about the loose stones in the street and felt the project was a waste of tax money. Rick Cottle, 2958 Diane Street, would like streets returned to prior condition. Alsing explained the chip-sealing process, said it was a learning process and finer rocks would be used in the future except on steep streets. He said the loose rock would come up in a very short time. On question from Acklin as to what could be done, he said perhaps a sand finish could be used. Arnold moved to postpone action on the matter until the next meeting; Bennett seconded the motion, which passed as follows: Elerath, Bennett, Laws and Arnold, YES, Acklin, NO. Robert Sposato, 334 High Street, said he cut the hedge from 6 1/2 feet to 4 feet, which was maximum he could trim it without ruining it, and felt it was now safer than before. He wants to vacate the alley for safety of children going to school. Laws pointed out that the City could be liable for an accident because we knew about the hedge but did not enforce our own ordinance. City Attorney Salter pointed out that the Council could close the alley for the next few months until the question of vacation was settled. On question from Arnold as to if he represented all the property owners involved, Sposato said all of the adjacent property owners had signed the petition. Arnold moved to close the alley temporarily after confirming that the property owners had signed the petition. Bennett seconded the motion, which on voice vote, passed unanimously. Marie Morehead, 310 N. Mountain Ave., spoke of her concerns about the condition and safety hazards of Mountain Avenue. A discussion was held concerning the new formula for distribution of gas taxes between cities, counties and the State. The public forum was closed. 6/16/87 P. 4 P~ular Meeting Ashland City Council 6/16/87 P. 5 ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS & CONTRACTS: Transfer of Juris- A resolution was read accepting the transfer of juris- diction, County diction over certain County Roads with the City Limits Roads in exchange for certain County properties. Laws moved to accept the resolution, Arnold seconded the motion. On question from Elerath, Dir. of Public Works Alsing explained that the City would not be accepting any substandard streets. On roll call vote all AYES. (Ref. Reso. #87-26) Hersey Street Impr. Water to Oak Sts. A resolution providing for the installation of curbs, gutter and asphaltic paving on Hersey Street between Water and Oak Streets was read. Acklin moved to adopt the resolution, Bennett seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. (Ref. Reso. #87-27) Interfund Loan A resolution authorizing an interfund loan to the Street Fund was read. Arnold made a motion to adopt the resolution, Acklin seconded the motion which passed unanimously on roll call vote. (Ref. Reso. ~87-28) OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS: Council Vacancy A discussion was held concerning the Notice of Public Hearing for Council Vacancy which had been prepared. The Council agreed to hold oral interviews for position #3 on July 28th, and an election on August 4th, to replace Beverley Bennett who is resigning from the Council effective July 25, 1987. Selection of FBO Elerath complimented the Airport Commission on their handing of the selection of the new Fixed Based Operator at the Ashland Municipal Airport, and felt no operator would be making money but they chose someone who would be able to bring some action to the area. Resident Notifi- cation of City Work Acklin suggested the City should have a policy of notifying citizens when work would be done which would affect them. Alsing said each department notifies residence with door hangars. Acklin feel each department should have a written policy. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:45 P.M. Nan E. FrAnklin City Recorder Gordon Medaris Mayor 6/16/87 P. 5