HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-0624 ADJOURNEDROLL CALL
MINUTES
PUBLIC HEARING
BUDGET
EXTENSION -
PARK LOAN
BUDGET -
BUILDING DEPT.
BUDGET -
PARKS
MINUTES OF ADJOURNED COUNCIL MEETING
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
June 24, 1975
Mayor Prickett called the meeting to order at 7:30
in the Council Chambers on the above date. All member's
were present.
P.M.
McCannon moved for acceptance of the minutes of the
Council meeting of June 17, 1975. Hoffarth seconded, and
there was no opposition.
Mayor Prickett opened the public hearing on the budget.
There was no response from the audience. The Mayor closed
the public hearing.
The request from Ashland Parks and Recreation Commis-
sion for a 90-day extension (to September 30th) on their
$20,000 loan, which had been deferred from previous meeting
was next considered. Laws moved to grant the extension to
December 31, 1975. McDowell seconded, and passed unani-
mously on roll call vote.
Mayor Prickett asked for discussion of the 1975-76
budget. Hoffarth moved that funding of the Building Depart-
ment be for only a three-months period to allow time for
transition of inspection duties to the County, and stated
he felt we are duplicating County responsibilities. Ragland
seconded. Allen commented that the Budget Committee had
previously asked that such action be analyzed during the
year. The Mayor reviewed action of the Budget Committee -
that a motion to delete the building department had been
defeated, and that a motion to delete one man from depart-
ment was also defeated. Laws commented that our finances
are such that we will not be able to afford a building
department next year. Ragland suggested that the policing
function could probably be transferred to Planning Techni-
cian Himes when the comprehensive plan is completed. It was
also suggested that the chief building inspector CChamberlai
could be transferred to another department. On roll call
vote on the motion, Hoffarth, Ragland and Laws voted YES,
McCannon, McDowell and Allen voted NO. Mayor Prickett broke
the tie with a NO vote, saying he could not be in favor of
closing the department until he knew if the County is able
to make the inspections in a manner satisfactory to the CitN
Allen volunteered to serve on a committee to investi-
gate the ability of the County to do our building inspection
The Mayor appointed Allen chairman of the committee and aske
Hoffarth to serve with Allen.
Hoffarth said he could not vote for a budget which in-
cluded the proposed parks budget, and asked if the Parks and
Recreation budget could be separated from the rest of the
budget. Nelson said he did not think we are legally permit-
ted to separate the budgets, and pointed out that we are
facing a June 30th deadline. Mayor Prickett pointed out
the proposed Parks budget includes only one thousand dollars
for capital outlay, and he did not want to see any capital
construction projects which would require force account
Minutes of Adjourned Council Meeting
June 24, 1975
BUDGET -
PARKS
work from Park crews. Allen said he felt strongly that the
Parks salary should be reduced by $4,400 Lone-quarter year
of Directors' salary). Hoffarth said this is also his ob-
jection to the proposed budget. Park Commission Chairman
Bennett assured Council that the Commission was now aware of
things they did not know before and would take firm control'
of expenditures with assistance of City Finance Director.
Joe Cowley, Medford Mail Tribune reporter, asked Bennett if
McGuire's resignation had been asked for before or after
McGuire's recent vacation. Bennett said he could not commen~
on that, but the answer should be obvious. Allen said he
feels the Park Commission should run the park, but a large
part of salaries is derived from transfers to Recreation,
which is budgeted by the Council.
Hoffarth and Bennett discussed resignation by Parks
employee Steve Shapiro and his offer to be interim Director
of Parks and Recreation at the same salary he is currently
receiving. Mayor Prickett stopped the discussion, saying
the laws on public meetings provided for closed sessions to
discuss personnel. McCannon said Council is also getting
into field of park management which the Charter prescribes
to be under the control of the elected commissioners.
McDowell asked for adoption of Parks budget as proposed
by Nelson, with addition of $1,000 to Capital Outlay and
$1,000 to delayed rehires (to enable Commission to comply
with intent of $1,000 donation for playground equipment).
No opposition was expressed.
BUDGET ORDINANCE
RESOLUTION
$35,000 LOAN
TO PARKS
Nelson gave first reading of "An ordinance adopting the
annual budget, making appropriations and levying taxes for
the period of July 1, 1975, to and including June 30, 1976,
such taxes in the sum of $370,022 upon all the real and
personal property subject to assessment and levy within the
corporate limits of the City of Ashland, Jackson County,
Oregon, said levy to be in accordance with the particular
appropriations mentioned herein, and declaring an emergency.'
McCannon moved ordinance to a second reading. McDowell
seconded, and passed on roll call vote with Ragland, McCannor
Laws, McDewell and Allen in favor, Hoffarth opposed.
Nelson Presented a resolution for an interfunu loan
from the Cemetery Trust Fund to the Parks and Recreation Fund
in the amount of $35,000 to December 31, 1975, at a five per-
cent interest rate, and explained that this loan would enabl~
the Parks Dep't to meet its accounts payable and salary ob-
ligations for June. Mayor Prickett suggested that Park fund.~
be kept separate from Recreation funds. Bennett said they
actually have three separate funds - Parks, Recreation, and
Senior Forum. Nelson said he will keep the funds separated,
and proposed that the transfers to Recreation in 75-76 will
be done on a monthly basis as needed for the recreation pro-
grams.
McCannon moved for adoption of the resolution. Laws
seconded, and motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.
RESOLUTION -
$19,000 LOAN
TO PARKS
EMPLOYEE CLAIM
SKI LIFT
ADJOURNMENT
Nelson next presented a resolution authorizing inter-
fund loans from the Cemetery Trust Fund to Parks and Recrea-
tion in an aggregate amount not to exceed $19,000 at five
per cent interest and to be repaid not later than December
31, 1975. He explained that the amount of tax receipts
between July first and the end of November is comparitively
small, but park expenses are.hig~during that time. He said
the tax receipts during November and December should enable
the ~arks Department to repay all loans by December 3tst,
buti,will then need to request loans again after the first of
1976~0n which to operate. His proposed Parks Department
budgets through 1978-79 would provide for decreasing amounts
of loans, but he speculated that there may be a need for
interim assistance each year prior to the majority of tax
receipts in November and December. Hoffarth speculated that
the $19,000 may not be enough for the coming months, to whic
the Mayor replied that the Parks Department can budget their
available dollars like all the other departments do in the
City. Laws suggested approval of smaller loans on a monthly
basis, but Nelson said he would prefer approval of the total
amount now, but that the actual loans would be processed on
a monthly basis, and he would furnish the Council with
monthly reports.
Administrator Almquist presented a letter from Sidney
Ainsworth, attorney for Karl Brostad, a former employee of
the City Cemetery Department. Almquist also presented his
answer to Ainsworth by letter of June 20th, and recommended
that the Council deny the claim. Laws moved'that the claim
be denied.- Allen seconded, and motion passed unanimously
on roll call vote. ~
Mayor Prickett reported that the Mt. Ashland Winter
Park and Recreation Facility, Inc., has'made application
for a grant for a chair lift at the ski facility, and that
a letter had been drafted to the Rogue Valley Council of
Governments in which the City supports the concept of the
chair lift but urges that no construction or implementation
of the plan be commenced until completion of an environmenta
impact study and report acceptable to the City of Ashland
and the Department of Environmental Quality. None of the
Council members objected to the letter.
At 8:30 p.m. Mayor Prickett adjourned the meeting to
4:00 P.M. on Thursd , June 26th.
Mayor ~ Recorder
- 3 - June 24, 1975