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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