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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-0601 REG MIN~INUTES FOR REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL June 1, 1971 The regular meeting of the City Council was held in the C~ty Council Chambers, City Hall, on the above date. The meeting was called to order by Mayor McKeen. 'All councilmem were present with the exception of Councilman Conklin. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Some minor corrections to the minutes of May 18, 1971, were noted: a. Councilman Roble noted that on Page 3, the student to be hired was to be IN uniform. b. Also on Page 3, at the bottom, Councilman Willstatter noted that the letter had been written ON BEHALF of the mill, rather than "to". c. On Page 5, the representative from the Oregon College of Art was Mr. WALSH, not Waters. d. Also on Page 5, Councilman Willstatter noted that the City Council had no control over the college parking lots. Councilman Roberts moved that the minutes be approved as amended. Councilman Willstatter seconded, and the motion was carried unani- mously. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS: None STANDING COB~ITTEE REPORTS: a. Finance and property Committee: None b. Public Service Committee: Report on action taken relative to Oak Knoll Golf Course: Roble requested the report be deferred until the next meet- ing due to the absence of Conklin who carried the bulk of the report. c. Streets and Traffic Committee: Willstatter had been asked by the absent Conklin to report to the Council that the Streets and Traffic Committee recommend approval of the following items; 1. Installation of stop sign at High and Church Streets. 2. Establishment of one-way traffic on Hillcrest Avenue. 3. Establishment of parking prohibitions on the east side of Hargadine Street, between First and Pioneer Streets. 4. Continuation of parking prohibitions in the'vicinity of Southern Oregon College, as set forth in Ordinance No. 1670 -2- ' c. 4. (cont.) adopted on an interim basis for 120'days. 5. A new item: recommendation for establishment of a stop sign at Scenic and Grandview Avenues due to poor visibility. It was noted that Item 2 on the agenda (recOmmendation for establishment of one-way traffic on Hillcrest Avenue) was deferred for further study. Roberts moved, and Roble seconded, be drafted into resolutions by the carried unanimously. The Mayor so that the recommendations City Attorney. Motion instructed Mr. Salter. COMMUNICATIONS: (Oral from the Audience) No items were introduced by the audience. COmmUNICATIONS: (Written) Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of May 10, 1971: McCannon moved, and Willstatter seconded, that the minutes be accepted and placed on file. On roll call, carried unanimously. Minutes of the Ashland Development Commission meeting of May 14, 1971: Willstatter moved, and McCannon seconded, that the minutes be accepted and placed on file. On roll call carried unanimously. Minutes of the Economic Development Commission meeting of May 19, 1971: It was noted by Willstatter that in Paragraph 3 of these minutes, on April 7, 1970, the Mayor had been given the authority to appoint a committee to study stringent uniform building codes and bring them into a more realistic rule in order to assist the Ashland building codes and bring them into a more a c i Roble made a point about the League of Women Voters. in the minutes. It was then moved by Roble, and seconded by Soderberg, that the minutes be accepted and placed on file with the notes attached. Pedestrian Safety Award from AAA for 1969 National Pedestrian Safety Contest for cities of 10,000 to 25,000 population: City Administrator Almquist presented the City Council with a special citation from the Auto Club of Oregon in association with the Automobile Association of America for pedestrian safety. He recommended that the award be accepted and placed on display in the City Hall. Chief Hays noted that there were no pedestrian fa£alities in 67-68-69 and no pedestrian injuries in those years. There had been only one traffic fatality in Ashland in the past 3 years. (cont.) McCannon moved to follow the recommendat'ion of the City Administrator. Willstatter seconded, with the added recommendation that a letter of appreciation be sent to AAA in recognition of Ashland's achievement. Motion carried, and the Mayor instructed City Administrator Almquist to write a letter. SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS: a. Unfinished Business: None b. New and Miscellaneous Business; 8:00 p.m. Public Hearing: To consider the construction of street improvements on Willow Street, from Orange Avenue to Otis Street, and to hear protests against said improvement by the owners of adjacent property. City Administrator Almquist received a petition from 58% of the residents (representing S properties). Mr. Nielsen rose from the audience questioning the costs of improve- ments. The Mayor pointed out that the usual way was to give approximate figures. The City Engineer said it was only an estimate at this time; the unit cost would be known at the time bids were received; then only the actual amount for rock and asphalt would be needed. He noted that esti- mates in the past had been very close to actual cost. Willstatter noted that if there was to be a raise in cost of any significant amount, the City would go back to the residents for approval. Roble said the cost quoted was only $9.84 and asked if there was a maximum price. Alsing said this was a "reasonable" figure. Mr. Fred Quinn of 419 Willow Street, who lives on a corner, was opposed to the paving. There would then be more traffic and expense because persons who had formerly avoided the route cause of narrow access would then use it. Mr. Roberrs said in order for the City to follow a reason- ably consistent policy long-standing, that upon receipt of a petition by residents to go ahead and make street improvements. Mr. Quinn noted the price and asked if this would raise in the 3-4 years if the work were not done until then. Mr. Alsing said the paving would be done this year, at least curbs and gutters in for sure. No billing would be done until fall due to assessing. Willstatter pointed out the interest rate was now 6% (down from 7%). Mr~ Larry Baines of 420 Wilow Street wanted to know if the water pipe would be replaced before paving was done. Mr. AlSing said it would. -4- (cont.) McCannon wanted to know if there would be an increase in property value as compared to before paving and street improvements. Alsing replied there was no way to determine a value increase. The City Attorney noted that if 2/3 of the land owners say "NO" the City cannot proceed with such work. However, it was pointed out by Meta Baines that S out of 6 property owners on the street were in favor of the paving. Roble moved, and Roberts seconded improvements to be ordered in. Motion carried unanimously on roll call. The public Hearing was closed. Request by Councilwoman Audrey Soderberg for consideration of Charter Amendment relative to salary of Recorder-Treas- urer. Soderberg requested to place this item on the agenda for a special election setting the salary of the Recorder -Treasurer. Roble moved to table this item, pending further investigation. Roberts seconded. Willstatter asked the cost of a special election, to which City Recorder Bartelt replied it was from $400 to $800. The difference in the original and proposed salary was $500 to $600. The motion was carried on roll call unanimously, with Soderberg voting "YES" to table the motion in deference to the rest of the council members. Receipt of budget from Budget Committee; setting a date a hearing; and directing publication of proposed budget summary. for City Administrator Almquist recommended June 22, 1971, as the first meeting to consider the proposed budget as amended by the Budget Committee. It was noted that law requires publication not less than 15 days prior to adoption. Roble moved to hold the meeting as per the recommendation of the City Administrator, and Willstatter seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Report by the Planning Commission recommending amendment to the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance relative to filing fees and setting a date for a hearing before the Council to consider said amendments. City Administrator Almquist read the report by the Planning Commission. The rationale for setting fees depended on the time involved for processing and to encourage development and orderly growth. -5- Almquist recommended that the matter of adopting the revised fee structure be set for a public hearing on June 15, 1971, at 8:00 p.m. McCannon asked how close the fees come to meeting costs, to which Almquist replied that they were quite close. Roble asked whether the members of the Plan- ning Commission or a representative be at the public hear- ing in order to answer any questions and defend position, and it was assured there would be someone. Roble moved, and McCannon seconded; on roll call, motion carried unanimously. The Mayor set the hearing as recom- mended. c. Ordinances, Resolutions and Contracts; First reading of Ordinance continuing parking prohibitions in the vicinity of Southern Oregon College as set forth in Ordinance No. 1670, adopted on an interim basis for 120 days. City Administrator gave the first reading of the proposed Ordinance. The Mayor noted this was mentioned earlier in the session (in "Standing Committee Reports"). Willstatter moved to pass to a second reading; Roberts seconded. Soder- berg noted that some Ashland Street residents had complained about access to the street, and the ordinance did not cover it. The motion was passed to a second reading. 2. Second reading of Ordinance #1680 repealing Ordinance No. 1267 which related to juries in the Municipal Court. City Administrator Almquist gave the second reading of proposed ordinance. McCannon moved for passage, and Soderberg seconded. the Roble asked the City Attorney whether this was mandatory, to which Salter replied it was simply a housekeeping ordi- nance to change the procedure for jury selection, and al~o the amount paid to jurors. It would eliminate the "pre-payment" bond-posting by defendants found unconstitu- tional by the Oregpn State Court, as noted by both Soder- berg and Willstatter. McCannon noted the number of trials was flexible per year, averaging perhaps three or so. Roble asked how the costs would be recovered, and whether the defendant (if found guilty) could be assessed these costs by the judge. Salter replied that it was possible for the costs or part of them to be assessed if the defend- ant should be found guilty, but that the judge should NOT be instructed to do so. He also noted that this ordinance was mandatory by provision of the charter. On roll call, Roble voted "NO"; all others "YES". Motion ~arried. The mayor decreed the Ordinance #1680 be adopted. There being no further business, to the call of the Mayor. the meeting was adjourned subject Respectfully submitted, W. E. Bartelt Recorder nck