MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Held Electronically
View on Channel 9 or Channels 180 and 181 (for Charter Communications customers) or live stream via rvtv.sou.edu select RVTV Prime.
Note: As the April 7 Council meeting will be held electronically, written testimony will be accepted via email to council@ashland.or.us on both general public forum items and agenda items as long as they are submitted before Monday, April 6 at 10 a.m. Written testimonies submitted by the deadline will be available to the City Council before the meeting and will be included in the meetings minutes.
Note: Items on the Agenda not considered due to time constraints are automatically continued to the next regularly scheduled Council meeting [AMC 2.04.030.E.]
- CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Stromberg called the Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Mayor Stromberg gave overview of the structure of the Zoom meeting.
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- ROLL CALL
Councilors’ Slattery, Graham, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen were present. Councilor Akins was absent.
- MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
- CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
City Administrator Kelly Madding announced that this will be her last Council Meeting with the City of Ashland. She announced that she will be working at the City of Medford. She thanked Council and Staff.
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES
- Study Session of March 16, 2020
- Business Meeting of March 17, 2020
Rosenthal/Slattery moved to approve the minutes. Discussion: None. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.
- SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS
- Extension of COVID-19 Declaration of Emergency
City Attorney David Lohman gave a Staff report.
Council discussed housing the homeless.
Jensen/Graham moved to extend the COVID-19 Declaration of Emergency for two more weeks. Discussion: Jensen spoke that this is needed. Graham agreed with Jensen. Slattery agreed with the motion. He spoke in agreement with motion. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Graham, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES. Motion passed unanimously.
- COVID-19 Update & Discussion
City Administrator Kelly Madding gave an update on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Items discussed were:
- Economic Development.
- Homelessness.
- City Functions.
- Providing Essential Services.
- MINUTES OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES
- PUBLIC FORUM Business from the audience not included on the agenda.
(Total time allowed for Public Forum is 15 minutes. The Mayor will set time limits to enable all people wishing to speak to complete their testimony.) [15 minutes maximum]
See Note above for how to submit written testimony for Public Forum.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY SUBMITTED
- CONSENT AGENDA
- Approval of Personal Services Contract for Wastewater Treatment Plant Disinfection System Upgrade
Rosenthal pulled this item.
Public Works Director Paula Brown gave a brief Staff report. She explained that this is critical and Staff recommends approval. Brown discussed the funding for this project.
- Resolution 2020-05 Approving Banking Signatures
- Ashland Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Grant Application
- OHRA Meal Delivery Program
Rosenthal/Seffinger moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Discussion: None. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.
- PUBLIC HEARINGS (Persons wishing to speak are to submit a “speaker request form” prior to the commencement of the public hearing. Public hearings shall conclude at 8:00 p.m. and be continued to a future date to be set by the Council, unless the Council, by a two-thirds vote of those present, extends the hearing(s) until up to 9:30 p.m. at which time the Council shall set a date for continuance and shall proceed with the balance of the agenda.)
- UNFINISHED BUSINESS
- Capital Financing Bond Discussion
Slattery spoke regarding the Capital Financial Bond issue.
Council discussed options on addressing this issue.
Graham spoke to the importance of being proactive. She spoke regarding the economic uncertainty. She spoke regarding the importance and benefits of the Bond.
Council discussed the estimated cost for citizens if the bond is approved.
- NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
- Intergovernmental Agreement for Jurisdictional Exchange of Clay Street and Paradise Lane
Public Works Director Scott Fleury gave a Staff report.
Rosenthal/Jensen moved approve the Intergovernmental Agreement with Jackson County. Discussion: Rosenthal acknowledged the great work of staff. Jensen spoke in support of the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Graham, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES. Motion passed unanimously.
- ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND CONTRACTS
- Mayoral Appointment of Adam Hanks as the Interim City Administrator.
Madding gave a brief Staff report.
Jensen/Slattery moved to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Adam Hanks as the Interim City Administrator and authorize the Mayor to sign the related employment agreement. Discussion: Jensen spoke in support of the motion. Slattery agreed with Jensen. Rosenthal spoke in support of the motion. He spoke regarding Hanks years of knowledge and experience working at the City. Seffinger and Graham spoke in agreement with Jensen and Slattery. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Graham, Rosenthal, Seffinger and Jensen: YES. Motion passed unanimously.
- Mayoral Appointment of Bryn Morrison as the Interim Finance Director
Graham/Slattery moved to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Bryn Morrison as the Interim Finance Director and authorize the Mayor to sign the related employment agreement. Discussion: Graham spoke to the importance of leadership and that Morrison will be great for our Interim Finance Director. Slattery spoke in support of Morrison. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Graham, Rosenthal, Seffinger and Jensen: YES. Motion passed unanimously.
Madding announced that Staff is in the recruitment process for a Finance Director and the appointment for Morrison is only through August.
- Mayoral Appointment of Scott Fleury as the Interim Public Works Director
Seffinger/Rosenthal moved to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Scott Fleury as the Interim Public Works Director and authorize the Mayor to sign the related employment agreement. Discussion: Seffinger spoke in support of the motion. She spoke that she has had a great working relationship working with Fleury on the Transportation Commission. Rosenthal spoke in spoke in support of Fleury. Jensen spoke in support of Fleury. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Graham, Rosenthal, Seffinger and Jensen: YES. Motion passed unanimously.
- OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS/REPORTS FROM COUNCIL LIAISONS
- ADJOURNMENT OF BUSINESS MEETING
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Administrator's office at (541) 488-6002 (TTY phone number 1-800-735-2900). Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title I).
