Agendas and Minutes

City Council (View All)

Council Business Meeting

Agenda
Tuesday, May 19, 2020

 MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, May 19, 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 May 19 Council meeting will be held electronically, written testimony will be accepted via email to public-testimony@ashland.or.us both general public forum items and agenda items as long as they are submitted with the subject line: May 19 Council Meeting Testimony before Monday, May 18 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.]
6:00 p.m.  Regular Meeting
  1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Stromberg called the Business Meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
  1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
  2. ROLL CALL
Councilors’ Slattery, Graham, Akins, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen were present.
  1. MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Stromberg announced the current Commission and Committee vacancies.
 
He also gave an update on COVID.
  1. CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Interim City Administrator Adam Hanks gave a Staff report. 
  1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
    1. Study Session of May 4, 2020
    2. Business Meeting of May 5, 2020
Rosenthal/Slattery moved to approve the minutes.  Discussion:  None.  All Ayes.  Motion passed unanimously.
  1. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS
    1. Annual Use of Force Report
Chief O’Meara gave a staff report.
  1. Third Quarter Financial Statements
Interim Finance Director Bryn Morrison gave a Staff report.
  1. Extension of COVID-19 Emergency Declaration
Interim City Administrator Adam Hanks gave a Staff report.

Council discussed Phase 1.
Council discussed getting the Commissions up and running.
  1. MINUTES OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES
Airport Budget Conservation
Historic Housing and Human Srvs. Parks & Recreation
Forest Lands Climate Policy Cost Review
Planning Public Arts Transportation
Tree Wildfire Mitigation  
  1. PUBLIC FORUM Business from the audience not included on the agenda.
To view submitted Public Testimony click here
 
(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.
 
  1. CONSENT AGENDA
    1. Department of Land Conservation and Development Grant Application to Update Ashland’s Housing Needs Analysis and Boards
    2. Award of Public Improvement Contract to Infinity Electrical Contractors for The Grove EOC Emergency Power Supply System
    3. Approval of Liquor License for Winchester Inn, LLC
Graham pulled this item.  Fleury gave a brief Staff report. 
Graham/Rosenthal moved to approve the consent agenda.  Discussion: None. All Ayes.  Motion passed unanimously
  1. 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.)
    1. Public Hearing and First Reading of an Ordinance Amending Title 18 Land Use of the Ashland Municipal Code Relating to Plaza Space Requirements for Large Scale Buildings within the C-1-D Zone and Downtown Design Standards Overlay
Bill Molnar and Brandon Goldman presented Council with a Staff report and presented a PowerPoint (see attached).
Items discussed were:
  • Large Scale Standards.
  • Updated Development Standards.
  • Detail Site Review Overlay.
  • Downtown Applicability.
  • 1, 2, & 3 Story Building Examples.
  • Downtown Design Standards and Regulations.
Jensen/Slattery moved to approve First Reading, and schedule Second Reading of the proposed amendments to Chapter 18.4.2 and 18.61 of the Ashland Land Use Ordinance [with the following changes. This motion is based on findings and conclusions in the Staff report, and findings in support of the application made during deliberations on this matter. Discussion: Jensen spoke that this is a smart thing to do.  He spoke that it was supported unanimously by the Planning Commission.  Slattery spoke in agreement with Jensen. He spoke that this allows people to make use of the space. Akins spoke in disagreement of the motion.  Roll Call Vote:  Slattery, Graham, Seffinger, Rosenthal, Jensen: YES.  Akins: NO.  Motion passed 5-1.
  1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
    1. Summary of 2019 Aerial Drone Fire Patrol and Request for Extension of the Intergovernmental Agreement with Rogue Valley Council of Governments for Fire Season Drone Detection
Wildfire Division Chief Chris Chambers gave a Staff report. He presented Council with a PowerPoint (see attached).
 
Items discussed were:
  • Reasons to use a Drone Detection program.
  • Natural resource damage from illegal camping.
  • Fire ignition risks from illegal camping.
  • Ignition sources found near OSF in Lithia Park.
  • Wildfires caused by camping.
  • Proposed patrol program approval.
  • Pre-programmed flight route.
  • Infrared detection imagery.
  • Infrared heat detection and location.
  • Budget allocation & 2019 costs.
  • 2019 patrol results.
  • 2020 Adjustments anticipated.
Jensen/Rosenthal moved to approve the extension of the City of Ashland’s 2019 Intergovernmental Agreement with the Rogue Valley Council of Governments for the purpose of wildfire prevention until June 30, 2021. Discussion:  Jensen spoke that this is essential. Rosenthal spoke in support of the motion and the importance of health and safety.  Graham spoke that she is not really enthusiastic of drones but recognizes the issues that we have.  Akins spoke in appreciation of the Chiefs’ report but spoke that she is not in favor of this motion.  Roll Call Vote: Jensen, Rosenthal, Slattery, Graham, Seffinger: YES.  Akins: NO.  Motion passed 5-1.
  1. Recommendations from the Cost Review Ad-Hoc Committee
Cost Review Ad-Hoc Committee Chair Slattery gave a Staff report. Slattery read a letter into the record (see attached). 
Council discussed the Ambulance Service deadline.
Council decided to schedule a Study Session regarding the Ambulance Service.  
Hanks suggested that Councilors send any additional recommendations to Staff.
Graham/Slattery moved to approve the Cost Reduction/Efficiency/PERS & Healthcare Strategies Ad Hoc Committee recommendations as follows "Changing the deadline of June 30, 2020 to October 31st 2020”.  Discussion:  Graham spoke that this was great work by the Ad-Hoc Committee.  She spoke that she would like to discuss how to move forward with the recommended list and additional questions.  Jensen spoke to the importance of this work and agreed with the time extension.  Seffinger spoke in support of the time extension and the importance of community involvement. Roll Call Vote:  Jensen, Rosenthal, Seffinger, Akins, Graham and Slattery: YES.  Motion passed unanimously.
 
Graham/Slattery moved to direct Staff to compile additional suggestions regarding cost savings from the Council and to bring the list back to Council to make a decision on which items the Council would like to add to the Cost Ad-Hoc Committee recommendation list. Discussion: Graham spoke to the importance of looking at items that could be added and moving forward with what the Council agrees to.  Slattery agreed with Graham. Seffinger and Jensen spoke in support of the motion.  Graham suggested a proposed deadline.
Graham moved to amend the motion to include a deadline of 2 weeks from now for Councilors to get information to Hanks. Discussion:  None.  Slattery, Graham, Akins, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES.  Motion passed unanimously.
Main Motion Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Graham, Akins, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES.  Motion passed unanimously.
  1. NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
  2. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND CONTRACTS
    1. Second Reading of an Ordinance Amending Procedures in AMC 2.04.030 for Placing Items on Agendas for Business Meetings
 
City Attorney David Lohamn gave a Staff report and explained that there have been no changes to the Ordinance.
 
Rosenthal/Jensen moved to approve the second reading of an Ordinance amending procedures in AMC 2.04.030 for placing items n agendas for Business Meetings.  Discussion:  None.  Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Graham, Akins, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES.  Motion passed unanimously. 
  1. Resolution 2020-06 Amending the Goals, Criteria, and Requirements for the Economic Development, Cultural, Tourism, and Sustainability Grant Program
Mayor Stromberg gave Adam gave a brief Staff report.
 
Council discussed totals for restricted and unrestricted funds.
 
(Seffinger exited the meeting)
 
Jensen/Graham moved to approve Resolution 2020-06 as amended. Discussion: It was clarified to remove line 2 in Item 1. Akins spoke in concerns of the motion.  Graham spoke regarding concerns of restrictions but also spoke regarding the importance of moving forward in the tourist economy for this year.  Rosenthal spoke in support of the motion.  Roll Call Vote:  Slattery, Graham, Rosenthal, Jensen: YES.  Akins: NO.  Motion passed 4-1.  
  1. Resolution 2020-07 Allocating Anticipated Transient Occupancy Tax Tourism Restricted Revenues for Fiscal Year 2021 and Repealing Resolution 2019-17
Hanks gave a Staff report.  
Rosenthal/Slattery moved to approve Resolution 2020-07 as amended.  Discussion: Rosenthal spoke that this is a step forward to reorganize funding that best impacts the Community.  He spoke in appreciation of Staff working on this Resolution.  Hanks questioned if the establishment of the dollar amount.  Rosenthal clarified that $80,000 on line 22 is allotted for Tourism Grants. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Graham, Akins, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES.  Motion passed unanimously.     
  1. OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS/REPORTS FROM COUNCIL LIAISONS
  2. ADJOURNMENT OF BUSINESS MEETING
 
The Business Meeting was Adjourned at 9:35 PM.
 
Respectfully submitted by:
_________________________________________
City Recorder Melissa Huhtala
 
Attest:
_________________________________________
Mayor Stromberg
 
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).

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