Agendas and Minutes

City Council (View All)

Study Session

Agenda
Monday, October 05, 2009

MINUTES FOR CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION

Monday, October 5, 2009

Siskiyou Room, 51 Winburn Way

 

 

Mayor Stromberg called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.

 

Councilor Voisin, Navickas, Lemhouse, Jackson, Silbiger and Chapman were present.

 

1.     Look Ahead Review

City Administrator Martha Bennett reviewed the items on the Council Look Ahead.

 

2.     Discussion regarding Fire Prevention and Life Safety Inspections.

Fire Chief John Karns provided the staff report that recommended instituting Fire Prevention and Life Safety Inspections for businesses and multi-family residences three units and above.  The Fire Marshal and Inspector or Suppression members would execute inspections depending on the expertise required.  The State of Oregon requires certification for inspections and the Fire Department was currently going through the training process.  Public education would occur in advance of the inspections.  The Fire Department would rotate inspections every two years and eventually the entire department will have inspected all 1,800 buildings. Normally inspections would occur yearly but with the current budget and staffing every two years was reasonable.

 

Chief Karns went on to explain the fee structure was based on the salary of two Fire Department employees, the occupancy type, square footage and inspection time.  Penalties for non-compliance would include a fine and business license suspensions or revocations.  The Fire Prevention and Life Safety Inspection program would improve the City’s fire mitigation rating with the Insurance Services Office (ISO).  Revenue generated from the fee collection would pay for associated costs, advanced training for the Fire Department and fund the Fire Inspector position. 

 

Council consensus was to move forward with the program.

 

3.     Discussion regarding the Summary of Citizen Feedback on Council Goals, Values, and Vision and the Next Steps. 

Management Analyst Ann Seltzer handed out additional feedback and summarized the public input received regarding Council Goals, Values and Vision. 

 

Public input was supportive of the goals with the exception of the following:

·         Social Equity Goal #1; Complete the development of affordable housing on Clay Street

·         Social Equity Goal #2; Conduct a comprehensive study of Ashland’s homeless, and

·         Public Facilities Goal #1; Develop a plan to replace Fire Station #2

 

Ms. Seltzer noted that the Values section received the most feedback with the majority of responders supportive.  The Vision Statement was supportive but based on public comment there seemed to be difficulty distinguishing between a vision as a statement of future condition versus a statement of present condition.     

 

Staff went on to discuss next steps.  Council could review the public input regarding the goals and incorporate it into the January Goal Setting Session.  For Values and Visions, staff recommended establishing a sub-committee to go through public responses and produce a re-draft for Council prior to the Goal Setting Session. 

 

Council and staff discussed sub-committee participant pros and cons and designated Councilor Voisin and Lemhouse to form a sub committee to work on the re-draft.

 

Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Dana Smith

Assistant to the City Recorder

 

 

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