Agendas and Minutes

City Council (View All)

Council Business Meeting

Agenda
Tuesday, May 15, 2018

MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
MAY 15, 2018
Council Chambers
1175 E. Main Street
 
  1. CALL TO ORDER
 
Mayor Stromberg called the Council Meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
 
  1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
 
  1. ROLL CALL
 
Councilor Morris, Slattery, Seffinger and Rosenthal were present.  Councilor Bachman and Jensen were absent.
 
  1. MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Mayor announced the current Commission vacancies.
 
  1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
    1. Study Session of April 30, 2018
    2. Business Meeting of May 1, 2018
 
Slattery/Rosenthal moved to approve the minutes.  Discussion:  None.  All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.
 
  1. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS
    1. Bike Month Proclamtion and National Bike to Work Week.
 
Councilor Seffinger read the proclamation (see attached). 
 
  1. Annual Presentation by the Wildfire Mitigation Commission
Wildfire Mitigation Commissioner, Bruce Moats and Staff Liaison, Alison Lerch presented Council with a update on the Wildfire Mitigation Commission.
Ms. Lerch announced that last week 13,000 copies of latest Ashland emergency preparedness guide was sent to Ashland residents..  
 
  1. Annual Use of Force Report
 
Police Chief, O’Meara gave the annual report on use of force (see attached).
 
Council discussed service calls.  Chief O’Meara explained that in 2016 there were 21,000 calls for service and in 2017 it went up to 27,000 calls for service.
 
The Use of Force Review Board was discussed.    
 
 
  1. MINUTES OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES
Airport Conservation Forest Lands
Historic Housing and Human Srvs. Parks & Recreation
Planning Public Arts Transportation
Tree Wildfire Mitigation  
 
  1. 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]
 
Kelly Mariotulli – Ashland –Spoke to have a moratorium on 5G Cell Tower at SOU. She gave a handout to Council (see attached).
 
Clarinda Merripen-Ashland- Explained that she is the owner of the Black Sheep.  She spoke regarding new recycling laws. She also spoke against having an Entertainment tax.
 
Allan Widmeyer-Ashland –Spoke against having the Smart Electrical Meters.  He explained that it is affecting the health to everyone in the City. He explained the dangers of electric frequency and urged Council to rid of the meters (see attached).
 
Ivy Ross- Ashland-Spoke against the SOU Cell Tower.  She spoke to her concerns of the Smart Meters.   She spoke to the importance of advocating transparacncy in the community and people having the ability to opt in or opt out.  She suggested a moratorium.  
 
Unmani Cynthia Groves-Ashland –Spoke in concern of the Smart Meters.  She suggested  to replace the Smart Meters with Analog Meters. She gave a handout to Council (see attached).  
 
Jeff Sharpe-Ashland-  Spoke to encourage Council to fulfill the 10x20 Ordinance.  He spoke to the importance and benefits of the 10x20 Ordinance.  He spoke that this project is important for the community and economic development.  He asked Council to consider directing staff to take the steps necessary to move forward.
 
Donna Swanson- Ashland-Spoke in agreement with Ms. Groves statements.
 
Huelz Gutcheon-Ashland – Spoke to the changes in the natural solar market. He spoke that there is no need for smart meters. He spoke that in the last 4 years the solar market as a whole has continued to grow. 
He spoke that the 10x20 needs to have a surveyour and analysis to move forward. 
 
Councilor Slattery questioned if there has been a policy change regarding the meters.  Interim City Administrator, Adam Hanks explained that the policy hasn’t changed and there is a form that you can fill out to opt out and have the option of an anolog meter.
 
  1. CONSENT AGENDA
    1. Appointment of Audit Committee Member
    2. Annual reappointments to Commissions, Committies and Boards
 
Councilor Slattery pulled this item.  Slattery spoke that these terms ended at the end of April proposed for the future to have it done sooner.  Mayor Stromberg explained that the Administrative Assistant is gone so there has been a delay in the process. 
 
  1. Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan Approval
 
Councilor Seffinger spoke to the importance of this document and thanked David Shepard for his work. 
 
  1. Intergovernmental Agreement with Jackson County to Chip Seal East Main Street and Scenic Drive
 
Public Input:
 
Ted Hall and Susan Hall -Ashland-Read a letter into the record regarding astonishment that David Young was not on the list for reappointment (see attached).
 
Seffinger/Morris 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 9:00 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 10:30 p.m. at which time the Council shall set a date for continuance and shall proceed with the balance of the agenda.)
    1. Land Use Decision amending the Comprehensive Plan Map designation and zoning for 475 East Nevada Street
 
Mayor Stromberg read a script (see attached). 
 
Councilor Morris declcared that he drove by the property and spoke with Mike Dockins. He read a statement into the record: “I have not prejudged this application and I am not prejudiced or biased by my prior contacts or involvement or by any personal considerations; I will make this decision based solely on the public interest and the application of the relevant criteria and standards to the facts and evidence in the record of this proceeding.”
 
Senior Planners, Derek Severson and Brandon Goldman presented Council a PowerPoint (see attached).
 
Council discussed the exception
 
Mr. Goldman explained that Staff recommends to require the 3 smaller units over the garage as an optional condition, approve First Reading of the Ordinance and move to Second Reading.
 
Applicant
Amy Gunter- Medford –Rogue Planning and Development Services, LLCSpoke regarding the findings.
She explained final plan approval, site design approvals, inspections still need to be done. She spoke regarding the request to require the 3 additional units above the garage. 
 
She spoke in concern to the impacts of purchasers getting a loan for a duplex and not a single family residence. 
 
She spoke regarding a letter submitted from Brian and Joanne Johns regarding transportation impacts (see attached).  
 
She explained that the proposal shown to not have negative impacts on the intersections.  She spoke of the importance of Ashland dealing with the housing crisis.
 
 
Public Input
 
None.
 
Mayor Stromberg closed the Public Hearing at 8:43 PM
 
Rebuttal
 
None
 
Staff & Council Comments
Councilor Morris questioned if development changes does the zone change. Mr. Goldman explained that a zone change approval would be done in the final plan provision. 
 
Mr. Severson addressed the traffic issues.  He explained that there was a traffic study done and the design was for at least 3000 or more vehicle trips a day.  When the study was done in 2017 only 107 trips were counted. 
 
Morris/Slattery moved to direct Staff to prepare written findings for approval of the proposed Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment and Zone Change, and to incorporate the findings for the Planning Commission’s decision, for Council adoption on June 5, 2018.  Discussion: Morris spoke that it is time to move forward.  Slattery agreed.  He spoke that to the importance of getting affordable housing.  Seffinger spoke that she would be happier with this proposal if the annexation request had at least one of the units was certified aging and life long housing program.
 
Seffinger moved to amend the main motion to require one unit to be as certified aging and life long housing program.  Motion died due to no second.
 
Morris moved to amend the motion to add the condition to include ADUs as recommended by staff. Motion died due to no second.
 
Roll Call Vote to main motion:  Councilor Morris, Slattery Seffinger and Rosenthal: YES. Motion passed unanimously.
 
Slattery/Morris moved approval of first reading of the Ordinance and scheduling of second reading of the Ordinance for June 5, 2018.    Discussion: Mr. Severson read the Ordinance Title: “An Ordinance amending the Comprehensive Plan Map Desigation and Zoning for the properties located at 475 East Nevada Street”.  Roll Call Vote:  Councilor Rosenthal, Morris, Slattery and Seffinger: YES. Motion passed unanimously.  
 
  1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
    1.  None
 
  1. NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
    1. Purchase of Real Property at 1291 Oak Street
 
Public Works Director, Paula Brown gave a Staff report.  She explained that the City could close on the property on June 30th pending Council decision tonight. She spoke that the B Street yard assessment has been done.  She spoke that the appriaisal came in at $1.8-1.9 million.
 
Council discussed possible uses for the property. 
 
Rosenthal/Morris approval to authorize the purchase of 1291 Oak Street, and direct the Interim City Administrator to sign final closing documents at a purchase price of $1,200,000. Discussion: Rosenthal thanked Staff for their work on this. He spoke to the multiple opportunities this will bring to the City. Morris agreed with Rosenthal. Seffinger spoke in agreement with Rosenthal and Morris.  She spoke that this property could possibly be used for affordable housing. Roll Call Vote:  Councilor Rosenthal, Morris, Slattery and Seffinger: YES. Motion passed unanimously. 
 
  1. City Administrator Recruitment Process Update
 
Human Service Director, Tina Gray gave a Staff report. 
 
Ms. Gray went over the proposed selection criteria.  
 
Slattery/Seffinger moved to adopt the criteria as presented.  Discussion:  Slattery spoke that this was a good step to keep things moving. Seffinger spoke in support of the criteria. Roll Call Vote:  Councilor Rosenthal, Morris, Slattery and Seffinger: YES. Motion passed unanimously. 
 
  1. Transportation and Growth Management Grant for Downtown Improvements
 
Ms. Brown gave a brief Staff report.  She spoke that she worked with ODOT on this and explained that  they are in support of the project.  She spoke to the benefits of the possible improvements.  
 
Slattery/Morris moved approval to authorize submission of the City’s TGM grant application and a signature on the letter of support. Discussion:  Slattery spoke in support of the plan. Morris spoke in support but doesn’t like the idea of jurisdictional change unless they fix Water Street.  Bachman spoke in concern of parking and permited parking in residential areas.  Rosenthal spoke that he will support the motion. He spoke that Ashland is ready for change when it comes to renovating the downtown.  Roll Call Vote:  Councilor Rosenthal, Morris, Slattery and Seffinger: YES. Motion passed unanimously.     
 
  1. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND CONTRACTS
    1. Civic Donations Policy
 
City Attorney, David Lohman gave a brief staff report. 
 
Seffinger/Morris moved to approve the proposed Policy on Acceptance of Donations. Discussion:  Seffinger spoke in support of the changes to the policy.  Morris agreed with Seffinger.  Roll Call Vote:  Councilor Rosenthal, Morris, Slattery and Seffinger: YES. Motion passed unanimously.    
 
  1. OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS/REPORTS FROM COUNCIL LIAISONS
 
  1. ADJOURNMENT OF BUSINESS MEETING
 
The Business Meeting was adjourned at 9:40
 
 
Respectfully submitted by:
 
___________________________________________
City Recorder, Melissa Huhtala
 
 
Attest:
 
___________________________________________
Mayor Stromber
 
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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