MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Council Chambers
1175 E. Main Street
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 Business Meeting to order at 7:02 PM.
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- ROLL CALL
Councilor Bachman, Morris, Slattery, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen were present.
- MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Stromberg announced current Commission and Committee vacancies.
- Proclamation for Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES
- Study Session of September 17, 2018
- Business Meeting of September 18, 2018
Seffinger/Rosenthal moved to approve the minutes. Discussion: None. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.
- SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS
- 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]
Kristina Lefever – Ashland- Spoke regarding eliminating the use of pesticides. She spoke regarding the Farm Bill section 9101. She spoke in concern if this bill passes and could undo what cities have already done to be pesticide free. Ms. Lefever sent a letter to Council regarding this issue
(see attached). Slattery suggested for Staff to work on a Resolution in support of this issue. Council agreed.
- CONSENT AGENDA
- Disposal of Surplus Transformers and Hardesty Gas Station
- Fourth Quarter Financial Report
Slattery pulled this item. Administrative Services Director Mark Welch gave a Staff report. He spoke that this report shows a whole fiscal year. He spoke that there were many positives. He spoke that there was an anticipated one-million-dollar decrease in the General Fund however we came in $400,000 positive. He spoke that Central Service Fund also came in positive.
Slattery/Bachman 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 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.)
- Sale of a City-Owned Open Space Park Program Parcel Located at 380 Clay Street and known as parcel 391E11C Tax Lot 2504 and Purchase of Land for a Future Park Located at 0 E. Main and known as Parcel 391E11CB Tax Lot 200
City Administrator Kelly Madding gave a brief Staff report.
Parks Director Michael Black and Parks Commission Chair Mike Gardiner and Jackson County Development Director Ryan Haynes went over a PowerPoint
(see attached).
Items discussed were:
- Taxlot 2504 background.
- Dog Park and YMCA Park Concept.
- Existing park conditions.
- Proposed sale of taxlot 2504.
- Taxlot 200 background.
- Proposed purchase of taxlot 200.
- Disposal of parks land,
Mayor Stromberg opened the Public Hearing opened at 8:00 PM
Public Input:
Albert Pepe- Ashland- Spoke in concern of the issue. He spoke in support of affordable housing.
Carol Voisin – Ashland – Read a statement into the record
(see attached).
Council discussed development options and budget.
Mayor Stromberg closed Public Hearing 8:22 PM.
Seffinger/Bachman moved to approve the surplus and disposal of 2.57 acres of land, known as parcel 391E22C lot 2504, and its subsequent removal from the Open Space Parks Program. Discussion: Seffinger spoke in support of the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Morris, Bachman, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.
Rosenthal/Jensen moved to approve the purchase of 5.5 acres of land, known as parcel 391E11CB Lot 200, conditioned upon the successful sale and close of Lot 2504, and the addition of Lot 200 to the rolls of the Open Space Park Program. Discussion: Rosenthal spoke in support of the motion. Jensen spoke in support of the motion and thanked the Parks Department. Slattery spoke in support of the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Morris, Bachman, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.
- UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
- NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
- Safe Routes to School Grant Application Approval
Ms. Madding gave a Staff report.
Bachman/Jensen moved to approve a City of Ashland Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Grant Application for $1,682,411, understanding this will require $336,482 match by the City from the Street Fund that will be realized in in the 2019-21 biennial budget process. Discussion: Bachman spoke to the importance of keeping kids safe. Jensen agreed with Bachman. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Morris, Bachman, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.
- ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND CONTRACTS
- Housing Planning Assistance Memorandum of Understanding with Department of Land Conservation and Development
Ms. Madding gave a brief Staff report.
Bachman/Slattery moved to approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the Oregon Dept. of Land Conservation and Development and the City of Ashland. Discussion: Bachman and Slattery spoke in support of the motion. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Morris, Bachman, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.
- Annual Liquor License Renewal: Stop N Shop Market and Vinyl Club
Ms. Madding gave a brief Staff report.
Chief O’Meara and Dave Luster Investigator from Oregon Liquor Commission (OLCC) gave a Staff report. Council discussed steps to be taken if they voted no to renew the Vinyl Club’s Liquor License. Mr. Luster spoke that a letter would have to be written and sent to OLCC; from there they would look into putting a restriction on the license or deny it entirely.
Jensen/Morris moved that Stop and Shop’s liquor license be endorsed for renewal without restrictions. Discussion: None. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Morris, Bachman, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.
Jensen moved approval of the renewal of the liquor license for the Vinyl Club. No second. Motion died.
Rosenthal/Bachman moved to recommend to OLCC that the liquor license for the Vinyl Club not be renewed. Discussion: Rosenthal spoke that there has been no improvement for years and it is time to take action and send a process in motion. Bachman, Slattery and Jensen agreed with Rosenthal. Slattery/Rosenthal moved to suspend the rules to ask questions. Discussion: None. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Stromberg questioned if there have been violations with the City’s nuisance Ordinance that led to enforcement. Chief O’Meara answered that they have not been 3 in 30 days. He explained that it is subjective depending on the neighborhood. Roll Call Vote to main motion: Slattery, Morris, Bachman, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.
- Contract for Design/Engineering for Water Treatment Plant
Ms. Madding gave a brief Staff report. Planning Director Paula Brown spoke regarding the Water Treatment Plant.
Seffinger questioned why this is not going to be done inhouse. Ms. Brown spoke that she has a great Staff but explained the importance of this being done correctly with outside professionals.
Public Input:
Carol Voisin – Ashland- Spoke to her concerns and read a letter into the record (see attached).
Jensen/Morris moved to approve the professional services contract with HDR for $1,003,576, to complete phase 1 preliminary engineering for a new 7.5 mgd WTP. Discussion: Jensen, Morris and Seffinger spoke in support of the motion. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Morris, Bachman, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.
- First Reading of Clearing Height of Trees and Vegetation Above Streets, Alleys, and Sidewalks Ordinance.
Ms. Madding gave a brief Staff report.
City Attorney David Lohman went over the Ordinance. He spoke that this Ordinance is needed to get in compliance with the State.
Morris/Slattery moved to approve First Reading of proposed Ordinance No. 3157, [as amended] which is titled “An Ordinance Amending AMC 9.08.120 and AMC 13.16.070 to Resolve Inconsistencies and Increase Vertical Clearance Height of Trees and Other Vegetation above Public Streets and Alleys. Discussion: Morris and Slattery spoke in support of the Ordinance. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Morris, Bachman, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.
- OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS/REPORTS FROM COUNCIL LIAISONS
- City Administrator Report
- ADJOURNMENT OF BUSINESS MEETING
The Business Meeting was adjourned at 9:26 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).
