MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, December 15, 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.
- CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Stromberg called the Business Meeting to Order at 6:00 PM.
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- ROLL CALL
Councilors’ Slattery, Graham, Akins, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen were present.
- MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Stromberg announced the current Commission and Committee vacancies.
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES
- Study Session of November 30, 2020
- Business Meeting of December 1, 2020
Rosenthal/Slattery moved to approve the minutes. Discussion: None. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.
- SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS
- Annual Presentation by the Conservation and Climate Outreach Commission
Interim City Administrator Adam Hanks introduced Conservation and Climate Outreach Commission Chair Rebecca Walker and Vice Chair Risa Buck.
Walker gave an update on the Commission.
Items discussed were:
- Single use packaging.
- Integration with other Commissions.
- Businesses affected by COVID 19.
- Recognition of Service for Mayor Stromberg and Councilors Rosenthal and Slattery
Hanks thanked Mayor Stromberg, Councilor Rosenthal and Councilor Slattery for their years of service. City Recorder Melissa Huhtala showed plaques that each will be receiving for their service.
Mayor Stromberg spoke regarding accomplishments for both Rosenthal and Slattery. He thanked them both for their work and commitment to the City of Ashland.
Oregon House District 5 Representative Pam Marsh spoke thanking Stromberg, Rosenthal and Slattery for their work and accomplishments through the years.
Former Ashland City Councilor Greg Lemhouse spoke in agreement with Marsh. He spoke in appreciation of the efforts and commitments the Mayor and Councilors have achieved over the years. He thanked Mayor Stromberg for his time and dedication to the City of Ashland. He thanked Slattery for being a leader and mentor.
Wildfire Division Chief Chris Chambers thanked Mayor Stromberg and thanked Mayor Stromberg for his dedication to make Ashland and safe place to live. He introduced Marko Bay. Bay thanked Mayor Stromberg for all of his hard work and efforts for nature conservancy, Boots on the Ground and the work he contributed to the youth.
Nature Conservancy member Mark Stern spoke in appreciation to the support and leadership from Mayor Stromberg. Darren Borgais spoke in appreciation of the work Mayor Stromberg has done for the Nature Conservancy and for the AFR project.
Donna and Rob from Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest spoke in appreciation of Mayor Stromberg’s work to AFR. They spoke that he was a visionary and spoke in appreciation of how he spent time with the community and youth.
- 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 testimony for Public Forum.
Emily Simon – Spoke regarding the murder of Aiden Ellison. She requested that Council put an item on the Agenda to describe the City’s roles in this situation regarding racial issues and homelessness. She suggested that Council discuss this in each meeting not just Public Forum.
Slattery/Graham moved to bring this item to the next Council Meeting. Discussion: None. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.
- CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
- CONSENT AGENDA
- Appointment of Jerry Campbell to the Airport Commission
- Appointment of Lisa Verner to the Planning Commission
- Appointment of Laura Bloom to the Public Arts Commission
- Approval of Liquor License for the Black Sheep
- Approval of Liquor License for Goldback Wines
- Resolution No. 2020-27 Declaring the Canvass of the Vote of the Election Held in and for the City of Ashland, Oregon on November 3, 2020
- Approval of Purchase of a Payment Kiosk from AdComp Systems, Inc.
Seffinger/Jensen 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
- Review and Approval of Letter to Jackson County Fire District 3 and Ashland Firefighters Association regarding Fire Chief IGA
Items submitted to the record:
Julie Akins
Stephen Jensen
City Attorney David Lohman gave a Staff Report.
Jensen/Slattery moved to approve to post the statement as drafted on the City website and transmitting it to Fire District 3 and to Ashland Firefighters and to add a paragraph to the existing statement that Staff has put forward stating "Furthermore, members of the Ashland City Council, do unequivocally affirm in this statement that we are committed to abide by both the spirit and the letter of the council rules that guide our interactions, especially the rules stated in AMC Section 2.04.080 (C), AMC Section 2.04.080(D) and AMC Section 2.04.115.
Jensen read the section references aloud.
Discussion: Jensen spoke that it is time to move on and spoke in support of the motion. Slattery spoke in support of the motion. He spoke regarding Council rules and even if Council does not agree with each other that everyone will respect each other. website. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Graham, Seffinger, Akins, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES. Motion passed unanimously.
Slattery/Jensen moved to approve posting the statement as drafted on the City website and transmitting it to Fire District 3 and to Ashland Firefighters along with the addition to the letter. Discussion: Akins spoke in support to the additions but not in support of putting the letter on the website. She spoke in favor of moving on. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Graham, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES. Motion Passed 5-1.
- NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
- Acceptance of Fiscal Year 2020 (2019/2020) Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) and Component Unit Financial Report (CUFR).
Finance Director Melanie Purcell gave a brief Staff report. Purcell introduced Moss Adams Amanda McCleary-Moore, CPA, Partner, Kimberly Reno CPA, CFC Manager and Senior, In-Charge Trinidy Flinders presented Council with a PowerPoint Presentation (see attached).
Items discussed were:
- Nature of Services Provided.
- Audit Opinion/Reports.
- Communication to those charged with governance.
- City-wide Revenues.
- City-wide Expenses.
- Net Position.
- General Fund Balance.
- City wide debt.
- General Fund as percentage of expenditures.
- New standards.
Slattery/Jensen moved to accept the City of Ashland FY2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and Component Unit Financial Report. Discussion: Slattery thanked Staff and the presenters. Jensen spoke in agreement with Slattery. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Graham, Akins, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES. Motion passed unanimously.
- Discussion of Letter to Jackson County Board of Commissioners supporting Jackson County Public Health Recommendations
Hanks gave a brief Staff report.
Graham presented Council with an overview on the issue.
Slattery/Jensen moved to direct the City Administrator and City Attorney to utilize the draft letter and the additional comments of Council to complete and deliver a final letter to the Jackson County Board of Commissioners. Discussion: None.
- ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND CONTRACTS
- Resolution No. 2020-28 to Designate a Vertical Housing Development Zone
Community Development Director Bill Molnar gave a brief overview and introduced Planning Manager Maria Harris. He also introduced associate Scott Fregonese.
Harris went over a PowerPoint Presentation (see attached). Items discussed were:
- Transit Triangle.
- Purpose of Vertical Housing.
- What is a Vertical Housing District Zone (VHDZ).
- VHDZ eligibility.
- Partial property exemption.
- VHDZ incentives.
- Mixed use examples.
- Commercial examples.
- Taxing districts.
- Local criteria.
Rosenthal/Slattery moved to approve proposed Resolution No. 2020-28. Discussion: Rosenthal thanked Staff. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Graham, Akins, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES. Motion passed unanimously.
- First Reading of the Food & Beverage Tax Allocation Ordinance
This item will be moved a future meeting.
- Second Reading and Findings Adoption of Grand Terrace Annexation
Senior Planner Derek Severson gave a brief Staff report.
Seffinger/Jensen moved approval of the second reading by title only of ‘An Ordinance Annexing Property and Withdrawing an Annexed Area from Jackson County Fire District No. 5 (Grand Terrace Annexation – Planning Action #PA-T3-2019-00001’and adoption of the ordinance. Discussion: None. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Graham, Akins, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES. Motion passed unanimously.
Seffinger/Rosenthal moved to adopt written findings for approval of Planning Action #PA-T3-2019-00001. Discussion: None. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Graham, Akins, Seffinger, Rosenthal. And Jensen: YES. Motion passed unanimously.
- OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS/REPORTS FROM COUNCIL LIAISONS
- ADJOURNMENT OF BUSINESS MEETING
The Business Meeting adjourned at 9:30 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).
