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Agendas and Minutes

City Council (View All)

Council Business Meeting

Agenda
Tuesday, January 19, 2021

MINUTES
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING
Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Held Electronically; View on Channel 9 or Channels 180 and 181 (Charter Communications) or live stream via rvtv.sou.edu select RVTV Prime.

Written and oral testimony will be accepted for public input. For written testimony, email public-testimony@ashland.or.us using the subject line: January 19 Business Meeting Testimony.
For oral testimony, fill out a Speaker Request Form at ashland.or.us/speakerrequest and return it to the City Recorder. The deadline for submitting written testimony or speaker request forms will be on Tuesday, January 19 (due to Monday being a holiday) at 10 a.m. and
must comply with Council Rules to be accepted.
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.(D)(3)].

5:30 PM Executive Session

The City Council will hold an Executive Session before the regular business meeting to conduct deliberations with persons designated to negotiate real property transactions and to consult with the City attorney regarding legal rights and duties in regard to current litigation or litigation that is more likely than not to be filed; pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(e) and ORS 192.660(2)(h), respectively.

The Executive Session was called to order at 5:30 PM.

The Executive Session was adjourned at 5:55 PM.

6:00 PM Regular Business Meeting

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Akins called the Business Meeting to order at 6:01 PM.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL

Councilors’ Hyatt, Graham, Moran, Seffinger, DuQuenne and Jensen were present.

MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Belinda Brown and Tonia Red Eagle Gonzales spoke regarding land acknowledgment.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Study Session of January 4, 2021
2. Business Meeting of January 5, 2021

Hyatt spoke to add the minutes that the Food and Beverage item be stated “will be on a future Council Meeting.”
Hyatt/DuQuenne moved to approve the minutes with the amendment. Discussion: DuQuenne spoke that she would like to see the Food and Beverage Item on the February 2^nd Agenda. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS
1. State of the City Celebration

Mayor Akins presented Council with the State of the City (see attached).

James M. Ragland “Volunteer Spirit” and Alan C. Bates Public Service Award Announcements

Graham presented Paul Collins with the award. Collins spoke in honor to receive this award. He spoke that more information can be found at: ashlandcert.org.

Seffinger and Rich Rosenthal presented John Stromberg with the Alan C. Bates award.

2020 Year in Review

Mayor Akins gave presented Council with an overview.

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

PUBLIC FORUM

Business from the audience not included on the agenda. 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.
See attached submissions

Patrick Bovine spoke regarding a traffic ticket (see attached).

Emily Simon spoke regarding Racial Justice and Social Equity.

CITY MANAGER REPORT

City Manager Pro Tem Adam Hanks gave the City Manager report (see attached).

CONSENT AGENDA

Moran/Graham moved to approve items 1 & 6. Discussion: None. Motion passed unanimously.

Extension of COVID-19 Emergency Declaration
Approval of a Construction Contract with Insituform Technologies, for the Wastewater Collection Rehabilitation

Moran pulled this item. Moran questioned what items go on the Consent Agenda. He spoke regarding the importance of transparency. He questioned cost escalation.
Public Works Director Scott Fleury gave a staff report.

Hyatt/Moran moved to approve Item #2. Discussion: None. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.

Approval of a Contract Specific Sole Source Procurement of Electric Meters

Moran pulled this item. Moran questioned if there are ways to get the cost down. Hanks explained the bidding process. Director of Electric explained the technology of this item.
Jensen/Hyatt moved to approve Item #3. Discussion: None. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.

Letter of Intent to Explore an Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Talent Supply with Police Services

Graham pulled this item. Police Chief Tighe O’Meara gave a Staff report.
Graham/DuQuenne moved to approve Item #4. Discussion: None. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.

Council Liaison Appointments

Jensen pulled this item. Council discussed that that there needs to be more discussion on this item.
Jensen/Graham moved to bring this item back to a future Council Meeting. Discussion: None. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.

Approval of Liquor License for Beaux, LLC.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

Persons wishing to speak are to submit a “speaker request form” prior to the commencement of the public hearing. Public hearings conclude at 8:00 p.m. and are 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
1. City Manager Recruitment Process and Job Description Discussion

Human Resources Director gave a Staff report. Council discussed all options and cost.
Council discussed the timeline of this process.
Seffinger/Graham moved to direct staff to move forward with the City Manager recruitment utilizing option 1; a full scope recruitment with the support of a professional recruitment firm. Discussion: Council discussed the importance of transparency. Roll Call Vote: Graham, DuQuenne, Jensen, Seffinger, Hyatt and Moran: YES. Motion passed unanimously.

NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
1. Update on Homeless Services Programs, Funding, and Opportunities

Public Input:
Joseph Gibson – Ashland – Spoke regarding homeless issues. He spoke regarding options and suggested camp grounds.
Community Development Director Bill Molnar gave a brief Staff report.
Housing Program Specialist Linda Reid discussed housing needs and gave an update on the work that the City has been doing.

Council discussed shelter location options.

Council discussed funding options.

Council discussed urban campground options.

Council directed Staff to bring more information regarding grant options and location options to a future Council Meeting.

ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND CONTRACTS
1. Update to Resolution 2020-15 Declaring the City of Ashland's Commitment to Social Equity and Racial Justice

Hanks gave a brief Staff report.
Graham went over the Resolution (see attached).
Graham/Seffinger moved to repeal Resolution 2020-15 and approve 2021-02. Discussion: None. Roll Call Vote: Graham, Seffinger, Jensen, Moran, Hyatt and DuQuenne: YES. Motion passed unanimously.

OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS/REPORTS FROM COUNCIL LIAISONS
ADJOURNMENT OF BUSINESS MEETING

The Business Meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted by:
______________________________________
City Recorder Melissa Huhtala

Attest:
______________________________________
Mayor Akins

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Manager'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).