CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
DRAFT MINUTES
Monday, November 20, 2017
Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street
Mayor Stromberg called the meeting to order at 5:32 PM.
Mayor Stromberg introduced Tran Nguyen an intern for the Mail Tribune.
Councilor Slattery, Councilor Morris, Councilor Lemhouse, Councilor Darrow and Councilor Rosenthal were present. Councilor Seffinger was absent.
I. Public Input (15 minutes, maximum)
Louise Shawkat –870 Cambridge – Ashland- Spoke regarding Clean Energy Job Bill. She spoke in support of the bill and encouraged support.
Huelz Gutcheon-2253 HWY 99, Ashland – Spoke regarding the Clean Energy Bill. He spoke that
fossil fuels are a public health hazard. He explained the megawatts that it takes to run an electric Telsa Truck. He also suggested the City to draft a Resolution regarding Solar Panels.
James Stephens– 640 Oak Street, Ashland -Spoke regarding Transportation Networking Companies (TNC). He encouraged Council to allow TNC to operate.
II. Look Ahead review
Interim City Administrator, John Karns went over the Look Ahead.
Councilor Rosenthal suggested to add planning for 50th anniversary of the Sister City relationship to the December 18th Study Session. Staff will add this to the Agenda.
III. State of the City Planning
Mayor Stromberg spoke that he will be in Salem for the initial date suggested for the State of the City.
Council decided to give Staff dates that they are available and come up with a new date.
IV. Clarifications of Council rules
City Attorney, David Lohman gave a Staff report.
Council decided to go over the proposed 8 questions:
AGENDAS
1. Question: Should contracts above a specified dollar amount be presented as individual matters
for Council decision, as opposed to being included on the Consent Agenda?
Council gave consensus to have items over $100,000 and Capital Projects that are large amounts be put on a different item of the agenda.
2. Question: Should minutes of City advisory bodies be included in the Council agenda packets, along with a summary of which advisory bodies have met recently?
Council gave consensus to keep the minutes on the Agenda under Item V. Approval of Minutes.
3. Question: During a Council meeting, under what circumstances should the scheduled order of a meeting agenda be altered?
Council discussed:
- Keeping the Agenda as is.
- If items get postponed after 10:30 to put those items first on the next Council Agenda.
- Placement of items on the Agenda.
- The process for Councilors asking questions.
Councilor Slattery pulled question 15 from the Council Communication:
15. Should follow-up questioning of speakers be permitted without suspension of Council Rules?
Council discussed:
- Follow up on Citizen’s questions.
- Point of information and accuracy.
- Freedom of speech and opinion.
- Correcting facts rather than opinions.
Due to time the questions below were postponed to a future Agenda:
4. Question: During a Council meeting, how should a Councilor go about adding an item to the agenda?
5. Question: Outside of a meeting, how should a Councilor go about getting a matter added to an upcoming meeting agenda?
6. Question: How should a citizen go about getting a matter added to a Council meeting agenda?
7. Question: How should a Councilor seek removal or postponement of a scheduled agenda item?
STUDY SESSIONS
8. Question: Should/could Study Sessions be made more useful by treating them less like briefings and more like sessions for interactive exploration of key topics, adopting minimal formalities for presentations to and questioning of staff and for discussion among Councilmembers?
V. Discussion of City regulations of vehicle for hire services
Mr. Lohman gave a Staff report.
Council discussed:
- Taxi rates.
- Taxi cab regulations.
- The definition of an Uber.
- Medford’s adopted regulations.
- Differences between taxicabs and TNC’s.
- Background checks.
- Possible impact on RVTD.
- Costs and rate settings.
The Study Session was adjourned at 7:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted by:
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City Recorder, Melissa Huhtala
Attest:
_____________________________________________
Mayor Stromberg
