MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
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 6:02 PM.
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- ROLL CALL
Councilors’ Slattery, Jensen, Graham, Akins, Rosenthal and Seffinger were present.
- MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Seffinger announced that the Ashland Senior Volunteer Fair will be starting January 22nd from 2-4 PM at the Senior Center. She also announced that the Ashland Connector workshop will begin February 5th from 1-3 PM at the Ashland Senior Center.
Mayor Stromberg announced the current Commission and Committee vacancies.
- CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
City Administrator Kelly Madding announced that the City is holding a Town Hall on “Capital Needs and Financing Bond.” will be held at Council Chambers on January 22nd at 6:30 PM. She also announced it will be televised.
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES
- Study Session of January 6, 2020
- Business Meeting of January 7, 2020
Rosenthal/Graham moved to approve the minutes. Discussion: None. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.
- SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS
- State of the City Presentation
Jensen read the City accomplishments (see attached).
Akins thanked all Commission and Committee members for their hard work in the City.
Mayor Stromberg presented the State of the City.
Seffinger presented the Ragland Volunteer Award to Sandy Theis.
Theis thanked all and spoke in appreciation of working with the organizations.
Slattery presented the Bates Public Service Award to Cathy Shaw.
Shaw spoke in appreciation of the award and gave a background of her career as the Mayor in Ashland.
- 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]
Huelz Gutcheon – Ashland – Spoke regarding macro verses micro. He also discussed technology.
Louise Shawkat – Ashland – Announced that the “Transit Equity Day” will be Tuesday, February 4th from 6:30-8 PM in the Greshem Room at the library.
- CONSENT AGENDA
- Approval of Department of Environmental Quality Prescribed Fire, Smoke & Public Health Community Response Plan Grant Application
- Approval of Riparian Land Lease Agreement – Water Quality Temperature Trading Program Partnership
Rosenthal pulled this item. Public Works Projects Manager Kaylea Kathol gave a Staff report. She explained the reason for a 21-year lease is because of DEQ regulations.
- Adoption of a Jackson County Deadly Force Plan, Pursuant to SB 111
- Approval of Liquor License for Voris Enterprises, Inc. (Ashland Liquor Store)
- Approval of Liquor License for RVC, LLC (Sessions Market 2)
Akins/Rosenthal 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.)
- Public Hearing and First Reading of Trails Master Plan
Planning Manager Maria Harris and Parks and Recreation Director Michael Black gave a Staff report.
Harris went over a PowerPoint Presentation (see attached).
Items discussed were:
- Commission Reviews.
- Statewide Planning Program.
- Development and maintaining trails.
- Increased trail activity.
- Trails as transportation.
- Trail access and connectivity.
- Trail planning.
- Trail Master Plan.
- Maps.
Jensen read a statement into the record (see attached).
Seffinger spoke in concern with the safety of some trails that have multiple users.
Council discussed the Master Plan.
Rosenthal suggested CEAP be referenced in more detail in the final Master Plan.
Mayor Stromberg opened the public hearing at 7:55 PM
Public Input:
None.
Mayor Stromberg closed the public hearing at 7:55 PM
Jensen/Graham moved to approve first reading of an ordinance titled, “An Ordinance amending the City of Ashland Comprehensive Plan to adopt the Trails Master Plan as a supporting document to the City of Ashland Comprehensive Plan,” and move the Ordinance to second reading at the February 4, 2020 meeting. Discussion: Jensen spoke that this was great work and thanked the dedicated volunteers. Graham agreed and spoke in support of the motion. Seffinger spoke in appreciation of all the work done to make the trails safer. Roll Call Vote: Seffinger, Jensen, Akins, Slattery, Rosenthal and Graham: YES. Motion passed unanimously.
- UNFINISHED BUSINESS
- NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
- Request for Agenda Item from Councilor Akins: Homeless Services
Akins gave a brief Staff report.
Public Input:
William Zentner– Ashland – Spoke in favor of the proposal. He spoke to the importance of being proactive in helping the homeless. He suggested there be a Public Forum on this topic.
Kathy Kali– Ashland – Spoke in agreement with Zentner. She spoke in support of OHRA and thanked Council for their work on this issue.
Vanessa Houk – Ashland – Spoke in concern of homelessness. She spoke regarding CERT training and the needs of helping the homeless.
Pauline Black – Ashland –Spoke in support of Councilor Akins suggestion. She spoke in the need to support this issue and make it a high priority.
Rosenthal/Akins moved to direct Staff to have a Study Session regarding Homeless Services Discussion: Rosenthal spoke that this would be good for questions and considerations. Akins spoke in agreement. Slattery spoke that this is a good plan and explained this is a Community issue. Seffinger agreed with Slattery. She spoke to the importance of this issue. Roll Call Vote: Jensen, Akins, Jensen, Graham, Slattery and Rosenthal: YES. All Ayes. Motion passed unanimously.
- ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND CONTRACTS
- Second Reading of an Ordinance to Amend the Ashland Fire Prevention Code AMC Chapter 15.28
Madding gave a brief Staff report
Slattery/Jensen moved to approve the second reading of Ordinance No. 3186 to amend the Ashland Fire Prevention Code AMC Chapter 15.28.
- Resolution 2020-01 Adopting an Amendment to the Ashland Comprehensive Plan Updating the Buildable Lands Inventory as a Technical Supporting Document of the Urbanization Element
Community Development Director Bill Molnar gave a Staff report.
Senior Planner Brandon Goldman went over a PowerPoint (see attached).
Items discussed were:
- Building Lands Inventory.
- Available Land Inventory.
- Ashland Lands Inventory.
- Ashland household sizes.
- Unit potential and people per household.
- Dwelling unit capacity.
Jensen/Slattery moved to approve Resolution No. 2020-01 updating the City’s Buildable Lands Inventory. Discussion: Jensen thanked Staff for their work. Slattery agreed with Jensen. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Graham, Akins, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen:YES. Motion passed unanimously.
- OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS/REPORTS FROM COUNCIL LIAISONS
Slattery thanked all those who organized for the Martin Luther King celebration on Monday. He spoke that it one of the best events to date.
Graham suggested working on updating the City of Ashland consensus data. Council directed Staff to work on this topic.
- ADJOURNMENT OF BUSINESS MEETING
The Business Meeting was adjourned at 9:20 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).
