Agendas and Minutes

City Council (View All)

Council Business Meeting

Minutes
Tuesday, June 02, 2020

 
 
   
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, June 2, 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.
Note: As the June 2 Council meeting will be held electronically, written testimony will be accepted via email to public-testimony@ashland.or.us both general public forum items and agenda items as long as they are submitted with the subject line: June 2 Council Meeting Testimony before Monday, June 1 at 10 a.m. Written testimonies submitted by the deadline will be available to the City Council before the meeting and will be included in the meetings minutes.
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.]
6:00 p.m.  Regular Meeting
  1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Stromberg called the Council Business Meeting to order at 6 PM.
  1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
  2. ROLL CALL
Councilors’ Slattery, Graham, Akins, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen were present.
  1. MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Stromberg announced the current Commission and Committee vacancies.
The Mayors spoke that he received an email from a citizen regarding Ashland Policing and practices. The Mayor explained that he asked Police Chief Tighe O’Meara to respond to the citizen and he read Chief O’Meara’s response into the record (see attached).
Graham spoke in appreciation to the Ashland Police Department.   Chief O’Meara gave a report on the protests that occurred in Ashland.
  1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
    1. Study Session of May 18, 2020
    2. Business Meeting of May 19, 2020
Rosenthal/Slattery moved to approve the minutes.  All Ayes.  Discussion: None.  Motion passed unanimously.
Slattery/Rosenthal moved to add a topic to New and Miscellaneous Business titled “Council Discussion and Direction to Staff”. Discussion: None. All Ayes.  Motion passed unanimously.
  1. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS
    1. Flag Day Proclamation
Jensen read the Flag Day Proclamation into the record (see attached). 
 
  1. Annual Presentation by the Band Board
 
Band Board Chair Don Bieghler presented Council with the annual Band Board update.

 
  1. COVID-19 Update & Extension of COVID-19 Emergency Declaration
Interim City Administrator Adam Hanks gave a Staff report (see attached). 
  1. 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  
  1. 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 written testimony for Public Forum.

Public Tesitmony Submitted
  1. CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Interim City Administrator Adam Hanks gave a brief Staff report.
Items discussed were:
  • Look Ahead Format.
  • Financial update.
  • Downtown Street Closures.  
  1. CONSENT AGENDA
    1. Approval of a Construction Contract for the Independent Way
 
Rosenthal pulled this item.
Interim Public Works Director Scott Fleury gave a Staff report. He spoke to the importance of this project.   

 
  1. Request for a Water Service Connection Use Outside of City Limits at 1193 Ashland Mine Road
  2. Zero Emission Vehicle Innovation Fund Grant Application Request
 
Graham pulled this item.  Graham thanked Staff for moving this application forward.

 
  1. Reappointment of John Williams to the Forest Lands Commission
Jensen/Rosenthal moved to approve the consent Agenda Discussion:  None.  All Ayes.  Motion passed unanimously.
  1. 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.)
  2. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
  3. NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
    1. Council Discussion and Direction to Staff.
Slattery gave a Staff report.
Items discussed were:
  1.  What is the City Working On? 
    1. Creating standing items to be reported on at each meeting (budget updates, city facilities updates are a couple examples).
    2. Communication issues in general - can we improve our communication to the community?  How?
  2. The plan to resolve the interim appointments.
Mayor Stromberg gave a brief report regarding the appointments of Interim City Administrator, Finance Director and Public Works Director. 
  1. City Hall, Pioneer & the Community Center - next steps.
  2. Setting Strategic planning dates - gain consensus and begin the discussion and follow up by staff in future meetings.
  3. Returning to regular council meetings held in council chambers. 
  4. The emergency declaration adjusted to return to regular council process and activities.
Council discussed ways to communicate with Staff.
  1. Discuss a request to have a meeting set for June 9th to review and discuss, give direction to staff, on the financial issues before the June 16th meeting. 
Council decided to schedule a Meeting after the 15th & 16th if needed to discuss financial issues.
  1. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND CONTRACTS
    1. Second Reading of an Ordinance amending Title 18 Land Use of the Ashland Municipal Code relating to Plaza Space Requirements for Large Scale Buildings within the C-1-D Zone and Downtown Design Standards Overlay
 
Hanks gave a brief Staff report.
 
Council discussed the size of the buildings
 
Akins spoke in concern of changing the architecture.
Senior Planner Brandon Goldman explained that the architecure would not be compromised.
 
Akins spoke in concern of how the City uses Plaza space.
 
Jensen/Slattery moved to approve Second Reading of the proposed amendments to Chapter 18.4.2 and 18.61 of the Ashland Land Use Ordinance.
Disucssion: Jensen spoke that this topic has been adequately discussed, well researched and feels confident by Staffs work.  Slattery spoke in agreement with Jensen.  Roll Call Vote:  Jensen, Rosenthal, Seffinger, Slattery and Graham: YES.  Akins: NO.  Motion passed 5-1.

 
  1. Resolution 2020-08 Adopting a Supplemental Budget for Changes to the 2019/21 Biennial Budget.
 
Interim Finance Director Bryn Morrison gave a brief Staff report.
 
Council discussed the Insurance Fund.
 
Rosenthal/Seffinger moved to adopt Resolution 2020-08 authorizing a 2019/21 supplemental budget. Discussion: Rosenthal thanked Staff.  Seffinger spoke in agreement with Rosenthal. Roll Call Vote: Slattery, Graham, Akins, Seffinger, Rosenthal and Jensen: YES. Motion passed unanimously.

 
  1. Resolution 2020-09 Reiterating the Need of a Reserve Fund and Repealing Resolution 2010-18
Morrison gave a Staff report.  Staff recommended approval.
Council discussed the Reserve Fund.
Graham/Seffinger moved to approve Resolution 2020-09 as presented. Discussion: Graham spoke to the importance of a Reserve Fund. Seffinger spoke that while she was Chair of the Parks Commission; Reserve Funds were used for other purposes other than Park’s needs.  She spoke in agreement of the importance of a Reserve Fund. Rosenthal thanked Seffinger for her comments and spoke regarding moving forward. Roll Call Vote:  Slattery, Akins, Graham, Rosenthal, Jensen and Seffinger: YES.  Motion passed unanimously.
 
OTHER BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS/REPORTS FROM COUNCIL LIAISONS
Seffinger gave a report regarding the services offered by the Senior Center.
Jensen spoke to the importance of communication and thanked all involved in the Senior Center.   
Graham spoke that her and Isleen Glatt are recording a presentation regarding “Age in action Conference”.
Akins spoke that she has been working with OHRA for homeless and
“Truth and Conciliation Commission” is in the works.
ADJOURNMENT OF BUSINESS MEETING
 
The Council Business Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM.
 
Respectfully submitted by:
______________________________________
City Recorder Melissa Huhtala
 
Attest:
_______________________________________
Mayor Stromberg
 
9:00 PM

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).

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