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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCM082511CITY OF CENTRAL POINT City Council Meeting Minutes August 25, 2011 1. REGULAR MEETING CALLED TO ORDER Mayor Williams called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. I1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. ROLL CALL: Mayor: Hank Williams Council Members: Allen Broderick, Bruce Dingler, Carol Fischer, Kelly Geiger, Kay Harrison, and Ellie George were present. City Manager Phil Messina; City Attorney Paul Nolte; Community Development Director Tom Humphrey; Parks and Public Works Director Matt Samitore; Assistant City Manager Chris Clayton; Captain Kris Allison; Finance Director Bev Adams; and City Recorder Deanna Casey were also present. IV. PUBLIC APPEARANCES -None V. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of August 11, 2011 City Council Minutes B. Approval of 3'~ Annual Mayors United Campaign Proclamation C. Declaration of Vehicles to be Surplus Bruce Dingler made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Kay Harrison seconded. Roll call: Allen Broderick, yes, Bruce Dingler, yes; Kelly Geiger, yes; Carol Fischer, yes; Kay Harrison, yes; Hank Williams, yes; and Ellie George, yes. Motion approved. Mayor Williams explained the Mayor's United Campaign Kick-off this week. This is a great even to help the entire community. He hopes that Council and Staff will consider attending. VI. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA -None VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS, ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS A. Resolution No. 1310, A Resolution Ratifying the General Service Collective Bargaining Agreement and Authorizing the Mayor to Sign the Agreements Assistant City Manager Chris Clayton explained that the General Service bargaining unit and the City have negotiated an agreement that consists of a 1 year extension; a 1 % cost of living adjustment being applied to the pay scale, City of Central Point City Council Minutes August 25, 207 7 Page 2 retroactive to July 1, 2011; changing the health insurance premium sharing to a "90/10 split," where the City pays 90% of the premium and the employee pays 10%, effective the first pay period following ratification of the agreement and moving the IT Specialist position from the Police bargaining unit into the General Service bargaining unit. Kay Harrison made a motion to approve Resolution No. 1310, A Resolution Ratifying the General Service Collective Bargaining Agreement and Authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to Sign the Agreements. Ellie George seconded. Roll call: Allen Broderick, yes, Bruce Dingier, yes; Kelly Geiger, yes; Carol Fischer, yes; Kay Harrison, yes; Hank Williams, yes; and Ellie George, yes. Motion approved. VIII. BUSINESS A. Medford Water Commission Rate Compromise Proposal Assistant City Manager Chris Clayton explained that the Medford Water Commission (MWC) is asking Central Point to approve a rate compromise. The Cities Water Coalition (CWC) consisting of Central Point, Eagle Point, Phoenix, and Talent have taken an active role in the SDC increase authorized by the MWC last winter. The CWC met several times to discuss the increase and what it would do to the rates that we charge our customers while Medford residents would not see an increase. After months of discussion it was apparent that the Water Commission staff and the CWC still had differences in the analysis study preventing movement to one end or the other. The Commissioners offered to break the impasse by proposing a compromise reduction of six cents per thousand gallons. This compromise was offered with the knowledge that Medford inside customer rates would need to increase slightly to maintain needed revenues. The offer is contingent on two things: 1) being able to develop an analysis that justifies the decrease to the other cities and 2) keeping this matter off the table for a few years so that other issues of mutual interest can be focused on instead. The CWC participants are certain that an analysis can be presented that accomplishes this justification. There are more issues that need to be resolved between the MWC and the CWC such as water rights for the region. Mr. Clayton explained that this is a significant reduction from what we began with last fall. This proposal must still be adopted by the MWC during the rate setting process this fall. The new rates would go into effect in March 2012. City Manager Phil Messina thanked Mr. Clayton and the CWC for their hard work. This is a step in the right direction. No one has ever questioned the increases that the MWC has passed on to the outlying communities. But they are now aware that we will no longer sit passively and take those increases without good reason. The CWC is working towards equality for all communities in the region. The CWC will continue to work on the water rights issues and keep the City Council informed. City of Central Paint City Council Minutes August 25, 2011 Page 3 This is not an action item. But staff would like to know if this rate compromise is acceptable to the Council. There was discussion of water rights and that we would like to pursue a partnership with the Medford Water Commission. Council is agreeable to this rate compromise. B. Medford Water Commission Revised Agreement Parks and Public Works Director Matt Samitore explained that the City Council approved a revised contract with the MWC in July for the supply of water for the next five years. The MWC agreed to all the changes except for the one regarding large water customers under article 1. The MWC states that the paragraph cannot be made because the City of Medford Charter does not allow them to legally consider anyone else's best interest except the citizens of Medford. The Commission returned the agreement with the original language that has been in our previous four contracts with them. The City hopes to work on revised language for the next contract to clarify the economic ramifications of the current wording which states they can deny water to extremely large industrial or commercial users if they determine it is in the best interest of the citizens of Medford. This could impact economic growth for Central Point. There was discussion regarding the statement in the Medford Charter where it talks about supplying Medford and the surrounding communities. The Council would like to see the exact language from the Charter in the agreement. Additionally, the City of Eagle Point has asked the Council to delay signing the agreement until they have been able to work through some of their issues with the MWC and their water agreement. They feel with the backing of Central Point the MWC will respond to their request for meetings. Council discussed the option of waiting to return the MWC Agreement after the Labor Day. Mr. Samitore stated that he is comfortable making the request for MWC to meet with staff from Eagle Point. Carol Fischer made a motion to change the language in the Medford Water Commission Agreement Article 1 to reflect the same language as the Medford Charter regarding providing water to surrounding communities, and to hold the agreement until after Labor Day to encourage the Commission to meet with the City of Eagle Point. Kay Harrison seconded. Roll call: Allen Broderick, yes, Bruce Dingier, yes; Kelly Geiger, yes; Carol Fischer, yes; Kay Harrison, yes; Hank Williams, yes; and Ellie George, yes. Motion approved. IX. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Williams reported that he attended the Destination Business Seminar by Jon Schallert at Twin Creeks. City of Central Point City Council Minutes August 25, 2071 Page 4 X. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT City Manager Phil Messina reported that he attended: • The seminar by Jon Schallert on Destination Businesses. • He attended the Friday Night Festival and thanked the City Staff for their hard work. • He attended an Southern Oregon Historical Society meeting. He has been asked to be on the search committee for a new director. XI. COUNCIL REPORTS Council Member Kelly Geiger reported that he attended the Fire District Board meeting where they discussed Urban Renewal financing challenges. Council Member Kay Harrison reported that she: • Attended the RVSS Board meeting. • Attended the Jackson County Fair Board meeting. • Attended the Bear Creek Greenway Committee meeting where they talked about the connection to Upton Road. • Attended an RVCOG Board meeting, they will be hosting "Small Cities" meetings for the outlying communities. Council Member Bruce Dingier reported that he attended the Destination Business Seminar at Twin Creeks. XII. DEPARTMENT REPORTS Assistant City Manager Chris Clayton stated that Council Member Broderick had asked about a couple of properties on Second Street. He presented photos and the location of two houses that are currently vacant. One of the properties is in foreclosure. Staff will try to work with the banks on these properties to get them cleaned up. He will have the Building Official go over and inspection the buildings for safety. These are not truly blighted properties at this time. Staff will continue to work with the property owners and the bank to see what options they have for improvement. Parks and Public Works Director Matt Samitore reported that • Dan and Joyce's tire store is closed down. They have a lot of work to do before they can open the business again. There are questions regarding the building structure and health issues. • Because of the total price that came back on the Hwy 99 Streetscape project staff is recommending rejecting all the current bids and advertising the process in a different way. We still have time to get this awarded in time for construction in the spring. Captain Kris Allison reported that: • There has been an increase in call volumes this summer. We have seen a rise in disorderly conduct calls. City of Central Point City Council Minutes August 25, 2011 Page 5 • There have been several calls from downtown businesses regarding skateboards and bikes on the sidewalks. They will be working with the businesses and the violators to correct this problem. • We have not seen a huge increase in vandalism or gang activity in Central Point. • The Bike patrol have been out and racked up 64 hours of patrol this summer. • She will be leaving in a few weeks to go to the East Coast for a three month FBI training session. Finance Director Bev Adams reported that staff has started the financial software upgrade. Community Development Director Tom Humphrey thanked the Council for their support on the Destination Business program, several businesses are very excited about the prospects. The Planning Commission will be making a recommendation on RPS at the first meeting in September. 1 U XII1. EXECUTIVE SESSION -None XIV. ADJOURNMENT Bruce Dingier moved to adjourn, Kay Harrison seconded, all said "aye" and the Council Meeting was adjourned at 8:23 p.m. The foregoing minutes of the August 25, 2011, Council meeting were approved by the City Council at its meeting of September 8, 2011. Dated: ~ /g /Il .~ Mayor Hank Williams ATTE Ci ecorder