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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCM102402CITY OF CENTRAL POINT City Council Meeting Minutes October 24, 2002 I. REGULAR MEETING CALLED TO ORDER Mayor Walton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL: Mayor: Bill Walton Council Members: Donna Higginbotham, Mike Quilty, Nate Banry, Dick Halley, Kay Harrison, and Bill Stults were all present. City Administrator Phil Messina; City Attorney Doug Engle; Police Chief Mike Sweeny; and Deputy Recorder Deanna Gregory were also present. III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IV. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS V. MINUTES A. Approval of October 10 2002, City Council Minutes - Mike Quilty made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Nate Banry seconded. Roll call: Nate Banry, yes; Dick •Halley, yes; Kay Harrison, yes; Donna Higginbotham, yes; Mike Quilty, yes; and Bill Stults, yes. Motion approved. VI. PUBLIC APPEARANCES Marlene Watson, 555 Freeman Road. Mrs. Watson expressed concerns regarding the downtown area. She would like to see the City provide incentives for the businesses to spruce up their buildings in order to attract more citizens to shop in Central Point. She asked if the City is doing anything to move along the Downtown Revitalization. Mayor Walton and City Administrator Phil Messina explained the Downtown Revitalization Program and the progress being made. They explained that once funds are available for low interest loans to help business owners, announcements will be made. However, participation in the program is voluntary. The City will continue to work on the program and realize that it is essential to the business commurnty. It was also suggested that the Central Point Garden Club be contacted regarding planters and landscape ideas. Mrs. Watson is also concerned with cars being parked on the street when the City street sweeper is working. She suggested providing the residents with letters asking them to remove the cars on the day the street sweeper will be in their neighborhood. Mayor Walton explained that there is not a scheduled time for the street sweeper, the Public Works Department runs the sweeper when time permits. Mrs. Watson also expressed her concern about signs that are posted on street corners for yard sales or missing animals. She stated that these signs should not be permitted to be left on the corner, they are unattractive and sometimes block the site triangle. Mayor Walton closed the Public Appearances portion of the meeting. City of Central Point City Council Minutes October 24, 2002 Page 2 VII. SPECIAL AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS A. Red Ribbon Week Presentation by SODA Kerry Bradshaw from Southern Oregon Drug Awareness presented the Council with Red Ribbons to.be worn the week of October 23 through 31, 2002, in support of Red Ribbon Week. He explained that today the Red Ribbon symbolizes the commitment of countless citizens across America working to "Take a Stand" against underage alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. On September 26, 2002, the Central Point City Council approved a Proclamation designating the week as 2002 National Red Ribbon Celebration Week. VII. BUSINESS A. PEG Access Channel Fee City Administrator Phil Messina explained that under Section 4.2 of the current cable franchise agreement, the City can request Charter Communication to pay the City an annual access fee up to $7,500. Section 4.2.A. of the agreement allows Charter Communications to charge the fee back to their cable customers. The City must contact Charter by November 1, if it wishes to enact the PEG access portion of the cable franchise. Currently there are 3,471 Charter customers in the City of Central Point. In order to generate. the $7,500 annual fee, the Charter Customers in Central Point would pay a monthly fee of $0.18, and approximately $2.1.6 a year. He presented a spreadsheet explaining yanous amounts the City could receive if the charge for access varied from $.19 cents per month to $.25 cents per month, per subscriber. He also explained the total revenue the City could take in over a span of five, seven, or ten years. He explained that the higher the number of Charter subscribers,.the lower_the monthly charge would be. There was discussion regarding the need for televised Council, Planning, and School District Functions. It was suggested that School District No. 6 be involved in discussions regarding this subject so that they would have access to this type of programing of school functions, agendas, or notices. Council Member Dick Halley stated that he is against raising the cable rates when the Citizens of Central Point have complained about the cost of cable over the last few years. The Council should not increase the cost in order to televise meetings when they are not sure if that is the wish of the Citizens. It was discussed that the first payment of the fee could be used to research the options available to the City. The installation of wiring should be done if the Council decides to build new Chambers when the Library is constructed. Curt Hadley, KTVL-TV Mr. Hadley attended the Council meeting with his son for a school project and decided to lend a little of his knowledge to the discussion. He explained the technical aspect of video taping verses live programing. He stated that the cost would be significantly less expensive if the meetings were video taped. The City could contract with a local professional to come into the meetings, then provide the video to the Cable company to run at specified times. He also explained the process of advertising agendas on cable access channels. Dick Halley made a motion to let conditions stand and do nothing at this time that would raise the cable rates to Central Point Citizens. ~1 0 There was no second. City of Central Point City Council Minutes October 24, 2002 Page 3 Mike Quilty Made a Motion for the City Administrator to Notify Charter Communications by November 1, 2002, to Begin the PEG Access Fee to Be Reviewed in One Year. Donna Higginbotham seconded. Roll Call: Nate Banry, yes; Dick Halley, no; Kay Harrison, yes; Donna Higginbotham, yes; Mike Quilty, yes; and Bill Stults, yes. Motion approved. B. Park Commission Report Mr. Messina presented the Central Point Park Commission Minutes dated October 17, 2002. VIII. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Walton reported that: he would like to express his appreciation of all the hard work that City Staff has done to prepare for Rodeo Week. He is very impressed with the events happening in Central Point and hopes that this continues as an annual event. the Police Chief has prepared a letter in response to the concerns of Deborah Prechtl regarding the Palm Reader business license in Central Point. As was stated at the last Council meeting it is a legal business in Central Point. The State does not have restrictions on this type of business refereed to as "Occult Arts". The Mayor is concerned with a comment the lady made in a news article regarding counseling youth who come into her business and hopes that she will refrain from doing so unless she has the training to be considered a child psychologist. IX. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT City Administrator Phil Messina reported that: • he attended Central Point Greeters. • he attended a Medford Chamber Forum at the Country Club. • he had lunch with Brian Almquist from the City of Ashland and discussed the Ashland Fiber Network. • he attended an RVCOG Board Meeting. • the second regularly scheduled Council Meetings for November and December fall on Holiday's this year. He asked the Council if they would like to reschedule or cancel these meetings. Mike Quilty made a motion to cancel the regularly scheduled Council meeting for November 28, 2002. Donna Higginbotham seconded. Roll Call: Nate Banry, yes; Dick Halley, yes; Kay Harrison, yes; Donna Higginbotham, yes; Mike Quilty, yes; and Bill Stults, yes. Motion approved. Donna Higginbotham made a motion to cancel the regularly scheduled Council meeting for December 26, 2002. Mike Quilty seconded. Roll Call: Nate Banry, yes; Dick Halley, yes; Kay Harrison, yes; Donna Higginbotham, yes; Mike Quilty, yes; and Bill Stults, yes. Motion approved. X. COUNCIL REPORTS Donna Higginbotham reported that she attended a Greenway meeting to discuss the Medford interchange. Mike Quilty reported that: City of Central Point City Council Minutes October 24, 2002 Page 4 • he attended the Fashion Show for the Rodeo week Kick off. • he has been visiting the local businesses and was very impressed with the positive outlook the citizens have for Central Point. Bill Stults reported that he attended meetings at BCVSA and the Medford Water Commission. Dick Halley reported that: • he attended the Central Point Greeters meeting. • the Senior Center has increased activity. They have reported that there is an increase in meal attendance and that the number of members is growing. Mayor Walton suggested that the City send a letter of support to the Senior Center commending them for a job well done. Nate Banry reported that he attended an Athletic Program at Crater High School. The School District Athletic Department is still interested in a Central Point Sports Park. XI. ADJOURNMENT Dick Halley moved to adjourn, Nate Banry seconded, all said "aye" and the Council Meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m. The foregoing minutes of the October 24, 2002 Council meeting were approved by the City Council at its meeting of November 14, 2002. Dated: ro-a6-oz. ATT T: Deputy City Recorder ~_~-Idla f or ill Walton Y 0