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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCM051001CITY OF CENTRAL POINT City Council Meeting Minutes May 10, 2001 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: David Gilmour, Dick Halley, Kay Harrison, Donna Higginbotham, Dennis Richardson and Bill Stults were present. City Administrator Jim Bennett; City Attorney Doug Engle; Public Works Director Bob Pierce; Finance Director Bill Brugger; Police Chief Mike Sweeny; and Planning Director Tom Humphrey were present. III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IV. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS V. MINUTES A. Approval of April 26, 2001, City Council Minutes Kay Harrison made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Donna Higginbotham seconded. Dennis Richardson abstained from the vote. Roll Call: Motion passed unanimously. VI. PUBLIC APPEARANCES There were no public appearances. Mayor Walton subsequently closed this portion of the meeting. VII. BUSINESS A. Request for City Contribution to Establish a Cash Reserve for the Rogue Valley Council of Governments RVCOG Executive Director Michael Cavallaro made a presentation to the City Council requesting that the City make aone-time, three-year cash contribution to the Rogue Valley Council of Governments to help them address a cash flow problem and establish a $200,000 cash reserve. The amount requested from the City was $9,640 to be paid evenly over three years. The Council conducted an extended discussion with Mr. Cavallaro over the reasons forthe request and the fiscal policies that led to it. They asked for assurances that, if the request were granted, the RVCOG would not make a similar request for funding from the City in the future. Mr. Cavallaro replied that new fiscal policies adopted by the RVCOG Board would enable RVCOG to maintain a stable financial position and a positive cash flow. Cily~ o/~Ccnlr~l Point City Council Minutes May 1 ~ 2001 Page 2 Kay Harrison made a motion to approve the first payment of $3,213 to the RVCOG for the purpose of establishing a cash reserve with subsequent payments to be reviewed for approval annually by the City Council. David Gilmour seconded. Roll Call: Motion passed unanimously. B. A Resolution Authorizing Depository Services and Signatories Finance Director Bill Brugger explained that periodically the City is required to update the list of signatories that are authorized to sign financial documents and instruments for the City's accounts with United States Bank. The resolution affirms the fiduciary relationship between the City and the Bank and designates the members of the City Council and the City Administrator as the authorized signatories on these accounts. Bill Stults made a motion to approve Resolution 907, A Resolution Authorizing Depository Services and Signatories. Dick Halley seconded. Roll Call: Motion passed unanimously. C. Request to Establish Salary Range for Police Lieutenant Position Police Chief Mike Sweeny asked the Council to approve the salary range for the Police Lieutenant position for fiscal year 2001-2002. This position is being reactivated and will take the place of one of the four current Police Sergeant positions. The increased emphasis on and need for department administration influenced this decision. Chief Sweeny recommended that the Police Lieutenant salary be established at Salary Range 175 which starts at $4,249 per month. ,The Police Lieutenant position is non-union and considered to be at department head level. Dick Halley made a motion to establish the salary range for the Police Lieutenant position at Salary Range 175 beginning at $4,249 per month. Kay Harrison seconded. Roll Call: Motion passed unanimously. D. Request to Install Stop Signs at Brad Way and Strait Way Public Works Director Bob Pierce and Chief of Police Mike Sweeny recommended that the City Council approve the installation of stop signs at the intersection of Brad Way and Strait Way based on the poor visibility at the intersection and the absence of sidewalks in the area which increases the risk to pedestrians and children playing. The recommendation followed an investigation of the conditions at the intersection that was conducted by City staff at the request of a resident of the area. Council Member Richardson questioned the need for stop signs at the intersection at this time since the intersection has been uncontrolled for many years. There was some discussion among the Council Members that the increased traffic in the area justified the installation of stop signs. Bill Stults made a motion to approve the installation of stop signs at the intersection of Brad Way and Strait Way as recommended by City staff. Dave Gilmour seconded. Roll Call: Gilmour, yes; Halley, yes; Harrison, yes; Higginbotham, yes; Richardson, no; Stults, yes. Motion passed, 5-1. E. A Resolution Endorsing and Approving an Application to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DECD) for Planning Assistance through the Quick Response Program City of G'cnd~d Porn) Cily Council Minutes Miy IQ 2001 1',•rg~ 3 Planning Director Tom Humphrey asked the City Council to approve a resolution in support of the City's efforts to obtain assistance from DLCD's Quick Response Program to analyze the traffic impacts that will occur from new development in the vicinity of the Central Point interchange on Interstate 5. There was some discussion among the Council that the analysis should include development on other properties, such as the TOD site, that may impact the interchange in the future. There was also discussion regarding a new road parallel to E. Pine Street that could be constructed to relieve some of the traffic congestion in the area. Bill Stults made a motion to approve Resolution No. 908, A Resolution Endorsing and Approving an Application to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DECD) for Planning Assistance through the Quick Response Program. Kay Harrison seconded. Roll Call: Motion passed unanimously. F. Planning Commission Report Mr. Humphrey presented the Planning Commission Report for the regular meeting of May 1, 2001. 1. Approved a minor land partition to create two tax lots of 9,130 square feet each from an existing 0.42 acre parcel located at the northeast corner of Greenleaf Ln. and Bursell Rd. in an R-2, Residential Two-Family zoning district. 2. Approved a site plan review for a mixed use development consisting of three multi- story buildings on property located at the northeast corner of Oak and Fourth Streets in the HMR, High Mix Residential TOD zoning district. Alley and off-street parking standards for the project were referred to the City Council for its review and determination. 3. Recommended that the City Council approve a modification to the conditions of approval for the New Haven Estates subdivision regarding agricultural buffering in order to resolve a boundary dispute. The Planning Commission also determined that a fence would be required around a tot lot constructed as part of the Sunrise Apartments and recommended that the City Council consider eliminating some off-street parking on N. 10th Street that is causing traffic problems at the intersection of N. 10th Street and E. Pine Street. Bill Stults made a motion to approve the Planning Commission Report for May 1, 2001. Kay Harrison seconded. Roll Call: Motion passed unanimously. VIII. MAYOR'S REPORT. Mayor Walton: • encouraged Council members to participate in the Smart Reading program for elementary school children. • attended the Community Works fund raiser. • asked the Council to consider a motion directing City staff to prepare a letter to ODOT regarding the construction of a road parallel to E. Pine Street that would alleviate some of the traffic congestion in the area of the Central Point interchange. Donna Higginbotham made a motion to direct City staff to prepare a letter to ODOT asking what the City needed to do in order to have ODOT consider the construction Cily ofCentr~ll Point City Council Minutes May 10, 2001 Page ~ of a road parallel to E. Pine Street that would alleviate some of the traffic congestion in the area of the Central Point interchange. Dave Gilmour seconded. Some discussion followed and Dennis Richardson offered a friendly amendment to the motion to remove any language obligating the City to any preconditions in order for ODOT to consider constructing the road. Kay Harrison seconded. Donna Higginbotham amended her original motion as offered by Council Member Richardson. Dave Gilmour amended his second to the motion. Roll Call: Motion passed unanimously. IX. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT City Administrator Jim Bennett reported that: • a public meeting on the Commuter Rail Program will be held on Monday, May 14, at 7:00 p.m. at the Smullin Center. • the City has received a request from Oregon Housing Services to submit a housing rehabilitation application under the Community Development Block Grant program. • there will be a joint study session of the City Council and the Planning Commission on Tuesday, May 15 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers to review the Regional Problem Solving One Valley Project and the initial projections of future growth areas for the City. • the study session in June will look at the potential for urban renewal in the City. Don Burt from the Medford Urban Renewal Agency will be invited to address the Council. It was decided to hold the study session on Tuesday, June 26. X. COUNCIL REPORTS Council Member Donna Higginbotham reported that: there will be a rededication for the Bear Creek Greenway project in Central Point at the trail head in the morning on Saturday, May 12. The damage from the vandalism of the site has been repaired. Council Member Dave Gilmour reported that: Rogue Valley Disposal sent a notice to residents informing them of a rate increase that made it seem like the City had recently approved the increase. Actually the rate increase was agreed to as a part of the Solid Waste Franchise Agreement between the City and Rogue Disposal that was approved in 1996. Periodic rate increases were built into the franchise agreement. the expansion plans for Crater High have been completed and .look very good. a citizens survey should be done to get public opinion on the 1 cent diesel fuel tax and that the Central Point Times should be contacted to do a balanced story on the issue that would help to inform the public. Council Member Bill Stults reported that: he would support the 1 cent diesel fuel tax only if it can be shown that trucks are actually causing more damage to the roads than the cars that are using the roads. City o/~Centt-al Yoint City Council Minutes May 10, 2001 1 ~~gc 5 the Medford Water Commission estimates that there will be enough water to meet consumer needs this summer. 600 c.f.s. are available and the most that will be needed are 40 c.f.s. he would like to know whether the Council wants to pursue the issue of signs limiting the use of compression engine (fake) brakes within the City. ODOT has not responded to the City's last letter on the subject. Some cities in Oregon have installed signs prohibiting the unnecessary use of compression engine brakes at the city limits on rural highways. The consensus of the Council was that the use of these kinds of brakes was not a significant problem in the City and that no action is warranted. Council Member Dick Halley reported that: he met with a group of citizens who oppose the 1 cent diesel fuel tax and invited them to address the Council at the Council meeting on May 24. he would like the Council to consider installing a stop sign at the intersection of 7'h Street and Manzanita Street near Pfaff Park. he would like to thank the members of the Budget Committee for their hard work and asked that letters of appreciation be sent to each member. Council Member Dennis Richardson reported that: • the Budget Committee work went very smoothly and thanked Council Member Harrison for her work as Chairperson. • he would like to see a deliberate, comprehensive approach to the issue of the 1 cent diesel fuel tax that would ensure that all positions are represented and would also consider alternatives to the tax. After some discussion, it was the consensus of the Council that a comprehensive review of street funding alternatives should be undertaken and that these alternatives should be widely disseminated for public comment. At that point, the Council can consider which alternative, if any, should be adopted to address long term funding for the maintenance, repair and replacement of the City's street system. Dave Gilmour made a motion to extend the meeting past 10:00 p.m. Dick Halley seconded. Roll Call: Gilmour, yes; Halley, yes; Harrison, yes; Higginbotham, yes; Richardson, yes; Stults, no. Motion passed, 5-1. XI. DEPARTMENT REPORTS Public Works Director Bob Pierce reported that the 2000 street overlay project is under way starting on Oak Street. Police Chief Mike Sweeny reported on the Police Department's participation in the upcoming Police Officers Memorial ceremony. Finance Director Bill Brugger presented th 10-months financial report to the Council and noted that the average total daily water consumption for the City is estimated at 237,330 cubic feet, or 1.8 million gallons. XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION There was no executive session. G'ily oI ~Ccn6~J Poin! City Council Minutes May I ~ 2001 I ~•r~~ l XIII. ADJOURNMENT Bill Stults moved to adjourn. Dave Gilmour seconded, all said "aye" and the Council Meeting was adjourned at 10:03 p.m. The foregoing minutes of the May 10, 2001, Council meeting were approved by the City Council at its meeting of May 24, 2001. Dated: ~O-lo-01 ATTEST: Authorized Represen ive 't Mayor Bill Walton [. ~1