ESTACADA CITY COUNCIL

ESTACADA CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS

475 SE MAIN STREET, ESTACADA, OREGON

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2001 - 7:00 PM

 

 

A.        CALL TO ORDER BY PRESIDING OFFICER                                         

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm.  Mayor Austin led in the pledge of allegiance.

 

B.        CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY GROUP COMMENTS                    

 

            None.

 

C.        CONSENT AGENDA          

1.         Approve September 10, 2001 Council minutes

2.         Accounts payable

3.         Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation

4.         Disability Employment Awareness Month Proclamation

5.         September 11, 2001 Attack on America Proclamation

6.         Golden Rake Award – Pat & Arlie Lyons

7.         Citizen of the Month – Brent Dodrill

 

Cr. Troeh moved to approve the consent agenda.  Cr. Akins seconded the motion.  Roll call vote:  Cr. Hartwig-yes, Cr. Butcher-yes, Cr. Akins-yes, Cr. Atkinson-yes, Cr. Gavic-yes, Cr. Troeh-yes, Mayor Austin-yes.  The motion passed with 7 yes and 0 no.

 

Mayor Austin read three proclamations.  Mayor Austin also presented the Golden Rake Award to Pat & Arlie Lyons and the Citizen of the Month to Brent Dodrill. 

 

Mr. Dodrill stated he was very excited about the Estacada Community Foundation.  Their next meeting will be October 22nd at the Viewpoint Restaurant.  They will be discussing their goal of raising $3 million dollars over the next three years from grants for various projects.  The first stage of this fundraising will be to raise $350,000 for matching funds.  Vision is the issue and people need to begin to see this happening. 

 

D.        CITY MANAGER REPORT

 

The city has been trying to step up efforts to clean up signs posted on poles around town.  Council will be reviewing new codes regarding dumping garbage in public receptacles. 

 

Staff are continuing their concerted effort to collect past due court fines.

 

The PGE audit by 24 cities has resulted in the addition of approximately 100 addresses for Estacada.  These addresses were coded incorrectly.  PGE rates will increase 32-34% for an average household.

 

CM stated that a group called the Friends of Wade Creek will be working on repairs along the creek.  This project will receive some SOLV funds. 

 

CM updated the council on plans of Clackamas County to create a new way to fund library and parks.  Next November the County plans to float a levy for parks & libraries requesting $.66/1,000.  This will give $.33/1,000 parks and recreation and the other $.33/1,000 for libraries.  Libraries would distribute their portion using the formula they currently have and parks would divide on population, size and assessed valuation.  If this were to pass as presented, the city would receive approximately $50,000 for our parks and the library would collect approximately the same.  It has been suggested that the City run a parallel process in case this does not fly in November.  The YMCA group or the Parks & Recreation Commission could continue the process to create a parks and recreation district.

 

CM updated the council on Chris Liu’s subdivision.  There have been a number of changes in the proposal and there is an issue of a grading permit.  Mr. Liu has not submitted a geo-technical report and this is holding up the issuance of the grading permit.

 

CM stated that a RARE student has been hired and she will be at the October 8th City Council meeting.  She will be working on community/economic development and will be writing grants, meeting with community groups, etc. 

 

CM handed out a code enforcement list covering the last year’s abatements.

 

Mayor Austin commented that he has had a lot of concerns expressed to him regarding recycling in the city.  Most of the complaints are that there are only 2 pickups a month and people forget.  CM Ealy stated if there is a problem it could be addressed but he has been talking to Walker’s Disposal regarding this issue. 

 

Cr. Gavic commented that the downtown garbage cans are falling apart and are always full of garbage. 

 

F.         COUNCIL BUSINESS

 

Comprehensive Plan Committee – CM distributed a draft for the citizen review committee.  DLCD must approve the grant funding in order to continue the project.  The grant will hire a planning consultant to take the community through the steps.  The committee will review the statewide planning goals and how they fit in the City of Estacada. 

 

The council discussed the make-up of the committee.  The Planning Commissioner and Parks & Recreation Commissioner should be from inside the city limits.  The school district and fire district representative can be anyone.  Council instructed staff to begin advertising for the positions. 

 

Downtown garbage cans – CM stated that the garbage cans are in need of repair and they are always full.  One solution is to obtain new garbage cans that can be locked with a small opening for placing garbage.  We would try to obtain some grant funds to replace the receptacles.  If we use metro grant funds you need to purchase recyclable cans and these are very expensive. 

 

Cr. Butcher moved to instruct staff to purchase 9 garbage cans not using the Metro grant funds.  Cr. Troeh seconded the motion.  Roll call vote:  Cr. Hartwig-yes, Cr. Butcher-yes, Cr. Akins-yes, Cr. Atkinson-yes, Cr. Gavic-yes, Cr. Troeh-yes, Mayor Austin-yes.  The motion passed with 7 yes and 0 no.

 

Grant status reports  - CM reviewed grant applications that he is working on or has completed:  urban renewal, RARE student, HB 2142 – access management to state highway, gateway project, recycling center, downtown garbage cans, SOLV projects, DLCD grant – comp plan, Community Incentive Fund grant due in spring 2002.

 

Library status and Community Senior Center  - CM would like council to allow staff to incorporate a MOU with the Library Board and the Community Center Board.  This would recognize that the library needs more room and survey results show that people feel that the library should expand into city hall and city hall should relocate.  City hall options are to rent space, build a public campus, or move to public works or the community center. 

 

CM answered questions regarding this issue.  Council instructed staff to develop some options and to bring them back to council for discussion. 

 

Kelly Roberts, Community Center Director – Ms. Roberts stated that the city and center need to work together.  She stated that 51% of all programs offered in the building has to be for senior citizens.  The sheriff’s department will offer protection for the seniors.  There is a lot of vandalism at the center and the police presence will help this. 

 

Alene Stevenson, Chair of Board – Ms. Stevenson stated that many seniors worked many hours to collect money for matching funds available for a CDBG grant.  The city wrote the grant for the money and the building was purchased.  The sheriff’s office will take up space that could be used to collect rental funds.  They would like help from the city for payment of bringing the sheriff’s office to the community center in the form of payment of water, sewer and garbage and some building maintenance. 

 

Cr. Atkinson asked if these things were discussed from the very start of the project.  Ms. Roberts stated that some of these things were discussed from the beginning with the previous administration.  CM stated that he was not aware of these things until recently.

 

Cr. Butcher stated that ownership needs to be defined first of all and then other issues can be addressed.  Mayor Austin stated that the building is owned by the city but realizes it is being used for a good purpose. 

 

Cr. Atkinson asked what center expenses were per month for maintenance and operating the center.  Ms. Roberts replied it was about $2500 per month. 

 

C.B. Staffaucher, Board of Directors – Mr. Staffaucher stated that ownership can be defined many ways – city is named on the deed but all debt was the responsibility of the center.  One of the documents researched had stated a responsibility of the city was to provide water, sewer and garbage costs. 

 

CM Ealy stated that Dean Hansell has ordered the materials for the sheriff’s office renovation and will be installing the door when it is received.     

 

CM stated that there is proposal before Walker’s Disposal for the city to remove the downtown garbage and then Walker’s would pick up at the community center. 

 

The council directed staff to prepare a MOU with the community center listing the five conditions in the staff report with the community center and get the sheriff’s office moved. 

 

G.        CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY GROUP COMMENTS                    

 

Cliff Seubert, Seubert Machining – Mr. Seubert stated that the city has first position on liens on his property and he would like the city to subordinate their lien.  He has two options to receive financing – pay off the city lien or have the city subordinate the lien.  He explained his plans for the business over the next few years and the problems he has had developing the property. 

 

Cr. Atkinson agreed with Mr. Seubert to take the money and build jobs.  He has no problem subordinating the position.  Cr. Gavic agrees with Cr. Atkinson that jobs are needed in Estacada and he feels the Council should be more concerned with jobs in Estacada rather than the money. 

 

Cr. Atkinson asked when he needed a decision.  Mr. Seubert stated he will be signing the papers on Wednesday and would need to know whether he needs to pay it off or if the city will subordinate. 

 

Mayor Austin stated he is not prepared to make a decision tonight – he would like staff consultation before making a decision.  Cr. Hartwig stated that he understands the problem but cannot make a decision tonight regarding this.  Cr. Troeh asked about the fees that Mr. Seubert referred to that only the City of Estacada requires.  She does want to encourage business growth and this information would be helpful. 

 

The council discussed the request.  CM asked that the council allow him time to collect the information regarding a decision. 

 

Cr. Gavic moved to subordinate the city’s position on the Seubert loan. 
Cr. Atkinson seconded the motion.  Roll call vote:  Cr. Hartwig-no, Cr. Butcher-no, Cr. Troeh-no, Cr. Atkinson-yes, Cr. Gavic-yes, Cr. Akins-no, Mayor Austin-no.  The motion failed with 2 yes and 5 no.

 

Cr. Butcher would like a policy prepared and presented to the council for review regarding subordinating liens on the October 8th agenda.  Staff was directed to present this information at the next meeting. 

 

H.        COUNCIL REPORTS & COMMENTS      

 

Cr. Gavic stated that the street sale was successful and they are looking forward to the next one on October 13th.

 

Mayor Austin reminded the council of the Clackamas Cities Dinner on Thursday at the Viewpoint Restaurant.

 

I.          ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING

 

            The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 pm.