ESTACADA CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS
475 SE MAIN STREET, ESTACADA, OREGON
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2003 - 7:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER BY PRESIDING
OFFICER
The
meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm.
Mayor Austin led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present: Cr. Atkinson, Cr. Erickson, Cr. Cheshier, Cr.
Gavic, Cr. Stauffacher, Cr. Arnold, Mayor Austin, CM Ealy, CA Cole, CR Carey.
CONSENT AGENDA
Approve
August 25, 2003 Workshop and Council minutes
Skate
Park Leadership Group Appointments
Cr. Cheshier moved to approve the consent agenda. Cr. Atkinson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Becky Arnold, Councilor; Randy Ealy, City Manager; Kevin Olds, Clackamas River Principal; Dianna Turk, Parks & Recreation Commission; Cindy Baker and Susan Viviano, Estacada Skate Association were appointed to the Skate Park Leadership Group. The school board member position is still open.
DEPARTMENT & COMMITTEE
REPORTS
Clackamas County Sheriff – Deputy Kauffman
introduced himself as the new officer serving Estacada.
Public Works Report – Chris Randall reviewed a
handout regarding current project work.
CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY GROUP
COMMENTS
D. J. Bleu, 42900 SE Music Camp Road, Sandy – Mr. Bleu would like the Council to consider
changing the portion of the annexation code requiring the abatement of non-conforming
uses within 10 years. He feels it is
unconstitutional.
Dean Baker, 35882 Squaw Mtn. Road – Mr. Baker feels the pond is the perfect site for
a library and would encourage the council to place it there.
Paula Nelson, 440 SW Maple – Ms. Nelson would prefer the library be sited in
the downtown area because she is able to walk to do all her errands. She also felt that the people living at 300
Main would not be able to go to the library if it is located at the pond
property.
Gary Warkentin, 32795 Copeland Road – Mr. Warkentin encouraged the council to look at
this by realizing this is a decision that will have to stand for 50+
years. Because of the importance of this
decision, he wants to be sure that everyone has taken time to review all the information
before a decision is made.
Glen Althauser, Barton – Mr. Althauser has lived in this community for many years and is in favor of the pond property site. He stated there was no room for expansion at the downtown site but the pond property would offer room to grow.
Pete Toscano, Estacada – Mr. Toscano stated that logically and
economically he does not see how anyone cannot chose the pond. There are so many more issues with the
downtown property such as the displacement of homes.
Nina Hamilton, 27724 S. Hwy 211 – Ms. Hamilton stated that the decision needs to be
made looking at the big picture and the pond is in a very dangerous area. The traffic on the highway is a major issue
and money will have to be spent to take care of this. This decision should not be a financial
decision. She also stated that the
patrons themselves want the library downtown.
Cindy Baker
– Ms. Baker originally was in favor of placing the library on the downtown site
but after hearing all the discussions and information regarding both lots, has
changed her mind to supporting the library placement at the pond property.
Karen Hardman, 700 NE Foothills – Ms. Hardman asked the council to consider all the
information and to please make decision a tonight so the process can continue
and not be held up.
Joey Triska – SE Tracy Road – Mr. Triska feels the pond site is the perfect
site for the new library. It is next to
the schools and is a very beautiful location.
He feels this would be a better place than the downtown site for a
library.
COUNCIL BUSINESS
2005 Centennial Mural Commissioning – Cr. Atkinson is concerned about another mural and
would like more information before commissioning this project. Cr. Erickson stated that he does not think
the project is automatically a mural and that the design or artwork will come
back to the council for approval after the piece has been chosen. Mayor Austin agrees that it could be some
other form of art rather than a mural.
Cr. Cheshier echoes the fact that she would rather
have another form of art than a mural.
She would like to commission a centennial project but not necessarily a
mural. Cr. Gavic agrees that there are
enough murals in Estacada. Cr. Arnold
would like to see something to represent the gateway to our community and to
welcome people into the community – other than a mural.
It was council consensus to endorse a centennial
project, but not another mural. CM Ealy
will convey this message to the Arts Commission.
Comp Plan Review Land Use Planning Consultant
Selection – Task 1 – CM reviewed
staff recommendation to hire Morgan CPS as the land use planning consultant for
Task 1 of the Comp Plan review. He
explained the rating process used to determine the rankings of each
company.
CM stated that grant money has been available in the
past for these types of projects and he will seek grants at this time to secure
the funding for these costs. The council
discussed the options for budgeting for this project.
Cr. Cheshier moved to approve staff’s recommendation
to hire Morgan CPS for task 1 of the comp plan amendment. Cr. Erickson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Cr. Atkinson would like Dean Holden moved into the
city limit position on the Comp Plan Task Force to replace Ben Erickson. There is a planning commissioner and a school
district position open on the committee and he would like to get this filled
ASAP. Staff will work on recommendations
for appointment to this committee for the next meeting.
Library Site Selection – CM reviewed the information in the packet. He also distributed the Library Board minutes
and a letter in support of the downtown site.
He stated that site selection for a new library is the goal tonight and
to redirect the energies of the task force to continue with the project. After the site is selected, the architect
will begin the design of the building for a specific site.
Mayor Austin thanked everyone for their hard work in
getting this project this far and for all the comments received.
Cr. Gavic asked what staff would be moving to the
new site. CM stated that only library
staff would move.
Cr. Atkinson commented that he found it difficult to
make a decision because of the city being in the process of the comp plan
amendment and so he does not know where the growth in the city will be in the
next twenty years. A survey was sent out
and at that time the people wanted the library downtown. He looked toward the future and how the
downtown site could be expanded by purchasing the fire training tower and
moving Bennett’s Tire Company and placing public works there. He feels the pond could be dangerous for
children.
Cr. Arnold understands Cr. Atkinson’s concerns about
the pond but there is going to be a park there so there will be children around
the pond. She feels the pond property is
more suitable because there will be more space to have activities. She stated that there is a shuttle operated
by the community center that can take the residents from 300 Main to the
library and Tri-met could be another possibility for transportation from
downtown to the library site at the pond.
A pedestrian walkway would serve as a safe way to cross the old highway.
Cr. Gavic felt the library would tie in with all the
downtown businesses and keep activity in the downtown core. He liked Cr. Atkinson’s vision of the
downtown area.
Cr. Cheshier would like to see the library sited at
the pond. It is more financially
economical and there is room for growth.
She would like to see the downtown area improve, but she would like to
see commercial uses in that area. The
library will help improve and bring attention to the pond area.
Cr. Stauffacher supports the pond property for the
future library site. She stated that the
pond property was definitely the consensus at the town hall meeting.
Cr. Erickson stated that everyone agrees that it is
exciting that there will soon be a new library regardless of where it is
sited. He also stated that this library
will serve many more than the 2400 residents of the city and this needs to be
considered. The library is a site
specific destination and most people drive to the library but realizes there
are issues with the elderly patrons that live close. Cr. Erickson respects every comment from
every person on this issue. He stated
that there was overwhelming support at the town hall for the pond site and he
really needs to go with this support.
Mayor Austin also enjoyed the town hall meeting and
the input from everyone that attended.
Mayor Austin stated that cost, along with other criteria, does need to
be considered for the site. The Library
Board, Library Task Force and the Parks & Recreation Commission all
recommend the pond site. He feels the
schools are close to the pond site and he would like to preserve the downtown
area for future commercial growth.
Cr. Erickson moved to place the new library at the
pond site. Cr. Arnold seconded the
motion. Roll call vote: Cr. Stauffacher-yes, Cr. Atkinson-yes, Cr. Cheshier-yes,
Cr. Gavic-no, Cr. Arnold-yes, Cr. Erickson-yes, Mayor Austin-yes. The motion passed with 6 yes and 1 no.
The council discussed the Library Task Force and
whether to expand the membership from 7 to 10 people. There is currently a position open that
Gloria Polzin will fill. Mayor Austin
instructed staff to place the membership expansion on the next agenda with some
new goals and direction for the task force.
Staff will advertise for the three new positions.
CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY GROUP
COMMENTS
COUNCIL REPORTS &
COMMENTS
Cr. Erickson thanked everyone that worked on the
library siting for so long. He also
thanked the city summer help for their efforts this summer and good luck in
school.
Cr. Gavic would like to see more signage on the
highway.
Cr. Arnold announced for anyone interested in the
skate park to come to the meeting at city hall on Wednesday. She encourages everyone to keep the focus on
the library and pull together to get it built.
Cr. Cheshier stated that the council took a lot of
time to make a decision on the library site and is looking forward to
continuing with the project.
Cr. Atkinson thanked everyone for coming tonight and
speaking on the issue before them.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – ORS
192.660(1)(e)
Mayor Austin announced that the council will adjourn
into executive session under ORS 192.660(1)(e) – to conduct deliberations with
persons designated by the governing body to negotiate real property
transactions. He asked everyone to leave
the room except those representing the media.
He advised the media representatives that they cannot report the
contents of the executive session.
All the council and staff listed above were present
along with Chris Randall, acting Public Works Superintendent.
The council returned to regular session.
Cr. Erickson moved to purchase the Wade Street property for the new library site for $179,000. Cr. Cheshier seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Cr. Erickson moved to give staff authority to proceed
on the condemnation of property on the corner of Shafford and 4th
for the purpose of straightening 4th Avenue. Cr. Arnold seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – ORS
192.660(1)(i)
Mayor Austin announced that the council will adjourn
into executive session under ORS 192.660(1)(i) – to review the employment of
the chief executive officer. He asked
everyone to leave the room except those representing the media. He advised the media representatives that
they cannot report the contents of the executive session.
All the council and staff listed above were present
along with Chris Randall, acting Public Works Superintendent.
The council returned to regular session.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 pm.