ESTACADA CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

ESTACADA CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS

475 SE MAIN STREET, ESTACADA, OREGON

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003 - 7:00 PM

 

CALL TO ORDER BY PRESIDING OFFICER                                                                         

 

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

 

Present:  Cr. Stauffacher, Cr. Atkinson, Cr. Cheshier, Cr. Arnold, Cr. Erickson, Mayor Austin, CM Ealy, CR Carey.                                        

 

Absent:  Cr. Gavic.

 

It was council consensus to add Resolution 2003-4 to the agenda under council business. 

 

CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY GROUP COMMENTS                                                          

Mayor Austin presented the February Citizen of the Month to M.V. Whitney for her work on city signage and the February Golden Rake to Mildred Russell for her beautiful yard.

 

Nina Hamilton, 27724 S. Hwy 211 – Ms. Hamilton would like the council to make a decision regarding 2 hour parking on the side streets in the downtown area.  She would like the parking to be unlimited on the side streets.  She would also like diagonal parking on at least one side of Main Street.

 

CONSENT AGENDA                                                                                                    

Approve February 10, 2003 Workshop and Council minutes

 

Cr. Atkinson moved to approve the consent agenda.  Cr. Arnold seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

COUNCIL BUSINESS                                                                                                   

 

Micro Brewery Sampling Requirements – PWS Strawn reviewed the information in his memo regarding the brewpub and its BOD requirements.  PWS stated that public works has followed the code and resolutions of the council to develop the procedure for determining the level of BODs for the brewpub by sampling the brewpub for the first month of business and then re-sample on a yearly basis to determine the charge for any unusual strength wastes.  PWS stated he has asked Mr. Johnson to build a sampling manhole where we will place a portable sampling device in the manhole for 30 days.  The city would then average the readings out to determine the rate for the BOD surcharge and also show if he is meeting the other requirements involved.  The city will perform the testing at no charge to the brewpub.  PWS answered questions from the council.  Mayor Austin asked if there were any alternatives other than the manhole.  PWS stated he would be open to considering other options as long as they allow the city to get the information they need.

 

Ken Johnson, 14075 Brandt Ave., Boring – Mr. Johnson stated that the county only charges a $1500/year permit fee if you are over the limit and they charge $.08 per pound of BOD over their limits.  Mr. Johnson commented on the city’s code and feels it has never been fully enforced.  He stated that he knows there are several businesses in town that is over the same threshold and wants the code to be enforced evenly and fairly.  Mr. Johnson is OK with placing the manhole and being charged the $.50 if he is over the BOD limit.  But he feels there are other businesses that have been allowed to operate without following the code.  He would like a variance of the fee until the city has a plan to have all businesses operating in compliance with the code. 

 

Cr. Atkinson asked PWS if there is anything in place to test other businesses.  PWS Strawn stated that this is a brewpub and that there are no other businesses in town like his.  He also said that most businesses were established before the present code was adopted and there is no provision in the code to make these existing businesses comply.  The city does not have any way to test for compliance at this time.  CA Cole stated that the city does not have a right to ask a non-conforming use to change things each time a new code is adopted. 

 

Mrs. Johnson asked if a business here before the code are allowed to discharge anything into the system?  CA Cole stated that there is not a system set up to test the non-conforming uses at this time and the city cannot require them to place individual testing sites at their businesses.  Mrs. Johnson stated that the reason for rules is to offer a level of predictability to businesses coming into the area and they should not be enforced arbitrarily. 

 

ODOT Transportation Enhancement Grant – Beverly Anderson reported on the grant submitted to ODOT for improvements to the part of Hwy 224 going through Estacada. This grant request includes money for signage, sidewalks, lighting and landscaped medians.  Ms. Anderson answered questions from the council regarding details of the project.

 

Oregon Department of Forestry Grant - Ms. Anderson stated the city has received a grant from the Oregon Department of Forestry to perform a street tree inventory of the trees currently planted in the city.  An arborist would be hired to measure trees and evaluate the general health of a tree.  He would then present a proper maintenance plan for the trees.  The grant is for $600 but the city would have to contribute matching funds of $600. 

 

Estacada Street Inventory – PWS Strawn explained the information in the packet regarding the street inventory.  The information rates each and every street in the city and provides an amount it would cost to improve each street to be fully paved with curbs and sidewalks.  PWS stated the next step in the process is to make the information known to the citizens.

 

Post Acknowledgement Plan Amendment- CM Ealy reviewed the staff report and staff recommendation regarding this issue.  Staff is recommending that the city use a process known as Post Acknowledgement Plan Amendment (PAPA) instead of the formal periodic review process.  The city would have to issue a letter to DLCD stating this choice of review.  The benefit of using the PAPA process is that timelines are not so rigorous.  Cr. Atkinson moved to use the Post Acknowledgement Plan Amendment process for periodic review.  Cr. Erickson seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Urban Growth Boundary Expansion Request – CA Ealy reviewed the information in his staff report and the request for the urban growth boundary change.  CA stated there would be costs associated with the process and the council would have to determine who pays these costs.  This process is subject to LUBA review.  Cr. Atkinson commented that one of the tasks of the Periodic Review Committee is to look at the urban growth boundary and to recommend any changes needed to accommodate growth.  He stated that maybe these two issues should be combined and done at the same time.  CM is not asking for a decision of any kind tonight but to have a good discussion about all the issues associated with this request.  CM stated that the issues to look at is who is going to pay for the procedure and when and how should we proceed with the application. 

 

Mike Park, 30725 SE Hwy 224 – Mr. Park stated that the process for 49 acres is faster than for properties over 50 acres.  He asked the city to initiate the process but Mr. Park will obligate funds up to $5,000.  Mr. Park asked that the city fast track this process so the area will not loose anymore great opportunities.

 

CA commented that there is a lack of large parcels of industrial lands available statewide and the governor is interested in putting things on the fast track to develop properties.  CA will gather some information on this issue and council would like it placed on the next agenda for further discussion and implementation.

 

Transportation Maintenance Utility Fee (TMUF) – Mayor Austin reviewed what the county has done so far in the development of a transportation maintenance utility fee.  The County Board of Commissioners would adopt the ordinance establishing the fee and the city would collect the fees from their users.  The fees would be cost-based.  The ordinance to adopt the concept would list what the funds could be used for – mostly road maintenance issues.  Cr. Atkinson is concerned with this fee because it is only charged to people in the city limits and not everyone that use the city streets.  He would be all for a gas tax or something that everyone has to pay that uses the streets.  Mayor Austin will bring information to the council on the $.01 gas tax implemented by the City of Sandy. 

 

Resolution 2003-4 – A Resolution for the purpose of transferring appropriations per ORS 294.450 – CM Ealy reviewed the resolution and the need for the transfers. 

 

Cr. Cheshier moved to adopt Resolution 2003-4 – A Resolution for the purpose of transferring appropriations per ORS 294.450.  Cr. Atkinson seconded the motion.  Roll call vote:  Cr. Stauffacher-yes, Cr. Atkinson-yes, Cr. Cheshier-yes, Cr. Arnold-yes, Cr. Erickson-yes, Mayor Austin-yes.  The motion passed with 6 yes and 0 no.

 

CM Ealy also stated that PWS Strawn is recommending the purchase of a pump in the sewer plant with funds from the sewer system reserve.  Cr. Atkinson moved to approve the purchase of the pump with funds coming from the sewer reserve fund.  Cr. Arnold seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously. 

 

DEPARTMENT & COMMITTEE REPORTS                                 

 

City Manager – CM reviewed his written manager report.  He reminded the council that they have a retreat on Saturday morning from 8:00am to noon at The Viewpoint. 

 

The council discussed the site for the Clackamas cities dinner in March.  They would like to see menus from the Viewpoint, Community Center and Timberlake Job Corps.  They will discuss this at the upcoming retreat. 

 

CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY GROUP COMMENTS                                                          

          None.

 

 

 

 

COUNCIL REPORTS & COMMENTS                                                                    

 

Cr. Atkinson stated that his biggest problem with the glass company is that they were told there was no land available and there was.  Cr. Atkinson also stated that comments directed towards staff should be made to the City Manager and not directly to the council through emails.  It is the City Manager’s job to deal with staff.  Cr. Atkinson asked that lots available for parking in the downtown core be investigated.

 

Cr. Cheshier stated that the Library Task Force would like to be placed on the agenda on March 10th to discuss architects for the project.  She also agrees with Cr. Atkinson to try to find parking areas for downtown.

 

Cr. Erickson thanked Beverly Anderson for the job she has done for Estacada.  He also thanked Bill Strawn for his reports tonight clarifying issues.

 

Mayor Austin thanked everyone for coming.

 

ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING

 

          The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 pm.