ESTACADA CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS
475 SE MAIN STREET, ESTACADA, OREGON
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2004 - 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. Marli Stauffacher, Cr. Cliff Atkinson, Cr. Michele Cheshier, Cr. Becky Arnold, Cr. Ben Erickson, Cr. Gavic (arrived at 7:10 pm), Mayor Robert Austin, CA Andrew Cole, CP Mike McCallister, CM Randy Ealy, DCR Traci Hovda.
CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY GROUP
COMMENTS
John Mullins, 701 SE 4th Avenue,
commented on an upcoming Planning Commission public hearing regarding island
annexations. He is opposed to his
property, which is an island annexation, being forced into the City
limits. He stated that he had spoken to
a City official months ago and voiced his opposition to being annexed. He never received further notice that the
City was proceeding with the annexation.
He explained that his house was built in the 1920’s, and that his
driveway does not meet City codes but it does meet County codes. It’s over 800 feet long, and would cost
$15,000 - $20,000 to pave, not including curbs, sidewalks, and underground
utilities. He would then have to give
the utility company easements, which would reduce his property width, and
lessen the value of his property just so the City can receive the additional tax
on this small piece of property. If he
ever remodels his house, he would have to bring his driveway up to City codes
and this could end up costing him $50,000.
He wants the Council to instruct staff to discuss the matter with him
and see if some sort of compromise could be reached. The application materials he received from
City Hall state that there are not any existing structures listed and there is
one. It states the applicant is not the
property owner and there aren’t any documents attached that show the applicant
has the authority to submit the application.
He also stated that there has not been a boundary survey done.
CONSENT AGENDA
Approve
December 22, 2003 Council minutes
OLCC
License Annual Renewals
CM stated there have not been any violations in the
previous year for any of the liquor license renewals.
Cr. Atkinson asked what the different types of licenses are and why some businesses have multiple licenses. Cr. Erickson would also like to have this clarified before approving. Consensus was to table the liquor license renewals until the information could be submitted.
Cr. Cheshier moved to adopt the minutes. Cr. Erickson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Deputy Kauffman was present and stated he is here to see if the Council had any questions. He stated the Department survived the storm last week and commented on the stolen vehicle and chase through Estacada yesterday. Mayor Austin asked about the Deputies walking the downtown area and doing more community activities. Dep. Kauffman stated that he has been walking around talking to the businesses at least once per week and they really seem to enjoy talking with him.
PUBLIC HEARING –
Development Code Amendments
Mayor
Austin opened the public hearing.
CP McCallister reviewed the staff report, discussed
the proposed changes and gave a brief overview of the Planning Commission
recommendations.
Mayor Austin asked how other Cities have dealt with
their nonconforming uses for annexations.
CP McCallister believes that CR Carey did some sort of phone poll of
other cities and found that not many other cities require abatement of
nonconforming uses.
DJ Bleu, 43900 SE Music Camp Road, Sandy, stated
that he is interested in the nonconforming uses for annexations. He stated that many cities do not have
policies written that require abatement of nonconforming uses on
annexations. He is party to a pending
annexation application that would be affected by the proposed changes. He would like to see the abatement
requirement removed to protect property owners in these annexations.
Leonard Smith, Pac West Engineering, Albany,
supports the proposed changes in road standards. He feels the proposed changes are in line
with many other cities as outlined by the letter from the Department of Land
Conservation and Development.
The Council discussed the proposed changes. Cr.
Atkinson and Cr. Cheshier would like to see more specific language put in the
code regarding manufactured home requirements.
CP McCallister stated that State Law requires manufactured homes to be
allowed anywhere you allow residential homes.
He stated that you could put standards on single-family residences
requiring pitched roofs, concrete foundations, etc. Those standards would apply to all types of
single-family houses. CP will provide a
copy of the Counties standards for houses.
Mayor Austin closed the public hearing and reopened
the City Council meeting. Consensus was
for CP McCallister to expand the “gray area” for nonconforming uses for
annexations in the ordinance. He will
also provide the list of standards from the County regarding single-family
houses.
Consensus was to move forward with Ordinance Series
of 2003, No. 8 regarding definitions by having staff read the ordinance for the
first time. DCR Hovda read Ordinance
Series of 2003, No. 8.
Cr. Arnold moved to dispense with the second reading
of Ordinance Series of 2003, No. 8 and read by title only. Cr. Atkinson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. DCR Hovda read the ordinance title only.
Cr. Atkinson moved to approve Ordinance Series of
2003, No. 8 – An Ordinance amending definitions in section 16.08.010 of the
Estacada Municipal Code. Cr. Arnold
seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.
DEPARTMENT & COMMITTEE
REPORTS
City Manager – CM thanked Public Works for their efforts to keep the City running
last week during the storm.
Cr. Erickson asked what the policy is regarding
closing roads during inclement weather.
PWS Randall stated there were some issues regarding emergency vehicle
access so it is not our policy to close streets.
Cr. Arnold thanked Public Works for an outstanding
job during the bad weather.
The deadline for applications for committees will be
extended since the city has not received enough at this time to fill all the
vacancies.
The draft Parks Master Plan has been placed on the
City web site and in the Library for citizen review. The Engineer will have a proposal of action
plans available for the Council at a future meeting.
Irene Adams is working on the 100-year centennial
celebration. Council would like to be
involved or receive continual updates regarding the plans so they can wholly
support the event.
CM stated several meetings were cancelled last week,
including the Skate Park group. Their
next meeting will be January 21, 2004.
Cr. Cheshier asked if funding has been discussed or decided for this
project. Cr. Arnold stated that a few
members have attended conferences and have been working on plans, but they have
not been able to hold a meeting lately to put it together.
COUNCIL BUSINESS
Quarterly Review of Council Goals – CM reviewed the goals set by the Council. Staff is working on the upcoming budget that
incorporates several of these goals.
The community wide summit meeting has been
postponed. Letters and agendas will be
going out in the mail this week for a meeting on January 31st. The Mayor will give the State of the City
report at the January 26th Council meeting.
CM reviewed the recommendation to repave Main
Street. Staff is working on a Community
Development Block Grant that will cover three blocks of this project. He would like to hold town hall meetings to
get citizen involvement and see which way we should go.
CM stated that the final layer of paving in Cazadero
Heights and Dance Drive would be completed next spring.
CM discussed the League of Oregon Cities
commercially developed web site. He will
have staff look into the cost of having them develop a professional web site
that we would maintain.
CM will be working with Walkers Disposal regarding
neighborhood recycling efforts and where improvements could be made.
CM discussed the 4th Street realignment
project. A negotiated sales price has
been reached for property needed to begin the project. Staff will now be working with the engineer
regarding the estimated costs. Council
will hear more details at their next meeting.
Cr. Erickson would like to see the relationship with the Community Center improved, including an agreement that clearly outlines responsibilities for their use of the building.
Cr. Erickson would also like to see the City proceed
with the gas tax study.
Cr. Cheshier would like to see staff begin the
charter review process.
Cr. Arnold would like to see the shuttle to the City
of Sandy publicized. CM will contact
them to see what the status is and see if we can help them market it
locally.
Cr. Gavic would like to see us work on the Highway
224 beautification more aggressively. He
feels this is a critical area. CM stated
that ODOT had offered to provide some engineering of possible projects.
Cr. Atkinson would like to work on bringing jobs
into the area.
CITIZEN
AND COMMUNITY GROUP COMMENTS
John Mullins is appalled that CM asked the Council
to work with John Whitesell on his development, yet they will not work with a
long-term property owner/citizen.
COUNCIL
REPORTS & COMMENTS
Mayor Austin discussed upcoming meetings.
Cr. Erickson thanked Mr. Mullins for coming and
giving his input. He would like to see
the City better the communications with citizens. He is excited to see a lot of the goals
moving forward.
Cr. Gavic hopes there is money available out there
for the improvements in the downtown area.
He feels there is an increase in the amount of locals that visit and
shop in their downtown.
Cr. Arnold stated there are big changes in the
Chamber of Commerce. She is very excited
and announced the February 7th meeting to bring in the new board
members. She thanked Public Works for
their great job last week. She thanked
everyone for coming.
Cr. Stauffacher thanked everyone for coming.
Cr. Atkinson agrees with Cr. Erickson on Mr. Mullins
issue. He would like to see the City be
more consistent and fair with all citizens.
He stated he would like to see more affordable housing come to the City
instead of low-income housing. He asked
CM about increasing our recycling center to include tin and plastics. He would like to see the Library pursue a
shorter-term bond than 20 years.
Cr. Cheshier thanked Mr. Mullins for his input. She hopes that we can get back on the right
foot with his situation. She commented
on the library bond issue and stated that studies show that the 20-year bonding
period would be more likely to pass a vote than a shorter period. She thanked Public Works for an outstanding
job last week. The Library Foundation
has kicked off their fund raising campaign and is hoping to raise
$750,000.
Mayor Austin dittoed all of the Councilors
comments. He feels the Council is
energized and ready to move forward with several projects in the year to
come.
ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm.