ESTACADA CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

ESTACADA CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS

475 SE MAIN STREET, ESTACADA, OREGON

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2006 - 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. Michele Conditt, Cr. Becky Arnold, Cr. Richard Hartwig, Cr. Norm Ernst, Cr. Kay Nelson, Cr. Ben Erickson, Mayor Bob Austin, CM Randy Ealy, CP Mike McCallister, CR Denise Carey.

 

CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY GROUP COMMENTS                                                       

 

CONSENT AGENDA                                                                                      

*      Approve January 23, 2006 Workshop minutes

*      Approve January 23, 2006 Council minutes

*      Approve renewal of Clackamas County Bank loan (Espinoza LID)

*      City Manager Contract 

*      Harold Babcock Memorial Plaque - $290

 

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

 

PUBLIC HEARING – Subdivision 2005-6 – Byrd’s Nest Estates                                     

 

Mayor Austin opened the public hearing and asked if any councilor wished to declare ex parte contact or conflicts of interest.  There was none.

 

CP McCallister reviewed the Planning Commission Findings and Recommendation of approval with conditions. 

 

Mayor Austin read the statement regarding evidence and the right to appeal.

 

Ken Diener, agent and engineer for the applicant, explained how this subdivision would fit together with the approved Straightline Estates Subdivision. 

 

Mayor Austin asked for any comments from anyone for, against or neutral to the application.  There were none.

 

Mayor Austin closed the public hearing.

 

Cr. Erickson moved to approve the Planning Commission Findings and Recommendation of approval for Subdivision 2005-6 with the listed conditions.  Cr. Hartwig seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

PUBLIC HEARING – Comp Plan Amendment & Zone Change #2004-2 – Corbett          

 

Mayor Austin opened the public hearing and asked to declare ex parte contact or conflicts of interest.  There was none.

 

CP McCallister reviewed the Planning Commission Findings and Recommendation of approval. 

 

Cr. Erickson asked CP McCallister if his recommendation to the Planning Commission was denial and if so why.  CP McCallister stated he did recommend denial based on the fact that this property outlets to a major roadway and is in the middle of a rather large area designated commercial.  This could make a precedent for others to come in and ask for “spot zoning” along Eagle Creek Hwy. 

 

Cr. Nelson stated that she understands CP McCallister’s objections and feels council should listen to him and his recommendation.

 

Cr. Hartwig asked if this zone change would reduce the value of any surrounding properties.  CP McCallister stated he does not know.  Cr. Hartwig also asked if changing this property would affect the neighboring commercial properties as far as developing.  CP stated that the commercial development that borders a residential zone would have to comply with larger setbacks. 

 

Mayor Austin read the statement regarding evidence and the right to appeal.

 

Ken Corbett, applicant, answered questions from the council regarding the problem with the depth of the sewer.  The applicant has not yet determined how to solve this problem.

 

There were no statements in favor of or neutral to the application.

 

Opposition:

 

Terry McAuley attended the Planning Commission meeting and spoke in favor of the application but he did not realize that the plan for the whole area was to be commercial.  He doesn’t feel this change would be conducive to family living; to have industrial behind you and commercial all around you and the existence of residential in the area will impact the feasibility of certain types of commercial in the area. 

 

PWD Chris Randall stated there is concern regarding the sewer in this area because of the depth required.  He stated there would have to be some studies conducted to allow for the sewer.  He stated that this would have to be done whether commercial use or residential use. 

 

Cr. Hartwig asked if there would be a spacing problem with the driveway for the new use and the existing carpet store.  CP stated there would be an issue but sometimes the guidelines cannot be followed precisely. 

 

Cr. Hartwig declared potential conflict of interest since he owns a piece of property in the vicinity of the property.

 

Mayor Austin closed the public hearing.

 

Cr. Nelson moved to deny the application.  Cr. Erickson seconded the motion.  Cr. Erickson stated that he feels this is a good place for commercial and at this point he cannot support changing this lot to multi-family.  Cr. Hartwig stated this is a difficult decision but feels the council has already changed some others to multi-family in this area and feels this property should be changed.  Cr. Arnold and Cr. Conditt both agree with Cr. Hartwig.  Cr. Ernst feels it is already mostly residential use and would support the change.  The motion failed with 2 yes (Nelson, Erickson), 4 no and 1 abstention (Hartwig). 

 

Cr. Arnold moved to approve the zone change application.  Cr. Conditt seconded the motion.  The motion passed with 4 yes, 2 no (Nelson, Erickson) and 1 abstention (Hartwig). 

 

DEPARTMENT & COMMITTEE REPORTS                                                                  

 

Deputy Bigler reviewed the October and November activity reports. 

 

City Manager Ealy reviewed his written Manager’s Report for February 2006. 

 

Mayor Austin stated that the LOC is looking for a new Executive Director.  He also asked that the City pay for his expenses to Washington DC using the rest of the Council training money to pay for travel and lodging.  He would cover the meals.  There were no objections from Council for paying the Mayor’s expenses to the conference this year. 

 

COUNCIL BUSINESS                                                                                               

 

Ordinance Series of 2006, No. 1 – An Ordinance granting to Cascade Utilities, Inc. a non-exclusive franchise conferring the right and privilege to place, erect, lay, maintain, and operate in, upon and under the streets, alleys, avenues, thoroughfares and public highways within the City of Estacada m telecommunications facilities for the operation of Cascade’s telecommunications business. – CR Carey read the Ordinance. 

 

Cr. Conditt moved to dispense with the second reading and read by title only.  Cr. Arnold seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

CR Carey read Ordinance Series of 2006, No. 1 by title only.

 

Cr. Conditt moved to adopt Ordinance Series of 2006, No. 1 - An Ordinance granting to Cascade Utilities, Inc. a non-exclusive franchise conferring the right and privilege to place, erect, lay, maintain, and operate in, upon and under the streets, alleys, avenues, thoroughfares and public highways within the City of Estacada m telecommunications facilities for the operation of Cascade’s telecommunications business.  Cr. Nelson seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Ordinance Series of 2006, No. 2 – An Ordinance consenting to assignment of the cable television franchise from Cascade Cable, Inc, to Cascade Access, LLC, and consenting to a change of control of Cascade Access, LLC. – CR Carey read the ordinance.

 

Cr. Arnold moved to dispense with the second reading and read by title only.  Cr. Nelson seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

CR Carey read Ordinance Series of 2006, No. 2 by title only.

 

Cr. Nelson moved to adopt Ordinance Series of 2006, No. 2 – An Ordinance consenting to assignment of the cable television franchise from Cascade Cable, Inc, to Cascade Access, LLC, and consenting to a change of control of Cascade Access, LLC.  Cr. Arnold seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Library Job Descriptions – CM Ealy stated that the part-time employees in the library do not have official job descriptions.  There are currently only job descriptions for the Library Director and Assistant Librarian. 

 

Library Director Beth McKinnon stated that libraries are pretty much the same all over wherever they are located and that the structure of the staff will carry over to the new library.  They want to recognize the jobs that are being done with official titles and job descriptions.  Cr. Arnold does not like the wording “considerable leeway” in the Assistant Librarian job description.  It leaves it too open.  McKinnon explained that the person in this position would have leeway when they were in charge when the Library Director is gone.  Cr. Arnold stated that these job descriptions should not made for the people that are here now but for the positions required regardless of who is in that position.  Cr. Conditt stated that she does not like the structure of the Assistant Library Director but instead there should be lead librarians with specialties such as Reference Librarian, Children Services Librarian, etc.  Cr. Conditt asked CR Carey about the research done on other libraries.  CR Carey stated that she had received responses from approximately 25 libraries around the state and that only one ((North Bend) currently has an Assistant Library Director.  McKinnon stated that the education is the difference between Librarians and the Library Director/Assistant Library Director.  Cr. Conditt would like to approve all of the descriptions except the Assistant Library Director.  Cr. Arnold does not think the Assistant Library Director should have anything to do with hiring and firing and there doesn’t need to be two supervisory positions.  Cr. Erickson asked if the hierarchy would be Library Director, Assistant Library Director then Assistant Librarian.  McKinnon stated this was correct.  He feels the Assistant Library Director should be full time and the Assistant Librarian should be part-time if this is the case.  Cr. Erickson asked if the volunteers had job descriptions.  McKinnon stated they did not.  McKinnon asked if the council would rather have the position called Lead Librarian.  Cr. Conditt would prefer that but would like more time to look at the position.  CM Ealy stated that the other departments have designations such as Plant Operator II & Plant Operator I and Utility Worker II and Utility Worker I.  The Council would like something consistent with the rest of the City such as Librarian II and Librarian I.  The Council directed CM to come back with some alternatives and a clear chart showing the chain of command for the library. 

 

It was Council consensus to place this on a future agenda after more research.

 

CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY GROUP COMMENTS                                             

 

COUNCIL REPORTS & COMMENTS                                                                          

 

Cr. Conditt would like to see the Charter Review complete and placed on a ballot soon.

 

Cr. Arnold thanked everyone for coming.

 

Cr. Hartwig thanked the local deputies for their hard work in Estacada. Cr. Hartwig asked that the council add some infrastructure projects to the list for 6th and Broadway and 6th and Main. 

 

Cr. Ernst stated he spent a morning with city staff in the library, city hall and public works and it is very evident how professional they are and the pride they take in their work. 

 

Cr. Nelson would like someone to look at the sidewalks at 395 Zobrist.  She also would like to begin talking about Walker’s Disposal Franchise.

 

Cr. Erickson encouraged the council to look at the Planning Commission minutes on line regarding issues that come before the council.  These might help to clarify positions taken on certain issues. 

 

Mayor Austin appreciates the discussion on the planning and zoning issues. 

 

ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING

 

          The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 pm.