ESTACADA CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

ESTACADA CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS

475 SE MAIN STREET, ESTACADA, OREGON

MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2007 - 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. Richard Hartwig, Cr. Norm Ernst, Cr. Kay Nelson, Cr. Brent Dodrill, Cr. Becky Arnold, Cr. Michele Conditt, Mayor Bob Austin, CM Randy Ealy, CA Cindy Phillips, CR Denise Carey.

                                               

CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY GROUP COMMENTS                                                       

 

Mildred Yamasaki, Pastor of the Eagle Creek Four Square Church, invited the Council and the community to join them for National Day of Prayer.

 

CONSENT AGENDA                                                                                      

*      Approve March 26, 2007 Council Workshop and Regular Meeting Minutes

*      Resolution 2007 – 008 – A Resolution extending City of Estacada’s Workers’ Compensation coverage to volunteers of the City of Estacada.

*      Proclamation – Municipal Clerks Week

 

Cr. Arnold moved to adopt the consent agenda.  Cr. Dodrill seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

DEPARTMENT & COMMITTEE REPORTS                                                                            

 

Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office – Written report only.

 

City Manager – CM Ealy reviewed his written staff report.

 

Mayor – Mayor Austin announced that Cr. Arnold, CM Ealy and himself would attend City Hall Day in Salem on Wednesday.

 

City Attorney – Cindy Phillips, Jordan Schrader, has been reviewing the Urban Renewal Plan. 

 

PUBLIC HEARING – URBAN RENEWAL DISTRICT                                                     

 

Mayor Austin opened the public hearing regarding the Estacada Urban Renewal District.

 

CM Ealy reviewed the timeline.  The process began in June 2001 when the city received a grant from Mt. Hood Alliance to fund a feasibility study.  This study was paid for with additional funding from the City and the Fire Dept.  In October 2001 Jeff Tashman presented the results of the study and choices for the Council.  The Council did not feel that it was the right time for this and tabled it.  In May 2006 the City Council reconsidered the information and Jeff Tashman was retained and presented a draft urban renewal plan in October 2006.  Tonight is the final public hearing to review and take public comments on the plan.   

 

Jeff Tashman explained that the Council will be considering two different ordinances tonight – one to establish the Urban Renewal Agency and the second would be to actually adopt the plan. 

 

He explained that the proposed area consists of mostly commercial properties with a few multi-family lots.  Tax increment financing is used to pay for part or all of the cost of transportation and public utilities improvements.  This is not a new tax but devotes the property taxes on growth to pay for the urban renewal projects for a specified period of time.  This is limited by the maximum indebtedness of the plan that is $6.6 million.  This includes inflation.  Some of the money will be borrowed so some of the tax increment money will pay back the loans.  At the end of 20 years no new bonds will be sold or projects started but there may be a period of time when all the loans would not be paid off.  It is estimated that it will take another 4 years after the 20 to pay off the loans and within 8 years after the tax increment financing ends, there will be a break even for agencies and what they collect in taxes.  The City of Estacada is the agency that will loose the most (about 5% of its permanent rate levy).  The Fire District will loose about 1 ½% of their permanent levy.  All other taxing districts will experience a very low impact. 

 

Cr. Nelson asked if the Urban Renewal budgeting process would follow the city process.  Tashman stated it would happen exactly at the same time and follow the same procedure.

 

Mayor Austin and Cr. Arnold stated that the benefits would far exceed the sacrifice of the 5% loss of the permanent rate for the City.  It will benefit the city just as if the City did receive the money and fund projects that are much needed.

 

Mayor Austin stated that numerous letters of support have been received for the district.  He opened the floor for anyone in the audience that wanted to comment on the district.

 

Rob Gaskill, Manager of Estacada Funeral Chapel, in favor of the urban renewal plan. 

 

D.W. Owens, vested interest in downtown core businesses, encouraged the Council to form a citizen’s advisory committee.  This will help get the word out and let citizens be involved in the program.  He is looking forward to the district and hopes it will encourage people to shop in Estacada.

 

Barbara Cartmill, Clackamas County Development Agency, reminded the councilors that the hat changing is important from the City Councilor role to Urban Renewal agency role.  She has reviewed the plan and feels it is concise and well defined and that the goals are very worthy.  There is a nice mix of projects – very conservative plan, doing a lot with a small amount of funding. CM Ealy and Mayor Austin have done a great job in bringing the plan forward and outreaching to other agencies, including the fire district.  There have also been town halls and open meetings to explain the plan to the community.  This extra care and effort makes Urban Renewal successful. 

 

Being no further comments, Mayor Austin closed the public hearing.

 

COUNCIL BUSINESS                                                                                               

 

Ordinance Series of 2006, No. 4 – An Ordinance declaring that blighted areas exist in the City of Estacada, Oregon, establishing the need for an Urban Renewal Agency in the City and electing a method for exercise of the powers of an Urban Renewal Agency within the City.

 

Cr. Arnold moved to approve Ordinance Series of 2006, No. 4 - An Ordinance declaring that blighted areas exist in the City of Estacada, Oregon, establishing the need for an Urban Renewal Agency in the City and electing a method for exercise of the powers of an Urban Renewal Agency within the City.  Cr. Conditt seconded the motion. 

 

Cr. Hartwig asked how much would the city be supporting the fire department.  Tashman stated that there is $300,000 proposed for the fire district but this amount could change.  Cr. Dodrill explained that the intergovernmental agreement with the Fire district is separate from the Urban Renewal district money.  Cr. Nelson asked if the intergovernmental agreement is different funds than the urban renewal agency.  Mayor Austin stated that the agreement would not happen until the district is formed.  Cr. Conditt stated that her understanding is that the money used for the agreement would be paid back from the urban renewal funds.  Mayor Austin stated this was correct.

 

Roll call vote:  Cr. Arnold-yes, Cr. Conditt-yes, and Cr. Dodrill-yes, Cr. Ernst-yes, Cr. Hartwig-yes, Cr. Nelson-no, Mayor Austin-yes.  The motion passed with 6 yes and 1 no. 

 

Ordinance Series of 2007, No. 2 – An Ordinance making certain determinations and findings relating to and adopting the Estacada Downtown Urban Renewal Plan.

 

Cr. Ernst moved to approve Ordinance Series of 2007, No. 2 – An Ordinance making certain determinations and findings relating to and adopting the Estacada Downtown Urban Renewal Plan.  Cr. Conditt seconded the motion.  Roll call vote:  Cr. Arnold-yes, Cr. Conditt-yes, Cr. Dodrill-yes, Cr. Ernst-yes, Cr. Hartwig-yes, Cr. Nelson-no, Mayor Austin-yes.  The motion passed with 6 yes and 1 no. 

 

CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY GROUP COMMENTS                                             

 

COUNCIL REPORTS & COMMENTS                                                                 

 

Cr. Conditt invited everyone to a car show on August 18th.  She also stated that Mayor’s Ball tickets would be on sale soon.

 

Cr. Arnold thanked everyone for coming and thanked Cr. Conditt for getting letters of support on Urban Renewal.  She is excited about the upcoming Parks & Recreation Commission meeting and the development of the park.  She feels the brick idea was a success at the library and that bricks could be sold at the park to help fund the park.

 

Mayor Austin thanked everyone for coming and reminded everyone to attend the symphony full orchestra on May 12th. 

 

ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING

 

          The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm.