ESTACADA CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

ESTACADA CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS

475 SE MAIN STREET, ESTACADA, OREGON

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2008 - 7:00 PM

 

CALL TO ORDER BY PRESIDING OFFICER                                                      

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm.  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, CR Denise Carey.  City Attorney Cindy Phillips was also in attendance.

 

CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY GROUP COMMENTS                                                       

 

Mayor Austin recognized CR Carey for her 20 years of service to the city with a card and gift certificate.

 

Steve Gulliams, Chair of the Parks & Recreation Commission, encouraged the council to purchase the Y&E Market property located adjacent to the new Wade Creek Park.  It is currently for sale and with some potential grant money to assist in the purchase he thinks this would be a great opportunity to expand Wade Creek Park.  The next phase of the park is the skate park and the property could be considered as matching funds in some grant applications.  Also, the master plan requires the purchase of park property within the city limits and at this time the city does not have a lot of parks and are actually behind in the goal for acquiring property.  Cr. Dodrill asked if the Parks & Recreation Commission has any plans if the city did have the property.  Mr. Guilliams stated that the skate park would be returned to a 10,000 square foot park from the current 6,000 square foot park.  They also would like a water structure that had to be cut from the original project and then finally a huge grassy play field. 

 

CONSENT AGENDA                                                                                      

Approve January 14, 2008 Council minutes

Liquor License Application – Change of Ownership – Estacada Chevron

City Manager salary adjustment

 

Cr. Nelson asked to remove the City Manager salary adjustment to council business.  It was agreed to move this out of the consent agenda.

 

Cr. Arnold moved to approve the consent agenda with the exception of the City Manager salary adjustment.  Cr. Ernst seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Mayor Austin suggested a 6% increase, same as last year.  Cr. Nelson stated that she is concerned that CM will ask for an assistant manager and she would be hesitant to give this large a raise if that were the case.  Mayor Austin stated at this time there is no proposal for an assistant.  Cr. Conditt moved to approve a 6% increase in pay for CM Ealy retroactive to his anniversary date.  Cr. Ernst seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

DEPARTMENT & COMMITTEE REPORTS                                                                  

 

City Manager – CM Ealy discussed the Tree USA program and how the trees around town are becoming more of a community issue.  The Council discussed this issue. 

 

CR thanked CR Carey for her work on the SCIF funding project and the paperwork required.  He also reviewed a tentative February 11th agenda that would include the library district resolution and the solid waste franchise agreement.  A mid-year budget meeting will be scheduled soon.

 

Mayor – Mayor Austin distributed a newspaper article regarding information on urban reserves and rural reserves being considered by Metro.  He also discussed the trail from Barton to Estacada.  Mayor Austin also stated that the annual SEI forms required by the Ethics Commission will become a quarterly submission.  He also stated that he will be out of town for a funeral next Monday.

 

COUNCIL BUSINESS                                                                                               

 

Estacada Enterprise Zone – Jamie Johnk, Clackamas County, explained enterprise zones and how they benefit the community.  Enterprise zones are a great tool for rural communities to give incentives to commercial and industrial growth.  She is asking for the Council to approve herself and CM Ealy to proceed with the application process. It was council consensus to proceed with the enterprise zone application process with a final resolution to be brought back to the council in March.

 

Second Consideration – Ordinance Series of 2007, No. 006 – An Ordinance deleting, amending, and adding sections of the Estacada Development Code to bring the code into consistency with the state Transportation Planning Rule (TPR) and recently adopted Estacada Transportation System Plan.

 

Cr. Nelson moved to adopt Ordinance Series of 2007, No. 006 – An Ordinance deleting, amending, and adding sections of the Estacada Development Code to bring the code into consistency with the state Transportation Planning Rule (TPR) and other state, county and local Plans. Cr. Hartwig seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Resolution 2008 – 001 – A Resolution setting metered water rates, standby service rates and reduced water rates.

 

CM explained that there are other revenues than the water fee that help pay for expenses such as interest received and connection fees.  Cr. Nelson stated that the council had discussed incremental increases annually so there does not have to be a huge jump every few years.  Mayor Austin would also like to see an annual review and smaller increases with a five year plan to look at projects that need to be completed with revenues.  Cr. Conditt would like this discussed at the budget meeting level but would not want to do another one in this year.  She would rather have a bigger increase now and wait at least a year to increase again.  Cr. Dodrill and Cr. Nelson agree that the increase should be either option B or C. 

 

Cr. Arnold moved to adopt Resolution 2008 – 001 using option C (base rate increase of 7% and commodity charge at $3.00/1000 gallons).  Cr. Ernst seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously. 

 

Solid Waste Franchise Agreement – Cr. Dodrill facilitated a meeting with the people that had asked to be involved in the discussions on the solid waste franchise through the survey process.

 

CM stated that the Council needs to come up with a draft that they are willing to forward to the haulers for their consideration.  CM stated that the two haulers that the city currently uses are Dan Walker Disposal and Waste Connections.  There will be separate agreements for each hauler and they may be slightly different in rates, service, etc.  Mayor Austin stated that the level in service should be similar for a similar rate if more than one hauler is used.  Cr. Nelson would like to have the service put out for bid and just have one hauler that offers the same service for the same price for everyone.  Commercial recycling should be addressed because many businesses have requested this.  Yard debris is also another issue to consider.   

 

Mayor Austin feels the most important issue is the same level of service for the same cost.  Dave White, Regional Representative for the Haulers Association, stated that the City sets the standard for the service for the haulers to provide and set the rate for it. If a hauler chooses not to provide the service for the rate, they would not be included.  CM asked the council if he was correct that putting the service out to bid is off the table because of the survey answers that the garbage pick-up service was adequate.  The council agreed that they were not considering putting the service out to bid at this time.

Cr. Dodrill would like the yard debris pickup to be separate from the base rate but the rate should be discussed if someone does want it picked up.  This is the same for commercial recycling services.  Recycling services for residential should remain weekly.  The franchise fee for Walkers would be 3% with the in-kind service provided and Waste Connection would be 5%.  CM will put the length of agreement in the haulers court for them to make a recommendation. 

 

Staff will prepare an enhanced draft for the Council to review on February 11th to forward to the haulers for review and comments. 

 

CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY GROUP COMMENTS                                                       

 

Timothy Moa, realtor of Y&E Market, asked if the council had any questions.  CM stated they may have questions after the executive session.

 

COUNCIL REPORTS & COMMENTS                                                                 

 

Cr. Conditt stated on March 15th SAFACT will sponsor a Burgerville night in Estacada.  There will also be a silent auction.

 

Cr. Arnold thanked the garden club and Norma Piper for planting all the plants in the park.  She also thanked public works for helping with the planting.  She also feels that all the businesses in the community are great and thanked Harmony Bakery for the coffee, cocoa and donuts on Friday and Saturday. 

 

Cr. Nelson thanked attorney Phillips for attending tonight. 

 

Cr. Ernst thanked Cr. Dodrill and CM Ealy for their work on the solid waste franchise.

 

Cr. Hartwig thanked the public works crew for their phenomenal job during the snow event last week.  He also thanked Ron Smith and everyone else for their work in the park during the cold weather. 

 

Mayor Austin has talked to a developer interested in buying the Quadrant Homes property. 

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION – ORS 192.660 (2)(e) – Real Property Transactions          

 

Mayor Austin announced that the council would adjourn into executive session under ORS 192.660(2)(e) which allows the Council to meet in executive session to discuss real property transactions.  He asked everyone to leave the room except those representing the media.  There were no members of the media in attendance. 

 

All the council and staff listed above were present along with PWD Chris Randall. 

 

Mayor Austin opened the regular meeting. 

 

ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING

 

          The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm.