City Council

City Council Meeting Minutes ___________________________________________________________________________________________ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS CITY OF COLUMBIA CITY, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON AGENDA ITEM 1 CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: CONVENED: Mayor Young called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Young delivered the invocation and led the flag salute. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Cheryl A. Young Councilor Shannon Fitzgibbons Councilor Josh Fromm Councilor Sally Ann Marson Councilor Casey Wheeler COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: Micah Rogers, Public Works Superintendent Leahnette Rivers, City Administrator/Recorder ATTORNEY PRESENT: Harold Olsen, City Attorney (arrived 6:04 p.m.) A quorum was present and due notice had been published. AGENDA ITEM 2 PUBLIC HEARINGS: 2.1 Public Hearing: To receive public input concerning a proposal to vacate “I” Street between Fifth Street and the Fifth Place Alley. That portion of “I” Street is generally described as lying between Lot 6 of Block 72 and Lot 1 of Block 73, Columbia City. Public Hearing opened. Leahnette explained that staff is recommending that the City Council accept public testimony during this public hearing, which was advertised. However, she said since the last Council Meeting, staff has identified some concerns with access and the applicant has not yet provided the City with an adequate plan that will address the off-street parking requirements for four-units. She said staff is recommending that the Council not take any action tonight except to hear testimony and continue the public hearing in two weeks. She said this would provide the applicant with more time to submit an access plan and off-street parking plan for consideration. Leahnette used an aerial photo map to explain how the proposed vacation of the portion of “I” Street will essentially cut off a small part of one driveway and all of another driveway. 2 - Regular City Council Meeting October 3, 2013 She said both driveways currently provide access to the residences owned by the Viola A. Applegate Revocable Trust. Mark Gordon spoke as a representative of the Viola Applegate Trust. He said it was his understanding that they had eight parking spaces for the two duplexes. He shared a parking plan that included two spaces along the Fifth Place Alley and six spaces on the Viola Applegate Trust property. Leahnette explained that the parking plan Mr. Gordon is using represents the information that the applicant’s verbally shared with staff last week, which was then submitted to the City Planner for review. She said the City Planner has concluded that the plan does not meet the City’s off-street parking requirements because two of the required eight spaces are shown on the Fifth Place Alley, rather than upon the applicant’s property. She said parking on the alley will not be acceptable. Mark said he thought there would be room on the applicant’s property for all of the required parking. He said he believes they have clear access to both houses using the existing driveway off of Fifth Street. Leahnette said they will need to provide the City with a plan showing the parking layout for eight spaces. Mark asked if the vacation would be looked at favorably if the access and parking issues are addressed. Leahnette said she believes staff would recommend approval of the vacation if the City’s access and parking requirements are met. Mark questioned the problem with access. Leahnette provided Mark with a copy of the aerial photo map outlining the problems with access. Mark said he thinks they have room for two spaces off of the Fifth Place alley, which would also provide them with access from the alley. Leahnette said the map prepared by the applicant’s surveyor appears to indicate that the house is situated very close to the alley, which would not leave much, if any, room for parking. She said it appears that there may be no access for parking purposes off of the Fifth Street alley if they vacate “I” Street. Leahnette said it also looks like part of the existing driveway off of Fifth Street may be situated on the “neighbors” half of the area to be vacated. No other public input was heard during the public hearing. It was noted that input dated October 1, 2013, was received by e-mail from Larry Preston, a Columbia City resident, and entered into the record. A copy was also given to the applicant’s representative, Mark Gordon. Councilor Fromm said Mr. Preston mentions that the vacation may not be in the best interest of the City. It was the consensus of the Council that this hearing be continued at 6:00 p.m. on October 17, 2013. AGENDA ITEM 3 CITIZEN INPUT: AGENDA ITEM 4 COUNCIL REPORTS: 4.1 Parks Committee: Chair Fitzgibbons said she is very pleased to report that Knife River has agreed to donate the materials and installation work for the asphalt paths and 3 - Regular City Council Meeting October 3, 2013 Hamer Electric will donate the materials and installation work associated with the light fixture and the 200 amp electrical service for the Veterans Memorial Park. Micah said the fencing work is progressing on the dog park. Leahnette said she secured some Risk Incentive Funding from the City’s insurance carrier, CIS, to refurbish the playground area at Harvard Park. She said the Columbia County Corrections Crew is removing the grass that is infringing on the fall zone around the play equipment, stirring the existing chips, and adding new chips to insure that a full 9-inch depth of loose base chips extend for six feet around all of the play equipment. She said the crew has also power washed the play equipment, table and benches. She said she’s identified a volunteer that will apply broadleaf weed killer to the park lawns on a quarterly basis. Leahnette said she has contacted the DAR and asked them to begin providing funding support for the maintenance of Ruth Rose Richardson and Pixie Parks. She said she expects to hear back from them by the end of October. Councilor Fromm questioned the purpose of the hole that’s been drilled through the Veterans monument. Chair Fitzgibbons explained that each year on Veteran’s Day the sun will shine through the hole and light up a bronze star. 4.2 Water and Sewer Committee: Chair Fromm said the meter replacement work will take place during the month of October. 4.3 Street Committee: Micah the streets were swept today. He also mentioned that during the recent rainy weather we discovered some drainage problems. He said one of the drywells was filled with sediment on Tahoma Street, so the public works crew pumped it and cleaned it out, and they also cleared out some blocked drainage ditches. 4.4 Audit Committee: No report. 4.5 Hazard Mitigation Planning Group: Team Member Wheeler said the Group will meet on Monday, and the Emergency Management Fair is scheduled for Saturday, October 12. 4.6 Other Reports: Mayor Young said she attended a portion of the Main Street Conference with Leahnette in Astoria yesterday. She said the meeting focused on downtown renovation. She said the meeting was very informative, but the concept was not completely applicable to Columbia City because we don’t have an existing downtown. Mayor Young and Leahnette discussed the Main Street Program with the Council at length. Mayor Young noted that the Four Square Church property is now listed for sale. Councilor Marson said she’ll be attending a transportation conference in Bend next week for the CC Rider. AGENDA ITEM 5 CONSENT AGENDA: 5.1 Bills paid with check numbers 17524 through 17586 during the month of September 2013. 5.2 Activities Report from the City Administrator/Recorder. 5.3 Proclamation declaring October 2013 to be Domestic Violence Awareness month. MOVED (WHEELER), SECONDED (FITZGIBBONS) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. AGENDA ITEM 6 UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 4 - Regular City Council Meeting October 3, 2013 None. AGENDA ITEM 7 NEW BUSINESS: 7.1 OLCC Application for Temporary Use: OLCC Application for Temporary Use of an Annual License as applied for by Mark Altstetter of Mark’s on the Channel. MOVED (WHEELER), SECONDED (MARSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE OLCC APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY USE OF AN ANNUAL LICENSE AS APPLIED FOR BY MARK ALTSTETTER. 7.2 Council Bill No. 13-696; Resolution No. 13-1100-R: A Resolution assessing abatement costs, fees and accrued interest as a lien against property described as Tax Account No. 5121-CA-03900, located at 445 Skookum Ct., Columbia City, Oregon, currently under the ownership of Paul S. and Wilma Vincent. MOVED (MARSON), SECONDED (FITZGIBBONS) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 13-696. AGENDA ITEM 8 OTHER BUSINESS: Public Works Report: Micah said he recently noticed that cars are parking along the Fifth Place Alley between “J” and “I” Streets, and it is a narrow alley and it makes it difficult to travel through there when there are cars parked along the alley. City Attorney Report: Harold Olson said he just returned from a trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, and he managed to get out of there before they locked the gates. He said Herbert Hoover once sad, “Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the national debt.” Community Hall Rental Request: The Council reviewed an October 1, 2013 request th from Douglas Hart to rent the Community Hall from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. on October 26 for a sweet sixteen birthday party. Mr. Hart noted that the party would end at 10:00 p.m., and the last ½ hour of rental time would be used for clean up activities. MOVED (MARSON), SECONDED (WHEELER) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE MR. HART’S REQUEST. AGENDA ITEM 9 ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 6:59 p.m. APPROVED: _______________________________________ Cheryl A. Young Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________________ Leahnette Rivers City Administrator/Recorder