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D) Approval of the Minutes from
the January 10, 2000 Council Meeting. Mayor Jepsen asked
if there were any corrections to the minutes. None were offered.
Motion by Councilor Tim Van Cleave, second by Councilor Tom Wolff,
to approve the minutes as submitted. MOTION CARRIED. E) Report from Planning Commission.
No report was given as the Planning Commission did not meet in
February. F) Correspondence. Mayor Jepsen
stated that there was correspondence and asked City Manager Breazeale
to review the material. Breazeale referred to a letter from the
Gazette- Times asking for e-mail addresses to be listed in a
Willow Creek Valley directory. The directory would be used for
local people to communicate with each other through e-mail. The
intent is to facilitate local communication. Breazeale then referred
to a letter from the M.S. Walk Committee. The committee was requesting
permission to use two routes within the City. Motion by Councilor
Skip Matthews, second by Councilor Rita Hedman, to grant permission
to use the two routes proposed for the M.S. Walk 2000 to be held
April 15. MOTION CARRIED.
2. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
A) Oral communications from the
public not on the agenda. None offered
3. PUBLIC HEARINGS A) Abatement of Nuisance at 168
W. Willow St., Map 2S 26 35BB, Tax Lot# 10800. Chief Rathbun showed a video tape
of the apartment building at 168 W Willow, which was next door
to City Hall. Rathbun stated that the owner had been sent a letter
by certified mail, which was not picked up, and notices had be
posted in the required places. The video included the conditions
as they were shown to the Council at the January meeting and
conditions as they were on February 14. Evident in the video
were trash and debris, a disabled vehicle, and appliances as
had been in the earlier video. There had been no attempt to clean
up the property. No one was present to testify regarding this
issue.
A) Code Enforcement. Chief
Rathbun referred to a complaint received regarding 525 S Chase
Street. He played a video of the property which showed and appliance
in the driveway and a garage full of materials. Since most of
the material was in the garage, Rathbun was not recommending
enforcement activity on the garage. The material outside of the
garage would be subject to enforcement. Motion by Councilor Hedman,
seconded by Mayor Jepsen, to send a letter asking for cleanup
of the material outside the garage. MOTION CARRIED. Abstained:
Tom Wolff.
B) Resolution No. 404-2000, A
Resolution Declaring Certain Property a Nuisance and Ordering
Cleanup of Property. (This item was discussed earlier but
is placed here to conform to the agenda.) Motion by Tom Wolff,
Seconded by Skip Matthews, to pass Resolution No. 404-2000, and
order cleanup of property at 168 NW Willow. MOTION CARRIED.
C) Activity Report. Police
Chief Rathbun had furnished an activity report for his department.
Chief Rathbun stated that officers were out enforcing the seatbelt
law. Minutes of the Police Commission meeting were included in
the packet. Mayor Jepsen stated that the next Police Commission
meeting would be held February 25, at 8:00 AM. City Manager Breazeale
commented on one item in the Police Commission meeting from January
28th. He reviewed a situation that had happened regarding a towed
vehicle and the need to protect City Hall employees. He was recommending
a silent alarm for City Hall. Chief Rathbun reported that the
County currently has alarms installed in the courthouse. Breazeale
stated that the mere presence of someone from the police department
could change a person's demeanor. Consensus was to have the alarm
installed.
A) Activity Report. Public
Works Director Dave Winters had distributed a list of department
activities for January. B) Utilities Commission Meeting
Mayor Jepsen stated that the Council had the minutes from the
Utilities Commission meeting on January 18th. The next meeting
was scheduled for February 17th at 8:00 AM. C)Resolution No. 405-2000, A Resolution
Accepting Easement for Utility Purposes Along the Northern Boundary
of Lot 7, Block 6 of Heppner Heights Addition of the City of
Heppner. Tom Wolff stated that he had a conflict of interest
in this proposal. He explained that this easement was for the
relocated waterline which had bisected his property. The easement
would grant the right to the City to maintain utilities in the
new location and would remove any easement from where the waterline
had formerly bisected his property. Motion by Skip Matthews,
seconded by Tim Van Cleave, to pass resolution 405-2000. MOTION
CARRIED. Abstained: Tom Wolff. D) Parks and Lands Commission
Meeting. City Manager Breazeale stated that the Parks and
Lands Commission would be meeting February 28, at 8:00 AM.
6. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FIRE
CHIEF. (Chief Rusty Estes entered the meeting later but his
report is place here to conform to the agenda.) Fire Chief Estes
reported on a meeting held in Boardman on January 19th regarding
formation of a county wide fire district. A consultant was there
to outline a process by which they would evaluate the feasibility
of forming such a district and would identify the pros and cons
of doing so. The County Commission had indicated that they might
loan the money to fund the study if there was an indication from
the agencies involved that they would desire the study. The loan
would be repaid from the new district if it were formed. The
cost of the study was estimated at around $40,000. He also stated
that his department would burn the City owned house at 280 Hill
Street as a training exercise. Proposed burn date would be in
early March.
7. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY
MANAGER A) Resolution No.406-2000.
A Resolution Approving Accounts Payable for Payment. Tom Wolff
asked about the lease payment to a company with a Yakima address.
Breazeale explained that was the lease for the copy machine.
Motion by Skip Matthews, second by Tom Wolff. MOTION CARRIED. B)Resolution No 407-2000, In the
Matter of Forming a Baker-Morrow Regional. Partnership for the
Purposes of Community and Economic Development. Mayor Jepsen
introduced the resolution and stated that Tom Sly had been suggested
to be the City's representative to the group. Motion by Councilor
Rita Hedman, seconded by Tim Van Cleave, to approve Resolution
No. 407-2000 and appoint Tom Sly as the representative to the
Baker-Morrow Regional Partnership Board. MOTION CARRIED. C) Applicant for Baker-Morrow
Regional Partnership Board. (This item was covered under
(B) above.) D) Heppner Coordinating Council
- Oral Report. City Manager Breazeale reported on the last
meeting held February 8, 2000. He stated that the Heppner Greeters
were ready to start welcoming new residents to the Heppner area.
They have baskets that they will be giving to new arrivals filled
with information about the City and gifts from businesses. This
was a program that was identified in the Heppner Community Strategic
Plan. There was discussion regarding the location of Advanced
Composite and their looking into locating in Pilot Rock at the
Masonite plant. According to Jill Miles, Regional Development
Officer with Oregon Economic and Community Development, Advanced
Composite was considering locating two plants and was still planning
on locating at the former Kinzua site. (At this point the tape
recorder failed to function properly. Minutes have been prepared
from notes and memory.) Doris Brosnan reviewed the status
of the St. Patrick's Senior Center and Apartments. She explained
that there were two independent boards managing the site. The
Heppner Housing Authority owns the building and leases the meeting
room, office, dining room and kitchen to the Seniors. The Housing
Authority manages the apartments and is responsible for the operation
of the building. The Housing Authority is actively marketing
the apartments due to a number of vacancies. Tours of the apartments
are being planned after the Wednesday senior lunch and existing
tenants are being offered $50 off one months rent if they bring
in a new tenant. Plans are to do a fairly major renovation to
the building and the funding package is being developed. Public
Works personnel are being assigned to assist and monitor the
maintenance of the building. Rita Hedman questioned whether some
of the units could be made into two bedroom apartments. Breazeale
stated that he did not think that the apartments could be easily
converted to two bedrooms. Tom Wolff asked if a prospective tenant
wished to pay to have an apartment made into a two bedroom unit
if that would be considered. Breazeale answered that it would
probably be given serious consideration. Bob Jepsen asked why
a two bedroom apartment would be desired. Councilor Hedman answered
that residents may wish to have a guest stay on occasion. Councilor
Wolff asked if there were guest accommodations. Bob Jepsen answered
that there were not, but guests have, on occasions, been allowed
to occupy a vacant apartment while visiting a tenant but since
the apartments are unfurnished, they do not make good guest rooms. Doris Brosnan also reported on activities
of HEDC. They were to hold a workshop on February 15th for entrepreneurial
people in conjunction with GEODC and the Small Business Development
Center. A goal setting planning meeting is to be held on February
16th and will include communities of the Willow Creek Valley.
E) Speed Zone Reduction - N. Highway
207/74. Breazeale reported that the City had received confirmation
that the speed zone on Highway 207/74 north of the Pettyjohn
Building to the Riverside Avenue intersection would be reduced
from 55 MPH to 45 MPH. The change was to be made soon.
A) Local Improvement District
Ordinance. Mike Mills reported that the draft of the local
improvement district ordinance had been prepared. It will not
be ready for passage until it has been reviewed by staff and
proper notice had been given. Breazeale stated that the ordinance
was necessary as Oregon Statutes are vague and leave the actual
wording and procedure up to the local agency. B) Personal Services Contract
for the St. Patrick's Committee. Mike Mills reviewed the
proposed contract between the Morrow County Unified Recreation
District and the City of Heppner St. Patrick's Committee for
funding for entertainment. The Recreation District would be paying
$2,000 for bands and advertising. Council would need to authorize
Claudia Hughs to sign on behalf of the City. Motion by Rita Hedman,
seconded by Tim Van Cleave to authorize Claudia Hughs to sign
the contract for the City of Heppner St. Patrick's Committee.
MOTION CARRIED C) Dave Fowler Easement. Attorney
Mills informed Council that Bill Kuhn has prepared a draft easement
to permit Dave Fowler to maintain a carport which may be encroaching
on the City right-of-way for Cannon Street. The easement would
provide the right to keep the carport where it is as long as
it does not interfere with any City use of the right-of-way.
Mr. Fowler would be required to move the structure anytime that
the City requested it to be removed from the right-of-way. Breazeale
stated that this issue had gone through the Planning Commission
and they had approved the use subject to Mr. Fowler obtaining
an easement from the City. Tom Wolff asked who was paying for
the drafting of the easement. Breazeale stated that it was at
the expense of Mr. Fowler.
9. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR/CITY
COUNCILORS A) Census 2000. Mayor Jepsen
reported on the upcoming Census 2000 and how important it is
that the City gets an accurate count of all residents. Funding
from various sources is based on population and having an accurate
count will ensure that the City receives its proper allocation.
B) Beautification Commission.
Beautification Commission members Bob Jepsen and Jerri Sly reported
on the Beautification Commission meeting held February 9th. They
reported that plans for replacement of the trees removed from
the parking lot at City Park had been developed. The island would
be surrounded by interlocking blocks twelve to eighteen inches
high. A scarlet oak would be planted in the center with shrubs
and flowers planted in the remainder of the planter. The commemorative
plaque regarding the planting of the elm trees in 1932, which
was removed when the rock wall was demolished, would be placed
back with another plaque explaining what happened to the trees.
Also discussed was the fate of the house at 280 Hill Street the
City had acquired through code enforcement activities. The Beautification
Commission was recommending that the structure be demolished
as it was not worth salvaging. Breazeale stated that he would
like formal action from the Council to authorize the demolition.
The fire department has agreed to burn the structure. Motion
by Tom Wolff, seconded by Tim Van Cleave to demolish the structure
at 280 Hill Street. MOTION CARRIED. C) Heppner Housing Authority.
Mayor Jepsen, Chairman of the Housing Authority, gave an update
on Housing Authority activities. He stated that there were currently
three vacant apartments and that soon there would be five vacancies.
The Housing Authority is actively marketing the apartments to
lower the vacancy rate. He also referred to the list of improvements
that were planned for the building. Improvements are awaiting
final approval on the funding and the hope is to go to bid soon. D) Election Law Reminders.
Mayor Jepsen stated that the Secretary of State had sent out
reminders of election laws which was included in the packets.
All elected officials should be aware of the laws regarding elections
and campaigning. 10) Resolution No. 408-2000, A
Resolution Stating the City's Support for Restoring Salmon Fisheries
While Preserving the Columbia River Dams. Mayor Jepsen informed
the Council that he and City Manager Breazeale had attended a
briefing earlier in the day regarding the meeting to be held
Thursday February 17th on breaching the dams. He stated that
there was a concern that Eastern Oregon communities need to make
their support of retaining the Columbia River dams. He would
like City Council to take a stand on the issue and he would take
that to the hearing. He proposed a resolution in support of restoring
salmon fisheries while saving the dams. Scientific evidence indicates
that this is possible. Motion by Tom Wolff, seconded by Skip
Matthews to pass resolution No. 408-2000. MOTION CARRIED.
11) Executive Session Regarding
Litigation or Potential Litigation Pursuant to ORS 192.660(1)(h).
Executive session was entered into at 8:50 PM. Council returned
from executive session at 9:09 PM. No action was taken by Council.
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