MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR FEBRUARY 12, 2001
PRESENT: Mayor Bob Jepsen, City Manager Jerry Breazeale, Council Members Kay Robinson, Skip Matthews, Kari Keown and Tim Van Cleave, Police Chief Doug Rathbun, Public Works Director Dave Winters and City Attorney Bill Kuhn
ABSENT: Tom Wolff
GUESTS: Howard Gilliam on behalf on Planning Commission, Monika Hunter newly appointed to Budget Committee and Rod Wilson
1.GENERAL BUSINESS
a) Call to Order. Mayor Jepson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
b) Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Jepsen led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
c) Announcements - There were no announcements.
d) Approval of the Minutes from the January 8, 2001 City Council meeting. The last sentence on 4-B should read: "The city will may hire someone to clean the property up." In 7-D, the 5th sentence should read: "Attorney Kuhn suggested that City Council adopt the HCC goals that they the city can participate in." Under Additional Discussion, the 1st sentence in the 3rd paragraph should read: "Manager Breazeale said he is excited about what is going on in Heppner." Councilperson Robinson moved the minutes be approved as corrected. Councilperson Keown seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
e) Report from the Planning Commission - Howard Gilliam The Planning Commission is asking the council's approval to raise permit fees to 50% of the actual cost, or $125.00. As other rates will also need to be raised, the consensus of the council was to have a resolution that would raise all rates at the same time before the end of the fiscal year.
f) Correspondence - The city recieved a close-out bill from ODOT for $9,009.40. This will finish the city's obligation on the project. The Main Street project has been concluded.
Joe Rozenko, a landlord for apartments near the bowling alley, was in an auto accident and is now in a care center. The water and sewer bills are in arrears and the city issued a turn off notice. Randy Williams, a tenant of an apartment has asked the city if he can pay the back charges for the sewer bond and the water fees for his own use. Councilperson Matthews moved that the council allow Williams to pay the back sewer charges and the water charges for his unit. Councilperson VanCleave seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
2. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
a) Communication from the Public Not on the Agenda - None
b) Request for Animal Permit - Rod Wilson - Rod Wilson has asked for a permit to keep one pig for his daughter's 4-H project. Councilperson Robinson moved that the Wilson's be allowed to have one pig on his property. Councilperson Van Cleave seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
3) PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
4) COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE
a) Activity report. The activity report was reviewed. Chief Rathbun said the police are in the middle of a seat belt campaign and writing many tickets. He said that a person can get a physicians statement that they are unable to wear a seat belt and be exempted from the law.
b) Police Commission - Next Meeting - March 29
5) COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
a) The Public Works department has been very busy in the last month. Some of the projects are as follows: They are preparing for the water line bridge crossing on Morgan Street. They hope to have all the supplies that are needed to complete the work this week. He said they are working with Columbia Basin to replace conduit at the same time they are replacing the pipes. Part of the line has already been replaced and there is only 150 ft. left to replace. They also made repairs at the senior center, sanded and plowed the streets and swept them later in the month. There was vandalism at the city park that needed repair.
b) Utilities Commission Meeting - Next meeting March 15
c) Parks and Lands Commission Meeting - Next meeting - March 26th
6) COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FIRE CHIEF
a) The Rural Fire meeting is scheduled for February 22nd at 7:00 p.m.
7) COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER
a) Resolution No. 446-2001. A Resolution Approving Accounts Payable for Payment Councilperson Matthews moved that the city adopt Resolution 446-2001. Councilperson Robinson seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
b) ODDA Special Projects Meeting - Logo and Marketing Plan Heppner received a grant from Oregon Downtown Development Association to develop a templet for other small communities in similar economically depressed condition. This grant will help develop a marketing plan for Heppner to increase tourism. The members of the committee were Doris Brosnan, Cliff Green, George Koffler, Dave Sykes, Randall Peterson, Jerry Holloman, Bob Ployhar, Bert Hoewling, Bob Jepsen and Jerry Breazeale. It was determined that the economy of Heppner is tied to the Blue Mountains. People come to our area to hunt, fish, drive the scenic highway, etc. The ODDA found that both Weston, Oregon and Dayton Washington use "The Gateway to the Blue Mountains" so the group decided to use "The Gateway to the Blues". The consultants developed a brochure that could be used to market Heppner and a logo was chosen. The brochure will include all that Heppner has to offer including fibreoptics, internet, fishing, hunting, summer and winter recreation, business opportunities in Heppner. They suggested that the web address be included on everything sent out from Heppner along with the logo. The new logo will be put on stationery, business cards. The city will ask the chamber, HCC & HEDC to do the same. It usually costs a city $15,000 to develop a logo and Heppner got it free. A representative from Heppner will be sent to the Downtown Development Association conference April 25 - 26 - 27 to do a presentation for a conference on "Small Town Image Development and Marketing Made Easy) Councilperson Matthews moved that the city adopt the new logo. Councilperson Robinson seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
c) Letter of Support for Motor Speedway and Speedway Business Park The city received a request to officially support the addition of the Motor Speedway out of Boardman. The speedway will have an economic impact to Morrow County, increasing revenues. Councilperson moved the City Manager send a letter of support for the motor speedway and speedway business Park. Councilperson Keown seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
d) HCC Report Nova Sweeney resigned as Secretary for HCC. HCC minutes will now be sent by E-Mail to anyone who wants to receive them. If the person doesn't have e-mail, they can pick the minutes up at City Hall. The next meeting will be February 13 at 7:30 a.m. The discussion will be the Heppner Identity Marketing Plan and a continuation of the local gas tax discussion.
e) Community Oregon Visit - A Non Profit Organization is trying to unify Oregonians. Abby White of Community Oregon will come to Heppner on March 27th to make presentations and show us how we can reach our goals. She will go to HCC and the Chamber of Commerce.
f) League of Oregon Cities request for donations for legal assistance. The League of Oregon Cities filed for a preliminary injunction, which the Marion County Circuit Court granted. They are also asking for the measure to be declared unconstitutional. This will be a very costly legal battle and the League is asking all cites to donate funds to assist in the defense. Councilperson Robinson moved that the City pay $500.00 for the League of Oregon Cities defense fund. Councilperson Keown seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
g) Request for Use of City Backhoe, Highschool Snackshack - A group of volunteers want to make a spot to put a snack shack at the highschool. Councilperson Van Cleave moved that the city allow the backhoe to be used at the high school. Councilperson Matthews seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
h) Review Columbia Basin Franchise Agreement - Columbia Basin agreed to raise their franchise fees from 2% to 5%. This would add $26,000 to the city budget per year. Columbia Basin would list the difference between the 2% and 5% as Heppner city tax, not a franchise fee on the bills. Condon has already negotiated the same contract with Columbia Basin. In return for the additional monies, Columbia Basin is asking the city to relax some of the requirements on construction projects. Manager Breazeale will meet with Columbia Basin again to find a middle ground.
8) COMMUNICATION FROM CITY ATTORNEY - Covered in 7F
9) COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR/CITY COUNCILORS
a) Beautification Commission - Next Meeting February 23rd - The Beautification committee is hoping to do a clean up of Heppner before St. Patrick's Day.
b) Heppner Housing Authority - Bob Jepsen, Chairman - Renovation Progress Report. Mayor Jepsen said that the windows are almost complete and the painting is being done inside. The renovation is going along very smoothly. The bid by Bondurant to complete the rest of the renovation is $21,448.00. Councilperson Robinson moved that the city accept the contract for $21,448.00. Councilperson Keown seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
c) HEDC Current Activities - Tom Wolff, Chairman - Councilperson Wolff was absent.
10) Additional Discussion - Mayor Jepsen has been straightening the headstones at the cemetery. He has a list of volunteers in the community and the Morrow County Historical Society who are willing to help. There will be a need for equipment such as a backhoe and cement mixer from the city. Mr. Wiley from Washington, who makes headstones, said he will be in Heppner in a few weeks and is willing to assist. The mayor said some headstones will need new bases and some may just need to be reset. This must be done before the 2003 flood commemoration. All the flood victims will need to be inventoried so that a commemoration can be done during the celebration. Councilperson Keown moved that the city give the volunteers use of the city equipment to repair the headstones. Councilperson Robinson seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
Horseshoe Pits at Hager Park - A group of citizens have asked permission to place 4 sets of horseshoe pits - 40' X 40' in Hager Park. They would like to have it completed by St. Patrick's Day. Councilperson Matthews moved that the horseshoe pits be placed in Hager Park. Councilperson Robinson seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted
Nova Sweeney
Secretary