MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

November 13, 2001

PRESENT: Mayor Bob Jepsen; Council Members Kay Robinson, Rita Hedman, Tim Van Cleave, Tom Wolff, Skip Matthews; City Manager Jerry Breazeale; Interim Police Chief Merle Cowett; Fire Chief Rusty Estes; City Attorney Bill Kuhn

ABSENT: Kari Keown

VISITORS: Andrea Denton, John Edmundson, David Sykes

1. GENERAL BUSINESS

A) Call to Order. Mayor Jepsen called the meeting to order at 7:00PM

B) Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Jepsen led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

C) Announcements: City Manager Breazeale noted the following additions to the agenda:

1. E-mail from Mary Nixon – Communications from City Manager

2. Letter from Ed Dick - Correspondence

3. Resolution Amending City Police Response Policy - Communications from Police Chief

4. Morrow County Major Crime Agreement – Communications from Police Chief

5. Goal session 2002 – Communications from City Manager

D) Approval of Minutes of October 8, 2001, Council Meeting.

Motion to approve minutes by Kay Robinson, seconded by Skip Matthews. MOTION CARRIED (with one abstention due to absence).

E) Report from the Planning Commission: No report.

F) Correspondence: City Manager Jerry Breazeale presented the following correspondence:

Letter from Ed Dick with questions regarding City Hall/Library project which he requested be answered by the City Council. By consensus, the City Council agreed to answer the questions in this session and provide Mr. Dick with a copy of the minutes thereof. The questions sent by Mr. Dick and the answers provided by the City Council are:

1 Where did the money come from for the purchase of the Shear property?

The 2001-2002 City Budget provided $7,000 from the Water Fund, $7000 from the Sewer Fund and the balance from the General Fund.

2 Was it out of the present city budget?

Yes.

3 Does the City own Willow Street to Klamath Bank property on Gale?

No.

4 Wouldn’t a ground level building provide better access for both library and city hall?

Possibly, but it would require a much larger lot.

5 A single level building would be less expensive?

No, if you increase the square footage by going up, you have the same amount of concrete and the same amount of roofing for the increased footage.

6 With all the street frontage on Willow and Gale I wonder why the Council has not considered this or perhaps they have?

The City has a relatively new shop in the center of the property and the balance of the property contains the existing City buildings.

The Oregon Downtown Development Corporation sent an opinion piece entitled “What Community Livability is Really About,” which Manager Breazeale shared with the City Council.

2. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC

A. Oral Communications from the public not on the agenda:

John Edmundson reported that the litter pickup had taken place and requested that Interim Chief Merle Cowett arrest Mayor Jepsen for offensive littering. He offered in evidence certain material pick up as litter, to wit, a golf score card inscribed “Bob” and “Howard” which he alleged Mayor Jepsen, also known as “Bob,” had discarded on the public road. He further requested that Interim Chief Cowett issue a warrant for the arrest of Planning Commission Member Howard Gilliam, not only on the littering charge, but also for the “grievous transgression” of failing to complete his score card. Upon hearing Mayor Jepson’s assertion that the handwriting on the subject scorecard was not his, Mr. Edmundson was willing to amend his “complaint” to name Mayor Jepsen as an accessory. Mr. Edmundson’s “complaint” was heard with the same good humor with which it was proffered, and he went on to state his appreciation for the success of the litter pickup and the participation of the many volunteers.

B. Andrea Denton reported on the plans for the Morrow County Courthouse Centennial. She then requested permission to hang 3 or 4 pairs of Centennial banners on some of the City lamp posts at specific times during the year to coincide with Centennial events. John Edmundson suggested that the banners be hung at the entrances to town and at or near the main intersections. He also noted that the St. Patrick’s Celebration banners all have family and county names and may required some flexibility in choice of banner locations. Tom Wolff moved, Kay Robinson seconded that the City of Heppner endorse the Courthouse Centennial celebration and permit the hanging of banners as appropriate. MOTION CARRIED.

C. Animal Permit Renewals: Rod Wilson, 655 S. Court St. for 3 horses; Kenneth Collins, 233 Linden Way for 30 chickens. Tom Wolff moved to approved, second by Rita Hedman. MOTION CARRIED.

3. PUBLIC HEARINGS

Public hearing opened. Interim Police Chief Cowett showed video of property under Nuisance Abatement proceedings:

A) 425/435 Water Street, Map 2S 26 27DD, Tax Lot 6600, 6700 & 6802. Interim Chief Cowett said that some of the area had been cleaned up but that a significant problem remains. He also noted that this property’s condition has been a recurring problem. Andrea Denton (neighbor to subject property) reported that it does not appear that the residents have regular garbage service and that the wind frequently blows garbage into her yard.

Public hearing closed.

4. COUNCIL ACTION

A) Resolution No. 476-2001, A Resolution declaring Certain Property a Nuisance and Ordering Cleanup of Property at 425/435 Water Street, Map 2S 26 27DD, Tax Lot 6600, 6700 & 6802. Motion to pass Resolution No. 476-2001 by Tom Wolff, second by Kay Robinson. MOTION CARRIED.

5. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE

In response to a question from Mayor Jepsen, Chief Cowett reported that Mr. La Doux, who had been given an October 15 deadline to clean up his property, has made most of the necessary improvements and Chief Cowett recommends removing Mr. La Doux’s property from further Nuisance Abatement proceedings. The Council agreed by consensus .

A) Activity Report: Interim Chief Cowett called the attention of the Council to the report that vehicles had been towed from the Zumwalt property which has been subject to Nuisance Abatement proceedings.

B) Police Commission meeting is November 29.

C) Resolution No. 477-2001, A Resolution Establishing a Policy for Police Pursuit. Tom Wolff moved to approved Resolution 477-2001, second by Kay Robinson. MOTION CARRIED.

D) Interim Chief Cowett provided copies of the Morrow County Major Crimes Agreement, which has been signed by all law enforcement entities in Morrow County, for the information of the Council

6. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR

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7 A) City Manager Breazeale reported that the Personnel Committee has recommended hiring Craig Canham as Public Works Director as of December 3. Tom Wolff moved to ratify the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, second by Skip Matthews. MOTION CARRIED.

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9 B) Parks and Lands Commission meeting will be held November 26. In response to a question from Tom Wolff, Mayor Jepsen said that he agrees that further work needs to be done and he has been looking into it. Manager Breazeale noted that the new Public Works Director will address the problem.

C) Utility Commission meeting was held October 18, 8:00 AM. The City Council met with the Utility Commission, therefore Tom Wolff moved to approved the minutes of that meeting, second by Tim Van Cleave. Manager Breazeale noted that in the last paragraph, that “RDI” is incorrect and should read “RUS” (Rural Utility Service). Tom Wolff amended his motion to approved the minutes as corrected, second by Tim Van Cleave. MOTION CARRIED (with one abstention due to absence.

7. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FIRE CHIEF:

10 A. Fire Chief Rusty Estes reported that new shelving had been installed. New landing zone lights for the helicopter have been received. The Fire Department will be burning a house in December.

8. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER

11 A) Resolution # 478-2001, A Resolution Approving Accounts Payable for Payment; Motion to approve by Skip Matthews, seconded by Rita Hedman. MOTION CARRIED.

12 B) Resolution #479-2001, a Resolution Amending Resolution No. 352-99 to include Additional Certificates Subject to Incentive Pay. Tom Wolff moved to approve Resolution No. 479-2001, second by Tim Van Cleave. MOTION CARRIED.

C) Library/City Hall Project. Manager Breazeale noted the email received from Mary Nixon suggesting dates to reschedule the meeting with City Council regarding the public meetings about the Library/City Hall project. November 26 was agreed upon.

Manager Breazeale asked for a consensus on the questions to be asked on the survey. Copies will be sent out to Council members

D) Needs and Issues Inventory: Prioritization meeting was held. Manager Breazeale noted that the cooperation of the various entities involved has proven to be a real strength of the process.

E) Goal Setting for 2002. Manager Breazeale strongly recommended that formal goal setting be done. Meeting will be December 5.

9. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY:

City Attorney Bill Kuhn reported that he and Interim Chief Cowett have an appointment to meet with Justice of the Peace Charlotte Gray regarding coordination of ordinance enforcement.

10. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR/CITY COUNCILORS

A) Mayor Jepsen reviewed the final plans for development of the Unocal property provided by Tricia Martin.

B) The Beautification Commission met October 11 and November 8. The next meeting will be December 13.

Meeting adjourned.