MINUTES OF THE CITY OF HEPPNER CITY COUNCIL MEETING

HEPPNER CITY HALL, 111 N. MAIN STREET, HEPPNER, OREGON

7:00 PM, September 11, 2006

 

ATTENDEES:

 

Mayor Tim Van Cleave

City Manager, Dave DeMayo

Judy Buschke

Glenn Baker

George Koffler

Tom Wolff

Kay Robinson

Cindi Doherty

 

Roger Ehrmantraut, Public Works  

Ann Spicer, City Attorney

Dave Sykes, Heppner Gazette

Rusty Estes, Heppner Fire Dept.

Sgt Randy Rayburn, MCSD

Deputy Jim Bowles, MCSD

 

Members of the Public:

 

Mike Bergstrom

Darcy Bergstrom

Brian Harmon

Becky Harmon

Wade Smith, Morrow County School District

Rita Woolsey

Robin Cobb

Les Paustian

 

I.  Call to Order/Agenda Additions or Deletions.

 

The September 11, 2006 meeting of the Heppner City Council was called to order at 7:00 PM by Mayor Van Cleave.  Mayor Van Cleave announced that a full Council was in attendance.

 

    A.  Pledge of Allegiance.  Mayor Van Cleave led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

    B.  Additions to, or deletions from, the agenda.  Mr. De Mayo announced the following additions to the agenda.

 

    1.  Animal permit from Robin Cobb requesting permission to keep 2 horses on her property.

 

    2.  Spruce Lane/Morgan Street Issue.

 

    3.  Personnel Committee.

 

    4.  Needs and Issues.

 

II.  Consent Agenda.

 

 

    B.  Accounts Payable, Resolution No.  _______/Monthly Financial Statement.

 

Discussion:  Mr. Baker asked about the bill to Roemark Mens Wear.  According to Mr. De Mayo, this is for work clothing for Public Works Employees.  Mr. Koffler questioned the bill to Car-kit.com.  Mr. De Mayo stated that this is for a mounting device for a cell phone for the Fire Department vehicle.  In answer to Mr. Kofflers inquiry on the bill from Flint Trading, Inc., Mr. De Mayo explained that this is for heat tape for crosswalks.

 

Action:  Motion by Mr. Wolff to approve the consent agenda as presented, including the August 14, 2006 City Council Minutes, and the Accounts Payable Resolution number 647.06.  Seconded by Mr. Baker.  Motion Carried.  

 

III.  Public Comment and Presentations.  

 

 

    B.  Comment and presentations.  

 

    1.  Animal Permit – Robin Cobb, 25 Canyon Drive, request for two horses (she currently has one horse on the property).  

 

Discussion:  Mr.  Koffler asked whether animals can be allowed on any lot within the City.  According to Mr. Wolff small animals can be allowed on any lot.  There are several lots within the City where horses are allowed, but they are on the outskirts of residential areas.  Mr. Van Cleave asked Ms. Cobb if she owned both parcels.  One parcel is a vacant lot.  Mrs. Doherty lives below Ms. Cobb’s residence.  According to Mr. Van Cleave, in the past, animals have been allowed contingent on the fact that there are no problems with the neighbors.  Darcy Bergstrom who lives at 20 Canyon Drive stated that she and her husband disagreed with allowing horses on the subject property.  Ms. Woolsey stated that she lives across the street from Ms. Cobb, and she disagrees with allowing the horses in the neighborhood.  Mr. Koffler stated that he feels horses should not be allowed in the residential areas of the city.  

 

Action:  Motion by Mr. Baker that in view of the neighborhood objections, Ms. Cobb’s permit be denied.  Seconded by Mrs. Buschke.  Motion Carried.

 

Ms. Cobb asked for time to move the animal.  

 

Motion by Mr. Wolff to grant Ms. Cobb 14 days to find a suitable location for the animal and remove it from the property.  Seconded by Mrs. Robinson.

 

Approved:  Mrs. Buschke

                   Mr. Baker

                   Mr. Wolff

                   Mr. Van Cleave

                   Mrs. Robinson

 

Against:      Mr. Koffler

                   Ms. Doherty.

 

Motion Carried.

 

    2.  Spruce Lane/Morgan Street.

 

Discussion:  Mr. De Mayo explained that a meeting was held today to discuss this issue which is to coordinate school traffic on both streets and allow the traffic flow on Spruce Lane to be one-way up to the school and the traffic on Morgan Street to be one-way down from the school, as outlined in the Memorandum for Record provided by Mr. De Mayo.  The City intends to work with the County on the project in order to conserve funds.  Steel guard rails will be installed.  The City will engage an engineering firm to assess the drainage situation on Morgan Street.  During the winter, the County will handle sanding both streets in the morning and the City will take over in the afternoon.  Mr. Koffler inquired about the County’s plan to make a walking/bike lane on Spruce and whether the City was planning to do this on Morgan Street also.  The guard rail on Spruce Lane will be in the street.  According to Mr. De Mayo, this is not necessary on Morgan Street.  When the striping is done on Spruce Street, it will be continued on down Morgan.  The cost will be approximately $15,000, which will use up most of the City’s funds in the Streets and Bridges fund.  The work is scheduled for the first week of November or earlier.  Mr. Van Cleave asked about the area around the school.  Mr. De Mayo stated that this area is school property.  Mr. Smith stated that he is in agreement with the proposal.  Additionally, this will mean a lot less wear and tear on the City streets.  Mr. De Mayo stated that within next two years, funds will be set aside for chip-sealing Morgan Street and eventual re-paving.  Mr. Smith added that he plans to work with several organizations to obtain additional funds to help with this.

 

Motion by Mr. Wolff to concur with and adopt the Memorandum for Record, Spruce Lane/Morgan Street Heppner HS Street Project, Items 1 through 8, dates September 11, 2006 and attached to the minutes as Exhibit A.  Seconded by Mrs. Doherty.  Motion Carried.  

 

IV.  Public Hearings and Council Action.  

 

 

Public Hearing opened at 7:20 PM.  No comments were made.  Public Hearing closed at 7:21 PM.  

 

Action:  Motion by Mrs. Robinson to ratify Resolution No. 646-06 as presented previously.  Seconded by Mrs. Buschke.  Motion Carried.

 

V.  Reports.  

 

 

Chief Estes reported that the fire department is conducting a controlled burn tonight.  August was the busiest month so far.  The following items were reported:  9 wildland fires which included 2 very large wildland fires, 1 search and rescue, 1 false alarm at the grade school, mutual aid twice to Ione, and once to Blake’s Ranch.  Mr. Estes had 39 dispatch calls for the month of August.  Mr. Koffler stated that he appreciated the fire department for cleaning their lot.  Mr. Estes reported that the burn ban is still in effect.  He expects that it will be lifted by the end of the month.

 

    B.  Morrow County Sheriff’s Department.  

 

Sgt. Rayburn reported that all the reports for the month were included in the packet, along with the minutes of the last Police Commission meeting.  Mr. Baker stated that he had one correction to the minutes, which is that the Commission does not act on an individual complaint without collaboration from the other side.

 

Code Enforcements:  The following properties were identified by Deputy Bowles:

 

    1.  440 Water Street.  Weeds and brush and other debris are becoming a problem on this property again.  This property is an ongoing action.

 

    2.  Bowling Alley.  Deputy Bowles stated that the owner has been working on this property and should have it cleaned up by this weekend.

 

    3.  515 Cowins.  The tenant is working on cleaning up this property.  Deputy Bowles is monitoring this property closely.  

 

    4.  Cowins Street.  Mr. Koffler reported that there is another property on Cowins Street that has several vehicles parked there that have expired license plates.

 

    5.  Willow Creek Clinic.  This is Dr. Wenberg’s property and has a large accumulation of vehicles/garbage/junk.

 

    6.  595 S. Court Street.  This property has a large accumulation of garbage/overgrowth of weeds, and a disabled vehicle.

 

    7.  535 S. Court Street.  Has a large overgrowth of tall weeds.

 

Action:  Motion by Mr. Koffler to aggressively pursue activating the code enforcement process and sending the required letter to the property owners.  Seconded by Mr. Baker.  Motion Carried.  

 

     C.  Public Works Director.

 

Mr. Ehrmantraut reported that he is attending the meeting to represent the Public Works department since Mr. Nelson has resigned his position.  Mr. Ehrmantraut answered questions from Council members on items in the Public Works Report.  Mr. Koffler asked about the item on 370 Union and the fact that it appears that the water system is not connected to a meter and the property owner (Wicklund) has been using water but not being billed for it due to a probably illegal connection.  According to Mrs. Spicer, if he is getting the water illegally, he should be prosecuted.  Public Works has asked Mr. Wicklund for an explanation, but he has not contacted them.  

 

Mr. Koffler asked about the schedule for seeding at Hager Park.  According to Mr. Ehrmantraut, more top soil is needed prior to seeding.  Additional soil will be available from Hill Street and the City yard.  The seeding should be done before winter.  Mr. Koffler suggested that the park be seeded by October 15.  Mr. Ehrmantraut intends to check with the County on hydroseeding the park.  The sprinkler system is in and there have not been any complaints on dust this summer.

 

    D.  Planning Commission.  No report.

 

    E.  Housing Authority.

 

Mrs. Buschke reported that there are three vacancies in the senior center apartments.  The apartments are being shown on a regular basis.  Apartment 209 needs some major work, to include replacing the carpet.  Due to the lack of funds, this has not been done.  Apartment 209 is the least preferred apartment in the building due to its location.  Mr. De Mayo stated that Bruce Buchanan has not responded to his request to come to Heppner to discuss financing.  Mrs. Buschke also reported that the apartment residents have been working to raise funds for the center.  The low to moderate income plan has been discussed with the residents.  The reserve account is very low.

 

    F.  City Manager.  Mr. De Mayo reported the following.  

 

    1.  Highway 74 project.  This project is scheduled for 2009.  Preliminary work will commence in 2007.

 

    2.  Spruce Street.  This item discussed earlier in the meeting.

 

    3.  Urban Growth Boundary.  David Allen has resigned from his work on the project.  Mr. De Mayo and Carla Mc Clane will work this issue.

 

    4.  Needs and Issues.  Mr. De Mayo has provided a list and prioritized the projects.  Mr. Koffler stated that Mr. Sykes will be representing him at the prioritization meetings this year.  

 

    5.  Bridge Repairs.  Mr. De Mayo stated that the bridges on Sperry and Elder streets have engineering problems.  Engineers have looked at the bridges and suggested making one lane of traffic on the bridges.  Mr. Talley from La Grande is looking for used stringers that could be possibly used.  The Elder Street bridge can only carry 9 tons.

 

    6.  Golf Course Water Situation.  Mr. De Mayo reported that he had met with Mr. Paris on the pressure control issue.  Mr. De Mayo will be meeting with the Golf Course board on September 12 to discuss this further.  The issue is control of the water, not the quantity.

 

    7.  Request for Dumpster.  Councilor Doherty has suggested that the City provide a dumpster at a central location in Heppner so that hunters coming out of the mountains can deposit their garbage.  Mr. De Mayo has talked to Mr. Green and Mr. Liu about this.  Their suggestion was to furnish this for regular garbage only from the hunters, not animal carcasses.  Mr. Wolff stated this is a good idea, except that there is the possibility of local residents depositing their personal garbage in the container.  Mr. De Mayo stated that this could be a possibility for one month.  Mr. Wolff suggested  that the Chamber could pay for one month and the City for one month.  Mr. Wolff suggested a central location for this.  Several locations in the City were proposed, but no decision was made.  

 

Action:  Motion by Mr. Koffler to authorize the City to fund the dumpster for the hunters, subject to locating an area for placement, and at a total cost of no more than $300.00.  Seconded by Mrs. Doherty.  

 

Discussion:  Mr. De Mayo will ensure that this is put on the next Chamber Board agenda.  Mrs. Doherty volunteered to draft a sign.

 

Motion Carried.

 

    8.  September 12 will be the City Council tour of Well 3 and the City shop.

 

    9.  AFLAC insurance.  Mr. De Mayo stated that he has given a packet to the City Attorney on this.  According to Mrs. Spicer, she has not reviewed the information.  Mr. Koffler asked whether this could be approved without the attorney’s review.  

 

Action:  Motion by Mr. Koffler that AFLAC be approved subject to attorney review and Mr. De Mayo’s recommendation, as long as it is at no cost to the City, except time for record keeping.  Seconded by Mr. Baker.  Motion Carried.

 

    10.  Personnel Committee Action.  Mr. De Mayo stated that Mr. Nelson has resigned as Public Works Director.  Mr. De Mayo would like to meet with the Personnel Committee to discuss replacing the Public Works Director.  Committee members agreed to meet with Mr. De Mayo on Friday, September 15, 2006, to discuss this further.  

 

    G.  City Attorney.  Mr. Koffler asked about the problem with Moore Excavation and the status.  Mr. De Mayo stated that he has talked with Wen Jou, Ace Consultants, on this; however, the attorneys need to resolve this.  Mrs. Spicer will provide an update at the next Council meeting.

 

 

 

VIII.  Minutes of Commission Meetings.

 

Mr. Wolff had questions on the Parks/Beautification Minutes.  One was on the entrance to the City and the Grain Growers responsibility for maintaining the entrance into the City.  According to Mr. Koffler, this has been resolved.  Mr. Wolff also questioned the item on moving the old Democrat Gulch schoolhouse from its present location in the City park.  Several members reported that work is being done on the schoolhouse, but no decision has been made on moving it.

 

Mrs. Doherty asked about the response to Cycle Oregon.  According to Council members, there were many favorable comments by participants.  

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM.