Agenda & Minutes

The regular meeting of the Medford City Council was called to order at 6:26 p.m. in the Medford City Hall Council Chambers on the above date with the following members and staff present:
 
Mayor Gary Wheeler; Councilmembers Clay Bearnson, Kay Brooks, Tim D’Alessandro, Dick Gordon, Tim Jackle, Kevin Stine, Kim Wallan, Michael Zarosinski
 
City Manager Brian Sjothun; Deputy City Manager Kelly Madding; City Attorney Lori Cooper; City Recorder Karen Spoonts
 

20.    Recognitions, Community Group Reports

None.
 

30.    Oral Requests and Communications from the Audience

30.1     Kurt Hildebrand, Executive Director of College Dreams, stated he would like to use the marijuana tax received for this organization. Councilmember Bearnson noted with the 3% revenue tax received he has always advocated it be used for low-income students.
 

40.    Public Hearings

40.1     COUNCIL BILL 2018-10 An ordinance proclaiming annexation to the City of Medford of an approximately 2.98 acre parcel, including an adjacent right-of-way located on the north side of East Vilas Road, and approximately 4,900 feet west of Crater Lake Highway, and concurrent zone change from County LI (Light Industrial) to City I-L (Light Industrial) and designated within the Limited Industrial Overlay District (I-00), and withdrawal of said property from Medford Rural Fire Protection District 3, effective pursuant to State Law. (A-
17-105)
 
Public hearing opened. No one spoke.
Motion: Continue the public hearing to February 15, 2018.
Moved by:  Clay Bearnson                                               Seconded by: Kim Wallan Roll call: Councilmembers unanimously approved.
Motion carried and so ordered.
 

50.    Approval or Correction of the Minutes of the January 18, 2018 Regular Meeting

There being no additions or corrections, the minutes were approved as presented.
 

60.    Consent Calendar

None.
 

70.    Items Removed from Consent Calendar

None.

80. Ordinances and Resolutions

    80. COUNCIL BILL 2018-11 An ordinance dedicating to the City of Medford real property as public right-of-way to accommodate street improvements on Lozier Lane from Kime Drive to Cunningham Avenue.

 
Motion: Adopt the ordinance.
Moved by:  Clay Bearnson                                               Seconded by: Michael Zarosinski Roll call: Councilmembers unanimously approved.
Ordinance 2018-11 was duly adopted.
 

80. COUNCIL BILL 2018-12 A resolution  authorizing  the  City  of  Medford  Parks  and Recreation Department on behalf of Southern Oregon Veterans Benefit to apply for a Local  Government Grant in the amount of $100,000 from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for development assistance for the Vietnam Memorial Wall project at U.S. Cellular Community Park.

 
Parks and Recreation Director Rich Rosenthal presented the staff report and noted there is no time restriction on spending the funds, so long as the project moves forward.
 
Motion: Approve the resolution.
Moved by:  Kevin Stine                                                    Seconded by: Tim D’Alessandro Roll call: Councilmembers unanimously approved.
Resolution 2018-12 was duly adopted.
 

80. COUNCIL BILL 2018-13 An ordinance  authorizing  execution  of  a  Naming  Rights Agreement with Quality Fence in the amount of $145,000 for recognition opportunities at Bear Creek Park for ten years.

 
Mr. Rosenthal presented the staff report explaining the need for repair/replacement of multiple portions of the fence and noting that scoreboards have been removed for safety.
 
Motion: Adopt the ordinance.
Moved by:  Kim Wallan                                                    Seconded by: Tim D’Alessandro Roll call: Councilmembers unanimously approved.
Ordinance 2018-13 was duly adopted.
 

90.Council Business

90. Proclamations issued:

National Parks Service
 

90. Committee Reports and Communications

1. Councilmember Wallan reported on Travel Medford and their work with the Tourism Council. She also noted the Cemetery Commission’s shed was broken into and they are working with the Parks Department regarding security.

2. Councilmember D’Alessandro requested an electronic copy of Council Liaison assignments.

100.City Manager and Staff Reports

City Manager Brian Sjothun presented the MURA financial statement, which is on file with the City Recorder.
 

100. City Mural Policy

Three options were presented. Councilmember Brooks noted Multicultural Commission’s support of City murals. Current Arts Commission projects were also discussed.
 
Motion: Direct staff to carry out Option A. [Option A: Request that the Arts Commission review and update the draft policy that is nearly a decade old and to include the process for placement of murals. Once the draft is completed and has been reviewed by both the legal and planning department staff, the policy will be scheduled for a study session in order for Council to review prior to potentially moving forward for formal adoption.]
Moved by: Tim D’Alessandro                                          Seconded by: Kay Brooks Roll call: Councilmembers unanimously approved.
Motion carried and so ordered.
 

100. OnTrack Residence Concerns

Staff researched citizen concerns regarding an OnTrack drug treatment facility in the Lone Pine area. City Attorney Lori Cooper explained that treatment facilities are regulated through the Federal Government’s Fair Housing Act and local governments cannot restrict or prohibit treatment facilities operating in single-family residences.
 
Councilmember Gordon left and returned.
 
Councilmember Jackle suggested this issue should be referred to our federal lobbyist to allow Cities to have some input on the placement of treatment facilities in residential areas. Deputy City Manager Kelly Madding outlined the City’s outreach with the Lone Pine area residents and OnTrack.
 
Motion: Direct staff to review the City’s authority to limit the quantity and/or placement of OnTrack, drug treatment type facilities.
Moved by:  Kim Wallan                                                    Seconded by: Dick Gordon
Roll  call:      Councilmembers  D’Alessandro,  Gordon,  Jackle,  Wallan,  and  Zarosinski  voting  yes; Councilmembers Bearnson, Brooks and Stine voting no.
Motion carried and so ordered.
 

100. Further reports from City Manager Foreclosure Proceedings

Mr. Sjothun presented the City expenses incurred to process foreclosure sales and which accounts Council would like staff to pursue. Councilmember Jackle questioned the statute of limitations on these liens and voiced concerns with the expense of the foreclosure process for residents that did not have the funds to pay the original debt. Council discussed the current process and the interest charged.
 
Motion: Revise the 18% per annum as referenced in the Medford Municipal Code to 6% per annum. Moved by:    Kim Wallan                                                   Seconded by: Kay Brooks
 
Council  discussed  whether  to  create  a  reduction  for  all  debtors  or  only  those  that  met  specific parameters.