HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved Minutes - 2002-03-19 PM City Council
Regular Meeting Minutesfor March 19, 2002
380 A Avenue P.O. Box 369, Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Phone (503) 635-0236
March 19, 2002 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
Mayor Judie Hammerstad
called the regular City Council meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. on March 19,2002,in the City Council Chambers.
Present: Mayor Hammerstad,Councilors Hoffman,McPeak,Rohde, Schoen,Turchi and Graham.
Staff Present:Doug Schmitz,City Manager;David Powell,City Attorney;Robyn Christie,City Recorder;Jane Heisler,Project
Planner; Stephan Lashbrook,Community Development Director;Helen Bicart,Police Chief
Youth Council Present:Matt Buehler,Kristin Johnson
3.PRESENTATIONS
3.1 Distinguished Service Award,Herb Bumgarner,Library Advisory Board
On behalf of the Council,Mayor Hammerstad thanked Mr.Bumgarner for his nine years of service to the City on the Library
Advisory Board and presented him with a Distinguished Service Award. She mentioned that Mr.Bumgarner had been one of those
instrumental in getting the Friends of the Library?s Booktique started. Mr.Bumgarner thanked the Mayor for the award.
Mayor Hammerstad
recalled that Mr.Bumgarner?s interest in genealogy led him to volunteer at the library,as the Library had a fine family history
collection.Mr.Bumgarner mentioned that the Library inherited that collection from Steve Turner,and has since enhanced it. Mayor
Hammerstadacknowledged the other Friends of the Library members present.
3.2 Safety Levy:John Foote,District Attorney,and Pat Detloff,Sheriff
Mayor Hammerstad
welcomedJohn Foote,Clackamas County District Attorney(Sheriff Pat Detloff was unable to attend). She explained that she
invited Mr.Foote to address the Lake Oswego community regarding the upcoming public safety levy on the May ballot.
Mr.Foote
distributed information pamphlets,stating that the facts spoke for themselves in convincing people of the need for the levy.He said
that the three-year levy assessed 59 cents per$1,000 assessed value,which was$78 a year(or$7.34 per month)on$150,000 home or
$118 per year on a$200,000 home.
Mr.Foote
said that the County?s intent with the levy was to finance the four County public safety agencies: Sheriffs Office,District Attorney?s
Office,Juvenile Department and Community Corrections.He noted that the County designed the levy to keep the current staffing
levels of the four agencies in place for three years,and to obtain 115 new jail beds at an economical cost.
Mr.Foote
emphasized that the levy had no growth in it,as the County did not feel that it could ask for growth in this economic climate,even
though crime and the population would continue to grow.He explained how the County could obtain the State?s intake facility in
Oregon City(which was attached to the County jail)for$1,when the State moved that function to the new prison in Wilsonville by
May 2002.He commented that the County has been waiting to take that facility over for years.
Mr.Foote
explained that,although the County picked up the State intake facility,it would lose the$5 million in State money currently used to
pay the County employees(certified and trained)to man the State facility.He said that Clackamas County currently had one of the
smallest jails per capita in the state(1.3 beds per$1,000 compared to the state average of 2.3 beds);the extra beds would put the
County up to 1.65 beds.
Mr.Foote
said that the effect of a small jail and overcrowding was the early release of over 400 inmates every month.He explained that these
early released inmates either served a shorter sentence than ordered by the judge or were released on probation pending a hearing or
were released without the bail ordered by the judge.He contended that increasing the number of beds would reduce the number of
early releases.
Mr.Foote
discussed his primary concern with the early releases,that the County did not carry out the mandates of the court in sentencing
criminals,and the court often did not know what was happening.He conceded that they could not completely fix the problem but
argued that this was an economical way to approach it.
Mr.Foote
described the relationship between a local city police department,like the Lake Oswego Police Department,and the County system:
Lake Oswego police took anyone they arrested directly to the County jail or the juvenile department for processing.He noted that any
adults arrested in Lake Oswego passed through the Sheriffs Office(which ran the jail),the District Attorney?s Office(which
prosecuted the case),and Community Corrections(which supervised probationers and parolees).
Mr. Foote
pointed out that juveniles arrested in Lake Oswego passed through the Juvenile Department and the District Attorney?s Office.He
contended that the mutually supportive partnership between city police departments and the county public safety system was a good
reason for the public to support the County public safety levy.
Mr.Foote
discussed what would happen if the levy did not pass.He explained that the County projected a$10 million budget shortfall next year
in the public safety budget: $5 million was the jail and$5 million was current staffing needs.He noted that this presented the County
Commission with a policy choice if the levy failed: did they reduce the budgets in all county departments or did they reduce only the
public safety budget?
Mr.Foote
said that,because the County was already making cuts in other departments,as a result of other shortfalls,the Commission decided to
reduce the public safety budget only to address the$10 million shortfall.He explained that this meant that the public safety agency
budgets for next year included a 22.7%cut across the board.
Mr.Foote
indicated that the agencies were looking into reducing the impact as much as possible but,without the levy,he would lay off
prosecutors, Sheriff Detloff would lay off deputy sheriffs and corrections officers,Community Corrections would lay off probation
officers and the Juvenile Department would lay off counselors.He emphasized the importance of passing the levy.
Mr.Foote
indicated toCouncilor Graham that the number of early releases would likely increase but not directly as a result of the levy not
passing.He explained that the number of early releases grew as the number of arrests grew and their jail stayed the same size.He
pointed out that fewer police officers on the street and fewer arrests could translate to fewer early releases but he expected the early
release rate to stay the same.
Councilor Graham
asked how this would impact the Clackamas County cities and unincorporated areas that depended solely on the County Sheriff for
law enforcement.Mr.Foote said that there were eight municipal police departments in the County;everybody else,including cities
such as Wilsonville and Estacada,used the Sheriff?s Office. He noted that the distribution was 50/50 between cities with police
depaitrnents and cities and unincorporated county areas using the Sheriff?s office.
Councilor Rohde
asked how many layoffs the County anticipated in the public safety agencies.Mr.Foote clarified that the numbers changed as he
worked his budget and they found ways to lessen the impact of no levy funding.He said that he had originally thought that he would
have to lay off 20 employees but with shifting some things around,he reduced that number,although he would have to let go as many
as four to six prosecutors(out of 26).
Mr.Foote
indicated that Sheriff Detloff mentioned to him possibly letting go anywhere from 80 to 100 employees,including deputies,
corrections officers,and support staff.He said that the Sheriff was still working on his numbers also,and by next week,they would
have the figures finalized for publication.
Mr.Foote
indicated toCouncilor Hoffman that Multnomah County has always supported its District Attorney and Sheriff offices out of its
budget,although he has heard talk of Multnomah County going out for a public safety levy next year.He said that he did not know the
exact staffing level per capita at Multnomah County in comparison to Clackamas County,but he did know that it was significantly
higher than Clackamas County?s.
Mayor Hammerstad
pointed out that Multnomah County?s situation was not analogous to Clackamas County: Clackamas County?s tax rate was$2.40 per
$1,000 for its general fund revenues while Multnomah County?s tax rate was almost twice that assessed on a much larger city. She
explained that Clackamas County stopped supporting its public safety system from the general fund years ago and went to a levy,
which Measure 50 rolled into their tax base.
Mayor Hammerstad
noted that they also supported their system with the North Clackamas Law Enforcement District. She mentioned that the budget for
the public safety system was now larger than the County?s general fund.
Mayor Hammerstad
recalled that when the State decided five years ago to incarcerate offenders with less than one year prison terms at the county level,
some counties received state money for the decision while other counties did not implement the decision. She noted that Clackamas
County had enthusiastically supported the decision because it knew that the State would build its intake facility in Clackamas County,
for which it received a substantial amount of financial support from the State.
Mayor Hammerstad
asked if,during the time while it was waiting for the facility to come under county control,the County did any planning for supporting
the operations of the intake facility.Mr.Foote said that he did not know the answer,as he has been on staff for only one year.He
mentioned hearing of the County?s failed 1999 levy.He commented that the County had felt that obtaining an$8 to$10 million
facility in exchange for some money was a good trade at the time.
Mr.Foote
referenced the 3%property tax cap that voters chose with Measure 50,which translated to property taxes in Clackamas County
increasing by just over 5%,given its growth.He explained that there was a disconnect between the cap and the normal growth of an
organization in personnel costs;normal growth was more than 3%,even if the organization kept the same number of people.
Mr.Foote
said that the County experienced this increasing gap between revenue and costs over time.He held that the public would see,in every
property tax-financed entity in the state,either shrinking services for the same revenue or requests for more money.He noted that
three cities had public safety levies on the May ballot,which were larger than the county levy.
Helen Bicart,Police Chief
,confirmed that a reduction in County services would affect the Lake Oswego Police Department. She mentioned the processing of its
cases through the District Attorney?s office,fewer open hours at the juvenile reception center and different lengths of sentences for
offenders.
Mayor Hammerstad
commented that it was painful for her to watch this happen because during her term on the Commission,it had invested a significant
amount of money in juvenile corrections and working with first-time offenders,which has helped keep the crime rate down. She
remarked that the County had done a good job,and did not want to lose its gains.Mr.Foote agreed that the County?s approach to
juvenile crime has successfully reduced the number of offenders per 1,000 by half of what it was six years ago.
Mr.Foote
indicated toCouncilor Graham that the County would have to come back in November if the levy failed in May.He explained that
because the County?s fiscal year ran from July to July,they would have to lay off employees if the levy failed in May and then re-hire
as many as they could if the levy passed in November.He pointed out that this was inefficient as many of the already certified and
trained employees laid off in July would have found other jobs by November,and they would have to hire new people and train them.
Mr.Foote
indicated toCouncilor Graham that he did not know how much it cost each time to send something out to a vote.
Councilor Rohde
asked if there was an organized campaign behind this ballot measure.Mr.Foote said that they were doing the best they could,and
that they were trying to raise money,given the short-time frame available.He mentioned the serious money that the Commission
allocated to a public information campaign on the impact of the levy passing or not passing.He indicated that they would rely on the
public information campaign more than anything else,because they did not have the money to provide things for the volunteers to do.
Mr.Foote
asked the Council for a resolution of support.He acknowledged that the timing was tight,as they hoped to get something into the
voter?s pamphlet(deadline March 25).He mentioned that Chief Detloff had examples of resolutions available if the Council was
interested.He said that they would also like to have the public support of Police Chief Bicart.
Councilor Hoffman
observed that Chief Bicart was present at the meeting to provide information to the Council,since,as a public employee,she could not
take a stand on this issue.He asked how much did Lake Oswego use the County system. Chief Bicart said that last year the police
took 132 juveniles to the Juvenile Reception Center;they averaged taking one to two adult offenders per day to the County jail.
Councilor Rohde moved to support the law enforcement levy.Councilor Schoen seconded the motion.A voice vote was taken
and the motion passed with Mayor Hammerstad,Councilors Hoffman,McPeak,Rohde,Schoen,Turchi and Graham voting
?aye.? [7-0]
Mayor Hammerstad
indicated that staff would get a resolution to Mr.Foote in time for the voter?s pamphlet.
4.CONSENT AGENDA
Councilor Hoffman
reviewed the consent agenda for the audience.
Councilor Hoffman moved approval of the consent agenda.Councilor Graham seconded the motion.A voice vote was taken
and the motion passed with Mayor Hammerstad,Councilors Hoffman,McPeak,Rohde,Schoen,Turchi and Graham voting
?aye.? [7-0]
4.1 COUNCIL BUSINESS
4.1.1 Resignation of Lou Jordan from the Tree Code Task Force
ACTION:Accept resignation with regret.
4.1.2 Resolution 02-19,making appointments to the Natural Resources Advisory Board
ACTION: Adopt Resolution 02-19.
4.2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
4.2.1 February 12,2002,special meeting
4.2.2 February 19,2002,morning meeting
ACTION:Approve minutes as written
END CONSENT AGENDA
5.ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA
There were none.
6.CITIZEN COMMENT
There were none.
7.FINDINGS,CONCLUSIONS AND ORDER
7.1 Ordinance 2243,an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Lake Oswego amending the Lake Oswego Code,Chapter
48,(Zoning Code),relating to Long-term care housing and adopting findings LU 99-0070-1468
Mayor Hammerstad
noted that the findings and conclusions were not ready for a Council vote this evening.
Councilor McPeak moved to continue Ordinance 2243 to April 2,2002.Councilor Graham seconded the motion.A voice vote
was taken and the motion passedwith Mayor Hammerstad,Councilors Hoffman,McPeak,Rohde,Schoen,Turchi and
Graham voting?aye.? [7-0]
8.INFORMATION FROM COUNCIL
8.1 Councilor Information
8.1.1 Field Turf
Mayor Hammerstad
announced that the Council agreed to the settlement of the artificial turf litigation in Executive Session this morning.
Councilor Hoffman
declared a conflict of interest because his law firm represented Bones Construction Company.He said that he would recuse himself
from the vote,just as he has recused himself from all discussion regarding the litigation and settlement over the past eight months.
David Powell,City Attorney
,recalled the circumstances leading to the litigation over the two artificial turf fields installed at the high schools.He explained that
about a year and a half ago,the shock absorbency testing failed to meet the specifications for the G-max rating laid out in the contract.
He noted that the City was unable to resolve the issue with Field Turf,and litigation began a year ago with an arbitration claim.
Mr.Powell
said that in June 2001,the G-max ratings on some spots on the fields exceeded the federal safety levels(200).He noted that this
resulted in the City briefly closing the fields until Field Turf performed a deep grooming process and reduced the ratings below the
federal safety level(180).
Mr.Powell
reviewed the provisions of the tentative settlement in detail:
?Field Turf would remove the current infill and replace it with new infill by June 1,2002;
?Following removal of the infill,the City and Field Turf would inspect the backing and structure for any damage, which Field Turf
would fix;
?Field Turf guaranteed that G-max rating on the fields,immediately after replacing the infill,would be no higher than 120;
?Field Turf guaranteed that the G-max rating on the fields,throughout the remainder of the new eight-year warranty period,would
not exceed 140(which was the current contract standard);
?Field Turf would pay the City$82,500 for its legal costs,$7,500 towards its testing costs and$15,000 towards City staff time;
?The arbitration proceeding would continue on the record,and not be dismissed for one year to ensure no default under the current
agreement;
?After the one year,if the new specifications were not met during the warranty period,the two parties would enter into a new
arbitration;
?The City and the School District agreed to groom the fields every two months,using the deep grooming process;
?If the process caused any damage to the fields,Field Turf would rectify the problem;
?G-max testing would be performed regularly after the repairs,2 months,then 6 months and then annually to ensure that the 140
requirement was met;
?If the City did an independent test that showed the fields exceeding 140,Field Turf would pay the cost of those tests;
?In the event of a breach of contract,and the City having to take action to enforce the contract,Field Turf would pay the City?s
attorney fees,should the City be successful.
Mr.Powell
reviewed the conditions of the agreement:
?The City to receive counterparts of the agreement with original signatures by Field Turf and Bones Construction;
?Field Turf to make the agreed upon payments at the time of the execution of the contract;
?Field Turf to provide a letter from Seaboard Surety Company(the company that issued the performance bond,and was also a party
to the litigation)indicating that nothing in the settlement agreement affected their obligations under the bond.
Mr.Powell
noted that,if Field Turf complied with the agreement,then the City would end up with fields at the G-max rate specified under the
contract with its legal costs paid to date and a new eight-year warranty starting from this point on.He recommended approval of the
agreement.
Mayor Hammerstad
asked where the reimbursements,totaling over$100,000,went to in the budget.Doug Schmitz,City Manager,said that most of it
would go back in the general fund,as the City Attorney?s office and his and Mr.Jordan?s time were all paid for out of the general
fund.
Councilor Turchi moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the settlement agreement with Field Turf International,Inc.,and
Bones Construction Company,Inc.,in the form submitted by the City Attorney,conditioned upon the following: 1)the receipt
of counterparts of the agreement with the original signatures for Field Turf and Bones Construction Company;2)receipt of
the payments from Field Turf as provided in the agreement; and,3)receipt of a letter from Seaboard Surety Company stating
that the agreement does not affect their obligations under their performance bond.Councilor Schoen seconded the motion.
A voice vote was taken and the motionpassed with Mayor Hammerstad,Councilors McPeak,Rohde,Schoen,Turchi and
Graham voting?aye.?Councilor Hoffman abstained. [6-0-1]
8.1.2 Car Seat Clinic
Councilor Graham
reported that the turnout at the car seat clinic held in February was high,with 76 car seats inspected. She said that the misuse rate of
80%incorrectly installed was consistent with the national rate. She urged parents to know what they were doing when they installed
those seats. She indicated that they would hold more car seat clinics upon receiving more grant funding.
8.1.3 Urban Forestry Summit,sponsored by Oregon Community Trees,the Urban Community Forestry Program(Oregon
Department of Forestry),the Pacific Northwest region of the Forest Service and the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the
International Society of Arboriculture.
Councilor Graham
reported on this daylong summit she attended on March 8. She listed the speakers. She discussed the information presented by Dr.
Wool(University of Washington)in addressing the question of whether trees were only about aesthetics or where they about human
health and welfare,which was an expression of the new Urban Nearby Nature ethic.This information included the$1.8 million in
yearly energy savings resulting from the tree canopy during the summer months,the reduced stress level in drivers driving on treed
roadways as opposed to non-treed roadways,and the 23%fewer ailments reported by workers with a natural setting view.
Councilor Graham
mentioned Dr.Wool?s statistic that Americans drove 2.3 billion miles a day. She discussed the term?placed perceptions,?which
meant the perception that businesses with trees around them had quality goods to offer,which allowed those businesses successfully to
raise their prices by 12%. She characterized Mike Houck?s statement(Audubon Society)- "If we can?t figure out how to make our
cities livable,there?s no way we can protect our wilderness and unique areas" ?as meaning?Smart Growth.?
Councilor Graham
mentioned Dave Doctor(Palo Alto Planning Department Arborist),and his sharing of his city?s very stringent tree code that put the
trees and the tree canopy first. She noted Jim Middaugh?s(Portland Endangered Species Act Manager)statement that Portland had
150 culverts needing retrofitting or replacement in order to facility quality spawning grounds.
Councilor Graham
reviewed the basic concepts pointed out by all the speakers:the actual dollar value of trees,the environmental considerations
regarding storm water runoff,air quality,energy and fish conservation,and the demonstrated positive impact to humans and their
personal quality of life.
8.1.4 National League of Cities Conference,Washington,D.C.
Councilor McPeak
thanked the citizens for giving her the privilege of attending this conference. She said that she learned a lot,which was a good
investment of the money spent. She reported on the two half-day leadership training institute seminars she attended:Four Traits of a
Successful Leader,and The Courage to Lead, 12 Steps to Leading Your City. She said that the four traits were clarity(the wisdom to
see what is right in a sea of confusion),credibility(holding on to your principles),creativity(adapting to change by letting go of ego,
power and insecurities),and courage(doing the right thing under pressure).
Councilor McPeak
discussed two points made by Lyle Sumak,the leader of the second seminar. The first was that the real challenge in city government
was not to try to convince the negative 20%of the community but rather to work towards empowering the other 80%in the
community. She commented that Lake Oswego had a negative 10%in the community.
Councilor McPeak
discussed the second point,that a big key to city government was understanding the demographics of the city. She reviewed the five
age categories postulated by Mr. Sumak and the characteristics that he saw in them: Old Folks(born before 1935),In-Betweeners
(born between 1935 and 1947),Rejectionists(born between 1947 and 1954),Hedonistic Traditionalists(born between 1954 and
1967),and Boomerangers(born after 1967).
Councilor McPeak
discussed the speakers at the general session. She indicated that Senator Tom Daschle received bad reviews(she missed his speech
due to illness), Senator Bill Frisk and Tom Ridge were impressive, Senator Dianne Feinstein brought credibility as a former mayor but
the best speaker was Roger Wilkins,Washington,D.C. School Board. She mentioned Senator Feinstein?s contention that the cities
should fight for a$10 billion line item in the federal government?s contingency funds.
Councilor McPeak
indicated that she selected two breakout sessions that were appropriate to her work on intergovernmental committees(MACC and
REMG):Managing Our Public Right-of-Way,and Making Sense of Homeland Security. She reported that the right-of-way session
had battling lawyers,one representing the communications industry perspective and one representing the cities?perspective.
Councilor McPeak
said that the industry lawyer argued that cities tended to get in the way of upgrading technology while the city lawyer contended that
the industry was making a land grab,and that the municipalities and citizens deserved reimbursement for the wear and tear and use of
the right-of-ways. She mentioned that the value of the physical investment in the U.S.right-of-way came to$1.3 trillion while the
value of the right-of-way land in the U.S.was$7 to$10 trillion. She noted that the cities have been winning the court battles.
Councilor McPeak
mentioned the discussion in the Homeland Security session revolving around the$3.5 billion floating?out there?for first responders
(i.e.,the local community). She recalled her earlier report on the Regional Emergency Management Group?s(REMG)proposal to
obtain$22 million to improve a plan for first response to any kind of disaster. She commented that REMG was doing very good work.
Councilor Rohde
gave a day-by-day report of his trip to the Washington,D.C.He held up the Regional Transportation Briefing Book,which had Lake
Oswego?s Willamette Shore Railway listed on the last page;Tri-Met officials used this book to brief the Congress and the Federal
Transit Administration(FTA).He mentioned spending two days,as a member of JPACT,making the rounds of the Oregon
congressional delegation to advocate for the list of regional projects(which he had reviewed at the Council?s February meeting).
Councilor Rohde
observed that he has always found it a reassuring experience to see the effect of JPACT coming with a unified message to the Oregon
congressional delegation concerning the projects that were important to the region.He reported that the delegation united across party
lines in order to do what was good for Oregon and to deliver a unified message to Congress.
Councilor Rohde
reported that he attended a leadership-training seminar on e-government.He mentioned that he had a packet of information for the
City?s Information Technology Manager on additional ways to integrate e-government,including technological advancements and
coordinating between departments for a smoother operation.
Councilor Rohde
mentioned Dr.James Zogby?s address at the Celebrate Diversity breakfast on the issue of racial profiling.He commented that Dr. Bill
Frisk?s frightening assessment of the country?s under preparedness to deal with bioterrorism underscored the need for cities and
regions to address the issue as soon as possible with the federal government?s help.
Councilor Rohde
concurred with Councilor McPeak?s assessment of the general session speakers.He mentioned another speaker,Kristy Todd
Whitman,who gave a well-spoken speech on the administration?s policies towards the environment and its attempt to strike a balance.
Councilor Rohde
reported on his breakout sessions:Are the Supremes Singing Your Tune?The Supreme Court decisions and their impact on cities,and
Reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21St century(T-21).He summarized the lawyers?message as the Supreme
Court was leaning more towards states and local rights than towards federal powers.He explained that T-21 has been so successful in
delivering funds for transportation to the states that Congress was looking at re-authorizing it.
Councilor Rohde
mentioned questions asked at the T-21 session about environmental streamlining,the added cost to transportation projects of
environmental compliance,and whether mitigation actually benefited the environment.He reported on the possibility of using
Homeland Security dollars for transportation projects,especially for the interstate highway system,which had originally been a
defense project for troop movement and evacuation.
Councilor Rohde
noted another question asked about whether it was reasonable to expect a change that only projects on the approved Transportation
Improvement Program state priority lists would be earmarked for funding.He said that the response was that it was reasonable but no
one would commit to it.
Councilor Rohde
reported that there was very little discussion of the loss of revenue due to decreasing gas taxes,which resulted from increased fuel
economy.He said that the Oregon discussion was years ahead of the federal government.
Councilor Rohde
reported asking Senator Gordon Smith if he would sign on to the RABA backfill bill(Revenue Aligned Budget Authority),which tied
into the funding mechanism for the transportation bill.He explained how the allocation of funding worked under the RABA bill.He
noted that Oregon could lose$88 million as a result of the overall reduction of$9 billion from the transportation funding package for
the coming year.
Councilor Rohde
said that the RABA backfill bill would transfer$4.5 billion out of a$19 billion reserve account to keep the transportation funding
package at the amount authorized but with no increase.He noted that the entire Oregon delegation has now signed on as co-sponsors
of this bill,which enjoyed wide bi-partisan support.
Councilor Rohde
reported that Congresswoman Hooley?s office would pursue funding mechanisms for the Boones Ferry Corridor,the Willamette River
properties and the Willamette Shore railway.
8.2 Reports of Council Committees,Organizational Committees and Intergovernmental Committees
8.2.1 Metro Area Communications Commission(MACC)
Councilor McPeak
commented that they fought long and hard to get the cable upgrade in Lake Oswego,which was now in progress. She reported that
there were a number of citizens who were not happy with the upgrade because it required the installation of physical structures in the
right-of-way that they did not like. She urged citizens to call MACC directly. She said that she did not know that MACC could fix the
problem but the staff could help explain things and assist citizens in working with AT&T.
8.2.2 Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation(JPACT)
Councilor Rohde
discussed the two issues of concern at the JPACT meeting: the Sauvie Island Bridge and the Columbia channel deepening project.He
explained that the Sauvie Island bridge,a vital to-market transportation link for the island,was on the verge of failure;the replacement
cost estimate came in at$25 to$30 million.He mentioned that,while in Washington,D.C.,they did look for the$3 million needed to
begin the environmental assessment work needed to replace the bridge.He commented that his interest lay in using regional funds to
benefit the region as a whole.
Councilor Rohde
reported that Bill Wyatt of the Port of Portland gave a lengthy presentation at JPACT detailing where the Oregonian?s series of
articles on the channel deepening project went wrong.He mentioned in particular,the newspaper?s serious mistakes in calculating the
cost-benefit ratios and assessing the real benefit of the project to the region.He also noted the question of whether the project was
solely responsible for the environmental issues raised by the Oregonian.He encouraged people to read the Port of Portland?s
responses to the articles.
Councilor Rohde
reported hearing positive comments at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon;the Chamber members felt that the City has done a nice job
in creating a healthy and attractive environment.
8.3 Discussion of Temporary Sign Ordinance
Mayor Hammerstad
reviewed the background of the temporary sign ordinance situation. She noted that Lake Oswego currently had a temporary sign
ordinance that did not allow any kind of temporary sign in the right-of-way. She recalled that the realtors asked the Council to allow
real estate signs in the right-of-way for a regulated period of time. She mentioned that the Council passed the ordinance initially but
decided not to pass the final order and findings when residents testified in opposition.
Mayor Hammerstad
explained that the Council decided to direct staff to develop a public process to gather input from the community,churches,schools
and businesses. She noted that,while staff went through the public process,the Council discussed possible additional elements for
inclusion in the temporary sign ordinance,including standardizing sign size and appearance and requiring a permit and/or a fee,but
those were not part of the proposed ordinance.
Mayor Hammerstad
indicated that the comments that the Council has received from realtors responded to the discussion of permits and fees,rather than to
the actual changes proposed in the ordinance. She read from several letters sent in by realtors,which demonstrated that the letter-
writers did not understand what Lake Oswego?s current ordinance was or what the proposed changes were.
Mayor Hammerstad
indicated that most of the realtors who wrote the 50 letters to the City wanted the Council to allow signs in the right-of-way on
weekends at a time certain. She mentioned that the letters received from one neighborhood association,the Mountain Park
Homeowners Association and four citizens all spoke to leaving the current ordinance as it was.
Mayor Hammerstad
mentioned the first question before the Council: was there a need to change the existing ordinance? She pointed out that the ordinance
was difficult to regulate and enforce. She asked if it was better to permit signs in the right-of-way for a certain period of time(which
was easily enforceable)or to maintain the existing ordinance. She asked if there was a way to arrive at an ordinance that allowed real
estate signs in the right-of-way for a particular time,while at the same time,honoring the rights of the abutting property owners who
might object to those signs in front of their properties.
Mayor Hammerstad
indicated that the Council would direct the City Attorney to draft one or more ordinances based on its discussion this evening. She
mentioned that the Council would take testimony at an April 2 public hearing on the ordinance coming out of tonight?s meeting. She
asked for Councilor comments on the existing sign ordinance and the proposal to allow private signs in the public right-of-way.
Councilor Graham
pointed out that this was a temporary sign ordinance for the community as a whole,and not simply for the realtors. She spoke in
support of allowing signs in the right-of-way in order to provide clear and easy-to-read directions to estate or realty sales. She
described it as a safety measure;otherwise drivers tended to look at their maps instead of at the roadway. She mentioned her
expectation that those who put up the signs would take them down in accordance with stipulations in the ordinance and not put them
in locations that would cause harm to landscaping.
Councilor McPeak
discussed her questions regarding this difficult subject. She commented that it was difficult to connect what was happening now with
whatever changes the Council might make to the ordinance. She observed that the current ordinance was regularly flouted. She
conceded that easing the restrictions would legalize some activity but questioned whether the City paid a price for doing that.
Councilor McPeak
stated that she was prepared to support a test of a well-circumscribed use of the right-of-way for a limited number of days,hours,sign
size and locations. She spoke to moving forward with a test before a full-scale opening of the restrictions. She said that she wanted to
watch what happened,and that she was prepared to re-open the subject with the Council,if it went badly and there was no sunset
clause.
Councilor Turchi
concurred with Councilor McPeak.He indicated that he had thought that the proposed ordinance permitting signs in the right-of-way
four days a week was too much.He described the structure as almost forcing signs in front of people?s properties,which was
unfortunate.He held that there was a reason in the community to allow signs on a limited basis in order to provide directions to
temporary sales.
Councilor Turchi
stated that he was prepared to support a limited liberalization of the sign ordinance,which allowed temporary directional signs in the
right-of-way on Sundays for a specified period of time.He spoke to the Council revisiting the matter in one year in order to evaluate
whether the policy?junked up?the community,and repealing the ordinance if that was the case.
Councilor Hoffman
observed that all the Councilors supported the economy and businesses in terms of their attempts to service the people in the
community.He pointed out that right-of-way by definition was the land owned by the adjacent landowners(not the City),for which
the City had public travel and utility easements.
Councilor Hoffman
emphasized that the discussion focused on temporary signs,not signs associated with a particular industry.He noted that the City had
to regulate signs based on content neutrality or face a First Amendment violation.He mentioned that one test used by the courts to
analyze whether temporary sign regulations were constitutional was to determine whether there were alternative means to
communicate the message,such as newspapers.
Councilor Hoffman
spoke to the issue of balancing the private property concerns of individuals versus the community concerns,which was their job as
elected officials.He described this situation as balancing the economic interest of a certain segment of the community versus the
property interest of those living along the road.He observed that the businesses wanted to advertise but the property owners had an
expectation of privacy.
Councilor Hoffman
discussed his geographic analysis of the issue,starting at the national level and ending at the corner of 10`hStreet and A Avenue.He
reported that his Internet research found that 90%of city ordinances around the country prohibited temporary signs in the right-of-way
for reasons of visual clutter and public safety.He cited the proliferation of signs every day of the week on the corner of Terwilliger up
by the Burlingame Market as an example of the effect of the City of Portland?s temporary sign ordinance(passed three months ago).
Councilor Hoffman
noted that in Lake Oswego they have seen temporary signs proliferate at corners,which many saw as visual clutter.He observed that
aesthetics were important to this community,citing the discussions on neighborhood character,infill and compatibility.He mentioned
the downtown design district,the commercial sign regulations, street and city entry way improvements,flower baskets,pathways and
open space as other examples of the community?s value of aesthetics.
Councilor Hoffman
remarked that the biggest irony,should they pass this ordinance,was that they still could not put temporary signs up on Highway 43,
even in the residential area,because state statute prohibited temporary signs in the public right-of-way.He observed that it was odd to
permit temporary signs on Country Club or McVey but not on Highway 43.
Councilor Hoffman
reiterated that he tried to balance the issues whenever he made a decision.He described this issue as the community interest and no
visual clutter versus the private property expectation.He indicated that he felt comfortable agreeing with the other 90%of US cities in
not allowing temporary signs in the right-of-way.He held that the ordinance was fine as it was.
Councilor Schoen
recounted his follow-up to Councilor Hoffman?s research when he went house-shopping with his son in Southern California.He noted
that the exclusive communities,such as Beverly Hills,Belair,Hollywood Hills,Carlsbad,etc.,had very restrictive sign codes and did
not allow any signs in the public right-of-way.He argued that Lake Oswego fell into the classification of the type of city that did not
want visual clutter.He expressed his concern about the content of temporary signs.He held that the existing sign code has worked
effectively,although the City needed to enforce it better.
Councilor Schoen
discussed a compromise of allowing temporary signs on Tuesdays and Sundays with the express permission of the abutting property
owner.He concurred that most people felt that the right-of-way was their property,as they had the maintenance responsibility and
paid taxes on it.He argued that the Council had an obligation to protect that privacy.He emphasized that he could not support
anything that did not require the express permission of the property owner.
Mayor Hammerstad
said that she would favor allowing temporary signs in the right-of-way only on Sundays for directional purposes. She pointed out that
Tuesdays were the brokers?open houses,and the brokers had the addresses and knew the city. She noted that at least four councilors
willing to support at least Sundays.
Councilor Rohde
observed that most people did not know where the right-of-way was in front of their house.He cited Wembley Park with its 100-foot
right-of-way,which meant that,under the existing ordinance,even a homeowner on Wembley Park could not put up a garage sale sign
in his/her front yard.He spoke in support of allowing temporary signs in the right-of-way and getting permission from the property
owner.He referenced his experience in garage saleing on weekends in stating that he thought he could find the sales without
directional signs at every corner
Councilor Graham
confirmed that,as a homeowner on Wembley Park,she had no place to put a sign in her yard to advertise a garage sale; she depended
on the corner at Fir Ridge Road to place a directional sign to her house.
Councilor Graham
pointed out that the economics of estate sales and real estate sales impacted homeowners who needed to sell their homes or its
contents for financial reasons. She argued that allowing signs one or two days a week was insufficient time to advertise estate sales,
which were typically held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. She held that directional signs on Tuesdays were a valid use to
accommodate the brokers?open houses. She discussed other uses for temporary signs,such as advertising neighborhood association
events.
Councilor Graham
cited a letter from an estate sale agent who provided documentation,based on his 20 years of experience,that the estate sale agent
depended on 50%of sales coming from drivebys. The agent mentioned a case of a woman who was selling because she desperately
needed money;they lost$2,000 in sales on Sunday because the?sign police?pulled her signs.Councilor Graham argued that that
was not serving the economy or the citizens either.
Councilor Graham
quoted from two letters received by the Council. She noted that a Lake Oswego resident and business owner asked the Council to
consider the signs in the right-of-way issue seriously and to allow him as a homeowner and neighbor to conduct his business
effectively. She quoted from the other letter that the Council "was elected to serve a varied constituency with competing interests. The
well-being of any city depended upon keeping things in balance and not ignoring a part of the community." She said that she was
trying to keep that balance,and would like to see the Council expand the proposed ordinance.
Mayor Hammerstad
asked if private right-of-way signs should be restricted to residential zones. Councilor Rohde said no.Councilor Grahamindicated
that she could go either way.
Mayor Hammerstad
confirmed toCouncilor Hoffman that not restricting the signs to residential zones meant that the City allowed them in residential,
commercial and industrial areas,including the downtown. She noted that only Councilor Rohde was saying that that was all right.
Councilor Hoffman
held that private right-of-way signs in a commercial area would necessarily be on the sidewalks,and they clashed with the City?s
intent to spruce up the downtown areas.Mayor Hammerstad observed that there was not Council support to extend these signs
outside of the residential areas.
Mayor Hammerstad
asked if the ordinance should require that those placing signs in the right-of-way obtain permission from the abutting property owner.
Councilor McPeak remarked that in a perfect world,yes,but she was convinced by the almost universal response of the realtors,that
it would be hard to do so. She spoke in support of the third option where the property owner could lay the sign down if it offended
him/her,as it gave the property owner some control over what happened.
Mayor Hammerstad
commented that the third option appeared to be a compromise to address the fact mentioned by realtors that people were frequently
not home,and to allow the homeowners a method of communicating that they did not want the sign and that the realtor needed to
come talk to them.
Councilor Schoen
argued that allowing realtors to place signs in the right-of-way with the property owner?s express permission loosened up the existing
ordinance sufficiently.He stated that he would continue to oppose putting up a sign without permission.
Councilor Turchi
spoke in support of people making a good faith effort to obtain the property owner?s permission.He said that if they failed to do so,
and the property owner put the sign down on the ground,then that was a clear indication that people should not put a sign up at that
location. Councilor Rohde agreed that they should try to get permission.
Councilor Graham
noted that state law required realtors to put their name and phone number on their signs. She pointed out that that provided a contact
number for homeowners who wanted to go beyond simply laying the sign down. She recounted an anecdote of a father and daughter
who held their traditional garage sale last year and specifically obtained the permission of their abutting neighbors to put up their signs
on private property. She noted that when someone removed their directional signs,the sale was over,leaving them wondering if they
would hold their father-daughter garage sale again if it caused them this much angst.
Councilor Graham
acknowledge the Mayor?s point that this incident happened under the current ordinance but reiterated that someone took it upon
him/herself to remove signs,which the sign owners had legitimately placed on private property.Mayor Hammerstad commented
that she doubted they could prevent that.
Councilor McPeak
indicated that Councilor Schoen?s preference to allow signs in the right-of-way only with specific permission was more restrictive
than she wanted to go but she could live with it if she had to. Councilor Hoffman spoke in support of getting permission.
Mayor Hammerstad
noted that the majority of Councilors(Rohde,Turchi,McPeak,Hammerstad and Graham)wanted language requiring people to
attempt to get the permission of the abutting property owner,with the property owner having the option of laying the sign down.
Mayor Hammerstad
invited Ms. Schetky and Mr.Petrie to address the Council. She summarized the Council?s feelings as they wanted to find a balance
that allowed some opportunity for signs in the right-of-way as well as respected the private property owner.
• Chris Schetky,55 Condolea Terrace
Ms.Schetky
stated that she did attempt to get permission from every homeowner as a courtesy. She held that many realtors did so but she could not
say that all of them did. She indicated that she had no problem with realtors attempting to get a property owner?s permission but she
knew that it was not always possible because they could be out of town. She described her process in leaving a note on her business
card at the door when a homeowner was not home. She commented that to prohibit putting up the sign if no one was home was more
restrictive than she wanted to see.
• Craig Petrie, 18262 SW Bryant
Mr.Petrie
stated that not once,in the 9.5 years he has lived on this corner lot,has a realtor knocked on his door.He observed that the City has
had the current ordinance for 41 years.He argued that the Council would better serve the community by directing all sign owners to
get permission. He contended that if someone wanted something special,then he/she should make an extra effort to ask permission.
He described the issue of attempting to make contact as a travesty inflicted upon the city.
Mr.Petrie
indicated toMayor Hammerstad that he has reported signs in the right-of-way to the City,which staff then picked up,but he has not
called a realtor.He contended that the realtors,as professionals, should know the ordinances.He restated a comment made by a
Councilor earlier,as the realtors have willfully flouted the sign regulations for many years.
Mr.Petrie
spoke in support of the realtors asking permission,asking what was wrong with requiring them to do so.He argued that his right to
quiet enjoyment was greater than their right to put up signs.He expressed his disbelief that the Council would change the ordinance to
anything less restrictive than requiring the specific permission of the adjacent property owner.
• Joseph Eusterman,851 A Avenue
Mr.Eusterman
indicated that he lived on the corner of 9thStreet and A Avenue,which was an attractive spot for signs.He said that he simply moved
the large number of directional signs placed in front of his property to the other side of the street.He held that this met the needs of the
realtor while allowing him to reduce the visual blight on his property,which he has spent thousands of dollars on maintaining and
beautifying.
Mr.Eusterman
said that no one has ever asked him for permission to put a sign on the right-of-way in front of his house.He commented that the
arrogance of the real estate industry offended him.He argued that weakening the existing ordinance would lead to a proliferation of
signage of all kinds,which would be unfortunate for the appearance of the city.He spoke to minimizing the visual blight in Lake
Oswego.
Mr.Eusterman
reported that LONAC,at its March 2meeting,approved a motion to send a letter to the Council in support of leaving the present sign
ordinance unchanged.He commented that he has never seen a study on the importance of directional signs in selling real estate as
compared to newspaper or other media ads.He remarked that it would be interesting to ask those who bought homes in Lake Oswego
within the past 10 years whether they utilized the directional signage as opposed to newspaper ads and maps.
Mr.Eusterman
indicated toMayor Hammerstad that,if the Council intended to loosen up the ordinance,then it should require realtors to get
permission from the property owner,as opposed to allowing realtors to say that they tried. He held that loosening up the current
ordinance would make it harder to enforce.He opposed any change to the current sign ordinance.
Councilors Schoen and Hoffman
stated their continued opposition to any new ordinance that did not require the abutting property owner?s explicit permission.
Mr.Powell
indicated toCouncilor McPeak that laying the sign down on the ground was as far as was proper for a homeowner to go.He pointed
out that removing the sign could lead to due process issues with respect to deprivation of property.He commented that laying the sign
down allowed the realtor to retrieve it and the homeowner to exercise some control.
Mr.Powell
mentioned an issue raised by the City Manager: could someone handle someone else?s sign without getting into an issue of trespass?
He advised the Council,should it decide to allow homeowners to lay down signs,to direct him to draft the ordinance such that placing
a sign in the right-of-way implied consent to the property owner?s right to handle the sign and lay it down on the ground without
damaging it any more than necessary.
Mr.Powell
commented that,while attempting to get permission could be included as a legal requirement,enforcement was problematical.
Mayor Hammerstad
observed that the Council wanted to craft an enforceable ordinance,especially since the City could not enforce the existing ordinance.
She asked Mr.Powell to bring back two separate wordings,one requiring permission and one requiring an attempt to ask permission.
Mr.Powellmentioned another element of requiring anyone who placed the sign to document the time and manner in which he/she
attempted to make contact.
Councilor Rohde
described this situation as a mess.He pointed out that this became a?he said?she said?situation without some sort of documentation
proving that the realtor attempted to make contact.If the realtor could not produce the documentation,then he/she faced a fine for
violating that section of the ordinance.He questioned how they could enforce the ordinance.
Councilor McPeak
commented that she had no expectation that the City could afford the resources to enforce an ordinance requiring sign owners to
attempt to get permission. She said that she would watch how the industry behaved because she depended on their self-enforcement.
Councilor Schoen
noted that there has been little discussion about content,which he thought the Council should think about.He commented that the sign
code has worked for political signs because the sign placer had to get the property owner?s permission,and they did not go into the
right-of-way.He spoke to the Council having an obligation to protect the content of signs. He reiterated his concern with the
placement of signs in the right-of-way without any control.
Mayor Hammerstad
described the difference between asking permission for political signs and temporary directional signs,as political signs would be up
for a number of weeks while directional signs would be up for only a few hours on a particular day of the week. She observed that if
the owners of political signs had to ask permission every day to put up signs,there would not be any political signs put up.
Councilor Hoffman
discussed his concern with passing an ordinance that the Council knew the City could not enforce and thus rely on self-enforcement.
He acknowledged that this was a temporary sign ordinance,and not simply a realtor?s ordinance.He pointed out that the self-policing
extended to other people with signs.He cited the history of temporary signs as underlying his concern that what might start out with
realtor signs would proliferate beyond a single industry.He spoke to passing an ordinance that was somewhat enforceable.
Mayor Hammerstad
noted that the next question was what days should temporary signs be allowed in the right-of-way. She commented that allowing signs
on Saturday and Sunday was a clear-cut provision but expanding that to include Fridays and Tuesdays would lead to proliferation.
Councilor Graham
spoke to signs on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.Mayor Hammerstad observed that the majority were not nodding their heads in
agreement. Councilor Turchi suggested Sundays only.Mayor Hammerstadsuggested starting the discussion with Saturdays and
Sundays before narrowing it down even further.
Councilor Rohde
mentioned a scenario of a Wednesday event at a home with a sign and balloon placed at the end of the driveway,which was in the
right-of-way.
Councilor McPeak
suggested signs on Tuesday and Sundays.Councilors Schoen and Hoffman supported Sundays with permission.Councilor
Rohdesaid no limit.Mayor Hammerstad noted that everyone mentioned Sundays.
Mayor Hammerstad
asked about the time of day.Councilor Grahamspoke to 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. or 10 a.m.to 2 p.m.for Tuesdays,and 8 a.m.to 5 p.m.on
weekends. She commented that it would be sad to take down a garage sale sign at 5 p.m. on a summer evening,thus ending the sale,
when it was still light out until 8 p.m.
Councilor McPeak
noted the Chamber?s suggestion of 8 a.m.to 6 p.m. on Sundays.Ms.Schetky said that 10 a.m.to 6 p.m. worked for the real estate
industry.Mayor Hammerstad commented that including the estate sales would put the start time at 8 a.m.
Mr.Eusterman
commented that he would hate to see Lake Oswego?trashed?on Sundays.He argued that signage was visual blight.He spoke to
allowing signs on Saturday,which was a more traditional business day than Sundays,and on Tuesdays.Mayor Hammerstad pointed
out that Sundays were the traditional open house day for real estate.
Mayor Hammerstad summarized the Council direction on the hours and days as 8 a.m.to 6 p.m.on Sundays. She directed the
discussion to the next question: Should right-of-way signs be allowed on sidewalks and corners?
Councilor Turchi
spoke to restricting signs to corners only for directional purposes.Councilor McPeak indicated that she has moved away from her
former total opposition to signs at corners but questioned how someone found the place after turning at the corner.Councilor Turchi
spoke of a sign on the private property. Councilor Schoen spoke to getting permission,even at the corner.Mayor Hammerstad
pointed out that if someone wanted to put a sign at the corner,and he/she had to get permission,then he/she would get permission to
put it at the corner.
Mayor Hammerstad
questioned whether the corner issue mattered.Councilor McPeak argued that it mattered in terms of restricting the number of signs.
She pointed out that if they restricted the signs to the corners,then it did not matter if the property owners did not want to give
permission because the signs would not be allowed elsewhere. She held that the end result would be fewer signs. Councilor Turchi
concurred.
Councilor Graham
said that she wanted them at corners for directional and safety reasons. She commented that the chart,although well-meaning,was
difficult to figure out.
Mayor Hammerstad
suggested that the Council not address the issue of signs at corners,as it has already limited signs to one day with permission. She
argued that this got into micro-managing,because the person giving permission could dictate the location and type of sign.
Mr.Powell
asked if the Mayor proposed using the size regulations for signs on private property for signs in the right-of-way.Mayor
Hammerstadrecalled that the Council agreed on October 16 to signs 30 inches in height to include the realtor?s A-frame sign.
Councilor McPeak
raised the issue of stick signs. She commented that much of the discussion has focused on the real estate industry because that industry
would place most of the signs. She held that the real estate A-frame signs looked professional while the stick signs usually did not.
Councilor Grahampointed out that one person?s aesthetically pleasing sign was another person?s trashy sign. She spoke to allowing
either stick signs and A-frames or nothing. Councilor McPeak recalled that the Councilor had not objected to A-frame signs only
during their earlier discussion.
Mayor Hammerstad
noted that stick signs would not go in the right-of-way or be available for permission,although they would still exist. Councilor
Hoffman asked about balloons.Mr.Powellpointed out that the height requirement precluded the use of balloons.
Mayor Hammerstad
recalled that,at its last discussion,the Council decided against including a sunset provision but would revisit the issue whenever it
wanted to.
Mayor Hammerstad
invited Ms. Schetky and Mr. Petrie to address the Council with respect to the discussion.
Mr.Petrie
alleged that the City staff has said that the real estate industry could not police itself,yet the industry said that it would do so.He
reiterated that finding a sign in front of his house affected his quiet enjoyment of his home.He mentioned that he has expended
significant private funds to beautify his property,just as the City spent public money to beautify the streetscape.
Mr.Petrie
argued that allowing realtors to put up a sign without his permission because he was not home trampled on his right to quiet
enjoyment,which should take precedence over signs in the right-of-way.He asked the Council to make the permission requirement
absolute or to allow him to put up a sign in his front window denying permission.He held that the attempt to get permission idea
would not work.
Mr.Petrie
stated that he had to deal with this issue every Sunday.He reiterated that he had an absolute right to quiet enjoyment of his property.
He observed that no one on the Council would be affected by this issue but he was.He emphasized that no one asked permission to
put up the signs now,which he argued was because they did not want to have to do so.
Mr.Powell
indicated toMayor Hammerstad that a?no signs?sign in the window constituted an express statement that the property owner did
not consent to someone putting a sign up in the right-of-way.
Ms.Schetky
expressed her appreciation that the Council appeared to be leaning towards giving the ordinance a try. She said that she was not
convinced that the community would look much different than it did now. She noted that the Council discussion has been that if
someone put up a sign without permission,then the property owner could lay the sign down. She argued that someone?s right to quiet
enjoyment was not removed if he/she could lay the sign down.
Ms.Schetky
asked for confirmation that if realtors placed a sign in an undeveloped area with no abutting property owner,they did not have to cross
the street to ask permission from those homeowners.Mayor Hammerstadindicated that it would be appropriate to put a sign in an
area with no abutting property owners.
Ms.Schetky
noted for the record that the realtors have addressed only the professional A-frame signs,and not the stick directional signs.
Councilor Hoffman
asked about signs on City property.Mayor Hammerstadmentioned the possibility of exempting City property and not allowing signs
in the adjacent right-of-way.
Mr.Powell
asked for clarification because every property had an owner,whether that property was developed or not.He asked if the consensus of
the Council was that,for undeveloped property,there was no obligation to attempt to contact the property owner.
Stephan Lashbrook,Community Development Director
,commented that Wilsonville discussed the question of signs on City property extensively.He said that the City precluded locations
adjoining City-owned property over concerns about content,and presenting the appearance that the City sanctioned whatever the
message was.
Councilor Rohde
described this discussion point as the Council did not want the City sanctioning messages but it was okay to foist it upon a private
property owner.Mayor Hammerstad noted that a sign owner had to get the property owner?s permission.
Mr.Powell
asked for clarification on the sign size.He mentioned the discussion of limiting the sign height to 30 inches,A-frame style,and the
mention of an area of five square feet to fit the typical realty sign.He asked if the Council wanted the square footage in the ordinance
or only the height limitation. The Council agreed by consensus to include the five square feet requirement.
9.REPORTS OF OFFICERS
9.1 City Manager
9.2 City Attorney
Mr.Powell
reported that this morning the Council approved the stipulated writ of mandamus in the Skyland Heights plan matter.
10.ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hammerstad
adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robyn Christie/s/
Robyn Christie
City Recorder
APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL:
ON May 14,2002
Judie Hammerstad/s/
Judie Hammerstad,Mayor