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June 24, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels February 16, 2004 Lenn Hannon Day considered by city council By Steve Zimmerman Ashland Daily Tidings Several items, including honor for retiring State Senator Lenn Hannon, dot the agenda for Tuesday night's Ashland City Council meeting. Hannon, who recently resigned his Oregon State Legislature Senate District 5 seat, will be honored with a proclamation making Feb. 27, Lenn Hannon Day in Ashland. District 5 includes Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Jacksonville, a small portion of rural Medford and the area to the Klamath County line. Among the items to be acted on by the council is the purchase of nearly one-half of an acre adjoining Ashland Creek at the north end of the Vogel Property located at 755 Oak St. The purchase of the property is necessary for future trail connection and riparian preservation. The cost of the purchase to the city is $63, 400. The council is also being asked to release funds deposited with the city in 2001 to construct stairs at the Lithia Estates Subdivision. The stairs were not required to be built at the time a pedestrian easement was relocated in the subdivision. The developer deposited $14,000 with the city for future development. The new owners are now interested in constructing the stairs and are asking the city to release the funds. The Planning Division of the Community Development Department is recommending that those funds be released once plans for the construction are submitted and approved and permits obtained, if necessary. The city administrator will present a draft copy of city goals for the 2004-2005 year. Among the goals in the plan are development of a riparian ordinance, development of an urban forestry plan, to derive a specific list of 2004 action items from the Housing Action Plan and Needs Analysis with reasonable measure and marks of progress and design implementation of a local economic development program based on the current comprehensive plan. Tiles and walkways The council is expected to act on several requests from Philip Lang regarding the city's sidewalk improvement standards and enforcement of those standards. Lang brought four requests for action to the city at the last council meeting. Lang was concerned about the safety of the tile sections of the sidewalk in front of the Community Development/Public Works Building. In constructing the sidewalk, the city mistakenly allowed the architect to install tile sections in the sidewalk, which was not allowed by city code. The tiles are breaking and the grout is loosening which could be a hazard to pedestrians. The city has initiated a contract to remove the tile areas and grout and replace them with scored colored concrete. Another matter of concern for Lang is the improvements undertaken by Sid DeBoer in front of his home. DeBoer failed to get a permit for the sidewalk he constructed using aggregate concrete instead of the required broomed concrete surface. City staff has decided that the improvements were acceptable but will allow the council to make the final decision whether or not to make DeBoer remove the surface and redo the sidewalk with broomed concrete. This work, if required, will be done at DeBoer's expense. Two other areas of concern expressed by Lang are not likely to be acted on by the city. The first asks for the removal of the bricks in front of the Bowmer Theater at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Lang says they do not meet city standards and are a hazard. Lang claims that many people have slipped and fell in front of the theater due to the slipperiness of the bricking. Staff has concluded that the area in front of Bowmer is not governed by city sidewalk standards and is the sole responsibility of OSF. So they recommend no action on Lang's request to replace the bricks. Lang also has questioned whether the sidewalk area in front of the new theater at OSF was done to the standards of the city. Staff will tell the council Tuesday that, while the sidewalk is done in brick, that does not violate the city's sidewalk ordinance. The ordinance allows the city to grant exceptions when deemed appropriate and these improvements were acceptable to the city. The Ashland City Council meets at city hall at 7 p.m. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams