08/23/1976 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Public hearing was held with no testimony presented. ~ Resolution No. 2553 - Increasing garbage removal rates, effective ~ September I, 1976, was read by number and title. Mr. Keller moved second by Mr, Haws to adopt the resolution, Rollcall vote. Motion carried, all Council members present voting aye, E. Neighborhood Organization Policy Revision Recommended by the Planning Commission on August 9, 1976. Copies of the Commission's report were previously distributed to Council members. The report recommended two changes in the proposed revised neighborhood policy submitted by the special committee appointed to work with staff on the revi- sion. Those changes were (1) to allow nonresident property owners to vote in neighborhood organizations, and (2) to add language that would not require the city staff or Council to identify specific site locations for land acquisitions (to preserve confidentiality of property negotiations). Public hearing was opened, Tom Evans, attorney representing Carl Peterson, said his client owns 100 lots in the Oanebo area, over half having homes on them. Because of this ownership, he said, Mr. Peterson felt he should have a vote and be able to participate in meetings of the neighborhood organization, This had been denied in the past because he did not live in the area. He said that excluding people having a strong interest in an area would not really be carrying out the purpose of the organizations. Furthermore, excluding those taxpayers would not warrant use of ~ tax funds for mailing newsletters, minutes, etc., of the assocition meetings. Thorn Chambliss, 1510 Mill Street asked for clarification of the Planning Com- mission's recommendation to allow absentee property owners to vote, Assistant Manager verified the change, reading from the proposed amendment "...sha11 not exc1ud residents or nonresident property owners.,." from voting, Mr, Chambliss identified himself as a member of the ad hoc committee appointed by the Council to revise the neighborhood organization policy to better reflect the city's role in organization of the neighborhood groups, He urged adoption of the amend- ment as proposed by the committee and denial of the Commission's recommendation which would allow nonresident property owners to vote, Mr. Chambliss noted that the committee recommendation was the "stickiest" compromise reached and that there were many long arguments against the requirement that all neighborhood groups must allow absentee property owners to vote. one being that this re- quirement would clearly change the meaning of the associations. He said that recognition of the neighborhood organizations provided a tool whereby the in- dividual would have a voice in land use matters proposed by those who would change neighborhoods, regardless of where they themselves lived. Such organiza- tions assure both sides a hearing in any controversial development scheme. He could see no reason to compromise or dilute that provision by allowing non- resident property owners a vote, Also speaking against the Commission's proposed change were Rosalie and Jim Lemert, 10 East 40th Avenue, member of the South Hills Neighborhood Association, They presented a prepared statement to the Council with regard to the organiza- tion policy and said that even though the organizations were advisory in nature, A the nonresident voter provision would violate the "one man, one vote" rule. ~ Mr. Lemcrt, as president of the South Hi lls Association, said that group voted no particular conflict with the Commission's proposal but did feel the ad hoc committee recommendations were better because the more restrictions placed on neighborhoods in terms of membership recognition, the less ahility the neighbor- ~~e 8/23/76 - 3