CITY OF JEFFERSON
Council Worksession
April 9, 2015
6:30pm
COUNCILORS PRESENT:
Dave Beyerl, David Jones, Judi Day, Ben Pickett, Walt Perry, Patrick
McKenzie, Mike Myers
COUNCILORS ABSENT:
None
STAFF PRESENT:
Sarah Cook
I.
CALL TO ORDER/FLAG SALUTE – Mayor Pickett called the meeting to order at 6:32pm
and led in the flag salute.
II.
VISITORS
Bill Stam – invited all to the last gathering at the Native American Veteran’s Memorial site for 5
years on 18th of April. He provided a brief update on his wife, who was suffering from blindness and
a broken rib.
Chris Giffin – thanked Mike Myers, Walt Perry, Mark Manning and Jeff Marcec for their work on
installing the sign at the site of the new Library.
III.
WORKSESSION TOPICS
A.
Boat Ramp Facilities & Parking Discussion
Councilor Beyerl, referring to a suggestion from the local deputy via memo to Council about grading
the parking lot and painting lines to create some sense of organization, commented that even if
painted, it wouldn’t stay and would be a waste of time. Councilor Myers agreed, noting it would be
a lifetime of re-striping and a waste of time and energy. Mayor Pickett expressed his preference for
permit parking, suggesting it be low cost but enough to cover the most basic needs of the facility.
He knew it would not likely make enough to pay for a position to staff it, but possibly over time it
could assist in other improvements like cement trash receptacles, benches, etc. He expanded on his
suggestion, explaining it could be a $10 self-service day parking permit for non-residents of
Jefferson, similar to the forest service. He didn’t want to create an enforcement problem and
thought perhaps it could run on a honor system and the money raised could go into a fund to help
pay for some of the improvements. Deputies could do random spot checks and if they didn’t have a
permit in their window they could be cited, understanding it would be hit and miss at times.
Councilor Beyerl was concerned about losing the grant from the State Marine Board. Councilor
McKenzie expressed concerns about enforcement, wondered if the City would tow a vehicle
without a permit and then who would cover the costs incurred. He further stated there needed to
be proper signs up so people knew where they could and could not park.
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Councilor Myers shared that he had checked with Thriftway, LaEspiga, Tommy’s, and Derek’s Barber
Shop. There were two consistent issues: the towing company and the trash. He noted Thriftway
was challenged with parking but they were enforcing it more and more so they had seen some
improvement. Kim from Tommy’s suggested adding an additional trash container at the parking
facility and an additional porta-potty. Referring back to the deputy’s memo, Councilor Myers
agreed that he didn’t think there was a need to allow parking on either side of the boat ramp for
safety reasons alone. He thought the typical boat ramp related signs (no drinking, no parking,
loading zone only, etc.) would come from the Marine Board and getting those up would be a good
starting place. Fire Chief, Jon Zeilman, speaking from the audience, commented that there were
two homes in the area with no parking on their property so they parked at the top of the boat ramp
regularly and would hate to see that availability go away.
Discussion took place regarding the possibility of painting the curb yellow at the curve in the road
on the Thriftway side and Mike Myers noted during the summer people may have to walk a little
farther but parking was available at City Hall between the Fire Dept. and elsewhere. Councilor
Beyerl was concerned that initiating a parking fee at the lot would drive people to start parking all
over residential areas to avoid paying the fee, to which Mayor Pickett suggested providing local
residents with parking permits during peak summer months and requiring out-of-towners to pay a
fee. There was open discussion on the trash problem at the lot and around the boat ramp as well.
Sharie Zeilman, commenting from the audience, commented that it was a very complex matter and
did not think the answer was more parking lots; noting the more you provided, the more people
that would come. She said people came from all over, as far as Portland, to use the Jefferson Boat
Ramp. She understood trying to be creative and the idea of charging for it, but was concerned that
it might help bring money into the coffers but there would still be a parking problem. Mayor Pickett
realized it was a huge problem in front of her house, and he didn’t think it would get resolved in
one meeting; however, he knew the matter would get worse if the Council did nothing. Councilor
Myers agreed, noting that the parking matter was basically a problem for the residents on Mill &
Ferry and everybody else had issues with the trash and use of facilities. Chris Giffin, Main St. expressed extreme concern with Mayor Pickett’s suggestion to require parking permits up and
down Main St. for non-residents, noting it would drive away all tourism and residents couldn’t even
have parties or large gatherings. She felt the businesses barely made it here and the summer
months was really like their Christmas. Mayor Pickett noted he understood her concern and hadn’t
meant it to be for the whole town. He reminded everybody that it was just a worksession and ideas
were being tossed out and brainstorming was taking place, but that there was a problem and it
needed to be addressed.
Councilor Day commented that basic signage and no parking on the boat ramp at all was a good
place to start and something that could be done immediately. Councilor Myers noted it was a
relatively isolated area around Mill & Ferry; beyond that folks likely dropped stuff off and then head
somewhere else to park. He thought perhaps they should simply focus on mitigating some of the
issues on Mill & Ferry streets first, noting he did not want to ever see the boat ramp shut down, as
there was already far too little things for people to do in town. Councilor McKenzie agreed, noting
that the painting of the curb and some no parking signs at the ramp would go a long way. Sharie
Zeilman, again from the audience, commented that she and Jon had copies of, or access to, resident
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parking permit policies from the cities of Salem, Monmouth and Corvallis and would be happy to
get them to the Mayor to give the Council an idea of what other cities do.
Councilor Beyerl agreed with the previous suggestions but thought the State Marine Board should
be contacted to find out what signs they provided, if any, or if there was standard boat ramp signs
or language. He further commented that the Public Works Dept had just 3 employees that already
had too much work to do and he didn’t want these tasks dumped on them. Open discussion took
place amongst Council about who would volunteer to paint the curb and install necessary signs.
Mayor Pickett felt they were good first steps and liked the idea of getting the marine board into
town to evaluate the facilities and provide steps to improve the area. Open discussion took place
on the suggestion to bring in a small dumpster and additional porta-potty, which was agreed to in
the end. Staff was directed to determine from the lot owner if placement of these facilities was
allowed under the terms of the lease and if so, to order them and have them placed from Memorial
Day to mid September.
IV.
APPROVAL OF ACCTS PAYABLE - Councilor Beyerl moved to approve as presented.
Councilor Perry seconded. All in favor: Ayes - 6, Opposed - 0.
APPROVED.
V.
COUNCIL COMMENTS - None
VI.
ADJOURNMENT - Councilor Myers moved, Councilor McKenzie seconded. All were in
favor and the meeting closed at 7:40pm.
MINUTES APPROVED this 28th day of May, 2015.
_______________________________
Ben Pickett, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Sarah Cook, City Recorder
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