The Grants Pass City Council did not have enough votes to override Mayor Sara Bristol's veto of an ordinance regulating humanitarian service events on publicly-owned property.
Last night's 5-3 vote was identical to the March 6th vote to approve the ordinance. Agreement of 3/4 of the Council -- or six votes -- was needed to override the mayor's veto.
In a press release announcing the veto, Mayor Bristol stated it is already illegal to possess or deliver drugs, needles or other drug paraphernalia in city parks and that extends to propane and kerosene tanks in parks or other publicly-owned properties. She said there is already a chapter in the Municipal Code that regulates special events on public property including standards for denial and an appeal process without singling out a specific type of use.
The City Council meeting began with four quasi-judicial hearings. The first amended the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map for properties at 670 and 680 Rogue River Highway from General Commercial to Business Park. The applicant plans to construct a large self-storage building at that location. The amendment was approved unanimously.
Three other hearings consisted of vacating common property lines, with the first between two tax lots owned by the Grants Pass School District at the corner of NE 8th Street and Dean Drive for future development. All three were approved.
A public hearing was held to vacate the common property line connecting two tax lots on SW Bridge Street at Lincoln Road for the development of an RV park. The property line vacation was approved unanimously. The Council then voted 6-2 to annex those tax lots into the city limits. A final vote will be held at the next regular meeting. Another public hearing to vacate a property line with the ultimate goal of creating a new parking area was approved unanimously.
Terry Hopkins was re-appointed to the Grants Pass Tourism Advisory Committee.
(Thank you to Chuck Benson for covering this meeting.)
