BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
January 4, 2005
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Prigel at 7:00 p.m. Council members present: Terry Trantow, Randy Anderson, Betty Barnes, Jeanette Fentie, Laura Mann. Clerk Jan Brending and Attorney Tad Connors were present. Audience: Tim Hearn, Jesse Burkhardt, David Spratt.
Approval of Minutes – December 21, 2004
Amendments to the December 21 minutes were noted as follows:
Page 1, 10th paragraph, 1st sentence should read: “Jan Brending presented proposed amendments to the 2004 budget.”
Terry Trantow moved to approve the December 21, 2004 minutes as amended. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Chamber of Commerce Funding Proposal
Jan Brending said the Chamber of Commerce Funding Proposal presentation has
been postponed to January 18 at the request of Klickitat County.
Brending said Klickitat County plans to continue contracting with the Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce in 2005 for $15,000 of services. She said the County is proposing entering into an interlocal agreement with Bingen and White Salmon and transferring the hotel/motel tax revenues for the western half of the county to the two cities for them to make decisions on how tourism is funded at the local level. Brending said that when she originally spoke to Don Struck it was his intent that the hotel/motel tax revenues would be used to help fund the Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce.
Well Rehabilitation Status and Report
Brian Prigel said the well rehabilitation report will be postponed until
January 18. He said that he received a draft copy of the report late on Friday
and has not had time to review it and meet with staff.
Tim Hearn asked if the city has plans to clean the Bingen Hill Reservoir. Brian Prigel said it is not part of the well rehabilitation project but is being considered for 2005.
Proposed Ordinance Amendments
Zoning Ordinance – Front Yard Projections and Fences
Jan Brending presented the City Council with information regarding proposed
changes to the city’s ordinance dealing with front yard projections (see
memorandum dated December 30, 2004 – Zoning Ordinance Amendment).
Brending said she is recommending that fences be removed from the specific section and dealt with separately. She also suggested also removing the height restriction and adding the word “decks” to the list. Brending said that by removing the height restriction, the ordinance would allow second story decks such as the one that was approved through a variance request in the last year. She said another property owner is awaiting the Council’s decision on this issue before deciding what to do with a deck associated with a house that is under construction. Brending said she does not see much of a difference between a 5 foot tall deck and a deck that is 10 feet. Brending said the council may want to include language in the ordinance that prevents the structures from being enclosed.
Brending said that the ordinance currently prevents fences from being constructed along a front property line. She said a height restriction may be required on fences along front property lines and side property lines flanking a street to ensure visibility.
The City Council agreed that fences should be dealt with in a separate section and that fences at the front property line and side property lines on flanking streets are okay if the visibility issue can be dealt with.
The Council agreed to hold a public hearing at its next council meeting for amending the current section dealing with front yard projections, removing the word “fencing” and the height restriction. In addition, the ordinance should include language that projections within the front yard should be built with the minimum support structure required by building codes. The Council also asked that steps and sidewalks that are at grade be included in the ordinance and allowed within the front yard.
Fireworks Ordinance
Jan Brending provided the council with a copy of an ordinance it had
previously considered which would ban fireworks in the city. City council
discussed the issue and agreed to hold a public hearing at its first meeting in
February to obtain input from the public as to whether or not all or some
fireworks should be banned in the city.
Sign Ordinance
Jan Brending provided the council with the last draft of a sign ordinance.
She said a work session will be scheduled at the one of the council meetings in
February to begin discussions.
Motorized Scooters
Jan Brending provided the council with information from Municipal Research
Services Center relating to regulating the use of motorized scooters. Issues the
council raised were related to addressing bicycles, scooters, motorized
scooters, pocket bikes and their use on sidewalks and streets. A draft ordinance
will be prepared and submitted to the council for review at the next council
meeting.
Mayor’s Update
Jefferson Street Bridge
Brian Prigel said staff has cleaned out underneath the Jefferson Street
Bridge. He said that he will be asking Bell Design to take an additional look at
the bridge and make a report to the city.
John Gotts
Brian Prigel said he and Jan Brending will be attending a meeting with the
City of White Salmon to discuss a proposed annexation by John Gotts into White
Salmon.
Broughton Lumber Proposal
Brian Prigel said he will be attending a meeting with White Salmon and
representatives from Skamania County to review a proposal for the Broughton
Lumber mill site west of White Salmon.
Northshore/Old Windermere Properties
Jan Brending reported that a company from Portland has purchased both the
Northshore and old Windemere real estate properties with the intent to lease
them out for retail use.
White Salmon Swimming Pool
Betty Barnes asked if the White Salmon swimming pool will open with the
recent donations to the City of White Salmon. Jan Brending said that it is her
understanding that the pool will open this summer.
Jail Agreement Status
Jan Brending noted that a copy of a letter from the city’s attorney to
Klickitat County was provided to the council. At the present time, both cities
continue to use Klickitat County for jail services under the previous agreement.
Council Member Resignation – Jeanette Fentie
Jeanette Fentie submitted a letter of resignation effective January 31,
2005. She said it is necessary for her to leave City Council so she can attend
to some pressing personal matters.
Fentie said she has enjoyed working with the mayor, council members and staff.
Brian Prigel said the city of Bingen will miss Jeanette Fentie and thanked her for her hard work over the last two years.
Vouchers
Vouchers audited and certified as required by RCW 42.24.080 and expense
reimbursement claims certified as required by RCW 42.24.090 as of this date
January 4, 2005. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the
following list: warrants 6455 through 6477 totaling $14,163.21and payroll
warrants 6119 through 6129 totaling $17,396.28 for a total of $31,559.49:
Current - $15,325.89; Street - $2,549.23; Street Construction and Maintenance -
$298.96; Water - $2,555.80; Sewer - $1,563.26; Treatment Plant - $4,681.48;
Dallesport Treatment Plant - $4,584.87.
At 8:45 p.m. the Council resumed regular session and adjourned.
Jan Brending
Brian Prigel
City Clerk
Mayor