BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 

January 17, 2006

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Prigel at 7:00 p.m. Council members present: Terry Trantow, Betty Barnes, Randy Anderson, Tim Hearn and Laura Mann. Clerk Jan Brending and Attorney Tad Connors were present. Audience: Matt Hastie, Damian Pitt, Kelly Sawyer, Craig Sawyer, Joel Goodwillie, Ruth Winner, Jesse Burkhardt

Public Comment
Tim Hearn, Bingen
Tim Hearn asked if it is the city’s responsibility to keep Dry Creek clean and clear. He noted that there are several cottonwood trees near the Alpine Vet which look ready to fall into the creek.

Brian Prigel said it is the city’s responsibility to keep Dry Creek clean as it runs through the city.

Jesse Burkhardt, The Enterprise
Jesse Burkhardt asked where the City of Bingen will be voting on February 7. Jan Brending said she has spoken with the Auditor’s office and that voting for Bingen will remain at Bingen City Hall. The Bingen City Council will need to meet on Monday, February 6 to accommodate the election.

Betty Barnes, Bingen
Betty Barnes asked if the city will be conducting a census this year.

Jan Brending said she is looking at the schedule and will be discussing the issue with the Mayor in the near future.

Ruth Winner, Gorge Heritage Museum
Ruth Winner provided the city council with a letter from Jason Spadero stating that the Broughton Lumber Company would like to work with the Gorge Heritage Museum to refurbish and properly display the flume located in Daubenspeck Park.

Approval of Minutes – January 3, 2006
Corrections to the draft minutes of the January 3 council meeting were noted as follows:

Page 2, add a paragraph after the 1^st paragraph to read as follows: “Laura Mann suggested that a crosswalk on Lakeview Blvd. be provided connecting the proposed new sidewalk to the walking path that the Port of Klickitat has developed.”

Randy Anderson moved to approve the minutes of January 3 as amended. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

Public Hearing – Proposed Conditional Use, Bad Seed Cider
Craig Sawyer representing Bad Seed Cider said that the business is moving from 415 W. Steuben to the old Carquest location. He said the conditional use permit application is for the production of hard cider and wine which would take place in the garage portion of the facility. Sawyer said he has discussed the issue of waste products with the Bingen treatment plan manager. He noted that no solids will be produced at the site.

Jan Brending noted that retail sales are a permitted use within the commercial zone and that it is only the production aspect of the business that needs a conditional use permit.

Tim Hearn asked if the business would contact the city if a bad batch of cider or wine needed to be emptied into the city sewer system. Craig Sawyer said yes but noted that it was unlikely that it would be emptied into the system because they could use it for making brandy.

Brian Prigel said the property is zoned commercial and that he feels the proposed uses meets the definition of permitted uses in the commercial zone.

Tim Hearn moved to approve the conditional use permit application by HAC, LLC dba Bad Seed Cider for retail sales and production of hard cider and wine at property located at 221 W. Steuben. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

Community Action Plan Update – Presentation of Draft Plan
Matt Hastie with Cogan Owens Cogan provided a brief overview of the draft Community Action Plan and the process.

Randy Anderson asked if the consultants could address possible funding for projects that are identified in the plan.

Matt Hastie said there are possibly several hours left on the contract and that he might be able to develop a list of funding sources.

Betty Barnes asked how many questionnaires were turned in and how many people attending the public meetings.

Matt Hastie said approximately 15 to 20 individuals turned in the first questionnaire with 7 to 8 turning in the 2^nd. He said that approximately 40 to 50 people participated in the two public meetings.

Betty Barnes asked if the consultants thought that was a good turn out.

Matt Hastie said yes.

Damian Pitt noted that the cross section of participants was excellent with participants from the business community, Hispanic community, seniors, out-of-town property owners and other residents.

Brian Prigel said the process helped validate existing priorities and brought some new priorities to light.

Laura Mann asked what is the next step for the city council.

Brian Prigel said the plan provides a list of priorities and projects that the city can work on. He said there are three ways to choose priorities using ranking, available funding and staffing and opportunities that might come up.

Laura Mann said it would be helpful to have a single-page synopsis.

Tim Hearn asked if the city council needs to adopt the plan. He said if so he would like to wait until the next council meeting to have more time to review the document.

Brian Prigel suggested the council could adopt the plan tonight if there are no specific changes or additions to the plan. He noted the plan is a tool to gauge what the citizens of Bingen want to see done.

Betty Barnes asked if doing a direct mailing for the questionnaires would have obtained more response.

Matt Hastie said that generally the people who come to the public meetings are those who respond to the mailings.

Randy Anderson moved to approve the draft Community Action Plan. Laura Mann seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

Mayor’s Update
Klickitat County EDA
Brian Prigel said that he and Ruth Winner attended the presentations before the Klickitat County EDA Board.  Prigel said there is $350,000 available for grants. He said there is $340,000 in top priorities funding requests. Prigel said the board will meet on February 2 to make decisions on the proposals. He noted that there were some questions about Bingen’s proposal.

Jan Brending noted that she had a discussion with John Mann about the estimated cost of the repairs. She said that John Mann agreed that the $40,000 estimate is good particularly since an engineer will have to be hired and the existing wall demolished.

Tim Hearn noted that individuals can donate to the museum and get a tax reduction.

Depot Street Sewer Line
Brian Prigel said that he talked to Brandon Walter and Brian Carlstrom about the sewer problem at 415 W. Steuben. He said that he has authorized Brandon Walter to install a check valve on the service line to prevent spillage into the building.

Tim Hearn asked what caused the sewer overflow.

Brian Prigel said that it was caused by a combination of factors including poor installation, rainfall, inflow and infiltration.

Fire Response
Brian Prigel reported there was a recent fire call in Bingen. He said he was impressed with the turnout from the fire fighters.

Jan Brending noted that the fire was on property previously owned by the Fawcett Family Trust. She said there had been some concerns about the capability of the fire trucks to make it up the private drive. Brending said the fire department did not have any problems with the new truck.

White Salmon Proposed Annexation
Brian Prigel said the city has received information from the City of White Salmon regarding a proposed annexation adjacent to the City of Bingen.

Jan Brending said that even though census maps and zoning maps show the parcel within the city limits of Bingen the maps associated with the ordinance show the subject property was not included in the annexation.

Tim Hearn asked why doesn’t the City of Bingen annex the property.

Tad Connors said there is no reason for the city to annex the property. Jan Brending noted that the property has no dwellings and is probably not buildable. She said the property owner needs the property to have enough land base for a future proposed development.

Brian Prigel noted that is some cases the City of Bingen might want to annex property that has not been annexed into either city.

Jan Brending said she will look into what the existing boundaries of the City of Bingen are.

Police Chief
Brian Prigel said that as of last Thursday Rich Cortese has been put on administrative leave and Bruce Brending made acting police chief. He noted that the police chief serves at the please of the mayor. Prigel said Roger Holen feels that it is the best decision for the police department. He said that Rich Cortese will be on paid administrative leave through April 15 which will provide him an opportunity to look for another job. Prigel said the decision was not due to a specific incident or job performance.

Tim Hearn said that he feels Bingen has no choice in the matter because Bingen let White Salmon have the police department.

Brian Prigel said that the police chief is supposed to be hired in consultation with the Bingen mayor. He said that he feels Bingen has far better police coverage then it has ever had since he has been here with very little change in costs.

Laura Mann said she finds it amazing that the mayor can just decide to let the police chief go without cause.

Tim Hearn said they should have hired Brending the first time.

Betty Barnes said that she feels Rich Cortese is paying the price for the politics of the area.

Laura Mann said she does not know the other people up for the position but she has been impressed with the police presence and familiarity and feels that this has happened through Rich Cortese. She said she is saddened by this action and feels Cortese was doing a good job and making the police visible in Bingen.

Betty Barnes asked if Roger Holen opens up the position will Bingen be allowed to be part of the process unlike last time.

Brian Prigel said yes. He said he does not know if there will be any different outcome.

Wastewater Plant Operator
Brian Prigel said the position for the wastewater plant operator is being advertised through January 31.

Jan Brending said the city has received a variety of applications so far.

Brian Prigel said that he is working with Micheal Robarge, Brandon Walter, and Tom Hons to ensure coverage for the plant. He noted that he is going to be looking at future staffing levels.

Water Plan
Laura Mann asked what is the next step for the master water plan.

Jan Brending said the consultants are waiting for the result for the well rehabilitation. She said that once that is complete they begin developing the hydraulic model. Brending noted that she and Brandon Walter will be presented a number of components for the plan in the next two months.

Parks Committee
Tim Hearn asked if there is a parks committee.

Brian Prigel said not at the present time and asked if Hearn would like to establish a committee. Hearn said not at the present time but in the future.

Broughton Flume
Ruth Winner asked if the city council is going to accept the proposal from Broughton Lumber Company.

Betty Barnes moved to accept the proposal from Broughton Lumber Company and that city staff and city council would not micromanage Broughton Lumber Company and the Gorge Heritage Museum. Tim Hearn seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

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 December 31, 2005. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the following list: warrants 7239 through 7262 totaling $11,419.82 and   payroll warrants 6506 through 6508 totaling $14,761.52 and manual warrants 501042, 7270, and 7271 totaling $4,098.03 for a total of $30,279.37: Current - $7,106.55; Street - $712.18; Community Development - $3,3314.90; Water - $985.46; Sewer - $480.13; Treatment Plant - $1,756.02; Dallesport Treatment Plant - $3,248.94; Dallesport Billing Trust Fund - $12,675.19.

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 17, 2006. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the following list: warrants 7263 through 7269 totaling $2,161.13; manual warrants 7236 through 7238 totaling $140,904.24; and payroll warrants 6488 through 6503 totaling $10,393.87 for a total of $153,459.24: Current - $4,974.02; Street - $1,313.55; Street Construction and Maintenance - $140,643.41; Water - $1,157.30; Sewer - $754.19; Treatment Plant - $2,399.07; Dallesport Treatment Plant - $2,217.70.

Executive Session
Brian Prigel announced at 8:05 p.m. the city council will enter into executive session for 20 minutes to discuss a real estate issue.

The city council resumed its regular session at 8:25p.m.

At 8:30 p.m. the Council adjourned.

Jan Brending                                                            Brian Prigel
City Clerk                                                                Mayor