BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
February 20, 2007
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Prigel at 7:00 p.m. Council members present: Terry Trantow, Sandi Dickey, Tim Hearn and Betty Barnes. Council members absent: Laura Mann. Clerk Jan Brending and Attorney Tad Connors were present. Audience: Etta Hepner, Dottie Niemela, Traci Niemela, Jim Andring, Ruth Winner, Jesse Burkhardt.
Public Comment
Jim Andring, Bingen-White Salmon
Police Department
Jim Andring said
the police department is looking into graffiti problem that is occurring in the
two towns. He said there are two groups the 541s and the 509s. Andring said the
Washington kids are more a club than they are a gang. He said the graffiti
appears to be a friendly competition between the two groups. Andring said the
victims and the police department don’t consider it “friendly competition.” He
said there may be some copycatting occurring. Andring said the department has
been in contact with the schools and there will likely be some contact with
parents. He said there does not appear to be anything violent going on between
the two groups.
Betty Barnes asked if tagging at the post office could be considered a federal offense since it is a federal facility.
Jim Andring said he has never known of the federal government to handle this type of case.
Tad Connors said that even if it could be considered a federal offense it would not be likely that it would be charged as one.
Betty Barnes said she is wondering if the information could be used to make students understand the final line that they may be crossing over.
Jim Andring said the tagging that occurred last weekend affected 5 victims in White Salmon and 4 outside the city limits.
Brian Prigel said he saw the headlines in the Hood River News about the arrest of several individuals related to some graffiti in Hood River.
Jan Brending said she has read the article and that it does not appear those arrested are associated with the 541s or 509s as they had targeted a particular subdivision in Hood River and had actually tagged cars and homes.
Jim Andring said the police have made no connection with the recent graffiti and the slashing of tires that occurred in White Salmon.
Brian Prigel thanked Jim Andring for his update.
Jim Andring said the damage has been minor to date.
Betty Barnes said that she feels that property owners probably do not feel that the damage is “small” and that the cost of damage when totaled is not a small amount of dollars.
Jim Andring said if the individuals are identified they will be charged.
Skateboard Park
Betty Barnes said that she has talked to some people in the community who
feel that there are not a lot of activities for the kids in our area. She said
she feels it is necessary to get back to discussions about a skateboard park and
what is needed to develop such a facility. Barnes said that Tom Reser might also
be willing to help.
Brian Prigel said the park committee needs to meet and move forward with park planning.
Approval of
Minutes – February 5, 2007
Corrections to the draft minutes of the February 5 city council meeting were
noted as follows:
Page 2, add the following sentence to the beginning of paragraph 14 paragraph: “Brian Prigel said no.”
Page 3, 15th paragraph, last sentence should read “Kish said he would not want to lose any on-street parking on the north side of Jefferson.”
Betty Barnes moved to approve the minutes of the February 5 city council meeting as amended. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Dry Creek Debris
Countermeasures Engineering Proposal
Brian Prigel said Bell Design did an in depth study of Dry Creek in
1999/2000 looking at options to prevent such large-scale events as the one that
occurred in 1996. Prigel said he has asked Bell Design to look at Dry Creek in a
different light to address the yearly debris that comes down in the fall so that
debris could be cleared before it plugs the grate at Walnut and Steuben/Highway
14. Prigel said that he believes something could be reasonably designed that
would still require maintenance but less often. Prigel said Bell Design has
submitted a proposal for engineering in the amount of $8,314.
Tim Hearn asked if the proposal will address Dickey Farms’ concerns.
Brian Prigel said the solution would address the water jumping out of the channel and in helping keep the channel clear of debris.
Tim Hearn moved to accept the proposal by Bell Design for engineering services for developing a debris countermeasure for Dry Creek in the amount of $8,314. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Betty Barnes asked when the project would be accomplished.
Brian Prigel said probably this fall.
Jan Brending reminded the city council that Bell Design will provide engineering only and that the city will need to obtain bids for the construction portion of the project.
Gorge Heritage
Museum Planning Proposal
Brian Prigel provided an overview of the proposal for planning at the Gorge
Heritage Museum (see memorandum dated February 16, 2007). He said that the city
and the museum are at a point where there is need to look at a vision for the
facility that looks further out.
Betty Barnes asked if the board has reviewed the proposal.
Etta Hepner said that she did call six of the board members and they were supportive.
Betty Barnes suggested tabling the decision until the city could get a letter from the museum board supporting the proposal.
Brian Prigel suggested the council discuss the proposal. He said that he thinks the planning is a good idea. Prigel said if the planning is not done it is difficult to get funding and planning also results in a better product.
Betty Barnes said she thinks it is also a good idea. She asked if addressing the Suksdorf property is appropriate at this time.
Terry Trantow suggested that a letter of support from the property owners should be obtained from the city.
Jan Brending said she can contact both property owners and see if they are supportive.
Betty Barnes said she would like minutes or a letter from the museum board and a letter from the owners of the Suksdorf house to move forward.
Brian Prigel asked is she would be willing to move forward without addressing the Suksdorf house.
Betty Barnes said yes. Barnes noted that the city might have to address some of the costs for ADA access if grants do not cover the entire costs. She asked if the museum is able to expand the building who would the addition belong to.
Jan Brending said typically improvements to a property that is leased stay with the property owner.
Tad Connors said he agrees. He said the upkeep of the addition is negotiable.
Brian Prigel asked when the next museum board meeting would be held.
Etta Hepner said next week. She said some grant applications the museum is working on are due in July and August.
There was consensus of the city council to move decision on the proposal to the March 6 city council meeting.
Dog Ordinance
Workshop
Brian Prigel said the city council has been provided with examples of
ordinances from other cities. He said Laura Mann, who could not be present
tonight, has also presented some information in an e-mail.
Jan Brending said she has spoken to the Hood River county administrator about contracting with Hood River County for impound facilities. She said he has expressed some initial interest but wanted to meet with the county’s dog control officer before making any commitments.
Brian Prigel asked for thoughts from city council members on the ordinances that were presented as examples.
Betty Barnes said there are currently a lot of unknowns. She said additional information is needed to determine what kind of ordinance can be developed. Barnes said she has looked into certain types of dogs. She said the city might not be able to afford to have those types of dogs if they contribute to 75% or more of dog complaints. She said they appear to cause the most problems and cost the most.
Terry Trantow said there are some goods ideas and definitions in the ordinances. He said he likes the Monroe ordinance. Trantow said he thinks that if the city is going to maintain an impound facility and hire an employee than an increase in fees will be necessary.
Jan Brending said it is possible to get more aggressive with dog licensing. She said she intends to provide the police department with a list of dogs that are currently licensed in Bingen.
Traci Niemela asked what kinds of dogs would be banned.
Betty Barnes said the ordinances the city are considering ban pit bulls and rottwiellers.
Jim Andring said that if a city has a good ordinance dangerous dogs will be eliminated by the enforcement of the ordinance.
Tad Connors said he has noted that some cities have expanded on the term “dangerous dog.” He recommends Bingen not change the state definition. Connors said some cities have come up with another term such as Camas using “aggressive dog” similar to what Bingen did with its parking ordinance.
Brian Prigel said he hopes the city can come up with an impound facility and deal with enforcement more aggressively so that certain types of dogs are not banned. He said that it is possible that the city may have to deal with what constitutes a dangerous dog in the future.
Jan Brending noted that it is also difficult to draw the line in what type of breed constitutes a dangerous dog. She said she has read of cases where individuals keep coming back to city councils and asking for more breeds to be added to the list.
Jim Andring said he does not see it as a dog problem but as a people problem.
Betty Barnes asked if the state statutes address dangerous dogs and require the city to take action in certain situations.
Tad Connors said yes.
Betty Barnes asked if the city needs an appeals person.
Tad Connors said yes, if the city wants to improve on the statute.
Jan Brending suggested consolidating the definitions from the various ordinances into one document so that the city council could see them side-by-side to compare. She said she could bring back such a document at the next city council meeting.
Jim Andring asked if there is more of a dog problem than the police department is aware of.
Brian Prigel said not necessarily.
Traci Niemela said she owns a part pitbull and black lab that is a very nice dog and has been raised around 5 kids. She said it would be very difficult for her children if they had to get rid of the dog.
Tad Connors noted that this is one issue involved in banning certain types of breeds because dogs can be part pitbull, etc.
Betty Barnes said she appreciated Traci Niemela for coming and speaking to the city council.
Treasurer’s
Report – January 2007
Jan Brending presented the treasurer’s report for January 2007. She noted
that she would like to schedule a budget committee meeting during March.
Brending said the budget committee is made up of Betty Barnes and Laura Mann not
Tim Hearn as noted in the council update.
Betty Barnes moved to approve the January 2007 treasurer’s report. Sandi Dickey seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
Old Business
Christmas Lights
Betty Barnes said she had previously volunteered to help take down the
Christmas light but will be unable to.
Brian Prigel said the lights should be coming down shortly.
Proposed Short
Plat
Betty Barnes asked if Tad Connors has had time to review whether the private
road associated with the Lutheran Church short plat has to be built before final
plat approval.
Tad Connors said yes and that the road does need to be built before final approval.
Jan Brending said she has spoken with Terry Rundell, the church’s representative, and they have submitted a proposed variance application which will be heard on March 6.
Mayor’s Update
and City Council Comments
Personnel
Brian Prigel reported that Esteban Sanchez has resigned to take a position
with the Port of Klickitat. He said it is a good opportunity for Esteban and
that he hates lose him. Prigel said the position has been advertised and will
close on March 2.
Klickitat County
EDA Grant
Brian Prigel said the Bingen ended up getting a $24,000 grant for the
purchase of SCBAs instead of the $36,000. He said the purpose of the grant is to
purchase 4 SCBAs. Prigel said the board has conditioned the grant in that Bingen
and White Salmon will need to go together in the purchase of the SCBAs to
hopefully get some cost savings.
Jail Contract
Tad Connors said that the new sheriff has reviewed the “new” approach
developed before he was elected and has decided that a flat fee is not an
alternative he wishes to pursue. Connors said the county has submitted a
proposed agreement that looks very similar to the one previously used with a
little bit added to costs.
Jan Brending recommended the jail contract be placed on the council’s next agenda so the city council can formally vote on it.
Tad Connors said that the changes he wanted were made to the contract and that he had one minor issue he needed to talk to the chief of police about.
Water/Sewer
Committee Meeting
Jan Brending said a tentative date of March 12 has been set for a joint
water/sewer committee meeting to discuss White Salmon water issues and the two
sewer projects.
Hit and Run
Jesse Burkhardt asked if there was any additional information about a hit
and run that occurred today.
Jim Andring said the hit and run occurred in White Salmon across from the pharmacy. He said that at the present time no one has been identified.
Brian Prigel asked if the hit and run was vehicle to vehicle.
Jim Andring said yes.
Summary Judgment
Hearing
Jesse Burkhardt said it is his understanding that the summary judgment
hearing regarding Rich Cortese’s case has been cancelled.
Tad Connors said that it is his understanding that Judge Hackett was unacceptable to Cortese’s legal council.
Diesel Fuel
Terry Trantow asked if the city has any problems with diesel fuel in the
city’s equipment.
Jan Brending said she is not aware of any problems.
Terry Trantow said the fuel obtained at Garwood has algae and water in it and is causing problems in equipment in the area.
Brian Prigel said he will make David Spratt aware of the issue.
Broken Banner
Betty Barnes asked if David Spratt is aware of the broken banner in front of
the old Mansfield’s building.
Jan Brending said she can have David look at it tomorrow.
Water Well
Tim Hearn asked what would be the first step to drill a well. He said he has
talked to Dianne Sherwood about the issue.
Brian Prigel said there are multiple issues. He said the port does have a pending water rights application. Prigel said the water plan will address the need for a new water source.
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
February 20, 2007. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the
following list: warrants 8210 through 8248 totaling $27,633.39; payroll warrants
6862 through 6881 totaling $27,633.39, and manual warrants 8205 totaling 350.00
for a total of $42,526.03. Current - $10,128.15; Street - $3,267.53; Street
Equipment Reserve - $882.67; Water – $6,258.94; Sewer - $2,310.13; Treatment
Plant - $4,764.52; Dallesport Treatment Plant – $9,754.30; Water/Sewer Equipment
Reserve - $5,159.79.
The council adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Jan Brending
Brian Prigel
City Clerk
Mayor