BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
April 3, 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: Bruce Brending, Jesse Burkhardt, Ruth Winner, Tom Oswald.
Public Comment
Bruce Brending, Bingen-White Salmon Police Department
Bruce Brending said the two city police departments and Klickitat County Sheriff will spend some grant money on purchasing a data software system which will allow all three agencies to communicate. He said the initial cost of the software will be covered by the grant but each department will have to spend funds setting up the system and connecting to the county. Brending said those costs are estimated to be $5,000. He said he hopes to absorb the costs within the department’s budget without asking for a budget increase.
Bruce Brending said the department is currently using a system called Expeditor. He said the new software, Spellman, is used by most of the larger departments in Washington.
Betty Barnes said she feels this is an appropriate expenditure for the department.
Jan Brending noted that it appears the police department spending for 2006 was under budget. She said that Bingen will be credited for funds that were not expended and an adjustment is likely to the 2007 budget.
Betty Barnes noted new graffiti has appeared in both Bingen and White Salmon.
Bruce Brending said yes that the department is seeing it in numerous places including in the county. He said the department met with some of the principal players in several organizations and met with the school to discuss the issue. Brending said the message is that if graffiti keeps appearing, individuals and their parents will be contacted.
Betty Barnes said the flume at the park may have also been tagged again.
Jesse Burkhardt said the high school was tagged over the weekend.
Ruth Winner said the chamber building was also tagged.
Approval of
Minutes – March 20, 2007
Corrections to the draft minutes of the March 20 city council meeting were
noted as follows:
Page 2, 3rd paragraph, last sentence should read “Connors said economics is not something that is considered in reviewing a variance request.”
Page 4, 1st paragraph should read “Brian Prigel suggested that the ordinance could provide that the first and second offense would be a fine with the 3rd offense within six months a criminal misdemeanor.”
Page 5, 5th paragraph, 2nd sentence should read “He said White Salmon has problems with getting water into town during the summer months and has asked for Bingen’s cooperation to ensure that water is available for real needs.”
Page 5, 6th paragraph should read “Laura Mann said that Bingen will be using its own wells this summer and that should help White Salmon.”
Page 5, 8th paragraph should read “Terry Trantow noted a letter, also sent to Sandi Dickey, from Robin Hale regarding trying to get Klickitat County to use new garbage fee income to help pay for getting gates put in so that a quiet zone can be developed.”
Page 6, 4th paragraph should read “Terry Trantow said the trip is 24 miles roundtrip and cost $5 a load.”
Page 6, 5th paragraph should read “Jan Brending said in anticipation of the 2010 census the census bureau is updating address information and that she will be working with the bureau through that process.”
Terry Trantow moved to approve the minutes of the March 6 city council meeting with noted corrections. Sandi Dickey seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Public Hearing –
Proposed Amendments to the 2007 Budget, Ordinance 07-01-536
Jan Brending provided an overview of the proposed amendments to the 2007
budget. She said the budget committee has reviewed the proposed amendments.
Brending noted the amendments are related to actual beginning cash balances and
subsequent changes in ending cash balance. She said the amendments also put into
place those changes already approved by the city council.
Betty Barnes moved to approved Ordinance 07-01-536, Amending the Budget for the City of Bingen, Klickitat County, State of Washington for the Year 2007. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Decision,
Variance 2007-001, Our Savior Lutheran Church
Jan Brending said the proposed decision puts into writing the decision of
the city council. She said Tad Connors has reviewed the decision. Brending noted
the proposed decision was also sent to the applicant.
Terry Trantow moved to approve the findings of fact, conclusions of law and decision for Variance Request 2007-001, Our Savior Lutheran Church. Sandi Dickey seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Decision,
Variance 2007-002, Andrew Kaplan
Jan Brending said the proposed decision puts into writing the decision of
the city council. She said Tad Connors has reviewed the decision. Brending noted
the proposed decision was also sent to the applicant.
Terry Trantow moved to approve the findings of fact, conclusions of law and decision for Variance Request 2007-002, Andrew Kaplan. Betty Barnes seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Depot Street
Sewer Project Bid Results
Brian Prigel reviewed the bid results for the Depot Street Sewer Project. He
said bids were received from four companies: Nutter Corporation - $122,000.00,
Paul Lambson Contracting Co. - $123,022.10, Crestline Construction -
$150,306.50, and Summit Excavation - $167,232.43. Prigel said the city’s
engineer has verified the low bid and recommends the city award the contract to
Nutter Corporation. He said that Mike Wellman is familiar with Nutter
Corporation and feels that they will do a good job. Prigel said the city has 45
days to award the contract and is waiting until an interlocal agreement can be
signed between the two cities. He said that hopefully the agreement can be
negotiated as soon as possible and the contract awarded.
Brian Prigel said White Salmon’s sewer project is due to start up again at the end of April. He said the contractor has filed a claim on the project which White Salmon is reviewing.
Jan Brending reminded the city council that they had previously requested that construction from McDonald’s west through Sandy Dean’s property be conducted at night. She said White Salmon and the contractor have agreed to perform the work in that area at night.
Old Business
Attorney Response to Proposed Interlocal Agreement Amendments – Law Enforcement
Services
Betty Barnes asked if the council would like to wait until all council
members can be present to discuss the attorney response.
The city council agreed to delay discussion until the next council meeting when all council members are present.
Betty Barnes thanked Tad Connors for providing the council the information.
Mayor’s Update
and Council Member Comments
Water Conservation Plan
Brian Prigel reviewed the city’s current water conservation plan. He said he
does not know if it will need to be implemented this summer but wanted to
provide it to the city council since White Salmon has put us on notice that
there might be a problem with water supply this summer.
Tim Hearn said he likes the plan.
Betty Barnes suggested that the city be setting an example with its own irrigation such as making sure that the park and downtown landscaping are irrigated early in the morning.
Brian Prigel said the city will talk to its two major industrial users about the possibility of water conservation this summer.
Dry Creek
Tim Hearn asked about the status of the Dry Creek engineering for debris
cachement.
Brian Prigel said he needs to touch base with Bell Design who has been hired as the engineer.
Railroad Quiet
Zone
Jan Brending said that she would like to move the workshop for the Railroad
Quiet Zone to Monday, April 23 and hold it at Los Reyes. She said she is
concerned that a number of people will want to attend and that there will not be
enough room at city hall.
The city council agreed to hold the workshop at Los Reyes on Monday, April 23.
Newsletter
Betty Barnes asked if a newsletter will be sent out prior to the spring
clean up.
Jan Brending said yes.
The city council authorized city staff to pick up yard and garden debris the week of Community Pride. The newsletter will provide information on what day it needs to be set out.
Cortese Hearing
Tad Connors said the hearing was conducted in front of Judge Gavin from
Yakima. He said the judge will try to have a decision within two weeks. Connors
said he feels Gavin is a very good judge.
Museum Lawn
Maintenance
Ruth Winner asked if the city will be mowing the grass at the museum.
The city council agreed to have city crew mow the grass at the museum.
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
April 3, 2007. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the
following list: checks 8663 through 8647 totaling $17,801.72; payroll checks
8650 through 8662 totaling $17,549.46, and manual check 8633 and 8649 totaling
$1,180.00 for a total of $36,531.18. Current - $13,629.26; Street - $2,784.10;
Community Development - $14.72; Street Construction and Maintenance - $4,986.60;
Water – $3,320.03; Sewer - $1205.44; Treatment Plant - $5,610.73; Dallesport
Treatment Plant – $4,519.05; Sewer Construction & Maintenance - $461.25.
Executive Session
At 8:00 p.m., Brian Prigel said the city council will meet in executive
session for 15 minutes to discuss potential litigation and personnel.
The council resumed regular session at 8:15 p.m.
Utility Wires
Betty Barnes noted there is utility wire hanging down in front of the
laundry mat that might be a safety hazard.
The city council adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
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City
Clerk Mayor