BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
June 6, 2006
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Prigel at 7:00 p.m. Council members present: Terry Trantow, Betty Barnes, Tim Hearn, Laura Mann and Randy Anderson. Clerk Jan Brending and Attorney Tad Connors were present. Audience: Jesse Burkhardt, Wil Schuemann
Public Comment
Wil Schuemann, Bingen
Wil Schuemann presented a 3-step process for a land exchange between him and the
city and for creating a park/hiking trail in the Dry Creek corridor (see
memorandum and map dated June 6, 2006).
Brian Prigel asked the council if it is interested in pursuing a land exchange at this point.
Laura Mann said she thinks the council needs to review the information and think about it.
Brian Prigel said he has not yet made contact with Bonnie Kimbro about the Dry Creek corridor.
Betty Barnes said that she thinks the issue should be tabled until the council has time to look over the proposal. She said she feels it is important to know the differences in the values of the two pieces of property.
Brian Prigel said an appraisal would be required.
Terry Trantow said he has looked at the property and does not have any particular questions at this time. He said the properties do need to be appraised.
Wil Schuemann said he has laid out the process so that the land exchange can be handled separately from the idea of creating a park/hiking trail.
Laura Mann moved to table the discussion until the city has talked to Bonnie Kimbro and the council has had time to review the information. Tim Hearn seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Jan Brending said she will draft a letter to Bonnie Kimbro for Brian Prigel’s signature.
Wil Schuemann said he would really like to see step 1 of the process – the land exchange – proceed without having to wait for step 2.
Brian Prigel said the city council would like to have time to read the information before discussing it.
Approval of Minutes – May 16, 2006
Terry Trantow moved to approve the minutes of the May 16 city council
meeting. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Charter Communications Cable Franchise Agreement
Jan Brending said she has provided information to the council regarding TVW
which provides governmental coverage in Washington. She said she has sent an
e-mail to Charter Communications requesting that TVW be added to the line up for
Bingen. Brending said she has not had a response.
Tad Connors provided information to the city council regarding legislation that is pending before Congress. He said the legislation is being pushed by the large telephone companies such as AT&T and Bell South. Connors said Charter is asking for a limited franchise agreement due to this pending legislation. He noted that if the legislation passes and there is a problem with the cable in the right-of-way the city would have to take the case to FCC instead of to superior court. Connors said that different groups are trying to mitigate the legislation with amendments but no one is very optimistic that they will pass. Connors said that at the present time it is not clear whether the new federal law, if passed, would preempt a franchise agreement already in place. He suggested the council might want to consider having a longer franchise agreement that would be in place for a longer period after the legislation passes.
City council members discussed the effect the proposed legislation might have on the franchise agreement.
Council members agreed to request a five year franchise agreement and to make a formal request that TVW be added to the line up. Tad Connors will review the language in the contract and then write a formal letter outlining requested changes and amendments.
Jan Brending noted that Amendment A to the agreement provides for a free service to a public facility that no longer exists in Bingen. The city council agreed to request that a free service be held in reserve for future use if needed.
Building Code – Board of Appeals Ordinance Language
Jan Brending said she has drafted an ordinance that provides for adopting
Appendix B of the International Building Code and then amending it. She said the
ordinance provides for 5 members: one council member, two property owners who
reside in Bingen and two business owners who own a business in Bingen. Brending
said the ordinance also provides that the members should have specific
experience in certain professions or disciplines associated with the building
industry. Brending noted the city has not received any letters of interest for
serving on the board.
City council members discussed the makeup of the board including whether or not the members should reside in Bingen or have businesses located in Bingen.
There was a consensus of the city council to revise the language in the ordinance providing for a board of appeals made up of three individuals noting that the individuals could come from outside of Bingen.
Jan Brending said she will revise the draft ordinance and schedule a public hearing on the ordinance for the next council meeting.
Council members and staff identified the following individuals as possible candidates for the Board of Appeals: Richard Morgan, Jeff Rogers, Bell Design, Scott Hohensee, and John Mann.
Depot Street Sewer Project – Preliminary Engineering
and Cost Estimate
Brian Prigel said the city has received the preliminary engineering and cost
estimate for the proposed Depot Street sewer project. He said the portion that
goes across Maple Street needs to be done before or in conjunction with the
Maple Street project. Prigel said the crossing itself could be installed without
completing the entire sewer project. He said there is concern by the public
works staff about the additional flow that will be coming in from White Salmon
through the Highway 14 sewer project.
Brian Prigel noted that an easement from BNSF will be needed for the east end of the sewer project.
City council members agreed to send the issue to the water/sewer committee meeting and then schedule a joint water/sewer committee meeting with White Salmon to discuss the issues and the cost of the project.
Laura Mann moved to authorize Tad Connors to begin pursuing acquiring an easement from BNSF for the east end of the sewer project. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Mayor’s Update and Council Member Comments
Highway 14/Steuben Crosswalks
Brian Prigel said he and Jan Brending met with representatives from WSDOT
and the manufacturer and installer of the crosswalk product. He said there is a
question about whether there is an asphalt problem or not. Prigel said
information regarding the asphalt and testing done at the time of putting the
asphalt down will be sent to StreetPrint. He said in addition cores of the
asphalt where the crosswalks are located will be taken and analyzed. Prigel said
at the present time replacement of the crosswalks or portions of the crosswalks
is on hold until the problems can be determined. He said he wants to know if the
replacement will last.
Betty Barnes said she believes the city should incur no costs related to the repair/replacement of the crosswalks.
Jan Brending and Brian Prigel said that the issue is still under investigation. Brending noted that StreetPrint had earlier said it would replace the product in the areas where it is wearing. She said the city asked that they hold off on the replacement until the nature of the problem could be determined. Brending said StreetPrint said at that time they would replace the product at their cost. She noted that it has not been determined how much of the product would be replaced.
Betty Barnes said there should be a warranty in place.
Brian Prigel and Jan Brending said that if there was a warranty then it probably has already expired.
Betty Barnes said she thought the council was told that the product would last the lifetime of the pavement.
Brian Prigel said the situation is still under investigation. He said that when all the information is available then a discussion will take place about whether or not the product should be replaced. Prigel said it is possible that something else will have to be used instead of the StreetPrint product and that at this time it is not clear who will incur the costs of repairing or replacing the crosswalks.
4th of July Celebration
Brian Prigel said the last two years the City of Bingen has shared in the
costs of having the 4th of July Celebration at Bingen Point. He said
the costs include garbage containers, porta-potties, and extra law enforcement.
Tim Hearn moved that the city of Bingen pay for its share of the costs associated with the 4th of July Celebration at Bingen Point. Laura Mann seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Wilcox & Flegel Site Plan
Brian Prigel presented a site plan for a proposed truck card lock gas
station at the former Guler Oil gas station now owned by Wilcox & Flegel. He
said the proposed use is permitted outright. Prigel said the main issues are
traffic flow. He said representatives from Wilcox & Flegel met with him and Jan
Brending. Prigel said he believes the traffic flow presented by Wilcox & Flegel
is the best to meet the needs of the facility and maintain traffic flow on the
streets and to prevent back up in certain areas. He said the business will not
be creating any new impervious surfaces and will actually enhance the current
situation.
Tim Hearn moved to allow Wilcox & Flegel to pursue the proposed development using the traffic flow pattern presented. Laura Mann seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Laura Mann asked if Wilcox & Flegel will have to pay for paving Depot Street when they remove the pumps at that location. Brian Prigel said yes.
Insitu Flight Test Center
Brian Prigel noted that the city council has received an invitation to visit
Insitu’s new flight test center at Arlington.
Business After Hours
Brian Prigel noted that the Chamber’s Business After Hours will be held at
the Gorge Heritage Museum on Thursday, June 8.
Senator Cantwell
Brian Prigel reported that Senator Cantwell was in town recently and visited
the Insitu facility. He said he believes it was related to the effort to lobby
for changes in the FFA rules related to unmanned flight craft.
Lt. Governor Visit
Brian Prigel said the Lt. Governor will be in town on June 13 for a luncheon
and roundtable discussion regarding water rights.
Public Parking Signs and Wheel Blocks
Betty Barnes asked if the wheel blocks and signage for Depot Street and 400
W. Steuben have been ordered.
Jan Brending said yes.
Banners
Betty Barnes asked about the status of the banners.
Jan Brending said all the banners were recently delivered. She said there is problem with the length of the banners. Brending said Melanie Denton is working to find a solution and will be correcting them.
Civil Service Commission Representative
Betty Barnes said that Barbara Hylton has several legal questions related to
the civil service commission and asked if it was okay for her to talk to Tad
Connors. Brian Prigel and Tad Connors said yes.
East Franklin Street – Garbage
Betty Barnes said she believes the trash situation on East Franklin Street
still exists.
Brian Prigel said he believes the garbage and the vehicles have been removed but there is still some garbage piled on the property.
Jan Brending said she will review the situation and ask Tad Connors to write a letter.
Building Permits and Business Licenses
Terry Trantow asked if contractors that are doing building projects in town
are getting business licenses.
Jan Brending said yes.
Winery Construction
Randy Anderson said he has spoken to Dean Nygaard about the old winery
construction work.
Jan Brending said obtaining permits for the project is ongoing as the work progresses.
Park Committee
Tim Hearn said he would like to schedule a Park Committee meeting at the end
of the month.
Klickitat County Law Enforcement Proposal
Randy Anderson presented a proposal for law enforcement services prepared by
Chris Mace, Klickitat County Sheriff. He said that as the proposal is currently
written it would provide a savings of $46,380 per year for Bingen. Anderson
asked that council members review the proposal and identify questions and
concerns. He said he would like to schedule a discussion of the proposal at the
next council meeting. Anderson suggested the city may want to start the 90-day
process of getting out of the contract with the city of White Salmon.
Laura Mann said she believes the proposal needs more analysis. She said that a year’s worth of calls should be considered instead of just three winter months.
Brian Prigel said that if the city council wants to seriously consider the proposal the city should issue a formal request for proposals that would go out to all the agencies surrounding Bingen. He said the request for proposals would identify the level of service and what Bingen expects to be provided. Prigel said the city needs to determine what level of coverage is acceptable.
Randy Anderson said the county proposal provides for two dedicated officers and that on-call service would come from other county officers. He said there will always be coverage in Bingen.
Laura Mann asked if the Bingen-White Salmon Police Department provides coverage for the Port. Brian Prigel said no except in mutual aid situations.
City Crew Noise
Laura Mann said she thought the city has an ordinance that prevents
construction work or work by the city crew between 6:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. She
said the city crew was doing some work near her home very early one morning.
Mann suggested the city crew wait until after 8 a.m. to do work that is loud and
noisy.
Brian Prigel said that is not an unreasonable request.
Spraying – West Side of Park
Randy Anderson asked if the city knows who did the spraying along the west
side of the park. He said there was an area that was missed.
Jan Brending said she will check with the city crew.
Street Lights – East End of Bingen
Tim Hearn asked who takes care of the street lights. Brian Prigel said if
they are the PUD poles then the PUD does. He suggested the pole number be noted
and given to city hall who will call in a repair request.
Plat Book – Bingen
Terry Trantow presented pictures of an old plat book held by the county. He
suggested that some pictures be taken and presented to Gorge Heritage Museum for
history purposes.
Museum Grass
Laura Mann asked if the brown grass at the Museum had been resolved.
Terry Trantow said it will not be watered until the basement wall is repaired.
Surplus Fire Truck
Brian Prigel said the surplus fire truck will be listed on E-Bay effective
June 10 for a ten-day period. He said beginning bid will start at $1,200 with a
$2,499 reserve.
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 June
6, 2006. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the following
list: warrants 7574 through 7619 totaling $39,177.07; manual warrants 7570
through 7573 and 501047 totaling $15,188.20; and payroll warrants 6603 through
6614 totaling $16,618.80 for a total of $70,0984.07: Current - $13,527.97;
Street - $3,145.46; Community Development - $2,966.40; Street Construction and
Maintenance - $712.34; Water - $5,911.38; Sewer - $1,540.74; Treatment Plant -
$6,445.62; Dallesport Treatment Plant - $7,208.91; Sewer Construction and
Maintenance - $2,977.50; Water and Sewer Equipment - $12,329.67; Dallesport
Billing Trust Fund - $14,218.08.
At 9:15 p.m. the council adjourned.
Jan Brending
Brian Prigel
City Clerk
Mayor