BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 

June 21, 2005

 

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Prigel at 7:00 p.m. Council members present: Terry Trantow, Betty Barnes, Barbara Hylton, Randy Anderson and Laura Mann. City Clerk Jan Brending and City Attorney Tad Connors were present. Audience: Tim Hearn, Jim Smith, Rich Cortese.

 

Public Comment
Laura Mann, Bingen
Laura Mann said she was disappointed in the park restrooms. She noted the following concerns: holes at toilet pipes into wall, the automatic flush does not work on the women’s handicap toilet, the urinal wall in the men’s restroom is damaged, the soap dispensers were damaged and full of toilet paper, poor painting, and wall bases were open.

Laura Mann suggested there needed to be some additional trash cans in the park besides the one next to the basketball court and the restrooms. She suggested adding a trash can next to the playground area.

Laura Mann noted that there are numerous places where weeds are growing in the new sidewalks and long the buildings on the main street.

Laura Mann asked if it was possible to do additional street cleaning. She said there are many areas with rock and debris in the street.

Laura Mann also noted that “Burn Ban” signs have again been posted on telephone poles within the city limits of Bingen.

Approval of Minutes – June 7, 2005
The following change was noted to the June 7 minutes:

Page 2, 3rd paragraph, 1st sentence should read “Jan Brending noted that “No Parking” signs will be placed on Walnut Street.

Barbara Hylton moved to approve the minutes of the June 7, 2005 council meeting as amended. Laura Mann seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

Klickitat County PUD – Downtown Revitalization Utility Billing
Jim Smith with Klickitat County PUD provided background information on the outstanding billing for moving electrical utilities in the downtown corridor. He provided an explanation for the additional costs that were incurred.

Brian Prigel provided a chronology and history of the project which involved moving overhead utilities off of Steuben to underground on Depot Street and overhead on Humboldt Street.

Jan Brending noted that the overall costs for this portion of the project increased 21.94%. She said the original estimated cost was $172,926 and the final costs are $210,870.51.

Randy Anderson said that after he has reviewed the materials provided by staff he feels the City of Bingen should pay the outstanding bill of $26,455.18.

Council members discussed with Jim Smith the option of asking the PUD to consider an increase in their share of the costs based on an overall increase of the cost of the project. Jim Smith said he thought it was fair to look at the PUD’s original estimate of their share and determine if the costs would have increased based on other increases in the project.

Barbara Hylton moved to send a letter to the Klickitat County PUD asking for consideration of a recalculation of their costs of moving the utilities from overhead to overhead. Betty Barnes seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 to 1 with the following vote: Anderson – Nay, Barnes – Aye, Hylton – Aye, Mann – Aye, Trantow – Aye.

Traffic Pattern, 200 Block of W. Lincoln – Discussion
Jan Brending provided background information (see memorandum dated June 17, 2005 – Traffic Pattern, 200 Block of W. Lincoln) related to an issue with the traffic patterns at the 200 block of W. Lincoln where it intersects with Highway 141 and Ash Street.

Tim Hearn asked if the City of Bingen could require Sprint to move the utility boxes they recently installed.

Brian Prigel noted the City does not have a permitting process for utility work in the city limits, nor does it have a good franchise agreement with Sprint. He said he feels the City has no authority to require the boxes to be moved and feel it would be difficult to get Sprint to modify the configuration.

Jan Brending suggested an ordinance could be developed providing two options: making the 200 block of W. Lincoln one-way traveling west bound or allow a right-turn only traveling east bound at the intersection of Lincoln and Highway 141.

Rich Cortese, Bingen-White Salmon Police Department, agreed there is a problem with the intersection. He noted the problem already existed but was made worse by the additional utility boxes. Cortese said he agrees with Brending that the best solution would be to make the street one-way traveling west bound but the alternative solution of a right-hand turn only would help.

Council members discussed the option of allowing the right-hand turn only onto Ash Street and not allowing traffic to enter from Lincoln onto Highway 141. There was consensus this option should be considered.

Jan Brending said she will draft an ordinance and schedule a public hearing for the 2nd meeting in July.

Public Hearing – Six Year Transportation Improvement Program
Jan Brending provided an overview of the Six Year Transportation Improvement Program for 2006 to 2011. She said she did not add any projects to the program that was submitted last year. Brending said she did increase the costs for several of the projects including the South Maple Street project and the 200 block of East Humboldt. Brending noted the city will be submitting a grant to the Transportation Improvement Board for the South Maple Street project.

Betty Barnes moved to pass Resolution 2005-002, Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

½ Percent Sales Tax Increase – Discussion
Jan Brending provided information to the city council regarding the historic trends of sales tax collections (see memorandum dated June 17, 2005 – Sales Tax Discussion). She said she is recommending that if the city passes an ordinance for the additional ½ sales tax that it be set aside for capital improvement projects in the general and street funds such as police car reserve, fire equipment reserve, street equipment reserve, street construction, building construction and parks construction.

It was suggested that the funds should be set aside in the Community Development fund which is directed by the City’s “Community Action Plan”. This would allow the community to provide input into how the funds are used. The Community Development fund has previously provided funding to all of the funds identified by the clerk-treasurer.

Brian Prigel noted that he would like to see the “Community Action Plan” reviewed and updated by the city council and the community.

Randy Anderson said he is not in favor of enacting the additional ½ percent sales tax. He said he feels the funds can be saved within the city.

Jan Brending noted that it will be difficult to identify $50,000 to $70,000 of savingswithin the current expense and street funds alone.

The City Council agreed to develop a draft ordinance and public information that will be sent out to local businesses proposing the additional ½ percent sale tax increase. A public hearing would be scheduled for the first meeting in August.

Tim Hearn said that most businesses in Bingen feel that the city will approve the additional sales tax.

Jan Brending noted that new retail/commercial businesses are locating in Bingen regardless of the existing sales tax.

Barbara Hylton asked why the city does not have a gambling tax. Jan Brending explained that the city’s current ordinance does not comply with state law. The city council asked Tad Connors to review state law and see what types of gambling it applies to and how it would impact the city and businesses if enacted.

Jefferson Street Bridge Closure – Discussion
Terry Trantow said the city has a nuisance/noise ordinance. He said that while the noise associated with the Jefferson Street Bridge does not clearly fall under the ordinance he feels that it points to the same thing – an unwanted noise.

Trantow said the planks are very loose and that at least once a week one or more spikes come out of the bridge.

Brian Prigel said the end of the stringers have rotted and dropped about one inch. He said the engineers do not feel the bridge is a safety hazard at this time.

Trantow said he would like to see the bridge closed until the new bridge is installed.

Randy Anderson said he is concerned that an individual standing on the bridge could be injured.

Brian Prigel said he will get an update from Bell Design as to when they think they will be able to complete specifications for the construction of a new bridge and report back to the council at the next meeting.

Mayor’s Update
Tribal Trust Land – Pine/Humboldt – Platform Structure
Brian Prigel said that a platform structure is being built on tribal trust land at the corner of Pine and Humboldt. He said it appears that a portion of the structure is located in the city’s right-of-way.

Terry Trantow said he will identify the right-of-way boundary on Pine and Humboldt to determine how much of the structure is within the right-of-way. Tad Connors will draft a letter that will be provided to the tribal members on site about the location of the structure.

City council members discussed “fireworks” and “yard sale” signs that are being located within the right-of-way. It was noted that “yard sales” signs can be located on private property with the property owner’s permission. It was also noted that this has been the case for “fireworks” signs in the past years.

It was agreed the city will work to keep such signage out of the right-of-way.

Abatement of Dangerous Buildings
Jan Brending said she will be providing some information to the city council regarding abatement of dangerous buildings for a discussion at the council meeting on July 5.

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 21, 2005. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the following list: warrants 6803 through 6826 totaling $134,396.33 and   payroll warrants 6283 through 6298 totaling $10,253.04, and manual warrant 501035 for $12,929.53 for a total of $157,578.90: Current - $7,419.92; Street - $1,977.49; Street Construction and Maintenance - $1,977.49; Parks Construction and Maintenance - $2,217.98; Water - $1.666.19; Sewer - $1,015.69; Treatment Plant - $5,465.70; Dallesport Treatment Plant - $1,869.32; 1973/1995 Water/Sewer Bond Redemption $14,780.00; Public Works Trust Fund - $107,142.86; Dallesport Billing Trust Fund - $12,929.53.

At 9:30 p.m. the Council adjourned.

Jan Brending                                                            Brian Prigel
City Clerk                                                                Mayor