BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
July 20, 2004
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Prigel at 7:00 p.m. Council members present: Terry Trantow, Betty Barnes, Jeanette Fentie, and Laura Mann. Council members absent: Randy Anderson. Clerk Jan Brending and Attorney Tad Connors were present. Audience: Michael Wellman, Jeannie Wellman, Tim Hearn, Mildred Lykens.
Public Comment
Mike Wellman, Public Works Director
Mike Wellman said the Mayor has asked him to address the City Council under
Public Comment. Wellman said that he spoke to the company who fixed the water
leak at Mid-Columbia Family Health Services. He said the leak was substantial
but it did not go into the sewer system. Wellman said the water went into the
subgrade under the building and did cause some minor erosion.
Mike Wellman said he is submitting his resignation as public works director effective after the use of comp time and vacation time. He said he has enjoyed working on the fire hall and highway project and working with the city staff. Wellman said he feels there is more pride in the city. He said he has offered his assistance to the Mayor for current and future projects. Wellman said he does not want to leave the City in a bind.
Brian Prigel said he has appreciated the services of Mike Wellman. He said the city has done some things that it would not have been able to do without his assistance.
Betty Barnes, Council Member
Betty Barnes said she has some concerns about how the city’s parking
ordinance is being enforced. She said she contacted the police department
regarding a suspicious vehicle parked near her house. Barnes said the police
officer told her that the police department had been told that initial
complaints regarding illegally parked vehicles needed to go through Bingen City
Hall. She said it is currently confusing to the public as to whom and where to
call regarding illegally parked vehicles and enforcement of the parking
ordinance. Barnes said it is also important that the initial enforcement action
– a warning be handled so that the enforcement process begins immediately.
Jan Brending said she recently discussed the parking ordinance with the chief of police. She said she has been receiving most of the complaints and following up on them by writing a letter to the owner of the vehicle and then providing that information to the police department. Brending said she recently forwarded information regarding a number of vehicles to the police department for initiation of the enforcement proceedings. She said she has never told a member of the public or the police department that complaints could not be filed directly with the police department. Brending noted that at the present time the police department is short-handed. She said that in the discussion with the chief of police the initial writing of letters was discussed. Brending said the police department was supportive of the letters because it helped in getting the vehicles moved without having to proceed to enforcement.
Jan Brending said she will begin handling complaints in any manner the city council would like her to. She noted that it is difficult to not take information and just tell the public they need to call the police department directly because a lot of times they only get an answering machine. Brending said she could forward information from the public directly to the police department for their investigation and possible enforcement action.
The City Council agreed that any complaints need to be forwarded directly to the police department and they will handle all enforcement and investigation of parking ordinance violations.
Approval of Minutes – July 6, 2004
Council members noted the following corrections to the draft minutes of the
July 6 council meeting:
1st page, 3rd paragraph, 2nd sentence should read: “He said the council considered a complete ban and then a ban of only aerial fireworks.”
4th page, 10th paragraph, 1st sentence should read: “Randy Anderson said that the business Attention to Detail located at 417 W. Steuben has been parking cars for sale across the driveway and blocking the sidewalk on weekends.”
Terry Trantow moved to approve the minutes of July 6 as amended. Jeanette Fentie seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Sign Application – Joslyn House
Jan Brending said Eric Greene has applied for a sign permit. She said he is
renaming the Bingen Haus Bed and Breakfast to Joslyn House Bed and Breakfast.
Brending said the new sign will be attached over the existing sign.
Brian Prigel said the new sign meets the City’s sign ordinance and recommends approval.
Betty Barnes moved to approve the sign application by Eric Greene for Joslyn House Bed and Breakfast. Laura Mann seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Sign Application – Eagles
Jan Brending said the Eagles have submitted a sign application for a sign to
be located on the southern portion of their parking lot between the two
driveways. She said the proposed sign will include a reader board for announcing
meetings, etc. Brending said the sign will run perpendicular to Steuben with a
reader board on both sides so that drivers in both directions can read the
message.
Tim Hearn said he thought the sign would be installed parallel with Steuben.
Brending noted that a building permit will be required before installation. She said that Larry Murphy with the Eagles provided her with the information. Brending said the Eagles have an existing sign that will be used or they will purchase a new sign.
Jeanette Fentie said she would like additional information regarding the sign.
Brian Prigel said the proposed sign meets the City’s sign ordinance requirements and recommends approval.
Terry Trantow moved to approve the sign application by the Eagles. Betty Barnes seconded the motion. The motion carried 3 to 1 with the following vote: Anderson – Absent, Barnes – Aye, Fentie – Nay, Mann – Aye, Trantow – Aye.
Highway 14 Project – Status and Update
Brian Prigel said the contractor was issued substantial completion on July
2. He said substantial completion ends working days. Prigel noted there were
some outstanding issues including a dispute for utility delays, quality of
workmanship on the sidewalks, hauling out of the stockpile, overruns and
underruns, etc. He said WSDOT, the City of Bingen and KLB met on July 13 to
discuss the outstanding issues.
Prigel noted the biggest issue resolved around the dispute for utility delays. He said that a proposal was developed last fall where KLB would have received $390,000. Prigel said WSDOT did not approve the proposal at that time. He said the contractor then asked for schedule recovery in the amount of $183,000. Prigel said that because of the delays on the project and the desire to get the highway paved before winter schedule recovery was approved. He said that in addition a change order for $40,000 was approved. He said the change order related to direct costs resulting out of the utility delays. Prigel said KLB was then asking for an additional $153,000 related to inefficiencies resulting out of the utility delays for a total of $376,000.
Prigel said the WSDOT, the City, and KLB reached a proposal to settle all issues and disputes at the July 13 meeting. He said KLB will receive $75,000 to settle the dispute for utility delays and enough working days to get them through substantial completion on July 2. Prigel said the City will drop any requests for credits related to the sidewalks and in addition KLB will not charge the City for hauling out of the stockpile at the WSDOT shop. He noted that WSDOT had estimated the costs for hauling out of the stockpile at $10,000 to $15,000. Prigel said the driveway at Hatt’s will be replaced by KLB. He noted that the underrun and overrun cost adjustments will be reviewed by WSDOT and adjusted appropriately. Prigel said that are some details associated with the project that the City will need to take care of.
Brian Prigel provided an overview of the funding and the development of the project. Jan Brending reported that Klickitat County has notified the City that it will provide an additional $100,000 in funding and the Washington Transportation Improvement Board will provide up to an additional $250,000 in funding. Brending said the additional funding should cover the remaining expenses – KLB contract, construction engineering and the remaining right-of-way purchase still to be completed. She recommended that any remaining community development funds be held until the project is entirely closed because there are always minor expenses that come in at the end of a project.
Laura Mann thanked Brian Prigel for going after the additional funding. She said she believes the installation of the crosswalks was helpful in obtaining the funding.
Brian Prigel said he will be writing letters to the agencies involved in this project thanking them for their assistance. He said it has been suggested that a dedication of the project take place during the Huckleberry Festival in September. It was decided to have two dedications – the more formal one on Friday and one during the parade on Saturday.
It was noted that Brian Prigel has been asked to serve as the Grand Marshal for Huckleberry Festival and he has agreed.
Mayor’s Update
Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) Visitation
Brian Prigel said CERB held a field meeting in Stevenson and as a part of
the meeting did a tour of facilities that have been funded through CERB grants.
He noted that the treatment plant and the highway project have both received
funds through CERB. Prigel said Dianne Sherwood and he did a tour of the city
and Port facilities and then met at the Insitu building. Prigel said Insitu is
adding more employees.
Tim Hearn asked how many jobs at Insitu translate directly into the community. Brian Prigel said most of the production workers are local while the engineers are not. He said however, that the engineers are having an impact locally and the business itself is having an impact on other vendors in the Gorge.
Public Works Department
Brian Prigel said he will be evaluating staff and looking at the budget to
determine how the Public Works Department will be staffed. He said there are
several options including separating the water/sewer departments from the
wastewater treatment plants, to hiring a public works superintendent. Prigel
said that he believes the staff has gained a lot of experience and confidence
during the time Wellman was on staff. He said a minimum amount of cross-training
has actually taken place.
Brian Prigel said it is likely he will recommend the hiring of an engineer to help with making the necessary improvements to Depot Street. He said he will present a proposal at the next city council meeting.
Gotts Development Proposal
Brian Prigel said he mailed a letter (copy provided to City Council) to John
Gotts asking for some specific information prior to another meeting. He said
Cliff Fleury has responded with some information asking for a meeting on August
3. The Council agreed that until the information could be provided a meeting was
not necessary.
Mid-Columbia Family Medical Services
Jan Brending asked the Council to make a decision on the request by
Mid-Columbia Family Medical Services for a reduction in their sewer billing due
to a water leak at their facilities. Brending said she had recommended a
reduction of $500 in sewer overage charges. She noted that Wellman did determine
the water did not enter into the sewer collection system.
Laura Mann moved to authorize the reduction in the Mid-Columbia Family Medical Services billing in the amount of $500.00 based on historic practice and noting that a policy on the issue is needed as soon as possible. Betty Barnes seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
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 July
20, 2004. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the following
list: warrants 6115 through 6140 totaling $15,318.06, manual warrants 501023
through 501024 totaling $13,486.82, and payroll warrants 5958 through 5972
totaling $6,548.86 for a total of $35,353.74: Current - $10,489.85; Street -
$1,651.07; Community Development - $300.98; Water - $3,383.84; Sewer - $590.19;
Treatment Plant - $3,816.54; Dallesport Treatment Plant - $1,634.45; Dallesport
Billing Trust Fund - $13,486.82.
At 8:55 p.m. the Council adjourned.
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City Clerk
Mayor