BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 

September 6, 2005

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Prigel at 7:00 p.m. Council members present: Terry Trantow, Randy Anderson, Betty Barnes and Laura Mann. Council members absent: Barbara Hylton. City Clerk Jan Brending and City Attorney Tad Connors were present. Audience: Steve Brown, Faye Hill, Jesse Burkhardt, Kenny Spain, James Klein, Jon Madian, John Bryan, Larry Murphy.

Public Comment

Council Member Comments

Terry Trantow suggested that 400 W. Steuben be marked to identify parking spaces for the upcoming Huckleberry Festival.

Laura Mann said she would like to see more street cleaning done in Bingen. Jan Brending said she will obtain additional information for the city council on the issue of street cleaning and put the issue on the agenda at an upcoming meeting.

Laura Mann noted that there are a couple of metal poles located in the sidewalk on Humboldt Street that are no longer being used. She asked if the poles are going to be removed. Brian Prigel said he will contact city staff about removing the poles.

Approval of Minutes – August 16, 2005
The following corrections were noted to the minutes of August 16:

Page 3, 5^th paragraph, 1^st line should read: “Brian Prigel said that unfortunately the electrical work at Daubenspeck Park cannot be completed before the Huckleberry Festival is held.”

Terry Trantow moved to approve the minutes of August 16 as amended. Betty Barnes seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

Interlocal Agreement – Klickitat County Emergency Management
Brian Prigel said that the City of Bingen sent a letter to Klickitat County asking for some amendments to the proposed interlocal agreement with Klickitat County for emergency management. He said the county responded addressing some of the concerns. Prigel noted that the City of Goldendale has signed the interlocal agreement without any changes. He said he feels the proposed changes were minor but not necessarily insignificant. Prigel said some of the issues will be addressed when the Executive Committee is established.

Terry Trantow said the letter from Klickitat County addresses two of his concerns.

Laura Mann said she believes that the time lines for using the grant funding is slowly ticking away while the cities continue to deal with the interlocal agreement.

Laura Mann thanked Steve Brown for providing a budget for the proposed department. She noted that there is no proposed ending cash balance.

Steve Brown said that is correct but it is not likely that all of the 2005 revenue will be spent and can be carried over to 2006 and 2007.

Randy Anderson asked what is included in the category “professional services”. Steve Brown said that it provides for consultant and engineering services to complete the emergency management plan and the communications plan. He said the granting agencies provide for some flexibility in allowing funds to be moved from one category to another.

Randy Anderson asked about the specific language of section B.2(9) that would allow the emergency management coordinator to commandeer for public use vital supplies, equipment, etc. Brown said the language comes from Washington state statutes. He said that he understands to use of “commandeering” comes with some risks and liabilities.

Laura Mann moved to approve the interlocal agreement with Klickitat County for Emergency Management Planning. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

Public Hearing – Variance Request – Jon Madian, Karen Jostad & John Bryan
Brian Prigel said the city has received a request for a variance from Jon Madian, Karen Jostad and John Bryan. He said the applicants are asking a variance from Bingen Municipal Code 17.24.050 which requires that off-street parking spaces be provided on the same lot as the dwelling unit. Prigel said the applicants propose to provide for parking that is required for lot 2 of a proposed 4-lot short plat on lot 1 of the same short plat.

Brian Prigel said that he feels there may have been an oversight when the city council recently adopted ordinance amendments addressing townhomes. He said that in many cases where townhomes or condominiums are built there are common parking spaces provided.

John Bryan said that it will be difficult to provide for the two parking spaces on lot 2 due to topography and the steepness of Bridgeview Court. He said that if parking was provided on lot 2 drivers would have to back out onto Bridgeview Court and back up to Highway 141. Bryan said providing the parking on lot 1 makes more sense and addresses some safety issues.

No public comment was provided at the meeting. Jan Brending noted the City did not receive any written comment.

Betty Barnes asked if the cut in the bank below the second unit is on lot 2. John Bryan said no that it is actually located on lot 3 and was done to get construction equipment in.

Tad Connors asked if there is a rock outcropping located on lot 2. John Bryan said yes. He said that if it was removed it could great a large cut and possible drainage problems.

Terry Trantow said he looked at the proposed parking spaces on lot 1 and feels there is enough room to provide for the 4 required parking spaces.

Brian Prigel said that he believes that due to the topography of the property and the rock outcropping on lot 2 it precludes providing parking on the same lot as the residential unit.

Tad Connors reminded the city council that it needs to find that there is something about lot 2 that would preclude it from being used as other lots would be used.

Laura Mann moved to approve the variance request by Jon Madian, Karen Jostad and John Bryan from Bingen Municipal Code 17.24.050 requiring that off-street parking spaces be provided on the same lot as the dwelling unit due to the hardship caused  by topography and the rock outcropping located on lot 2. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

Rural Washington Loan Fund Program (Community Development Block Grant Program Funds)
Kenny Spain with Washington Community Trade and Economic Development (CTED) explained the Rural Washington Loan Fund Program. He said the money would come to the City of Bingen from CTED  and then it would be transferred to the business applicant, which in this case is Mountain Home Biological.

Kenny Spain said that if the City wants to assist Mountain Home Biological it will need to hold a public hearing and complete the environmental assessment process for non-construction projects. He said that CTED will prepare all the paperwork. He noted that the money is repaid to CTED directly and not to the city. Spain noted that if for some reason CTED went out of business the City of Bingen would be responsible for the job monitoring requirements of the program. He said that the collateral for the loan is held in the name of the city. Spain said that in the event of a foreclosure the state attorney general’s office works with the city. Spain also noted that up to $500 can be provided to the local agency to cover advertising and other associated costs with the public hearing and public notice.

Brian Prigel asked if the risk is minimal.

Kenny Spain said the risk is minimal. He said it is a small loan up to $50,000. He said the equipment purchased will be the collateral.

Brian Prigel said this is an economic development tool that hasn’t been used in Bingen. He said it can be used to help retain businesses and help them expand.

Tad Connors asked if Mountain Home Biological needs the money for their proposed expansion. Kenny Spain said yes.

Betty Barnes said that she wants to encourage businesses to grow in Bingen. She asked Tad Connors if there is any risk to the city.

Tad Connor said the city will be adequately secured.

Betty Barnes moved to initiate the public hearing process for the Rural Washington Loan Fund Program. Randy Anderson seconded the motion. The motion carried with the following vote: Anderson – Aye, Barnes – Aye, Hylton –Absent, Mann – Abstain, Trantow – Aye.

Short Plat Final Approval – Jon Madian, Karen Jostad and John Bryan
Jan Brending said the short plat before the city council has previously received preliminary approval. She said the issue of parking spaces for lot 2 has been addressed with the approval of the variance request.

It was noted that the short plat shows an encroachment of the deck and stairs on lot 1 into the 15-foot side yard setback on a flanking street.

Brian Prigel suggested that the issue of the encroachment be separated from the approval of the short plat as it is a building permit issue. Jan Brending said she will meet with the applicants to discuss the options to address the encroachment.

Terry Trantow noted two minor corrections to the short plat.

Randy Anderson moved to give final approval to Short Plat 2005-05, John Bryan, Jon Madian and Karen Jostad. Laura Mann seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

Sign Application – Dilligaf Tattoo
Jan Brending said the sign application by Dilligaf Tattoo is for a replacement business where the city was trying to bring the business’ signs into compliance with the city’s ordinance.

Brian Prigel said that because the new owner’s of the business were meeting the city’s requirements and submitting the sign ordinance he authorized the owners to go ahead with the changes to the existing signage. Prigel said he recommends approval of the sign application as it meets the city’s requirements.

Laura Mann moved to approve the sign application by Dilligaf Tattoo. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

Fire Department Equipment Purchase Request
Jan Brending presented a memorandum regarding a request from the Fire Department to purchase used SCBAs and air bottles from the Lyle Fire Department and to purchase a new computer and printer (see memorandum dated September 6, 2005).

Betty Barnes moved to authorize the purchase of SCBAs and air bottles from the Lyle Fire Department and to authorize the purchase of computer equipment and technical assistance per the September 6 memorandum. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

Mayor’s Update
Well Rehabilitation
Brian Prigel said that M-K Drilling began drilling the Park Well. He said he authorized M-K to drill deeper than originally estimated. Prigel said they went down approximately 75 feet.

Prigel said that when M-K Drilling began work on Dry Creek Well there were high hopes that the pump in the bottom of the well could be removed. He said steady pace was being made by M-K and that most of the $10,000 was used. Prigel said he authorized M-K Drilling to continue drilling as long as steady progress was being made. He said however, that after a short period the next day it was clear that no progress was being made and M-K was shut down.

Prigel said that it appears significant water flow was achieved on the Park Well and there was improvement in Dry Creek even though the pump in the bottom of the well could not be removed. He said Holt Drilling will be back to conduct pump tests and determine what size of pump needs to be installed.

Budget Committee
Jan Brending said she has set a tentative schedule for adopting amendments to the 2005 budget and for adopting the 2006 budget. She suggested setting a budget committee meeting for September 29. The council set the meeting for Thursday, September 29 at 7:00 p.m.

Joint Council Meeting
Jan Brending reminded the city council that it will meet with White Salmon in a joint council meeting on Thursday, September 22 at 6:00 p.m. in the White Salmon City Council Chambers. She noted that the White Salmon council chambers are located in the White Salmon fire hall.

Fire Hydrants
Betty Barnes asked if the fire hydrant replacement and repairs are being completed. Brian Prigel said he will check with staff.

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 September 6, 2005. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the following list: warrants 6935 through 6974 totaling $53,223.14 and   payroll warrants 6360 through 6370 totaling $15,793.78, and manual warrants 6934 totaling $124.39 for a total of $69,141.31: Current - $8,985.65; Street - $35,103.70; Fire Fund - $306.79; Water - $3,059.33; Sewer - $1,184.38; Treatment Plant - $7,285.14; Dallesport Treatment Plant - $6,467.01;  Water Construction & Maintenance - $6,749.31.

At 9:00 p.m. the Council adjourned.

Jan Brending                                                            Brian Prigel
City Clerk                                                                Mayor