BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 

September 21, 2004

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: Jeanette Fentie. Clerk Jan Brending and Attorney Tad Connors were present.

 Public Comment
Laura Mann, Bingen
Laura Mann said the stop sign heading east on Humboldt at Cherry is difficult to see because of its location.

Jan Brending said she will ask the public works department and police department to look at the stop sign.

Betty Barnes, Bingen
Betty Barnes said the Napa Auto Parts store held a sidewalk sale today which partially blocked the sidewalk, crosswalk and portions of the street with tables and a large truck.

The city council expressed concerns about crosswalks being blocked and the large truck being parked on the street in a 2 hour parking zone.

Staff was asked to talk to the owner of Napa Auto Parts asking them to make sure a pathway on the sidewalk is kept clear for pedestrians, that all crosswalks be kept clear and that the large truck not be parked within the 2-hour parking zone.

Randy Anderson, Bingen
Randy Anderson said he is concerned about the signage at the Bad Seed Cider House. He said two signs are being temporarily located instead of being permanently installed. Terry Trantow said one sign is attached to the back of a van on the north side of Steuben. Anderson noted that the second sign is attached to the tree stakes at the driveway entrance of the business.

Jan Brending explained that the business had submitted a building permit in August for installation of the sign but the building official required engineered drawings for the footings of the sign to complete the application. She said the business owner has not submitted the additional information yet.

City council asked that the business be contacted in writing expressing concern about the temporary signs and requesting that the business complete the building permit application process and install the signs as approved by the city.

Interlocal Agreement – City of Bingen and City of White Salmon – Swimming Pool
Jan Brending presented two interlocal agreements (2004 and 2005) between the Cities of Bingen and White Salmon for financial support of the White Salmon swimming pool. She said the swimming pool is available to the residents of the City of Bingen and in return the City provides a $1000 in funding towards the operation and maintenance of the pool. Brending noted that in the 2001-2002 audit the auditors requested that an interlocal agreement be developed for this funding.

Terry Trantow moved to approve the interlocal agreements (2004 and 2005) between the City of Bingen and City of White Salmon providing $1000 in support of operations and maintenance for each year. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

Agreement – City of Bingen and Klickitat-Skamania Development Council – Youth Center
Jan Brending presented two agreements (2004 and 2005) between the City of Bingen and Klickitat-Skamania Development Council for $3000 in financial support for the youth center. The youth center in return for the financial support provides volunteer services to the City of Bingen in helping to keep the park and streets clean of trash.

Betty Barnes moved to approve the agreements (2004 and 2005) between the City of Bingen and Klickitat-Skamania Development Council providing $3000 per year in financial support for the youth center in return for volunteer services in helping to keep the park and streets clean of trash. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

Interlocal Agreement – City of Bingen and Klickitat County – Jail Services
A draft interlocal agreement between the City of Bingen and Klickitat County for jail services in 2005 was presented.

Tad Connors said he has sent a letter to Tim O’Neil, Klickitat County Prosecutor with suggested changes. He said he has also talked to Ron Reynier and Deborah Phillips of White Salmon who have similar concerns. Connors said he has specific concerns about the language regarding felony arrest and the hold harmless language in addition to some general concerns.

Brian Prigel asked that Tad Connors talk to White Salmon about the idea of using Norcor or Skamania County for jail services.

No decision was made on the agreement as a response is needed from Klickitat County.

Franchise Extension – Charter Communications
Jan Brending said the franchise agreement with Charter Communications expired on September 14, 2004. She said the proposed franchise extension extends the existing agreement for a period of one year so that a new agreement can be developed.

Randy Anderson moved to approve the one-year franchise extension with Charter Communications. Laura Mann seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

Small Works Roster Requests
Minor Paving Work
Brian Prigel said that after the City Council’s meeting on September 7 the City received notice that the county will be unable to do the paving work on Depot Street this year. He said the County was contacted about the City’s disappointment and a request to carry over the EDA grant of $25,000 to 2005. Prigel said the county has indicated verbally that the grant will be carried over and that the Depot Street project will be on the county’s road project list for 2005.

Prigel said however, there are sections of pavement that will need to be patched now instead of waiting until next spring. He said he asked Brandon Walter to obtain a small works roster bid for the small areas that need to be patched now.

Four companies submitted bids on the proposed work as follows:

Columbia Gorge Roads             $5,764.00
Asphalts Complete Inc.             $4,560.00
Lanes Paving & Seal Coating    $2,250.00
Mid-Columbia Paving               $1,900.00

It was noted that the bids from Columbia Gorge Roads, Asphalts Complete, and Lanes Paving were lump sum bids while the bid from Mid-Columbia was a price per quantity bid.

Betty Barnes moved to award the bid to Lanes Paving & Seal Coating for the amount of $2,250.00 plus taxes based on the bid being a lump sum bid versus a price per quantity bid. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

Humboldt Street – Striping and Signage
Brian Prigel said he requested small works roster bids for the crosswalk striping at Humboldt and Ash Streets and for signage on the north side of Humboldt above Ash stating “Stop Ahead”.  Two bids were received for the proposed work:

Asphalts Complete Inc. $625.00
Lanes Paving & Seal Coating    $275.00

Randy Anderson moved to award the bid to Lanes Paving & Seal Coating for the amount of $275.00 plus tax. Laura Mann seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.

City Hall – Wood Sealant
Brian Prigel said he requested small works roster bids for redoing the wood sealant on the exterior wood trim at City Hall.

Jan Brending noted that two bids were received from Weatherill Painting and Jeff Rogers. She expressed concern that Brandon Walters had been unable to contact the contractors for clarification of the bids. Brending suggested the work be rebid with a written scope of work identifying what is needed.

City council members asked that two coats of sealant be included in the specifications.

Betty Barnes moved to authorize the work to be rebid with a written scope of work and to authorize the Mayor to award the work on the returned bids. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

Klickitat County EDA Proposals – Establishing Initial List of Projects
Jan Brending presented the city council with an initial list of projects that could be considered for Klickitat County EDA funding. The list included the following projects: city park – upgrade electrical system, city park – upgrade irrigation system, city park – upgrade bathrooms, city park – move basketball court, city park – picnic shelter, White Salmon swimming pool – joint proposal with City of White Salmon for pool improvements, street banners, Gorge Heritage Museum – north wall repair, and Maple Street South intersection – landscaping/streetscaping.

The City Council agreed to identify funding costs for the projects with the exception of the picnic shelter for the city park. It was suggested that some of the projects could be combined into a joint proposal with individual components identified.

Information will be provided to the City Council at a later council meeting with the goal to select a project at the first meeting in November.

Mayor’s Update
Community Activity Center – Grant Feasibility Meeting
Jan Brending reported that she attended a meeting held by the City of White Salmon looking at the feasibility of developing a community activity center at the location of the existing Park Center. She said once the Pioneer Center building is finished the majority of the Park Center tenants will have moved out and maintaining the building either by the City of White Salmon or the School District is not economically feasible. She said city, county and school representatives met to talk about the feasibility of developing a grant application to the Gates Foundation for a community activity center.

Brending said parties at the meeting expressed general support for the concept which would include new tennis courts, an indoor swimming pool, theater, classrooms, meeting space, etc. She said the need for a feasibility study prior to applying for any grant funds was noted. Brending said at the present time no one is asking for funding but subsequent meetings will be held regarding the proposal.

Christmas Lights
Jan Brending presented the City Council with a proposal for purchasing lighted garlands to go around the decorative lights in downtown Bingen. The council decided this was not the time to be purchasing new Christmas decorations.

Landscaping
The City Council discussed the options for handling the maintenance of the landscaping in downtown Bingen. Laura Mann said the City of White Salmon contracts with a landscaping firm for their downtown landscaping. Betty Barnes said she has discussed the costs and the type of services the firm provides for White Salmon and that it is very expensive.

Jan Brending said it might be good to let the year-long plant establishment process pass before any extensive pruning is done with the plants. She said her experience is that the new plants do not need any pruning until next spring and fall.

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 21, 2004. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the following list: warrants 6243 through 6262 totaling $$53,683.54, manual warrants 6242 and 501026 totaling $67,147.80, and payroll warrants 6016 through 6030 totaling $6,206.82 for a total of $127,038.16: Current – $49,321.59; Street - $2,290.28; Street Construction and Maintenance - $54,101.47; Water - $2,902.74; Sewer - $642.72; Treatment Plant - $3,711.60; Dallesport Treatment Plant - $1,021.43; Dallesport Billing Trust Fund - $13,046.33.

At 9:15 p.m. the Council adjourned.

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City Clerk                                                                    Mayor