BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 

October 3, 2006

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Prigel at 7:00 p.m. Council members present: Terry Trantow, Tim Hearn, Laura Mann, and Betty Barnes. Clerk Jan Brending and Attorney Tad Connors were present. Audience: Ruth Winner.

Council Member Resignation

Brian Prigel announced that Randy Anderson has submitted his letter of resignation from the city council.

Public Comment
Ruth Winner, Gorge Heritage Museum
Ruth Winner said that she is thinking ahead from last spring. She said the electrical and gas lines were removed in the basement in anticipation of the basement wall repair. She asked who will reconnect it and who will pay for it.

Brian Prigel asked when the construction work will begin on the wall. Jan Brending said on Wednesday.

Brian Prigel said NW Natural will need to be contacted to set a date for when the gas can be reconnected.

Ruth Winner noted that the gas pipes in the wall will need to be reconnected.

Tim Hearn asked if there was any smoke damage from the fire over the weekend. Brian Prigel said the smoke was blowing the opposite way of the museum. City council members discussed the fire that occurred over the weekend.

Brian Prigel said he will talk to Mike Wellman about reconnecting the utilities and that the city will pay for the reconnections.

Approval of Minutes – September 18, 2006
Terry Trantow moved to approve the minutes of the September 18 council meeting. Tim Hearn seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

Variance Request 2006-003, Billie Deo – Adoption of Findings of Fact, Conclusion of Law and Decision
It was noted that on page 3 of the decision the name of the individual is “Mika Clark” and not “Mike Clark.”

Betty Barnes moved to approve the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Decision for Variance Request 2006-003, Billie Deo with the noted correction. Tim Hearn seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.

Personnel Request, Deputy Clerk Position – Review and Action
Brian Prigel said the request before the city council is to increase the position of Deputy Clerk from part-time to full-time.

Jan Brending noted that she has provided some additional information regarding the types of duties that the deputy clerk would assume if made a full-time position.

Betty Barnes suggested tabling the issue until a short executive session could be held.

Jan Brending reminded the city council that it can meet in executive session to discuss the performance of employees but should not be discussed the merits of whether or not to make a position full-time.

Betty Barnes asked what the cost savings are when the city clerk drafts ordinances instead of the city attorney.

Jan Brending said the city attorney is paid on an hourly basis versus on a retainer fee. She said the cost difference is based on the two different hourly rates.

Betty Barnes said she has spoken to Dena Riggleman about possibly also providing additional help in the public works department such as reading meters and helping with landscape maintenance. Barnes said Riggleman is not opposed to that type of work.

Brian Prigel said he could see the Deputy Clerk assisting with reading meters. He said it is also possible that she could be certified as a flagger and assist in that area when needed.

Laura Mann said that she thinks making the position full-time is more efficient and effective in that the Deputy Clerk can take on other duties and manage them more appropriately during the day.

Brian Prigel said one option the council could consider is adding the position to the budget for now and then making a final decision after the budget is adopted.

Laura Mann said she recommends that the council take action now instead of waiting until after the budget is adopted.

Betty Barnes said that Dena Riggleman has also said that she would like the full-time position with Bingen and would not go to the City of White Salmon for more money.

Terry Trantow asked if there will be scheduling problems related to Riggleman’s need to get a child back and forth from preschool. Jan Brending said no that her schedule could be flexed to accommodate her needs.

Tim Hearn moved to authorize to change the deputy clerk position from part-time to full-time effective November 1. Betty Barnes seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.

Proposed Cost of Living Increase of 2007 – Review and Possible Action
Brian Prigel reviewed the proposal for the cost of living increase for staff for the year 2007. He said that the proposal is to increase salaries by 2.8% which is currently the July 2005 to July 2006 Portland CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerk Workers. Prigel said this is what is used in the White Salmon union contract for its employees.

Jan Brending noted that a Resolution formally adopting the 2007 salary schedule will be presented at the next city council meeting.

Betty Barnes moved to provide a 2.8% cost of living increase for employees for 2007. Laura Mann seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

Utility Rate Increase – Discussion and Setting Public Hearing Date
Brian Prigel said the budget committee is recommending a 5% increase in utility rates.

Jan Brending noted that the rate increases would provide an additional $9,189 in the water budget and $9,516 in the sewer budget. She said much of the revenue increases will be matched with increases in personnel costs and material costs.

Tim Hearn moved to forward the proposed rate increases to a public hearing. Laura Mann seconded the motion.

Jan Brending said she will send out public information to all water and sewer customers and schedule the public hearing for October 17.

Laura Mann suggested that it would be nice to have a table that compares Bingen’s rates to other cities.

Proposed Utility Easement on Dickey Farms Property
Tad Connors reviewed the proposed easement over Dickey Farms property. He said there is a sewer line that runs from the apartments behind McDonalds to Highway 14. Connors said Dickey Farms is asking that the city maintain a culvert that runs under the highway and drains into Dry Creek – keeping it clean. In addition, Connors said Dickey Farms is asking $250 for the easement.

Tim Hearn suggested that the issue be tabled until the city attorney can talk to the Dickey Farms attorney regarding the maintenance of the culvert.

Tad Connors agreed. He said he would like to be able to tell the attorney that the $250 is fine but the city is not sure how maintenance of the culvert would be handled in an agreement.

Review of Existing and Proposed Parking Restrictions
City council and staff reviewed existing and proposed parking restrictions. A consensus was agreed on the following and a public hearing will be scheduled for October 17:

·        Provide one 15-minute parking space in front of post office

·        Provide two 15-minute parking spaces west of post office

·        Provide one 15-minute parking space on north side of Steuben, east of Ash

·        Provide 15-minute parking spaces on both sides of Oak between Steuben and Humboldt

·        Provide 15-minute parking on south side of Humboldt adjacent to Napa

·        Provide two 15-minute parking spaces on east side of Ash south of Humboldt

·        Provide 2-hour parking on both sides of Steuben from Willow Street to Cherry Street

·        Provide 2-hour parking on both sides of Maple, Ash and Alder from Steuben to Humboldt

·        Provide 2-hour parking on east side of Walnut

·        Provide 2-hour parking on east side of Oak north of Humboldt to the end of diagonal parking

·        Provide 2-hour parking on south side of Humboldt between Ash and Oak

·        Provide no parking on either side of Maple Street south of Steuben

·        Provide no parking on west side of Walnut north of Steuben and south of Jefferson

·        Delete no parking on either side of Steuben between Maple and Walnut between 3 am and 7 am

·        Delete no parking on Oak and Steuben between hours of 2 am and 5 am

·        Delete no parking in front of “Mt. Adams Inn” between 10 am and 12 pm and from 10 pm and 12 am

·        Delete loading zone/no parking in front of “Bingen Automotive and Industrial Supply” between the hours of 3 am and 6 pm

·        Delete loading zone/no parking in front of “Mt. Adams Health Food Store” between 3 am and 11 am

·        Delete loading zone/no parking in front of “Mansfields Hardware and Furniture”

·        All two hour parking to be signed for hours 9 am to 7 pm

Authorization to Transfer Funds from Current Expense to Building Construction
Jan Brending said the city has a grant from Klickitat County for repairing the basement wall at the Gorge Heritage Museum. She said the grant funds are provided on a reimbursement basis. Brending said she is requesting a temporary transfer of funds from current expense in the amount of $35,000 to the building construction fund to cover the costs of the repairs until the county provides reimbursement.

Tim Hearn moved to authorize a temporary transfer of $35,000 from current expense fund to the building construction fund to cover costs of the Gorge Heritage Museum basement wall. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

Treasurer’s Report
Jan Brending presented the Treasurer’s Report for August 2006.

Laura Mann moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report for August 2006. Tim Hearn seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

Old Business
Highway 14 Crosswalks
Laura Mann asked if a letter has gone to IPC regarding the repair of the crosswalks.

Jan Brending said she will develop a letter for the mayor’s signature.

Brian Prigel said the letter should address that the city would like the repairs to occur in the spring of 2007.

Jan Brending said she does not think that will be a problem.

Recycling Center
Laura Mann asked if there has been anything done regarding the recycling center.

Brian Prigel said there has been no resolution and that at this point the county has not closed the facility. He asked the council to provide ideas about how to stop the abuse noting that the county has put the city on notice that if the abuse continues they will close the facility.

Betty Barnes suggested that security cameras don’t really cost that much today.

Laura Mann asked if there was space on the other side of the public works building for the facility.

Brian Prigel said he thinks that location would only make it worse because it is less visible.

Tim Hearn suggested that the facility be fenced and locked.

Brian Prigel said that would help but then the facility would only be open Monday through Friday during business hours.

It was agreed to add discussion of the recycling center as a future agenda item to get public input in addition to providing information through an upcoming city newsletter.

Mayor’s Update and Council Member Comments
Council Vacancy
Brian Prigel said that he would like to advertise the city council member vacancy as soon as possible.

Jan Brending said she will run an advertisement in the paper for two weeks and schedule appointment at the first meeting in November.

Committee Positions
Betty Barnes said that since Randy Anderson has resigned she will volunteer to take his position on the police committee and budget committee.

Terry Trantow said he will serve on the water/sewer committee.

Depot/Maple Street Sewer Project
Brian Prigel said the city has sent a letter to White Salmon asking that an agenda item be added to the joint city council meeting agenda so that the two councils can discuss the Depot/Maple Street sewer project.

Jan Brending noted that the issue may be discussed at White Salmon’s regular council meeting on Wednesday.

Joint Water Committee Meeting
Brian Prigel provided an overview of the joint water committee meeting held between the two cities on September 26. He said that White Salmon has a shortage of water rights for the amount of water they are producing in addition to infrastructure issues. Prigel said White Salmon hopes to obtain more water rights and get the moratorium lifted.

Brian Prigel said that the City of Bingen and the Port of Klickitat contributed 25% of the cost of the well field and are allowed to use 25% of the water produced from the well field. He said that over the last two years the city of Bingen has drawn most of its water from White Salmon. Prigel said the city does not have enough data at the present time to determine how much it will use when the Park Well comes on line.

Betty Barnes asked if the city has kept within the 25% of the water from the well field. Brian Prigel said yes.

Brian Prigel said the City of White Salmon would like Bingen to transfer some or all of its water rights to the well field to help alleviate their problems. He said the use of Bingen’s water rights would not bring White Salmon current but would help relieve the problem. Prigel said Bingen is using half of its water right on an annual basis – 225 acre feet of the 450 acre feet allowed. He said Bingen is okay with its water rights at the present time but it doesn’t mean it wouldn’t need more for the future. Prigel said that one option for Bingen to obtain water is to drill a well locally and bypass White Salmon’s infrastructure problems. He said he does not know what that would mean to DOE and DOH because of the need for fire flow and emergency water source from White Salmon.

City council members discussed the idea of creating a water district.

Brian Prigel said one of his concerns is that White Salmon is facing infrastructure problems that will cost approximately $4 million with the possibility of a $1 million of $4 million coming from Bingen.

Terry Trantow said that it is his understanding that White Salmon could only get an additional 40 hookups when the moratorium is lifted. He said White Salmon already has a waiting list that probably covers more than 40 hookups.

Tim Hearn said that he sees it as that Bingen is in good shape and White Salmon wants Bingen’s water rights.

Betty Barnes said she would like to see the interlocal agreements between the two cities for both water and sewer. She asked that the mayor be a bulldog on the sewer project issue.

Tad Connors asked if Bingen’s wells have to be connected hydraulically with White Salmon’s wells. Brian Prigel said yes. He said that Mark Yinger has made an initial determination that they are connected. He said DOE will make the final determination.

Tim Hearn asked why Bingen pays for White Salmon water when it contributed funding towards the development of the well field.

Brian Prigel said a reasonable charge is appropriate to cover the costs of transmitting the water to Bingen. He said that at the time the well field was developed Bingen was charged $0.35 per 1000 gallons of water. Prigel said the city knew that the rate would go up. He said the first proposal was for $2.05 per 1000 gallons. Prigel said he refused that the proposal and White Salmon came back with the $0.95 per 1000 which was more reasonable. He said that he believes Bingen pays the same amount or more than White Salmon’s retail customers. Prigel said White Salmon has been saying that it may consider changing the rate charged to Bingen.

Banners and Christmas Lights
Betty Barnes suggested that if the city rents a lift to install banners the Christmas lights for the trees could also be installed at the same time. She suggested that it might be appropriate to leave the lights up longer.

Jan Brending noted that the Columbia Gorge Hotel leaves their lights up until February 14.

Recycling Bins – Downtown Area
Betty Barnes said she is working with a group that is getting a grant to attach recycling bins to garbage cans in the downtown area of Hood River. She suggested that it could also be done in Bingen. Barnes noted that part of the fund raising is allowing small signs identifying sponsorship by a particular business or businesses. She said that would be in conflict with the city’s sign ordinance for no off site advertising.

There was a consensus to wait and see how the project will proceed in Hood River.

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 October 3, 2006. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the following list: warrants 7880 through 7912 totaling $43,662.10; manual warrants 7878 and 7879 totaling $2,036.51, and payroll warrants 3719 through 6729 totaling $14,770.33 for a total of $60,468.94: Current - $12,516.10; Street - $2,2,11.54; Community Development - $18.95; Street Construction and Maintenance - $24,960.54; Excise Tax - $7,525.00; Water – $3,314.33; Sewer - $1,521.60; Treatment Plant - $3,335.98; Dallesport Treatment Plant - $5,064.90.

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

Jan Brending                                                            Brian Prigel
City Clerk                                                                Mayor