BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
October 18, 2005
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Prigel at 7:00 p.m. Council members present: Terry Trantow, Betty Barnes, Randy Anderson and Laura Mann. Members Absent: Barbara Hylton. Clerk Jan Brending and City Attorney Tad Connors were present. Audience: Timi Keene, Penny White Morris, Tim Hearn, Jesse Burkhardt, Ruth Winner, Frank See, Faye Hill, Matt Riley, Russell Perry.
Presentation – Hood River County, Building Official Services
Brian Prigel announced that Hood River County Building Department will not be making the scheduled presentation at tonight’s council meeting. The presentation will be rescheduled.
Public Comment
Ruth Winner, Gorge Heritage Museum
Ruth Winner requested that the repair of the north foundation wall of the Gorge Heritage Museum facility be placed as the number one request for Klickitat County EDA funding (see memorandum from West Klickitat County Historical Society dated October 18, 2005). She said the estimated cost of the repair is $20,000 to $22,000. Winner said she will be providing the city council with additional detail in the near future.
Jan Brending said that an initial discussion of possible projects to be considered for EDA funding will likely be scheduled for the November 1 meeting. She said that she has learned that the timeline for the county’s consideration of EDA proposals will likely be pushed back this year.
Approval of Minutes – September 22, 2005
Corrections to the minutes of the September 22, 2005 joint city council meeting were noted as follows:
Page 1, 1st paragraph, Tad Connors was not present at the meeting.
Page 3, 7th paragraph should read as follows: “Skip Grimes said that all calls related to building permits would be forwarded to the county. He said that he feels his department is very easy to work with and is focused on customer service.”
Laura Mann moved to approve the minutes of the Joint City Council Meeting, September 22, 2005 as amended. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
Approval of Minutes – October 4, 2005
Corrections to the minutes of the October 4, 2005 meeting were noted as follows:
Page 1, 1st paragraph, Ruth Winner was in attendance.
Page 5, 2nd paragraph, Betty Barnes made the statement instead of Laura Mann.
Randy Anderson moved to approve the October 4, 2006 minutes as amended. Laura Mann seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
Public Hearing – Conditional Use Permit, Mountain Home Biological
Brian Prigel opened the public hearing for Conditional Use Permit Application – Mountain Home Biological.
Frank See provided an overview of the Mountain Home Biological business. See said he is proposing to build a 5,000 square foot building on property currently owned by Norm Deo. He said the building will be designed so that it is possible to add a second floor in the future. See said his business currently employees four full-time employees, three part-time employees, and contracts with a number of barn owl pellet collectors. See said his business provides science supplies to schools including live frogs, pond snails, crickets, and guppies. He said he also collects and sorts owl pellets that are also sold to schools.
Randy Anderson asked how many more employees the business will hire after the expansion. Frank See said the building will be twice as big and could expect the number of employees to also double.
Brian Prigel asked what type of building will be constructed. Frank See said the facility will be a steel building with windows.
Brian Prigel noted the property is zoned commercial but is in a transition area moving from commercial to an industrial zone.
Frank See said he plans on planting some trees and other landscaping.
Brian Prigel asked if all of the business’ activities will be located within the building. Frank See said yes.
Matt Riley said he has met with Steve See about the proposed business. He said he is in favor of the conditional use permit as long as the business owners are made aware of the existing operations and zoning of the property located immediately to the east. Riley said it is legal to drill, blast and crush rock on the adjacent property. He said he does not want any repercussions from doing business as usual.
Faye Hill asked if the business raises live animals. Frank See said no – he purchases the live animals from other suppliers and repackages them for sales to schools. He said the animals are kept in a series of tanks.
A question was asked about whether water quality is an issue. Jan Brending noted that the water available to the proposed site is the same water currently being used at the Port of Klickitat.
Terry Trantow asked if the business has any chlorine problems. Frank See said the water is dechlorinated.
Tim Hearn asked if the business keeps any live viruses. Frank See said no and that he does not intend to get into that business. He said none of his employees have degrees in biology which would be required.
Terry Trantow said Frank See has been a client of his. Trantow said he has not been working on the subject proposal or property.
The city council agreed that Terry Trantow could vote on the proposed conditional use permit seeing no conflict of interest.
Laura Mann stated that her and her husband’s business, Mann Made Constructions, is being considered to build the building. Laura Mann stepped down from the city council refraining from voting on the proposed conditional use permit.
Matt Riley asked why a conditional use permit is being required.
Tad Connors said the business is not strictly a commercial business although it does have the same general character of other uses within a commercial zone.
Brian Prigel said he would like to see some landscaping to soften the area and make it less industrial looking although trees may be difficult to grow in that area.
Laura Mann speaking for Mann Made Constructions said the proposed building will look very similar to the metal buildings that have been built at Bingen Point for Port of Klickitat.
Brian Prigel said he feels the proposed use is appropriate for the site.
Betty Barnes moved to approve the conditional use permit of Mountain Home Biological. Randy Anderson seconded the motion. The motion carried with the following vote: Anderson – Aye, Barnes – Aye, Hylton – Absent, Mann – Abstain, Trantow – Aye.
Jefferson Street Bridge Replacement Project – Bid Award
Jan Brending provided information on the bids received by the City of Bingen for the Jefferson Street Bridge Replacement Project. The bids were as follows:
J.K. Lee, Inc. dba Spring Hill
Construction $20,471.35
Betz Construction Inc.
$22,234.50
Accord Construction & Environmental Inc.
$24,564.00
BCE,
Inc.
$27,713.00
James Dean Construction, Inc.
$34,561.00
Betty Barnes moved to award the bid for the Jefferson Street Bridge Replacement Project to the low bidder J.K. Lee, Inc. dba Spring Hill Construction for $20,471.35. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Proposed 2005 Budget Amendments
Jan Brending presented the proposed 2005 budget amendments making special notation of the increase in the fire departments budget, the increase in the reserve transfer from water to water construction, the increase in expenditures in the community development fund and the water construction fund.
Betty Barnes asked how training expenditures are covered in the budget. Jan Brending said fees for conferences are located in “Miscellaneous” and mileage, hotel costs and meals are located under “Travel.” The council and staff discussed how employees are reimbursed for training costs.
The expenditure budget for “Street Construction and Maintenance” was amended by adding $20,472 for Jefferson Street Bridge Construction and increasing the amount for Jefferson Street Bridge Engineering from $2,920 to $4,420. Ending cash balance was decreased from $83,684 to $61,712.
The proposed ordinance for the 2005 Budget Amendments was amended: Street Construction and Maintenance – Appropriations to read $193,392 and Ending Cash Balance to read $61,712.
Laura Mann moved to adopt Ordinance 05-07-515, Amending the Budget for the Year 2005. Betty Barnes seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Proposed Interlocal Agreement for Collection of Insufficient Funds/Closed Account Checks – Klickitat County
Tad Connors presented information to the city council regarding a proposal by Klickitat County relating to the collection of checks that are returned to businesses for insufficient funds, accounts closed, etc. He said the City of Goldendale has entered into an interlocal agreement with Klickitat County that provides for a separate company to attempt to collect the funds directly from the individuals prior to being submitted to the prosecutor’s office for prosecution. Connors said that he sees no down side to entering into the agreement. He noted that “bad checks” are a difficult crime to prosecute and are often prosecuted as a theft case.
The city council asked for additional information on the proposal including information from the police chief before taking action.
Contract Status – Attorney Services – Legal Representation of Indigent Persons Entitled to Representation at Public Expense
Tad Connors said the contract for attorney services to represent indigent persons will expire at the end of the year. He said that the last time the city extended the contract it discussed the option of going out for bid the next time it expired. Connors asked the city council if it wants to put the contract out for bid. He noted that he likes working with the firm that currently holds the contract. Connors said the current contract is based on a flat fee each month which currently works out to approximately $129 per case.
Brian Prigel said the city has three options: 1) going back to having the judge appoint an attorney, 2) open the contract up to bid, and 3) renegotiate the contract with the current firm.
Terry Trantow moved to authorize Tad Connors to contact the current firm and renegotiate the contract. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
Contract Status – Attorney Services – City Attorney
Jan Brending said the city currently has a contract with Tad Connors for both criminal and civil attorney services. She said the contract was established in 1998 and there has been no increase in fees since that time.
Randy Anderson asked Tad Connors what he normally charges per hour. Connors said $150 per hour.
Brian Prigel asked staff to prepare some examples of what other contract city attorneys are making and bring back a proposal to the city council.
Laura Mann asked Tad Connors if there is anything else in the contract he would like addressed. Connors said no.
Tad Connors noted that he would like to present some information to the city council on how to handle appeals for situations involving impounding and euthanasia of dogs. He said this will be presented at a future council meeting.
Treasurer’s Report – September 2005
Jan Brending presented the treasurer’s report for September 2005.
Laura Mann moved to accept the treasurer’s report for September 2005. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
Mayor’s Update
Community Action Plan Update
Brian Prigel said the process for updating the community action plan has begun. He said that staff has identified a number of individuals for interviews. City council added several names including Ed Wahner, Jan Hawkens, Lisa Welch, and Fil Jimenez. Prigel said the consultants would like to meet with the city council on Thursday, October 27 to get the councils input. He said the first public involvement session will be scheduled for November 16 with a follow-up session scheduled December 8 or December 15.
Work Sessions
The city council scheduled a special work session to meet with the consultants for the community action plan update on Thursday, October 27 at 6:00 p.m. The city council rescheduled the presentation by Hood River County for building official services for Thursday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m. Both work sessions will be held at City Hall.
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 18, 2005. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the
following list: warrants 7036 through 7065 totaling $66,594.08 and payroll
warrants 6400 through 6419 totaling $14,098.38 and manual warrants 7035 and
501039 totaling $14,151.62 for a total of $94,844.08: Current - $56,308.61;
Street - $2,978.99; Water - $6,769.60; Sewer - $2,478.67; Treatment Plant -
$7,040.29; Dallesport Treatment Plant - $5,166.309; Dallesport Billing Trust
Fund - $14,101.62.
At 9:00 p.m. the Council adjourned.
Jan Brending
Brian Prigel
City Clerk
Mayor