BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 

Joint Council Meeting with White Salmon City Council

October 27, 2005

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Brian Prigel and Mayor Roger Holen at 7:00 p.m. Bingen Council members present: Terry Trantow, Betty Barnes, Barbara Hylton, Randy Anderson and Laura Mann. White Salmon City Council members present: Susan Gookin, Richard Marx and Penny White Morris. White Salmon City Council members absent: Francis Gaddis and Susan Benedict. Bingen staff present: Clerk Treasurer Jan Brending. White Salmon staff present: Allen Nelson, Public Works. Audience: Timi Keene, Dean Nygaard.

Hood River County Proposal for Building Official Services
Brian Prigel welcomed the City of White Salmon council members to the joint meeting. He said the meeting is an opportunity for Dean Nygaard with Hood River County Building Department to present a proposal to the cities for building official services.

Dean Nygaard said he is the building official for Hood River County. He said Hood River County currently has a contract with both the City of Bingen and the City of White Salmon to provide building official services. Nygaard said he appreciates the opportunity to express Hood River County’s desire to continue to provide building official services. He said that at the present time he is not prepared to provide an exact price to the cities but will be looking at the option of providing services for a percentage of the building permit fees. Nygaard said it is important for the cities to consider what kinds and what levels of services they need and to provide information to Hood River County about what is not currently working. He said that he presently conducts inspections, does plan reviews and provides technical advice to both contractors and property owners.

Dean Nygaard noted that even though he normally does inspections in the Bingen and White Salmon area on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays he does additional work throughout the week. He said that contractors also come to Hood River to meet with him.

Dean Nygaard said he believes Hood River County can compete with Klickitat County. He asked if the cities really want to give up their building departments.

Jan Brending noted that currently all applications, questions, requests for investigations come through the cities’ offices. She said contracting with Klickitat County would mean that applications, questions, requests for investigations would go directly to Klickitat County. Brending said the cities will be notified and provided with copies of applications so that zoning and water and sewer issues can be reviewed. She said the cities will no longer be the first stop when applying for a building permit.

Dean Nygaard noted that it is important to have a building official involved in the development of building codes and providing input into updates and amendments at the state level. 

Barbara Hylton noted that the City of Bingen pays more for building official services than it receives in building permit fees. She said she does not believe that is the same situation for the City of White Salmon.

Brian Prigel said the cost of providing building official services in Bingen has been the main incentive for considering Klickitat County’s proposal. He said he believes the level of service will change if the city contracts with Klickitat County. He said he has been very happy with the relationship between the city and Dean Nygaard.

Brian Prigel asked Dean Nygaard if he is comfortable with doing grading and fill permits. Dean Nygaard said yes. He said he does not see how a city could not do grading and fill permits.

Roger Holen said that he feels if the two cities do decide to go with Klickitat County for building official services, it should not reflect on the service Hood River County has provided. He said Klickitat County would provide services out of the new Pioneer Center located in White Salmon. Holen said he has a philosophy of keeping Klickitat County money in Klickitat County. He said he is not sure that Hood River County can compete with Klickitat County on costs.

Dean Nygaard said it is important to look at what the cities are going to get for the money. He said that Hood River County is available to help the cities keep their building departments. Nygaard said that if the two cities chose to go with Klickitat County he will be available to help the cities through the transition.

Dean Nygaard also noted that he feels the two cities may have a third option of developing a combined building department and hiring a full-time building official.

Brian Prigel said the City of Bingen would like to see a proposal that provides a cost of services in line with fees collected.

Betty Barnes said that she agrees with Roger Holen about the desire to keep Klicktiat County dollars in Klickitat County. She said that fees and the services provided are number one.

Randy Anderson said he is concerned about relinquishing control of the building department without having a complete package noting that Klickitat County will not provide services for grading and fill permits that are not directly associated with a building project.

Brian Prigel asked how close are the statutes in Oregon and Washington. Dean Nygaard said the main code is the same with some minor differences in the amendments adopted by each state.

It was noted that Klickitat County has developed a number of handouts that are available to the public. Dean Nygaard was asked if Hood River County can provide similar handouts. Nygaard said yes and noted that the Washington Association of Building Officials has handouts that could easily be modified.

Time Keene asked if the information that Jan Brending is preparing for the Bingen City Council could also be provided to the City of White Salmon.  Brian Prigel said yes.

Jan Brending said she will work with Brian Prigel to draft a letter to Hood River County asking for a written proposal to provide building official services. She said that discussion of options for providing building official services will be on the Bingen City Council’s agenda November 15 and that she will be mailing information out in the council packets on November 11.

At 7:55 p.m. the Council adjourned.

Jan Brending                                                            Brian Prigel
City Clerk                                                                Mayor