BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 

Special County Meeting - Work Session

October 27, 2005

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Brian Prigel at 6:00 p.m. Bingen Council members present: Terry Trantow, Betty Barnes, Barbara Hylton, Randy Anderson and Laura Mann. Bingen staff present: Clerk Treasurer Jan Brending. Audience present: Damien Pitt and Matt Hastie.

Community Action Plan
Matt Hastie with Cogan Owens Cogan provided an overview of the city’s existing Community Action Plan. He said stakeholder interviews were started today with six being conducted personally. Hastie said the intent of tonight’s work session is to ask the city council the same questions that are being asked in the stakeholder interviews.

Hastie said that the initial public involvement session will be held in the evening on November 16. He said a draft Community Action Plan will be presented at a second public meeting in early to mid December and then it will come to the city council for review and refinement.

Hastie said interviewees were asked questions about their background, what they thought were the priority needs for Bingen and how the city can help in meeting objectives and how best o involve other members of the community. He said the individuals interviewed today were Erin Anderson, Maria Perez, Lee Ast, Jason Spadero, Lisa Welch and Chris Wyman, and Jeff Rogers.

Hastie said he heard a few things that were repeated by most of the interviewees if not all including that need to create things in Bingen to attract more people to visit, shop and live in Bingen. He identified some of the information they heard through the interviews:

·        connection of Port property to Bingen

·        better connection and use of the water front

·        need for a community center

·        improvements housing stock – “sprucing things up”

·        completing enhancements to the downtown

·        retaining community heritage

·        preserving affordable housing

·        sign regulations

·        involving the Hispanic community

·        water issues – supply and quality

Hastie said they heard comments about the city taking a lead role in making things happen but partnering with service organizations and involving the Port of Klickitat and Klickitat County. He said he also heard the desire for developing closer ties with White Salmon in shared issues and needs and developing more and better cooperation.

Hastie said that when the interviewees were asked to review the existing objectives in the plan he said that most felt they were all still important with the most focus on A, B, F, G and H. He said he heard less support for C, D, and E.

Laura Mann asked if Hastie had heard any comments about limiting growth. He said not really. Hastie said he heard that some growth is beneficial in that it provides more activities.

The city council provided comments on needs and existing objectives. Brian Prigel suggested changing the wording for Objective A. Council members said objectives F, G, and H are all important.

Brian Prigel said the format of the updated Community Action Plan will change slightly. He said the plan will be developed by and for the community.  Prigel said the plan will not include a time line for any objective which will allow the city to deal with them as opportunities arise. He said responsibilities will not be connected to a specific agency unless there is a solid commitment from that agency. Prigel said the plan will focus on potential partners.

At 6:50 p.m. the Council adjourned.

Jan Brending                                                            Brian Prigel
City Clerk                                                                Mayor