BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
November 1, 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. Audience: Jim Hulbert, Ruth Winner, Dale Robins, Jesse Burkhardt.
Public Comment
Betty Barnes, Bingen
Betty Barnes said at the council meeting on October 19, the City Council
requested that a letter from the city attorney be sent to Bad Seed Cider House
stating the requirements of the City’s sign ordinances and noting the penalties
for not complying with the ordinance. Barnes said it is her understanding that
the letter was not sent.
Jan Brending noted that the day after the last council meeting, the building official determined that engineered drawings would not be needed based on some adjustments made by the business. She said the building official issued a building permit to Bad Seed Cider House. Brending said that because the building permit had been obtained she did not think it was necessary to send the letter. She noted that the sign at Bad Seed Cider House will be installed this week.
Council members noted that their concerns with the sign was not only that a building permit had not been obtained but that the signs were being located temporarily with city right-of-way and that one of the signs was being attached to the tree staking supports. Council members also expressed concern that their desire to have a letter sent to the business was not followed through with.
Terry Trantow noted that one of the problems in obtaining the building permit was that it is very hard to hire an engineer at the present time due to their heavy workloads.
Brian Prigel said he thought the goal was to work with businesses to achieve compliance. He said he feels it is better to work with a business who is showing a good faith effort. Prigel said the City’s current sign ordinance needs to be enforced fairly.
Betty Barnes noted that two months of concern from the city council was working with the business.
Brending noted that the city council began working on a revised sign ordinance but put it on hold until the subdivision ordinance could be completed. She said she will be bringing the sign ordinance back to the council after the beginning of the year.
Laura Mann, Bingen
Laura Mann noted that when it rains there is standing water at the northeast
corner of the Alder and Steuben intersection.
Brian Prigel said he is aware of the problem along with WSDOT. He said a solution to the problem will not be easy and will not be undertaken in the near future.
Jan Brending noted that is possible to use the crosswalk without stepping into the water. She said it disappears quickly once it stops raining.
Approval of Minutes – October 19, 2004
The following corrections were noted to the October 19 minutes:
Page 1, 10th paragraph, change State Route 14 to State Route 141.
Page 2, 5th paragraph, 1st sentence, should read “…parking spaces on streets other than Steuben that have not been done for several years.”
Laura Mann moved to accept the minutes as corrected. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
SR 35 Bridge Presentations
Dale Robins provided a review of the SR 35 Bridge feasibility study. He said
he started working on the idea of replacing the bridge in 1982.
Brian Prigel said a source of local funding is needed to help attract other funding sources. He said matching funds will be needed for the federal grants to complete the final environmental impact statement. Prigel said an option for local funding will come through increased toll fees. He said any increase in tolls would be set aside in an escrow account to be dedicated to the replacement of the existing bridge.
Prigel said he and Dale Robins are seeking support from local agencies and groups before meeting with the Port of Hood River. He said that if a local source of funding and local support is not established the project will die.
Laura Mann asked what will happen to the funds if a new bridge is not built.
Brian Prigel said he believes there will always be a need for a new bridge. He said however, that if there is no new bridge it is possible the funds could be used for long-term improvements to the existing bridge.
Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Jim Hulbert, consultant for City of White Salmon, presented the draft
Community Wildfire Protection Plan. He said there are a number of implementation
projects including educating property owners and possible using sheep and goats
to graze the bluff area. Hulbert said a grant has been requested for a test
project using the sheep and goats. He said most of the implementation will be
done by private property owners using the suggestions in the plan. Hulbert
suggested the two cities may want to develop a wildfire preparedness committee
to help keep the efforts of the planning process going.
Randy Anderson moved to approve the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Terry Trantow seconded the motion.
Agreement with Klickitat County Public Works to
Perform Reimbursable Work
Jan Brending said the proposed agreement with Klickitat County Public works
allows the county to do road work for the City of Bingen and a reimbursable
basis. She said a previous agreement expires at the end of December. Brending
noted the agreement is necessary for Klickitat County to do the work on Depot
Street.
Randy Anderson moved to approve the agreement with Klickitat County Public Works to perform reimbursable work. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
Mayor’s Update
Support Letter for Bingen-White Salmon Police Department
Brian Prigel provided a draft letter of support for the Bingen-White Salmon
Police Department. He said the letter encourages the City of White Salmon to
maintain all existing positions even though the City is facing a funding
shortfall. Prigel said in addition, the letter suggests the City of White Salmon
consider options to help retain police officers with the department.
Laura Mann moved to authorize the mayor to send the letter of support for the Bingen-White Salmon Police Department to Mayor Linda Jones and White Salmon council members. Randy Anderson seconded the motion.
Darrell Armstrong Employment
Brian Prigel said that in the past two years the city has used Darrell
Armstrong on a temporary basis paid on an hourly rate. He noted that in 2003
Armstrong was paid $15.60 per hour and in 2004 $20.00 per hour. Prigel said that
Michael Wellman who was previously public works director established the 2004
rate with Armstrong.
Prigel said he feels it is important to be able to hire Darrell Armstrong on an emergency basis and to establish an hourly rate of pay.
Betty Barnes said that she feels that Darrell Armstrong needs to be paid an appropriate wage to attract him to the limited hours that he would receive from the city.
Brian Prigel said he thinks the $20 per hour is a fair wage. He said it is important to have some one call to assist in Public Works.
Betty Barnes moved to authorized paying Darrell Armstrong $20 per hour and to be hired on an emergency basis to be cleared first with the Mayor. Laura Mann seconded the motion. The motion passed 3 to 1 with the following vote: Anderson – Nay, Barnes – Aye, Mann – Aye, Trantow – Aye, Fentie – Absent.
Subdivision Ordinance
Jan Brending provided a copy of the final draft subdivision ordinance to
city council members. She noted that the binding site plan section has been
removed from the ordinance at this time. Brending said the City’s attorney
determined that additional work was needed on the section. She said she felt it
was important to get the ordinance adopted now and the binding site plan section
could be added on after the beginning of the year as an amendment.
Newsletter
Laura Mann noted that the newsletter provided to City Council members shows
the proposed rate for water overage less than 100,000 gallons at $0.75. She said
she thought the proposed rate was supposed to be $0.95 per thousand.
Jan Brending said the correct rate is $0.95 per thousand. She said the newsletter has not been mailed and it will be corrected.
Thank You Letter – Klickitat County Tourism Advisory
Board
Brian Prigel said the City of Bingen has received a thank you letter from
the Klickitat County Tourism Advisory Board for the downtown revitalization work
done in Bingen.
EDA Proposals
Jan Brending noted that EDA proposals will be due to Klickitat County in
mid-December. She said selection of the city’s proposals will be on the December
7 agenda.
Ruth Winner, Gorge Heritage Museum, provided a memorandum to the city council asking that the City consider the north wall improvements at the museum as one of its EDA proposals. She said a grant of $5,000 has been received from the Mary Hoyt Stevenson Foundation to assist in covering the costs of the project.
Jefferson Street Bridge
Betty Barnes asked about the status of obtaining information for repairing
the Jefferson Street bridge. Brian Prigel said information has not been obtained
as of this date. He said he will contact an engineer and obtain a proposal for
looking at options.
Cherry/Humboldt Street Stop Sign
Betty Barnes said nothing has been done about the stop sign at Cherry and
Humboldt. She said it is very difficult to see.
Public works staff will be asked to look at the sign.
Jail Agreement
City council members asked about the status of the agreement with Klickitat
County for providing for jail services.
Tad Connors said the county is still working with one of the three cities on proposed language changes. He said the county has agreed to the changes proposed by Bingen and White Salmon. Connors noted that one other jail might be interested in working with the city.
Banner Poles
It was asked if the banner poles on the decorative lights could be moved up
higher. Brian Prigel said not likely – he said one of the options the city is
looking at is spring loaded poles.
Park Well
Brian Prigel said staff is working on the rehab project for the Park Well.
He said the pump has been pulled and same analysis has been completed. Prigel
said he has established an agreement with Mark Yinger a hydrogeologist to
provide some consulting services for developing a set of specifications. He said
there is some discussion as to whether or not the pump should be sent to a pump
manufacturer to be taken apart and repaired.
Speed Limit – Jefferson Street Bridge
Terry Trantow said he would like to see the 15 mph speed limit sign at the
Jefferson Street Bridge replaced.
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
November 1, 2004. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the
following list: warrants 6329 through 6348 totaling $7,732.03, manual warrants
6328 totaling $0.00, and payroll warrants 6063 through 6074 totaling $18,208.41
for a total of $25,940.44: Current - $6,632.72; Street - $2,744.2; Community
Development - $2,407.50; Water - $3,026.96; Sewer - $1,569.09; Treatment Plant -
$5,156.43; Dallesport Treatment Plant - $4,403.53.
At 8:55 p.m. the Council adjourned.
Jan Brending
Brian Prigel
City Clerk
Mayor