BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
November 16, 2004
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Prigel at 7:00 p.m. Council members present: Terry Trantow, Randy Anderson, Betty Barnes, Jeanette Fentie and Laura Mann. Clerk Jan Brending and Attorney Tad Connors were present. Audience: Mildred Lykens, Barbara Sexton, Tammi Beneventi, Jerry Bertschi, Becky Woosley, Betty Lafevers, Terry Beckwith, Ian Jezorek, Lucia Nunez, Marilyn Winter, Maria Perez, Tim Hearn.
Public Comment
Becky Woosley, White Salmon
Becky Woosley said she is moving into the old Dickey Farm’s fruit stand
and will likely be sharing the space with another tenant. She asked how the
water/sewer billing is handled when there are two tenants in one building.
Jan Brending said the commercial building is billed a single commercial rate for water and sewer. She said the bill goes to the landowner. Brending said it is up to the tenants and landowner as to how the water and sewer bill is paid.
Approval of Minutes – November 1, 2004
Amendments to the minutes of the November 1, 2004 council meeting were noted
as follows:
Page 1, 2nd paragraph, first sentence, change to read as follows: “… the City Council requested that a letter from the city attorney be sent …”
Page 1, add the following paragraph after the sixth paragraph: “Betty Barnes noted that two months of concern from the city council was working with the business.”
Page 3, 8th paragraph, 3rd sentence, change “addition” to “additional”
Page 3, 9th paragraph, 1st sentence, change “Betty Barnes” to “Laura Mann”
Page 4, 3rd paragraph, 1st sentence, add “bridge” to the end of the sentence.
Page 4, 4th paragraph, 1st sentence, change” Laura Mann” to “Betty Barnes”
Page 4, 8th paragraph, 1st sentence, change “decorate” to decorative”
Betty Barnes moved to approve the minutes of the November 1, 2004 council meeting as amended. Jeanette Fentie seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Public Hearing – Water/Sewer Rate Increases
Brian Prigel said that in 1999 the city adopted a water/sewer rate plan that
covered 2000 through 2004 providing incremental rate increases each year. He
said the current water and sewer rates cover operating and maintenance costs but
do no allow for setting aside funds for capital improvements. Prigel said the
budget committee has recommended that rates be set for 2005 realizing that
during the year a capital improvements plan will be completed providing
information on how much money is needed for upcoming capital improvements.
Prigel said that some upcoming capital improvement projects in the water
department include the replacement of a gas chlorination system, cleaning and
maintenance of the old reservoir on Bingen Hill, replacement of an old 2 inch
line that runs down Bingen Hill, and rehabilitation of the city’s wells. He said
it is important that the well rehabilitation take place so that less water can
be purchased from White Salmon.
Prigel said that in the sewer department there are aging sewer lines that need to be replaced. He said some of the lines are causing infiltration problems at the treatment plant.
Betty Lafevers, Bingen
Betty Lafevers asked the city council if it realizes that there are 60
seniors in the city that are on fixed incomes. She said seniors do not get any
increases in their income and they will not be able to cover the increase in
cost for water and sewer. Lafevers said that people are not in favor of raising
the water and sewer rates. She said the city should wait until the economy gets
better. Lafevers suggested the city should freeze all wages of city employees
including council members. She said that everyone is hurting and that rates
should be frozen until people can get back on their feet.
Brian Prigel said he believes the city is aware of the number of seniors and low-income residents in Bingen. He said the city has been successful in getting a number of grants because of the low-income population in Bingen. Prigel said the grants have helped keep rates low.
Marilyn Winter, Bingen
Marilyn Winter asked if the water is drinkable and if the wells are going
dry.
Brian Prigel said the water is drinkable. He said the status of the wells in unknown at this time. Prigel said one of the wells has been shut down and the pump pulled for analysis. He said that at the time the pump was pulled the well was only pumping 25 gallons of water a minute versus its original production of 200 gallons per minutes.
Maria Perez, Bingen
Maria Perez asked if there will be increases after 2005 in the rates.
Brian Prigel said that it is likely the rates will increase each year but hopefully not as much as this year.
Brian Prigel said the city council can consider a possible reduced rate for low-income seniors.
Maria Perez said that she supports a discount to senior citizens.
Tim Hearn, Bingen
Tim Hearn asked why the city was doing just a one-time rate increase and not
adopting a step-plan for a number of years.
Brian Prigel said a capital improvement plan will be completed during 2005. He said the information from the plan will help the city analyze its rates to determine what is needed in coming years.
Jerry Bertschi, All Sports Pizza
Jerry Bertschi said he has concerns with water and sewer overage charges. He
said All Sports Pizza is paying a lot for overages.
Jan Brending explained that the water and sewer billing for commercial and industrial users is based on the gallons of water used. She said the water usage at All Sports Pizza has been running high – higher than other restaurants in Bingen. Brending said it is possible there is a leak at the facility. She suggested meeting with the business owners to discuss the issue.
Brian Prigel closed the public hearing.
Jan Brending said that a written comment was received from Underwood Fruit and is part of the record. She said it has been suggested that instead of having a two-tiered approach for water overages that a single-rate is charged for any water overage.
Terry Trantow noted that industrial water users do not have the choice of conservation.
Brian Prigel said it is important to cover the costs of what White Salmon charges for water.
Laura Mann suggested that the overage rate should be $1.20 per 1000 gallons. Randy Anderson said he would like to see it at $1.05 per 1000 gallons.
Laura Mann moved to adopt Ordinance 04-07-503 – Revising Bingen Municipal Code 13.04.120 Service Classifications and Charges Designated for Water Service, with an amendment to Section 3 to read as follows:
Section 3. Bingen Municipal Code 13.04.120 C shall read as follows:
C. Charges for Gallons Used Above the Minimum. All gallonage used which exceeds the applicable minimum shall be charged at the rate of one dollar five cents ($1.05) per thousand gallons throughout all user classifications.
Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Terry Trantow moved to adopt Ordinance 04-08-504 – Amending Bingen Municipal Code 13.24.030 Monthly Sewer Rates. Laura Mann seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Public Hearing – Additional Sales and Use Tax
Brian Prigel said the city council is considering imposing an additional ½
percent sales tax in the City of Bingen. He said the city is one of four cities
that have not imposed the addition sales tax. Prigel noted the City of White
Salmon began imposing the tax in 2003.
Jerry Bertschi, All Sports Pizza
Jerry Bertschi said a lot of businesses were hurt by the downtown
beautification process with a loss of revenue. He said that he believes
increasing the sales tax will result in an additional loss of revenue. Bertschi
said the city should be looking at ways in making it easier to open businesses
in Bingen rather than creating road blocks. Bertschi asked the city council
where it buys furniture, appliances and clothes.
Randy Anderson noted that he purchases everything possible in the two towns. He noted that he was previously in favor of imposing the additional sales tax but said he no longer supports the proposal.
Terry Trantow asked Jerry Bertschi if the additional ½ percent sales tax would result in a loss of business at All Sports Pizza.
Bertschi said it would probably not hurt his business.
Marilyn Winter, Bingen
Marilyn Winter asked how many firemen are on the city’s volunteer fire
department.
Brian Prigel said he believes there are now 12 volunteer members. He said the ideal number is 15.
Marilyn Winter asked when the city’s fire alarm is going to be fixed so that the public knows when there is a fire.
Brian Prigel said the city is in the process of getting the two fire sirens connected and in a working status.
Betty Barnes said that the businesses in Bingen have been through a lot in the last two years. She said it is important to recognize that Bingen is a border town and people have the choice to go across the river where there is no sales tax. Barnes said she believes the additional sales tax is inevitable but would like to see Bingen businesses have a summer where they don’t get a lot of complaints.
Jeanette Fentie said she does not support imposing the additional sales tax at this time. She said she does see the need but feels that businesses have seen a lot of increases in costs including the water and sewer rates just adopted by the city council. Fentie said the city council should revisit the issue next year and give businesses a year to revitalize.
Terry Trantow said that he runs a business in Bingen. He said he is in favor of imposing the additional tax.
Laura Mann said she also runs a business in Bingen. She noted that White Salmon charges 7.5%. Mann said that she understands both sides of the issue. She said however that it is important that funding be maintained in the city so the city can be operated correctly.
Laura Mann moved to adopt Ordinance 04-10-506, Imposing Additional Sales and Use Tax. Terry Trantow seconded the motion. The motion failed 2 to 3 with the following vote: Randy Anderson – Nay, Betty Barnes – Nay, Jeanette Fentie – Nay, Laura Mann – Aye, Terry Trantow – Aye.
Public Hearing – Ordinance 04-09-505, Amending Rate
Structure for Wastewater Treatment and Service
Brian Prigel said the City of Bingen transfers a certain amount per ERU
(equivalent residential unit) from the sewer fund to the treatment fund. He said
this amount is also paid by the City of White Salmon. Prigel said these funds
provide for the operation and maintenance of the treatment plant. Prigel said
the proposed ordinance provides that in 2005 $9.25 per ERU will be allocated
towards the treatment plant and provides for an increase of $0.25 for each year
thereafter.
Betty Barnes moved to adopt Ordinance 04-09-505, Amending Rate Structure for Wastewater Treatment and Service. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Public Hearing – Proposed 2005 Budget
Jan Brending said this is the first public hearing on the proposed 2005
budget. She noted the budget will be changed removing $35,000 in additional
sales tax revenue. Brending said the final public hearing and action of the
budget is scheduled for December 7.
Resolution 2004-03, Establishing Fire Fund
Brian Prigel said the Bingen Volunteer Fire Department has had a separate
checking account for a number of years. He said the funds are used for
purchasing minor supplies such as drinking water used when fighting fires.
Prigel said the State Auditor’s office has required the city begin accounting
for the funds in its financial reports. He said the resolution sets up an
official fire fund.
It was noted that in the first paragraph of the resolution the word “fire” should be added after the word “volunteer”.
Laura Mann moved to adopt Resolution 2004-03, Establishing City of Bingen Fire Fund #154. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Mayor’s Update
Fire Truck
Brian Prigel reported that the City’s new fire truck has left Florida
and is on its way to Yakima. He said members of the fire department will be
traveling to Yakima to assist with equipment installation.
East Steuben Access
Brian Prigel said a property owner located on the south side of East Steuben
has expressed concerns about the transition from Steuben (Highway 14) to
properties fronting the road. Prigel said that a couple of loads of rock would
help make the transition easier. He said the rock would be placed within the
right-of-way. Prigel said that as the property is developed in the area access
will continue to be a challenge.
The city council agreed to have the public works department place rock in the area to make the transition easier.
Emergency Management Facility
Brian Prigel said progress on developing a scope of work for a feasibility
study of constructing an emergency management facility at 400 W. Steuben has not
gotten very far. He said that Skyline Hospital has not yet determined whether
they want to be a part of the facility.
SR 35 Bridge Presentations
Brian Prigel said that he and Dale Robins have been meeting with city
councils and community councils to present information about the SR 35 Bridge
study and the suggestion of raising bridge tolls with the increase to be placed
in an escrow account for future replacement of the bridge.
Budget Committee
Jan Brending said a budget committee meeting is needed prior to the next
council meeting to make changes to the proposed 2005 budget and review proposed
amendments to the 2004 budget.
The budget committee will meet on Tuesday, November 30 at 5:00 p.m.
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 16, 2004. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the
following list: warrants 6349 through 6379 totaling $12,388.84, manual warrants
50,1028 and 996278 totaling $$13,605.70, and payroll warrants 6075 through 6090
totaling $6,195.52 for a total of $32,190.06: Current - $9,345.74; Street -
$934.99; Street Equipment Reserve - $1,572.32; Water - $636.34; Sewer - $522.48;
Treatment Plant - $2,212.25; Dallesport Treatment Plant - $3,295.37; Dallesport
Billing Trust Fund - $13,670.57.
At 9:20 p.m. the Council adjourned.
Jan Brending
Brian Prigel
City Clerk
Mayor