BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
 

December 7, 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: Micheal Robarge, Brandon Walter, Mark Scowden, Esteban Sanchez, Tim Hearn, Jesse Burkhardt.

Approval of Minutes – November 16, 2004
Betty Barnes moved to approve the minutes of November 16, 2004. Laura Mann seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

Public Hearing – Proposed 2004 Budget Amendments
No public comment was provided on the proposed 2004 budget amendments.

Jan Brending recommended tabling action on the proposed amendments to the December 21 meeting to account for remaining billing in 2004.

Jeanette Fentie moved to table action on the proposed 2004 budget amendments to the December 21 council meeting. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

Public Hearing – Proposed 2005 Budget
Micheal Robarge, City of Bingen Dallesport Treatment Plant Manager
Micheal Robarge said he is opposed to having employee benefits altered as provided for in the proposed 2005 budget. He said that he was informed on Friday that the benefits would change. Robarge said he spoke with Brian Prigel expressing concern that this was the first employees had heard of any proposed changes to employee benefits, particularly medical benefits.  He said the proposed change in benefits equates to approximately $0.60 to $0.80 per hour per employee.

Jan Brending noted that in response to budget committee member concerns about the budget and that the fact the city pays for 100 percent of the employee’s medical insurance costs, she provided an option to the budget committee a week ago regarding employee medical insurance. Brending said the Association of Washington Cities provides several insurance packages that a city can choose from. She said the insurance package provided for city employees provides for no deductible and a $10.00 copay per office visit. Brending said a package that would cost the city less provides for a $500 per individual deductible and then covers 80% of the office visit costs after the deductible is met. She said that she suggested as an option to having employee’s pay a portion of their insurance premium that a change in insurance plans be made which would cost the city less money.

Brending said she has contacted the employees and heard back from all but one. She said the employees would prefer not to change insurance plans and have no deductible for their insurance premium. Brending said if the city council feels that the cost savings is necessary another option is that employee’s would prefer to pay the difference between the two insurance packages out of their paychecks. She said the employee’s would prefer a payroll deduction to changing insurance plans.

Randy Anderson said that he had asked the Clerk-Treasurer to look at options related to employee benefits.

Micheal Robarge asked Randy Anderson how long he has been on the city council. Anderson said 4 to 5 years this time and he had previously served another tetm for 4 years.

Micheal Robarge said he was never asked to be part of the budget committee. He said that he did a wage comparison for salaries paid by the City of Bingen. Robarge said it is difficult to compare Bingen to other cities in Washington.  He said based on the information he was able to obtain from the internet, the wages paid by Bingen are low-paying for the industry (Robarge provided a copy of the information to the City Council). Robarge said the benefit package provided by the City helps offset the difference.

Micheal Robarge said he had heard that the city council had the opportunity to increase the sales tax rate but chose not to. He also noted that council members and the mayor receive a stipend and are provided a supplemental insurance policy through AFLAC. Robarge said that if the council is considering cutting benefits to employees the council should look at cuts across the board.

Randy Anderson said that based on the number of residents in Bingen it costs over $400 per individual per year to pay for the employees’ salary and benefits. He said that based on 290 households it costs each household over $1000. Anderson said it is not possible for the City of Bingen to compete with salaries of a larger city.

Laura Mann said she is glad that the employees have come to the council meeting and expressed their concerns.

Randy Anderson said that the City of Bingen’s benefit program – particularly medical benefits – is above the level provided by most cities in Washington. He said however that he does not blame employees for trying to protect their benefits.

Betty Barnes said she understands the employees’ frustrations. She said the employees took their current jobs based on the benefits offered at that time. Barnes said that being a public servant usually means taking less in pay but having benefits that help offset the difference. She said it is important to remember that benefits are wages. Barnes said the 2005 budget has not been adopted and there is an opportunity to make changes. She said that due to rising insurance costs it is an area that would be normal to look at when developing a budget. Barnes said she thinks city council should consider looking at its own insurance package and whether or not it should be eliminated.

Laura Mann said she agrees with Betty Barnes.

Randy Anderson said the City of Bingen in Washington is the only city of its size that pays 100 percent of the insurance benefits. He said that 80 percent of cities over 10,000 do not pay 100 percent.

Micheal Robarge said he understands that but feels the City of Bingen is on the low side of wages.

Jeanette Fentie said that the idea of paying 100% of employee benefits is a dying breed. She said she does understand that it offsets salary but that benefits are being cut everywhere not just the City of Bingen. Fentie said she believes the employees might deserve 100% coverage but that no one else is getting it in the industry. Jeanette Fentie said that she also does not want to freeze the cost of living increase but noted that most people do not get a cost of living increase.

Laura Mann said she would like to propose that the city eliminate the supplemental insurance for city council members and the mayor. She said this would be a cost savings in the current expense budget of approximately $3600 per year. Mann said that it is likely that city employees are going to have to eventually take some responsibility for their insurance costs as employees in the rest of the country are doing. Mann said she agrees that a cut in benefits is a cut in pay.

Brian Prigel said it is important to look at the big picture when considering the issue. He said that he feels dealing with employee benefits as part of the budget is not a good idea. Prigel said employee benefits should be largely a policy issue. He said the city has a very good benefit package that is not the norm for most cities. Prigel said that while the city needs to be aware of rising costs and that it is not the norm, the city also has the opportunity to be a leader on the issue. He said the city needs to look at future options for employee benefits but feels it is better to be on the good side of the average.

Brian Prigel said that there was a short time frame in which the discussion of employee benefits took place. He said that for the issue to be addressed more fairly it should be separated from the budget giving more opportunity for discussion with employee and council members. Prigel said he would like to see any changes to employee benefits delayed. He said he likes the idea of doing away with the AFLAC insurance for council members.

Randy Anderson said he does not agree that employees should not pay anything for their benefits. He suggested starting off with a $50 per month payroll deduction per employee.

Micheal Robarge said he feels that takes a hard line with employees.

Jesse Burkhardt, The Enterprise
Jesse Burkhardt said he feels that changing employees’ benefits with little or no notice is not fair.

Betty Barnes said she feels that the city’s employees are not the basic company employee but are public employees. She said they do not work for Underwood Fruit.

Laura Mann moved to drop the AFLAC insurance policy for council members and the mayor. Betty Barnes seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

Laura Mann moved that employee benefits be retained at their current level and the 2005 budget amended to reflect that decision. Betty Barnes seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

Randy Anderson moved to adopt Ordinance 04-12-508 as amended (dropping AFLAC insurance and reinstating full employee benefits at current level). Laura Mann seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

Laura Mann suggested the city council begin discussing employee benefits and the possibility of additional sales tax in June of 2005.

Public Hearing – Proposed Subdivision Ordinance
The following changes were made to the proposed subdivision ordinance:

Chapter 16.08 – Definitions
The definition of subdivision shall read as follows: “A division or redivision of land into an accumulative of 5 or more lots for the purpose of sale, lease, or transfer of ownership.”

Section 16.24.070, K – Short Plat Blocks:
The first paragraph under “OWNERS:” shall read as follows: “We, owners of the Short Plat shown herein, hereby declare that this division of land has been made with our free consent and in accordance with our desires. We further dedicate all roads as shown, not noted as private.”

Section 16.24.070, K – Subdivision Blocks:
The first paragraph under “OWNERS:” shall read as follows: “We, owners of the Plat shown herein, hereby declare that this division of land has been made with our free consent and in accordance with our desires. We further dedicate all roads as shown, not noted as private.”

Section 16.28.050, C  – Boundary Line Adjustment Approval Criteria
Paragraph C. shall read as follows: “Lots shall have an access easement of a minimum width of 20 feet to a public street.”

Terry Trantow moved to approve Ordinance 04-11-507 as amended. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.

Klickitat County EDA Proposals
Jan Brending presented information to the city council regarding estimated costs for projects under consideration for Klickitat County EDA proposals.

The proposals included repair/replacement of the north foundation wall at the Gorge Heritage Museum, street banners and improvements to Daubenspeck Park.

Laura Mann said she would like to make the park improvements the city’s number one priority. She said the three components should be listed in order of importance – electrical upgrade, irrigation upgrade and restroom upgrade. Mann suggested the movement of the basketball court be deleted from the proposed improvements.

Terry Trantow said he has some concerns about the electrical upgrade. He said he would like to see a breakdown of who sits on the Huckleberry Festival committee and how it is managed. Trantow said he is concerned the city is providing an upgrade for a festival that might not be continuing in the future.

City council members discussed the electrical upgrade and felt that it was an improvement that was needed regardless of whether the Huckleberry Festival continues.

Betty Barnes moved to submit two proposals for EDA funding to Klickitat County with the first priority the park improvements for a grant request of $25,000 and the second priority repair of the north foundation wall at the Gorge Heritage Foundation for a grant request of $35,000. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

Mayor’s Update
Fire Truck
Brian Prigel reported that the fire truck has been delivered and accepted. He said it is an impressive vehicle. Prigel said the fire department will be conducting training on using the vehicle. He said that there is a leaking valve which will be replaced at no cost.

Jail Agreement
Tad Connors reviewed a letter from Klickitat County regarding the proposed agreement for jail services. He said that Bingen and White Salmon are caught up in a controversy that is occurring between Goldendale and Klickitat County.

Connors said the county has added language that if an individual is charged with a felony and the charge is later dropped or reduced that the cities would be responsible for the jail costs where normally these would be picked up by the county. He said this is not acceptable.

Connors said that at this point the agreement is still under consideration.

Motorized Scooters and Skateboards
Betty Barnes said the city does not have an ordinance regarding motorized scooters or skateboards. She said that a motorized skateboard was used in Bingen recently and later that day caused an accident up in White Salmon. Barnes suggested the city begin considering an ordinance for motorized scooters and skateboards.

Jan Brending noted that cities have recently begun adopting such ordinances. She said the chief of police has suggested that an identical ordinance be adopted in both cities.

Well Rehabilitation
Laura Mann asked about the status of the well rehabilitation. Brian Prigel said a presentation about process and suggested procedures will be made at the last meeting in December or first meeting in January. He said the casing in the the Park Well is leaking and needs to be pulled and reinstalled.

Jan Brending noted that city employees have now taken the Dry Creek Well off line due to low production.

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 December 7, 2004. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the following list: warrants 6384 through 6421 totaling $40,519.97, manual warrants 6382 and 6383 totaling $284,066.05, and payroll warrants 6091 through 6104 totaling $18,801.45 for a total of $343,387.47: Current - $13,979.57; Street - $3,672.54; Fire Equipment Reserve - $283,245.05; Street Construction and Maintenance - $5,195.37; Park Construction and Maintenance - $406.55; Water - $11,609.91; Sewer - $1,419.13; Treatment Plant - $6,737.72; Dallesport Treatment Plant - $7,671.63; 73-95 Water/Sewer Bond Redemption - $9,450.00.

At 9:40 p.m. the Council adjourned.

Jan Brending                                                            Brian Prigel
City Clerk                                                                Mayor