BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
May 16, 2006
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Prigel at 7:00 p.m. Council members present: Terry Trantow, Betty Barnes, Tim Hearn and Randy Anderson. Council members absent: Laura Mann. Clerk Jan Brending and Attorney Tad Connors were present. Audience: Ruth Winner, Judy Farrell, Jesse Burkhardt.
Public Comment
Ruth Winner, Gorge Heritage Museum
Ruth Winner said Judy Farrell took pictures of the flume. She said that
someone has scratched graffiti into the flume. Winner said she would to speak to
the school principals about the situation.
Brian Prigel said that Ruth Winner can certainly speak to the school.
Betty Barnes said that she thought the museum would take care of these kinds of problems.
Jan Brending noted that the flume was previously tagged and that the city crew cleaned it up.
Brian Prigel said he did not think it was appropriate to single out Bingen kids but said it would be appropriate to suggest the schools a public education program about graffiti.
Jesse Burkhardt noted that the newspaper did a story this week on graffiti.
Ruth Winner presented a letter to the city from the museum board regarding the removal of the chimney. She said the board is in favor of having the chimney removed.
Randy Anderson asked where the museum got the information that the chimney was not part of the original building.
Ruth Winner said the minutes of the Women’s Circle describe that the chimney was put in when the basement was dug out by hand sometime between 1920 and 1922.
Brian Prigel said the city can ask the contractor to be gentle when taking down the chimney.
Ruth Winner said the museum can store the bricks and plan to reuse them later.
Betty Barnes moved to authorize the chimney at the museum to be removed and that the bricks be salvaged to be used for the building or fundraising for the museum. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously passed.
Ruth Winner said the flume committee met and has identified June 3 for the dedication. She said the dedication will be held after the Spring Festival firemen’s breakfast and parade. Winner said several brief speeches will be given and a ribbon cutting will take place. She said the sign will be installed by the end of the month and that the lighting for the flagpole is on order.
Approval of Minutes – May 2, 2006
The following corrections were noted to the May 2, 2006 minutes:
Page 2, 4th paragraph should read as follows: “Terry Trantow said he thinks that the purchase of 4 backless benches at the cost of approximately $2,352 is too expensive.”
Page 2, 5th paragraph, last sentence should read as follows: “She this would show whether it works or not.”
Page 2, 8th paragraph, first sentence should read as follows: “Betty Barnes said that she did a survey of the business two years ago and that all of them expressed concerns.”
Page 4, 3rd paragraph should read as follows: “Terry Trantow suggested that a dedication ceremony take place for the Broughton Flume project.”
Page 4, 5th paragraph, first sentence should read as follows: “Brian Prigel suggested that Ruth Winner organize the dedication ceremony and let the city council know when it will be.”
Page 4, add paragraph after the 5th paragraph that reads as follows: “Betty Barnes asked if Ruth Winner would be willing to organize the ceremony.”
Randy Anderson moved to approve the minutes of May 16 as amended. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Public Hearing – Proposed Ordinance 2006-03-524,
Amending 2006 Budget
Jan Brending said the proposed ordinance amends the 2006 budget. She said
the amendments implement the items that the council has approved since the end
of December 2005.
Betty Barnes moved to approve Ordinance 2006-03-524 amending the 2006 budget. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Small Works Roster Bids – Museum Wall
Repair/Replacement
Brian Prigel said the city received three bids for the repair/replacement of
the museum wall (see memorandum dated May 16, 2006). The bids were as follows:
McNealy Excavating - $4,656.90, Spring Hill Construction - $7,032.91, and Lupin
Construction - $16,394.82. Prigel recommended the city award the bid to the
lowest bidder for the first phase of the project reserving the right to bid out
the actual repair/replacement of the wall.
Randy Anderson moved to award the bid for the repair/replacement of the museum wall to McNealy Excavating. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Brian Prigel said the construction contractor will meet with Mike Wellman. He said the excavation around the wall may need shoring. Jan Brending said the site will also need to be fenced.
Small Works Roster Bids – Reservoir Cleaning and
Inspection
Jan Brending said the city received one bid – LiquiVision Technology for
$4,380 plus sales tax. She said two other companies notified the city that they
would not bid on the project due to time constraints. Brending said the city has
obtained informal quotes from all three companies in the past and that the bids
have been within $5 to $10 of each other.
Terry Trantow moved to award the contract for reservoir cleaning and inspection to LiquiVision Technology. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Treasurer’s Report – April 2006
Jan Brending presented Treasurer’s Report for April 2006. She noted that the
Dallesport Fund overspending was higher than usual because Klickitat County was
late within a payment. Brending said she has reconciled the WSDOT billing and is
working with WSDOT to submit the final paperwork on the Highway 14 project.
Betty Barnes moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report for April 2006. Randy Anderson seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Old Business – Board of Appeals
Jan Brending said Dean Nygaard has provided some information regarding the
Board of Appeals. She said the information comes from the International Building
Code and IBC Handbook. Brending said the city will need to amend its building
code to develop a board of appeals as outlined in the contract with Hood River
County. She said that Dean Nygaard would prefer that the members of the board
either reside in Bingen or own a business in Bingen. Brending said she will work
with Tad Connors to development ordinance language to address the development of
a Board of Appeals.
Mayor’s Update and Council Member Comments
4th of July Celebration
Brian Prigel said that a meeting to review the 4th of July
celebration at Bingen Point took place on Monday. He said representatives
reviewed what was done in the past and what needs to be done this year. Prigel
said no major changes are proposed for this year. He said there are always
opportunities for community groups to get involved and do things during the
daylight hours. Prigel said it is important to keep in mind that this will be
the first year of the fireworks ban in Bingen. He said he would like to direct
the police department to educate and give warnings initially, with confiscation
of the fireworks on the second contact and with the 3rd contact
enforce the ordinance.
Highway 14 Crosswalks
Brian Prigel said a meeting has been scheduled with the manufacturing and
install of the crosswalk product and with WSDOT on May 31 to review and discuss
the condition of the crosswalks.
Wilcox and Flegel
Brian Prigel said he and Jan Brending met with Wilcox and Flegel to review a
preliminary site plan for redevelopment of the old Guler gas station. He said
the proposed use is permitted outright in the commercial zone. Prigel said the
plans were reviewed to consider the traffic flows. He said the proposed use will
be a truck cardlock.
Tim Hearn asked what happens if historical artifacts are found on the site when it is being redeveloped.
Brian Prigel said there are specific processes that must be followed if artifacts are found.
Law Enforcement Services
Randy Anderson said Chris Mace, Klickitat County Sheriff has made an offer
that sounds pretty good. He said it could save the city $30 to $40 thousand a
year. Anderson said the offer would provide equal coverage as to what the city
currently has.
Brian Prigel said if the city is serious about considering using a different agency for law enforcement services then it needs to do a formal request for proposals.
Randy Anderson said he was just looking at the fact that it might save the city money. He said he would like to see the offer in writing to see how Mace comes up with the figures and then if the council wants further information it can make that request.
Randy Anderson said he would like to see a degree required for the police chief.
Tim Hearn said he is totally opposed to that requirement.
Betty Barnes asked if the city has received minutes from the Joint Police Committee meeting.
Jan Brending said not yet.
Randy Anderson said that one of the things discussed by the joint police committee was developing a panel of 3 – the two mayors and one additional person. He asked if that would be legal.
Jefferson Street Bridge Paving
Betty Barnes asked if the city crew has paved the approaches to the
Jefferson Street bridge.
Jan Brending said the paving will be done this summer.
Public Parking Signage and Wheel Stops
Betty Barnes asked if the parking signage and wheel stops have been
purchased.
Jan Brending said staff is reviewing the wording for the signage at 400 W. Steuben and then they will be ordered.
Sewer Backups
Randy Anderson asked if the city crew will be doing any work to address the
sewer backups in the Franklin Street area.
Brian Prigel said the city crew will be repairing sewer line leaks.
Zoller Recreational Signage Request
Betty Barnes asked if the city sent a letter to Zoller about the status of
the recreational signage.
Jan Brending said she spoke to Zoller about the status of the request. She noted that White Salmon city council has not discussed the issue. Brending said Zoller reported that he was not successful in getting other rafting and kayaking businesses to sign a letter of support for the signage. She said that she told Zoller she will continue to work on the issue with White Salmon. Brending said a letter from the two cities will need to be sent WSDOT outlining the request.
Gorge Heritage Museum Lands
Betty Barnes said that when she went to look at the chimney at the museum
she noticed that the grounds surrounding the museum are very brown and feels it
is a fire hazard. She asked why the grounds are not watered.
Terry Trantow said the flowers are watered. He noted that Ruth Winner is very busy with other things at the museum.
Brian Prigel said the city has mowed the grounds in the past.
Betty Barnes asked if the city has requested that the grounds not be watered.
Brian Prigel said no. He noted that if the grounds are watered then it will need to be mowed on a regular basis.
Jan Brending noted that the city pays for the water at the museum.
Park and Downtown Sprinklers
Randy Anderson said that the sprinklers at the park are coming on during the
day. He asked that the city crew take a look at the timers.
Betty Barnes asked if the sprinklers in the downtown landscaping are adjustable as some of them are watering sidewalks and the street.
Jan Brending said she will have the city crew check the sprinklers.
310 West Franklin
Terry Trantow said the shrubbery at 310 West Franklin has grown into the
right-of-way that is limiting the travel lanes.
Jan Brending said she will write a letter to the property owners about the problem.
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 May
16, 2006. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the following
list: warrants 7538 through 7569 totaling $16,499.16; manual warrants 7537 and
501046 totaling $13,640.69; and payroll warrants 6588 through 6602 totaling
$9,069.67 for a total of $39,069.67: Current - $15,299.94; Street - $1,192.91;
Water - $3,057.82; Sewer - $828.88; Treatment Plant - $1,797.37; Dallesport
Treatment Plant - $3,920.63; Dallesport Billing Trust Fund - $13,508.81.
Executive Session
Brian Prigel announced the city council will go into executive session for
15 minutes to discuss personnel issues.
At 8:35 the council resumed regular session and adjourned.
Jan Brending
Brian Prigel
City Clerk
Mayor