BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
July 3, 2006
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Prigel at 7:00 p.m. Council members present: Terry Trantow, Betty Barnes, and Laura Mann. Council members absent: Tim Hearn and Randy Anderson. Clerk Jan Brending and Attorney Tad Connors were present. Audience: Patricia and John Newman, Bruce Brending.
Approval of Minutes – June 20, 2006
Corrections to the minutes of the June 20 city council meeting were noted as
follows:
Page 5, 7th paragraph, 1st sentence should read “Randy Anderson asked if the department uses an appointment contract.”
Page 7, 4th paragraph, 1st sentence should read “Terry Trantow said that is not entirely correct.”
Laura Mann moved to approve the minutes of June 20, 2006 as amended. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Public Hearing – Variance Request, Patricia and John
Newman
Brian Prigel opened the public hearing for a variance request submitted by
Patricia and John Newman. The request is a variance from the requirement of
minimum side yard width along flanking street of corner lot (15 feet) within the
Single-Family Residential (R1) District. The applicants request a variance that
would allow the minimum side yard width along the flanking street of the corner
lot to be 11 feet.
John Newman explained his request for the variance. He said that additional square footage is needed for daughter’s family. He said that the proposal would not set a huge precedent.
Betty Barnes asked if the distance from Humboldt Street to the edge of the house is 11 feet.
John Newman said yes. He provided a photograph of the existing structure on the property.
Brian Prigel said that if the Newmans were to add on to the house and meet the setbacks the northern edge of the structure where the addition would be added would then contain a jog.
Laura Mann said that because the setback would meet that of the existing structure she is comfortable with it. She said that if the addition was on the front of the house it might be different.
Laura Mann asked if there would be any stairways or porches that would project further into the setback on the north side.
John Newman said there will be no north side entrances into the home.
Patti Newman said the addition follows the same shape of the existing home.
Brian Prigel said that given that there is an existing home and the topography of the property associated with Humboldt Street it could be determined that a hardship exists to be meet the setback requirement.
Betty Barnes moved to approve the variance request submitted by Patricia and John Newman based on a hardship due to the existing location of the home and topography associated with Humboldt Street with a condition that no projections will be allowed on the north side of the structure. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Newman Request for Temporary Place of Concrete Blocks
John Newman submitted a request to the city (see request dated July 3, 2006)
for the temporary placement of concrete barricade blocks with a privacy fence on
city right-of-way along Humboldt Street. Newman said the placement of the blocks
will provide an effective way to channel water coming off of Humboldt Street
away from the house.
Brian Prigel said he supports the request as long as the concrete blocks are not hurting the road bank by creating instability or creating a retaining wall.
City council members discuss the location and height of the concrete wall and fence.
Tad Connors said a document should be recorded that makes the current property owner and future property aware that the structure must be removed at the owner’s expense if so required by the city.
John Newman said he could agree to having such a document recorded.
Terry Trantow moved to approve the request to place concrete blocks in the right-of-way on Humboldt as long as a retaining wall is not created and the road bank is not impacted and that a document will be signed and recorded between the city and the property owners noting that the structure is in the right-of-way and will be removed at the owner’s expense if so required by the city. Laura Mann seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Small Works Roster Bid – Daubenspeck Park, Bid Review
and Award
Jan Brending said the city received four bids for the electrical
improvements at Daubenspeck Park: Bonney Electric - $7,525.00, Leaco Electric -
$8,126.10, Coburn Electric - $8,277.60, and Hire Electric - $11,721.80. She
said she contacted Bonney Electric to make sure they were providing a similar
cabinet to that bid by Leaco Electric and Coburn Electric. Brending said the
bids are all similar.
Terry Trantow moved to accept the low bid of Bonney Electric of $7,525.00 for the electrical improvements at Daubenspeck Park. Betty Barnes seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
Proposed Resolution 2006-002, Surplus of Manufactured
Homes
Jan Brending said the proposed resolution authorizes the surplus of the
manufactured homes on Humboldt Street as they become vacant. She said the
process involves advertising the manufactured homes as surplus with sealed bids.
The winning bid would go to the highest bid in this case.
Laura Mann asked if a minimum bid can be stipulated. Jan Brending said yes.
Corrections to the resolution were noted as follows:
The addresses should be 405 and 407 W. Humboldt.
Section 1 should read “The manufactured homes located at 405 and 407 W. Humboldt shall be surplused through a bidding process as they become vacant.”
Laura Mann moved to approved Resolution 2006-002, Authorizing Surplus of Manufactured Homes as amended. Betty Barnes seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Six-Year Street Plan – Workshop
The city council members discussed the six-year street plan. Jan Brending
said the city needs to identify the projects that will be included so a public
hearing can be held at the 2nd meeting in July.
Terry Trantow said that there is a problem with the draining on East Jefferson and proposed that the 100 block of E. Jefferson be added to the six-year street plan.
The city council asked that the 200 block of East Humboldt be moved up in the priority listing.
Proposed Ordinance Amendment – Backyard Projections,
Discussion
Jan Brending said she is presenting a proposed ordinance amendment related
to backyard projections. She said that in a recent discussion with a property
owner she learned that the ordinance for back yard projections is somewhat more
restrictive than the ordinance for front yard projections.
Betty Barnes suggested that the ordinance include an amendment for front yard projections that would allow a small covered porch without being entirely enclosed.
Brending said she could use the language that currently exists for the back yard projections in the front yard projection ordinance.
There was consensus to move ahead with scheduling a public hearing for the proposed ordinance on July 18 with the change recommended by Betty Barnes.
Proposed Well Expenditures
Brian Prigel reviewed the status of the Dry Creek and Park wells (see
memorandum dated July 3, 2006). The said both pumps are oversized with Dry Creek
only slightly oversized. He said the water/sewer committee met to discuss the
needs for the wells. Prigel said the committee recommends that level
transmitters be installed for both wells at an estimated cost of $8,768.78.
Prigel said that in addition the committee recommends that the Park Well pump be
replaced with a smaller pump. He said that a new pump will cost approximately
$4,111.88 plus the costs for pulling the old pump and installing the new pump.
Prigel said the city has advertised the existing pump for sale. He said the cost
of that pump was $5,214.
Jan Brending said the funding will come from the water construction and maintenance by an operating transfer from the water fund.
Laura Mann moved to authorize the expenditures of installing 2 transmitters and 2 digital water level displays and 8 hours of programming for the SCADA system and the purchase and installation of a new 20hp pump for the Park well with costs up to $20,000. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Brian Prigel said that a joint water/sewer committee meeting will take place July 6 to discuss the Depot Street sewer project and White Salmon water rights. Prigel said both reservoirs were inspected with just the Sandpit Reservoir cleaned. He said the Bingen Reservoir was not cleaned because it had large particles that will require draining of the reservoir. He said the reservoir appears to be in good shape but will need some serious work in the next five years.
Old Business
Draft Letters to City of White Salmon and Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office –
Law Enforcement Services
Jan Brending said she spoke with Randy Anderson about the two draft letters
regarding law enforcement services. He said the letters were fine. The city
council agreed to mail the letters as written.
Shrubbery in Right-of-Way
Jan Brending said she is asking for some clarification of how shrubbery in
the right-of-way should be handled. She said that two properties with similar
characteristics are being handled differently.
Brian Prigel said that when addressing shrubbery or landscaping in the right-of-way public safety and sight lines should be considered.
Bruce Brending said that a 15 foot clearance should be provided at any stop sign. He said an individual in a standard passenger car must be able to see through the structure at a corner.
Tad Connors said he agrees that there should be some standards set forth in a specific policy.
City council members and staff discussed the issues of the properties located at Walnut and West Franklin and at Cedar and East Franklin. It was agreed that staff will write letters noting that 15 feet of shrubbery will be removed from Cedar and East Franklin from within the stop sign and that an option of no parking or the removal of the shrubbery adjacent to the property located at Walnut and West Franklin.
Public Parking – 400 W. Steuben, Crushed Rock
Expenditure
Jan Brending said staff is recommending that a minimum level of crushed
rock be placed on the property located at 400 W. Steuben to help keep the dust
and mud down. She said the estimated cost is $700 to $800.
Betty Barnes moved to authorize the installation of crushed rock at 400 W. Steuben up to $1500 in cost. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Mayor’s Update and Council Member Comments
Gorge Heritage Museum
Brian Prigel said he met with Ruth Winner and Mike Wellman to review the
north basement wall. He said Mike Wellman will providing an estimated cost for
two different scenarios – one with a full wall and a second with full depth wall
at the entryway and a shallower wall. Prigel said that he expects the museum
board would like the full depth wall. He said that it would like provide better
options for future expansion of the building.
Public Works Staff
Brian Prigel said he has hired Daniel Dreier full-time working primarily
with Esteban Sanchez and helping Micheal Robarge and Tom Hons as needed. He said
the city has advertised three different positions with a closing date of July 7.
Prigel said he will make a decision as to what position to fill based on the
applications that are received.
Fire Siren
Jan Brending said Tolbert Electric will provide the electrical hookup to the
fire siren on July 5. She said additional work might be needed through Wheeler
Communications and Sprint.
E. Franklin Garbage
Betty Barnes said garbage is still piled up on the property owned by Julie
Howard. Jan Brending said it is her understanding that Tad Connors will write a
letter to Julie Howard about the garbage situation.
Dry Creek Hiking Trail
Brian Prigel said he and Jan Brending met with John Gotts and Frenchie
Vizena regarding a proposal for a trail along Dry Creek. He said the proposal
will be presented to the city council at the July 18 meeting.
Street Striping
The city council asked when the striping will be done for city streets. Jan
Brending said she will work with Esteban Sanchez after she gets back from
vacation to develop a small works roster bid.
Tribal Property
Laura Mann asked that the city write a letter to the Yakama Nation regarding
the condition of the property at Pine and Humboldt.
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 July
3, 2006. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the following
list: warrants 7656 through 7683 totaling $17,953.44; manual warrants 7654
through 7655 and 900570 totaling $846.01; and payroll warrants 6633 through 6645
totaling $17,230.54 for a total of $36,029.99: Current - $9,559.21; Street -
$3,129.56; Fire Fund - $41.01; Street Construction and Maintenance - $6,176.42;
Building Construction - $2,944.43; Water – 3,505.13; Sewer - $1,836.10;
Treatment Plant - $3,241.91; Dallesport Treatment Plant - $4,646.22; Sewer
Construction and Maintenance - $950.00.
At 9:20 p.m. the council adjourned.
Jan Brending
Brian Prigel
City Clerk
Mayor