BINGEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
September 18, 2006
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Prigel at 7:00 p.m. Council members present: Terry Trantow, Tim Hearn, and Betty Barnes. Members absent: Randy Anderson and Laura Mann. Clerk Jan Brending and Attorney Tad Connors were present. Audience: Jesse Burkhardt, Lisa Jacobs, Ruth Winner, Bruce Brending.
Public Comment
Lisa Jacobs, Stonecliff Development
Lisa Jacobs said
Stonecliff Development will be making a proposal for an easement across the
reservoir property at the next city council meeting.
Council members asked what the easement would be used for. Jacobs said for an emergency exit.
Tad Connors suggested that language should be included in the proposed easement that defines what will constitute an “emergency.”
Approval of Minutes – September 5, 2006
Corrections were noted to the September 5 meeting minutes as follows:
Page 2, add the following paragraph after paragraph #1: “Jan Brending noted that the city received comments from the Bingen Fire Department, Bingen-White Salmon Police Department, and Skyline Ambulance which are a part of the record.”
Page 3, 3rd paragraph, delete 2nd sentence.
Page 4, add the following after 10th paragraph: “Betty Barnes asked if White Salmon understands the urgency of replacing the sewer line on Depot Street and Maple Street. Brian Prigel said the committee members and staff understand.”
Page 4, 13th paragraph should read as follows: “Brian Prigel said that White Salmon is still asking the Corps of Engineers to cover all of the costs involved with the Depot Street Sewer Project (Maple Street phase). He said this may be wishful thinking on White Salmon’s part and hopes that he is wrong. Prigel noted that the contractor is far behind schedule.”
Page 5, 6th paragraph, last sentence should read: “Brending said the pump for the Park Well is in the process of being ordered and once the delivery date is known a contract will be established with M-K Drilling to pull the 40hp pump and install the 15hp pump.”
Page 7, 4th paragraph should read: “Betty Barnes said that she remains concerned about the shrubbery because children waling in the area behind the shrubs might not be visible to motorists.”
Betty Barnes moved to approve the minutes of the September 5 city council meeting as amended. Terry Trantow seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Variance Request 2006-001, John and Patricia Newman –
Adoption of Findings of Fact, Conclusion of Law and Decision
Jan Brending presented the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Decision
for the John and Patricia Newman variance request. She said that Tad Connors has
reviewed all three decisions that are before the city council.
Terry Trantow moved to adopt the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Decision for Variance Request 2006-001. Tim Hearn seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Variance Request 2006-002, John and Kathy Thomas –
Adoption of Findings of Fact, Conclusion of Law and Decision
Jan Brending presented the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Decision
for the John and Kathy Thomas variance request.
Betty Barnes moved to approve the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Decision for the Variance Request 2006-002. Tim Hearn seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Variance Request 2006-003, Bille Deo - Adoption of
Findings of Fact, Conclusion of Law and Decision
Tim Hearn asked Tad Connors if he could vote on the decision since he
abstained from the original vote. Tad Connors said no.
Betty Barnes moved to table action on the adoption of the decision for Variance Request 2006-003 to the October 3 meeting. Tim Hearn seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Review of Existing and Proposed Parking Restrictions
(Time Limits)
Jan Brending presented information regarding parking restrictions provided
by three different city codes. She suggested that the three codes should be
combined into one using BMC 10.14, Stopping, Standing or Parking.
Jan Brending suggested that it might be difficult for drivers to see the parking limitation signs along the parallel places on Steuben because they are perpendicular to the road.
Bruce Brending said he feels the signage is adequate and is clear. He said that turning the signs might make it more difficult to determine what time limitations apply to specific parking spaces and would likely require more signage.
Terry Trantow noted that branches from one of the trees are blocking the Amtrak sign on Steuben.
Terry Trantow said he wanted to make sure the angled parking in front of the museum is included in the city’s code.
Jan Brending noted that it is included in BMC 10.14.
Betty Barnes asked if there should be time limits for the angled parking in front of the museum. Terry Trantow said he did not think it was a problem.
Ruth Winner suggested that if the city is going to stripe the angled parking that gravel should be placed between the asphalt and grass so that cars can pull in further.
Brian Prigel said that wheel stops and signage will also assist the parking in front of the museum.
Terry Trantow said that he would like to see “U-turns” prohibited in the two mains blocks, particularly turning from the west bound lane into the angled parking on the south side of the road.
Bruce Brending said that in communications with the state turning from the west bound lane into the angled parking on the south side of the road is not a “U-turn” but is actually legal.
There was agreement to continue review of the parking restrictions at the next council meeting to allow additional input from those council members absent.
Old Business – Highway 14 Crosswalks
Brian Prigel said the city has received a letter from IPC, the manufacturer
of the crosswalk material. He said IPC has proposed a cost-sharing method for
replacing the worn areas of the crosswalk. Prigel said IPC believes that the
asphalt has compacted which has caused the top surface aggregate to be lost and
prone to raveling. He said that core samples have shown the top surface has lost
aggregate. Prigel presented photographs which shows an example of what the
crosswalk product looks like when it actually fails and photographs showing that
rutting of the asphalt in the wheel paths on Steuben has actually occurred.
Brian Prigel said that IPC has proposed that material costs of approximately $17,500 would be covered by the company with labor costs of approximately $13,550 covered by the City of Bingen. Jan Brending noted that it is hoped that traffic control can actually be done with in-house employees from Bingen, White Salmon and/or WSDOT.
Brian Prigel said he would like to hold off until spring to replace the worn areas. He said this will take the crosswalks through another winter and there might be some additional square footage that needs to be replaced.
Jan Brending noted the city will be receiving additional reimbursements funds from the federal grant and the TIB grant.
Brian Prigel said that he feels everyone loves the product. He said he wants to try it again and see how long it lasts. He said if the crosswalks were painted they would have to be repainted every year.
Tim Hearn moved to authorize replacement of the worn crosswalks in the spring based on the IPC proposal. Terry Trantow seconded the motion.
Betty Barnes said that she wants to see the crosswalks replaced but is concerned that it is not the city’s responsibility to pay for the work.
The motion passed unanimously.
Mayor’s Update and Council Comments
Wastewater Plant Operator
Brian Prigel said that he has hired an individual to fill the position of
wastewater plant operator for the Bingen plan. He said the individual will start
on October 9. Prigel said he believes the individual will be a good asset for
Bingen.
Water Wells
Brian Prigel reported that the Dry Creek well is running approximately 20
hours per day – but not continuously.
Jan Brending said she and Tom Hons are working to get the 15 hp pump ordered and get a driller hired to install the pump once it has arrived.
Recycling Center
Brian Prigel said Klickitat County has contacted him regarding the recycling
center located in Bingen. He said the location is being abused with
approximately 1 out of every 3 loads going into the landfill because of
contamination by garbage. Prigel said some suggestions for addressing the
problem are coming up with a better location, installing fake cameras, fencing
the area and opening it only during daylight hours. He said the county has
informed him that if the abuse continues they will pull the recycling bins.
Prigel said the Bingen facility is the most abused out of the 4 or 5 located in
the county.
Garbage Cans – Steuben Street
City council members and staff discussed how often the garbage cans on
Steuben Street should be emptied.
Jan Brending said she has requested the public works crew to empty them on Monday and again on Friday. She said there is problem with people using them for what appears to be household garbage. It was noted that the lids to the cans can be locked making it more difficult to get large bags into the cans.
Huckleberry Festival
Brian Prigel said it appears that Huckleberry Festival went well. He said
there was the usual broken sprinkler heads and some damage was done to the rock
wall near the basketball court.
Betty Barnes said there is an old electrical outlet by the basketball court that looks like it should be removed.
Brian Prigel said he will ask David Spratt to look at it.
Joint Water/Sewer Committee Meeting and Joint City
Council Meeting
Jan Brending noted that a joint water/sewer committee meeting has been
scheduled for Tuesday, September 26 and a joint city council meeting for October
5. She said the purpose of the meetings is to discuss White Salmon water rights.
Brending noted that one of the topics for discussion is the use of Bingen’s
inchoate water rights.
Tim Hearn said he has heard that White Salmon does not have enough water but is still sending Bingen water.
Tad Connors said the city of Bingen is entitled to 20% of the water produced from the well field.
Tim Hearn asked if the city pays for the water.
Brian Prigel said yes that Bingen currently pays $0.95 per 1000 gallons.
Jan Brending noted that she spoke to DOE about whether or not there was any requirement for Bingen to have water rights to cover the water purchased from White Salmon. She said DOE said no that White Salmon has to have the water rights for the water they produce but Bingen does not have to have water rights for water they purchase.
Gorge Heritage Museum
Ruth Winner asked what the status of the museum project is.
Brian Prigel said a request from the contractor to change the specifications was received by the city. He said the contractor will meet with Mike Wellman in person to review the plans so Wellman can sign off on them.
Jan Brending said the meeting between the contractor and Wellman is scheduled for Wednesday. She said she is also waiting on two documents that the contractor must submit before the Notice to Proceed is issued.
Budget Committee
Jan Brending noted that a budget committee meeting is scheduled for
Wednesday, September 27.
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
September 18, 2006. The council by unanimous vote does approve for payment the
following list: warrants 7847 through 7877 totaling $49,104.91; manual warrants
7846 totaling $300.00, and payroll warrants 6704 through 6718 totaling $9,798.38
for a total of $59,203.29: Current - $17,343.13; Street - $2,389.56; Community
Development - $1,459.41; Street Construction and Maintenance - $7,943.75; Water
– $6,181.50; Sewer - $1,015.55; Treatment Plant - $4,920.47; Dallesport
Treatment Plant - $9,271.14; Water Construction and Maintenance - $8,446.28;
Sewer Construction and Maintenance - $232.50.
At 8:30 p.m. the council adjourned.
Jan Brending
Brian Prigel
City Clerk
Mayor