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City of Columbia City 1840 Second Street,
PO Box 189, Columbia City, OR 97018 (503) 397-4010 |
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City Council Meeting Minutes
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THURSDAY,
JANUARY 21, 2010
CITY OF
COLUMBIA CITY, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON
AGENDA ITEM 1 CALL
TO ORDER/ROLL CALL:
CONVENED:
Mayor Young called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Mayor Young delivered the invocation and led
the flag salute.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor
Cheryl A. Young
Councilor
Josh Fromm
Councilor
Sally Ann Marson
Councilor
Bob Schmor
COUNCIL
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Councilor
Gary Hudson
ALSO
PRESENT:
Micah
Rogers, Public Works Superintendent
Michael
McGlothlin, Chief of Police
Leahnette
Rivers, City Administrator/Recorder
ATTORNEY
PRESENT:
None
A
quorum was present and due notice had been published.
AGENDA ITEM 2 PUBLIC
HEARINGS:
2.1 Public Hearing:
To accept public comments about proposed adjustments to Columbia City's
water and sewer rates.
Public Hearing opened.
No comments were heard from the public.
The Council reviewed proposed
increases in residential water and sewer rates consisting of a $3.70 increase
in the minimum water charge, a $0.10 increase in the charge per 100 c.f. up to
1000 c.f., a $0.25 increase in the charge per 100 c.f. in excess of 1000 c.f.,
and a $3.60 increase in the monthly sewer charge.
Leahnette explained that several
factors contributed to the need for these rate adjustments, including recent
increases in the amount we pay to the City of St. Helens for wholesale water
purchases and sewer treatment fees, loss of revenues from interest earnings and
permits, unanticipated costs associated with water purchases as a result of a
decrease in the pumping capacity from our well, last year's failure of a major
section of sewer main that required immediate repair, etc.
Public Hearing closed.
AGENDA ITEM 3 CITIZEN
INPUT:
3.1 Citizen Request - Kramer: Request from Christine Kramer to set up
temporary goat kennel.
The Council reviewed a request
dated January 19, 2010, from Christine Kramer, caretaker at the Caples House
Museum in Columbia City, to temporarily kennel her goat on the undeveloped
right-of-way outside of the Caples House fencing because the DAR decided to not
let her keep the goat on their premises any longer.
It was the consensus of the
Council that the request could not be considered without the permission of the
property owners because the property owners are responsible for the undeveloped
right-of-way area adjacent to their property.
3.2 Citizen Request - Jacobus: Suggestion from Richard Jacobus that Fifth Street between
"I" and "J" Streets be widened.
The Council reviewed a
recommendation dated January 11, 2010, from Richard Jacobus of Columbia City,
that Fifth Street between "I" and "J" Streets be widened by
at least 4 feet, including a walk/bike lane.
He expressed concern about the safety of the many people that walk or
bike this section, saying the improved street is too narrow for the amount of
vehicle and foot traffic. He also
suggested the City consider adding a walking path on one side of "J"
Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets.
He suggested a gravel path in the grassy area adjacent to Fifth Street
and a pedestrian path on "J" Street would be a good start until the
City secures funding to properly widen the project area.
The Council discussed the
recommendations at length with staff.
It was the consensus of the Council that Mr. Jacobus be thanked for his
input, and the recommendations be kept in mind should funding become available.
3.3 Citizen Request - Humane Society: Request from Meredith Moore of the Columbia
Humane Society for waiver of rental fees for the Community Hall during a fund
raising event.
The Council reviewed a request
dated January 13, 2010, from Meredith Moore of the Columbia Humane Society
Society requesting a waiver of the Community Hall rental fees for a Bingo
fundraising event on January 23, 2010.
The Council reviewed a
spreadsheet showing the 10-year history of Community Hall rental revenues
compared to routine maintenance and major repair costs, excluding staff time
associated with managing the rentals and minor maintenance and repair
costs. The information indicated that
the expenses have exceeded the rental income over the 10-year period by more
than $7,000.
After a lengthy discussion, it
was suggested that we adopt a policy of reducing the rental fees for non-profit
fundraising events by 50%, which would also eliminate individual requests
before the City Council.
MOVED (MARSON), SECONDED
(SCHMOR) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ESTABLISH A POLICY TO REDUCE RENTAL FEES TO
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR FUND RAISING EVENTS UPON PROOF OF THEIR 501-C3
STATUS.
3.4 Citizen Request - Columbia Chorale: Request from Columbia Chorale of Oregon for
waiver of rental fees for the Community Hall during a fund raising event.
Based upon the policy
established under item 3.3, no further action was taken with regard to this
request.
AGENDA ITEM 4 COUNCIL
REPORTS:
4.1 Parks Committee: No report.
4.2 Water Source and Development Committee: No report.
4.3 Street Committee: Micah explained that they broke out the sinkhole area in the
asphalt on Second Street near the Community Hall and the problem is related to
very soft soil underneath the pavement.
He said the pavement is cracked and water is likely leaking through and
saturating the soil beneath the street.
He said they plan to dig out the soil and backfill the area with rock
before they patch the pavement.
4.4 Sewer Committee: No report.
4.5 Audit Committee: No report.
4.6 Library Report: No report.
4.7 Other Reports: None.
AGENDA ITEM 5 CONSENT
AGENDA:
5.1 Financial Report for the period ending December 31, 2009.
5.2 Minutes of the Special City Council Meeting of December 21,
2009.
5.3 Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of January 7,
2010.
5.4 Bills paid during the month of November 2009 with check
numbers 14568 through 14654.
5.5 Bills paid during the month of December 2009 with check
numbers 14655 through 14727.
5.6 Written report from the Chief of Police.
5.7 Written report from the City Administrator/Recorder.
5.8 Reappointment of Rich Bailey, Durell Kearsley, Randy May and
Dave Sass to the Building Appeals Board.
5.9 Reappointment of Karen Ladd to the Budget Committee.
5.10 Reappointment of Alexander Reed to the Audit Committee.
5.11 Reappointment of Bill Jackson, Glen Pritchard and John Sachs
to the Planning Commission.
MOVED (MARSON), SECONDED
(SCHMOR) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY ROLL CALL VOTE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT
AGENDA.
AGENDA ITEM 6 UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
6.1 Transfer Station Rate adjustments: Request for approval of Transfer Station
Rate adjustments as proposed by the Columbia County Transfer Station.
The Council discussed the
proposed rates at length. Councilor
Schmor asked if any thought had been given to eliminating the senior discount
and keeping the self-haul rate as is since the self-haul activity has
dropped. Again, concerns were expressed
about the 171% increase in senior self-haul rates that would result from the
proposal. Leahnette noted that the
proposal also includes closing the facility on Sundays. Leahnette invited
Council Members to a 9 a.m. meeting on January 28th with Transfer Station
representatives to review the rate study and answer questions about the
proposed increases. At Leahnette's
suggestion the Council postponed action on this item until after the January
28th meeting.
AGENDA ITEM 7 NEW BUSINESS:
7.1 Credit Card Account:
Authorization to sign a letter confirming the Mayor and City
Administrator's responsibilities with regard to the corporate credit card
account.
The Mayor and Council reviewed a
letter dated January 15, 2010, outlining the Mayor and City
Administrator/Recorder's responsibilities for signing and making changes to the
Bank of the West corporate credit cards on behalf of the City.
MOVED (SCHMOR), SECONDED
(MARSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO AUTHORIZE SIGNATURE TO THE LETTER.
7.2 Council Bill No. 10-540; Resolution No. 10-965-R: A Resolution adopting an Investment Policy
for the City of Columbia City.
MOVED (FROMM), SECONDED (SCHMOR)
AND CARRIED TO APPROVE COUNCIL BILL NO. 10-540. Councilor Marson abstained from voting.
7.3 Council Bill No. 10-541; Resolution No. 10-966-R: A Resolution adopting a Columbia City Police
Department Policy Manual; rescinding Resolution No. 05-830-R, No. 05-840-R, and
No. 08-923-R.
MOVED (MARSON), SECONDED (FROMM)
AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 10-541.
AGENDA ITEM 8 OTHER
BUSINESS:
Council Meeting start times: Councilor Fromm recommended the start time
for the regular Council Meetings be changes to 6:00 p.m. After some discussion, it was MOVED
(MARSON), SECONDED (FROMM) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO CHANGE THE START TIME FOR
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS TO 6:00 P.M.
Municipal Court frequency: The
Council considered a recommendation from the City Administrator/Recorder to
increase the cost effectiveness of the Municipal Court system by decreasing the
frequency of sessions from twice monthly to once monthly due a continued
downturn in arraignment activity.
MOVED (SCHMOR), SECONDED
(MARSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF MUNICIPAL COURT
SESSIONS FROM MONTHLY TO ONCE A MONTH.
City Administrator/Recorder
salary reduction: In light
of the continued impacts of the economic downturn on the financial condition of
the City, the Council considered a recommendation from the City
Administrator/Recorder to reduce the salary for her position by 10% effective
January 1, 2010.
MOVED (MARSON), SECONDED (FROMM)
AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO FOLLOW THE CITY'S ADMINSITRATOR/RECORDER'S
RECOMMENDATION TO REDUCE THE SALARY FOR HER POSITION BY 10% AS A RESULT OF THE
CURRENT FINANCIAL CONDITIONS.
AGENDA ITEM 9 ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business
to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
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