The regular meeting was called to order by Mayor Young at 7:30 p.m. Mayor Young delivered the invocation and led the flag salute.

COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mayor Cheryl A. Young

Councilor Bob Schmor

Councilor Marian Calnon

Councilor Bill Guy

Councilor Gary Hudson

COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:

None

ALSO PRESENT:

Leahnette Rivers, City Administrator/Recorder

Jim Bundy, Public Works Superintendent

ATTORNEY PRESENT:

None

A quorum was present and due notice had been published.

AGENDA ITEM 2 PUBLIC HEARINGS:

None

AGENDA ITEM 3 CITIZEN INPUT:

None

4.1 Parks Committee: Leahnette Rivers said the City did not receive funding for the Parks Master Plan from the Northwest Oregon Economic Alliance (NOEA).

4.2 Water Source and Development Committee: Chair Guy said the Committee met recently and discussed the Cross Connection ordinance, and will meet again in February to further review the issue of cross connection. He said the Committee also reviewed the status of the new well. He said we have stopped drilling now. He said the well will be sealed, and bids for development of the well house and other improvements will be the next step. Chair Guy said the Committee also discussed the reservoir siting analysis work.

Leahnette Rivers referred to a spreadsheet showing the water quality test results, which were taken at three different depths. She said the most recent tests show a significant increase in chlorides and sodium, and we may end up sealing off the last section we drilled. She said she has not had an opportunity to review the test results with the City Engineer yet, and he may have some different ideas. Leahnette Rivers said we did not receive NOEA funding for the well project, and the NOEA Board recommended we pursue funding for this project through the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (OECDD). She said she talked with David Kim of OECDD and he has suggested we submit a letter to them so that they can consider the project, and possibly invite us to submit an application under the Water/Wastewater Financing Program. She said OECDD can process an application in 90 days. She said they have also suggested we send a letter of interest under the Safe Drinking Water Program, which provides loans at 1% interest, for both projects.

4.3 Streets Committee: Chair Hudson said Frank Charbonneau of Charboneau Engineering attended a recent meeting of the Street Committee. He said Mr. Charboneau presented three preliminary design options for the Fifth Street improvement project for the Committee to consider. He explained that Option A involved overlay of pavement and realignment of approximately 200 feet around the corner of Fifth and "J" Streets, addition of a drain to catch run-off, and guard railing for $36,000. He said Option B included 3 feet of fill around the curve for $41,000, and Option C included 4 feet of fill around the curve for $45,000. He said the Street Committee is in favor of pursuing Option C, if funding permits. He said the City may be able to install the guard railing to reduce the cost of the project. He said the next step is to test the soils and complete final design.

Chair Hudson said the Committee also discussed seal coating Sixth Street. He said Jim Bundy will be obtaining quotes to seal Sixth Street from "A" Street to Calvin Street. He said the seal coating will look like a new overlay of pavement, and will be really durable. He said it might cost approximately $11,000 to complete the work.

Chair Hudson said the Committee has determined that it makes more economic sense to contract out for street sweeping. He said a review of maintenance records show that it is more costly to repair and operate our City-owned sweeper than it would be to contract the work., and it is the Committee's recommendation that we contract this work out and sell the sweeper.

4.4 Other Reports:

None

AGENDA ITEM 5 CONSENT AGENDA:

MOVED (SCHMOR), SECONDED (GUY) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY ROLL CALL VOTE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

The Council completed the second reading of Council Bill No. 00-185.

MOVED (GUY), SECONDED (HUDSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 00-185.

The Council completed the second reading of Council Bill No. 00-186 as amended.

MOVED (HUDSON), SECONDED (GUY) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 00-186.

The Council reviewed a memo dated January 11, 2001, from Leahnette Rivers, explaining that the League of Oregon Cities did not have any information about Planning Commission decision authority in other cities of similar size to Columbia City. She said she conducted a survey of 28 cities of similar size in population.

Leahnette Rivers said she has received a total of 12 responses, and all but two of the cities give their Planning Commissions final decision making authority, with appeals going to the City Council. She said of those two cities, one is in the process of adopting a new code that will give their Planning Commission final decision making authority. She said Rogue River's Planning Commission makes a recommendation to the City Council and the City Council takes formal action on each Planning Commission recommendation.

The Council discussed this matter at length. It was the consensus of the Council that Planning Commission decisions should be final unless they are appealed to the City Council. Leahnette Rivers explained that a formal interpretation of the Zoning Ordinance needs to be made because Article II, Section 3, and Article V, Section 5, conflict.

MOVED (HUDSON), SECONDED (GUY) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY THAT ARTICLE V, SECTION 5 OF THE COLUMBIA CITY ZONING ORDINANCE BE INTERPRETED TO MEAN THAT PLANNING COMMISSION DECISIONS ARE FINAL AFTER SEVEN WORKING DAYS UNLESS AN APPEAL IS FILED, AND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL SERVE AS AN APPEAL BOARD.

Councilor Hudson questioned the City's legal debt limitation, and whether or not the debt related to sewer improvements was applicable to that limit. Leahnette explained that debt related to improvements for water and sewer infrastructure are not applicable to the legal debt limitation, and that the City has no debt applicable to the debt limitation.

Leahnette Rivers reviewed the 1999-2000 Annual Financial Report and Management Report with the Council in detail.

MOVED (SCHMOR), SECONDED (GUY) AND CARRIED TO ACCEPT THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2000. Councilor Calnon abstained from voting.

Leahnette Rivers explained that additional funds are needed to complete the basement improvements. She explained that because we are completing the work ourselves, it has been difficult to accurately estimate the amount needed to complete the work because there are so many small things that aren't thought of, but add up over time.

MOVED (GUY), SECONDED (SCHMOR) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 01-192.

8.1 Other reports or items:

Street sweeper: Councilor Schmor said he would like to propose that the City Council authorize Jim Bundy to sell the street sweeper.

MOVED (SCHMOR), SECONDED (GUY) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO SELL THE STREET SWEEPER.

Wayne Weigandt's claim: Leahnette Rivers explained that the City's insurance carrier has made a payment of $1,880.00 to Wayne Weigandt for the invoices dated May 4, 1999, which he provided to the City for leak detection work performed by Wes Fischer in the Eastview Subdivision.

Employment Department: Leahnette Rivers explained that local government employers have the following three employment tax reporting options: 1) to reimburse in lieu of paying taxes; 2) to participate in the Local Government Employer Benefit Trust Fund to reimburse; or 3) to pay taxes just as any other business would at a rate set by Oregon law.

Leahnette Rivers said currently the City has selected option 3 and pays in the same manner as other businesses. She said the City's rate is currently 0.7%, which is the lowest rate possible under this option.

She said she would like the City to participate in the Local Government Employer Benefit Trust Fund option for several reasons. She said the rate, based upon the City's current claim history, would start at 0.2%, and after three years it could drop as low as 0.1%. Additionally, she said if the City's contributions are not paid out in claims, the unused contributions accumulate over time, and could eventually be withdrawn by the City. For example, she said Rogue River has approximately $20,000 in their fund, and currently has the option of withdrawing the money from their account.

She explained that option 1 requires a deposit from the City, and then the City would directly reimburse claims as they occur.

The Mayor and Council discussed the options at length with staff.

MOVED (HUDSON), SECONDED (GUY) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ELECT THE 0.2% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UNDER CHANGE TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYER BENEFIT TRUST FUND OPTION.

Public Works update: Jim Bundy noted that Dick Simpson is retiring and his last day of work will be on Friday, January 26, 2001. He said the new hires, Jeff Anderson and Byron Havens, have been doing a really good job. He said they plan on painting the inside of the Community Hall in the near future.

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

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