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 Marian Calnon

Councilor Bill Guy

Councilor Gary Hudson

Councilor Bob Schmor

COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:

None

ALSO PRESENT:

Micah Olson, Public Works Superintendent

Leahnette Rivers, City Administrator/Recorder

ATTORNEY PRESENT:

None

A quorum was present and due notice had been published.

Mayor Young opened the Public Hearing.

On behalf of the Transportation Enhancement Project Design Committee, Leahnette Rivers spoke to the Council and members of the audience about the proposed project. She introduced Sandy VanBemmel, ODOT Project Leader, and Bob Ebeling, ODOT Local Maintenance Manager, who were present in the audience. She also introduced Committee Members Jim Shinkle, Nell Harrison, Mary Ann Hough, Marian Calnon, and Micah Olson.

Leahnette explained that the Committee was appointed to design a project, consisting of enhancements along Highway 30, for submission under the Transportation Enhancement Program. She said the Committee placed emphasis on community identity and improved traffic, pedestrian and bicycle safety during the development of the project. She said the Committee expressed a desire to beautify the area to enhance the experience of travelers and bring to their attention that they have entered a community, which in turn would improve safety and calm traffic. Leahnette explained that the Committee wanted to insure the sustainability of this project. In doing so, the maintenance needs of each proposed improvement needed to be addressed.

Leahnette explained that the proposed project consists of the installation of Columbia City entrance signs, deer crossing signs, raised planting medians, pedestrian lighting along the bike path, and landscaping. She said the proposed landscaping consists of removal of the blackberries and other noxious vegetation from the unimproved highway right-of-way (west side, "I" Street to southerly city limits), replacement with low maintenance landscaping, addition of decorative vines along the block wall near "I' Street, and the planting of a sound suppressing barrier north of Pacific Street. She explained that the public works staff would water all plantings until they are well established, and an in-grid solar panel system would be installed to provide power to the light fixtures. She said the Committee would also solicit a group to adopt our section of the Highway for ongoing maintenance. She said as an option to the planting median portion of the project, the Committee was considering pedestrian lighting along the sidewalk. She said these poles would be equipped with banner hangers and community banners. Leahnette informally discussed the details of the project at length with the Council and members of the audience.

Members of the audience and Council asked various questions and provided input about the proposed project. Items discussed included the type of lighting fixtures, plant types, safety concerns about the use of unlit medians, median signage, median location, the need for lights along the full length of the highway, entrance sign design, project funding, maintenance issues, median trash issues, speed reduction, the need for a safe pedestrian crossing, etc. Sandy VanBemmel and Bob Ebeling participated in the discussion. Citizens were fairly divided about their preference for either median strips or sidewalk lighting, while Council Members tended to favor pedestrian lighting.

Public Hearing closed.

AGENDA ITEM 3 CITIZEN INPUT:

None.

4.1 Parks Committee: The Council reviewed the minutes from the January 14, 2003, Parks Committee Meeting.

4.2 Water Source and Development Committee: Chair Guy reported that the Sixth Street well was dug to about 400 feet, and we hit salt water. He said the water quality was even worse than the Ninth Street well water. He said the well has been capped. He said the well driller, Mr. Schneider, attended the Water Committee Meeting and reviewed the well logs with Committee Members. He said Mr. Schneider suggested we fill the Ninth Street well to the bottom of the casing, and perforate the casing. This would allow us to draw water from the upper water bearing zone, which could be of better quality based upon water samples that were taken during the drilling process. Chair Guy said the bottom of the well has been filled, the casing has been perforated, and we are now pumping the well to monitor quantity and quality.

Leahnette noted that the test well at Ninth Street has caved in some.

Micah said they weren't able to put in as many perforations as they had hoped because the rock was directly behind the casing.

Leahnette asked the Council to ratify the decision to video, fill and perforate the casing at the Ninth Street well site as previously discussed with each Council Member by telephone.

MOVED (GUY), SECONDED (HUDSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO RATIFY THE DECISION TO VIDEO, FILL AND PERFORATE THE CASING AT THE NINTH STREET WELL.

Chair Guy asked if the test well has collapsed to the point that it might no longer be of value to us.

Micah said we can re-drill the well if we want to. He said we will monitor it closely during the test pumping of the production work, because previous monitoring records indicate the wells are in two separate water sources even though they are only 25 feet apart.

MOVED (SCHMOR), SECONDED (CALNON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO EXTEND THE MEETING BEYOND 9:00 P.M.

4.3 Streets Committee: No report.

4.4 Sewer Committee: Chair Schmor asked if the backup sewer pump had been purchased for the RCE lift station. Micah said the purchase has not yet taken place.

4.5 Other Reports: None.

It was the consensus of the Council that Item 5.1 be removed from the agenda because there was no report available.

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

None.

Prevailing Wage Issue: Leahnette Rivers explained that the contract documents for the Harvard Park well project did not include prevailing wage requirements because the engineer's estimate for the project was well below $25,000. She said the bid for the project was for just under $25,000, and it was a unit price contract. She said because the units exceeded the estimate, the total project cost exceeded $25,000, making the project subject to prevailing wage rates. She said the employees working on the project will need to be compensated at the prevailing wage rate. Leahnette explained that the City and the contractor should have specified what would happen if the project exceeded $25,000, and neither party did. She said each party had some responsibility in addressing the prevailing wage issue in light of the unit pricing, and the fact that the bid was close to $25,000, which triggers the prevailing wage requirement. She said she is waiting for a written opinion from Harold Olsen on the matter. It was the consensus of the Council that no action be taken until Harold's opinion is available.

Morse Brothers tour: Leahnette Rivers said Brian Gray has invited City representatives to tour the site of the proposed aggregate processing facility. Councilor Guy said he would like to tour the site this weekend, and Mayor Young and Councilor Schmor said they would take the tour this week.

The meeting recessed at 9:19 p.m.

The meeting reconvened at 9:27 p.m.

The Council convened in Executive Session at 9:27 p.m.

The Council reconvened in Open Session at 10:00 p.m.

It was the consensus of the Council that Micah and Leahnette be directed to continue discussions with the Probst family.

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 10:01 p.m.

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