The regular meeting was called to order by Mayor Young at 7:35 p.m. Harold Olsen delivered the invocation and Mayor Young led the flag salute.

COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mayor Cheryl A. Young

Councilor Bob Schmor

Councilor Marian Calnon

Councilor Bill Guy (arrived 7:35 p.m.)

Councilor Gary Hudson

COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:

None

ALSO PRESENT:

Michael Reedy, Chief of Police (departed at 7:55 p.m.)

Robert Greisen, Police Officer (departed at 7:55 p.m.)

Lisa Smith, City Planner (arrived at 8:15 p.m. and departed at 9:50 p.m.)

Leahnette Rivers, City Administrator/Recorder

ATTORNEY PRESENT:

Harold Olsen, City Attorney

A quorum was present and due notice had been published.

Mayor Young greeted each member of the audience, and introduced the Council and staff members to the citizens.

AGENDA ITEM 2 PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.

AGENDA ITEM 3 CITIZEN INPUT:

Vickie Hagan, Columbia City resident, spoke to the Council about a request to use Datis Park for a wedding ceremony, as described in her letter dated March 6, 2003. Ms. Hagan said they have received permission from the school district to use the school's parking lot during the wedding and the reception. Mayor Young noted that alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the park.

MOVED (CALNON), SECONDED (SCHMOR) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ISSUE A PERMIT TO USE THE PARK FOR A WEDDING ON JULY 4, 2003, AS REQUESTED BY VICKIE HAGAN.

Aaron Lee, Columbia City resident, requested the installation of a street light on James Street. He said the street is very dark at night and there have been issues related to the lack of light. He said there are no existing power poles in the area, but the Columbia River PUD is putting together a cost estimate.

Mayor Young noted that the City does not have funds budgeted for street light installations, but the Council will consider a request.

Mr. Lee said there are other issues concerning the amount of traffic a house in the area generates. Mr. Lee said he expected Stuart Katz to attend this meeting regarding questions he posed to the City Council a month ago.

Chief Reedy said there are on-going police investigations related to the occupants of the residence. He said he could not give any more details about the situation because he would be jeopardizing the investigation. He said the matter is not being ignored. He said they are aware of the problems and they are working on them, and he asked that citizens be patient and allow them to complete their investigations in a proper manner.

Councilor Schmor asked if a street light would help in that area.

Officer Greisen said the installation of a street light might be detrimental to current investigations, but would be a good idea in the future.

Leahnette Rivers said the City has an ordinance prohibiting chronic nuisance property and an ordinance prohibiting specified crime property, and Harold Olsen has reviewed the ordinances. She said in talking with the Police Chief and City Attorney, it sounds like it might be best to let the system run its course and finish the legal process. Harold Olsen said the investigations should be completed as the first course of action from a legal standpoint.

Mr. Lee continued to discuss this matter at length with the City Council and staff. Mr. Lee said he would like to discuss the street light issue with his neighbors before submitting a formal request for a light to the Council.

Stop Sign Recommendation: Chief Reedy said he is recommending the installation of three stop signs. He said two would be placed on "D" Street at Fifth Street, and one would be placed on James Street at Sixth Street. He said there has been a marked increase in traffic at these intersections and the stop signs should be installed in the interest of safety.

MOVED (HUDSON), SECONDED (CALNON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF THE STOP SIGNS AS REQUESTED BY THE POLICE CHIEF.

4.1 Parks Committee: Chair Calnon said the Committee met on Monday night and they are working on many projects. She said a Work Party will be held in Bundy Park on Saturday, March 15th. She said Christine Ebrahimi prepared a beautiful landscape plan for the northeast section of Bundy Park. She said rhododendrons have been planted in Harvard Park and will need to be watered, so a water hydrant will be installed. She said the Parks Committee would like to re-seed the grassy area in Harvard Park as soon as the weather permits. Chair Calnon said the fence posts for Datis Park have been purchased. She said Public Works will drill 3-inch holes in the top of each post, and hauser rope will be obtained to run from post to post in a nautical theme.

Leahnette Rivers said the Riverside Clean-Up Event will be held on Friday, May 16, 2003, in Pixie and Datis Parks. She said the project will involve the installation of fencing, removing blackberries and noxious growth, painting picnic tables and handrails, litter clean-up, etc.

Ms. Rivers noted that the perimeter of the future reservoir park will be planted as part of the reservoir construction project. She said the Parks Committee might want to survey the neighborhood before they decide what to do with that park area.

4.2 Water Source and Development Committee: Chair Guy said the Committee will meet on Monday, March 10, 2003, at 7:00 p.m. He said the reservoir project should be released for bid on March 10th. Leahnette Rivers said the Water Committee should meet after the bids are received and before the City Council awards a contract. Chair Guy suggested a meeting date of April 14th to review the reservoir bids.

4.3 Streets Committee: Chair Hudson asked for an update on the "L" Street bridge project. Leahnette Rivers said ODOT representatives are currently reviewing the final project prospectus. She said the next step will be a review of the environmental checklist.

4.4 Sewer Committee: Chair Schmor questioned the status of the backup pump for the RCE lift station. Leahnette Rivers said she believes Micah Olson is in the process of obtaining quotes, and she will check on their status.

4.5 Other Reports: Councilor Schmor asked about any plans we might have to repair the pillars on the front of the Community Hall. Leahnette Rivers said we've been having a difficult time finding contractors that will quote the work. She said Micah Olson is still working on this.

Mayor Young said we are now selling Celebration raffle tickets for a quilt that is just gorgeous. She said it has been to one quilt show already, and will be shown at several more.

5.1 Approval of the Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of February 6, 2003.

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

None.

The Council discussed the Policy Goals and Objectives at length with staff.

MOVED (GUY), SECONDED (SCHMOR) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 03-271.

MOVED (HUDSON), SECONDED (CALNON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 03-272.

Murray, Smith & Associates. Inc. Rate Increase: The Council reviewed a letter dated February 28, 2003, from David W. Leibbrandt, P.E., requesting approval of a rate increase effective January 1, 2003.

MOVED (GUY), SECONDED (SCHMOR) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE RATE INCREASE AS DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER.

Solicitation Fee Waiver Request: The Council reviewed a request for a waiver of the solicitation fee paid by Tammy Maygra to go door-to-door to gather signatures for a petition.

MOVED (SCHMOR), SECONDED (GUY) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO WAIVE THE FEE.

Joint Council/Planning Commission Hearings: Lisa Smith said we will be scheduling joint hearings before the City Council and Planning Commission during the City Council's last meeting in May and first meeting in June.

The Council convened in Executive Session at 8:32 p.m.

The Council reconvened in Open Session at 10:20 p.m.

AGENDA ITEM 9 ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 10:20 p.m.

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