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

Mayor Cheryl A. Young

Councilor William G. Guy

Councilor Gary Hudson

Councilor Bob Schmor

Councilor Tyra A. Schroeder

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.

Jason Hudson of Hudson Garbage Service presented the following yard debris service options to the Mayor, Council Members, staff and members of the audience:

Option 1: Do not increase current service levels - no cost. Continue to provide a one-day spring drop off site, and provide a drop box during the entire month of November. Estimated tons recovered: 40 tons per year.

Option 2: Permanently site a drop box on City property for yard debris - increased cost of $2.25 per month for weekly and every-other-week garbage service customers. Drop box would be available to everyone, but only garbage service customers would pay for the service. Estimated tons recovered: 225 tons per year.

Option 3: Provide every-other-week curbside yard debris service to all weekly and every-other-week customers - increased cost of $3.70 per month. All garbage service customers would receive a yard debris bin and pay for the service, whether they wanted to use the service or not. Estimated tons recovered: 235 tons per year.

Option 4: Provide subscription every-other-week curbside yard debris service - increased cost of $5.00 per month for subscribers only. He said this service would require a minimum commitment of one year from the customer. Estimated tons recovered: 161 tons per year.

Mr. Hudson said the yard debris cart size is 95-gallons, which is about 30% larger than the recycling carts. He said yard debris includes lawn clippings, tree trimmings, brush, prunings, sawdust, unpainted wood scraps, grass, leaves, and garden items such as apples, potato peelings, pumpkins, etc. He said rocks, dirt, gravel, bricks, paper, plastic, sod, food waste, etc. are not allowed in the cart.

Mr. Hudson noted that the costs quoted for Options 3 and 4 do not include the City's 5% franchise tax, which would increase the options to $3.89 and $5.25 per month respectively. He said the City of St. Helens does not apply their franchise tax to the curbside yard debris service revenues, and their weekly and every-other-week garbage service comes with the yard debris service. He said they felt the mandatory service was beneficial to the community as a whole because it will reduce the amount of debris that is burned and sent to landfills.

Mr. Hudson explained that Options 3 and 4 would require an investment in new carts that are depreciated over a seven-year period, and he asked if Council would consider extending the franchise contract to seven years to allow them to recover the costs of the carts during the remaining franchise period.

The Mayor, Council, staff and members of the audience discussed the various options with Mr. Hudson at length. Council Members noted that Option 4 would make the service available to those who wanted it, but not force the service upon people who were not interested. The subject of yard debris bags came up, but Mr. Hudson explained that they could not pick up the bags with their automated trucks. Members of the audience that were in favor of curbside yard debris service preferred Option 4, but still looked favorably on Option 3 if Option 4 was not selected. Audience members were anxious for the service to begin as soon as possible with spring soon approaching.

MOVED (SCHMOR), SECONDED (HUDSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO PROCEED WITH OPTION 4, AND LOOK INTO MOVING TO OPTION 3 IN THE FUTURE DEPENDING UPON THE CITIZEN INPUT WE RECEIVE.

AGENDA ITEM 3 CITIZEN INPUT: None.

AGENDA ITEM 4 COUNCIL REPORTS:

4.1 Parks Committee: Chair Schroeder said the Riverside Clean Up event has been scheduled for Friday, May 20, 2005. She said they are obtaining additional quotes for the picnic structure in Jim Bundy Memorial Park. She said a meeting will be held on February 24, 2005, to discuss Trestle Beach.

4.2 Water Source and Development Committee: No report.

4.3 Street Committee: Lisa Molski of Columbia City expressed concern about the speed of vehicles traveling down the hill on "B" Street to get to "A" Street. She asked if a speed bump or some other device that would slow traffic could be placed in the area.

Gabriele Peterson of Columbia City also complained of vehicles speeding through the new section of Fifth Street.

After a lengthy discussion with staff and members of the audience, it was the consensus of the Council that a "caution - children at play" sign be placed on "B" Street, and speed limit signs be placed on "B" Street and the new section of Fifth Street. Additionally, Chief Reedy will obtain the speed monitor and place it on "B" Street and Fifth Street, and ask officers to patrol the area during the commute hours.

Leahnette Rivers explained that we will need to bore under the railroad tracks and Highway 30 for our water and sewer utilities during the "L" Street bridge project. She said ODOT recently confirmed that relocating our utilities will be included as part of the federally funded bridge project, which means they will pick up 80% of the costs. She recommended we ask our design engineers, OBEC, to amend their scope of work to include utility design. It was the consensus of the Council to use OBEC for the utility design work.

4.4 Sewer Committee: No report.

4.5 Library Committee: Leahnette Rivers said she recently attended the Friends of the Library meeting. She said Katrina Clift has asked to reduce her personal service contract for library services from $200 per month to $100 per month, which will save us $1,000 during this school year. Leahnette Rivers asked the Council to use that $1,000 to fund some other library service. It was the consensus of the Council that the $1,000 be used for other library services.

4.6 Other reports: Mayor Young said a citizen has complained about the St. Helens water treatment plant construction trucks traveling off of the gravel road near the corner of Fourth and "M" Streets.

Micah Olson said the trucks were too long to make the corner. He said today the contractor dug out the mud and widened the gravel area around the corner to better accommodate the trucks. He said they've added barricade fencing on the inside of the corner to make sure the trucks stay in the gravel area. He said the area is within the street right-of-way.

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

AGENDA ITEM 6 UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Leahnette Rivers explained that she has not received Harold Olsen's comments about the draft policies, and the representative from CIS Insurance Services has not had the draft policies long enough to make comment.

It was the consensus of the Council to postpone discussion and action on this item until the next meeting.

Leahnette Rivers explained that this Ordinance regulates the construction of public improvements and excavation within the City's right-of-ways. She said the Ordinance puts into writing our current practice. She said it does not provide for a fee, other than reimbursement of all engineering fees related to the work, which is in keeping with our current practice.

Councilor Guy suggested we look at a fee that would recover our expenses. He asked if this Ordinance will address some of the recent problems we've had with our right-of-ways.

Leahnette Rivers said this Ordinance does not address the construction of fences or rock walls within the City right-of-ways. She will look at the fees charged by other cities for this work.

The Council completed the first reading of Council Bill No. 05-350.

Leahnette Rivers explained that the City currently holds property owners responsible for the maintenance and repair sidewalks adjacent to their property. However, the existing Ordinance does not provide for a method of enforcement. She said this Ordinance outlines a notification process that will be used to inform property owners of their repair responsibilities.

The Council completed the first reading of Council Bill No. 05-351.

Garbage cans: Councilor Schmor asked if the newsletter will include a request that citizens pull their trash cans off the street between service dates. He suggested we notify people to take them off of the street before we look at creating an ordinance. He said after hearing a citizen complaint during the last Council meeting, he noticed that one of his neighbors leaves the can on the street all week.

Gravel: Gabriele Peterson asked if the City will be cleaning up the gravel from the recent ice storm. Micah Olson explained that the City only used sand. He said ODOT is responsible for removing the gravel from Highway 30.

Community Hall interior paint: Leahnette Rivers said a group has volunteered to paint the interior of the Community Hall before a wedding they have scheduled this summer. She said the City will provide the materials, and the City crew will rent scaffolding and paint the areas that cannot be reached with an extension arm. She asked if the Council would be willing to waive their rental fees if they complete the painting in to our satisfaction. Councilor Hudson asked that we supervise the volunteers. It was the consensus of the Council that their rental fees be waived if we are satisfied with their work. Leahnette Rivers noted that the wood floor will be refinished after the painting work is completed. It was the consensus of the Council that basketball and volleyball court lines be painted on the refinished floor.

Ice storm: Micah Olson said they used the sander on Sunday to spread sand on the streets during the recent ice storm.

New police car: Chief Reedy said the new car should arrive this weekend.

Introduction: Mayor Young introduced her new daughter-in-law, Jennifer, to the Council and staff.

The Council convened in Executive Session at 8:42 p.m.

The Council reconvened in Open Session at 9:15 p.m.

AGENDA ITEM 9 ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

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