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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
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2005
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CITY OF COLUMBIA CITY, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON
AGENDA ITEM 1 CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL:
CONVENED:
Mayor Cheryl A. Young called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Harold Olsen delivered the invocation and Mayor Young led the flag salute.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Cheryl A. Young
Councilor Gary Hudson
Councilor Tyra A. Schroeder
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:
Councilor William G. Guy
Councilor Bob Schmor
ALSO PRESENT:
Micah Olson, Public Works Superintendent
Michael Reedy, 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/PRESENTATIONS:
2.1 Oath of Office: James M. Molski, Planning Commission Member.
Leahnette Rivers administered the Oath of Office to James M. Molski, Planning Commission Member.
AGENDA ITEM 3 CITIZEN INPUT:
Sue Joe's retaining wall: Gerald Martin of St. Helens spoke as a representative of Sue Joe of Columbia City. Mr. Martin questioned the billing for engineering fees in the amount of $600.50. He said the engineer was only on site for 15 minutes, but he is billing for 2-1/2 hours.
Leahnette Rivers explained that this bill covers more than just a site review. She said it includes a plan review and comments.
Mr. Martin said they already paid for a plan review.
Ms. Rivers explained that they did pay for a plan review, but then they changed the type of retaining wall and submitted a new set of plans, which required a new plan review.
Mr. Martin said he does not understand how the engineer spent 2-1/2 hours reviewing the plans. He said they had the wall engineered, and wondered why an engineer needs to review engineered plans.
Ms. Rivers noted that they also needed to send the plans out for review by another consultant because of the type of blocks they were using. She explained that the City's engineer reviews a project to protect the City's interests.
Mr. Martin said they've been asked to remove the dirt pile, and there's a pretty steep drop off at the end of the alley. He asked if the City will be installing a barrier.
Micah Olson said they have not been asked to remove the entire dirt pile, only the new dirt that was placed on top of the original dirt pile. He said they need to leave the old dirt pile in place.
Speed radar monitor: Lisa Molski of Columbia City thanked Chief Reedy and the City for the placing the speed radar unit on "B" and Belle Streets. She said it has been successful in reducing vehicle speeds.
AGENDA ITEM 4 COUNCIL REPORTS:
4.1 Parks Committee: Leahnette Rivers said we recently had a tree specialist cut and trim some trees in Bundy Memorial Park, and they will also be trimming some trees in Datis Park. She said we ended up with a lot of downed wood in Bundy Park, and we are allowing interested citizens to go in and cut and remove the wood free of charge. She said interested citizens need to stop by City Hall to receive instructions before entering the park to cut wood.
4.2 Water Source and Development Committee: The Council reviewed a memo dated January 31, 2005, from Leahnette Rivers regarding water rates. It was the consensus of the Council that the rate increase originally planned for February 2005 be postponed temporarily while we study rate structure options since our first bond payment will be due in December 2005 instead of 2004 as originally thought. As mentioned in the memo, we currently charge $45.00 for 1,000 cubic feet of water, and we need to increase the charge for 1,000 cubic feet to $53.68 by October 1, 2007, in order to retain our 1% interest rate on our loan.
Ms. Rivers will prepare some rate structure options for the Council to review during an upcoming meeting.
4.3 Street Committee: Chair Hudson said we have a change order for the "L" Street bridge project. Leahnette Rivers explained that the change order is to include design engineering for relocating our water and sewer utilities in OBEC's scope of work. She said the additional work will cost $20,000, and our out-of-pocket share will be $4,000.
4.4 Sewer Committee: Micah Olson said they have spent the last few days flushing sewer mains because our pumps were not pumping at their usual capacity. He said our pumping capacity improved after the flushing and is nearly back to normal.
4.5 Library Committee: No report.
4.6 Other reports: None.
AGENDA ITEM 5 CONSENT AGENDA:
5.1 Approval of the Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of January 20, 2005.
5.2 Approval of the bills paid during the month of January 2005.
5.3 Written report from the Public Works Superintendent.
5.4 Written report from the City Administrator/Recorder.
MOVED (SCHROEDER), SECONDED (HUDSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY ROLL CALL VOTE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AGENDA ITEM 6 UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
6.1 Council Bill No. 05-344: A Resolution adopting amendments to the Columbia City Police Department Policies and Procedures Manual as adopted by Resolution No. 00-685-R.
Chief Reedy said we may want to postpone action until we receive comments from Steve Winegar, our insurance carrier's Loss Control Representative.
Leahnette Rivers said she has received comments from Harold Olsen, City Attorney.
This matter was postponed until the next Council Meeting.
6.2 Council Bill No. 05-350; Ordinance No. 05-604-O: An Ordinance providing for regulations for public rights-of-way; requiring plan review and permits for work within the right-of-way; regulating construction within the right-of-way; repealing Ordinance No. 506.
The Council completed the second reading of Council Bill No. 05-350.
MOVED (HUDSON), SECONDED (SCHROEDER) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 05-350.
6.3 Council Bill No. 05-351; Ordinance No. 05-605-O: An Ordinance regulating the maintenance and repair of sidewalks; providing a penalty.
The Council completed the second reading of Council Bill No. 05-351.
MOVED (SCHROEDER), SECONDED (HUNDSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 05-351.
AGENDA ITEM 7 NEW BUSINESS
7.1 Council Bill No. 05-352; Resolution 05-828-R: A Resolution adopting amendments to the City of Columbia City Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual dated April 18, 2002, as adopted by Resolution No. 02-764-R.
Leahnette Rivers explained that she overlooked this change when the Council increased the number of hours an employee must work in order to be eligible for insurance benefits, which includes life and disability insurance in addition to medical insurance.
7.2 Community Hall floor refinishing: Review of quotes for refinishing the Community Hall floor.
The Council reviewed and discussed quotes for refinishing the Community Hall floor as follows:
MOVED (HUDSON), SECONDED (SCHROEDER) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO AWARD THE CONTRACT TO ROCKY'S QUALITY WOOD FLOORS CONTINGENT UPON A SATISFACTORY SITE VISIT OF PRIOR WORK AND REFERENCE CHECKS.
Leahnette Rivers noted that there will be an additional charge to add the striping for a volleyball court.
7.3 Engineering fees: Request for approval of current standard schedule of charges from David W. Leibbrandt of Murray, Smith and Associates, Inc. (MSA).
The Council reviewed and discussed a request to approve the current standard schedule of charges for engineering fees, effective January 1, 2005. They reviewed the changes in engineering fees since 2001. Leahnette Rivers noted that the new rates will not apply to the work remaining on the City's reservoir project.
MOVED (HUDSON), SECONDED (SCHROEDER) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE MSA RATE INCREASE.
7.4 Safe Drinking Water Loan Amendment: Amendment #4 to the Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund Agreement between the State of Oregon Economic and Community Development Department and the City of Columbia City.
MOVED (HUDSON), SECONDED (SCHROEDER) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT THE AMENDMENT.
7.5 Special Victim's Empower Unit Memorandum of Understanding: Ratify signature to the Memorandum of Understanding related to a grant application for the Special Victim's Empowerment Unit.
MOVED (SCHROEDER), SECONDED (HUDSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO RATIFY SIGNATURE TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
7.6 Executive Session: The Council met in Executive Session in accordance with ORS 192.660(1)(e) to conduct deliberations with persons designated by the governing body to negotiate real estate transactions and in accordance with ORS 192.660(1)(f) to consider records that are exempt from public inspection.
This item was postponed until the next meeting.
AGENDA ITEM 8 OTHER BUSINESS:
New police car: Chief Reedy said they are trying to confirm the location and expected delivery date of the new car.
Intergovernmental Agreement for Municipal Court Judge: Leahnette Rivers explained that the City's Municipal Judge, Diana Shera Taylor, has been hired as the Municipal Judge for the City of St. Helens. As a result, she said an Intergovernmental Agreement has been drafted addressing the provision of judicial services. The Council reviewed the agreement and discussed it at length with Harold Olsen and staff.
Leahnette Rivers noted that Sections 4 and 6 need to be amended to refer to Judge Taylor as an employee of Columbia City rather than an independent contractor.
MOVED (HUDSON), SECONDED (SCHROEDER) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO AUTHORIZE SIGNATURE TO THE NEW AGREEMENT WITH THE CHANGES DISCUSSED.
St. Helens: Councilor Hudson said he will be having a meeting with Mayor Peterson of St. Helens to discuss the various issues between the two cities.
AGENDA ITEM 9 ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.