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1840 Second Street, PO Box 189, Columbia City, OR 97018  (503) 397-4010

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City Council Meeting Minutes

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2007

 

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS

 

CITY OF COLUMBIA CITY, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON

 

AGENDA ITEM 1           CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL:

 

                                    CONVENED:

 

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

 

COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:

                                   

                                    Mayor Cheryl A. Young

Councilor Bill Guy (by telephone)

Councilor Gary Hudson

                                    Councilor Bob Schmor

                                    Councilor Tyra Schroeder

 

                                    COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

None.

 

                                    ALSO PRESENT:

 

Micah Olson, Public Works Superintendent

Leahnette Rivers, City Administrator/Recorder

 

                                    ATTORNEY PRESENT:

                       

                                    Harold Olsen, City Attorney

 

                                    A quorum was present and due notice had been published.

 

1.1        Mayor and City Council Inauguration:  Inauguration of re-elected Mayor Cheryl A. Young, Council Member Robert H. Schmor, and Council Member Gary J. Hudson.

 

Leahnette Rivers delivered the Oath of Office to Mayor Young and Councilors Schmor and Hudson. 

 

AGENDA ITEM 2           PUBLIC HEARINGS:

 

None.

 

AGENDA ITEM 3           CITIZEN INPUT:

 

None.

 

AGENDA ITEM 4           COUNCIL REPORTS: 

 

4.1        Parks Committee:  No report.

 

4.2        Water Source and Development Committee:  Micah Olson said the new well produced 270 gallons per minute (gpm) during a recent 24-hour pump test.   He said the well may be capable of producing more water because the bottom of the hole had collapsed and we pulled 270 gpm out of the end of a pipe, but we won't know for sure until we get the well screen properly in place.  He said the most we will be able to get out of an 8-inch hole is about 300 gpm.  He said they are attempting to develop the 8-inch test hole into a well, but they are having trouble putting the screen in place due to the limited space that is available.  He said they are still working on it, but they may need to take everything out and re-drill the well to a 12-inch hole to give them more room to work in.

 

Micah Olson explained that they drilled the well down through the gravel and they stopped when they hit sandstone.  He said there is a lot of water in the gravels, and a screen needs to be placed in the hole to keep it open and allow us to draw water throughout the gravel section.  He said they have the screen in place, but now they need to pull the pipe back out so the screen will be exposed and it is such a tight fit that they are having trouble. 

 

Councilor Schmor asked if 250 gpm will adequately support the City. 

 

Micah Olson said it will meet most of our daily water needs.

 

Leahnette Rivers explained that the City's projected 20-year supply need is 400 to 500 gallons per minute.  She said if the first well on the site had been successful, we would have a 12-inch hole.  However, after that well didn't produce the anticipated amount of water, we decided to drill an 8-inch test hole the second time around to keep the costs down.  She said if we can, we'll finish developing the 8-inch hole.  However, if we aren't successful, we can drill the well to a 12-inch hole, which will cost approximately $22,000 to $25,000.

 

Councilor Guy asked how this will all fit into our budget. 

 

Leahnette Rivers explained that she recently requested an extension of time for the project and a reappropriation of the remaining loan funds from the lending agency.  She said if the City Engineer's estimates are correct, we should be able to finish the project, including the distribution lines and railroad/Highway crossing with the remaining loan funds.  However, she really can't be certain about the total project costs until the construction bids are received.  She said we do have some System Development Revenues that can be used to complete the project if needed.

 

Councilor Schmor asked if we have conducted water quality tests on the new well. 

 

Micah Olson explained that we have proven that the water we are drawing from this well is the same as the water we pump from the well located in the City shop, and therefore all of the water quality tests that we have already conducted apply to this well.

 

Leahnette Rivers explained that technically we have relocated the well that is in the City shop to this new location.

 

Councilor Hudson questioned whether we should simply move forward with a 12-inch well because there may be more water available that we can take advantage of.

 

Micah Olson said he would recommend that we develop this well if we are able to, and only redrill it to 12-inches if we are unable to develop it.  He said if the site will provide us with a lot more water, we can drill another well at a later date.  He said he'll know a lot more about the amount of water that is available after the screen and a pump are in place.

 

It was the consensus of the Council that staff proceed with developing the 8-inch well, and if the screen cannot be put into place, then staff move forward with developing it into a 12-inch well.

 

4.3        Streets Committee:  No report.

 

4.4        Sewer Committee:   Chair Schmor inquired about the sewer smell that could be detected as he walked in the area near the Post Office.

 

Micah Olson explained that during certain weather conditions the gases from the vents in the neighborhood around the Four Square Church hang around near the ground rather than rising.  He said several years ago he had the City Engineer look into the problem and they investigated it at length.  He said the investigation included running a camera through the sewer line, and they were not able to come up with a reason behind the problem, or a solution.  He said the problem only seems to occur during an inversion.

 

4.5        Library Committee:   No report.

 

4.6        Other reports:  Mayor Young said she would like to continue with the same Committee appointments for 2007.  No objections were heard from the Council.

 

AGENDA ITEM 5           CONSENT AGENDA:

 

5.1        Approval of the Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of December 7, 2006.

5.2        Approval of the Bills Paid during the month of December 2006.

5.3        Approval of the Financial Report for the month ending November 30, 2006.

5.4        Written report from the Public Works Superintendent.

5.5        Written report from the Chief of Police.

5.6        Written report from the City Administrator/Recorder.

5.7        Reappointment of Karen Ladd and Albert E. Teasley to the Columbia City Planning Commission (4 year terms)

5.8        Reappointment of Karen Ladd to the Columbia City Budget Committee (3 year term).

5.9        Reappointment of Rich Bailey, Durell Kearsley, Randy May and Dave Sass to the Columbia City Building Appeals Board (3 year terms).

5.10      Approval of OLCC Off Premises Liquor License Renewal for Columbia City Mini Mart as requested by Celice A. and Matthew L. Carlough.

 

Leahnette Rivers asked the Council to strike Item 5.5 from the Consent Agenda because it was not yet available.

 

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

 

AGENDA ITEM 6           UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 

 

None.

 

AGENDA ITEM 7           NEW BUSINESS:

 

7.1        Change Order No. 8:  Change Order No. 8 for the Portland & Western RR ("L" St.) Bridge (Columbia City) Section.

 

Leahnette Rivers explained that this change order relates to the backfill material used during the project, and noted that it does not change the amount of the project.

 

MOVED (SCHROEDER), SECONDED (SCHMOR) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE CHANGE ORDER NO. 8 AND AUTHORIZE SIGNATURE.

7.2        Proposal:  Proposal for Engineering Services for Sewage Pump Station SCADA System Upgrades.

 

The Council reviewed a proposal for Engineering Services for the Sewage Pump Station upgrades dated December 27, 2006, from Murray, Smith and Associates, Inc., for an amount not to exceed $8,000.00.

 

Micah Olson explained that we currently use floats to monitor the status of our lift stations.  He said if the floats get above or below a certain level, or if we lose power, our alarm company is called and they contact our staff and give them the location of the alarm.

 

He said the new system will use a computer to call out staff and tell them the type of alarm and the location of the alarm.  He said the system will use a computer screen to show us how full each lift station is and which pumps are running.  He said the system will be much more sophisticated.

 

MOVED (SCHMOR), SECONDED (HUDSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE SEWAGE PUMP STATION SCADA SYSTEM UPGRADES.

 

AGENDA ITEM 8           OTHER BUSINESS:

 

Community Hall rental:  The City Council reviewed a letter dated December 14, 2006, from Tish Hora of the St. Helens Girl Scouts requesting the use of the Community Hall for cookie distributions on Saturday, February 17, 2007.

 

MOVED (HUDSON), SECONDED (SCHROEDER) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO WAIVE THE RENTAL FEES FOR THE COMMUNITY HALL FOR THE COOKIE DISTRIBUTION.

 

St. Helens School District No. 502 - Agreement for Improvements:  The City Council reviewed an Agreement for Improvements between the City of Columbia City and the St. Helens School District No. 502 requiring the School District to construct curbs, sidewalks, a parking strip and half-street improvements on "F" Street between First and Second Streets and on First Street between "F" and "G" Streets.  Leahnette Rivers explained that the Agreement required the completion of these improvements by August 10, 2004, but they haven't been done.

 

The Council discussed the Agreement at length with staff.  Councilor Schmor said there is not very much activity on that street and he questioned the need for the improvements at this time.  He said there are many trees that will be damaged if this work is completed.

 

After a lengthy discussion, it was the consensus of the Council that the Agreement be amended to provide the School District with another five years to complete the improvements.

 

Harold Olsen will draft an amendment for the Council and School District to consider.

 

Resignation:  The City Council reviewed letters of resignation dated January 2, 2007, from Micah Olson, Public Works Superintendent, effective May 10, 2007 with regret.  It was the consensus of the Council that we move forward with advertising the position opening. 

 

Memorial Services:  Mayor Young said she plans to attend Becky Johnson's Memorial Services on behalf of the City.

 

AGENDA ITEM 7           NEW BUSINESS:

 

7.3        Executive Session:  To consider records that are exempt from public inspection pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(f); and to consult with legal council about litigation likely to be filed pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(h).

 

The Council convened in Executive Session.

 

The Council reconvened in Open Session.

 

AGENDA ITEM 9           ADJOURNMENT: 

 

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 8:32 p.m.

 

 

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