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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
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THURSDAY,
FEBRUARY 18, 2010
CITY
HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CITY OF
COLUMBIA CITY, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON
AGENDA ITEM 1 CALL
TO ORDER/ROLL CALL:
CONVENED:
Council President Schmor called the regular meeting to order at 7:30
p.m. Council President Schmor led the
flag salute.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor
Cheryl A. Young (arrived 7:42 p.m.)
Councilor
Josh Fromm
Councilor
Gary Hudson
Councilor
Sally Ann Marson
Councilor
Bob Schmor
COUNCIL
MEMBERS ABSENT:
None
ALSO
PRESENT:
Micah
Rogers, Public Works Superintendent
Michael
McGlothlin, Chief of Police
Leahnette
Rivers, City Administrator/Recorder
ATTORNEY
PRESENT:
None
A
quorum was present and due notice had been published.
1.1 Swearing in:
Swearing in of Reserve Officer Christopher Cowen.
Chief McGlothlin explained that
in keeping with the Department's goals, we are increasing our volunteer reserve
staff with the addition of Chris Cowen, an extraordinary and impressive young
man. He said Chris' past experience
includes the military and the military police.
He said Chris is currently a supervisor with an armored security company
in Portland. He said Columbia City is
fortunate to have Chris interested in being involved with our Department, and
he'll be an awesome addition to the Department, much like Reserve Officer
Bubar. Chief McGlothlin said he is very
proud of all of the work the Department is doing, and he especially proud of
the volunteer reserves that work so hard just because they love their
jobs. Chief McGlothlin said Chris is
scheduled to graduate from the Reserve Academy in May.
Chris thanked everyone for the
opportunity to work for the Columbia City Police Department.
Leahnette administered the Oath
of Office to Chris, and Chief McGlothlin presented him with a badge.
AGENDA ITEM 2 PUBLIC
HEARINGS:
2.1 Public Hearing:
To gather public testimony relating to proposed changes to fees for
certain services performed by the City.
Leahnette reviewed the proposed
fee changes with the City Council, consisting of adjustments to the fees
charged for copies, maps, police reports, Municipal Court suspension fees,
solicitation permit fees, and public record requests, as well as establishing a
new Newsletter subscription fee.
Public Hearing opened.
No comments were heard from the
public.
Public Hearing closed.
AGENDA ITEM 3 CITIZEN
INPUT:
None.
AGENDA ITEM 4 COUNCIL
REPORTS:
4.1 Parks Committee: No report.
4.2 Water Source and Development Committee: Chair Fromm reported that we have the test
results for the calcium levels in the well water. Micah said the results show 24.4 parts per million of calcium
carbonate in our water, and he is attempting to determine whether or not that
is a low or high reading.
Leahnette noted that we are
having problems with the well pump's variable frequency drive because it
appears to be radiating harmonics into the power grid at a level that exceeds
the National Electric Code standards, as mentioned in her February 18, 2010
activities report. She said she is
currently investigating whether or not the drive met the design specifications
for the project, and Micah is working with Hamer Electric, Dave Crow, and the
Columbia River PUD in an attempt to solve the problem.
Council Schmor said it seems
like the engineer's should have caught identified this problem during the
construction project.
Councilor Fromm said he thinks
it would be in the best interest of the City to ask for proposals for Engineering
Services, and he plans to propose that to the Council later tonight in the form
of a motion.
4.3 Street Committee: No report.
4.4 Sewer Committee: No report.
4.5 Audit Committee: Councilor Marson said the Audit Committee will meet on February
20th to review the second quarter financials.
4.6 Library Report: Councilor Hudson said the Friends of the Library will hold a book
sale on Saturday, February 27th.
4.7 Other Reports: Mayor Young said she spoke during the Chamber of Commerce Awards
Banquet this evening, along with Jon Hanken from Scappoose and Randy Peterson
from St. Helens.
AGENDA ITEM 5 CONSENT
AGENDA:
5.1 Financial Reports for the period ending January 31, 2010.
5.2 Written report from the Chief of Police.
5.3 Written report from the City Administrator/Recorder.
MOVED (HUDSON), SECONDED
(MARSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY ROLL CALL VOTE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT
AGENDA.
AGENDA ITEM 6 UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
6.1 Second reading of Council Bill No. 10-542; Ordinance No.
10-655-O: An Ordinance establishing
the times and places for all regular meetings of the Common Council of the City
of Columbia City, Oregon; repealing Ordinance No. 348.
MOVED (FROMM), SECONDED (MARSON)
AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 10-542.
6.2 Council Bill No. 10-544: A Resolution providing for water rates
and charges for the City of Columbia City, Oregon; rescinding Resolution No.
09-941-R.
Leahnette suggested the Council
postpone any action on water and sewer rates to allow further study of possible
rate structures that might help to address recent citizen input. She said she just received the survey of
Oregon city water, sewer and storm water rates yesterday, and she distributed
copies of the survey results and discussed the information at length. She also distributed copies of various water
and sewer rate schedules, as well information showing the impact the various
schedules had on 30 sample accounts that were selected at random. Leahnette suggested the City Council
consider reducing the amount of water that is included in the minimum charge
and adding a sewer usage fee that is tied to water usage. She noted that for the majority of the year,
most of the water used ends up in the sewer system, and the City of St. Helens
charges Columbia City for sewer treatment based upon volume. She said it costs the City more to provide
sewer service to a household that uses an average of 1500 c.f. per month than a
household that uses an average of 300 c.f. per month.
Councilor Schmor suggested that
the usage fee should not apply during the months of June, July, August and
September.
Following a lengthy discussion
with staff, it was the consensus of the Council that action on Council Bill No.
10-544 be postponed until the next meeting to provide Council Members with an
opportunity to study the various rate structure information.
6.3 Council Bill No. 10-545: A Resolution adopting sewer charges and rates for the City of
Columbia City in accordance with Ordinance No. 470; rescinding Resolution No.
09-952-R.
It was the consensus of the
Council that action on Council Bill No. 10-545 be postponed until the next
meeting to provide Council Members with an opportunity to study the various
rate structure information discussed above.
AGENDA ITEM 7 NEW BUSINESS:
7.1 2010 Needs and Issues Inventory: Review and Prioritization of the 2010 Needs
and Issues Inventory.
The Council reviewed a proposed
2010 Needs & Issues Inventory and prioritized the projects within the
categories of Community Readiness, Infrastructure and Community Facilities by
consensus.
7.2 First Reading of Council Bill No. 10-546: An Ordinance establishing fees for certain
services performed by the City of Columbia City, Oregon; rescinding Resolution
No. 08-904-R.
The Council completed the first
reading of Council Bill No. 10-546.
7.3 Council Bill No. 10-548; Resolution No. 10-968-R: A Resolution establishing fees for certain
services performed by the City of Columbia City, Oregon; rescinding Resolution
No. 08-904-R.
MOVED (SCHMOR), SECONDED
(MARSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 10-548.
7.4 Council Bill No. 10-549; Resolution No. 10-969-R: A Resolution establishing rental fees and
charges for the Columbia City Community Hall; rescinding Resolution No.
08-924-R.
MOVED (MARSON), SECONDED (FROMM)
AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 10-549.
7.5 Council Bill No. 10-550; Resolution No. 10-970-R: A Resolution to adopt a policy for public
records and information requests.
Leahnette said Harold Olsen has
reviewed the policy and recommends the following change to Council Authority at
the bottom of page 2:
The City Council or designee
shall have the authority in its sole discretion, to:.....
MOVED (HUDSON), SECONDED
(SCHMOR) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 10-550.
7.6 Policy Goals and Objectives: Continued review of City-wide Policy Goals and Objectives.
The Council continued their
review and discussion of City-wide Policy Goals and Objectives with staff at
length. A considerable amount of the
discussion focused around an interest in seeking voter approval of a three-year
operating levy for police and street/storm water maintenance services. It was the consensus of the Council that
Leahnette prepare an updated written draft and distribute the document to
Council Members for their review and comment before the next meeting.
7.7 Staffing Hour Reductions: Consideration of City
Administrator/Recorder recommendations for staffing hour reductions.
The Council reviewed
recommendations to reduce paid staff hours as outlined in a memo dated February
18, 2010, from the City Administrator/Recorder. Proposed cutbacks included the elimination of the paid Librarian
position (18 hours per month) and the seasonal Utility Worker position (87
hours per month), a 70% (57 hours per month) reduction in one Police Sergeant's
hours, a 40% (34.5 hours per month) reduction in the Court Clerk's hours, and a
6% reduction (10.5 hours per month) in the Planning/Building/Administrative
Secretary's work hours based upon a need to reduce costs and the needs of the
City as outlined in the memo.
MOVED (SCHMOR), SECONDED
(MARSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO REDUCE STAFF
HOURS EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2010.
AGENDA ITEM 8 OTHER
BUSINESS:
Street Maintenance: Councilor Schmor suggested the Public Works
crew level the gravel and/or add gravel to the area across the street from the
Post Office because there are large holes developing there.
Motor Carrier Enforcement
Program: Chief McGlothlin
reviewed the Motor Carrier Enforcement Program presentation prepared by
Sergeant Harper with the Council. He
explained that the Oregon Department of Transportation will pay for 80% of all
personnel and training costs associated with operating the program. He said the implementation of this program
will assist the Police Department in effectively addressing complaints related
to truck traffic on Highway 30 within Columbia City. He said one officer from the department would attend level II
truck inspector school to become certified to conduct certain inspections and
to issue certain citations, and that officer would then be responsible for
working the program.
It was the consensus of the
Council that the Department move forward with submitting an application to
participate in the program.
Request for Proposals for
Engineering Services: (MOVED)
FROMM, SECONDED (MARSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO REQUEST PROPOSALS FOR
ENGINEERING SERVICES.
AGENDA ITEM 9 ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business
to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m.
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