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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, APRIL 19, 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 Gary Hudson

                             Councilor Sally Ann Marson

                             Councilor Bob Schmor

 

                             COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

                             Councilor Bill Guy

 

                             ALSO PRESENT:

 

Micah Olson, Public Works Superintendent

Jeff Anderson, Public Works Superintendent

 

                             ATTORNEY PRESENT:

                  

                             None.

 

                             A quorum was present and due notice had been published.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2        PUBLIC HEARINGS:

 

2.1  Public Hearing:  To gather public testimony relating to a proposed changes to the commercial and industrial sewer usage fees based upon recent winter water usage history.

 

Public Hearing opened.

 

No comments were heard from the public.

 

Public Hearing closed.

 

AGENDA ITEM 3        CITIZEN INPUT:

 

Letters of resignation:  The Mayor and City Council read letters of resignation form the Planning Commission and Budget Committee submitted by Sally Ann Marson, dated April 17, 2007.

 

MOVED (SCHMOR), SECONDED (HUDSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ACCEPT THE LETTERS OF RESIGNATION FROM SALLY ANN MARSON AND THANK HER FOR HER SERVICE.         

 

Appointment to the City Council:  Mayor Young appointed Sally Ann Marson to the City Council.

 

MOVED (HUDSON), SECONDED (SCHMOR) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF SALLY ANN MARSON TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

 

Mayor Young delivered the Oath of Office to Sally Ann Marson, and Councilor Marson joined the meeting.

 

AGENDA ITEM 4        COUNCIL REPORTS: 

 

4.1      Parks Committee:   The Mayor and City Council reviewed the meeting minutes for the April 17, 2007 meeting.  Micah said the benches have been installed in Jim Bundy Memorial Park.  Jeff said they have also poured the concrete slabs for the outhouses in Harvard and Jim Bundy Memorial Parks.  He said they will be pouring additional concrete slabs for the installation of three more park benches in Harvard Park near the playground area.  He said they plan to install a sprinkler system and ADA accessible ramp in Jim Bundy Memorial Park before June 30, 2007, and stripe the parking lot.

 

4.2      Water Source and Development Committee:   In the absence of Chair Guy, Micah reported that they are progressing with the connection of the lower capacity well to the system, and they expect to have it completed and in operation soon.

 

Micah explained that the new well system will require a Water Treatment I certified operator.  He said Jeff Anderson will be able to get his Water Treatment I certification eventually, but it may take several years because water treatment will be a rather small part of his job.  He said a person must have the equivalent of six months full-time experience in water treatment work in order to qualify to take the exam for the certification.

 

Micah said he is willing to contract with the City to be the operator of record for water and sewer until Jeff is able to get his required certifications.  He said he would be willing to do this for a monthly fee of $200, which would include up to 4 hours of work.  He said he would charge any additional hours at $50 per hour.  He said under the contract he would be the responsible person, and uncertified employees would look to him to make certain decisions about the operation of the systems. 

 

Mayor Young said an option might be for the City to contract with another City, such as St. Helens.  She said she would prefer to contract with Micah because he is very knowledgeable about our specific water and sewer systems.

 

It was the consensus of the Council that Harold Olsen be asked to draw up a contract for Micah to serve as our operator of record.

 

Micah reported that the final design work for the high capacity well is about 75% complete.  He said we hope to bid the project in May.

 

Micah said a pre-bid meeting was held today for the reservoir repainting project. 

 

4.3      Streets Committee:  Chair Hudson referred to the traffic changes that will be required to safely accommodate the Quiet Zone.  These included prohibiting westbound truck traffic on "I" Street between Third Street and Highway 30, adding a raised "pork chop" shaped median on Fourth Street at "I" Street, and changing Third Street between "E" and "F" Streets to a one-way street for southbound traffic only.

 

Mayor Young said the modifications seem fairly simple, and the benefits of the Quiet Zone should outweigh the impacts of the changes.

 

There were no objections from the Council about the proposed changes.

 

In response to an inquiry from the City Administrator/Recorder about the placement of portable basketball hoops on paved City streets, Councilor Hudson said he does not want to see the City regulate them at this point.  Councilor Schmor agreed.  He said we investigated this subject several years ago and decided to not regulate them at that time.

 

4.4      Sewer Committee:   Micah said the new vault has been installed at the River Club Estates lift station.   He said the City of St. Helens is currently applying for the renewal of their sewer discharge permit.

 

Jeff said they have replaced some check valves on the "K" Street pump station.

 

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 March 15, 2007.

5.2      Written report from the Chief of Police.

5.3      Written report from the City Administrator/Recorder.

5.4      Appointment of Casey Wheeler to the Budget Committee.

5.5      Appointment of Robert Jorgensen to the Budget Committee.

5.6      Appointment of Sally Ann Marson to the City Council.

 

Mayor Young struck item 5.6 from the consent agenda because this item was handled under the citizen input portion of the meeting.

 

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

 

AGENDA ITEM 6        UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 

 

6.1      Second reading of Council Bill No. 07-435; Ordinance No. 07-632-O:  An Ordinance vacating "K" Street between Third and Fourth Streets, excluding the Third Place alleyway, in Columbia City, Columbia County, Oregon.

 

The Council completed the second reading of Council Bill No. 07-435.

 

MOVED (SCHMOR), SECONDED (MARSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 07-435.

 

6.2      Second reading of Council Bill No. 07-436; Ordinance No. 07-633-O:  An Ordinance vacating Eighth Street, Eighth Place, and Ninth Street between Calvin and Franklin Streets, and all of Penn Street west of Seventh Place in Columbia City, Columbia County, Oregon.

 

Mayor Young reported that after the last Council Meeting, Phyllis Moss visited City Hall with her daughter and son-in-law to get additional information about the vacation proposal.  She said a few days later Phyllis contacted the City Hall to say that she was in full agreement with the vacation.  However, about a week later Phyllis called back and said she had changed her mind and she was still opposed to the proposed vacation.

 

Micah said Leahnette Rivers had told him that she believed Phyllis was interested in retaining pedestrian access to her property from the Eighth Street right-of-way.  He said Phyllis will still have pedestrian access to her property across the 100-foot riparian easement area that the City will acquire with the vacation.

 

The Council completed the second reading of Council Bill No. 07-436.

 

Micah noted that the last whereas clause on page 1 had been changed to document the objection we received from Phyllis Moss.

 

MOVED (SCHMOR), SECONDED (HUDSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 07-436.

 

AGENDA ITEM 7        NEW BUSINESS:

 

7.1      Council Bill No. 07-437; Resolution No. 07-885-R:  A Resolution extending the City of Columbia City's Workers' Compensation Coverage to volunteers of the City of Columbia City, Oregon, during the fiscal year 2007-08.

 

MOVED (HUDSON), SECONDED (MARSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 07-437.

 

7.2      Council Bill No. 07-438 Resolution No. 07-886R:  A Resolution adopting sewer charges and rates for the City of Columbia City in accordance with Ordinance No. 470; rescinding Resolution No. 06-864-R.

 

MOVED (SCHMOR), SECONDED (HUDSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 07-438.

 

AGENDA ITEM 8        OTHER BUSINESS:

 

Public Works update:  Jeff said the crew has been busy with the well project, park items, the sewer vault, and street patching.  He said they have two full-time seasonal workers on staff, and they will be interviewing on the April 24 to fill the regular Utility Worker I position.  Micah said Jeff has been introduced to the budget and other paperwork involved with his new position, and he's doing a great job.

 

OAWU representation:  Micah said he has served on the Oregon Association of Water Utilities (OAWU) Board of Directors for four years now, and he asked the Mayor and Council if they would like him to continue to represent Columbia City in that regard.  No objections were heard from the Council.

 

COLA:  Micah said Leahnette Rivers is recommending a 3% cost of living adjustment (COLA) effective July 1, 2007, based upon the change in the consumer price index for Portland-Salem and the U.S. during the calendar year 2006. 

 

MOVED (SCHMOR), SECONDED (HUDSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE A 3% COLA EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2007.

 

AGENDA ITEM 7        NEW BUSINESS (continued):

 

7.3      Executive Session:  Executive Session to consider records that are exempt from public inspection pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(f); and to consult with legal counsel 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 8:33 p.m.

         

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