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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/07/95TAPE #1292 i UNAPPROVED DRAFT CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES COUNCIL APPROVED JUN 22,1995 JUNE 7, 1995 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton was called to order in the City Council Chambers, 239 4th Street, Bremerton, Washington, Wednesday, June 7, 1995, at 5:30 P.M., with Council President Sherril Huff-Menees presiding. Council members present were Bob Winters, A1 Colvin, Morrie Dawkins, Carlos Montgomery, John Law, David Farr, Richard Neville, and Lon Overson. Also present were City Attorney Ian Sievers and City Administrative Services Director Kathy McCluskey. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Council President Huff-Menees and Invocation given by Pastor David Zaske of Bremerton First United Methodist Church. #0011 #0035 CONSENT AGENDA A. Minutes of Meeting - May 24, 1995 #AB95-118 M/S/C/U(Neville/Farr) to approve Consent Agenda as presented. CLaIMS/CHECK REGISTER8 Vouchers audited and certified by the auditing officer as required by RCW 42.24.080, and those expense reimbursement claims certified as required by RCW 42.24.090, have been recorded on a listing that had been made available to the Council. M/S/C/U(/) on June 7, 1995, the Council does approve for payment those vouchers included and further described as follows: 185198 through 185342 in the amount of $246,753.37; and Regular Payroll for the period ending May 31, 1995, in the amount of $754,603.31. COUNCIL MEMBER REPORT8 Mr. Overson reported he had the opportunity to experience the new Dinner Theater restaurant at Yesterdays in downtown Bremerton, which he found delightful. He was impressed with the quality of food, excellent service and very entertaining theatrical presentation. Mr. Neville announced the next Neighborhood Information Network meeting for Districts #4, #5 and #6 will be held June 13, 7:00 P.M., at the Neighborhood Christian Center. The program for that meeting will be a chance to meet your Beat Cop for the downtown area. Mr. Farr announced the Anderson Cove neighborhood's clean up event is scheduled for this weekend with a starting time of 8:00 A.M. on TAPE #1292 City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes June 7, 1995 Page 2 of 8 Saturday morning. He encouraged residents in that area to participate and join in a potluck/block party. He hoped several absentee landowners of properties in the Anderson Cove area would get involved in the clean up as well. Mr. Law noted the City lost a true civic leader and benefactor this past week with the passing of Scott Wetzel. He will personally miss his wise counsel and friendship. He announced the next District #3 Neighborhood Meeting is scheduled for June 20, 1995, 7:00 P.M., at the Senior Center. The program for that meeting will include Senator Betti Sheldon, who will give a legislative wrap up and report. Mr. Montaome~7 reported efforts are still underway to put together a newsletter for Council Districts #6, #7 and #8. He also enjoyed the Dinner Theater, which he views as a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a good meal and have a good laugh afterwards. The actors not only act on stage, but they also act as waiter and waitress. Mr. Dawkins reports timber is being removed from the new golf course site, which is opening up the view along the old Belfair Highway. He hopes the projection that the new golf course will be open by next spring is a reality. A search is underway for a name for the new golf course. Mr. Colvin stated he recently read or heard: "the evil that men do lives after them and the good is often interned with their bones". He noted that may be true, but he knows many individuals and organizations that are doing a lot of good work - not for praise or glory, but just to be doing good for the citizens of Bremerton. One of those organizations is the Kitsap Mental Health Service and he wants them to know their efforts are appreciated. Recently, he was asked by a newspaper reporter from "The Sun" how many complaints were sufficient to bring about action to remove the Scotch broom from the north end of the Warren Avenue Bridge? With out thinking, he came up with the figure of 400, which may be reported in the newspaper. It is his hope that something will be done to remove the Scotch broom, which would be of benefit to those individuals adversely affected by it. He encouraged anyone wishing to add their support to this effort, to write to him so the information can be documented. He believes a community effort can be initiated whereby local groups and individuals could volunteer their help and/or plants to remedy this bothersome situation. He has already received offers of donated Rhododendron plants from Councilman Dawkins, Councilman Law, Councilman Montgomery, Council President Huff-Menees, himself and Council's Legislative Assistant Merilynn Erhart. Mr. Winters stated he would also like to help with the replanting efforts. He announced the next Kitsap Lake Neighborhood TAPE #1292 City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes June 7, 1995 Page 3 of 8 Association (KLNA) meeting will be held June 27, 6:30 P.M., at the Cascade Natural Gas Company building on Kitsap Way. At that meeting, a number of issues relating to Kitsap Lake will be discussed that include: times, speeds, safety, etc. He reminded everyone that Kitsap Lake is a City lake and used by many people throughout the County. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Lynn Hotton pointed out the City already has an ordinance surrounding those issues relating to Kitsap Lake, and suggested he take a copy of the ordinance to the KLNA meeting to let them know what is already "on the books". If that group wishes to make some changes or modifications to the ordinance, it will take Council action. Mayor Horton congratulated the graduating Bremerton High students. An Awards Assembly was held on Friday morning and to their credit they were able to amass in the area exceeding four million dollars in scholarship offers to the graduating seniors of Bremerton High School. She referenced a "Letter To The Editor" from Tom Long in which he commented: "If scholastics were equivalent to athletics, we would have a banner headline". Unfortunately, such news doesn't seem to make the front page, and yet there was a rather heated debate over the School Levy Ballot Measure and one of the factors was lack of academic achievement. She believed the scholarship amount for 1995 was at least twice what Bremerton students received in 1994. She too was saddened by the passing of Scott Wetzel, who was a great community member as well as a regional and national businessman and leader. Funeral services will be at the Lewis Funeral Chapel at 2:00 P.M.. PUBLIC RECOGNITION Tony Thomas, Vendor in the City of Bremerton, expressed his concern that the City has been giving him the "run-around" directing him to various departments in his attempt to get the appropriate business license to set up a vending site near the boardwalk. As of this date, no one within the City system has helped him and the Mayor stated to him that his request would have to go before the City Council for a Business License. He referenced the City's Sidewalk Vendors Ordinance and pointed out the ordinance indicated that as long as he obtained permission from either the property owner or the City of Bremerton for $150.00 per year he could have a vending cart at a particular location. It concerned him that he has been at a standstill for 2-3 weeks going around in circles to the various City departments. Mayor Lynn Hotton stated this issue is not just a sidewalk rending issue, Mr. Thomas has asked for a spot in the parking lot adjacent to the boardwalk. There are two issues TAPE #1292 City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes June 7, 1995 Page 4 of 8 that have arisen: (1) there is a precedent in that the City has leased a parking spot on Park Avenue to an Espresso vendor, which was approved by the City Council. Unless we change procedurally, if Mr. Thomas wants to pursue locating a cart in a parking spot, it would have to come to Council. However, there is a broader issue in that several years ago when the boardwalk first opened the City attempted to open the boardwalk for vendors and it was a contentious issue due to the fact surrounding businesses were opposed to vendors on the boardwalk. When Mr. Thomas approached her about this issue, she felt it was a policy decision on the part of the City Council whether or not vendors should be allowed on the boardwalk. She will be forwarding the issue to Council for discussion and decision. Mr. Colvin asked if the City had a written policy? Mayor Hotton stated no, however, she feels there is a need for such a policy and it will require getting business input so that a recommendation can be forwarded to Council that makes sense. At this point, there is no policy and she did not feel it was within her authority to say "yes" and go ahead and issue the permit to Mr. Thomas. Mr. Farr asked if there are any locations within the City where a sidewalk vendor can locate, with proper permitting, in the interim? Mayor Hotton explained the City does have a Sidewalk Vendor Policy, but Mr. Thomas did not ask for vendor space on the sidewalk. Mr. Farr asked Mr. Thomas if he was aware there were other locations on the sidewalk that he could obtain the necessary permit? Mr. Thomas stated not in the boardwalk area. The site he requested is a parking stall located approximately 50 feet away from the boardwalk. It was his desire to share part of the parking space that is currently holds a planter. He also noted he would not be putting up a permanent structure and would be packing up and moving his equipment at the end of each day. Mr. Farr stated he was concerned about finding Mar. Thomas an interim space since the process identified may take some time in developing a City policy. Mayor Hotton stated if Mr. Thomas wishes to apply for a rending permit on some sidewalk outside of the boardwalk area, he can do so and the City will grant that permit. She related when the boardwalk was first completed, the City received requests from vendors on or near the boardwalk. At that time, the surrounding businesses objected because of a competitive issue. The issue of granting someone the use of space in the parking lot would need to be a Council decision. Mr. Colvln stated he supports the Mayor's position, however he did not think it was appropriate to have given Mr. Thomas the "run-around" to various departments while trying to resolve the issue. Mayor Horton stated the reason it took so long was that no one had an answer and the City does not have a written policy that could address the issue. She sees development of a City policy will keep such a situation from happening again. Mr. Winters pointed out on weekends the Farms' Market has use of TAPE #1292 City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes June 7, 1995 Page 5 of 8 the boardwalk and most likely already has an agreement with the City. Mr. Thomas asked if the Farms' Market agreement had expired? Mayor Hotton stated no, there is a current agreement in place. Ann Rudnicki, Director YouthCare WestSound, reported on some changes for their services and also shared their need of the community's help in meeting some of their financial needs. In 1992 YouthCare started an outreach services to homeless, runaway and at- risk youth throughout the County, and focusing on Bremerton. At that time, the downtown area was very intense with lots of youth with lots of problems. Their outreach team began focusing on who those youth were and to get them back to their homes and/or other services within the community. After about nine months, there was a noticeable decrease in the number of youth in the downtown area. She liked to think that they had a role in helping to decrease the numbers and that number of youth has not risen back to the same intensity as it was in the beginning. Her agency has had the opportunity to focus on intervention and early prevention with youth before they actually would leave home. One of the pleasures of her job is handling calls from parents, who are desperate for help, and being able to give them some resources to work through their difficulties. At the end of this month, some of those services will not be available due to the expiration of a 3-year non-renewable grant from the State. Those grant funds provided for two out-reach counselors as well as some other services. They have served annually about 400 different youth, 60% of those youth are Bremerton residents. They are still able to provide some services, particularly the school for at-risk youth and with the foster home. There are many good agencies within this community, who are trying to work with troubled youth and their families. They have been pleased to be part of the efforts Bremerton has been doing to revitalize the area and be part of the community. Barbara Payton, President of the NAACP, announced a film "Freedom On My Mind", will be shown at the Bremerton High School Auditorium, on Sunday June 11, 1995, at 7:00 P.M. 7A - PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT; WATER UTILITY LANDMANAGEMENT PLAN, #AB95-119 Public Works & Utilities serves approximately 50,000 customers with water from ground and surface sources. The Union River surface presently meets Department of Health requirements for remaining an unfiltered supply. The City owns and/or controls the Union River source above the point of diversion with the primary land activity being forest management which includes timber harvest. A land management plan was prepared in 1986. Based on changing regulations there is a need to prepare an updated management plan which will include a maintainable forest inventory. TAPE #1292 City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes June 7, 1995 Page 6 of 8 The inventory will focus on the quality and quantity of the timber resource which will provide information for harvest management as well as other activities. Key regulations that must be addressed include 1) Department of Health Surface Water Treatment Rule; and 2) Washington State Forest Practices Act and Guidelines. Project cost is $220,000. Budgeted amount for 1995 was $125,000, which did not fully account for the inventory component of the project. It is anticipated that most of the shortfall will be made up by timber revenues in excess of those predicted for 1995. Request for proposals were made earlier this year. Three firms submitted proposals, with Economic & Engineering Services, Inc. of Bellevue appraised by staff as being most qualified and responsive for the proposed scope of work. Bill McKinney, Forestry Manager, stated the 1986 plan provided a comprehensive approach to management of the utility lands and postured the City to anticipate pending regulatorychanges (Surface Water Treatment Rule, which was passed down from EPA through the State Department of Health). Having the plan in place has in part contributed to Bremerton obtaining and maintaining exemption from filtration. The current cost of a filtration plant in 1995 dollars would be abut 11 million dollars. The 1986 plan also provided guidance in forest management activities, however, it did not address forest inventory. The purpose of updating the plan is to provide a policy for management of the utility owned forest lands within current and anticipated regulatory constraints affecting water supplies. The City is anticipating an enhanced surface water treatment rule. Also, the updated plan will provide a maintainable forest inventory computer based system that will provide a tool for management of the timber resource on a sustained yield basis. The new term is "non-declining basis" within the constraints of both the water quality regulations and the State Forest Practice Rules and Guidelines. He is also looking to incorporate the data that is generated in the forest inventory and other data basis within a Geographic Information System (GIS) that is retrievable and expandable. Public comment - none. Mr. Dawkins pointed out the Union River surface water supply is the City's most valuable asset and we want to make sure that the City's watershed properties are well taken care of to protect that resource. Mr. Winters asked the projected life of the computer software? Mr. McKinnev stated the data base that will be generated with this program will be maintainable. If we do our job, he believes it can be maintained for a long time and one that is easily upgraded. TAPE #1292 City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes June 7, 1995 Page 7 of 8 Mr. Farr pointed out this proposal is an expenditure of approximately one quarter of a million dollars, which initially concerned him, however, he does respect Mr. McKinney's professional judgement. He agreed from the start with Mr. McKinney's points that the information is needed to properly manage the asset and to protect the City's water supply. But, the point he initially disagreed was the expense the City would incur hiring a contractor to do the work verses having in completed in-house. The turning point for him was when Mr. McKinney brought up some figures on man- hours needed to complete the inventory and what the City would be paying for that task if it was done in-house verses contracting it out. Mr. McKinneV explained $200,000 of the $220,000 iS tO cover the Professional Services Agreement, $10,000 - under a separate Professional Services Agreement that the information generated from that contract can be melded into this program (land management/forestry purposes); and $10,000 is for computer system upgrade. Two thirds of the cost of this entire project is in the forest inventory and some of the GIS mapping system and establishing the data base. He is looking at an estimate of about 1,600 hours of field work just on the forest inventory component and with him having very limited staff to assist, it would be near impossible to carry out the task in-house. Also, he does not currently have a data system to take all of the generated data and put it into a retrievable, expandable format. Mr. Law asked Mr. McKinney's guesstimate of the value of the City's forest inventory? Mr. McKinnev provided the following current figures: The value of the timber being harvested off the site of the new golf course runs about $10,000 per acre. If that figure is expanded over the City's 8,500 acres of timber lands, it would equate to a resource just in timber values well over 50 million dollars. He noted that figure changes with market conditions, but it is a large resource and one that can generate revenue on a perpetual basis, if managed correctly for the Water Utility. Mr. Law stated that was the reason why he is anxious to support Mr. McKinney's program, plus the fact it also controls the City's water resource, which we can't put a price tag on its value. Mr. McKinney stated everything we do does revolve around the need for protecting that water supply and maintaining the City's non- filtration status. Basically, the intention is to take the two resources - water and timber - and meld it into a comprehensive plan and then manage both to the optimum value possible without doing anything to degrade either one. Mr. Winters asked the number of people in the forestry department? Mr. McKinney stated four. Mr. Winters asked of the four individuals who had the most experience? Mr. McKinnev stated he is #1351 TAPE #1292 City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes June 7, 1995 Page 8 of 8 that person, however, he has a very good staff and most of his staff's time is involved in day-to-day operations, maintenance and biosolids program. M/S/C/U(Montgomery/Winters) to accept the proposal made my Economic & Engineering Services, Inc., and authorize the Mayor to execute a professional services agreement for a land management plan including a forest inventory, subject to City Administrative Policies and Procedures. With no further business meeting adjourned at 6:25 P.M. KATHLEEN L. McCLUS~Y~~,Cty Clerk City of Bremerton KLM/SH-M/me cc: Normal Distribution File/Vault