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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/11/92 APP, 1 199Z CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MARCH 11, 1992 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, March 11, 1992, at 5:30 p.m., with Council President Lynn Horton presiding. Council members present: Wayne Estes, Eileen Fitz, Hank Waibel, Morrie Dawkins, Russ Johnson, A1 Colvin and C.R. "Tiny" Collins. Councilman Lon Overson was absent. Also present were City Attorney Ian Sievers and Acting City Clerk, Rich hanna The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Council President Horton and Invocation given by Councilman A1 Colvin. CONSENT AGENDA A. Minutes Of Meeting - February 19, 1992 #AB92-063 #0035 M/S/C/U(Waibel/Estes) to approve Consent Agenda as presented. CLAIMS/WARRANT REGISTERS 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. #0057 M/S/C/U(Colvin/Dawkins) on March 11, 1992, the Council does approve for payment those vouchers included and further described as follows: 145775 through 145942 in the total amount of $155,280.78 and Regular Payroll for the period ending February 29, 1992, in the total amount of $419,076.52. PUBLIC RECOGNITION Del Knauss, Olympic Avenue, presented Council with a list of 13 questions that related to the Sports Complex, 4th Street Building, the possibility of the General Fund shortage of $600,000, Bremerton Lumber site, possible violation of RCW relating to overwater park project, possible funding shortfall on the overwater park project. He requested written response to his questions. Andy ParyDa, 1122 Hayward Avenue, thanked President Horton for "digging" out the facts during the previous week's Council meeting relating to the overwater park project. He believed TAPE #1002 City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes March 11, 1992 Page 2 of 10 a through investigation should be made over the possibility of mishandled funds for the overwater park project. In reference to a proposed new golf course, he questioned why was a consultant hired to study the feasibility of another 18-hole golf course when it was evident Council had already made up their mind to move ahead on that project? He doubted the "Admiral Theater" project would be restored with private funds. He offered two suggestions: (1) other than for emergencies, Council should be provided with all documentation for an agenda item two weeks before consideration; (2) stop further expenditures on the overwater park, the proposed 18- hole golf course, sports complex and 4th Street Building until the financial fiasco is cleared up. He respectfully asked that his questions be answered in writing. 6A - BID AWARD RECOMMENDATION - BREMERTON WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN LANDSCAPING IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTr ~AB92-064 The Utility on March 2, 1992 opened bids for the Bremerton Wastewater Treatment Plant Landscaping Improvements Project. The project consists of providing landscaping and screening along the east margin of the Bremerton Wastewater Treatment plant to reduce the visual impacts of the treatment plant to the surrounding area. Bids have been reviewed by the project manager and are as noted: Sound Excavation, Inc. $ 96,023.00 Greg Hudson General Construction 100,002.69 Nordic Construction 101,662.60 Golf Landscaping 104,334.00 Fuji Industries, Inc. 108,320.00 Cascade Landscaping 123,866.70 Terra Dynamics, Inc. 157,578.20 Environmental Care Company 195,137.00 Engineer's Estimate $100,955.00 Kathleen Caha11, Water Quality Manager, stated the purpose of the landscaping is to enhance the area surrounding the treatment plant, providing a more pleasant visual image for the neighborhood and for the passing highway motorists, thereby improving public perception. An aerial display was presented showing the project location being in the right-of- way and inside the treatment plant, extending from the highway overcrossing to the north end of the plant bordering Route 3. The project includes labor, materials, equipment and clearing for about 3 1/2 acres and installation of an irrigation TAPE 91002 City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes March 11, 1992 Page 3 of 10 system, improvements to fencing and planting of ground cover and trees. Plants were chosen for seasonal color, variety and hardiness. This project should be completed within 60 days. Staff recommends the low bidder, Sound Excavation, a local fi~m, for a total of $103,843.00, which is below the engineer's estimate for the project. Mr. Dawkins questioned if the small retention pond to the south of the treatment plant would be removed or covered as part of this project? Ms. Cahall stated no, the landscaping project will only go up to the overpass. That pond is a required detention pond and not part of this project. Mr. Colvin questioned who was responsible for the engineer's estimate? Diane Lenius, Professional Engineer with Parametrix, Inc., stated she provided the engineering estimate for this proposal and the low bid of $103,843 included taxes. Mr. Colvin questioned if this was a "firm" bid? Ms. Lenius stated the bid amount covered all the work included in the contract. Mr. Collins questioned how will this project enhance reduction of odor? Ms. Caha11 explained the landscaping is not tied into the operations of the treatment plant, but currently there is no vegetation of any kind in the subject area surrounding the treatment plant along the highway. This project will provide a physical barrier for the passing motorists on the highway. Mr. Collins noted the Agenda packet documentation reflected "Odor Assessment Project Report" under Item #7, Research Sources. He questioned what did this project have to do with odor? Ms. Cahall stated it would be of value and other treatment plants in similar locations, i.e. highly residential and intersection of a major highway, provide these visual vegetation barriers making it more attractive and hopefully make the treatment plant's presence more acceptable to the community. Mr. Collins stated he had problems equating spending $100,000 on beautification when the City has problems with "odor". Ms. Caha11 stated there are other parts to the Odor Study and there are operational controls being put in place to reduce the odor. Landscaping for this area was approved in the Utility's 1992 budget. Diane Lenius stated landscaping was recommended in the Odor Study and it is simply a fact that if "you can't see it you are less likely to notice any odor, if there is any". Mayor Louis Mentor explained the purpose of the project would be to help create a "chimney" effect with the shrubs so that the air flow will be channeled upward into the sky and not filter out at the level of habitation. TAPE #1002 City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes March 11, 1992 Page 4 of 10 Mr. Johnson stated he believes the "air control" in this area is important. He was more concerned about the trees dying out in a short period of time and questioned if the plantings would be guaranteed? Hs. Cahall stated these plants are guaranteed for up to one year after final acceptance; and are nursery stocked trees that are prepared for transplanting. Hr. Johnson stated based on past experience with some developers, he is skeptical the plantings would grow. Ms. C&hall reminded everyone that this project did include an irrigation system, which would be supplied with treated water from the treatment plant. Mr. Estes stated he was under the impression that placement of trees and shrubs would help change air currents through the treatment plant area. He emphasized green plants do absorb some odors and can help to solve the problem. He questioned if this was designed in order to help channel the air currents? Ms. Lenius stated the design was primarily for screening in the area the City has leased from the State. This layering affect, which also provides screening, will provide a type of barrier as well. Mr. Waibel pointed out five of the eight bids were within 10% of the engineer's estimate and he felt this was a good project with a good estimate. Mrs. Fitz questioned if funding for this project was budgeted in the Utility's 1992 budget. Ms. Cabal1 stated yes, it is funded in the Capital Improvement Reserve Fund. Mr. Colvin questioned who will maintain the plantings after the first year guarantee goes away? Ms. Cabal1 stated the Utility will maintain the landscaping forever. Public comment - none. #0960 M/S/C(Dawkins/Colvin) to approve the award of the contract for the Bremerton Wastewater Treatment Plant Landscaping Improvements Project to Sound Excavation of 3488 Chase Road, Port Orchard, Washington 98366, the apparent iow bidder, in the amount of $96,023.00, plus tax, and authorize the Mayor to execute the said contract subject to City of Bremerton Administrative Policies and Procedures. Vote: In Favor: Estes, Fitz, Waibel, Horton, Dawkins, Colvin, Johnson Abstain: Collins 6C - AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF BREMERTONAND THE CITY OF PORT TAPE #1002 city Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes March 11, 1992 Page 5 of l0 TOWNBENDFOR THE TREATMENT]tND DIBPOSAL OF WA~TEWATER SOLIDS, ~AB92-0066 The City of Port Townsend is commencing construction of a new secondary wastewater treatment plant for service to their community. During construction, the City has a requirement to provide for an alternate site for the treatment and disposal of primary wastewater solids and has petitioned the City of Bremerton Department of Utilities for assistance. Attached for City Council's consideration is an agreement between the City of Bremerton and the City of Port Townsend for treatment and disposal of primary wastewater solids. The agreement provides for limits on the quantity and quality of primary wastewater solids which the City of Bremerton will accept and set forth a rate schedule for the treatment and disposal of these solids. Kathleen Caha11, Water Quality Manager, stated Port Townsend is beginning construction of their secondary treatment plant and in the interim they need a place to have their solids treated. Bremerton's plant is the closest facility with capability to provide this service. The proposed contract includes strict controls on quantity and quality of the solids they will deliver and all deliveries will be tested. A rate schedule has been set up, which covers the cost of treatment, administration and disposal. Mr. Estes pointed out to the community this will not only help Port Townsend but it may help Bremerton in the future if we need reciprocal action. Me emphasized Mr. Duffy, Utilities Director, has stated Bremerton's plant has the capacity to handle this contract. Mrs. Fitz questioned if the Utility would be making any money on this proposal over the two year period? Ms. Cahall stated the way the rate schedule was developed was to look at what it costs the City to treat solids as well as contacting METRO, who has a similar program at their Renton plant. The intent is not to "make" money on this contract. Mr. Estes brought up a good point in that the City may one day need such emergency services from Port Townsend, plus the City can operate the plant more efficiently by processing the solids through the digester. Mr. Colvin questioned if this would in any way impact our treatment process adversely? Ms. Cabal1 stated the City is concerned with the amount of "water" going through the plant, however, the contract proposes processing solids, which will TAPE #1002 City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes March 11, 1992 Page 6 of 10 be trucked in and pumped directly into the digesters and will not go through the treatment plant that would affect the hydraulic capacity. Public comment - none. Mr. Dawkins questioned if the City could give a percentage of the plant to be used by this process? Ms. Caha11 stated it would be less than 10% of the digester capacity. #1182 M/S/C(Johnson/Estes) to approve the agreement between the City of Bremerton and the City of Port Townsend for the treatment and disposal of wastewater solids and authorize the Mayor to execute said agreement subject to City Administrative Policies and Procedures. Vote: In Favor: Estes, Fitz, Waibel, Horton, Dawkins, Colvin Johnson Abstain: Collins 7A - RESOLUTION NO. 2382, L.I.D. NO. 325, LAKEHURST FINAL ASSESSMENT ROLL -- SETTING PUBLIC HEARING DATE, ~AB92-067 At the City Council meeting on August 7, 1991, Ordinance No. 4338 was passed establishing L.I.D. No. 325 for the improvement of Lakehurst Drive. Mr. Waibel stated as a clerical change and more compliance with State and Federal regulations, he asked that the reference to gender be deleted from the paragraph starting with "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED". Mr. Johnson questioned the meaning of "de novo"? Ian Sievers, City Attorney, stated it would mean a new assessment without regard to any assessments made before. Public comment - none. %1312 M/S/C/U(Johnson/Colvin) to adopt Resolution No. 2382 for the final hearing on the assessment roll for L.I.D. 325. 6B - EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT -- LEGISLATIVE/INTERNAL AUDIT OFFIC~ ASSISTANT -- LORI SMITH, ~AB92-06~ The City failed to enter into a personal employment contract with this employee, which would have outlined benefits, including vacation, sick and holiday pay. The employee was adversely affected whenever a holiday fell upon the day she was to work. It is critical that a contract be in place between this employee and the City in order to protect each other's rights. TAPE #1002 City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes March 11, 1992 Page 7 of 10 Mr. Waibel requested a change be made to the second paragraph of page 2 of the contract showing the intent to produce a pro rata holiday payment, which is generally done. He suggested the following wording: "Employee shall receive pro rata holiday leave equivalent to the percentaqe of full time hours worked by the employee durinq the 30 day period preceding the holiday". Ian Sievers, City Attorney, agreed with Mr. Waibel's suggestion. Mr. Johnson stated he had some concerns with the original contract and questioned if Council's Legislative Assistant felt this was satisfactory considering previous problems encountered? Merilynn Erhart, Legislative Assistant, stated yes. Public comment - none. #1413 M/S/C/U(Colvin/Fitz) to approve Employment Contract for Lori Smith, including the change in wording as stated by Mr. Waibel. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS Mr. Johnson noted he was gone for a week on a trip back to the mid-West and reported his Father is doing fine after surgery. He was able to watch part of last week's Council meeting on TV and he did have similar concerns as expressed by his fellow Council members. There are two areas were the Mayor and Council will have to work closely together - addressing problems in the General Fund shortfall and the overwater park project funding. He feels the Council, as a group, should take some more immediate action on placing a moratorium on hiring, office renovation type projects, and procurement of minor Capital Improvement items until all of this can be sorted out. The sooner an adjustment can be made to meet the financial obligations the less the impact that will have on services and/or staff of the City. He prepared a list of ways to help control spending at this point and Council's Fiscal and Budget Committee discussed them at their March 10 meeting. He anticipates placing a Resolution formalizing such a moratorium on the March 18 Council Agenda. He believed a review should be made of all contracts and grants for the overwater park project. Part of the problem can be contributed to a "lot of players" on that project and more than one administration. The financial issue will be also discussed at the Audit Committee meeting scheduled on March 12. Mr. Colvin thanked Del Knauss and Andy Parypa for their input. He thanked the Cable Access TV crew and acknowledged that TAPE #1002 City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes March 11, 1992 Page 8 of 10 Council started on time two weeks in a row. He found Council's Fiscal and Budget Committee meeting, on March 10, very informative. He felt some of Mr. Johnson's suggestions should not remain just as a suggestion but addressed item-by- item to help improve our method of operation. He would appreciate having more time to review Agenda items prior to their being placed on Council's Agenda and hoped there would be a change in how they are processed. Mr. Estes announced he would be vacating his Council seat as of March 26th due to his moving out of the Bremerton area. He will work full time on the Council until the 26th. During the Fiscal and Budget meeting they spent time and effort going over the overwater park project and provided the following information as to where adequate funding is available: $64,000 Block Grant Fund, $250,000 Hotel/Motel Tax Fund, $225,000 Real Estate Excise Tax and the Capital Resource Fund $134,000, adding up to a total of $673,000. Utilizing these funds will hurt funding for other future projects. The Committee recommended curtailing departmental spending until the financial shortfalls are addressed. He also recommends a thorough investigation be made by the City's Auditor, who has subpoena powers. Council needs to receive appropriate information in order make informed decisions. Council is charged with making budgetary decisions and it is very important to have the "right" information when requested to make such decisions. He emphasized he is not trained as an Engineer to analyze contracts and there is no way he can review complicated contracts and understand it in its entirety. Council must rely on professional staff, who are trained to read such documents. He felt the public should also take time and review some of the contracts in order to see how complicated they are. The City does have competent employees and if they are directly properly by the appropriate source then they should give Council the right information. If they are not directed to do so, then that is a problem that would have to be taken care of by the Court system. If there have been any criminal activities, that should also come out and made public. He stated it was sickening to work "your heart out" on the City Council and then be faced with these dilemmas. He noted the completion time for the overwater park project has been moved to June 15, but hopefully it will be completed before that so people can enjoy the facility. Mrs. Fitz stated she met with a constituent in her area last week concerning some parking problems. She thanked the Police Department and Engineering Department for taking care of those problems and responding so quickly. She emphasized if people are parking in the street and the visibility going around TAPE #1002 City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes March 11, 1992 Page 9 of 10 corners is bad for other vehicles, you will probably be ticked. She stressed being considerate of all the people driving in "narrow" street areas. Mr. Waibel stated those who attended Council's Study Session on April 3 heard about the new Federal requirements for banks to provide local loans and local activity. A recent newspaper article reported a project that would have enhanced the City's housing stock and increased the assessed valuation and enhanced the banking community, was not capable of getting funding. He believed the City needed to come up with a policy that will not only support that concept but make it happen in the future. Mrs. Horton explained as a result of a suggestion by Mr. Parypa, Council will institute a new practice of allowing public testimony on Council Agenda items after City Council members have had an opportunity to discuss the issue. Also, as a result of Council's Study Retreat, there will be some change in Council's method of operation allowing more time for Council's review of Agenda items through the Council committees. Council is requiring that budgetary issues go before Fiscal And Budget Committee one week prior to having an item on the Council Agenda. In this way, at least half of the Council will be briefed on those fiscal items. Additionally, the same applies to the Operations Committee and if an item has to go through both committees, it will have to be coordinated on a schedule whereby it will be reviewed the week prior to being on the Council Agenda. At the March 18 City Council meeting, an Information Item has been scheduled in order to discuss implementation of the new garbage contract. At that time members of the public will have the opportunity to ask questions or provide input relating to garbage pickup service in the City. Open debate on the solid waste contract will not be allowed, but rather seeing that it gets implemented in the best and feasible fashion possible. She urged citizens to call in their concerns to the City Clerk, Mayor or City Council so that staff can be prepared to respond to those questions. Because Councilman Estes will be stepping down from the Council as of March 26, applications for that position will be taken through April 1. The City Council has 30 days to fill Mr. Estes' position. Mayor Mentor stated he would have answers for Council next week on the overwater park issue. He expressed concern over some prior comments made that the boardwalk area would be a place to attact undesirable people. He also didn't like the attitude that Bremerton is just a "beer drinking" town. He felt comments like those keeps the town back. He recently TAPE #1002 City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes March 11, 1992 Page 10 of 10 visited Portland's River Place Park and found it to be absolutely beautiful. He read in city Magazine that the City of Milwaukee revitalized an area from a place where no one wanted to walk into a beautiful place where people are strolling about in the evenings. He believes in Bremerton and will continue to believe in it. He pointed out change orders are common occurrences when constructing projects. He stressed never believe that a contract is totally contained within the financial limitations stated. On a happy note, he encouraged everyone attend the "Putin On The Green", St. Patrick's Day celebration on March 14, 15, and 17. Proceeds from this event will be donated towards the Sports Complex project. In regard to his "water bill surveys", following is the result of the last survey: OUESTION - "Would you be in favor of a County-wide bond issue at a cost of approximately $55.00 per $100,000 assessed valuation for 20 years to raise approximately 75 million dollars for the purpose of buying and preserving parks and open space (4500 responses showing 59% - No vote; 41% - Yes vote). He viewed this as a little indication of peoples' feelings on that issue. QUESTION - "Do you favor a bridge/tunnel connection from Illahee to Bainbridge Island" (note: that did not say to eliminate the Bremerton ferry), resulting in 68% - no vote and 32% - yes vote. Most recent QUESTION is "name for the overwater park" ... the Parks Commission will review suggestions and submit their recommendation for naming this area. With no further business meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. KATHLEEN L. McCLUSKEY, Ci~ Clerk LYNN HORTON, Council President City of Bremerton KLM/LH/me cc: Normal Distribution File/Vault