HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/23/56 February 23, 1956
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton, Washington
was held in the Office of the Mayor, City Hall, at 10:00 A.M., February 23, 1956.
Mayor Domstad presided with Commissioner Wheaton, City Clerk McGowan, and City At-
torney Holland present. Several members o£ the Chamber of Commerce, the Bremer-
ton Municipal Association and interested citizens were present. Representatives
of the press and radio were also in attendance.
Motion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Domstad that the minutes as written be approved,
carried.
Separation notice for John A. Bays, Fire Department, was read by the City
Clerk.
Motion by Mr. Donstad and ~r. Wheaton approving the separation, carried.
Claim for damages for an alleged street accident occurring between 5:00 and
6:00 P,M., February 9, 1956, between the Avalon Cafe and furniture repair shop on
Front Street was filed by Thora Greathouse, 1401 13th Street, Bremerton, asking
the sum of $1500.00 for injuries to knees, left wrist and for medical and hospital
serviees, was read by the City Clerk who ~dvised report had been ma~e to the insur-
ance company.
The City Clerk read the General ClaimVoucher for payroll period ending Feb-
ru~ay 15, 1956, covered by payroll warrants #62110 through 62~?0 in the amount of
$~9,989.78.
Motion by Mr. Wheaton and ~r. Domstad approving the voucher, carriede
The City Clerk read General Claim Voucher from the General Construction' Com-
sany for Est mate #5 covering construction of the Union River Dam in the sum of
2~,100.00, less 15% retained, $8,465.00, or a net amount of $19,6~5.00.
Motion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Domstad approving Voucher for Estimate #3,
carried.
February 2&, 1956
General Claim Voucher of the General Construction Company for estimate #2 on
construction of the Union River Dam in the sum of $18,878.00 less 18% retained,
$2,881.25, or $15,49~.75 was read by the City Clerk.
Motion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Domstad approving voucher for estimate #2, car-
tied.
City Clerk read a letter from the Cascade Natural Gas Corporation reporting
the payment of the 1958 franchise tax 'of 2% &~ the amount of $1,78~.84 for which
amount check was endlosed. Receipt given by the City Treasurer, February 21, 1956.
A letter from Sexton-Clarke Auto Freight, Inc., advising that the six months
lease of Frs Station No. 8, expires March~14, 1956 and contains an option provision
permitting extension of lease on a month to month tenancy at $100.00 a month, which
option they would like to exercise, was read by the City Clerk.
Motion by Mr. Whe~ton and Mr. Domstad that the lease with Sexton-Clarke be ex-
tended in accordance with the option and the Clerk be instructed to so advise Sexton
Clarke Freight Company, carried.
A letter from the Bremerton Chamber of Commerc~ advising that at the meeting
of the Board of ~irectors on February B1 a discussion of the proposals presented by
the Bremerton Municipal Association as suggestions designed toward solving the CityTs
financial problems resulted in the Chamber's written expression that the suggestions
warranted study and serious consideration by the City, and wishing the City success
in reaching a satisfactory solution to the problem was read by the City Clerk.
The problem of taking a census was again presented by the City Clerk and Coun-
cil advised that a check-up with Mrs. Beck of Nagy Housing revealed that the likeli-
hood of increase in population by April 1st was not promising; that no census had
been taken since 1982, and it was the apparent desire of the majority of the Council
that a census should be taken.
Motion by Mr. EOmstad and Mr. Wheaton that a census be ~akin in April, carried.
A letter from Captain E.T. Sands, Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Roanoke, ex-
pressing appreciation of the hospitality of the City of Bremerton to the officers
and crew was read b~ the City Clerk.
The City Clerk read a list of suggestions proposed by Commissioner Cullin to be
rea~ at the Council meeting relative to the budget crisis, as follows: "DESIRABLE SERVICES BUT NOT ESSENTIAL:
1. Eliminate the First Aid Car on March l, 1986.
2. Close the swimming pool.
3. Playfields open only special hours.
Reduce on extra help in Water Accounting Office.
5. Municipal Court & Traffic Violations:
~a) Reduce help in traffic ticket office.
(b) Judge's secretary handle warrants and crcording of cases. It has work-
ed this way at times in the past.
(c) Deposits for the bank placed in a locked bag and given to the Treasur-
er's Office once a day so that when Treasurer's money is deposited
ONE trip is all that i's necessary for depositing city monies.
(d) TR-~se suggestions would reduce help to one clef to handle the tickets
and overtime parking Farrants.
These may seem to drastic cuts, but they can easily, and I mean easily, be ac-
complished in order to maintain the most necessary and essent~Lal services."
A letter from the Bremerton Municipal Association, containing twenty-nine sug-
gestions for consideration and study to assist the City Council in adjusting budget
cuts and obtaining new revenues was read by the City Clerk.
Auditor Vas was requested to give the report of the tentative changes in the
Budget for 1956 mnd read as follows:
"Savings up to March 1st by giving no raised, by not filling positions and ad-
ditional savings after March 1st.
Executive Department, no raises, $80.005 Civil Service, no raises, $47.60 and ~
secreEar~a~r~9~s$~,188.0~se~,$l~B$9960; Municipal Court, no raises, $28.00; Com-
missioner of Finance, no raises, $10.00 and $100.00 Capital Outlay additional after
March 1st, or $110.00; Treasurer, no raises, $86.00; City Hall, no raises, $28.00;
Engineering, no raises, $140.00, position not filled $1,608.00, l0 months salary sav-
ing of Assoc. Engr., $4,~00.00 and maintenance and operation $?50.00, or a total of
6,998.00; Building Department, no raises, $85.00, positions not filled,~ $250.00 and
of Clerk salary after March 1st, $1,325.00,. capital outlay new car, o~ total of
$~,660.00; City Clerk, no raises, $134.00, Police, no raises, $1,74~.00, Fire De-
partment, no raises $1,611.O0, positions not filled and aditional savings after
March l, nod employing ~ Captains, 3 Firemen for l0 months, $18,980.00, maintenance
and operation, $300.00, and capital outlay, $120.00 or a total of $23,391.00; Street,
no raises, $120.00, positions not filled $704.00, not employing 2 part time helpers,
$8,631.25, extra labor, $2,000.00; maintenance and operation $3,150.00, capital out-
lay, $~,E50.00 or a total of $14,858.25; Street Enginering, no raises $32.00; Cemetery,
February 23, 1956 (eon't)
no raises, $V2.00, SV00.O0 for fence, $300.00 for mower or a total of $1,0~.00;
Parks and Recreation, no raises, $~02.00, salaries and work after March l, $2,098.00,
maintenance and operation, $3,700.00; capital outlay,~2,000.00! Swimming Pool main-
tenance and operation, $1,800.00, making a total of $10,000.00, Traffic Maintenance,
no raises $114.00, positions not filled $284.00, making a total of $398.00. Total
savings in tentative changes of budget, $62,816.8§."
The Mayor stated, in the matter of new revenues, the following have been sug-
gested: Recommendations were made by the Police Department that traffic tickets be
increased from $1.00 to $2.00, which would increase the revenue from that source ap-
proximately an additional $9,000.00; Pawnshop licenses to be increased from $80.00
to $300.00, increasing rate of parking meters from 5~ to 10~ per hour, would provide
approximately $12,000 additional; rather than close swimming pool, it was suggested
rates be increased to pay the cost, by raising fee to lO~, charge students of swim-
ming ~l.O0 for lessons, that City Employees serve gratis on their own time.
The Fire Chief reported that he has suggested eliminating home inspection pro-
gram, that the replacement of equipment cannot be done, although the average of eq-
uipment now in use is 13 years.
Upon mention of elimination of the First Aid Automobile, Mr. Nagill stated
that the Kitsap Medical allows $7.50 per call, that is what is paid for the American
Legion Ambulance Service and the City should be able to collect to6.
Fire Chief Tillett stated the question is meeting the man-power requirements
that under the ~utual Aid Pact.with the Navy Yard, which is why the City can ha~e
a third class rating, the City covers Eastpark, the printing shop and Craven Center,
and receivers of assistance of one pump and seven men, and in view of the man power
shortage, it would be necessary for the Navy Yard to send equipment immediately to
assist in Eastpark.
Mayor announced that consideration of budget adjustments was not delayed by
his trip to Palm Springs, as all reports given were dated February 9th and the mat-
ter had been looked after and discussed with heads of all departments at the time.
He also stated he was gone but a short time and paid all his own expenses.
The Mayor also reported that the dog pound business is definitely not in the
red, that 1847 dogs were licensed and 818 cats, receipts being $3,688.00 for dogs
and $818.00 for cats; that as much revenue as is obtainable from that source is being
received.
Chief of Police Lewis stated that Zon cunningham has put to sleep an average
of 2,000 degs and never under 1,000 cats in one year, which requires no little amount
of time and work; that Mr. Cunningham has made a door to door survey; that the fees
here are as high as in any City.
A brief discussion on the dog and cat situation as regards complaints by int-
erested citizens followed, but was fully answered by the above reports.~
The Mayor announced that the Council would meet with duly authorized members
of the Chamber of Commerce on Monday at l:00 o'clock, which meeting would be public,
to consider the suggestions made by letters to the City from the Municiapl Associa-
tion and recommended by the Chamber as to additional possible revenues for the City.
Mr. Wheaton c~lled attention to the fact that one suggestion of water charges
contract with the Navy Yard, had already been considered and was in the process of
being increased to 13.2 per unit, and had been adjusted and increased the past year.
The Mayor reported that the brush business also had been already checked, pre-
vious to any suggestion made.
I.G. Smith, 201 S. Nycoff, interjected the opinion that while the Nunicipal
Association maintained business in the city would be harmed by the B & 0 Tax, which
would have been reflected in additional service c~arges to the consumer and thus~nd
business to out-of-city businesses, than an increase in parking meter charges is as
likely to have same effect.
Fire Chief Tillett stated that as a matter of record he wanted it understood
he would not be considered responsible if the City retrograded in rate, as a trem-
endous factor was manpower.
The City Clerk read a letter from Senator Henry M. Jackson advising of the
meeting of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Real Estate to discuss person-
nel cutbacks at the Naval Ammunition Depot, Bangor, and the consideration of proposed
construction at the Port Chicago facility, California, and his opposition to same
and asking the views of the Mayor on said problem.
City Attorney Holland, referring to the Ordinan'ce on signs, asked that the
recommendations offered and the ordinance be considered by a committee as a whole~
with interested parties to be advised by letter of the definite date.
Nr~ Dale Thomas, in the sign business, reported he had received a preliminary
draft from the committee in Seattle, also some r~commendations from the Secretary
of the ~ashington State Association to be worked over for incorporation into the
ordinance.
Mr. Jensen, of the Bremerton Sun, wanted to know if any decision had ~een made
on how to balance the budget, or will the tentative budget changes go into~effect
next Wednesday.
The Mayor replied the matter will be considered ~onday but budget will go in-
to effect except for minor changes.
February ~, 1956 (Con't)
Nr. Jenson: How about recommendations made on proposed new revenue?
Nayor Domstad: '~at is why we want to meet with the president of the Chamber and
his aommittee to talk over the suggestions with them.
Nr. Jenson: Nr. ~heaton is there any way of telling now whether costs on the
Union Dam project are going to be as estimated?
Nr. Cunningham (the F~ugineer to whom Nr. ~R~eaton referred the answer): Yes,
as a matter of fact, the depth and character of rock are working out better than
anticipated, and the necessary work as a result is somewhat less extensive. The
cost will be somewhat reduced and will be kept within the estimate."
Nr. Nicholson of the radio inquired whether the City Auditor,s.tentative changes
in the budget would be the C~ty's policy for the next year, or whether the Council
is reserving the right to take action in the future, or will the Council consolidate
the conclusions reached after Nondayts meeting on the suggestions offered and adopt
them at next Wednesday's Council Neeting, to which the Nayor replied that most of
the suggestions had already been covered and that they expected to reach a decision
by next Wednesday's meeting.
Nr. Nicholson then called attention to the suggestion that the Pacific Tele-
phone and Telegraph rate to the City be raised 1% which would increase it to 5% in
conformity with the rate now being charged the Puget Bound Light and Power Company,
and asked why there existed the 1% difference at present, which was explained that
the difference was accounted for by the free telephone service to the City, and
whether such increase would be passed on to the consumer by higher telephone charges
was answered by advising him that telephone rate was not within the Jurisdiction of
the City bust such rates were determined by the Public Service Commission of the
State.
A brief discussion fol~ved on the effects of budget changes.in the Fire and
Police Departments relativeto training new recruits and the cost thereof, and the
need for retaining the trained employees.
Nr. Cunningham, F~ugineer for the Union River Dam ~roJect, informed the Coun-
cil that the one bid received on the outlet valve was inadequate, too high, and he
recommended that the bid be rejected and re-advertised. He further recommended
that the bid for the sluice gates be awarded to the lowest bidder, Rodney Hunt Nach-
ine Company, Orange, Nassachusettes.
Notion by Nr. Wheaton and Nr. Domstad that the recommendations of the Engineer
be accepted and approved, carried.
Notion by Nr. E~mstad and ~r. Wheaton that the bills approved by the majority
of the Council be paid, carried.
Ad Jou~nment.
APPROVED: Cit~ C~ rk