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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/23/55 November 23, 1955 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton, Washington, was held in the office of the Mayor,at lO:O0 A.M., November 23, 1955. Mayor EOm- stad presiding with Commissioner Cullin, CommissionerWheaton, City Clerk McGowan andCCity Attorney Holland being present. Also present were representatives of the press and radio and Mr. E~nnlng of the Chamber of Commerce, accompanied by Mr. Allan, a tax expert. Motion by Mr. Wheaton and Miss Cullin that the minutes of the last regular meet- ing as written be approved, carried. The City Clerk announced two bids were received on three radio telephone trans- mitters. Motion by Miss Cullin and Mr. Wheaton that the bids be opened, carried. The City Clerk opened and read the bids as follows: K.O. Schultheis, Radio & TV, Bremerton, bid accompanied b~ postal money order for $80.00. 3 RCA Type ~NV-2 Mobile Units, dynamotor supply, $1515.00, F.O.B. Cam- den, New oersey, or 3 RCA Type CV~-2ES, vibrator supply, $1485.~00, F.O.B. Camden, New Jersey, or 3 General Electric Series 13 Mobile Units, $1578.00 F.O.B. Seattle, all not including local taxes and freight. Motorola Communications & Electronics, Inc., Bellevue, accompanied by bid bond in the amount of 5% of bid amount, $1,471.08, plus $49.04 sales tax. Mr. McGowan suggested bids be referred to Committee comprised of City Clerk, Chief of Police and George Rothenberg for consideration and recommendation, Notion by Mr. Domstad and Mr. Wheaton that the bids be referred to the Committ- ee as suggested for consideration and recommendation, carried. The City Clerk read notice of separation of Joanne Derflinger, Clerk-Stenogra- pher, Clerk's Office. Notion by Miss Cullin and Mr. Wheaton to approve the separation, carried. Notice of employment for Nary Lou Shepherd, provisional clerk-stenographer, effective 11-21-55 was read by the City Clerk Motion by Miss Cullin and Mr. ~heaton to approve the employment notice, carried. The City Clerk read change in pay status of Charles Weeks from Meter Collector and Maintenance to Maintenance and Utility Man, from $355.00 to $378.00, effective 11-16-55. Motion by Mr. Domstad and Mr. wheaton approving t~e notice of change in pay status, carried. City Clerk gave report of Committee on awarding of bid for Police cars. Low bid was from Chevrolet in the amount of $2,995.28, which was less than the next!~ow bid by Dodge of $3284.00. The Committee recommended that the award be made to Kluge Chevrolet, low bidder. The City Cler~ further reported that there was a lack of about $700.00 in the funds in the Police Department to pay for these cars~ however, the lmw permits the transfer by ordinance from one fund that may have an excess to another fund. After a discussion of the matter with Chief Lewis, it was determined there was going to be an excess in the jall expense fund and $600.00 or $700.00 of that fund could be transferred to cover the lack, if the Council so desired. An ordinance would have to be drawn by the City Attorney. Motion by Mr. Domstad and Er. Wh~aton that the ~ouncil concur in the recommend- ation of the Committee and that the City Attorney be instructed to draw an Ordinance to authorize the transfer of the necessary amount ~rom the funds of Jail expenses to cover the lack of funds in capital outlay for police cars, carried. The City Clerk read payroll voucher for the period ending November 15, 1955, in the amount of $14,079.88, warrant nos. 60589 through 60835. Motion by Miss Cullin and Mr. Wheaton that the payroll voucher be approved. The City Clerk presented petition of property owners to the City Council, re- ceived by Mr. Wheaton, to create an L.I.D. for the improvement of Charlotte Avenue to 9th Street by the construction of concrete sidewalks, curbs and gutters. Peti- tion being signed by Charles Troske and fifteen other property owners of that area. Motion by Mr. Wheaton and ~r. Domstad that the petition be referred to the City Engineer's office, carried. City C~erk presented the matter of the h~aring, deferred two weeks ago, relat- ive to the revokingof the Taxi Cab Operator's license and owner's license of Jack C. Stocker. Notion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Domstad that the City Council give its consent to the transfer of the owners license from Jack C. Stocker to Mrs. Stocker, that no action be taken on his owner's license, but that his operator's license be revoked, carried. Contract of the Alaskan Copper and Brass Company of Seattle to supply 10,000 feet of copper tubing at a total price of $4,650.00 presented to the Mayor and City Attorney for signature by the City Clerk. November 23, 1955 (Con't) The City Clerk read the minutes of the meeting of the Investment Board of the City of Bremerton on Novembe~ 12, 1955, regarding the investment of the funds of the bond issue of $1,300,000 for the construction of Union River Dam, in which the Committee recommended that the City Treasurer be authorized and directed to invest the money in U.S. Treasury bills as indicated in the attached schedule. Motion by Miss Cullin and Mr. Wheaton that the Council concur in the recom- mendation of the Investment Board, carried. The City Clerk read Ordinance No. 2137, amending Use and Area Maps of Ordin- ance No. 1792, declaring an emergency and rezoning the area described therein from Residential 1 to Business. Motion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Domstad that Ordinance No. 2137 as read be ap- proved and passed, effective immediately following passage and publication, car- ried. Resolution No. 59 of the Planning Commission requesting an ordinan'ce be pass- ed amending the Use and Area Maps of Ordinance No. 1792, to rezone from Residen- tial 1 to Business, the property described therein between Fourth and Fifth Street west of the west margin of Naval Avenue, read by the City Clerk. Motion by Mr. Wheaton and Miss Cullin that the Council concur in the recom- mendation of the Planning Commission as set forth in Resolution No. 59, carried. Mr. McGG~an read a letter just received by City Auditor Vaa f~m the Nation- al Bank of Commerce, Seattle, relative to investment of the surplus funds of the Union River Dam Construction Fund. The letter suggests and advises investment in short term investments in Treasury Bills, in obligations of Federal corporations, such as the Federal Intermediate Credit Bank, now authorized by the Revised Code of Washington, regarding investment of funds by municipalities, from which an in- creased ~ield is at~alnable. Following a brief discussion of the benefits attainable as outlined in the letter the Mayor stated that the action of the Council members taken earlier in the morning gave the Treasurer the authority to go ahead with said investment. The City Clerk presented two letters for consideration and action on requests contained therein, the first, relative to the harvesting of the huckleberry Orush~ and the other regarding the cutting of christmas trees for the use of the wards at the U.S. Naval Hospital. Er. Wheaton stated he did not have a complete report on the christmas tree situation but would have a r~port wire,in a day or two, and he would contact the Naval Hospital. As to the huckleberry brush harvest the recent freezing weather had settled the question, as there would not be any to har~est. The City Clerk presented the petition of property owners and residents of Baymount Place asking for the grading and filling in of a turn-around area at the end of Baymount Place. Commissioner Wheaton stated that since this is partly a County matter and he had not received any information from the County what it would do on it, and there was no City funds for the purpose, t~e matter would have to await action until after the first of the year. The Mayor announced that the recommendation of the Chamber of Commerce re' garding the ordinance relative to the business and occupation tax, passed last week be rescinded and a committee be appointed by the Chamber of Commerce, approv- ed b? the City Commissioners, to e~fect a balanced budget and to raise funds as a stop-gap measure, was not to be taken out of the hands of the City Council and re- ferred to ~he City Attorney for further reporting. Mr. Rogers, representative of the radio, asked the Council if the statement of the Mayor meant that the ordina~ce as passed remained in status quo until the City Attorney recommends some future course of action. mr. Wheaton pointed out that the ordinance is not effective until January 1st as specified and provided by the ordinance. Notion by Mr. Domstad and Eiss Cullin that ~he Business and Occupation Tax Ordinance No. El~8 be referred to City Attorney Holland for further study and re- port, carried. Miss Cullin reported she looked at the dock and from what she observed Farwell needed the forty day extension granted him. Mr. Wheaton reported that due to the cold weather work on the water lines have been held up. The outside areas where water collects under theoil are get-~ ting the worse of it. Where water could not ~et under the surface, as in ~he case of the streets, they were not affected. The oil trucks have agreed to help out an~ are cooperating and therefore it was not necessary to place too much res- trictions on the highways. The Mayor asked Mr. Dunning if he wished to make a statement or comment on the action taken on the business and occupation tax and assuring him that the City wanted to cooperate as far as possible. November 23, 1955 (Con't) Mr. Dunning responded as follows: "Mr. Mayor, I consider regardless of what could happen as a result of all the activity had on this, we feel sure the City has been sincere in their efforts. We had a Job to do and we sincerely have been try- ing to work with you, and we intend to continue. With cooperation from all sides, I am sure we can solve this ~problem. We had hoped for a more decisive action today. The::~City Attorney has stated he would have to advise us on this ordinance, as to the legal limitation. I do not question the City Attorney's sincerity, but I will want to talk with our own attorney." Mr. Rogers: "Since I am here representing the radio station, I would like to have some idea of what has been agreed upon. All I know is a speculative story tL~at appeared in the Bremerton Sun and some information I obtained by calling the City Clerk. Was an agreement made at the meeting held in Chambers? What is involved? Is there a plan as yet to have an outside survey? W~at of your unusual action of a- dopting and passing an ordinance then ~escinding it? I want to make some explanation to our listeners. I am asking for a .discusssion among themembers of the Council." Mr. Domstad: "The action taken is on advice of our City Attorney. Mr. Holland might answer you." Mr. Holland: "I did not attend the meeting." Miss Cullin: "There waa no attorney at the meeting." Mr. Rogers: "Who was there?" Miss Cullin: "Dr. Kint, Harold Christensen, Ralph Battin and three City Commis- siomers, the meeting was held here in this office with all six persons present." Mr. Rogers: "What was the result of the meeting in Chambers?" Miss Cullin: "As ws Just stated. It is all there in the statement. It wa~ written right here in this office and is just as it states." Mr. Domstad: "Here is the statement. It sa~s, 'The City will rescing the ord- inance raising the business and occupation tax. ~he Chamber of Commerce will appoimt a committee, approved by the City Commissioners, to work with the City at once in an effort to balance the City Budget. 'The Chamber of Commerce will work hard and conscientiously to raise necessary funds as a stop-gap measure until the Legislature meets and further help to do some- thing to permanently finance City Governments.'" Mr. Rogers: "May I have that statement or a copy of it?" Mr. Domstad: "Here it is, you may have this one." Commissioner Wheaton called attention to the fact that the ordina~ice being res- cinded and the Council action was held in abeyance due to the law requiring a balanc- ed budget, and that the budget should have been submitted prior to this date to the State. Mr. Holland stated he doubted the ordinance could be rescinded unless or until some other ordinance providing a means of balancing the budget was passed. Mr. Rogers inquired ~hat effect of not submitting a balanced budget might be. Mr. Holland stated it would pose some interesting legal questions. Mr. Rogers: "When can we expect a decision or report on the ordinance as passed~' Mr. Holland: "I could not say." Mr. Rogers: "Within a week, next week, or about how long will it take?" Mr. Holland: "I do not know. I don't think this week." Mr. Domstad: 'I want to thank the Council for approving my ~usiness trip to Florida." Motion by Mr. Domstad and Miss Cullin to pay the bills if approved by a majority of the Commissioners, carried. Motion by Mr. Domstad and Mr. Wheaton for adjournment, carried. APPROVED: ~tty Clerk Mayo: