HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/14/55 December 14, 1955
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton, Washington
was held in the office of the Mayor at 10:00 A.M., December 14, 1955. Mayor Dom-
stad presiding with Commissioner Cullin, Commissioner Wheaton, City Clerk McGowan
and City Attorney Holland present. Also present were representatives of the press
and radio, Mr. Lloyd Dunning, President of the Municipal League and other interest-
ed citizens.
Motion by Mr. Wheaton and Miss Cullin that the minutes of the l~st meeting as
written be approved, carried.
The City Clerk announced receipt of bids for the sale of raft logs, scaled
and boomed.
Motion by Mr. Wheaton and Miss Cullin that the bids be opened, carried.
The City Clerk opened and read the bids as follows:
Pope & Talbot, Inc., Port Gamble, Washington, bid for log raft #65, Bcale#
T-6474, accompanied by certified check for $15104.75, $11,047.50.
December 19, 1955 (Con't)
Eclipse Lumber Company, Everett, Washington, accompanied by certified check
for $1,18~.79, bid $11,83~.9Q.
Buchanan Lumber Company, Olympia, Washington, with no bid deposit, $10,9~0.90.
Motion by Mr. ~heaton and Miss Cullin that the bid of the Eclipse Lumber,
highest bidder, be accepted, carried.
The City Clerk read the minutes of the last m~eting of the Investment Board
of the City hale on December l~, 1955 wherein it was recommended that the t emporar-
ily idle cash of the Water C~lmulative Reserve Funds and the Water Bond Redemption
and Reserve Funds be used;to purchase $~7,600 in Treasury Bills held by the Union
River Development Construction Fund to make available cash needed to meet amount
due the Engineer on lettin~ of contract; also, the City Treasurer be given author-
ity to ivest idle cash o~ the Bond Redemption Funds available from time to time
in short ~erm obligations Of the U.S. Government.
Notion by Mr. Wheaton and Miss Cullin that the Council concur in the recom-
mendations of the Investment Board, carried.
A change in pay status of Rex R. Lawrence from extra labor to ~ipeman Helper
in the Water Distribution Department, from $1.77 to $1.96 per hour, effective 1-1-56
was read by the City Clerk.
Motion by Nfs. Cullin and Mr. Domstad approving the change in pay and status,
carried.
The City Clerk read report from the City Engineer of adjusted balance of fix-
ed charges ~r L.I.D. No. 26~, Ironsides,E l~th to E 16th Streets, to which was
attached General Claim Voucher for $2~9.~B, amount of the adjusted fixed estimate
to be transferred to the General Funds.
Notion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Domstad that the Council concur in report and
action of the City Engineer, carried.
City Clerk read General Claim Voucher in amount of $~,0~8.00 net, being pay-
ment in full of Estimate No. i of Construction of Union River Dam.
Motion by Mr. ~heaton and Miss Cullin to approve claim of Estimate No. l,
carried.
Contract awarded to Motorola Communications & Electronics, Inc., for radio-
telephone transmitters presented for signature by the City Clerk.
The City~.Clerk read proposed Ordlnance vacating certain parcel of land as a
public park and dedicating $ certain parcel as a public street to ~e a part of
l~th Street.
Notion by Mr. Wheaton and Miss Cullin approving the proposed ordin~ce (as
corrected from llth Street to 19th Street) on first reading, carried.
The City Clerk read a letter from the State Liquor Control Board repgrting
distribution of profits from liquor revolving fund, adding that the City Auditor,
noted ~hereon the total paid to date was $10~,~8.~9, including ~17,166.51 check
enclosed with ~etter, leaving an approximated or estimated balance of ~5,780.00
due on December Egth or ~Oth.
Notice of hearing before the Washington Public Service Commission in the mat-
ter of application of Cascade Natural Gas Corporation for certificate to operate
gas plant in therein described areas, which included Kitsap County~ read by the
City Clerk.
The City Clerk stated that they now operate under a franchise in this local-
ity, therefore the City would not need to attend. ~
The City Clerk read a letter from the City Attorney concerning the question
of whether or not the Clerk's agenda prepared in advance of the Council meeting
was subject to public inspection, stating therein ~hat since the agenda was not a
public record until made so by action of the Council in session, it was a matter
of oolicy to ~e determined by the Council whether the agenda was subject to public
inspecti0nw.
Mr. Wheaton stated the matter wam one to be discussed by a committee as a
whole with the City Attorney present and a decision reached then.
The City Clerk read Ordinance No. E159 providing for the transferring of funds
within the Police Department Budget to meet an insufficient appropriation in the
19~5 Budget and declaring an emergency, whereby the sum of $1,037.00 be transferred
from the item Jail Expense, maintenance and operation of th~ Police Department Bud-
get to item Capital Outlay, Auto and Cycle Eq~ipment in the Police Department Bud-
get, for an additional automobile, effective immediately following passage and pub-
lication.
Motion by Mr. Domstad and Miss Cullin that Ordinance No. 2139 be passed, car-
ried unanimously.
December 14, 1955 (Con't)
An agreement extending operation of coneession rights and modification of
least at Civic Center, Roosevelt Field and all parks, playgrounds and playfields
or recreational facilities, including Evergreen Park h~etofore excepted, commenc-
ing November 1, 1955 and terminating October 31, 1956, was read b~ethe City Clerk.
Motion by Mr. Doms~tad and Mr. Wheaton approving the agreement and authorizing
the City Attorney to sign said agreement, carried.
Motion by Mr. Domstad and Miss Cullin that the bills approved by the Majority
of the Council be paid, carried.
Miss Cullin reported she had received a call from a Mr. Grant, Route 4, Box
632, near Hal's Corner, that the road as fixed was higher than the driveway, too
high for the property owner to drive up'onto the highway.
Mr. Wheaton stated the matter would be referred as an emergency to his offic$
and would be checked. He further reported that the results of the recent freeze
are now becoming more evident and his~department is working hard to keep up with
the situation.
Mr. Holland reported he will be trying the accident case involving the~pollce
car against the Kluge Chevrolet Company in Superior Court within the next two days.
Mr. Domstad reported at a meeting he attended the matter of the Business and
Occupation Tax was again brought up by the representatives of the Committees of
the Chamber of Commerce and Municipal Association and discussed as to what would
be to the best interests of the City as a whole; that it was his opinion when he
left that the Council would continue the discussion when he got back a nd he was
asking the Commissioners what they we~e going to do.
Commissioner Cullin stated as far as she was concerned the Ordinance was pass-
ed, that the people should be permitted to vote on whether they wished to have gov-
ernment services cut, that if the tax was voted down it would mean reducing both
fire and police protection and it should be determined by the people.
Mr. Wheaton stated it was his opinion that the ~ouncil had passed the Ordin-
ance and he would not vote to rescind unless something definite was done to balance
the budget, either by cutting c~sts which meant reducin~ some of the services, or
providing revenue to meet the budget, that he was willing to cut costs as much as
possible in his departments.
Mr. Domstad reported further that he had not been able to go through the bud-
get with all the heads~of the departments since his return to determine if they
could operate under a cut in budget or not but he would do so, and he would offer
a motion Belaying effective date of the ordinance until March 1st in order to see
what could be done about the budget with the cooperation of the Public Relations
Committee of the Chamber and the Municipal Association, that it was his understand-
ing the Council would go along with the Committees until March to see if they would
come up with something.
Mr. Wheaton stated he was willing to go along with the Committees until March
if they would promise something definite, but he would not vote to rescind unless
something definite was offered.
Miss Cullin stated she definitely would not vote to rescind or go to March
let because it would mean deficit spending and she would not sign a voucher on a
deficit budget.
After inquiring of the City Attorney whether a motion to extend effective
date of the Business and 0ccupationTax Ordinance to March let was in order, Mr.
Domstad offered a motion as follows "That the City Council extend the effective
date of Ordinance No. 2136 from January l, 1956 to March l, 195~.
Mr. Wheaton reiterated he would not vote to rescind but would be willing to
go along to March to see if the budget could be balanced by across the board cuts
or reducing some of the lesser services in all departments or if the Committees
would promise something definite would be done. His departments would make some
cuts to help balance the budget.
Miss Cullin stated she would not vote to rescind or delay efpective date of
March as it would mean cutting services and at the end of the year a deficit budget
would mean paying interest on interest on deficit spending; that the matter should
be decided by a vote of the people. ~
Mr. Holland, upon inquiry, stated that if the matter was referred to a vote
of the people the Council could not delay effective date of the ordinance but could
only rescind.
Mr. Domstad again offered motion to extend effective date of the ordinance,
as follows: "That the City Council will extend theeffective date of Ordinance No.
2136 from January l, 1956 to March l, 1956 provided the City will not operate on
a deficit financing, and that the opponents to the Business and Occupation Tax,
with the help of the City, will try to find another men~ee of revenue adequate to
balance the budget, and if such a source is not available, they will not resist the
Ordinance taking effect on March l, 1956.
Miss Cullin stated she was still of the opinion that the people should vote
on the matter, then if it was necessary to take away government services it could
be done by the Council with a clear conscience.
Upon inquiry, Mr. Wheaton stated he would give the raises, but would cut costs
in his department, as he would loose too many good employees if the raises were not
given.
December 14, 1955 (Con't)
No second to the motion was made and after further discussion a motion for
a recess of the Council Meeting was called.
Motion by Mr. Domstad and Mr. Wheaton that the Council recess until 3:00 P.M.,
carried.
Mayor
December 14, 1955
The recessed meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton, Washing-
ton was held in the office of the Mayor at 3:00 P.M., December 14, 1955. Mayor
Domstad presided with Commissioner Cullin, Commissioner "heaton, City Clerk Mc-
Gowan and City Attorney Holland present. Also present w~re Mr. Merle Budd, Mr.
Merrill Wallace, Mr. Dave Allen, Mr. Lloyd Dunning, Mr. Julius Gius, represant-
atives of the radio and press and other interested citizens.
The Mayor announced that the concensus of opinion of the Council on the Bus-
iness and Occupation Tax Ordinance No. 2136 was the same as it was in the morning
session.
Mr. Dunning interposed that the opponents of the ordina~ e were prepared to
offer their signed petitions this afternoon; that inv~iew of the opinion of the
Counsil as indicated in the morning meeting that they could not wait to see what
action the Council would take.
Miss Cullin stated that was the thing to do, that it was the democratic way,
to let the people vote on the matter and make up their minds.
Mr. Budd: "We are prepared to file our petitions, but what we are interested
in is what proposal do you hamve to make? What does the Council intend to do about
this ordinance?"
Mr. Domstad: "We discussed the motion made this morning, and some changes
have been made by Mr. Holland. Would the Committee be satisfied if the following
motion was passed?"
Mayor requested motion be read. £he motion reads: "That the City Council
will extend the effective date of Ordinance No. 21~6 from January l, 1956~to March
l, 1956, provided that the City will not operate on deficit financing and that the
opponents to the Business and Occupation Tax, with the help of the City, will try
to find another source of revenue adequate to balance the budget, and if such a
source is not available, they will not resist the ordinance taking effect on March
1, 1956.
Mr. Budd: "At no time did or would the Committee warrant that they would not
oppose the tax in any way or form at any of our Committee meetings. As stated be-
fore, we do not believe two months' time is enough to find other sources of revenue
since those that have been proposed have been rejected. We have no assurance that
any form of taxation that was proposed would not also be rejected by your Commis-
sion. ~'or that reason the Chamber could not consent to any such agreement as set
forth iM the motion."
Mr. Mayor: "We appreciate your statement very much."
Mr. Wallace: "From the standpoint of the Chamber Taxation Committee, we want
to cooperate, but we made a study of the budget, and our position is still the same
as at the time we did so. We believe the records indicated no added taxes were nec-
essary at the time. We are looking at this from a long range viewpoint. The B & 0
Tax would be only temporary solution and the Committee had in mind a study that
would have a more permanent result in balancing the budget in the future."
Mr. Budd: "We are willing to work with the Commission on any form of tax in
Es comfortably and neighborly way as possible, but we will have no part of an agree-
ment to provide new revenue within two months or not to resist the B & 0 Tax. We
will carry it to the vote of the people. We have petitions with us now." Mr. Domstad: "I make this motion as it was read."
Mr. Wallace: "We would not accept the motion. We have been trying to work
this out and are still back to the point where we were. Let us put in our petitions
~e do not want to accept it, Mr. Domstad, because it does not give us enough time
to do anything. We cannot go through every operation of the City in two months.
I emphasize we will not agree not to oppose the B ~ 0 Tax, if we canno~ see some
way to provide other sources of revenue."
Mr. Guis repeatedly inquired of Mr. ~heaton if ~e was not willing to cut back
in his own department a sufficient amount to approach the 8% necessary to make the
~udget balance without any new taxes, to which Mr. Wheaton replied he was willing
to do so hi his own department, but he did not know whether it could be done in
the Police and Fire Departments or in some of the other smaller divisions.
December 14, 1955 (COn't)
Mr. Domstad stated he offered the motion to delay the effective date of the
ordinance because he b~lieved that the. bUdget sould be gone over by someone to find
where it could be cut or new revenues obtained as the Chamber once offered to do.
Mr. D~mning: "We will make the same offer made two months ago, we will have
a survey made, and pay for the survey, to have a study made of the facts in the
operation of the City Budget and work with you to find new sources of revenue to
balance the budget, basing this offer on the Commission's rescinding the ordinance.
Otherwise we file the petitions."
The Mayor advised the group he had talked with the Chief of Police but not the
Fire Chief and the Chief of Police said it was almost impossible to cut his budget.
Miss Cullin again stated if thepolice and fire protection are to be cut the
people should at least be permitted to vote on it.
Mr. Guis strenuously objected to Miss Cullin's opinion on the tax and budget
problem.
Mr. Dunning continued: "We are making the same offer as before. How you
stay within the budget presently is up to you. We think that our proposition is
an honest ~ne, and these businessmen are entirely behind the proposition, and the
Municipal Association believe it is an honest and right offer and th~the City
is not in a position to turn down the offer. 'Z'o do so, the City is short-sighted
an uncooperative in its opposition, which put us right back where we were two and
a half months ago. Our offer is still good, and I believe I can speak for the
businessment and people of Bremerton, when I say it is the sensible and best thing
for the City~ if you rescind the ordinance and work with us."
Miss Cullin: "H~a the Chamber been polled in this matter?"
Mr. Budd: "Yes."
Miss Cullin: "Not everyone. I am a member in good standing and I have not
seen any memorandums or special letters that have gone to others - some that I
have seen sent to some members."
Mr. Budd: "Complete report was sent to every member. The Board of Directors
of the Chamber, the Taxation and Public Relations ~ommittees are all 100% behind
this suggestion, but we must get some concessions here before we can work with
you. Ne are still ready and willing and able to work with you. Several forms of
taxation have been suggested."
Mr. Holland: "What other sources of revenue have been suggested?"
Mr. Budd: "Increase tax on water bills, another source was parking meters,
another to charge for your building permits consistent wity your costs for operat-
ing that department."
A discussion of the legality of taxing the water bills ensued with Mr. Hol-
land as an aside.
Mr. Budd continued: "I repeat, if you will rescind the ordinance, we will
work with you as long as necessary to balance your budget. We made an honest
search and found something should be corrected."
Mr. Domstad: "We appreciate the work you have done, it has been very good.
Anyone else have any comments?"
Mr. Wallace: "I came up as counsel for the Association in view of the re-
port you are going to take some action. We have here 1050 names of regietered
voters. We will file those toady and it is up tO the City Clerk's Office to verify
these signatures and if there is not enough we will file additional petitions at a
later date. They must both be riled and verified as to registration before the ef-
fective date of the ordinance."
After further discussion as to the need for filing petitions before the Jan-
uary 1st effective date of the ordinance and upon being questioned as to the ef-
fect of the filing of the petitions on the proposed delay in effective date of .the
ordinance, Mr. Holland stated: "The Council ~ill be limited to the rescinding of
the ordinance or submitting it to the vote of the people if the petitions are fil-
ed. The ordinance could not be amended after the petitions are filed."
Mr. Domstad: "Are the Commission still of the opinion they will not rescind
the ordinance."
Mr. Wheaton: "Unless we can balance the budget, whether or not we cut ser-
vices or work out an across the board percentage cut."
Miss Cullin: "The people should determine whether we cut services."
Mr. Dunning: "If the Commission will not work with us, we will not be in the
mood to help them or work with them."
Mr. Wheaton: "As far as I can see, you will not work with us anyway unless
you tell us what to do."
Mr. Budd: "We are talking about a long range solution not just the next
year, or piecemeal. I think it is necessary to do some restricting and economizing
now. We are still of the opinion it can be done. ~here is nothing to disprove our
opinion."
Mr. Wheaton: "We feel we can't and our Auditor tells us we cant; that the only
way is to cut out some services. I will cut my department budget along with the
res~~'
Miss Cullin: "It is impossible to cut my department."
Mr. Domstad: "What is the two commissioners opinion? Do you want to take
action now or postpone action for a week?"
Mr. Holland: "It would be futile to pass the motion, if they file the peti-
tions today."
December 14, 1955 (Con't)
Mr. Wall ce: "We are here presenting them now."
Mr. Allen formally presented the petitions to the City Clerk.
Mr. McGowan accepted the petitions, stating it would require about three
days to verify same and upon verification he would proceed according to law with
other arrangements for the~ election at the end of the time allotted for filing
of petitions.
After some discussion concerning the election Mr. Holland stated the Council
could make a motion to call a special election and set a date if it so decided,
that with the filing of the petitions the ordinance will not take effect on Jan-
uary 1st.
Mr. Domstad: "We still, have until the first. We can make no amendments un-
less they withdraw their petitions. What is the wish of the Commission at this
time~"
No further comment being made the Mayor announced no further action would be
taken at this session.
Mayor Domstad stated he had a written report on the American Municipal Assoc-
iation Convention which he would submit at the next week's Council Meeting.
~otion by Mr. Nh~aton and Miss Cullin for adjournment, carried.
APPHO VED: City C~erk
· Mayor ~