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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/24/51 January ~4, 1~51 Regular meeting of the City Oouncil of the City of Bremerton, Washing- ton, was held Wednesday, January 24, 1~51 at 10:00 o~clock A.M~ in the Mayor's Office, City Hall, Bremerton. Mayor Kean presiding and Commissioner Haddon, Co~issioner ~heaton, City Clerk McGowan~ City Treasurer Nutter, City Attor- ney Wallace, City Engineer Severance and Water Superintendent Casad being present. Also present were Paul Ryan, Assistant Editor of the Bremerton Sun, and Harold Staley, Business Agent oI~ the Teamster's Union. A group of busi- ness men was present for part of the meeting and their names are listed below. Motion by Mr. Kean and ~r. Wheaton to approve minutes oI'meeting held Jan- uary 16, 1951 and January i?, 1~51 as written, carried. Clerk read reports of separation for the following: Willie D. Zetty~ Fire Department; Paul T. Gallagher, Street Department; Stuart J. Lenhart, Garbage Department. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. ~heaton to approve the notices of separation, carried. Notices of employment were read by Clerk I~or Chester E. Wilburn and James W. Quinlan, Garbage Department, at ~1.42 per hour. Motion by Mrs. Haddon and Mr. Wheaton to approve the temporary non-Civil Service employments, as read, carried. Clerk read payroll voucher for period ended January 15, 1951, for $35,725. ~2, audited by the City Auditor. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to approve, carried. Clerk read application /'or trade stimulant device location license from M.0. McPherson, 637 N. Callow, Mac's Cafe, approved by the ~ity Treasurer and Chief of Police. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to approve, carried. Clerk presented claims for damages from Ernest B. Newberg, $3f137, damages to his car when backed into by a Garbage truck; William A. Hulse, $58.37, dam- ages to his fence which was backed into by a garbage truck; Howard E. Roller, i~54.15, damages to his ~'ence, backed into by a Garbage Truck. Clerk stated the reports of the accidents and a copy of the claims have been forwarded to the insurance company. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to refer to the insurance company, car- ried. Mayor turned over to the City Attorney a Summons he had received today against Oliver Jackson and the City. Clerk stated this was a claim filed some- time ago by H.J. Theisen, who had run ~nto the back of a Garbage truck near the old fill on the Port Orchard highway and Attorney explained that the passenger in Theisen's car had been paid for damages received but Theisen never had been paid. January ~, 1WS1 (Con't) Notion by Mr. Kean and Nra. Haddon to note claim and refer to the City Attorney, carried. Clerk presented claim voucher ~rom Feenaughty Machinery Co. for a new road roller, purchased under Contract No. 287, for $5,111.00, approved by J. L. Hatfield, Street Superintendent, and audited by the City Auditor. Notion by Mr. Wheaton and Mr. Kean to allow the claim, carried. Letter was read by Clerk from Nerton K. Natthewson, Field Scout Execu- tive, dated January 19, 1981, asking if February l~th would be satisfactory for Scout City Government Day. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. "heaton to approve the request and refer the matter for arrangements and necessary procedures to the City Clerk and~the City Treasurer, carried. Clerk read letter, dated January 18, l~S1, from Judge Johnsen requesting permission to transfer three 12-drawer reference files to the Identification ~ivision of the Police Department as they have never been u~ed by the Muni- cipal Court since their purchase, but have been on loan to the I.D. office of, the Police Department for several years. Notion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Uheaton to appro ye the recommendation and re- fer the matter of the transfer to the City Clerk and the Auditor, carried. Clerk read letter, dated January 18, l~51, from District Public Works Officer, Seattle, 13th Naval District, asking that release forms be executed by the City and returned to the district and they in turn would forward the City the final check of $40,000.31 for the 0alaffce of the Governments advance payment under contract NoY (U)-19686, Bremerton Sewage System and Treatment Plants. Clerk stated the releases have been signed and sent to the Navy District Ofi'ice, and Mayor asked that contents of letter be noted and then filed. Letter, dated January 22, 1951, was read by Clerk from Abe Whitman, Rt. 2, Everson, Washington, asking for information on whether ornot the City is going to haul garbage by contract or by day and stating that he could handle the hauling if desired. Mayor asked that the Clerk acknowledge the letter and inform him he would be advised if bids are called. Attorney read Resolution No. ~59 as follows: WHEREAS, by Ordinance No. 1905, the City of Bremerton provided for the collection of garbage' in the City of Bremerton, and established therefor cer- tain charges for such service, and WHEREAS, by reason of the failure of approximately twenty employees of the Garbage Department of the City of Bremerton to return to their work, it has been impossible for the Garbage Collection Service to be carried on to the extent previously provided, and making regular collections impossible under the emergency existing, and ~{EREAS, the residents of the City of Bremerton have not had full gar- bage service during the month of January, 1951, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Bremerton, that garbage bills i'or the month of February, 1951, shall be reduced twenty-five (25%) percsnt. Notion by Mr. Kean and Nra. Haddon to pass Resolution No. 7~9 carried as follows: Mr. Kean~ Yes. Nra. ~addon, Yes. ~r. Wheaton, Yes. Nra. Elizabeth Davidson, 2115 Sixth, appeared before the Council and ask- ed if anything could be done to restrict parking in front of her house as cars were parking there and making it difficult for her to get out of her garage ~nd making it hard for her friends to stop in to see her. After explaining her situation thoroughly, the Mayor asked he to call on Captain of Traffic and see if he could work out something for her. Mr. Renn, owner of a grocery store in the 200 block on Burwell, stated he had a desire to make sandwiches for packing lunches at his store and had been informed by the Health Department inspector he would have to have a double sink ii' he was going to enter the restaurant business, mr. Renn stated he objected to making this improvement for sandwich making because he did not feel he would come under the definition of a restaurant and asked if the Council could assist him in getting started in the sandwich business. The City Attorney stated he had been approached by both Mr. Renn and Mr. Hallman, Sanitariun, and after leoking into the matter had decided that the decision would be up to the City Council, since Mr. Renn and Mr. Hallman couldn't agree. After further discussion of the ordinance governing restaurants, the '~ayor agreed to contact the Health Department and see ii' he could get further information in order to get something on which the Council could take action. January 24, 1W51 (Con't) A group of businessment appeared before ~he Council regarding the busi- ness and occupation ordinance. Those present were E.J. Beard, James Russell, Julius Gius, Bran Wardin, Harold Lent and Cliff Couse. Mr. Beard spoke for the representation and stated that in the last ~o or three days they haVe been canvassing business- men and have found that a majority oi' thebusinessman in two are in agreement with this group that a compromise might be worked out on the business tax. The compromise is to have the Council repeal the tax ordlnarce and pass one with a 1/lOt~ of 1% tax, with the provision that the Council and an outside co~mmittee actually work together on the budget. ~r. Beard stated the committee feels they were neglected last year when they made recommendations on the budget. ~ie also said the businessmen recog- nize the city needs this money but also feel the City can cut its budget a certain amount to bring it into balance. Mr. Beard said that the ,petition asked the Council to repeal the present ordinarc e and the businessmen would help the City put over the 1/10th of 1% tax. Mr. McGowan asked how the businessmen would help the Council put the tax over and ~r. Beard explained how they would try to ~lk the persons against the tax into not invoking any s oft oI' legal action and gettir~g the businessmen in accord with the bosiness tax, which the group thinks they have done. City Attorney stated there isn't any question that the Council can re- peal this ordinance but that a replacement ordinance written on a similar tax would be subject to attack and the next ordinance would be ,thrown out in a court case. Attorney suggested that some other kind oI~ tax would pass. Mayor Kean discussed the necessity of more revenue and said that per- haps with a greater volume of business expected in Bremerton, a reduced per- centage of tax may bring in more than was originally anticipated from a 1/10 o~~ 1% tax. Mayor discussed the possibility of the state taking part of the City's present state revenue; also, dis,cussed the possibility of a current census bill. Mayor said the question was whether the budget can be balanced with reduced expenditures and reduced income. Mr. Russell stated this group with him is the Chamber of Commerce Com- mittee which was appointed at one time to oppose the business tax and the Committea is objecting to the business tax and not ready for a compromise yet; that they have a right from the Chamber of Commerce to object to the ~ax as proposed and it is more than the businessman ahould be obliged to pay Doward the upkeep of the City. It has been said that if the ordinance is defeated that it will create conditions which no one wants. He said this committee bas stayed off the question because of the Municipal Association; but then the suggestion was made that it might be wise to compromise because the a- mount expected from the tax was more than was needed. He said the committee came in to see what basis there was, to compromise. He said, also, that prac- ticallay every member of the Chamber of Commerce board has been contacted except Mr. ~err who is out of town and those contacted were in favor of a compromise to one mill. Mr. Russell said he had talked to the secretary and temporary vice-chair- man of the Municipal League as well as several of the committee and found most favored a compromise. The Secretary of the League stated that all of those seventeen members will go along with one mill if ,the City will balance its budget on that. The City will have to ~o something about cutting down its ex- penditures and working with a citizens committee of some kind that might be able to do some economies and get along with $100,000 or whatever the tax will raise. Mr. Russell commented also that he had talked with ~r. Clare Fulmer who had stated he believed all his business and professional associates would go along with one mill if the City wonld do something to balance its budget on this income. Mr. Harold Lent stated he hated ~ see a situation develop in the City that couldn,t be handled and said he felt there wasn't a businessman ~ho would not like to handle the situation in the way suggested. He said he didn't lik~ to see any tax but under the existing conditions there is nothing else to do. Stated the problem was the peoples' as well as the commissioners' and if it is possible to effect a compromise it will be easier to handle the problems from now on. Mayor Kean commented that in the interest of public relations in the com- munity, it would have been better had interested groups come in to the City Hall and get facts instead of assuming things. Mayor stated the~e have been many statements made regarding the city business that aren't exactly true. Mayor spoke oI~ the restrictions placed by statute and charter that make city operation different to business and he reminded the group that the City at- tempted to have some changes made to t he charter two or three years which were turned down by the people at an election. Clerk called attention to the advertising placed in the newspaper recent- ly by the Municipal Association against the tax and asked ,the group how the~ were goint to sell the public on the idea that a tax of 1/4 of l~ is not good but a tax of 1/10 o~' 1% is good and asked further if the group was going to make any attempt to sell the public on the change or whether they were going to take a negative attitude. January 24, l~S1 (Con't) Mr. Beard stated they are not going out .and tell the public the tax is right, Out the group can do something on public relations which is falling ~part but which has been improving in the last ,six to eight years. Clerk stated there was some concern about the position the Council might be placed in by rescinding this ordinance and not putting it to a vote of the Deople, and suggested the people may ask that this ~suggestion for a lower tax be put to a vote of the people. ~'~r. Wheaton stated the Commissioners were willing to do anything they could to reach a safe basis ,in this matter and would like to have a little assurance that they will be safeguarded, and not have it stated the City is running out o~~ the problem. He said they want some protection that others will take a responsibility for this as well as the City. Mrs. Haddon said if this matter can be compromised without ruining the City, she would like to see a compromise. City Attorney advised that~ the g~oup could not guarantee that there will not be an action against a compromise and it would be safer to enact another ordinance by petition but would take time; however, he said the City could take a chance. Further, if some private citizen attacks another ordinance and gets it thrown out, the City should have some assurance that the group would support a petition that would enact an ordinance that would stand; how- ever, the City would have to hold up raises as it would be unsafe to spend the extra money. City Attorney also stated it would be possible to take a chance if the City would go along with the group's thinking, i,f the City would balance the budget. Mr. Beard stated he did not believe the group was in any position to start another initiative as it takes an erganization to back a petition in order to be successful; however, he suggested if the ordinance is~ attacked the City would pass on another type of tax and believed the businessmen would go along ii' it didn't raise too much money. Attorney stated he would rather see some tax like the head tax as it would be easier to handle, and suck a tax would get around the many obstac- les to the bus~ness tax. Mayor Kean s tared he had been convinced the business and occupation tax is the best form and would have to be sold on another type of tax. He said he thought the Council is reasonable to a compromise, t~en can go from there. ~lso, Suggested that in order not to have some other group upset the propos- al, it migh~ be in order to have this committee contact some more business- ~en. Discussion was held on the Mayor's suggestion and ~r. Russell stated they could get the Cham~er of Commerce together and the Municipal League to- gether and asked if the Council is agreed. Mayor stated that the Council is agreed that ~here could be a compromise. ~r. Wardtn asked if the Council felt in its mind that they could make up ~he difference by cutting in the budget and Mrs. Haddon stated they would have to cut out many things that are not only desirable but quite important. Mr. Couse stated the citizens co~nittee that worEed on the budget a year ago had made several recommendations for reducing the budget but had never been contacted by the City Council or anyone else on the cuts and what the committee had in mind. He said the committee could have been wrong on some of the recommendations but never had an opportunity to discuss them. ne suggested that the committee would like to work closer with the City. Mayor Kean stated the proposals had either been put into effect or were being done, and said he apoligized because they had net referred to the re- commendations as much as they should; and said the letter was filed~with the Clerk after they had been looked over. Mr. McGowan stated that perhaps the Council didn't consider the commit- tee as being active after the recommendations were made. Clerk stated fur- ther that i~~ the City does make a cut in the tax, there will have to be sSme drastic cuts in the budget and it will be a problem to work out the cuts. Mr. Couse stated that if a compromise can be worked out, they would like to have the assurance that the Council will work with a citizens commit- tee. Mayor asked the City Auditor ii' he had any remarks to make and Mr. Vaa comm~ented on the receipts which could be expected from a lower tax percent- age, and said it was not known what could be expected in the various receipts this year. He also said the recommendations of the committee were studied and various arguments brought up as to why certain things couldn,t be done. Mr. Saaley stated the idea of having a citizens committee work with the Council wa~ a good idea and that labor had desired closer cooperation in neg- otiations in the past and if there had been such closer cooperation he did not believe the situation would be existing in the Garbage Department today. Mr. Russell stated that the first item shown on the City Auditor,s list of reductions which might have to be made ii' the tax failed to go through, is the amount of $1,030.00 and he said Mr. Fulmer had advised they had made no reauest for that in the budget and it was not needed. January 24, 1951 (Con't) ~r. Wardin asked ii' more money was received from a l/lC of 1% than anti- cipated, would the Council reinstate some of the items cut out of the budget and Mayor Kean said if there was anything cut out and the City could get a- long without them, then they would not be put back in; however, the Mayor pointed out it was not going to be as easy to cut the budget as might be thought. Mr. Whsaton stated some essential work would have to be cut out and if additional money is received then the City will do ~me of that work.. Mr. Guis pointed ou$ that extra money received would be absorbed by extra servives required by increasing population. Mr. Guis then compared the business and occupation tax with the head tax and stated the 'business tax was more equitable. Discussion was held as to whom should be on a committee to work with the City and Mr. Gius suggested that the Chamber of Commerce and the Munici- pal League should first hold individual meetings and ta~e some stand on this matter and then they could send representatives to meet with the Council and could suggest others for the committee, such as Labor. City Attorney said he would like to see Ordinance 1900 repealed ~his week and another ordinance set up. Mr. Gius said he felt the meetings could be held by tomorrow. Motion by ~r. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to approve~the policy of being will- ing to compromise, carried all members vo$ing Yes. Motion by Mr. Kean and Hrs. Haddon that the bills be allowed ii' approved by a majority of the commissioners, carried. Notion by Mr. Kean and ~rs. Haddon to recess until ~00 o~clock tomorrow afternoon, carried. APPROYED: Oity Clerk ' ~ayor January 25, 1951 Recessed meeting was not held at ~:00 o'clock P.M., January 25,. 1951 due to lack of quorum. Mayor Kean and City Clerk were only ones present and May- or Kean recessed the meeting to 2:00 P.M., Friday, January 26, 1951. The other members were continuing attendance a t the Civil Service Commission hear- ing on the Garbage Department e~ployees ~uo.had been discharged. APPROVED: City Clerk ~ayor January 26, 1951 Recessed meeting ~f the City Council of the City of Bremerton, Washing- ton, was held at 2:00 o'clock P.M., January 26, l~S1 in the Mayor's Office, City Hall, Bremerton. Mayor Kean presiding and Commissioner Haddon, Commis- sioner Wheaton, City Clerk McGowan, City Treasurer Nutt~r, City Attorney Wal- lace and City Auditor Vaa being present. Also present were James Russell, Sam Morrison, Stan Wardin, James Webb, John Gibson and Paul Ryan. Clerk read Resolution from 'the BreMerton Chamber of Commerce, adopted January 25, 1951, asking for repeal of Ordinance No. 1900 and to restrict its new tax-raising efforts to a measure with anticipated yi.eld of from $100~000. to $120,000. for budget balancing purposes. Clerk read resolution from the Bremerton Municipal Association, Ibc., dated January 25, 1951, rec~esting repeal of Ordinance No. 1900, and the asso- ciation offers its fullest cooperation in a re-examinatipn of the City's fin- ancial situation with a view to obtaining such additional revenues as may be necessary through means less onerous and less disadvantageous to the welfare of the city's economic life than the tax levy proposed in Ordinance No. 1900. January 25, 1951 Mayor Kean stated the resolutions are the result of study the groups are making of the city budget and led up to a request for reconsideration~ which the Council adopted a policy of doing; also, the city will go along I'urther with a committee to make some studies and act as an advisory group to the Council providing Ordinance No. 1900 is rescinded and a new ordin- ance is adopted. Mayor Kean said he believed one of the intentions of the group making the study is to support the city to a certain extent and defend the City if an attempt is made to attack the new ordinance to succeed No. 1900. Mayor then asked if there was any contrary feeling to be expressed here and the~e was no response from those present. Motion by Mr. Kean a~d Mrs. Haddon to rescind Ordinance No. 1900 carried. City Attorney then read Ordinance No. 1917, 'tA~ ordinance relating to and providing for the exaction and collection of a license upon the act or privilege of engaging in certain business activities, occupations, pursuits and privileges; providing the necessary administrative machinery for the col- lection and enforcement of the license hereunder; declaring certain acts in connection therewith,uhlawful and providing penalties; repealing Ordinance No. 1900 and all other ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict there- with and declaring an emergency." Mayor asked if there were any comments on the ordinance and the visitors present made no comment. Notion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to.pass the ordinance as read, carried, as follows: Mr. Kean, Yes. Mrs. Haddon, Yes. Mr. Wheaton, Yes. Mayor stated now was the time for considering the resolutions and appoint- ing the committee, and the taxrbeing operative the first of February the City could now maXe adjustments to the budget, and the committee should be set up Lmmediately so that reductions can be made. Mayor stated the offer of these organizations to serve on a committee was accepted and it was his understanding there would be two from each of the following organizations on the committee; Chamber of Commerce; Municipal As- sociation and Labor. M~yor inquired if any other organization should be pre- sented. Mr. Morrison suggested that each of these organizations could suggest four names and two could be chosen from each. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to accept the offer of these differ- ent organizations delegating members to serve on a committee and request them to submit a list of four names from each organization for the consideration of the Council in making this committee, carried. Mayor stated for consideration he thought Labor should b e represented by two people and if one came from Central Labor Council and one from the Metal Trades Council, then the Navy Yard would be represented by the latter union. Mayor also stated he believed the personnel oI' the committee should be voters and residents of the City. This latter suggestion was discussed and no decision was taken; however, it was noted by the City Attorney that this committee would be advisory only and was not one of the boards or com- missions considered under the City Charter. ~. Mrs. Haddon suggested a seventh man be appointed from a different group entirely. Mr. McGowan recommended one be appointed from the Supervisors organi- zation of the Navy Yard. Notion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to ask the Metal Trades Council, the Central La0or Council and the Navy Yard SuperVisors Organization to select two n~es and Dhe City Council to select one from each of ~hese, carried. Mayor Kean aszed if anyone else should be put on and Mrs. Haddon sug- gested Rev. Storgaard. Mr. Wheaton commented he didn't like to see the committee too big but didn't object ta the Bremerton Ministerial Association being ~epresented. After further discussion the suggestion was dropped. Further discussed residence as qualification for the committee and after various comments were made it was decided that residence would be no bar. Mayor Kean stated the situation is emergent and ~asked that any past ill- z'eeling be dropped. He also said he had asked Mr. Pendergast ~0 come in on suggested cuts in the Recreation Department and he had reported that $10,OO0. could be cut in that budget. The Mayor asked that recommendations for cuts in the city budget be sound and practical. Mr. Norrison stated he and Mr. Wardin could make immediate contact with the Chamber and the Municipal Association relative to the selection of names for the committee. Discussion was held on inoreases in pay for city personnel and it was noted that quick action must be taken in connemtion with the reductions so that those remaining on the payroll may be informed as to when the raises might be expected. It was pointed o~t that such reductions would have to be made in accordance with Civil Service rules and regulations. January 25, 1951 (Con't) City Auditor suggested that the Council should give notice the election would not be held and the City Attorney stated that no official notice has been given so no action will be necessary. City Attorney discussed the~'few changes made in the new ts~x ordinance as compared with Ordinance No. 1900. Mayor Kean expressed appreciation for the work Julius Gius has done in effecting the compromise tax. Clerk read from a copy of a letter dated January 25, l~51 from the Pollu- tion Control Commission to the U.S. Naval Base, Bremerton, asking that the Pol- lution Control Commission be notified of plans being developed to make use of the facilities provided by the City sewage treatment plant. Mayor ordered contents noted and letter to be filed in Clerk's Office. N_r. Glen Hallman, Sanitarian for the Health Department, discussed the re- quest of Mr. Renn, who desired to make up, sandwiches in his groaery s tore. He stated that the Health Department has~ written ~r. Renn a letter and the matter is being taken care of satisfactorily, mr. Renn ~ll not be required to have a double sink as long as he confines his operation to making sandwiches only. Further discussion was held on the need for bringing the restaurant license · ordinance and the permit ordinance into agreement on the definition of a rest- aurant. Mr. Hallman recon~ended the definitions be brought into agreement as the ordinances are confusing to both the public and the Health Department., Mayor asked the City Attorney to prepare an amendment to take care of the recommendation. Clerk presented a letter and literature from the U.S. Department of Com- merce relative to construction of buildings in the ~resent, emergency., Notion by ~r. Kean and, Mr. Wheaten to note contents and refer to the Com- missioner of Public Works, carried. Mr. Wheaten asked ~hat bids be called for 20,000 feet of coppen pipe. He said there would 0e need for this pipe if new housing is built in Bremerton. Notion by Mr. Wheaten and ~r. Kean that the City Clerk be authorized to call for bids for copper pipe, carried. Mr. Nutter s~tated he had turned over his l~50 parking meter ~eport to the Commissioners. Notion by Mr. Kean and ~rs. Madden to adjourn, carried. APPROVED: ~Ciby Clerk ~ Mayor