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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/24/49 August 24, 1~49 Regular meeting of the City Council'of the City of Bremerton, Washington was held at lO:O0 o'clock A.M. DST, Wednesday, August 24, l~4B in the Mayor's office~ City Hall. Mayor Kean presiding with Commissioner Haddon, Commis- sio~er Wheaton, the City Attorney and the City Treast~rer being present. A delegation of property o~ers from S~mmit Avenue and vicinity ~ere t~e- sent for the scheduled hearing of the proposed formation of a local improvement district. Mayor Kean explained to them that the City Engineer had recommended that the hearing~again be postponed as he had Just retu~ued to the City and would need additional time $o study and listen to objections and suggestions being made by the property owners of the proposed distriet. Mr. Wheaton advised t~er& seem to b e some objections ant mr. Severance wishes additional time for further study. The City Clerk read letters signed by: ~Hugh E. and Gladys M. Surface, Yantic Street So.; Glen and Mabel Kennedy~ 143 Hartford S~$' and James A. and Blanche Davis, ~lO Hartford So.~ 6bJecting to the high estimated cost of instal- ling the proposed sewer and suggesting that State or Federal Aid be obtained. Clerk read letter signed ~y Jennings B. Serry,~Ma~tin J. Hansen, 134 So. S~it, Irvin R. Walton, Ivan~' Follett, 108 $o. Summit and Elling Rem~_en~ 1BO So. Summit, requesting that the hearing be postponed until such a time as the City Engineer returns to the City and has had an opportunity to study the recom- mendations being made. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to note contents and file carried. Mayor Kean stated, ~'or the information of'the property'owners in that area~ that this improvement has been reconm~en~ed by the Boar~ o~ Health and the City Engineer, some of the property in that area had been conaemned I'or health rea- sons and were being occupied only on a temporary permit, ~ the L.I.D. were not put through at this time they could be closed and the occupants ordered to move. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to note contents of the correspondence an~ refer to the City Engineer for an additional week's study of the suggestions made, carried. Mr. Wheaton advised there is no money available for Federal Aid and the ~ngineer can give them the details on it. Mrs. Haddon added there was also no State aid available either. Mr. Martin Hansen, 134 So. Summit, stated it was his understanding that this sewer improvement was being instituted at the request of the property owners in- stead of the City. Mayor Kean answered that this was true, but it had also been ordered by the Health Department and the Pollution Committee. August 24, 1949 (Cch't) ~r. Hansen advised that the places, in that area, which are situated down in the hollow are in much worse condition than the others, the Mayor agreed and advised these places are the ones which are and will be condemned. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to recess the hearing for an addition- al week to give the Engineer more time carried. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to approve the minutes of the previous regular meeting held on August 17, 1949 an~ special meetings oX' August 1V and August 18, 1~49 carried. Clerk read notice of change in pay ~tatus for Ruth Gannis, 5250 B. Arse- nal Way, Temporary Secretary in the Attorney's office at $1.O5 per hour. The City ~ttorney advised that Mrs. Gannis would be paid entirely from his office from now on, instead of being paid Partly by the' Municipal Court. Clerk recommended showing the old rate of pay and the new rate on change of pay slips and added that the new rates of pay for employees, were generally in effect before the approval by the Council was obtained. ~ayor Kean explained that signature by the Commissioner in charge of the Department was sufficient authority to change the rate of pay and approval was made by the Council in order to authorize the payroll clerk to ma~e the recommended change in salary. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to approve the change in pay for Ruth Gannis carri ed. Clerk read report of separation for Edith Dunlap, extra cashier, from the Treasurer's office. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to approve the separation carried. Clerk read application for music in a Class-H establishment from Colleen McGill, Melody Lane, §2V Fourth Street, approved by Chief of Police Lewis. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to approve the application for lic- ense carried. Clerk read application for license for House or Refuge made by Ida M. Howell, 828 PaciI°ic Avenue, disapproved by Dr. Benham, Health Officer and Ernest Yett, Fire Chief. Motion by Mr. Kean and ~rs. Haadon to concur in the recommendations and deny the license carried mnsnimously. Clerk read General Claim voucher for payroll 'for period ended August 194B, Warrants No. 1V~80 to 1V889, inclusive, in the amount'of MOtion by Mrs. Haddon and Mr. Kean to approve the foregoing voucher, carried. The City Clerk advised that rather than put vouchers for payment of con- tracted machinery on the boards he thinks they should be treated like any other contract, read separately and given approval by the Council. Clerk read General Claim voucher for the Nelson Equipment Company, Seat- tle, in payment for trencher and angle dozer for the Water Department, appro- ved by the Oity Auditor in the amount of $8,0~1.§8. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to approve payment of $8,081.88 to Nelson Equipment Company carried. Clerk read general claim voucher for J.E. Hazeltine & Company, Portland, Oregon for welder for the Garage Department, approved by Auditor Vaa in the total amount of $1,10~.O0. Motion by MP. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to approve payment of the voucher, carried unanimously. Clerk read general claim voucher from Howard-Cooper Corporation, Portland, Oregon, for tractor and loader for the Street Department in the ~$tal amount of $O,14O.~l, approved by the City Auditor. Motion by Mr. Kean dUC Mr. Wheaton to approve the foregoing voucher, car- rie do Clerk read Resolution No~ V0A as follows: WHEREAS~ the assessment roll for Local Improvement District No. 2~9, pro- viding for the assessment to pay the improvement of Eleventh Street between 01y- mpic Avenue an~ Rainier Avenue has been filed with the City Clerk of the City of Bremerton. NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that Wednesday, the 21st day of September, 1949 at 10:00 o,clock A.M. Of said day at the Council Chambers at the~ City Hall of the City of Bremerton be and' the same is hereby I'ixed as the time and place for the hearing of said assessment roll and 233 August 24, 1949 (Con't) BE TT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk ~e and he is hereby authorized and directed to give notice of the time and place of said hearing to all persons who may desire to object to such assessment roll to ma~e such objections in writing and file the same with the City Cler~ at or prior 'to the date l'lXed for such hearing, by properties whose name appears upon said assessment roll, by mailing a notice thereof at least fifteen (15) days before the date herein set for such hearing to such owner or reputed owner at the address of such owner es shown on the tax rolls of the bounty Treasurer for the property described on ~aid list and shall further give notice of' such hearing by publishing such notice at least five (5) times in the official newspaper, the last publication ~f which shall be at least fiX'teen (15) days prior to the date herein fixed fol~ s aid hearing. The above mentioned improvements include clearing, grub0ing, grading, for and construction of 5 ft. concrete sidewalks, concrete curbs and gutters aha providing for drainage, together with the Going o~' any and all other work in con- nection therewith. Motion 0y ~. Keen and Mr. "heston to approve ps, sage of the resolution carried as follows: Mr. Kean, Yes. Mrs. Haadon, Y. es. Mr. Wheaton, Yes. ~'or the information of the Council, Clerk read copies o~' letters to Pac- ii'lc Builder and Engineer and the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, cared Aug- ust 1~, 1949, from James W. Carey-H.W. Kramer & Associates, confirming t$1ephone conversation that the City of Bremert0n wishes to hold the advertisement for bias on the West End Sewage Treatment Plant until further notice. Contents of the letters ordered made a matter of record. Clerk read post card from William Ludwig, exch~ange student, who appeared in the Council a short time ago, from Southaepton, ngland, advising that he had passed on greetings to the Mayor and Council' of~Southampt6n and further ad- vising that he would be able to give a full account of local governmmnt on his return to Bremerton. Contents were noted. Clerk read recommendation, dated August 22, 1949, from City Auditor Vas and himself, that the City institute a business tax in Bremerton to make up the deficit in the annual budget. ~ During the discussion, Mrs. Haddon stated that she felt the people should know what we are up against. Mr. McGowan advised that it appears to be the only possible answer to rais- ing the necessary revenue. Mrs. Ha~don stated it should be drawn to the attention of the public that the greater part of the deficit is for salaries and wages. Mayor Kean stated that the City woulchave to follow one of two courses;if we are going to continue to provide servic es which shoula be provided it is nec- essary for us to adopt something of this kind in order to b e on sure ground now and in the future; the other is to reduce personnel and he doesn't know where this could be done without seriously affecting'several different types of es- sential services and omitting some of the more desirable services.~ Mayor Keen further stated that a business tax has been considered by the Council from time to time and this is a concern of the residents an~ the merchants of the City as well as the Council. Motion by Mr. Keen and ~rs. Haddon to refer this recommendation to the Cham- ber of Commerce for consideration and would suggest that they ask Labor to Join with them in making a study o£ the entire matter and pending such time a s we hear from them, refer to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration, carried unanimously. Mayor Keen stated that the Chamber of Commerce should be told of the t~m~ng of our budget and if they ~o not report by then it will be considered that sil- ence gives consent. Probably next year we will be faced with more of an emergen- cy than there is now. Further stated they should be advised when their opinions and recommendations should be returned, should be given to Mr. Box with the i n- foEnation that it is emergent and then point out to l~tm the timing limit, Mayor Kean stated that the reason they want Labor in on this is that they c~me in requesting longer vacation periods~ salary increases and want to retain side leave for employees. Where you are going to have labor asking for those things you are going to have some objections and insistance that a tax of this kind will cttrtail their business an~ effect their profits, b ut ii' we have to drastically cut the Park and Recreation and Library there will be a louder howl. Discussion followed re the possible raise in fire and b~rgular insurance in the event it were necessary to curtail the services of the Fire an~ Police Da- p ar tment s. Treas~er Nutter aavised that in other cities when a business tax was es- tablished the s amall "nuisance~ taxes had been abolished, and added that this might be a favorable talking point for our cause. He will be very happy to co- operate with the Chamber of Commerce to help to get this across as he has always wanted it and will need it;in the years to come it will pay off. August 24, 1949 (eon't) The City Attorney reported that he had sent a claim to the Referee of Bankruptcy in Seattle, against the City Club for Water, Garbage and estimated slot machine taxes. The Attorney reported further he had received copies o£ ordinances for vending machines adopted by other cities in the State of Washington. He advised that the Association or Washington Cities contend that the license fee which we have seems rather low. Mr. Johnson further r~ported that he had Just received a copy of the Attorney'General,s opinion regarding fireworks, dated May 9th, 1949, .and is only interesting in that the Prosecuting Attorne~ of Spokane County had re- quested an opinion whether Spokane might make illegal all fire works and the opion is that there is no legal objection to any municipali~y going more res- trictive than State Law. 'The Attorney ~dvised that at the last meeting he'had been requested to make some kind of a report on airports, but hasn't had time to discuss this with Auditor Vaa and he felt that the report should be in writing, Dut would go so far as to say that as far as the law is concerned in the State, the doors appear to be wide open rot County~C[ty opera'ion o£ airports. Auth- ority can be delegated to a board and confer upon the Board almost unlimited power for operation, and the only limits are the funds available. Attorney read letter from Mr. Sheeley, Airport manager of Noon Island Airport, giving the history and discription of their airport, ex~laining the financing and recomz~ending that we contact the manager of the Bellingham air- port for further information. Letter turned over to the City Attorney his files. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to allow all bill~ presented at this meeting if approved by the majority of the Commissioners carried. Mr. Wheaten reported that no word had been received, f~om the State on the right-of-way at the East end of the bridge. Mayor Keau reported nothing further on Navy 9ontribution on the sewage disposal plant and asEed if anything was going to be done regarding Navy Yard City sewage disposal. Mr. Wheaten advised we had done nothing but thsught we should g9 ahead and build the plant,then charge them for serv~e. Clerk reported that the papers had not been returned from the Housing Administration on Anderson Cove and added it was only a matter or them pick- ing up the check and signing the voucher. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaten to approve the voucher in the amount of $30,000.00 for the payment of the Anderson Cove Project carried. Discussion held re the zoning of the Anderson Cove area. 'l~e City At- torney advised that there are a lot or people who want to be heard on this and it would be all right to direct him to prepare the resolutions regard- ing the changing of the zoning. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaten to so instruct the ~Ity Attorney, carried unanimously. Mayor Kean recommended that Mr. Wheaten sect~e the petition which is being circulated in that area a~Jacent to Sheridan Pare which is still County (petition for annexation to the Clty~) and something be done about getting it into the City. Discussion held. Mayor Kean advised Mayor allen of Winslow is speaking today at the Lion's Club. The City Attorney asked if Mr. Fraser will have his report on the West- end Sewage Plant here on Friday and was advised by the Clerk an~ Mayor that it would b~. Motion by Mr. Wheaten to recess until Friday, August 26, 1949, at such time as Mr. Fraser made his report available to the Council, at the conven- ience of the Chair, carried. APPROVED: C~ty Clerk 235 Au,~us t 26, 194,9 Pursuant to recess the regular meeting of the City Council was held in the Mayor's o~'fice at the City Hall at 10:~0 AcM. Friday, August 28, 1949e Mayor Kean presiding with Commissioner Haddon, Commissioner Wheaton, the City Attorney, Auditor, Engineer, Water Superintendent being present. M~. J.W. Bryan, Sr., and Mr. Fraser, oi' '~.P. Harper & Company, Seattle, also were pres~ate Mayor Kean skated that a prelim!nary meeting for consiceration of Prelim- inary Report No. ~ of Wm. P. Harper & Company, relating to the proposed second unit of the sewage disposal system had been held, and requested a recommenda- tion from the Committee. The City Attorney stated that it was the opinion of the Special Sewer Com- mittee that the Council should authorize a change order in the existing con- tract of Hoaglund-Finlay to provide,rot the lift station No. ~A; that the City Clerk be instructed to~ call rot bids for the second sewage disposal plant in accordance with the plans and specifications, the date of opening the hide ~o bedetermined by the City Engineer and Mr. Carey and further that the Mayor be authorized to contact the Admiral of P.S.N.S. to do everything in his power to obtain a commitment from the ~avy for one hundred forty-four thousand dol- lars, plus. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to concur in the recommendation and direct the City Cler~ and Purchasing Agent to issue a~call for bids as outlined in the records carried as follows: Mr. Kean, Yes. Mrs. Haddon, Yes. Mr. Wheaton, Yes. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to adjourn carried. APPROVED: City Clerk Mayor