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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/05/49 October 5, 1949 Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton was held Wednesday, October 5, 1949 at 10:O0 o'clock A.N., immediately following the ~Statutory Budget Neeting, in the City Hall, Bremerton. Nayor Kean presiding with Commissioner Haddon, Commissioner Wheaton, City Clerk McGowan, City Treasurer Nutter and Assistant City Attorney Merrill Wallace being present. Notion by Nr.' Kean and Nfs. Haddon to approve minutes of regular meeting of September 28, 1949 as written carried. Clerk read notices of emploument for Russell J. Nonaghan, $280.00 per month, in bhe Enginee~ ng Department, and Rose Shula, $1.20 per hour,Library. Motion by Nfs. Haddon and Mr. Kean to approve the foregoing notices of emplo~nent as rea~ carried. Present at the Council meeting were three students from the Olympic Jr. College and their teacher ~iss Irene Eldred, from the class on City Govern- ment. The names of the students were: George Brothers, Lloyd Smith and Thom- as McWilliams. 263 October 5, 1949 (Con't) Clerk read application for location license to install pinball machines at Ted's Dinette, 1138 Winfield Street, from Ted Jones, approved by C. Lewis, Chief of Police. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to approve the ~plication and grm t the license carried. Claim voucher was read by Cler~ from Ernest Yett for expenses to Pacific Coas% Fire Chiefs Convention in the sum of $262.00. Clerk stated there was. only $197.39 left in the Fire Department ~dget which could be expended for this purpose. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to approve the claim to the amount of the appropriation remaining carried. Clerk read payroll voucher for period ended. September 30, 1949, warrmnts No. 18~41 to 18653 inclusive, in the amount of $38,367.7V~ approved by W.R. Vaa, City Auditor. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to allow the voucher carried. Clerk read letter dated October 5, 1949 to the Council from the City At- torney, stating that action has been instituted against the City for recover- ing damages for the removal of approximately 8,000 yards of gravel'from pro- perty just outside the City limits and it is the City Attorney,s opinion that the City should acquire this property without delay and that condemnation pro- ceedings should be instituted for that purpose and recommended that the Council adopt an ordinance authorizing him to proceed with this condemnation. Clerk read Ordinance No. 1847 declaring the need for the condemnation of certain real property in Kitsap county for the purpose o£ obtaining rock ~d gravel for street surfacing, directing condemnation of said property in payment of just compensation therefor, ant declaring an emergency. Motion by Hr. Kean and Mr. %~heaton to pass Ordinance No. 1847 carried as follows: Mr. Keau, Yes. Mrs. Ha~don, Yes. Mr. Wheaton, Yes. Clerk read Resolution No. 709 as follows: W}~REAS, there has been filed with the City Council of the City of Bremer- ton a petition to vacate the alley in Block 12, Decatur, more particularly de- scribed as follows to-wit: Alley adjacent to and abutting Lots l, 2, 3, 4 m~d 12, Block 12, Decatur, according to the plat thereof be vacated; and WHEREAS, it appears desirable that the petition be grmted; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council that said petition be heard and determined on the ~nd day o£ November, 1949, in the Council Chamber in the City Hall in the City of Bremerton; and that the City Clerk give notice or printed notice in three of the most public places in said city and that a like notice be set up in a conspicuous place on the alley to be vacated. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to pass Resolution No. 708 carried as follows: Mr. Ke ~mU, Yes. Mrs. Haddon, Yes. Mr. Wheaton, Yes. Clerk read proposed ordinance, first reading, providing for the expend- iture of funds forpayment of salaries, wages, maintenance and operation and capital outlay for the sewage disposal system of the City of Breme~ton, and declaring an emergency. Clerk also read certificate signed by D.B. Wheaton, Commissioner o~ Pub- lic Works, setting forth the reasons for the providing of funds. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to approve ~he proposed ordinance on first reading carried as follows: Mr. Kean, Yes. Mrs. Haddon, Yes. Mr. Wheaton, Yes. Clerk read letter addressed to City Attorney 0luff Johnsen dated October 4, 1949 from Richard Thorgrimson, Attorney, of the firm of Preston, Thorgrim- son & Ho~owitz of Seattle, enclosing original and three copies of an ordinance provieing for the issuance and sale of the Water and Sewer ~evenue Bonds, fix~ ing their date,~ form, terms, maturities, etc. The ordinance was prepared on instructions from Mr. Fraser of Wm. P. Harper & Son & Company and upon their final report. Letter contained instructions for~publication of the ordinance and the securing of publication affidavits. Clerk read Ordinance No. 1849 providing for the issuance and sale of $450,000.00 of water and sewer revenue bonds of the City for the purpose of providing funds for the construction ~d installation of certain additions and improvements to the combined water and~werage system of the City as pmovided by Ordinance No. 1845, passed and approved August 31, 1949, fixing the. date~ form, terms and maturities of said bonds, creating a speoial fund for the pay- ment of the principal and interest thereof and a Reserve Account, providing certain other protective features safeguarding the payment thereof, end re- scinding the authority of the City to issue the remaining $100,000 of ~ater and Sewer Revenue Bonds authorized by 0r~nance No. 1845. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. ~Vheaton to pass Ordinance No. 1849 carried as follows: Mr. Kean, Yes. Mrs. Haddon, Yes., Mr. Wheaton, Yes. 264 October 5, 1949 (Con't) Clerk stated the Notice of Bond Sale has gone to the Bremerton Sun and will be published today. Claim voucher was read by Ch rk from Henry Finch, for $8,203.?8, Esti- mate No. 3 (Final), approved by E.S. Severance, City EnEineer, and audited by W.R. Vaa, in co~ection with the Sewage Treatment Project, Unit E. Sub- marine Crossing. Motion by Mr. Kean and~ Mr. Wheaton to approve the voucher carried. Clerk read claim voucher from American Pipe and Construction Company for total of $1,030.00 covering 25 extra 28" O.D. Dresser. Couplings ~ $40.00 plus State Sales Tax, purchased under Contract 163 awarded February 16, 1949. Claim approved by Ben C. Casad, Assistant Foreman, Water Department, Supply Division, and audited by W.R. Vaa, City Auditor. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to allow the voucher carried. Mrs. Haddon, Commissioner of Finance and Accounting, lstated Mrs. Hubert C. Blanchard had requested a reduction in the rent of the space they have under lease on the Second Street Wharf from $80.00 to $50.00, stating they were unable to make their rental payments. Mrs. Haddon said she felt their request was a worty one and r ecormuended that the rent be reduced to $50.00 per month for the term November l, 1949 to May l, 1950, at which time the rent could be re-negotiated and adjustment made. Merrill Wallace, Assistant City Attorney, commented that it would be all right to reduce for period requested and re-negotiate in May, 1950. Motion by Mrs. Haddon and Mr. Kean to approve the request and reduce the rent until May, 1950 to $50.00 per month carried. City Treasurer Nutter commented that he and Mr. Vaa had gone into the proposition of figuring the interest on the sale ofrbonds and feel able to come up with a recommendation the same day bids are opened. This is in con- nection with the coming sale of bonds for the, sewage disposal system. Mr. Wheaton reported that the Water Department will finish the laying of the 28" pipe line at Twin Lakes tomorrow and then will just be covering and backfill left. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to allow all bills if approved by a majority of the Commissioners carried. Notion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to adjourn carried. APPR~ VED: City Clerk Mayor ~ October 6, 1949 Recessed Statutory Meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton was held October 6, 1949 at 10:00 o'clock A.M. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, Bremerton. Mayor Kean presiding; Commissioner Haddon, Commissioner Wheaton, City Clerk McGowan, City Auditor Vaa being present. Clerk read letter from UnitedAssociation of Journeymen au~ Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting, Industry of the U.S. and Canada, Bremerton Local $~l, dated October 4, 1949, addressed to. City Commissioners. Letter stated the local is unanimous in supporting the services hereto- before provided in the City Budget; they have no solution to relieve the fin- ancial burden but realize they, as wage earners, and consumers, will foot the bill. Notion by Mr. Kean and ~rs. Haddon to note contents and file carried. Clerk read letter dated October ~, 1949 from George B. Allen, Manager, B.H. Allen Plumbing, addressed to City Engineer, stating he does not believe it advisable to have only one inspector for both plumbing and electrical wir- ing. Motion b~ Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to ~ote contents and file carried. 265 October 6, 1949 (Con't) Mr. Gius, Editor oI' the Bremerton Sun, asked where the surplus came from in the General Fund over that whi~ was budgeted. Mayor discussed this f rom the standpoint of Fire and Police Departments what constituted this surplus, such as having sufficient on hand for emergen- cies like car wrecks, also an amount left which was not spent for a drill tower. He said it possibly could be cut a little closer but possibly would be emer- gencies requir2ng the passage of ordinances during the year. Mr. Vaa explained that if there is no surplus at the end of the year it would be necessary to go on a registered warrant basis until receipts come in. Mr. Gius said that now the Council has the budget within $65,000.00 of being ~n balance and if the items which create a surplus are kept in it will be necessary to seek additional revenue from the citizens of Bremerton and the elimination of these items will save the necessity of a tax. Mayor Kean commented that'after this meeting is over, the Council is going to meet to see what can be done and said he appreciated the time spent with the Council by the Lent brothers and Mr. Gius in endeavoring to find a solution to the revenue question. Mayor Kean also pointed out that the City does not "pad" its receipts and when the City's receipts are greater than estimated, the surplus is helped to be built in this way, also. Mr. Guis asked where the figure was received for the amount anticipated to be received from a business tax and Mayor Kean and Mr. McGowa~ explained how thi~ was handled. Mr. Beard ~iscussed inequities of a business tax and Mr, Keans tared some exceptions would be made if an ordnance was passed, but also said that Mr. Johnsen wanted to have as few exceptions as possible and have it be as close to the State Law as possible. Mayor Kean discussed the pre-empting or syphoning of certain sources of revenue, and also talked on payment-in-lieu of taxes. Mr. Steve Kerr discussed the effect of business tax on his type of firm, andmentioned that in some cases the tax would be paid on a business or part of business showing a nut loss. Mr. Ernest Lent talked on enonomy in the services necessary to maintain. Mr. Julius Gius discussed the two revenue proaucing departments, Mater and Sanitation, m~d drew a compaTison between the amount turned over to the General Fund by the Water Department for use of City Streets, etc., and that turned in by the Puget Sound Power & Light Company. He suggested the Water Department pay more into the General Fttud and, also, suggested the Sanitation Department might be put on a paying basis~ Discussion followed. Mr. S~an. Wordin asked i~' certain nuisance taxes would be elinimated in the event a business tax was adopted and Mayor answered that possibly some would be considered. Mayor called attention to the fact that the City would have been financi- ally broke if the State had not recognized the Cities and returned money on a per capita basis. This occurred in 1945, and the City put aside considerable funds because of receiving this money and have improvements planned fo~ its HSGe Mayor said he didn't want to seem critical, but questionedhow much local support has been given the City Council on payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes legis- lation. Mayor explained how the Federal Government had through one agency de- sired the City to have additional recreation facilities, more fire and police ~ersonnel aud equipment, and then another agency has refused to assist the City financially until all avaiTable funds were exhausted. In this way the Federal Government caused the City to carry a heavier financial burden. Mayor Stated the City became tired of this way oi' conducting business and turned away from Federal aid to procuring money from the State on a per capita basis. Notion by Mr. Kean and Nfs. Haddon to recess until lO:O0 o'clock A.M. Friday, October V, 1949 carried. APPROVED: City Clerk Mayor 266 October 7, 1949 Recessed Statutory Meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton Washington, was held at lO:O0 o~clock A.M. October 7, 1949 in the COuncil Chambers, City Hall, Breme~ton. Mayor Kean presiding; Commissioner Haddon, Commissioner Wheaton; City Clerk McGowan and City Auditor Vaa being ppesent. Mayor Kean announced there will be no business and occupation tax ef- fective this year. Money is to be taken from'the Water Department as a con- tribution to the general 0ity government within limits allowed by State Law. Mayor said that owing to emergencies caused by delays and getting the information together the budget isn't available at this moment and is not ready' for reading at this time. Mr. Vaa read totals from the financial budget and stated the tax levies ~ere not ready ~o read yet. He said $15,000.00 was cut from parking meter purchase and a few other changes have been made in the budget and finally arrived at the present total I'igure. of Mayor Kean commented there were to be no salary cuts and very few sal- ary raises an~:~ those only adjustments. Will be operating under a tighter budget for one year and will be less surplus at the end of the year. Mayor said the Commissioners are going to watch carefully to see that no one is hired inca budgeted job is it is possible to ~ without that particular Job. This is to be watched in the event someone leaves the ~ity's employ. Mayor exp'ressed the Commissioners' appreciation for the s uppor~ oI' all the people which bas been given and particularly Julius Gius for the efforts he spent in going over the entire matter. Jack Hollingsworth asked whether present City services would be general- ly carried out and Mayor stated the Council is proposing to give Health De- partment $27,000.00, although the County has cut to $22,000.00; in Recrea- tion all capital improvements will be curtailed and hope to make the senior program more self-supporting. The Police and Fire personnel will be left intact but have taken some capital outlay items out. Street Department is anticipating receiving some money from the ~ater Department because of con- solidation of Sewer and Water ~jepartments and Street Department will be paid for work they will do on the sewers. Also, figuring on having some~ ~treet improvements put under local improvement districts. The only cut in person- nel is in the Park & Recreation Department. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to recess until l:O0 o'clock P.M., at which time the budget is to be read carried. APPR0 VED: C'~i ty Clerk Mayor October V, 1949 Pursuant to recess the Statutory meeting of the City Council oi' the City of Bremerton, Washington was held October 7, 1949 at l:00 o'clock in the Mayor's o~fice, City Hall, Bremerton. Mayor Kean presiding; Commis- sioner Ha~don, Commissioner Wheaton, City C~ rk McGowan, City Attorney John- sen, City Treasurer Nutter, and City Auditor Vaa being present. Present also were Vela Smith, Culinary Alliance and Norman Albrecht, Electrical Wo~ers Union. Mayor Kean commented that several years a change was desired in a bud- ge~ and the whole ordinance had to be re-published, rathe'r than Just a sec- tion and asked if this budget ordinance to be presented could be amended section by section if it was found necessary. City Attorney and City Auditor both stated they did not see how this ordinance could be changed in any way after adopted; and City Auditor sug- gested that perhaps the Mayor was referring to the Salary Ordinance which used to be adopted but has been found not ~obe necessary any more. City Attorney read proposed budget ordinance approving and a~opting ~e Financial Budget I'or the several departments of City Government of the City of Bremerton for the fiscal year 1950, and appropriating the amounts set forth in said Budget to each of said departments for expenditure during said year. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to approve the ordinance on first reading carried as follows: Mr. Kean, Yes. ~rs. Hadeon, Yes. Mr. Wheaton, Yes. 267 October 7, 1949 (Con't) City Clerk read Ordinance No. 1849 levying municipal taxes against all of the taxable property within the City Limits of the City of Bremerton for the year 1949 and approving tile assessment roll made by the Assessor of Kit- sap County therefore, to be collected in the year 1950. Motion by Mr. Kean and Nfs. Haddon to pass Ordinance No. 1849 and C~ rk be instructed to certify a copy to the County Assessor carried as follows: Mr. Kean, Yes. Mrs. Haddon, Yes. Mr. Wheaton, Yes. Mr. Kean stated he was in possession of the recommenaatione made by the Bremerton Chamber of Commerce and felt this correspondence should be filed in the Clerk's Office. ~otlon,by Mr. Kean and Mr. Wheaton to file the Chamber of Commerce recom- mendations in the Clerk's ,Office carried. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. ~heaton to adjourn carried. AP PI~0VED: City C~e rk ~ Mayor