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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/09/48 June 9, 1948 Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton, Washington held in the Mayor's office at the City Hall on Wednesday, June 9, 1948 at ten o~clock A.E. Mayor Kean presiding with the following being present: Commis- sioner Haddon, Commissioner Gorst, the City Attorney and the City Treasurer. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst to approve the minutes of the previous regular meeting as written, carried. Clerk announced this as the date for the opening o~' bids for supplying fuel, diesel and s tore oil for the year and on motion by Mr. Kean and ~r. Gorst Clerk opened and read two bids recieved as follows: Lofthus 0il Company, with a certified check in the amount of ~50.00 and agreeing to i'urnish oil at theposted price at time and place of delivery. Lent's, Inc., with a certified check in the amo~mt of ~50.00 and a bid to furnish stove oil at .135 per gallon and .ll per gallong for diesel oil, no bid on fuel oil. ~otion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst to refer the bids to the City Clerk and Purchasing Agent, carried. Clerk read reports of separations for the.following: T, Edward DeMent, R. Jones, Francis C. Grady and Frank W. Parsons. Notion by Mr. Keen and Mr. Gorst to approve ~e foregoing separations, carried. Clerk read notices of employment for: Charles A. Parkhurst, substitute janitor at the Library at $180.00 per month; George A. Wilson, part-time lead- er at the ~ark and Recreation at i~l. O0 per hour and Robert Wallace, Engineering Assistant draftsman at ~245.00 per month. Motion by ~r. Kean and Mr. Gorst to approve the temporary non-civil ser- vice appointments of the foregoing, carried. Clerk read changes in pay status for the following: Arohie Bouchard, ~5V.O0 per month; John R. Colley, ~24V.00 per month, Arnold Halpern, ~200. per month and Virginia Tatro, i~l.10 per hour. Motion by Mr. Kean and ~dr. Gorst to approve the changes in pay, carried. Clerk read letter from the City Clerk enclosing si~ned petitions filed by Donald E. Willi~ns which requested that Ordinance No. 17V2 be referred to popular vote in the manner an~ ~orm provided by law, or repealed, ~d certi- fying tt~at in accordance with Article Xlll of the City Charter the signatures have been checked against the current regustration files, and contain 707 valid signatures. Further advisling that the number of signatures required is 682, such figure being ~5% of the last preceding vote cast for all candidates for ~layor. Notion by ~dr. Kean and Mr. Gorst to refer the letter to.the City Attorney for t]~e preparation of the necessary resolution, carried. Following a discussion by the Council it was ~animously decided not to repeal the ordinance and to refer the question to a popular vote. Clerk read letter from Mr. Johnsen, City Attorney, relative to 'the petition for the chm~ging of the grade of the alley between Four~ and Fifth and Pacific and Park, which-had been referred to his office for an opinion on application of the zoning ordinance to existing buildings in this program, citing provisions of the zoning ordinance but advising that he hesitates to render such an opin- ion because there have not yet been presented to him sufficient facts upon which to properly base any conclusions, and further advising that he would rather have someone in possession of the facts pertaining to the buildings state those facts in some detail and he would then bc pleased to render the requested opinion. The City Attorney further adzised that Bremer's incorporated shomld pre- sent their plans to the Planning Co~uission or the City Co~.mcil and then we ~uld have something to go ahead on. ~r. Gorst agreed with ~r. John~n. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Goz'st to reject the petition and refer back to the petitioners and instructing the City Clerk to so notify them, carried. Clerk read letter from the North Side Improvement CI~D regarding the ~at- ter of caterpillars and urging that the City Council give hasty action on the problem. The letter also included a few reconm~ended suggestions for their ex- termination. Mayor Kean remarked that any action which could be takena t this time would b~ too late. ~ayor Keen further remarked that it had been thought it might be advisable to make available one of our p~np trucks to the Commi~ssion for the spraying of the infested trees. Mr. Rice, the con~aerclal sprayer, had looked the piece of equipment over and a~vised it would not work due to the great cost of convertin~ t~e p~m~p truck into a sprayer. Mr. Rice had assured the Hayer that they are keeping up with all their orders and could adequately take care of the situation if called by the property owners. .95 June 9, 1948 (Con't) r,.~r. Nntter advisem t[~at Rice had not sprayed the property on Sixth Street as ordered. Mr. Gorst reported that the treos in the alley back of Gregory Way were badly in need of spraying and ~,ir. Nutter advised he would take care of it. ~otion by ~.~r. Kean smd Mr. Gorst to note the oontents of the letter and file, carried. Mayor Kean advised the City Clerk that eh could, if he wished, notify the North Side Improvement Club of the action taken. Clerk read applications for the renewal of Master Pinball $1achine Licenses as follows: Colleen ~cGill, with a check for ~1,~00.00. H. ~.~cGill, ~l th a check for i~1,500.00. Kitsap Amusement Company, with a check for ~1,800.00. I~Iotion by I~r. 'Kean and Lir. Gorst to approve the applications for renewal of operator's s~nusement device license, carried. Clerk presented general claim voucher in the amount of ~36,605.11 to cover payroll for period ending May 31, 1948, Salary Warrant Nos. 8342-5658, Incl. and 8661 to 8666 Incl. ' Motion by Mr. Ke~l and I.'ir. Gorst to approve the voucher, carried as follows: i~r. Kean, Yes. Mrs. Haddon, Yes. Mr. Gorst, Yes. The City Clerk announced timt the meeting with the South Kitsap Chamber of Conm:erce'relative to the closing of the Sanitary fill had beens chedu]~.d for 2 P.Id., Thursday, June 10, 1948. Mayor Kean expressed the opinion that the County Commissioners should be in- cluded in the nleetin6 and if this group is desirous of closing; the fill they could establish a site for a fill, as the City of Bremerton has fully carried out the principles of maintaining a satisz'actory fill at the preaent site. ~Iayor Koan explained the position of the City in this matter to Dr. Benham, who was present, and asked hi~,~ to be present at the meeting. Mayor Kean expressed the opinion that the City would be glad to go along with any feasible plan the South Kitsap Chamber of Co~nerce might suggest. Clerk read Resolution No. 64V as follows: BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BRE~IERTON: Section 1. That the public interest requires the following improvements to be made. Section 2. That it is the intention of the City Council of the City of Brem- erton to order the improvement of: Callow Avenue between Ninth Street and Fifteen- th Street; Idontgomery Avenue between Ninth Street and Fifteenth Streat; Olympic Avenue between Burwell Street and Sixth Street~ by clearing grubbing, grading fol~~ and construction of 5 ft. concrete sidewalks, concrete curbs and gutters and pro- vide. rig for ~drainage, together with ~he doing of any and all.other wrk in connect- ion therewith as may be necessary to make such improvements a complete job, all in accordance with plans ~d specifications to be placed on file in the office of the City Clerk and the City'of Bremerton, reference to which is hereby made for further particulars. Section S. The City Engineer of the City of Bremerton is hereby directed to submit to tho City Council at or prior to the date fixed for hearing protests to said improvements, the estimate~] cost and expense of such an improvement, and a statement of the proportionate amojnt thereof, which whould be borne by the pro- party within the proposed assessmen~ district, and a statement of the~aggregate assessed valuation of the real estate, exclusive of improvements, within such pro- posed district~ according to t~e valuation last placed upon it i'or the purpose of a general taxation~ together with a diagram or plan showing thereon the lots, tracts, and parcels of land and other property which will be specially benefited thereby and the estimated 8mo~nt of the cost and ~xpense of such improvements to be forne by such lot, tract or parcel of land or other property. Section 4. That the cost and expense of said improvement to ce forne by said improvement district and exclusive of any protion borne by either the State of Washington or other governmental agency, shall be assessed against said property included in said improvement district in proportion to said area, except certain untits vherein the special benefits conferred upon the property are not fairly reflected by the use of the termini and zone method, the assessment shall be made against the property of the ~istrict or any certain unit within tho district in accordance with the special benefits it will derive from the improvement without regard to the zone and termini method, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 9[568 of Remington's Revised Statutes el' the State of Washington, the re- mainder of said cost oi~ the improvement to be paid for by arrangement, Df any, with either the State of Washington or other government agency. Section 5. The City Clerk be andho is hereby directed to give notice of the date of such hearing to each owner or reputed owner of any and all lots, tracts, parcels of land, or other property, specially benefited by the improvement, by mailing to the owner or reputed owner of the property as shown on the tax rolls of the Cou3~ty Treasurer, at tt~e address shown thereon, a notice setting l'orth the nature of the proposed improvements, the total estimated cost and the estimated benefits to the particular lot, tract or parcel, ~]d the date oI~ the hearing before the City Commission at least 15 days before the dase fixed herein for such hearing. Section ~. That Wednesday, the ~Oth dayof June, 19~8, at 11:00 o'clock A.M. June 9, 1948 (Con't) against of said day be and the same is hereby fixed as the date of hearing protests said improvements by any persons interested therein; and the City Clerk be and is hereby authorized and directed to publish a copy of this resolution in the offi- cial newspaper of sAid~City for at least two siccessive issues, the first issue shall be at least 15 days prior to the date herein fixed for said hearing, and said publication, together with the mailing of the notices hereinabove provided to the owners or repute~ owners of the lots and parcels of land included in such improvement as hereinbefore set £orth, shall be due and legal notice to all con- cerned in said proposed improvements. Motion by Mr. Gorst ~ud Mr. Kean to pass the resolution, carried as follows: Mr. Kean, Yes. Mrs. Haddon, Yes. Mr. Gorst, Yem Clerk read letter from the committee for the consideration of bids on fuel burning equipment for the fire stations, recommending that the bid be awarded to Lent's, Incorporated, as the lowest and best bid for the City. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to concur in the recommendation of the Committee and award the bid to Lent~s, carried. Clerk read ~tter from S.S. Severance, City Engineer, advising that a re- quest had been received from S.W. Murley to vacate the portion of State Highway No. 21 lying directly South of his property to make entrance to his property. Mr. S~verance further advised that investigation shows that the present highway has been relocated South of this strip of land and it is no longer required £or right-of-way purposes~ also such vacation will bring the North margin of the highway into better alignment, and recc~mending the vacation be allowed. After careful discussion and consideration of the sketch included with the letter it was decided to refer the matter back to Mr. Severance to bring the Council up to date on what has happened to the adjoining property. The City Attorney advised that he had been requested to prepare a resolu- tion regarding a recommended investment. Attorney read Resolution No. 648 as follows: WHEREAS, the City of Bremerton Water Department as of May l, 1948, had a cash balance of $115,197.84, and since that date has collected $86,000.00 from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and that at its meeting on May 24, 1948, the Investment Board authorized the investment of $128,000.00 of Water Department Funds and that the details of such investment be handled by the Treasurer, Aud- itor and Attorney; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Bremerton that $125,000. of funds of the Water Department be invested in securities authorized by law for such investments and that the Treasurer, Auditor and Attorneyrarrange the details. Mr. Nutter asked if just $125,000.00 had been alloted and was assured by the City Attorney, who read from minutes of the Investment Bo~d, that h,.had been instructed to name not more than that amount.~. Mr. Nutter advised that a premium had alrgady be~n paid one'the investment from the General Fund and that would have to be repaid to the General Fund, he further added that he would take care of the details. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst to pass the resolution, carried as fol- lows: Mr. Kean, Yes. Mrs. Haddon, Yes. Mr. Gorst, Yes. The City Attorney reported that he had been directed to proceed with con- demnation proceedings to acquire a portion of 9th Street f&r street purpsses, and had consequently drawn up the necessary ordinance. The City Attorney read proposed ordinance declaring the need for the con- demnation of certain real property in the City of Bremerton for street purposes, directing condemnation of;said property and payment of J~t compensation there- for. Notion by Mr. Kean and Nr. Gorst to approve the ordinance on first read- ing, carried, all members voting Yes. The City Attorney advised that it had been brought to his attention by the Water and Sanitation Accounting office that a Mr. Ludwig was in arrears~ in his account of around $490.00 for dumping at the fill at the head of the bay. Mayor Kean advised that the City should go ahead and collect the money. Following a discussion of the case, and other like cases, a motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to direct the City Attorney to proceedw ith the collect- ion of the money for the use of the Sanitary Fill, carried. Mayor Kean remarked that all contracts, leases and agreements should be cleared through the Council. Trsasurer Nutter suggested the Accounting Department should notify his office as soon as one of the special accounts becomes in arrears. Attorney Johnsen reported that he had requested that the Accounting Office send a memorandum to the Commissioner in charge of the Department instead of bringing miscellaneous slips of papers to his office, as had been done in the June 9,,1948 (Con't) past, and the Commissioner in charge could then refer the memo to his office or take the matter up at regular Cottucil meeting, when an account became delinquent. The Mayor remarked that it is embarrassing to the Council and to the Contr- actors when bills are allowed to become delinquent. Mayor Kea~ recommended working ~only a skeleton force at the City Hall during the President's visit, thus allowing as many as possible to attend the ceremony. Mayor Kean reported that the East Bremerton Improvement Club had recommended that the City acquire the Community Building at Sheridan Park, move it to the Man- ette Playffield and in time improve and remodel the building for use. Mr. Kean ad- vised that he did not personally approve of that type building for the p~ayfield but he was willing to go along with the Improvement Club providing the Club would agree to make no more demands from the City in the future concerning the building. Mr. Kean advised there is money available in this year's budget for the purchasing and moving of the building, and money could be allocated in next years' budget for the remodeling. Mayor Kean reported that the e~tire cost would be between 16 and 1V thousand dollars. Mayor Kean thanked the press for recognition of the City's invitation to part- icipate in the Seattle Fourth of July parade, and added there seemed to be nothing the City could do except stir up interest among commercial firms. Notion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to allow all bills presented at this meet- ing and approved by the majority of the Council, carried unanimously. Mayor Kean reported they did not get too far in the Head of the Bay meeting but are going to get maps. Dr. Benham announced that hbout 40 signs had been placed at various places warning of polluted water. The City Attorney reported that 18 of the ll4 easements which had been mailed out had been returned. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst to adjourn, carried. Mayor