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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/11/48 August 11, 1948 Regular meeting of the City Council ~f the City of Bremerton was held in the I~Iayor's office at the City Hall at ten o'clock A.M., Wednesday August ll, 1948. Mayor Kean presiding with the following being present: Commissioner tIaddon, Commissioner Gorst, the City Attorney and the City Treasurer. ~Iotion by ~r. Kean and Mr. Gorst to approve the minutes of the previous regular meeting and special meeting of August 7, 1948,.as written carried. Clerk read notice of employment for: Paul S. Challen~er~ Sanitation help- er at i~1.33 per hr., Ethel Pruitt and Virginia Weeks~, extra labor in the Clerk's Office at $1.00 per hour and Francis X. 01anie, Jr., maintenance patrolman for the Water Department at $1.26 per hour. ~otion by ~rs. Haddon and ~.~r. Kean to approve~the temporary non-civil ser- vice appointments of the foregoing, carried. Clerk read change in pay status for Blanche Avery, Counter Clerk for the Water Department to ~lV$.00 per month. I~otion by Nr. Gorst and Mr. Kean to approve the change in pay carried. Clerk read letter from the Phinney Bay Water District advising that the Water Commissioners of the District are perfectly willing Ibr the City to place fire hydrants anywhere they desire in the~water district at the expense of the City an~ adding that some of the residents of the District, part of ~hich has been annexed to the City, were under the impression that the District Commis- sioners would not allow the City to put in fire hydrants. Following discussion in which~it was brought out that the City could not install fire hydrants unless the entire district were given to the City a motion by I~r. Kean and I~r. Gorst that the matter be referred to the City Clerk for ac- knowledgement of the letter and to the City Attorney and Commissioner of Public Works for reply to the letter fully informing the members of the Water District of the position of the City carried. ~r. "Ike" Palmer and !~r. Harold~Rogers, residents of Taft Avenue appeared before the City Council with a plea that the name of Taft Avenue not be changed to Bloomington Avenue and the existing ordinance doing so be amended. Clerk read petition, signed by 3~ residents of Taft Avenue, petitioning the City Council to retain the n~ame of Taft Avenue I~or that portion of the Avenue lying North of 19th Street. The Commissioner of Public Works s_nd the City Clerk advised that Nr. Sev- erance had expressed the opinion that the Ordinance should be amended as that seemed to be the desire of the residents of that Avenue. Mayor Kean suggested returning the petition to the City Engineer as he had made the recommendation in the first place. Mr. Gorst advised that the reconmlendation had been made in the interest of good engineering but ~&r. Severance felt that the action in passing the ordinance had been too hasty; he had talked with ~r. Severance, yesterday and he had ex- pressed the opinion that the ordinance sl~uld be amended to conform with the ~ishes of the residents. ~ayor Kean expressed the opinion that as the City Engineer had made the re- co~'~nendation in the first place he thought he should have the opport.unity to set down wi th the Council and discuss the matter. ~,~otion by ~r. Kean and Mr. Gorst to refer the matter to the City Engineer and t2~e Co~mmittee of the V~ole for discussion carried. Clerk read recon~uendation from the Chief of Police regarding the closing hour for dance halls within the City limits and recommending that the existing hours be changed to one A.~. during the week and 12 A.~,~. on Saturday in conjunc- tion with the existing hours of operation for taverns within the City. ~,~obion by },~r. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to refer the matter to the City Attorney and the Committee of the ~hole for discussion, carried. Clerk read letter from E.g. Severance, City Engineer, submitting the pre- liminary assessment roll, plans and a list of the real and improved valuations in L.I.D. No. 238, Nipsic Avenue between E. 13t~ Street and E. 10th Street, by construction of a sanitary sewer, together with the doing of any and ~ll other work necessary to make t~is improvement a complete job and advising that notices have been mailed to the reputed owners on August 5th. Clerk read preliminary estimate for L.I.D. No. 238 in the total amount of ;~2,906.66. I,~otlon by I,~r. Gorst and ~,~rs. tIaddon to note contents and place on file carried. 4 August 11, 149 (Cch't) Clerk read letter from Ernest Yett, Fire Chief, listing specification on wire to be advertised for bid, for the proposed u~dergrotmd on Sixth Street. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst to concur in the recommendation of the Fire Chief and the City 01erk su~d Purchasing Agm t be instructed to call for bide and that the specifications be referred to the City Engineer, the Fire Chief and the Purchasing Agent, carried. Clerk read general claim voucher for payroll for period ending July 31, 1948,.Salary Warrants No. 9660 to 9983 and 9985 to 9990 Inclusive, in the amount of $37,848.18. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst to approve the voucher carried as fol- lows: Mr. Kean, Yes. Mrs. Haddon, Yes. Mr. Gorst, Yes. Clerk read Ordinance No. 1795, second reading, appropriating funds for miscellaneous fees and cost~ of maintaining and operating the offices of the City Treasurer and City Engineer, and declaring an emergency. Motion by Mr. Gorst and Mr. Kean to pass the ordinance on final reading carried as follows: Mr. Kean, Yes. Mrs. Haddon, Yes. Mr. Gorst, Yes. The City Clerk announced that in order that ~e provisions of Ordinance 1777 and 1778 may be carried out completely, it is suggeeted ~at the Council ~rect the Fire Chief and the Plumbing Inspector to notify those companies or individuals who have not procured current licenses for oil burners, mechanics and distributors to do so i~ediately. Mayor Kean asked if action by the Council was necessary or should the Fire Chief and Pltunbing Inspector go ahead and enforce the ordinances, and added that he did not believe this was an occasion for the Council to have to enforce ord- inances. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst that the various Department heads be re- quested to enforce the provisions of the ordinances in question carried, all members voting Yes. Clerk read con~nunication from the Association of Washington Cities offer- ing fire department equipment for sale by the City of Tacoma. Contents were noted and ordered filed. Clerk read invitation, bid and acceptance, short form contract from the Public Buildings Administration in Seattle for 'the~ntal of office quarters for Selective Service in the City of Bremerton. Following discussion a motion by Mr. Kean and ~,~. Gorst to refer the mat- ter to the Commissioner of Finance, the City Attorney anm the City Clerk to tabulate the space available and to negotiate with the Public Buildings Admin- istration to make an offer, carried. The City Attorney advised that tast week the Cotmcil had referred to his office the Borrow Pit Permit Lease from the City to the State of Washington and after examination had £bund that all that was necessary is that the Council authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute the lease and accept the war- rant for $1.O0. Motion by Mr. Gorst and Mr. Kean to approve the recommendation of the City Attorney and so authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk, carried all members voting Yes. Mayor Kean asked when the election would be held on the residential quali- fications of City employees. The City Attorney advised that normally it would not come up until the City General Election in December but if desired could be put on the ballots for special election for the General in November or the City Primary. Mayor Kean advised-he would like to get it cleared up for the benefit of those employees who arenow living outside the City and who are delaying the sale of their properties until it is brought for a vote of the people. Mr. Gorst advised it was just a question of whether it would be put on the ballot the latter part of November or the First part of December. The City Clerk amvised ~at the law would indicate ~at the residential ordinance should be brought up at the City General ~lection on December ~th. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mr. Gorst to approve the recommendation of the City Clerk carried. Mrs. Haddon reported that she had received an inquiry as to whether a rent control office were still maintained in Bremerton. Mayor Kean advised that rent controls had gone off and further advised that George Callahan was the chairman of the Board of the Rental Advisory Coun- cil. Mrs. Haddon advised ~he would answer the letter. Mayor Kean asked if any mnendments were needed to the dance or~ nance and the City Attorney advised that he would reconm~end that we concur in the recom- mendation of the Chief of Police but would like to see some provisions made so that some dances, particularly college d~ces, could remain open until 1 A.M. on Saturday nights. August 11, 1~48 (Con't) Nayor Keau agreed and suggested that application should be made to the Coun- cil for any dance to be held open later than provided by the ordinance and as far as he was concerned he would like to see the ord~ nance more flexible and would recommend referring the matter to the City Attorney and the Chief of Police for the preparation of the ordinance. ~otion so made by ~r. Kean and Nr. Gorst car- ried. Nayor Kean informed the City Engineer of the petition not to change the n~ne of Taft Avenue and added that rather than act hastily had referred it to the Committee of the V~hole and~ asked for recommendation from~Nr. Severance. ~r. Severance advised that the Engineering Department would not like to do something that would dist~rb all the residents of that street but still thought the proper name was Bloomington in the interest of good engineering, but would reconm~end that the ordinance be amended not to include Taft Avenue. ~otion by Nr. Gorst and ~r. Kean that the ordinance be referred to the City Attorney for preparation of the amending Ordinance, carried. I,~otion by Nr. Gorst and ~rs. Haddon to allow all bills presented at this meeting if approved by the majority of the Council carried as follows: Nr. Kean, Yes. Nrs. Haddon, Yes. Nr. Gorst, Yes. ~ayor Kean announced that the property owned by C. Johnson, bounded by l~th, Sheldon and Park~ Avenue, on which an estimate had been made in the amount of ~i~°$~,$00.00 was being considered as a purchase by the City, at precee~ing meetings this had been referred to the City Clerk for recommendation or acquistion and at this time had been referred back to the City Clerk and Purchasing Agent for ac- quisition of the property. ~ayor Kean announced that we are running into delays on the View Ridge Build- ing in the preparation of estimates and specifications by Nr. Branch. The Neeting moved to the Council Chambers on the Second Floor of the City Hall to accon~uodate the crowd attending the hearing of protests on L.I.D. No. ~?. Nayor Kean announced this as the date for the hearing on L.I.D. No. 257 and the meeting was open for protests on Chester, Pennsylvania and ~arguerite Ave- nues. ~.~ayor Kean announced that ~ny protest must be made in writing but those attending the hearing could declare their intentions as approving or disapproving. Clerk read petition requesting that the contemplated sidewalks and street improvements from Fifteenth Street to a point 898 feet North be abandoned at this time due to the fact that labor and materials are too high and there is very lit- tle pedestrian traffic and the street is not an important thoroughfare, signed by l~ residents and property owners on ~arguerite Avenue. Clerk read letter ~f protest from ~1r. and ~rs. H.G.R. Conners, property own- ers on ~.~arg~erite Avenue. Nr. Zabroski entered a ~erbal plea for the residents of Narguerite Avenue to stop and think before they entered their protests as he feared tA~ey were pass- ing up a good opportunity which might not come again soon. Clerk readletter from E.S. Severance, City Engineer, recommending that guerite Avenue be eliminated from the L.I.D. inasmuch as the original petition for the improvement was less than 80% signed, and recommending that Chester and Pennsylvania ~u~its be combined into a single L.I.D. ~.~r. Severance requested that no action be taken on his letter until protests are heard on the other two units. ~.~ayor Kean asked if anyone wanted to be heard in protest. None. ~ayor Kean asked if anyone wished to be heard in approval. ~Jabel Abbs spoke in protest of the proposed improvement of Pennsylvania Ave- ~U~ · ~,~r. Penor advised that he owned 7~ feet on Chester and wished to protest and was a~vised by Nr. Kean that it must be in w~iting. ?~r. Kane, Royek and ~r. Spadbni voiced approval of the improvements to be made · Co~uissioner Gorst advised that in view of the protests on ~arguerite Ave- nu~ imp~owm~nts and th~ ~ngin~er~s recomm~n¢~ation that ~argu~rit~ Av~nu~ or Unit 1 be eliminated from the proposed improv~mentSo ~ro Gorst so mov~d~ sec- 0nd~d by I~r. Kean and th~ motion carried ~animously. Clerk read Ordinance No. 17~0 approving and adopting the maps~ plans and specifications for the improvement of Pennsylvania Avenue between llth Street and 1Sth Street and Chester Avenue between lZth Street and lSth Street (~Vest Side 0nly) by clearing grubbing grading for and construction of ~ ft. concrete sidewalks, concrete curbs aud gutters and pro¥iding for drainage· Notion by ~r. Gorst and Nr. Kean to pass the ordinance, carried as follows: ~.,~r. Kean, Yes. ~.~rs. Haddon, Yes. ~r. Gorst, Yes. August ll, 1948 (Con't) Clerk read Ordinance No. 1V97 providing for the improvement of Pennsylvania Avenue between llth Street and 13th Street, Chester Avenue between 13th Street ~d 15th Street (West side only) by clearing, grubbing, grading for and con- struction of 5 ft. concrete sidewalks, concrete curbs and gutters and provt~ng for drainage, all in accordance with the maps, plans and specifications on file in the office of the City Clerk, establishing an improvement district, provld~ng for the levying of assessments for the payment of such improvement and making such improvement payable by bond. Motion by Mr. Gorst and Mr. Kean to pass the ordinance carried as follows: Mr. Kean~ Yes. Mrs. Haddon, Yes. Mr. Gorst, Yes. Mayor Kean explained to the assembled persons how a local improvement dis- trict originates. A general discussion ensued regarding the smoke nuisance from the gas plant and the condition of the street on lower ~arguerite and the installation of more fire hydrants in the district for safety purposes. A request was made to con- trol the speed of trucks using Marguerite. Mayor Kean advised those assembled, during, the discussion, that if they would write letters of their needs and wishes to the Council some action might be taken and at least the City could see if something couldn't be done. about the various problems. Motion by Mr. Kean and ~r. Gorst to recess until 10:00 A.M. Friday, August 13, 1948 carried. APPROVED: Ci y Cle~ Mayor August 13, 1948 Recessed meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton, Washington was held in the Mayor,s office at the City Hall at 10:00 A.M., Friday, August 13, 1948. ~ayor Kean presiding with the following being present: Commissioner ttaddon, Commissioner Gorst, the City Treasurer and the City Attorney. Mr. Harvey Leach of the Puget Sotmd Power and Light Company appeared before 'the Council and presented a check in the amount of :~28,994.85 in payment o£ fran- chise privilege for 1949, based on the gross receipts of 1947 and 1948, together with the application of the Puget Sound ~ower and Light Company for an occupa- tion license for the year ending June 30, 1949. Motion by Mrs. Haddon and Mr. Kean to accept the check and refer the appli- cation for license to the City Clerk and if in order to issue the license, car- ried all members voting Yes. The City Attorney presented a release by the City on property of the ~l.00 per month sewer charge against the property of Mrs. Alma Seth, 1505 ¥~itney, and reco~nnended that the Mayor and the City Clerk be authorized to execute the release. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to concur in the recommendation of the City ~ttorney carried. Attorney read request made to him by the City Auditor for a resolution're- lative to the State Developement Fund and the Capitol Hill Sewer Fund. Attorney read Resolution No. 654 as follows: BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Bremerton that the State Finance Committee be requested to authorize and direct the Treasurer of the City of Bremerton to transfer the Sum of $14,319.82 from State Development L.I.D. 229 (Capitol Hill Sewer) Fund to State Development Sewage Treatment - Project No. 26-1-176; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that there be included in the 1949 budget for the Street Department the sum of i~6,53V.83 as matching funds, the same being re- quired in order to complete the obligation of the City to match funds allotted by the State Development Board; and BE IT FURTI~R RESOLVED that the City Treasurer be authorized and directed to transfer the sum of ~9,465.65 to the Street Fund, said amount constituting the unexpended portion of the Street Department's contribution to the Capitol Hill sewer project. Augnst 13, 1948 (Con't) BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be certified by the City Clerk and transmitted forthwith to ~e State Finance Committee. ~otion by Mrs. Haddon and Mr. Kean to pass the resolution, carried. The City Attorney rep.,ted that he had talked to the City Engineer regard- ing the possible raise in the charge for County residents connecting~to City sewers and Nr. Severance had agreed with him. They had considered making the charge ~S0.O0 for the connection, instead of the $~$.00 now charged. Following a general discussion it was decided to withhold decision on the matter until Nr. Severance could attend a meeting and explain it more fully to the Commissioners. Nayor Kean asked for a report on the Johnson property under consideration for purchase by the City. The City Clerk reported t2~at he and Nrs. Haddon had inspected the property and had come to a verbal agreement with Nr. Johnson whereby a Quit Claim Deed would be held in escrow for the City until after the First of the Year when the money to be budgeted f or the purchase would be available; adding that ~r. John- son was agreeable, and suggested that the City take occupancy now and complete negotiations after January l, 1948. ~r. Wyckoff further reported that there were two lots; one os l~0 x 180 feet and the other $0 x 9~.70 feet with a building 80x80 feet on the second lot. He advised that the building would be vacant on the ~Sth of September and Mr., Joh~son was urging the City to take possession on that date. ~'~layor Kean requested an opinion of the City Attorney on the question of whether the City should contribute matching funds for the retirement of Public Realth employees. ~r. Johnsen advised that if the employees of the Department of Health are elegible for retirement under the State Retirement Act it then becomes the ob- ligation of the Health Bos~ to provide funds for that retirement and it is his opinion that it should be the obligation of all the participating agencies, including the City, County and the School District. ~ayor Kean reported that the West Coast Grocery Company were ~tenants of the Coal Dock at Sheridan Park and since that pzoperty has been turned over to the City by the Housing ~uthority to be used as playfields the West Coast Com- pany has requested that their lease be continued until such a time as it is nec- essary to abandon it or it is to be used for something else. Nayor Kean advised that he was in favor of a thirty day lease basis and he would inform Mr. Searle of that fact and the City would deal directly with the West Coast Company. Motion by ~rs. Haddon and ~r. Kean to authorize the ~ayor to negotiate with the Housing Authority and the West Coast Grocery Company for the use of the Sher- idan Coal Dock, carried. Mayor Kean reported that the City had announced it's willingness for the Fair Association to erect a temporary building on Civic Recreation property and as far as he knew no written agreement had ever been signed and it was his opin- ion that there should be such a written agreement for the use of any City pro- perty or equipment. The City, Attorney agreedwith the Mayor. Clerk read application for a location license to install pinball machines at ~ul~s Center made by V.E. f,,~ulnix, ~45 Fourth Street Building. · ~,,~otion by I~r. Kesm and ~irs. Haddon to approve the application and grant the license, carried. The City Clerk reported that he .and Mrs. Haddon had made a stu. vey of avail- able space in City buildings to offer to the Selective Servime and had decided to submit a bid on the four rooms at the City Dock, if it met with the approval of the Council. Following a discussion regarding the furnishing of Janitor service for the Selective Service it was decided that the City would provide the cleaning ser- vice anm offer the rooms for lease at a higher rate in order to take care of the wages of a janitor. Motion by Mrs. Raddon and ~r. Ke~ to authorize the City Clerk to submit a bid on the four rooms at the First Street Dock i'or a yearly sum of ~1,500.00 and the ~,ayor be authorized to sign the bid form, carried all members voting Yes. Clerk read claim for damages made by Wesley A. Warren, 1734 Winfield, in the amount of ~1~55.00 for alleged damages to his house when a garbage truck back- ed into it during his absence. If_orion by DIr. Kean and ~rs. ~'addon to refer the claim to the City Attorney for ik~rther action carried. August 13, 1948 (CCh't) The City Clerk announced that he had received, from the Public Housing Authority, the documents regarding the purchase of ~he Child Care Building in View Ridge and advised it is now only a matter of checking the ownership and filing. Motion by Mr. Kean and Mrs. Haddon to so authorize the City Clerk so to do, carried. Mayor Ksan submitted a,copy of a letter from tile State Department of High- ways to Mrs. Oliver R. Kelsey giving a detailed history of events in connection ~1 th the repair of the ~,lanette Bridge. Clerk read'letter and Mayor Kean remarxed that apparently,the political group with which Mrs. Kelsey is associated had asked for a report on the bridge situation and this is the reply and he felt that in view of the fact that this is election year and a political war is on in Olympia he thought this informa- tion might be of value to the Council. Mr. Gorst advised he didn't think there was anything to be done on the mat- ter as the work is going ahead on the approaches. Clerk read reco~m~endation of the Co~mmittee on Sewage Disposal with recom- mended answers to the questions compiled by Wm. Harper & Sons and Co., also a proposed plan of operation which the co~muittee believes to be feasible. Sug- gesting that ii' the report meets with the approval of the Council a copy be forwarded to Wm. P. Harper & Sons & Company so 'they can go ahead with the fin- an cing plan. Motion by f,'lr. Kean and Mr. Gorst to approve the recoKmmendattons of the Com- mittee and that a copy of the report be forwarded to Harper & Sons & Company carr~ ed. Mayor Kean requested of the Cormmissioner of Public Works that Mr. Hatfield, the Street Superintendent, be requested to deplete the stock pile of gravel at the City Park in order that equipment could be moved in to do needed work. Motion by D!r. Kean and Pits. Itaddon to adjourn, carried. APPROVED: City C~k //' - ~ Mayor