City Council

City Council Meeting Minutes ___________________________________________________________________________________________ THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016 CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS CITY OF COLUMBIA CITY, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON AGENDA ITEM 1 CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: CONVENED: Mayor Young called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Young delivered the invocation and led the flag salute. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Cheryl A. Young Councilor Sally Ann Marson Councilor Josh Fromm Councilor Gordon Thistle COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilor Nell Harrison ALSO PRESENT: Leahnette Rivers, City Administrator/Recorder ATTORNEY PRESENT: None A quorum was present and due notice had been published. AGENDA ITEM 2 PUBLIC HEARINGS: None AGENDA ITEM 3 CITIZEN INPUT: Janet Wright of Columbia County Rider (CC Rider) provided the Council and audience with information about the proposed creation of a Special District and the proposal for a tax levy of $0.23 per $1,000 to support the district. Both measures will be on the May 2016 ballot. Janet described the current services provided by CC Rider and discussed some recent service cutbacks they had to make due to funding shortages. She said a new tax levy will provide the CC Rider with the ability to increase medical service trips into the Portland area and add better buses to their system. She said they would apply for vehicle grants for the buses, and the property tax money would support the 20% match requirement. She said they would also apply for operational grants, and the levy would support the 40% match requirement. She said a letter of support for the Measures would be appreciated. Sharon Evinger, Political Action Committee (PAC) Chair, encouraged the Council to support the measure and requested contributions to the PAC to help them promote the measure. She said public transportation services are more important than ever for Columbia County, especially in light of the manufacturing research center that is coming to Scappoose. She said Columbia County and the service cities are finding it harder and harder to contribute to public transportation services. She said the CC Rider is one of only a few transit systems that is not part of a special district. She said the levy funding will be 2 - Regular City Council Meeting April 7, 2016 used for operational expenses and can be leveraged for additional grant funds. She said grant funds are being used to rebuild the Rainier Transit Station, and those funds cannot be used for operational expenses. She said information about how to make a contribution to the PAC can be obtained by calling her at (503) 543-8145 or through the web at http://www.facebook.com/buses2016. Joe Turner of Columbia City said he's been dealing with a potential squatter in a vacant house in his neighborhood. AGENDA ITEM 4 COUNCIL REPORTS: 4.1 Parks Committee: No report. 4.2 Water and Sewer Committee: Leahnette asked the Council to authorize signature to a Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund Letter of Interest for a water system mapping/asset management system. She said the request is for a $20,000 loan with 100% debt forgiveness. MOVED (MARSON), SECONDED (FROMM) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO AUTHORIZE SIGNATURE TO THE SAFE DRINKING WATER REVOLVING LOAN FUND LETTER OF INTEREST. Leahnette said she's been working on filing claims with FEMA for sewer response costs during the December storm. 4.3 Street Committee: Chair Marson said the streets were swept and cleaned earlier this week. Leahnette said she's been working with FEMA to get reimbursed for costs associated with debris cleanup. 4.4 Audit Committee: In the absence of Secretary Harrison, Leahnette said the Audit Committee will meet again in May 2016. 4.5 Hazard Mitigation Planning Group: Team Member Fromm said the Group will meet later this month. 4.6 Other Reports: None. AGENDA ITEM 5 CONSENT AGENDA: 5.1 Bills paid with check numbers 19325 through 19393 during the month of March 2016. 5.2 Activities report from the Public Works Superintendent. 5.3 Activities report from the City Administrator. MOVED (THISTLE), SECONDED (MARSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. AGENDA ITEM 6 UNFINISHED BUISNESS: None. AGENDA ITEM 7 NEW BUSINESS: 7.1 Planter Box Permit: Planter Box Permit as applied for by Gerald and Micaela Ellis for property to place planter boxes within the J Street right-of-way adjacent to 1740 Second Street, Columbia City, Oregon. MOVED (MARSON), SECONDED (GORDON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE PLANTER BOX PERMIT FOR 1740 SECOND STREET. 3 - Regular City Council Meeting April 7, 2016 7.2 Council Bill No. 16-778; Resolution No. 16-1162-R: A Resolution adopting a Five-Year Capital Improvement Program for the 2016-17 fiscal year for the City of Columbia City, Oregon. MOVED (MARSON), SECONDED (FROMM) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 16-778. 7.3 Council Bill No. 16-779; Resolution No. 16-1161-R: A Resolution adopting Policy Goals and Objectives for the City of Columbia City, Oregon, for fiscal year 2016-17. MOVED (THISTLE), SECONDED (MARSON) AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT COUNCIL BILL NO. 16-779. AGENDA ITEM 8 OTHER BUSINESS: City County Quarterly Meeting: Mayor Young, Councilor Marson and Leahnette plan to attend the City County Quarterly Meeting in Clatskanie on April 9th. 5K Walk/Run: Councilor Fromm suggested organizing a 5K Walk/Run in Columbia City - perhaps as a fund raising event for the Community Hall. AGENDA ITEM 9 ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. APPROVED: _______________________________________ Cheryl A. Young Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________________ Leahnette Rivers City Administrator/Recorder