City Council

City Council Meeting Minutes ___________________________________________________________________________________________ THURSDAY September 16, 2021 Zoom Meeting Access Information: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81423398632?pwd=eXdlSnFqc0VzZ25hVnF2bGFHOXJOQT9 Meeting ID: 814 2339 8632 Passcode: 711866 Phone: +1 669 900 6833 CITY OF COLUMBIA CITY, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON AGENDA ITEM 1 CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: CONVENED: Mayor Casey Wheeler called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:30 pm. Public access and comment was available via published Zoom meeting access information. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Casey Wheeler Councilor Gordon Thistle Councilor Jeff Reinan Councilor Sue Ziglinski COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilor Katrina Claridge ALSO PRESENT: Mike McGlothlin, City Administrator/Recorder ATTORNEY PRESENT: None A quorum was present and due notice had been published. AGENDA ITEM 2 CITIZEN INPUT: 2.1 Gina Wilson, of 2450 Seventh Street and who is also acting as the lead coordinator for the Columbia City Neighborhood Watch group, provided an update to Council on the status and achievements of the group to date. Mrs. Wilson also said that participation was continuing and that growth of the group remains a primary goal. AGENDA ITEM 3 COUNCIL REPORTS: None AGENDA ITEM 4 STAFF REPORTS: 4.1 Activity Report from the Public Works Director. A written report from the Public Works Director, Micah Rogers, was submitted documenting the previous month’s activities. 4.2 Activity Report from the Police Operations Sergeant. A written report from the Police Operations Sergeant, Jerry Bartolomucci, was submitted documenting the previous month’s activities. AGENDA ITEM 5 CONSENT AGENDA: 5.1 Bills paid with check numbers 33309 through 33355 during the month of August, 2021. 2 - Regular City Council Meeting September 16, 2021 5.2 Minutes of the August 19, 2021 Regular City Council Meeting. COUNCIL APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE. AGENDA ITEM 6 UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None AGENDA ITEM 7 NEW BUSINESS: 7.1 Council Bill 21-933: A Resolution Adopting an Amendment to the City of Columbia City Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual; Dated April 18, 2002. MOVED (ZIGLINSKI), SECONDED (THISTLE) AND APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE COUNCIL BILL 21-933. 7.2 Memo from the City Administrator regarding economic support request made by Paul Vogel, Executive Director of the Columbia Economic Team. AFTER REVIEW AND DICUSSION OF THE MEMORANDUM, AS SUBMITTED BY THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR, IT WAS MOVED (THISTLE), SECONDED (ZIGLINSKI) AND APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY TO SUPPORT A MODIFIED DISBURSMENT FROM THE SUBMITTED FINANCIAL REQUEST IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,500.00, TO BE FUNDED FROM THE CITY’S ARPA 2021 APPORTIONMENT, PENDING LEGAL REVIEW AS A SUGGESTED BEST PRACTICE. 7.3 Memo from the City Administrator regarding Local Option Levy for Law Enforcement Services Rate Study. AFTER REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF THE MEMORANDUM, AS SUBMITTED BY THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR, COUNCIL TASKED THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO FORMULATE A PROPOSED LEVY AMOUNT THAT WOULD INCORPRATE NEEDED COST INCREASES ASSOCIATED WITH PERSONNEL AND ANCILLARY LAW ENFORCEMENT COSTS. COUNCIL ALSO INDICATED THE NEED FOR INFORMATIONAL MEETING(S) AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MARKETING STRATEGY IN ORDER TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON THE NEED OF THE PROPOSED LEVY AMOUNT, AS WELL AS INCORPORATE THE SUPPORT OF CITIZEN BASED GROUPS; SUCH AS THE CITY’S NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GROUP. ON BEHALF OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GROUP GINA WILSON ASKED FOR WAYS THAT THE GROUP COULD BECOME INVOLVED IN SUPOPORTING THE LEVY. SEVERAL IDEAS WERE SHARED WITH MRS. WILSON ON EFFORTS MOVING FORWARD. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE DISCUSSION THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR SAID THAT HE WOULD LOOK AT INCORPORATING A PROPOSED LEVY INCREASE FROM 25% - 50% OF THE CURRENT RATE, AND WOULD PRESENT HIS RECOMMENDATION AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. 7.4 Review, discussion and direction to staff in regards to request from the Columbia County Board of Commissioners Office “in addressing the Governor’s mask and vaccine mandates”. AFTER DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL, A CONSENSUS WAS REACHED TO HAVE THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR RESPOND TO THE COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OFFICE THAT THE CITY WOULD CHOOSE NOT TO RESPOND TO THIS ISSUE. 7.5 Review, discussion and consideration for approval of a Structure in unimproved Right-of-Way Permit Application, as submitted by Mike Eib of 2100 Third Street. 3 - Regular City Council Meeting September 16, 2021 MOVED (THISTLE), SECONDED (ZIGLINSKI) AND DECIDED UNANIMOUSLY TO DENY THE PERMIT AS SUBMITTED BASED UPON THE AVAILABILITY OF LAND FOR THE STRUCTURE WITHIN THE PROPERTY OWNERS LOT. AGENDA ITEM 8 OTHER BUSINESS: 8.1 The City Administrator/Recorder and Council discussed the following issues and activities: A project regarding the permitting of mailboxes being placed within the City’s ROW was discussed in order to gain the Council’s guidance on how they would like to proceed. The City Administrator reviewed the history of the lower Hwy. 30 side of the City’s mail being delivered via PO Box rental, and the periodic citizen complaints that had been received at City Hall regarding this issue. While there is no current permitting process for this type of activity, and it would be planned for existing mailbox placements to be “grandfathered” into the process, the City does currently regulate through the permitting process work done within the City ROW as well as the parking of boats, trailers and recreational vehicles. This proposed project, which would result in an ordinance amendment and the ensuing permit process for mailboxes being placed within the ROW, would be formulated by working in conjunction with the local Post Office to ensure that requirements were met in relation to materials, placement and height considerations. The City Administrator said that the project was both staff and Post Office supported and that it would also ensure that work being done within the City’s ROW was regulated in order to ensure that the mailboxes were safely placed so as to not interfere with or damage utility lines running within the ROW. After discussion the City Council, by consensus, directed the City Administrator to proceed with the necessary research and coordination with the local Post Office for moving forward with the project. He responded that he would do so and should have draft recommendations for moving forward within a two month time frame. AGENDA ITEM 9 ADJOURNMENT: 9.1 There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 7:32 pm. APPROVED: _______________________________________ Casey Wheeler Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________________ Michael S. McGlothlin City Administrator/Recorder