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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 09/20/19773~6 CITY COUNCIL MEETING Port Angeles, Washington September 20, 1977 CALL TO ORDER The Special Meeting was called to order by Mayor Olson at 7:30 P.M. The purpose of this meeting is to consider a request for water from the Depart- ment of Fisheries, bids for the operation of the Port Angeles Landfill, City Credit and Deposit policy and review of the existing agreement with the De- partment of Game for use of City property along the Elwha River. II ROLL CALL Members Present: Mayor Olson, Councilmen Anderson, Buck, Hagdewood, Hordyk, Ross, Wray. Members Absent: None Staff Present: Manager Whorton, Attorney walrath, Deputy Clerk Caso. R. Orton, D. Flodstrom, J. Honnold, IC. Rodocker. Guests Present: H. Senn, J. McMahon III - V SUSPENDED IV LEGISLATION 1. OPERATION OF CITY LANDFILL The City of Port Angeles received one bid for operation of the Landfill. The bid was from the current contractor, Lloyd Carr, in the amount of $4.97 per ton. For a one year contract, October 1, 1977 to October 1, 1978, the cost to the City is approximately $99,400 based on an expected 20,000 tons of landfillable material being received at the Landfill. According to an estimated cost analysis prepared by the Public Works Department, cost savings could be realized i~f the Landfill were to be operated using City equipment and City manpower. Given the poor con- dition of the Sanitation Fund, the Staff recommended the Council con- sider this alternate method of operating the Landfill. The Council discussed operations of the Landfill at length with Manager Whorton and Public Works Director Flodstrom. During the discussion, Mr. Flodstrom explained the details of the estimated cost comparison for 1977-1978 Landfill operations by private contractor versus the City. Also discussed was the Solid Waste Budget, the availability of 50~ State Grant funds for purchase of equipment, rate adjustments necessary if Landfill operation is contracted, advising the Council of major opera- ting costs outside the contract, increasing Landfill operating costs, proficiency of operation, possible contract clauses relating to an option to purchase current contractor's equipment at termination of contract, and extending the contract to fifteen months. The discussion concluded with Councilman Ross moving to table this matter to the next Council meeting and to instruct the Staff to approach Mr. Carr regarding extending the contract and an equipment purchase option. The motion was seconded by Councilman Buck and passed by the Council. 2. DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES REQUEST FOR WATER ' Mayor Olson reviewed the events that have taken place prior to this meeting on the negotiations with the Department of Fisheries for their use of Elwha River water. Manager Whorton then pointed out that in early August the City Council expressed a concern about the need for an agreement with , the Department of Fisheries which would spell out the conditions under which the Department of Fisheries would draw water from the Ranney Well. The agreement discussion draft included the following mayor provisions: (1) The primary purpose of the Ranney Well is to supply water to the residents of the City of Port Angeles and the City would reserve the right to terminate the supply of water to the Fisheries Department if CITY COUNCIL MEETING September 20, 1977 VI LEGISLATION 2. Cont. 357 for any reason the water supply to Port Angeles is threatened; {2) the Fisheries Department would be charged a specific amount per gallon on an annual basis; (3) the Fisheries Department would pay for all equipment directly related to their function; and (4) the Fisheries Department would pay 10~ toward the basic costs for developing the Ranney Well plus an additional cost if the City is required to develop another well within 10 years. The total estimated immediate cost to the Department of Fisheries was approxi- mately $51,000; approximately $18,650 for the equipment plus 10~ of the $329,004 which is the City's share of the cost of building the Ranney Collector Well. During discussion with the representatives of the Depart- ment of Fisheries, the Department could either take water out of the river and filter it or dig their own well at an estimated cost of between $50,000 and $60,000. This cost, however, would be a one-time charge for the Fisheries Department, whereas the proposed agreement with the City would be an initial charge plus an annual charge. The Fisheries Department did not feel they could afford that cost. At that point, Mr. Sandison wrote his letter to the City asking the City Council to consider that either the Department of Fisheries be allowed to develop 160 GPM of ground water near their present facilities, to be used for egg incubation only, from September 15th through March I5th, which allows for water delivery near their existing buildings; or, as a second option, develop 100 GPM of river water instead of developing groundwater. The Department would incubate eggs near their existing buildings by construction of an add on facility, but filter the water. Mr. Sandison indicated in his letter that the Salmon Culture Division would like to see that the incubation facilities be constructed by or near their existing facilities at the Southend. Manager Whorton also pointed out that at the time of the proposed agreement the Department of Fisheries was requesting approximately 1,000 gallons of water per minute, and as the letter points out, that amount has been significantly reduced to 100 gallons per minute. ' Mr. H. Senn of the Department of Fisheries then spoke to the Council and explained some of the problems associated with egg incubation. A discussion followed concerning the Department's operation on the Elwha River. During the discussion it was determined that this matter did not have to be resolved at tonight's meeting as the Fisheries Department would not be ready for water until approximately September 1978, that the negotiations would be left open, that the City has purchased the high pressure chlorination unit which will be used in any event. The discussion concluded with Mayor Olson stating that the Council is definitly interested in cooperating with the Department of Fisheries and informed Mr. Senn that negotiations will be left open and the Department should contact the Council before they finalize their plans for any assistance the City can provide. In addition, the City Manager was directed to relay this information in a letter to Mr. Sandison. 3. CITY CREDIT AND DEPOSIT POLICY Finance Director Orton reviewed the City's deposit policy on utility services, which requires that renters make a deposit on electricity based on the pre- ' vious tenant's two months power consumption. This policy is unfair to a single person or a small family if the previous occupant happened to be a large family which consumed a large amount of power. Deposits are charged only to renters and are refunded in one year if the individual demonstrates a good payment record. Property owners are not charged deposits and it is assumed that this is because the City may exercise lien rights against prop- erty. The law stipulates that municipal lien rights are against the property, not the occupant. The effect of discontinuing deposits would relieve the City of the responsibility to pay interest on them should we ever be challenged, and would make landlords and property owners who lease or rent premises assume the responsibility for accounts left delinquent by tenants as the City would not reconnect service until delinquent accounts were cleared. The Council discussed this matter at length with Mr. Orton. Following the discussion, Councilman Wray moved the Council authorize the Administrative Services 1epartment to discontinue taking deposits for utility services, notify the landlords that as of January 1, 1978, they will be responsible for any delinquent utility accounts, and refund existing deposits. The motion was seconded by Councilman Anderson and unanimously passed by the Council. ~~jiJ(7 CITY COUNCIL MEETING September 20, 1977 VI LEGISLATION 4. DEPARTMENT OF GAME REQUEST FOR USE OF CITY PROPERTY ALONG ELWHA RIVER Referring to a map, Manager Whorton pointed out the location of the City owned old railroad right-of-way tract which the Department of Game is interested in using for providing additional access to the Elwha River for pedestrian travel and sports fishing. Mr. Whorton then read the provisions of the City's existing Land Use Agreement with the Department of Game for a vehicle parking area and foot travel over the entire stretch of City property on the east bank of the Elwha River. After a brief discussion, Manager whorton informed the Council that he will continue negotiations with the Department of Game. VII ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M. to an Executive Session. ~,~ ~. ~ ~~ City Clerk Mayor 1 1 1