SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Mayor Welch called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. Mayor Welch and Councilors Hanes, Kelly, Woodruff, Campbell, Cutter and Havens answered the roll. A quorum was present.
2. CITIZEN COMMENTS AND CONCERNS: Jeanne Haffner, Merlyn Letcher, Kenneth Olsen and Delbert Lobb addressed the Council regarding a recent rash of break-ins and vandalism that has been occurring on Range Drive. They have been talking with the Sheriff’s Department and will be setting up a Neighborhood Watch, but wondered if anything further could be done. Councilor Kelly suggested that maybe some of the neighborhood residents could consider joining the Citizen’s Patrol. Tamara Henson and Bill Stevens addressed the Council regarding problems with bears in the Corona Court area. It was noted that Tamara Wagner from ODFW would be talking about bear problems in Waldport later on the agenda.
3. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONCERNS: Councilor Kelly expressed concern about the local cable franchise and their ability to provide HDTV. Councilor Cutter noted that he was unable to attend the disaster preparedness meetings due to schedule conflicts, but he will be receiving the minutes from those meetings. Mayor Welch expressed gratitude to Councilor Kelly and the Citizen’s Patrol for their vigilance in monitoring the Peterson Park logging project, and Councilor Campbell noted he had been speaking with residents there and the logging trucks appear to be obeying the rules. Mayor Welch reported that the emergency supplies at the Crestview Heights school have been secured. There had been a slight rodent problem but that appears to have been taken care of.
4. MINUTES: The Council considered the minutes from the August 14, 2008 meeting. Councilor Kelly moved to approve the minutes as presented. Councilor Cutter seconded, and the motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. It was noted that the scrivener’s error on Page 3, "Councilor Council" would be corrected to "Councilor Woodruff".
    Noting the presence of Deputy Bruster and Tamara Wagner, the City Manager report was deferred to later on the agenda.
    Deputy Bruster addressed the Council regarding Sheriff’s Department activity in the previous month. He explained that the deputies have been working on the Range Drive problems, even hiding in the bushes to try and catch the perpetrators. The residents there have been doing everything right, reporting incidents as they happen, and keeping an eye out for unusual activity. However, he explained, when fingerprints are found and sent off to the Oregon State Police for processing, if the individual has never been fingerprinted before, a match cannot be made. It also does take time for the process to happen, as all prints are sent to the Oregon State Police Forensics lab. Councilor Hanes noted that it is very important to report all incidents, no matter how trivial, as sometimes a pattern of behavior can be detected.
    Tamara Wagner from ODFW addressed the Council regarding the increase in number of bear incidents. She explained that this year there had been a late spring, with a cool summer, and the berry crop has been delayed. Additionally, although the open dump has been closed for several years, bears can live a long time and also teach their young how to find available food in dumpsters and trash cans. A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the problems, and the need for "bearproof" trash receptacles. Dahl Disposal has said such receptacles are available, though they are very expensive and require additional handling. Ms. Wagner noted that it is legal to shoot bears under a couple of circumstances: during hunting season with a bear tag (not in the City limits); under the wildlife damage law (where damage is being done to property, crops or land); or if human safety is at risk (aggressive behavior, breaking into homes, etc.). The proper procedure in the case of the latter two circumstances is to immediately contact the enforcement agency, and ODFW will determine the disposal of the carcass.
    Mayor Welch noted that he would have to leave the Council meeting early, and asked that the Water Rate Structure discussion be moved up on the agenda. Councilor Campbell recused himself from the discussion and any decision-making, though consensus of the Council was to have him answer questions if need be. Ms. Leonard reviewed the proposal, clarifying that this had not been instigated at the request of Councilor Campbell, but was something a city could always consider when a potentially high volume water user is added to the system. In this instance, the water consumption for the golf course would be about 240% more than any other residential or commercial user in the system. She had performed extensive research, and had utilized resources available through the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the information from the City’s Water Utility Financial Plan and Rate Analysis, as well as data from the City’s water usage and water user fees. A lengthy discussion ensued. Mayor Welch moved to defer any decisions on the proposed water rate structure to the October Council meeting. Councilor Woodruff seconded. The motion carried, with Mayor Welch and Councilors Kelly, Hanes, Woodruff, Cutter and Havens voting "Aye", Councilor Campbell abstaining.
    Mayor Welch left the meeting at 4:00 p.m.
5. CORRESPONDENCE: None.
6. PUBLIC HEARING: None.
7. CITY MANAGER REPORT: Ms. Leonard gave an update on the Mercantile Building, noting that the exterior had been scraped and primed. The contractor was currently working on the interior and the building will be painted this fall. ODOT was working with the contractor for the planter boxes along Highway 101 in the downtown area, and they will hopefully be planted later on in the month. The City’s Code Compliance Officer has been working diligently, and has about 45 issues logged to-date, either completed or in progress. The City had contracted with Carpet Tech to install a new floor at the Community Center, and everyone seems very pleased with the result. Ms. Leonard noted that she had been approached by several residents regarding the need for restroom facilities at Keady Wayside. A single-stall facility would cost approximately $45,000 to install. A brief discussion ensued, no decisions were made.
8. COMMITTEE REPORTS: None.
9. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: The Council considered the following items: Library minutes, Planning report, and Planning Commission minutes from July, 2008. No action was necessary.
10. CONSENT CALENDAR: The Council considered the following items: a proclamation for Constitution Week, and a proclamation for "Cruzin’ for Crab". Councilor Cutter moved to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion was seconded, and carried unanimously on a voice vote.
11. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS:
    A. "The Bear Facts" - Tamara Wagner, Assistant District Wildlife Biologist, ODFW: Previously addressed.
    B. Water Rate Structure for High Volume User(s): Previously addressed.
    C. Other Issues: None.
12. ADJOURNMENT: At 4:20 p.m., there being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Reda A. Quinlan, City Recorder

APPROVED by the Waldport City Council this 9th day of October, 2008.
SIGNED by the Mayor this 9th day of October, 2008.

Herman Welch, Mayor