Mayor Van Dusen opened the meeting solemnly, extending condolences to the families affected by the recent tragedy in Gearhart as well as commending the efforts of the city in responding to the plane crash that resulted in the deaths of five people. Brief discussion and updates were given to the audience of what had occurred when a small plane piloted by local Cannon Beach resident, Jason Ketcheson, crashed into a vacation home in Gearhart after taking off from nearby Seaside Airport.
The mayor then read a proclamation and after making, and receiving, gifts, led the audience in a cheer, welcoming foreign exchange visitors to Astoria. The students, and their chaperon, Kaoru Sato, are part of the 4-H Foreign Exchange Program. Melissa Padgett, coordinator of the program, told the council that this year there are five students from Japan and one student from Finland visiting Astoria for a four week stay. The 4-H cultural exchange program is in its fifth year with students from Astoria also having the opportunity to travel to different countries. Host families, with children between the ages of 12 and 17, are needed for next year’s visitors. Please contact Melissa Padgett for more information.
Japanes Exchange Student Chaperon, Kaoru Sato, and Mayor Willis Van Dusen exchanging gifts
The Mayor, Chaperon and exchange students
Status Report on Riverfront Vision Plan
Community Development Director, Brett Estes, shared with the council a poster that was proposed after consulting with community members at the visioning session for the waterfront. Concepts on how people saw the waterfront being developed were discussed and community members were asked to send in photographs of waterfronts that they found visually appealing. Council members commended Estes for hard work on putting together the presentation and added recommendations before any flyers or posters went into production. Of concern were what the pictures represented and the size of writing describing where the city was at in the visioning process. The Council did not want to give the impression of false advertising and wanted the community to understand that the visioning process was in its early stages. The pictures were some ideas that community members had submitted, but were not representational of any decisions that had been made.
A blow-up of the proposed Riverfront Visioning Plan poster/flyer
A Steering Committee was appointed by the Mayor and City Council. Members’ roles and responsibilities include attending committee meetings; providing recommendations on key project issues and decisions; review, comment and recommend on work products throughout the project; guide public involvement efforts; communicate with members of the community; serve as hosts at public events; encourage community members to participate in the project; and act as liaisons to specific constituencies or interest groups. Steering Committee members are Ernie Atkinson, Mark Cary, Michelle Dieffenbach, Kurt Englund, Steve Fick, Elizabeth Grant, Dave Pollard, Al Tollefson and Councilmember Blair Henningsgaard.
The waterfront vision and plan is expected to take about one year to complete. Citizens will have a variety of opportunities to participate in this process including community surveys, public forums, and school programs.
14th and Commercial Valve Repair – Change Order (Public Works) Public Works Operations and Engineering staff were notified by contractor, Wilkins Construction, that there was an urgent need to repair and replace dilapidated storm sewer pipe, beyond the original 50 foot repair contracted for. The storm sewer was failing, allowing water and sewage to escape the pipe and this leakage was washing away fill underneath the tunnel wall foundations. City Manager, Paul Benoit, okayed an emergency repair on the pipe, however on reflection Benoit and Public Works Director, Ken Cook, decided that while the repair was urgent it was not an emergency and therefore, according to city code, Benoit did not have the authority to authorize the $25,253.00 repair. Benoit apologized to the council and stated that staff had made adjustments to what was considered “emergency” and what was considered “urgent”. It does not appear to be clearly defined in city codes. City Council affirmed to the public that Benoit was clear that an emergency council meeting would be called in the future for this type of authorization. The city manager is authorized to make decisions costing up to $10,000 without prior authorization from the city council. Cook showed a slide presentation depicting the extent of the damage as well as the labor involved in cleaning the damage and replacing the pipe. The Council approved the change order.In Other Business
Big River Excavating was awarded the bid for the construction of the Denver Street Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Project Part 1, Storm Water Separation. Big River’s bid came in the lowest at $778,280.76
Renewal of the contract for CSO Engineering Management with Crawford Engineering Associates in the amount of $68,700 was approved. Crawford anticipates spending approximately 12 hours per week working on CSO program requirements at a rate of $115.00 per hour for senior professional and $85.00 per hour for professional staff. The rate also includes costs for communications, computer time, and expenses incurred while traveling to and from Astoria.
An ordinance to vacate portions of Birch Street, Cedar Street and 59th Street (undeveloped right-of-way) adjacent to Blocks 2, 3, and 15 of Van Dusens Astoria near the intersection of Highway 30 and Old Highway 30 had a second reading and was approved.
An ordinance to vacate a 30-foot by 150-foot portion of the 28th Street Right-of-Way adjacent to 2798 Grand Avenue had a second reading and was approved.
The Salary Resolution that implements the wage adjustments for all City employees, as previously approved in the 2008-09 budget, was approved. As was the Public Works/Parks Employees Group’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The position of Water Quality Technician II was changed, eliminating the II, since there is neither a I nor a III position. Public Works management staff reviewed the duties and responsibilities of the position and proposed revisions to the job title, job description, and salary range increasing the pay rate approximately $110/month. City council approved the staff’s recommendation.
City Council approved the issuance of a Request for Proposals for Architect/Engineer Services of a plan for improvements to City Hall. An initial study has been performed by Ecola Architects to determine space and structural needs as well as what will be required to update the facility’s electrical, plumbing, heating and ventilation capabilities. A contract was signed last month with Clarke & Associates to begin the process of obtaining both an Architect and a Construction Manager/General Contractor to begin further design and budget work, approval by all stakeholders, and final implementation.
On the consent calendar:
(a) City Council Minutes of 7/21/08
(b) City Council Special Meeting Minutes of 7/21/08
© City Council Special Meeting Minutes of 3/12/08
(d) Boards and Commissions Minutes
(1) Planning Commission Meeting of 5/6/08
(2) Planning Commission/Historic Landmarks Commission/Design Review
Committee Work Session of 6/3/08
(3) Planning Commission Meeting of 6/24/08
(e) Project Status Report (Public Works)
(f) Parks and Community Services Project Status Report (Parks)
(g) License to Occupy a Portion of the Melbourne Avenue Right-of-Way (Public Works)
(h) License to Occupy a Portion of the 39th Street Right-of-Way Adjacent to 664 39th Street (Public Works)
(i) Approve Final Order for Railroad Crossing Signs Program (Public Works)
(j) Historic Building Façade Grant Program (Community Development)
(k) Additional Consultant Services – City Hall Roof Replacement (Public Works)
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