Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/17/1970 243 ~ .. '. - ----- MINUTES O~mBERRGGITLAR SESSION OF FEBRUARY 3rd, 1970 CONTINUED --------- --.---. ----- 8 . It:~"was:-)mö\r,edrbi~jÐou1icilman Hoglund seconded by Councilman Lindsey that'the claim be denied and that it be referred to the proper insurance company. Motion cro~ried. PET! TION FOR SIDE-SEWER C OÍfTRAC TOR" S LI CENSE Mr. Jack Hensel petitioned the city for a Side-Sewer Contractor ]~icense. I t was moved by Councilman Steve seconded by Councilman Lindsey that the request fo]~ a side-sewer contractors license be granted. Motion carried. ADJOURNMENT I As there was no f'urther business to come before the council at th:Ls time, it was moved by Councilman E~gasej seconded by Councilman Judy that the meeting do now adjourn. Motion carried. I Attest~di J2 fer, . Ci ty er MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF FEBRUARY 17,1970 February 17, 1970 Port Townsend, Wam ington The City Council of the City of Port Townsend, met in 1"egu1ar session this 17th day of' Feb. 1970, at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City Hall. Mayor Smith presiding. 8' ROLL CALL Officers and members present were DS f'ollows: - Mayor Smith, City Attorney Abraham, City Clerk Youngblood, Councilmen Scheyer, K~ Judy, Cambie1d, Steve, Lindsey, Norwood. Councilman Hoglund absent. MINUTES OF THE PREVI\US SESSI.)N It was moved by CJuncilman Lindsey seconded by Councilman Judy that the minutes of the previous session be dispensed with. ~otion carried. COMMUNICATIONS I The following communication Was presented and acted upon as f'o110ws: Fro~ Jefferson County Historical Society, To the Mayor and Honorable Members of the Council of' the City of Port Townsend Ci ty Hall Po~t Townsend, Washington Feb. 17, 1970, to-wit: Gentlemen: 8 At a meeting of the Jeff'erson County Historical Society the Board of Directors directed its president to write to you to inquire as to your program for making repairs to the Bell Tower. Last Monday I inspected the Bell Tower and found that one of the fo~r supporting beams, the beam on the southeast corner, appears to be substantially rotten at 9. point about 12 to 18 feet above ground. In addition, portions of the upper siding have fallen, leaving the mechanism for 9perating the bell vulnerable to rain. We would appreciated being advised as to your intentions to restore, the Bell Tower. Very truly yours; Calmar A. McCune, President Jef'ferson County Historical Society. I DEPART1ŒNT REPORTS I Mrs Wallin, Librarian, said that there was an emergèncy warrant drawn on the Library for 1,246.00 Ius t year and asked what f'uhd it came out of'. I t ViaS explaIned out of the Library f'und that it took an emergency ordinance to add money to any fund. Mrs Wallin questioned it the city clerk had authority to write vouchers and warrants against the'Library Fund without it going through the board, such as Withholding Tax, Insurance, Medieal, Rotirement, utilities. - Mayor Smith said yes, that actually some bills are payable' by the eity clerk, it has been a matter of policy procedure and in some cases by law, some are recwring bills that the city is liable for. NEW & OLD BUSI NESS Councilman Norwood said that a request for a street light at the last regular session by Councilman Steve for a street light to be insta11ed- at 47th & SanJuan. She said that it had been looked into and there was a definite need f'or a light there, at the ~esent there was an old type street light a new mercury light should be 'installed but on the'high side of the steet. Councilman Norwood made a motion seconded by Cóuncilman Judy that a 7,000 lum light be instal]ed on the high side of the street at 47th & SanJuan. Motion carried. 8 Councilman Steve commented that a light Was needed at that corner, but he wanted all to know that he lived two blocks away. RESOLUTI ON 70-1 The fol1woing Resolution was presented and acted upon as follows: A Resolution Confirming The Appointment of A City Engineer 244 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION n OF FEBRUARY 17, 197Q,_GDNTTNTmn_____-------------------------- - ----------.------______n______- " --------- The City Council of the City or Port Townsend, In Regular Session Assembled does here-by Resolve: That the appointment of' Roger S. French, Sr. as City Engineer f'or the Ci~ or Port Townsend be and it is here and bhere-by approved and confirmed. Passsed at a regular Council Meeting held on February 17,1970. Attást: Frank Smi th, Mayor City Clerk Approved as to form: City Attorney. It was moved by Councilman Steve seconded by Councilman Lindsey that Resolution 70-1 be adopted. Motion carried. Councilman Scheyer said he had a prepared statement or his personal sentiments regarding the proposal made at the last City Council meeting to remove the Admission Tax, a motion Which failed because of a tie vote. He said since he waS not present at that meeting, he felt he should inform the city how He would have voted. He said that emotion p08nts on one direction, l&gic the other. In fairness to the city, I must vote as logic determines. For his own personal reasons, he would have liked to have removed the tax. and the following are a f'ew of' them: 1. We are a small town, and therefore the governing body should be as humanitarian and as responsive as possible to individual-business needs. 2. In the most recent city election, I feel that this was a prominent issue, with a significant portion of the electorate dedicated to electing a new majority which would favor repealing an admissions tax they did not understand. 3. It would be nice to have the issue settled once and for all, so that the City Council is not continually confronted with the same proble to the exclusion of' problems with e~ual or higher priori ties. 4. On a friendship basis, I would like to paly the Nice Guy role, be accomodating, and as helpful as possible to people whom I p~sona11y admire. In response to these attitudes, or if' you prefer, the other side of the \uestion, I am disturbed by the f'0110wing: 1. Admission Taxes are taxes which are paid by the Patron in place of paying a sales tax. If these taxes were paid in addition to sales taxes, they would be unjust; but they are not an additional tax. They are not unjust lecause they are in lieu of sales taxes. The owner of' the business himself does not pay this tax on his prof'its; he merely does a kindness for the city and collects this tax above and beyond his profits to benefit his city. ' 2. If the city gave the taxes to the individual-collectors, the amount would be insignificant to the total operation of nay business, and certainly could not be suf'f'icient to save any business which w~s failing financially. - 3. The admissions tax is about as fair a tax as is possible, as it taxes the consumer - not the business. The business recoups the amount of the tax by merely adding it on to the price of the ticket. It is one of the few taxes by which the city can derive revenue frome the tourist or the visitor to this community as he takes advantage of' our entertainment facit1ities, thereby removing some of'the tax burden rrom each or our shoulders. This is a rar more enuitable tax than our B& 0 tax, which is based on gnoss incomes which vary widely. 4. Since state government gave cities the right to'ley:y admissi~ons taxes in 1943, one hundred twenty one cities have enacted them. Sixty tow of' the 121 h ve repealed the tax, the first being Puya11up in 1953 and the last to Chewelah in 1967. Fifty nine cities still maintain the tax. In our immediate area, Port Angeles still maintains it; Se~uim never enacted one; Po1ulsbo repealed theirs in 1953. The tax is still maintained in Bremerton and Aberdeen. To me, the cities which responded emotionally to the advent of' television and the competition which it offered other entertainment facilities unnecessarily restricted their tax base, by removing admission taxes. Ir you are as rrustrated by television commercials and worthless programs as I am, then you too realize that a mommunity needs to have many choices. 5. During the recent city election, the electorate, Many of whom did not understand this tax somehow equated this with a recreation program. In addition to entertainment racilities which sere ef'fected by this tax, a citys recreation program should be comprehensive and for all age groups. It should include a wide variety of things and not depend upon just one f'acitlity. In addition to the facilities af'fected by this tax, I envision a comprehensive recreation . program for all age groups. The city has yet- to acknowledge that it has any stake in recr~tion for youth. We have money for a Humane Society, Public Health, all sorts of' things; $3600. for dogs and not a dime for kids. We own and maintain a Golden Age Club free of charge for adults, we furnish free space to a Historical Society, all of' which are worthwhile things which I would not want to lose, but we let a Teen Center expire without ever acknowledging that it could have a potential for good or comming to its aid. A volunteer group is building a tennis court on land donated by the school. The city should be able to aid in some way: Loan or e uipment , fencing, water, or a least acknowledge in some manner that it appreciates the ßff'orts of these people. I repeat, a citys recreation program is a wide variety of things, not just one raci1ity. In conclusion, I will vote agains repeal or the Admissions Tax in order to maintain the city tax base with the hope that worthwhile programs can be funded in the future by a city whichhas the conxern and the resources to dot it. I am not proud or our potholes in the streets, or garbage Cans alongside them, or our city hall; and until we have the rinancial resources to better these things, this is not the time to give up any revenue, no matter how small. I cannot on the basis of' friendship or the desire to please an electorage - which if the truth were known wo'ld pref'er not to have to pay any taxes at all - vote to revove this tax. I lfulow in good conscience that this would not be in the best int(œests of Port Townsend. 8 I I 8 I 8 I I From the audience, Jeff Pedersen announced that he and his partner, Bob Sahli, had completed negotiations with NeWwork Cinerama Copporation for a Jerry Lewis Cinerama in Port Townsend, he så!d thêDe would be first run films on a regular basis and planned to open the theater in 120 days. He also said that they would be more than willing to collect the admission tax ror the city. Mr Wiley, local theater operator, who closed nis establishment in the Uptown District after the ref'usa1 to lift the admission tax, again described the tax as discriminatory, he said he had planned to re-open the Uptown Theater in ~anuary, bud decided to wait upon the councils possible action on the tax rollowing recent city election, and WaS waiting for Councilman Scheyers final word. He indicated that he would proceed with plans to re-open the Up-town Theater. Mayor Smith said that while the city is not in the Theater business, the city is still in the tax business, he said that the state had authorized levying of a one-ljalf per cent sales tax by cities, it has helped the cities make this decision by withdrawing second half, båennium state aid, to replace this we will naturally have to do something. He recommended that the council hold off duscussion of the situation ror several weeks until certain racets or the legislation are better known. Mayor Smitw also mentioned that under such a tax the consumer would merely pay 8 8 I I " 8 I 8 I I 8 2- 4_, a,: , .. ' ----- MTNUT_~~_OF TH~ ,R~G LAR SESSION OF FEBRUARY 17, 1970 CO~TINUED -~ ---- 5 percent in place of the present state sales tax of 4.5. The state would take 2 percent for administrative costs, 15 percent would go to Jefferson County and the remainder would be returned to the city. Mayor Smith mentioned that at the ~ esent time the county was levying one m~ll that in reality belonged to the city, the city Kad gone to court but reasons that he .did not know lost the mill to the -county~' City Attorney Abraham mentioned tha:t if the tax freeze was lifted then the city would levy the extra mill that bè1onged to the Firemen Pension and relief fund. Under New Business the following request for a street light was presented. To The Honorable City Council City Hall Port Townsend, Washington Request that street light be installed on the corner of Reed and Monroe streets. residents of' this corner have installed yard 1ight& but it is still-dark. The Yours truly, FredW. McIlroy Mayor Smit~ referred the request to the Fire & Light Committee for a report at the next regular session. Mayor Smith sa.id that in regards to the ,Monroe Street Urban Arterial Project, the city engineer had recommended hiring the f'irm of Rrarher, Chin & Mayo as consulting engineers f'or the project., Engineer French said that the project would probably take from water street lip Monroe St. to the foot of Jackson street, he described some of the problems such as widen.ing on Monroe Street and-'-'acquisiti~m of property on Roosevelt Street. He also m,:n tioned that he had talked to Kramer, Chin & Mayo and had -agreed on around 14.00 per day per-diem for any inspectors on the job. After some further-discussion it was moved by Councilman Steve seconded by Councilman Judy that the Firm of Kramèr, Chin & Mayo be hired by the City of Port Townsend as consulting engineers. Motion carried. Mayor Smith said that Engineer French had been looking into some of the steet ordinances, he said we have a tremendous amount of unopened streets within the city, in the last two or three months there are several places where you can see streets are getting opened or going to have to be opened. There is an ordinance that empowers the owner or owners of more than 50% of' the owners ot request the construction of a street on which they abutt, it empowers the council to place a 1e,in against the abutting prope-rties or parts for all the costs. There is an ordinance setting forth the procedure for -determing ion the individual asessment, ther e is an ordinance to -appl-y for an application for 'a permit to grade or make any improvements to --a ,street. Mayo~ Smith Said that the city W&s not going to $esumethe responsibility of black topping any of these streets that the deve~opers are.putting in, the city is going to have to get closer to- fo110w'ing the proper procedu.re or go down the drain financially. Mayor Smit~ said and informed the council that he had ar;pointed Frank Kilham to the Library Board and Tike Hillman to the c,i ty planning commission. He also asked for a volunteer for chairman of the Beautification Commi ttee Program, or ià anyone knew of anyone whoc; would b,e interested to let him know. Mayor Smith said he had received' an in'~uiry, but no formal request concerning cons truc t ion of an FHA multiple housing project, envo1ving some 40 two-bed rôom units. City Attorney Abraham advised the council that it eventually would have to create a capital improvement revolving fund if it has any hopes of ever solving its various water, sewer and street construction problems. He mentioned a possible special tax l'evy to start such a fund. Councilman Norwood said that in the wé1ter dept fund we have 50,000. in investments that are not obligated in the current budget nor was the funds -, obligated in any way and did not thing we would need a special assessment for the water dept. but would f'oJ:> the street. Ma~ror STIli th said that in the water department was not obligated biJget wise but if she remembered the tudget message which one of the specific things that had to be done this year was to reline the smm1l reservoir and also raise the heighth and make it a.s useable as the res t of the sys tem é1nd mos t of ~he 50,000. dollars would be used this summer. {. 1 ,_/ .' , Councilman Norwood then asked the Mayor about the 37,000. dollars that was in the-water Dept. fund in F1ddi ~ion to the' 50, .000. Mayor Smith said when the rèservoir' work was performed there would be very litt1e~l~ft in case of any type of emerg~ncies. ' Councilman Norwood stat~d that it was against the law to have thoes resèrves, that if you ha~e it specified you can keep it as a reserve but when not obligated you cant. Mayor Eimitþ said if 1 she could show him-something along that line he would like to see it. Councilman Norwood said she would write to the man who she had talked to and find out more information. Councilman Norwoodsaid that we are talking about raising 15,000. dollars for a revolving ~und which she thought it Was a wonderful idea and we'do"have that peserve, why dont we use thoes reserves to start the fund. Mayor Smith said largely because of the fact he would not obligate this type to a revolving fund when we have manholes made out of brickthat Was put in about 1906 and other work to be done and as Mayor could not recommend such a- business procedure. Councilman Steve stated, why dont we wàit and get the reservoir job done and then if therè is any thing left we will start the fund. ADJOURNIvTENT As there was no further buslness to come bef'ore the council at this time, it was moved by Councilman Steve Seconded by Councilman Lindsey that the meeting do now adjourn, 0 carried. - Attes~ *kÇ1~ 1 Y?J t[iOR ~- ~ ,