1971 11 09U
COUNCIL MEETING -Regular Session November 9,1971
Council Chambers 8:00 P.M.
Members present:Councilman Robt.E.Hill,W.B.Moe,Norman W.Johnson,Gordon M.Ebbert,
Otto M.Skaug,Ernest V.Lindell and Michael Boyle.
Mayor Skaug called the meeting to order.Minutes of the previous council meeting of October 26,1971,
1971,were approved as written upon a motion by Boyle;second by Lindell.Motion carried.
REGULAR BILLS TOTAL AMOUNT PAID
pIrk 297'5549502
LIBRARY 53 874 57URBANARTERIAL5J'„J*„
WATER/SEWER 'loVlj
SANITATION **J i*EQUIPMENT RENTAL *™*"
Motion by Hill that the regular bills be approved for payment.Second by Johnson.Motion carried.
Warrant No's.1381 through 1441 inthe amount of $64,876.74 were approved for payment.
CONSIDERATION OF BIDS -CASCADE PARK -Grading and Sprinkler System Installation -Contract No.71-16
A letter was read from Richard L.Weaver,Public Works Director,stating that he has reviewed the bids re-ceived on Cascade Park,Phase I,Contract No.71-16 and found that some of the unit bid prices were extremely
low However,upon contacting Mahaffey Excavation Company's co-bidder,Sharp Construction Company of
Kennewick,they feel they can do the work at this price.The bonding company also confirmed they were a.reputable firm.The Public Works Director recommended awarding the contract to Mahaffey Excavation Company
for the low bid of$10,907.25.The Engineer's estimate was $16,159.00.Atotalofthree bids had been sub
mitted .
Councilman Hill-Why was the low bidder so far under the Engineer's estimate andthe other bidders?
City Engineer Weaver -They got a $400,000 contract in Walla Walla.Where they were low.on thisJobwasinpriceofpipe,because they were planning to put the pipe for this job inwith $400,000 job which
gives them a low unit price.The price for pipe installed is cheaper than we can buy it at the dealer.
Councilman Johnson -Well,it is a bonded job.
Motion byHillto acceptthe bidof Mahaffey Excavation Company of Pasco forthe low bidof $10,907.25.
Second by Boyle.Motion carried.
REFERRAL FROM PLANNING COMMISSION -REQUEST FOR ADDITION TO PARKERS CHEVRON STATION
Aletter was read from the City Manager stating that the Planning Commission,on their regular meeting of
October 14,1971,recommended that the City Council grant a permit for an addition to the Parker Chevron
Station,located at 101 W. Broadway,in accordance with drawings presented,and with the further stipulation
that shrubbery in the proposed planter be limited to a maximum height of 24 inches.Their recommendation
is in accordance with Ordinance No.593,where the City Council may,after public hearing before the Plann
ing Commission,issue a permit for the replacement,rebuilding or addition to an existing non-conforming
building or structure.The City.Council has in similar requests required a bond in the amount of $2,000 to
assure compliance with the plans and specifications.
Motion by Ebbert to take this item from the table and take it up for consideration at this time.Second
by Hill.Motion carried.
A letter was read from the Standard Oil Company stating that the office misunderstood the need for anyone
to be in attendance at the last City Council meeting when the request was on the Council Agenda for considera
tion.
F;M.Stratton,Project Engineer for Standard Oil Company,was present and stated the Company is prepared
to post a bond in the amount suggested.Plans were submitted earlier,and he explained that the addition
would consist ofa third lube area,and increase the storage and service of the station.A planter is planned
on the corner of Broadwayand Division to enhance the appearance,and they will comply with the stipulation
set forth by the Planning Commission that of not to exceed 24 inches in height.He further stated they p.re
planning to match the existing building material,that of concrete block and wood frame.
Motion by Hill that the plan be accepted and approve a special permit for the addition,and that a-bond in the
1660
1661
^
Council Meeting:2 November 9,1971
amount of $2,000 be posted by Standard Oil Company to comply with the plans and stipulations set forth.
Second by Lindell.Motion carried.
TAXICAB LICENSE TRANSFER
A letter was read from City Manager Chester L.Waggener,stating that he is submitting an application
from Donald K,Fife,for transfer of the taxi license for Moses Lake Cab Company from Mrs.Paul J.Manor.
Also submitted a letter from Mrs.Manor indicating arrangements to sell Moses Lake Cab Company,and a
letter from Police Chief Bjork recommending that the transfer of license be granted.Moses Lake Municipal
Code 6.32.28 provides that no license issued under the provision of this ordinance shall be transferable
or assignable except upon the consent of the Council upon a written application.Mr.Fife's request was
referred to the Planning Commission to clarify the qualifications of this business as a home occupation.
The Planning Commission recommends to the City Council that the request to operate Moses Lake Cab
Company from 1351 W.Ivy as a home occupation,be granted.
Councilman Johnson asked Mr.Fife -Can your cabs be parked off the street when not on duty?
Mr.Fife -Off street.
Councilman Hill -Some years ago we gave Mr.Manor permission to curtail operating his cabs after
midnight.Would we now grant that to Mr.Fife?
Mayor Skaug -It is the condition of the present franchise.
Councilman Hill - I was just wondering if it would be granted to Mr.Fife.At the time when Mr.Manor
asked the City Council,theyasked Mr.Manor to bring in his books.
Mayor Skaug -He could enlarge upon that or expand that service with the City Council's consideration.
Councilman Moe moved to accept this transfer to Mr.Fife.from Mrs.Manor with the same stipulations
granted the Moses Lake Cab Company.Second by Boyle.
Mayor Skaug asked Mr.Fife,-just for a-point of information -how late are you operating?
Mr.Fife -We discussed the possibility to continue to 2:00 A.M.on Friday and.Saturdays.
Sunday hours are from 9:A.M.to 7:P.M.Do I need additional permission to extend the operation to
2:A.M.on Friday and Saturdays?
City Attorney John Calbom-To add additional service over and above the requirements set forthiin the
license,then the City Council would have to approve that,but for the 24-hour period,I would say "no".
Mayor Skaug -There could be an understandable desire for those that do not have transportation to get to .
their place of work.
Darrel Gray,Herald Reporter,residing at 1137 Gem Street,statedthat hehas no objection to the.transfer\
ofthe licenseto Mr. Fife,but h^doesobjectto the home occupation.This serviceto the people should
be available in the downtown area and not from some residential or outlying area.A convenience to a
shopper when loaded downwith parcels;thinks we should think about something like this or similar for
our future growth. Also stated he receives numerous calls at the office from peo pie complaining about
service after midnight and complaints from businessmen themselves that have no way to send a man home
when he has had too much to drink.He would like to go on record as being against the home occupation
part ofthe license.With the already heavy traffic load on Ivy Street,and realizing that it would bean
extraexpense, butthinks Mr. Fife could do better if situated downtown and he would make more money.
Motion was voted upon.The motion carried..unanimously.
Police Chief Bjork commented that he would like toask,that inorder to provide easier availablity of acab,they had provided space at one time by removing a meter at the bus depot and placed a sign there forcabpurposes.Could the Department instigate it again,since it has been brought out here,the availability
of a cab?»jj
Councilman Ebbert - Does he use the bus facilities inside?,,
Chief Bjork -On the curb parking -there is no office there to call.'I .
Councilman Hill- I think it would behoove Mr.Fife to be located there.
Chief Biork -With the radio dispatch,he could receivecalls there as well as other places.Thisr spotSUUdoisnoth^ve ameTer;we d'id not reinstall the meter after the taxi discontinued the steady use of it.^
n
•<
Council Minutes:3 November 9,1971
Mayor Skaug -We might take that under advisement to encourage thatin the future thatit mightstillbepossibleforhimtousethatspaceforaparkingarea,although I think not having an office there
is not any more advantageous than having a cab dispatched from a residential area toa given address or
any more expedient than a short wave radio.
Councilman Boyle - Is there any exclusive franchise granted by the City of Moses Lake as a Taxicab
license holder?
Mayor Skaug -No,there is not.
OVERTIME PARKING FEE -(amount of penalty within first hour).
On Septembers,1971,the Retail Trades or Business Division of the Moses Uke Chamfer of CommercepresentedapetitionsignedbynumerousbusinessesinthedowntownsectionofMosesLake,objectingandaskingtheCityCounciltoreconsidertheovertimeparkingpenaltytobepaidwithinthefirsthourfrom
25$to 50$.Reference:Ordinance No.629,Section 291,the new revised Traffic Code adopted by the
City Council on August 24,1971.
The Council responded to the group that theywould takethe matter under advisement.
Arequested tabulation was presented by the Police Department covering a six-months period from March
to August 1971.
Mayor Skaug commented that two-thirds of the tickets were cleared atthe 25$rate according to the tabulation
submitted by the Police Department.
Councilman Johnson - Is the object to review the case?
Mayor Skaug -The ordinance passed with the 50$stipulation for the penalty;it was held inabeyance
untilthe Council reinformed themselves or evaluated activities happened with the issuance ofthese tickets.
The rate of 50$is not being enforced at the present time as yet.
Councilman Ebbert - What would be the process if we voted to go back to 25$,would we amend the
present ordinance?
Mayor Skaug -Yes,andI think if wewere inclined to retainthe 50$,we would Just instructthe Chief to
start enforcing the new rate.
Councilman Ebbert - The monetary gain is going to be a very small amount.*Your first approach to this,
Chief Bjork,was the cost of issuing the tickets was more than the fine.
Chief Bjork- In our other ordinance,the Council did not specifically set what the minimum penalty would
be if paid within the first hour,and the minimum was set up at the discretion of the Judge,and this is what
happened in the 25$case,and it worked very well,but salaries and expenses years ago were much less than
they are now, and the committee rewriting the ordinance,set up a penalty for this violation to 50$ if paid
within the first hour,and felt it more realistic with the wages and expenses the city has to pay.Monetarily
I don't think it will make any difference one way or another.
Councilman Johnson -The tabulation shows tickets and fines paid,but does,not have a figure on an average
estimate in what we take in a month from the nickels and dimes from the parking meters themselves.
Chief Bjork -It is around $16,000 per year.Receipts from the meters used to be about $20,000 here,
but since shopping centers have come in,they provide parking away from the meters,and the income from
meters came down.
City Clerk Charles Davenport = As a member ofthe committee in writing the ordinance,we considered the
movement of traffic as well as the cost,and the 50$would discourage overtime parking.
Councilman Boyle - Onequestion for the City Attorney.Do youhave anything further to add regarding the
legality in view of the price freeze?The increase cfthe fine,would it be legal at this time?
City Attorney John Calbom -This is a bail schedule.A.raise of the actual parkingfee would be held under
the wage price control-act, butweare talking about something which is a bail in es sence forthe violationandit is posted in violation of a criminal ordinance.That person can come down here and plead not guilty
and have a trial onthe basis that the parking meter was faulty.So reallyit is a bailratherthana fee.
lbbZ
///<*
.1664
tft)\
Council Minutes:4 November 9,1971
Councilman Hill - I feel that my original vote of several months ago still stands.In view of the fact
that some 80%of the downtown merchants involved signed the petition,and I believe they will open up
some downtown parking when our shopping cenfergoes in, therefore, I move to amend Ordinance No.629,
Section 291,that the 50$amountbe changed to 25$for the penalty if paid within the first hour. Second
by Johnson.
CityClerk, Charles Davenport asked if he is requesting an ordinanaebe presented at the next Council
meeting amending the traffic ordinance to that effect?
Councilman Hill amended his motion,to direct the City Manager to prepare an ordinance to that effect.
Johnson seconding the original motion,agreed to Hill's amending his motion.
Motion carried - In favor:Hill,Moe,Johnson and Ebbert.Against:Skaug,Lindell and Boyle.
Mayor Skaug notedthat a Council Study Sessionwill be heldon November 17,1971 at 8:00 P.M. in the
Council Chambers -all are invited,and asked Darrell Gray to make it known in the paper.
Mayor Skaug statedthat notice has been received from the Liquor Board for our approval or disapproval
for the sale of alcholic beverages on two special occasions to be held at the Confraternity Center on
Earl Road;one on November 16th, the City-Farm Banquefandone on November 19th for the Tri-Service
Clubs consisting of the Rotary,Lions and Kiwanis Clubs.
Motion by Johnson thatthe form be filled out by the Mayor approving therequests.Second by Hill.•.
Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M.
rf oito M C Skaug
ATTEST:
arles Davenport
r
r