City of Bandon
CITY MANAGER'S NEWSLETTER
July 10, 2009
This newsletter is an informal report by City Manager Matt Winkel on the news, issues, and other items of interest from the City of Bandon. It will normally be posted once each month (on the Friday following the City Council meeting) on the City's WEB Page at www.ci.bandon.or.us, and will be e-mailed directly to all subscribers. Subscribers will also receive copies of City Council, Planning Commission, Parks & Recreation Commission, Committee for Citizen Involvement, and Water Resource Committee agendas via e-mail in advance of each meeting.
To subscribe or un-subscribe, or if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please e-mail to citymanager@ci.bandon.or.us. Your e-mail addresses will be kept confidential and not distributed or used for any purposes other than e-mail communications with the City of Bandon.
FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
- Committee And Commission Appointments
- Fog Causes Cancellation Of July 4th Fireworks
- City To Accept Title To The South Jetty Park
- Final Household Hazardous Waste Management Plan For Coos And Curry Counties
- Decision On Proposed Sign Regulations Delayed For One Month
- Potential Ballot Measures For Police And/Or Community Center Levies
- Proposed Greater Bandon Area Pool And Recreation District
- Linda's Church Joke
COMMITTEE AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS
At their July 6, 2009 meeting, the City Council approved several appointment to various committees and commissions for terms that regularly expire on June 30, at the end of the fiscal year. All terms begin on July 1 and are for a period of 4 years, with the exception of the Budget Committee whose terms are statutorily set at 3 years.
On the Parks & Recreation Commission, Esther Williams was reappointed, and Linda Olsen and Troy Russell were appointed to replace Joy Tiffany and Anita Straus who decided not to reapply. On the Committee for Citizen Involvement, SharonLee Danielson was reappointed, and Brenda Schurtz was appointed to replace Jim Giambrone who decided not to reapply. On the Water Resource Committee, Paul Bauge and Sam Loshbaugh were reappointed, and Peter Hughes was appointed to replace Scott Vierck who had completed the two full-term limit. On the Budget Committee, Lauren Paquett and Carolyn Sorenson were appointed to replace Carolyn Goldwasser who decided not to reapply and Don Lynam who had completed the two full-term limit.
Congratulations to Esther, Linda, Troy, SharonLee, Brenda, Paul, Sam, Peter, Lauren, and Carolyn on their appointments, and a sincere thanks to Joy, Anita, Jim, Scott, Carolyn, and Don for their years of service to the community!
FOG CAUSES CANCELLATION OF JULY 4TH FIREWORKS
As the many local residents and tourist visitors who waited until dark on Saturday night are particularly aware, thick fog caused us to cancel the normally spectacular City of Bandon 4th of July fireworks. According to Ron Elliot, who was in charge of the pyrotechnics and has been setting off the fireworks for the last 40 years, this is the second time the display was canceled due to fog. (One other time there was severe fog, but the fireworks were set off even though they were somewhat difficult to see.)
At around 9 PM, I received a call from Police Officer Anthony Zunino, who was working on the fireworks display. He felt the fog was perhaps too thick to allow the fireworks to be seen. So, I stationed myself down at the Port of Bandon parking lot to see what I could see. At around 9:45 PM, Anthony advised me that they were setting off one of the larger shells. A few seconds later, a small pink glow could be seen through the fog. There was no oohing or ahhing. He tried a smaller one, which resulted in a small green glow lower in the fog. Still no oohing or ahhing. It looked to Anthony that the fog might be lifting, so we waited about 15 more minutes and tried again. The larger shell resulted in a small blue glow and the smaller shell resulted in another small pink glow. Again, no oohing or ahhing. So, it seemed like the only reasonable thing to do was to cancel the show.
All of the shells were de-fuzed, and Western Display Fireworks, who have been providing the City with the fireworks show, agreed to transport them back to Canby and to store them until next year at no extra charge to the City. A special thanks to Ron, Anthony, and all the rest of the volunteers who spent the next few hours packing everything up, and didn't get home until around 2 AM.
The fireworks cost $12,690.00 this year, with $7,690 from the City's General Fund, and $5,000 in donations secured by the Chamber of Commerce. This amount includes approximately $10,000 for the fireworks themselves, plus delivery to Bandon, pyrotechnician fees, and liability insurance, all of which are provided by Western Display Fireworks. Although it is unfortunate that Bandon wasn't able to have a show this year, all of the fireworks (except for the four which were test fired) will be available next year. This will save a significant amount of money, and will provide a show with only the added cost of delivery, fees, and insurance. If the Chamber is successful in securing more donations, that money can be used to either increase the show, or carry it forward to a subsequent year. As has been recently reported in the news, many cities across the nation have been forced to stop putting on fireworks displays due to declining revenues. Hopefully, with the help of businesses and citizens, Bandon can continue to provide a great fireworks show each 4th of July. If you are interested in donating, please contact Chamber of Commerce Director Julie Miller, telephone 541-3478-9616, or e-mail bandoncc@mycomspan.com.
CITY TO ACCEPT TITLE TO THE SOUTH JETTY PARK
The South Jetty Park is currently owned by Coos County. In February 2007, the City agreed to take over the operation and maintenance of the South Jetty Park, since the City was notified by the County that they did not have the funds to continue paying those expenses. Without the City takeover, the Park and restrooms would have been closed.
The City currently spends an average of $172 per month for utilities, plus $150 per month for supplies (toilet paper, soap, etc.), at the South Jetty Park restrooms. It takes 2 members of the Public Works crew one hour per day, 5 days per week, to clean and stock the restrooms, plus an extra ½ hour on Thursdays for a more thorough cleaning, and occasional weekend call-outs. The crew expense will be significantly reduced now that a new Park Host has arrived. The City has been advertising for a new Park Host since the previous one left last year, and just recently filled the position. The City provides free space rent and utilities in exchange for restroom cleaning and providing security at this location as well as at City Park on 11th Street. All of these costs have been included in the Parks & General Maintenance Department budget for this year, and it is hoped that funds will continue to be available next year. If anyone is interested in applying and being placed on a waiting list for possibly serving as a Park Host at one of our parks, please contact Beverly Lanier, Administrative Assistant, at blanier06@ci.bandon.or.us.
The restroom facilities are in need of some repairs to the handrails, a major deck cleaning, and other minor repairs. The County is still unable to fund any of the operation, maintenance, or capital repair costs for the South Jetty Park, and has now offered the Park property to the City of Bandon. The Parks Master Plan section of the Comprehensive Plan includes a section on the South Jetty Park, a portion of which reads, "The City will negotiate with the County for possible ownership in the near future." In light of the need for repairs, the County's inability to fund the facilities, and the importance of the park and restroom facilities to Bandon residents and visitors, the City Council unanimously agreed at their July 6th meeting to accept a transfer of ownership from the County. Staff was directed to complete the negotiations and paperwork for the City of Bandon to accept the title to the South Jetty Park property, and bring the matter back to the City Council for formal approval at the next possible meeting.
FINAL HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR COOS AND CURRY COUNTIES
Craig Filip, Solid Waste Reduction Analyst with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), presented the final Household Hazardous Waste Management Plan for Coos and Curry County to the City Council and the public at the July 6th City Council meeting. The Plan has been approved by Coos and Curry Counties, and the cities within the two counties are now being asked to adopt it.
Household hazardous waste (HHW) includes a wide variety of household products that can be harmful to human health and the environment, either in their use and/or in their disposal. Examples include mercury and mercury-containing items (thermostats, thermometers, fluorescent bulbs), pesticides, herbicides, poisons, corrosives, solvents, fuels, some types of batteries, paints, certain cleaning products, motor oil, and antifreeze.
Coos County received a planning grant from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to study options for reducing the health and environmental impacts of HHW. A consultant team was selected through competitive request for proposals to assist in developing a HHW Management Plan. The project was overseen and directed by a Household Hazardous Waste Planning Committee, consisting of representatives from various agencies, interests, and cities in Coos and Curry Counties.
The HHW Management Plan intends that the counties, working in partnership with the cities, waste haulers, and other interested parties, address the management of household hazardous waste (HHW), as well as hazardous waste from certain County facilities and businesses that are "conditionally exempt small quantity generators" (CEGs). CEGs generate less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste per month. While it is understood that changes may occur during implementation, the Plan envisions that Coos and Curry Counties and their partners will:
1. Site a permanent HHW facility at the Beaver Hill Disposal Site that will be open one day per month and by appointment for drop-off of HHW.
2. Provide up to 8 satellite collection events throughout Coos and Curry Counties each year. Events may be held in Coos Bay, Coquille, Myrtle Point, Bandon, Gold Beach, Port Orford and Brookings.
3. Expand promotion of existing services for recycling used motor oil, antifreeze, lead-acid (automotive) batteries, and other batteries.
4. Establish an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the Counties and create a Steering Committee that will make decisions regarding certain operational details on an ongoing basis. The Steering Committee will consist of representatives of the two counties and the cities. The IGA will also designate Coos County as the Lead Agency of this regional service.
A seven-year budget projection has been prepared based on detailed capital and operating cost estimates for the permanent facility and satellite collection events. No fees will be charged for dropping off HHW at the permanent facility or satellite collection events. CEGs may still pay market rates for disposal of their hazardous waste, depending on the fee structure determined. Funding will be from two sources: (1) DEQ grants, and (2) the disposal fees charged on a per ton basis at the Beaver Hill Disposal Site and transfer stations in the two counties.
Assuming the programs and cost estimates of the HHW Plan as described, the tipping fees will increase by an average of approximately $3.27 per ton of waste disposed. The impact on collection rates will vary based on size of container and service levels, but would average approximately $0.28 per household per can per month, or $3.40 per year. Commercial customers would pay approximately $0.89 per container yard a month. Actual costs are highly dependent on program participation and volumes of wastes collected, and thus may be higher or lower than estimated. The HHW Plan includes provisions for the Steering Committee to address long-term funding for the collection and disposal of HHW and to adjust services and programs based on costs and participation. In addition, the planned HHW services and programs may reduce long-term costs because they are designed to minimize impacts to the environment and reduce hazards to worker and community safety.
After discussing the request, the City Council unanimously voted to place on the agenda for the August 3, 2009 City Council meeting the matters of adopting the Household Hazardous Waste Management Plan, approving the solid waste disposal rate increases, signing the intergovernmental agreement (IGA), and appointing a representative to the Steering Committee.
DECISION ON PROPOSED SIGN REGULATIONS DELAYED FOR ONE MONTH
Earlier this year, the Planning Commission completed the preparation of comprehensive sign regulations to improve and replace the somewhat minimal provisions which currently exist in the Zoning Regulations. Until now, each individual zone had some sign regulations, but a number of items, such as sign height, political signs, temporary off-site signs, and signs behind windows, were not addressed or regulated. In addition, the definitions related to signs were incomplete.
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed sign regulations and definitions, and have recommended that the City Council amend the Municipal Code to incorporate them in Title 17 - Zoning, and Section 16.42 - Definitions. No public comment was received at the hearing. Ordinance No. 1572, which would adopt the new sign regulations was passed to a second reading by the City Council at the April 6, 2009 meeting. The City Attorney expressed some concerns at that time, but those have been resolved.
At their July 6th meeting, the City Council agreed by consensus that the proposed sign regulations should be held over until the August 3, 2009 meeting, to provide time for additional review and research by Councilors.
POTENTIAL BALLOT MEASURES FOR POLICE AND/OR COMMUNITY CENTER LEVIES
The Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Budget Message discussed the potential placement of a police and/or public safety levy on the ballot for the November 3, 2009 election, in order to have additional funds for police and/or fire protection beginning in fiscal year 2010-2011. A police levy would be used for Police Department operation expenses, which are included in the General Fund budget. A public safety levy would also add funds for financing the City's fire protection contract with the Bandon Rural Fire Protection District (BRFPD).
Another idea which was put forth following the decision to not proceed with a transient occupancy tax (TOT) increase at this time is a possible Community Center levy to finance the operation of the Barn/Community Center. This would allow a reduction in facility use payments by local community service organizations, the Senior Meals Program, Project EAT, and similar users of the facility. It would also be used as an economic development promotional tool by allowing reduced fees for certain outside City groups who would come to Bandon and patronize local businesses and lodging facilities, and in turn increase TOT revenues. Either of these levies would be an operating levy, assessed as a property tax, and could be for a maximum period of 5-years as provided by State statutes.
One of the primary public safety concerns is ensuring 24 hour police coverage. Considering the normal 40-hour work week, three shifts per day, seven days per week, vacations, normal sick leave, and normal court appearance time, it generally takes a minimum of 5 officers to provide 24 hour patrol coverage with one officer on duty. To allow for some overlapping schedules for administrative duties and investigations, a minimum of 6 officers is recommended, which is the number currently employed in Bandon. Considering Bandon's population of 3,300, this calculates to 1.8 police officers per 1,000 population, which is slightly above the statewide average of 1.6 police officers per 1,000 population. (Source: Northwest Area Foundation, 1997-2007: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reports, http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm, Last Updated: November 17, 2008.) Dropping Bandon's police force to 5 officers, however, would mean 1.5 officers per 1,000 population, which is below the statewide average. The preferred level would be 7 officers, which was the size of the force last year.
In addition to the amount of the proposed levy, if the Council decides to proceed with placing the matter on the ballot, a decision must be reached regarding which election date. For the property tax levy to be assessed next fiscal year (2010-2011), two "simple-majority" election dates are possible: November 3, 2009 (County filing deadline is September 3, 2009), or on the May 18, 2010 election (County filing deadline is March 18, 2010). In selecting an election date(s), consideration should also be given to time required for publicizing the matter and informing the public, what other competing items may be on the agenda, and other political issues.
The November 3 election date would allow the City to include ballot measure information in the July, August, or September utility bill mailings. In terms of determining the required size of the levy, this date is not as favorable as May, since the September 3 filing deadline is well in advance of beginning budget preparations for the following fiscal year. The November date would allow the City to know the election results well in advance of budget preparation, and would allow a back-up election in May if the measure failed and it was felt it could be passed at a subsequent election.
The May 18 election date would allow the City to include ballot measure information in the February, March, or April utility bill mailings. In terms of determining the required size of the levy, this date is more favorable than November, since the March 18 filing deadline is after budget preparations for the following fiscal year have started. The May date would allow the City to know the election results in advance of finalizing the subsequent year's budget, but would not allow a back-up election if the measure failed, unless the measure was re-submitted for the double-majority September 2010 election. In the latter case, the election results would not be known until well after the budget was adopted.
Using Bandon's fiscal year 2008-2009 assessed valuation of $386,261,050, yields property tax proceeds of $100,000 (the estimated annual cost of one police officer) for a tax rate of $0.2589 per $1,000 assessed valuation. If the assessed valuation grows each year, the revenues will keep up with cost increases. If, as some are projecting, the assessed valuation declines as real market values decline, then additional assessments would be necessary to keep up with increased costs. For purposes of projecting the amount of a levy necessary, based on the current assessed valuation, it is assumed that each $0.26 of levy increment will raise $100,000.
If the voters are to be asked to approve a 5-year levy to ensure 24-hour patrol coverage, the levy should be established in an amount that will ensure the provision of 6 police officers each year for the life of the levy. If the levy is projected to finance 2 police officers, then the City should commit to making the funding for the other 4 officers and other Police Department costs the absolute highest priority for the expenditure of General Funds for the next 5 years. A $0.52 per $1,000 assessed valuation levy is projected to yield $200,000 per year, which is sufficient to pay the cost of 2 officers.
Based on the current fiscal year 2009-2010 budget of $66,700 for operating the Barn/Community Center, less the $10,000 pass-through of cleaning deposits, a property tax levy of $0.15 per $1,000 assessed valuation should generate sufficient funds to adequately subsidize the facility's operational expenses for the next 5 years.
At their July 6th meeting, the City Council unanimously voted to direct staff to prepare ballot measures for a potential $0.52 per $1,000 assessed valuation 5-year police operating levy and a potential $0.15 per $1,000 assessed valuation 5-year community center operating levy, and present them at the August 3, 2009 City Council meeting. At that time, decisions will be made regarding whether one or both levies should be placed on the ballot, at which election(s), and the final size of the levy(ies).
PROPOSED GREATER BANDON AREA POOL AND RECREATION DISTRICT
At their July 6th meeting, the City Council considered a request from the pool committee to adopt a resolution regarding the potential formation of a Greater Bandon Area Pool and Recreation District. The pool committee is a group of private citizens who are attempting to move forward with their efforts to construct and operate a community swimming pool. Neither the proposed swimming pool nor the pool committee are associated with the City of Bandon municipal government. Their request was that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the inclusion of the City of Bandon within the boundaries of a proposed Greater Bandon Area Pool and Recreation District, and asking the County Board of Commissioners approve a petition which the pool committee would circulate to set the matter of District formation and a tax base (amount unspecified) for the November 2011 election. If adequate signatures from registered voters are secured on the petition, the matter would then be placed on the ballot for the voters to decide whether to form the district and impose a property tax levy to construct, operate, and maintain a swimming pool and/or any other recreation facilities and programs.
After discussing the request, the City Council approved the resolution on a vote of 5-1, with Councilors Claassen, Drew, Hundhausen, Procetto, and Tiffany voting in favor, and Councilor Vick opposed.
LINDA'S CHURCH JOKE
Linda was having a hard time coming up with a joke this week, but her bacon was saved by Joseph Bain, who sent in the following Top 10 list of what he called "For those who love the philosophy of ambiguity, as well as the idiosyncrasies of English:"
1. What if there were no hypothetical questions?
2. Is there another word for synonym?
3. What should you do if you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?
4. If the police arrest a mime, do they have to tell him he has the right to remain silent?
5. How is it possible to have a civil war?
6. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?
7. How do they get deer to cross the road only at the yellow deer crossing signs?
8. Whose wise idea was it for the word "lisp" to have an "s" in it?
9. How can there be an expiration date on sour cream?
10. What was the best thing before sliced bread?
HA! HA! Ha! HO! Ho! HA! Ha! ha! ha! ha!
ANYTHING ELSE?
Do you have any questions, input, or suggestions? Are there any topics you want addressed or covered in the Newsletter? If so, please let me know at citymanager@ci.bandon.or.us. For more complex questions or issues that may take significant discussion, please feel free to contact me by telephone at (541) 347-2437, voice mail ext. 229, so we can schedule an appointment.
Also, remember to visit the City of Bandon WEB page at www.ci.bandon.or.us, where you can get more information on this wonderful place in which we live.
That's it for now. Have a great day!
