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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 2003)
Page 12 The INDEPENDENT, August 21, 2003___________________________________________________ _ _ ________ _________ ___________________________ Banks Council and AVHA résumé talks about park maintenance Following an extended exec utive session, Banks City Council discussed the Parks Maintenance Agreement with Arbor Village Homeowners As sociation (AVHA) President David Valdez, at their August 12 meeting. Referring to an in creasingly contentious dis agreement on the costs and re sponsibility for maintenance and water, Valdez said that he wanted to work with the council to “end the nightmare situation in a mutually beneficial and col laborative way.” In February, council had agreed to extend the existing agreement until June 30, and to work with AVHA to draft a new agreement. At that time, AVHA Banks Police levy on ballot in September Voters will be asked to main tain funding for law enforce ment in the City of Banks by re newing a five year operating levy dedicated to police services. The levy, which will be on the September 16 mail ballot, would replace an existing five year levy which will end next year. The new levy would maintain the same rate as the existing levy - $1.80 per $1,000 of assessed property value. This is approximately $180 per year for property as sessed at $100,000. A group of Banks citizens have formed a committee to answer questions about the levy and to work for its pas sage. Anyone wishing to con tact them may leave a mes sage at 503-324-9114. proposed that the city begin paying for irrigation at Greenville Park in July, as a transition to accepting all re sponsibility for park mainte nance in July of 2004. Council requested that information about maintenance costs be presented in March. Subsequently, discussion stopped abruptly when AVHA board members implied legal action, saying they had been informed by an attorney that the city had a “legal exposure.” Discussions resumed at the April and May council meet ings, centered around vague “ legal opinions” offered by AVHA board members that the homeowners association should not be responsible for the water bill. After an execu tive session, council extended the current agreement until a new agreement could be reached. In July, council decid ed to put a parks levy before the voters in the September election. At the August meeting, Valdez said that the two groups had been working at cross-pur poses and that none of the ac tions or statements made by AVHA board members were meant to polarize the situation. He added that AVHA would be paying the entire water bill, in cluding fees and interest, and that the board was formally withdrawing a letter sent to the city in July. Valdez asked for a letter to the homeowners’ association saying that the city would re lease AVHA of its financial obli gation when the park levy passed. Mayor Bob Orlowski explained that it is necessary to s ■I 3 BANKS .nJ M IN I STORAGE -1 Ask about our 8 “Clock & Lock Giveaway!" Pay 3 months and get 4th month FREE! Ask about our Long Term Lease rates Specials available for a limited time We can honestly say... “We have the lowest rates in town!" G a te s O p e r a te D a ily 7 A M - 9 A M O ffic e H o u rs : M o n - F r i 9 A M -6 P M , S at 8 A M - N o o n 140 NW O a k M r , B anks • 503-324-0552 sponsible for the maintenance of any future improvements to the park. According to Lucas, the city is also responsible for repairs necessitated by any damages occurring during a city-approved event when the park has been rented. see what the public response will be before effecting any change, although several coun cil members indicated that it is their intention to release AVHA if the levy passes. Valdez also asked council to begin a process to “seek com mon ground on the cost of wa ter." When asked for a defini tion by Katie Murdoch, Valdez said that the high commercial water rate was difficult for AVHA. Orlowski explained that the city water rate structure is not based on zoning (i.e. whether a property is commer cial, industrial or residential) but on the volume of water used. High volume users are billed at a higher rate because large quantities of water are more expensive to produce. Further, according to Orlowski, the city must provide "equal treatment under the law" for all entities and cannot reduce the water rate for any one cus tomer. Valdez suggested possi bly adding language that would allow the city to negotiate water rates for city-owned properties such as the park. Discussion will continue at future meetings. Police Department Orlowski told council that the high bidder for the police car sold as surplus had requested to withdraw from the agree ment. According to Orlowski, the city should be able to get more money for the car than was offered so he readily agreed. The car will be put up for sale again to be sold as sur plus by sealed bid. Banks Police Officer Bruce Bringman reported that the de partment will have a Kids Care booth at the Banks Barbeque, to give away bike helmets and take ID photos. The department will again raffle off two bicycles. Because of several con frontations with partygoers at Schlegel Hall in Sunset Park during these events, Bringman explained, in addition to the se curity provided by Sunset Park, the department has decided to post a reserve officer on the New Parks chairman Later in the meeting, Coun cilor Kirk Andrews introduced Tina Sturmer, the new chair man of the Parks Committee, who requested information about what AVHA’s fiscal obli gations. Orlowski said that city attorney Jim Lucas had clari fied the issue earlier in the evening: Everything currently in place in Greenville Park must be maintained at the expense of AVHA. The city would be re premises in order to ensure of ficer safety. Andrews asked if the additional police presence was being billed to the Park. Orlowski said that since the park had not requested the ad ditional coverage it was not be ing billed. Andrews also raised a concern about the liquor li cense at the hall. Orlowski told council that he would report next month on possible actions the city could take. Bringman also reported that he and Officer Duggan have been investigating a series of thefts from vehicles. Sunset Park request Sunset Park Association re quested a donation of $150 from the city to support chil dren’s activities during the bar beque. When Andrews won dered if the association was amenable to discussion of the problem s at Schlegel Hall, Councilor Ryan Birr countered that the barbeque was a large city event, bringing many peo ple to town, and separate from the Schlegel Hall issues. Council unanimously agreed to grant the request, after a brief discussion. 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