The INDEPENDENT, May 17, 2007
Page 13
Banks City Council discusses change to Charter on role of mayor
The Banks City Council
meeting held on May 8, com-
menced with a packed agenda.
A City proclamation recog-
nizing the week of May 20-26,
2007, as Emergency Medical
Services Week, followed a
presentation by Jan Lee, of
Metro West Ambulance. Lee
presented a plaque to Mayor
Teri Branstitre and Council in
recognition of their continued
support of Emergency Medical
Services personnel in the City
of Banks.
A proposed amendment to
the city charter was debated
among council. The amend-
ment would extend the mayor’s
term from two years to four
years, and allow the mayor to
vote on all issues. Councilors
were unanimous that the term
change is appropriate, but dis-
agreed about routine votes by
the mayor instead of the cur-
rent system, which allows the
mayor to vote only in case of a
tie. The proposed amendment
was carried over from the April
meeting so Councilor Dan
Keller could voice his opposi-
tion to the mayoral vote portion
of the amendment. This Char-
ter Amendment is due to go be-
fore the voters on the 2007 fall
ballot. Keller held strong to his
opinion that the mayor should
stand silent and exercise a vote
only in the event of a tie.
Councilor Pete Edison said
the community should be al-
lowed to know the position of
the mayor, arguing that the
change “…allows mayor to
have a stronger opinion; not al-
lowing the mayor to vote is sil-
ly.” Keller disagreed, saying, “I
think the mayor will be stronger
by breaking the tie.” After tense
discussion on the topic, Edison
made a motion to approve the
proposed amendment as writ-
ten. Councilor Brian Biehl sec-
onded the motion. Keller then
made a motion to amend the
proposed amendment to main-
tain the current vote status of
the mayor and Councilor Jason
Short seconded the motion,
which passed with a 4-2 vote.
City Attorney Jim Lucas will re-
view the changes and return
the proposed ballot measure to
the council for approval at their
next meeting.
Council approved converting
the
non-exempt
City
Recorder/Treasurer Position to
an exempt position. A non-ex-
empt position is subject to over-
time compensation; an exempt
position that is compensated
with a salary range will assist
the city in budget planning. The
council determined that the po-
sition will hold exempt status
with a monthly salary ranging
from $3,000 to $4,250.
Kathryn ‘Kate’ Mattimore,
Co-President of Backflow Man-
agement Inc. (BMI) provided in-
formation to council regarding
approved backflow mechanical
units and the different features
the devices offered. Council
was briefed on the hazards of
thermal expansion, common
cross-connections, and why the
installation of backflow mecha-
nisms is required. Mattimore
stressed the importance of cre-
ating a public education pro-
gram and a system for notifying
customers of the potential haz-
ards. This issue was brought
before council due to on-going
backflow issues that have aris-
en in the Arbor Development.
The broken waterline on
Wilkes Street which occurred
the last week of April has been
repaired, according to Fred
Evers. When asked if the wa-
terline issue is resolved, Evers
responded, “No-just bandag-
es.”
Banks has been working
with Schroeder Law Offices to
determine the city’s current wa-
ter right certificates and permit
standing. Following the firm’s
recommendation, council con-
ceded that they need to obtain
the services of a hydrologist to
provide the documentation
needed to move forward on the
water right permit applications;
extensions have been filed.
Council approved, by a 5-1
vote, amendments to an ordi-
nance regulating the posses-
sion of replica firearms in public
places. City Attorney Lucas will
write the amendments into the
ordinance for next month’s
meeting.
Interviews were held April 27
for the position of city engineer.
Council will ask for draft con-
tract agreements and proposed
rate quotes from the top three
candidates
–
KPFF,
Kennedy/Jenks Consultants,
and Landesign Group.
Edison updated council on
the hiring process for the City
Manager. The advertisement
drafted by the League of Ore-
gon Cities went out this month.
The application deadline is
June 15.
A Municipal Court system
was approved by council for the
2007-08 fiscal year. The court
budget includes includes costs
for Municipal Court Judge Vir-
ginia Petersen, for three hours
a month, and interpreter costs,
as well as anticipated funds
from fees and assessments. An
inter-governmental agreement
(IGA) will be worked out with
Forest Grove and Cornelius.
Short gave an update on the
Park Board’s work to replace
the colorspot beds by the gaze-
bo in Greenville Park. Of the
three choices, replacement of
the colorspot beds with six
budget change at a public hear-
ing.
Sunset Park representative
Mel Clark reported on Sunset
Park compliance and future
plans. He said that signs will be
posted ‘No Pets in Park’ after
receiving complaints about chil-
dren having “dog messes” on
them. Clark also announced
that the Sunset Raceway
schedule should now be posted
on the park website.
The city is seeking volun-
teers to fill open Tree Board po-
sitions. The tree board will be
working with a botanist for fu-
ture tree planting, and assess-
ment and itemization of trees
that currently belong to the city.
Interested residents are en-
couraged to contact Banks City
Hall.
Culpepper and Merriweather
Circus is due in town, Saturday,
May 26. Council commented
on the lack of advertisement
around the city for this family
fun event.
The next City Council Meet-
ing is June 12, at 7:30 p.m. in
Banks City Hall.
Don’t miss Culpepper
& Merriweather Circus
when it comes to
town on Saturday,
May 26, at 2:00
and 4:30 p.m.
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white and coral Flower Carpet
Roses was favorable. The com-
mission is also working on a se-
curity plan to help eliminate
graffiti in the gazebo.
Jim Branstitre presented
background on Greenville Park
regarding the agreement made
between the City of Banks and
Westhills Development. Ac-
cording to Branstitre, no home-
owners were given an opportu-
nity for third party input into de-
cisions for that agreement;
there were no homeowners at
the time the original agree-
ments were made. During the
past seven years, the home-
owners have funded the park at
an expense of $133,000 which
has been a savings to the city.
Edison noted that homeowners
know what they are getting into
when they purchase property in
the development; in a prior
election, voters in Banks de-
clined to fund the park.
The mayor suggested that a
work session be set up prior to
next month’s council meeting to
brainstorm and “develop some
community bonding” on this is-
sue.
Edison requested the coun-
cil to approve budgeting
$10,000 in matching funds to
be set aside for “park improve-
ments, not maintenance”, as a
good-faith effort by the city.
Council agreed to request the
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