The INDEPENDENT, February 21, 2008
Page 13
Banks City Council passes three new ordinances about vehicles
Councilor Pete Edison
presided over the February 12
meeting of Banks City Council
in the absence of Mayor Teri
Branstitre. Councilors Brian
Biehl, Jason Short and Ron
Kemper provided the quorum
needed to conduct business.
Audrea Fogue, senior asso-
ciate governmental relations
manager for Hometown Voices,
made a power point presenta-
tion on effective advocacy in
your hometown. The mission of
Hometown Voices, a grass-
roots advocacy program start-
ed in 2004 by the League of
Oregon Cities, is to influence
decisions that legislators make
about issues that impact our
communities.
The council’s voice is impor-
tant, Fogue said, “…we can’t
tell the stories that you can tell;
city officials do not get paid for
what they do – you do it be-
cause your care very deeply for
your community.” Fogue sug-
gested that council send copies
of city council agendas to our
legislators so they are informed
about the issues facing the
community.
According to Fogue, while
millions of dollars are con-
tributed to campaigns, few leg-
islators have served in local
elected offices. Just as con-
sumers let legislators know
how they are affected by deci-
sions made by legislators,
elected officials need to be the
balance. In closing, Fogue
commented that council’s com-
munication is important. “If you
like something your legislators
are doing, let them know; if you
don’t, respectfully agree to dis-
agree.”
Jeff Hood, Banks Planning
and Public Works Intern, pre-
sented an assessment of his
just completed sidewalk inven-
tory. The goal of the project is
to implement and track
progress toward maintenance
and accessibility.
The maintenance portion
was to evaluate pedestrian ac-
cessibility for deficiencies and
potential hazards. Hood identi-
fied specific features of pedes-
trian routes that do not meet
the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) accessibility guide-
lines. The condition of the side-
walk system was rated by three
geographic scales. Features
identified as deficiencies are
cracking, spalling, displace-
ment, sunken, raised, ponding,
missing panel or piece of panel,
patch and heaving. Each defi-
ciency presents a risk to pedes-
trian safety, and was rated for
low, medium or high severity,
and extent of the hazard.
Hood identified the target ar-
eas as southern Banks Road,
the Wilkes Street cul-de-sac,
Banks Estates and City Hall.
The aged, highly hazardous
sidewalk on rural Banks Road
has deteriorated and does not
connect with the rest of the
pedestrian network, Hood re-
ported. He recommended that
it be removed, with replace-
ment scheduled when pedestri-
an need presents itself. The
end of Wilkes Street has a nar-
row sidewalk with spalling and
extensive sunken spots, result-
ing in displacements at the
curb, which create tripping haz-
ards.
Banks Estates (which may
be classified by the Department
of Justice as new construction),
has a two-foot wide, tree-lined
planting strip, which is adding
to the problem of uplifted side-
walk and driveway aprons, with
excessive cross-slope at every
lot. The sidewalk at City Hall
presents significant hazards
and should be remedied first,
according to Hood, because
the city could be held liable for
injuries. In addition, potentially
dissenting property owners
would be more receptive to a
program of sidewalk improve-
ments if the city sets an exam-
ple.
City Manager Jim Hough
thanked Hood for his informa-
tive report and told council that
“…Jeff has his Masters in
mathematics; he started at
ground zero (with this sidewalk
project).” Hough added that the
product Hood developed is
“awesome.” Edison presented
Hood with a certificate from the
city and a gift certificate.
Deputy Tran reported that
calls for police service in the
city were about double from the
prior month; 30 calls resulted in
3 arrests; 72 traffic stops result-
ed in 29 citations. Tran said that
an arrest has been made in the
robbery at the NAPA Auto Parts
store.
A resolution adopting the
Swatco rate change passed
unanimously. Swatco President
Rich Weitzel said that new
roller recycling containers
should arrive in about eight
weeks and the program should
start in May, but will not be lat-
er than August 1.
The estimate for repairs to
Banks City Hall was presented
to council. After reviewing the
estimate and looking at the
budget, council unanimously
approved the expenditure and
the repairs.
Hough received a late pro-
posal for the Well #2 Intercon-
nect Plan, and was surprised at
the cost “…this is really expen-
sive; it sort of chokes us. This is
higher than the ball park fig-
ure.” Edison, agreed with
Hough, saying “This is lots of
money. I would like to have the
rest of council here.” Council
tabled the decision for a month.
Three ordinances came be-
fore council: An ordinance re-
garding impoundment of vehi-
cles was passed with Councilor
Kemper opposed. An ordi-
nance modifying Ordinance
70.40, about illegally parked
vehicles, was adopted unani-
mously. Also adopted unani-
mously was an ordinance that
makes it an offense to park a
vehicle in a fire lane located on
privately-owned premises that
are open to the public. Fire
Chief Brian Coussens was
present to answer questions
from councilors.
The Banks Library Commis-
sion made a recommendation
regarding terms of office and
presented a draft ordinance,
written by librarian Denise
Holmes, amending the Code of
Banks, Chapter 32. City Attor-
ney Jim Lucas said it is a “won-
derful revision; if she (Holmes)
wants to go to law school, she’s
got my name as a recommen-
dation.” Council will consider
the change next month,
The next city council meet-
ing will be held on March 11,
2008 at 7:30 p.m.
Banks High announces Honor students
From page 12
Zach Evers, Darcy Haboush,
Jenny Helm, Tiara Herr*, Tasha
Lyda*, Taylor Matyasz, Christy
McCarthy, Hank Meeuwsen,
Kelsee Miller, DeeJay Pickar,
Michelle Quirk, Rebecca Re-
noult*, Shaylin Roberts*, Hay-
den Sahnow, Jessica Selfai-
son*, Chris Shaw*, Sierra Sil-
ver*, Todd Vergotis*.
Freshmen – Mark Acosta,
Megan Chalupsky, Max Edi-
son*, Samantha Elwood*, Kici-
ah Gibson*, Sarah Grover*,
Cassie Halls*, Allison Hancock,
Mack Kellas, Aaron Kemper,
Jessica Markham, Chelsea
Mathews, Arley Sanchez, Joe
Schorn, Colby Seyferth, Koby
Shaddon, Kaitlin Sommerfeld*,
Garrett Soper, Felicia Wilson.
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