CONSULTANT WANTS ADDITIONAL 10,000 on harbor clean up study.
The endless study of harbor clean up
During the next City Council meeting on Tuesday, the city will be asked for an additional $10,000 for the harbor clean up study, which has been going on since 2012, from the consultant doing the study. I tell you one thing this study is keeping the consultant doing the study in business! While the citizens face higher taxes and utility rates more than ever. However fortunately, insurance will be covering most of the cost. But, still this is just one of three unfunded mandates from Ecology which continues to milk the city and citizens dry! As you recall this was the very project which the city was adding a surcharge to utility rate payers in order to pay for this "study", since then, the city gotten funding through insurance. Still, they haven't figured out what part of the cleanup will be the city's responsibility, and that I imagine will end up being on the shoulders of the citizens of the city, not the actual polluters. Lot of that sediment would probably be all washed out by the tide in time, but ecology in their infinite wisdom wants the clean up done. Once again, proving my point ecology only cares about their agenda to the point of bankrupting a town to achieve their ends.
According to the staff memo provided:
Early in 2012, the Department of Ecology (DOE) released a harbor
sediment investigation report. Based on that report, DOE subsequently notified the City that it is
one of several entities potentially liable for some portion of the contaminants in the harbor. Once
that notification was made, the City was under an obligation to respond to it in some fashion.
After considering alternatives, the City Council elected to join with other PLPs to prepare an
RI/FS, which is the first step in evaluating possible cleanup actions. So, the City entered into a
Participation Agreement (PA). The other parties are the Port, Nippon, Georgia Pacific, and Merrill
& Ring. In the PA, those parties agreed to share the costs and expenses necessary to produce an
RI/FS.
Preparation of an RI/FS is largely a technical process. It requires scientists with specialized
training. Recognizing that, the PLP group hired technical consultants to support the preparation of
the RI/FS. Almost all of the costs incurred by the PLP group are to pay the fees of the consultants
and the testing and studies they conducted.
The general steps that must be taken to produce an RI/FS are well known, but the details cannot be
predicted in advance. So, at the time the parties entered into the Participation Agreement, they
identified the general categories of work that the technical consultants would perform. That work
was divided into 3 tasks, and the group estimated the cost of each. At the same time, the PLPs
knew that circumstances could arise in the future that might require additional funding. Therefore,
they included in the PA provisions for making additional contributions to the group if future events
increased the necessary costs.
At this date, Task 1 has been completed on time and under budget. Task 2 is nearly complete.
Task 3 is not complete. It has required some additional testing and study that was not anticipated
in April 2013. So, some additional funding will be required to complete the RI/FS. The PLP
group cashier has called for an additional contribution of $10,000 from each PLP. All the other
PLPs have approved this additional contribution pursuant to the PA.
Council needs to approve the additional expenditure pursuant to previous obligations for the
Harbor Study RI/FS project. Funding for this expenditure is expected to be paid directly by the
City’s former insurance carriers with little, if any, cash contribution from City funding.
We will revise both the revenue and expenditure sides of the budget for this project as part of the
2015 Budget Amendment #2 that should is anticipated to occur in late May/early June.
Recommendation: It is recommended that City Council authorize the City Manager, pursuant to
the Participation Agreement, to make an additional contribution to the PLP group in the amount of
$10,000.
As for the rest of the agenda of the city council meeting:
CONSENT AGENDA / Approve
1. City Council Minutes: March 3, 2015......................................E-1
2. Expenditure Approval List: 3/07/2015 to 3/27/2015 for $4,270,074.99 ................................................................................E-8
3. Tumwater Truck Route Sewer Extension / Final Acceptance..................E-61
4. Economic Development Council / Appoint representative ......................E-62
Summary: Recently Clallam County Economic Development Council bylaws were changed
adding a second representative position for the City of Port Angeles. Council needs to
appoint a representative for this position prior to an April 9th meeting of the new board.
Recommendation: Appoint Orville W. Campbell as City Representative to the Economic
Development Council Board.
5. Electrical Pole Testing, Project LO-15-009 / Award Contract.............................................................................................E-66
Summary: Bids were opened on March 24, 2015 to test wood poles owned by the electric utility.
Two bids were received. The low, responsible bid was from Quality Resources & Services, Inc.
Recommendation: Award and authorize the City Manager to sign a contract with Quality
Resources and Services, Inc., for Project LO-15-009, in the amount of $33,879.34, including
tax, and to make minor modifications to the contract, if necessary.
ORDINANCES NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Ordinance adopting Public Defense Standards / Conduct second reading ..................................... H-1
Summary: The City is obligated to provide defense attorneys to indigent persons accused of
misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors within the City limits. To ensure that public defense
attorneys provide competent representation, the City should adopt standards for indigent
defense. The attached ordinance is offered for that purpose.
2. 2015 Budget Amendment #1 / Conduct first reading ................ H-9
Summary: The 2015 Budget is being amended for the first time to adjust a variety of
funds to reflect changes in revenues and expenditures that have occurred during the first few
months of 2015. This budget amendment primarily includes items that are capital in nature,
while future budget amendments will focus on operating and maintenance adjustments.
As this budget amendment includes new revenues as well as an authorization to use funds
from reserves, the ordinance must be approved by a super-majority of the entire Council or at
least five (5) affirmative votes.
Recommendation: The requested action for this issue is as follows:
1. Conduct a first reading of the 2015 Budget Amendment #1 ordinance and continue to
the April 21st Council meeting.
. FINANCE
1. Accept Federal Surface Transportation Program Grant ........................................................................................................ K-1
Summary: The City was successful in obtaining a federal Surface Transportation Program
(STP) Grant in the amount of $804,845 for design and rehabilitation of 18th Street. A Local
Agency agreement with WSDOT is required to obligate the funding.
Recommendation: Accept the federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) Grant in the
amount of $804,845 for the design and rehabilitation of 18th Street, and authorize the
Mayor to execute the Local Agency Agreement and sign the Local Agency Federal Aid
Project Prospectus.
2. City Hall/PenCom Emergency Power, HVAC, and Fire Suppression Upgrades, Project GG1201-Material Preorder......... K-3
Summary: Last week, Pencom staff was offered a grant opportunity from the Washington
Military Department, Emergency Management Division that can provide additional financial
assistance for Pencom requirements associated with the subject project. The financial assistance
is within the current State biennial budget, with the requirement that the work supported by this
grant must be complete by June 30, 2015. In order to ensure that this work can be completed in
time, material preorders are required for the longer lead time items to support the contract work.
Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to direct staff to issue material preorders
with vendors for UPS and for electrical components such as panels and switches for Project
GG1501 in the not to exceed amount of $120,000.
County Commission: Agreement with Peninsula Daily News for publication of legal notices as “Official County Newspaper”
1a Approval of vouchers for the week of March 30
1b Approval of minutes for the week of March 30
1c Proclamation recognizing April 6 – 12 as National Public Health Week
CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS
2a Amendment 1 with the Washington State Department of Agriculture adding funding for Noxious
Weed Control Board activities
2b Amendment 13 with the Washington State Department of Health and Human Services adding
contract language
2c Agreement with Peninsula Daily News for publication of legal notices as “Official County
Newspaper”
* It must be wonderful to be the "paper" of record and not have to feel beholding to the government in any way shape or form! Not have to sacrifice free speech!
3a Bid opening – Carpet Replacement, Assessor’s Office
ADMINISTRATION
4a Resolution appointing members to the Crescent Community Advisory Council
4b Resolution appointing members to the Opportunity Fund Board and confirming Port of Port
Angeles and City of Sequim appointments
PUBLIC WORKS
5a Easement modification with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources for the
Olympic Discovery Trail between Fairholm Hill and Cooper Ranch Road to accommodate
alternative alignment
Other area meetings this week:
PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 540 WATER STREET
Agenda highlight: B. Resolution 15-018 Related to the Disposition of City Property; Amending the Affordable Housing Inventory List, and Directing the City Manager to Take Appropriate Actions to Preserve City-Owned Property for Open Space and Stormwater Detention and Treatment Purposes
Action: Move to approve Resolution 15-018 Related to the Disposition of City Property; Amending the Affordable Housing Inventory List, and Directing the City Manager to Take Appropriate Actions to Preserve City-Owned Property for Open Space and Stormwater Detention and Treatment Purposes
In other local headlines:
Twists, turns for Clallam’s Economic Development Council
Intending the funds to be used by the recently restructured Economic Development Council, Clallam County commissioners appropriated $150,000 from the county’s general fund toward general economic development March 24.---SEQUIM GAZETTE
Moss earns state recognition as volunteer
The volunteer efforts of Port Townsend Food Bank Manager Shirley Moss are being recognized by the 2015 Governor's Volunteer Service Awards Ceremony on April 21 at the Executive Mansion in Olympia.---PT LEADER
Nature Conservancy Buys 3,184 Acres on Hoh River
The Nature Conservancy has purchased 3,184 acres along the Hoh River near the Washington coast from Rayonier,the two organizations announced today.---FORKS FORUM
Cost — at least $10,000. Hoax report of girl in distress in water prompts expensive search in Port Angeles
PORT ANGELES — A hoax on April Fools' Day tied up police and Coast Guard resources for a half-hour and cost at least $10,000 before it was determined to be a prank.---Peninsula Daily News
Privatization of municipal services
Over the last half century, governments of all political complexions have increasingly embraced privatization—shifting some or all aspects of government service delivery to private sector provision—as a strategy to lower the costs of government and achieve higher performance and better outcomes for tax dollars spent.---PORT O CALL
News from across the strait:
Advocates hand out tents as winter shelters close in Victoria
More people will be sleeping on the streets and in parks as winter shelters close this week in Greater Victoria — and many have started planning what to do, advocates for the homeless say --TIMES COLONIST
TODAY'S MUSIC VIDEO: John Lennon Greatest Hits (Full Album) - The Best Of John Lennon
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