HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/09/1983 Special Meeting MAY 9, 1983 G 1
SPECIAL MEETING - GLEED AREA DOMESTIC WATER SERVICE
The City Council met in session on this date at 7:00 p.m. in the Council
Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Council members present were
Mayor Lynn Carmidhael, Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Budhanan,
W. K. "Pete" Moore, and Jack Sparling. Council member Shirley Doty was
present for the meeting, but excused due to a possible conflict of
interest.
Mayor Carmichael called the meeting to order, stating the purpose of the
meeting was to discuss and eventually decide What the City's future
policy would be concerning domestic water service by the City to the
Gleed area water customers. She questioned if there was anyone present
II/ in the audience Who would like to speak to this issue. Upon no response
from the audience, Ma wa
yor Carmidhael inquired if Allan Miller was
present, as she had read an article in the Herald-Republic newspaper
Wherein Allan Miller had found a document that pertains to this issue.
Allan Miller, Rt. 8, Box 681, was present to express his concerns,
stating he felt the citizens present tonight were intimidated by the
television cameras and by the fact the meeting was being tape recorded.
He stated he did have an agreement in his possession between the City of
Yakima and the former property owner of his residence, but expressed his
concerns about providing this information to the Council, as he did not
want to jeopardize his neighbors because they may not have such an
agreement in their possession. Mayor Carmichael requested if the City
Council could receive a copy of the agreement. Mr. Miller complied,
providing the documents, Which consisted of an official receipt from the
City of Yakima Water Department, pertaining to Ordinance No. B-606,
letter of correspondence dated December 13, 1947 from Northern Pacific
Railway and Permit No. 68056 from the Northern Pacific Railway Company
dated December 15, 1947. Mr. Miller requested a copy of all the names
of Gleed residents Who are currently receiving water from the City of
Yakima. Frank Mabry, Superintendent, Water Division, responded and
provided an explanation of the water billing procedure. Mayor
Carmidhael questioned if anyone present had any questions pertaining to
the engineering report entitled, Well Supply for Gleed Customers dated
March 17, 1983, Which had Fen previously supplied to the Gleed
residents. Council member Moore questioned how many people present
received the report on the wells. It was the consensus of the audience
that all had received the report. Council member Moore questioned if
anyone present had any questions regarding this report. Council member
Moore referred to staff's report Wherein $4,703 was estimated to drill
one well; 19 wells at $4,703 would amount to $89,357. He stated in his
own personal opinion, that those figures were higher than the citizens
of YakiMa could afford to pay. He requested comments from the audience
regarding the possibility of the City establishing a flat figure per
well: Robert Young, Rt. 1, Box 665, Naches, questioned if Council
member Moore was proposing the City establish a flat fee and if there
was any difference in the cost, the residents would be obligated to pay
the difference. Council member Moore responded affirmatively. Mr.
Young questioned how many well drillers had the City utilized to cone up
with this estimated cost per well. Dennis Covell, Director of
Engineering & Utilities, was present to respond. He stated the City had
consulted two well drillers; who were familiar with the Gleed area, to
provide the estimated costs. Council member Moore addressed the
problems the City incurred regarding meeting all the various standards
to drill the wells which adds to the cost, Whereas, if each individual
could make provisions to drill their awn well, the cost would be much
more reasonable. Mr. Young questioned What kind of an agreement was
made with the two to three Gleed area residents regarding wells drilled
for them by the City within the past year. Dennis Covell responded,
stating there was an agreement made approximately ten years ago with a
few residents in the Rowe Hill area to remove than from the woodstave
pipe and drill wells for them, for which the City did. He indicated he
did not know that the legal requirements were pertaining to this action,
as the actual contract data as to location, depth and actual cost was
the only information he had on file. Mr. Young questioned why the City
did not drill wells for all Gleed customers currently utilizing City
water at the same time they drilled wells for the Rowe Hill residents.
Dennis Covell responded, informing Mr. Your there were Department of
Ecology considerations pertaining to the three Rowe Hill wells drilled
by the City. Mr. Young questioned how many residents could utilize one
L52 MAY 9, 1983
well. He indicated he owned a double lot; a well could be drilled on
his lot and serve four residents within 200 feet. Allan Miller
questioned how many water customers are currently being served in the
Gleed area. Frank Mabry responded, indicating there are 19 customers
plus two fire hydrants. Virgil Doty, Apple Valley Fruit, questioned if
the waterline going through Gleed is a steel line. He suggested
inserting a plastic strip through the line to repair the waterline. Ted
Hosman, Gleed, stated it was a woodstave line versus a steel line.
Council member Beaudhanp questioned Virgil Doty, in his opinion, how
much of the pipeline is in poor condition. Mr. Doty responded,
indicating fran the Edmundson area on down. Council member Beauchamp
questioned Frank Mabry regarding the problem areas of the watermain.
Frank Mabry responded, stating that the first mile from Nelson Bridge,
going from Gleed, is the worst section .of the line as that section has
the highest amount of pressure. Discussion followed regarding the
feasibility of slip lining the watermain with plastic pipe as an
alternative to the problem. Mr. Hosman referred to the minutes of
October - 26, 1982, wherein he suggested the City contact the Washington
II/
Service and Rating Bureau to researdh the costs and requirements to
connect directly to the main for donestic _water and fire hydrant
protection. He questioned if the City had done this. He questioned why
a well needed to be drilled When there is a four foot main running
through tcwn. Dennis Cavell explained there wasn't enough pressure
available in the watermain. Discussion followed regarding the
possibility of installing a booster pump on the main for fire hydrant
purposes. However, Council member Moore indicated that may solve the
problem for the fire hydrant use, but would not address the other 19
customers. Ted, Hosman, speaking for himself, indicated he would be
satisfied with a well. Council member Moore questioned the possibility
of the 22 users forming a water district and accepting a flat payment
fran the City of Yakima in which the money would be used to install a
type of service that would provide a solution to the problem in Gleed.
Tel Hosman questioned if the City was. going to apply for a Federal
Grant. Council member Moore indicated he would be willing to propose,
if approved by the City Council, a specified sum of Hurley to be applied
to that water district to take care of the problem. Council member
Moore suggested the 22 water users net and discuss alternatives and
provide a proposal to the Council in an effort to resolve this prcblem.
Allan Miller questioned if the Gleed area water users were, in fact,
obligated to do that. He expressed his viewpoint that the Council
should cane out and talk to each of the Glee custcmers. City Manager
Zais cemented on the alternatives suggested, indicating those mentioned
this evening have been researched. He elaborated on the alternative of
a formation of an outside water district, indicating the former City
administration had requested a proposal fran the Gleed residents on the
subject, but had not received a response and, therefore, nothing more
was done. He referred to staff's reports on this subject Which outline
various alternatives at varying costs. He indicated the City is trying
- to lock at all of the alternatives and derive the alternative that is
the most cost-effective. Dick Keller, Northwestern Fruit, cemented on
the relocation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and the savings
incurred by the City in doing so. He stated that at that time, the City
knew water service was going to have to be continued to the Gleed area.
He expressed his opinion that wells are too expensive and suggested slip
lining the pipe as the best alternative. Council member Moore cemented
that there was not enough pressure to service that area on another line
and, in his opinion, the City was just trying to continue that service
through the old line. He stated now the City is finding out this is
extremely costly and the people of Yakima, Who are supporting this
system, cannot continue to do so. Mr. Keller reiterated his belief that
due to the relocation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant, the problem
with water service to Gleed now exists. Robert Young questioned the
Council's position on this prcblem. Mayor Carmichael responded,
informing Mr. Young that this meting was held to hear the Glee
residents' concerns or ideas and Council did not anticipate making a
decision today. Discussion followed regarding fire protection and fire
insurance premium coverage in the Gleed area. Lynette Young questioned
the manner in which maintenance charges on her water bill were assessed.
She expressed her dissatisfaction with the manner in which the problem
of supplying water to Gleed residents is being handled. Allan Miller
questioned if the group present today could meet for a short period of
time, to discuss this issue among themselves and possibly cone up with a
preposal. It was the consensus of the Council to take a recess at this
MAY 9, 1983 8
time, to allow the Gleed residents to meet in private. Upon re-
convening, Mayor Carmidnael questioned the spokesman if there was a
consensus among the group for a solution to this problem. Allan Miller
stated that of those Gleed residents present tonight, it is the
consensus of the group that the Mardi 17, 1983 staff report regarding
well supply for Gleed water consuners is the best alternative. Mayor
Carmichael requested clarification of their proposal. Mr. Miller
responded, stating the group would prefer to have wells drilled for the
Gleed water consumers. Council member Beauchamp questioned if the group
had discussed the possibility of two or three families using one well.
Mr. Miller responded negatively, however, he stated this was discussed
in the 1974 proposal as well as this evening by Mr. Young and is a
possibility. Frank Mabry provided a point of clarification for the
Council regarding community wells. He stated that when there is more
than one customer to any well system, there are Department of Social and
Health regulations, which have to be met, and that then becomes a
community w11. Consequently, staff felt this was an undue complication
and did not consider this. Mr. Mabry comnented that there would also be
a need to provide additional distribution grids from the central well to
the points of use. He commented that there were a few areas that would
lend themselves to this suggestion, however, there are other
complications and felt it best to deal with the 'issue of continued water
use to Gleed customers on a case by case basis. Mayor Carmichael stated
that the Council will take the group's proposal under consideration and
will notify the Gleed residents should the Council come to a conclusion
and eventually a decision. Discussion followed regarding the cost
incurred by the loss of water from the main pipe during the past.
There being no further business to come before the Council, it was MOVED
by Barnett, seconded by Buchanan that this meeting be adjourned at the
hour of 8:30 p.m. 1/7
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
COUNCIL MEMBER
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OWNCIL MEMBER
ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK I MAYOR