City Council to consider Garbage rate hike, Gitchell building tonight, Dec. 13
Local garbage service provider The Dalles Disposal Service is asking The Dalles City Council for a 5.05% increase for city residents to offset rising operational costs and disposal fees.
Councilors are set to discuss the request at their regular meeting tonight, Dec. 13 at 5: 30 p.m.
To attend the meeting via ZOOM, click here. Click here for the full agenda and packet.
“Some of these increases include but are not limited to health care costs, fleet maintenance, fuel and containers,” said Waste Connection District Manager Jim Winterbottom in a letter to the Council.
Waste Connection is asking the rate increase become effective on Jan. 1, 2022.
A local resident with a 32-gallon garbage can would see an increase from $18.80 to $19.75 - a 95 cent increase.
Winterbottom said the increase was also based on the West C Consumer Price Index to benchmark their changes in operational costs.
“The most recent July to July comparison increased 5.94%, and we believe this is a good indicator of our overall experience,” he said. “The Wasco County Landfill will be increasing both its gate rate and the pass-through Household Hazardous Waste tax by 5.05% effective Jan. 1, 2022.”
New Housing Ordinance to recognize Houseless, Shelters
City Council is set to amend The Dalles Municipal code in order to recognize buildings intended for providing shelter for the houseless and incidental services.
The following definitions will be included in the municipal code:
Homeless: An individual, group, or population lacking a fixed, regular, and/or adequate nighttime residence in accordance with and as classified under OAR Chapter 813 Division 240 State Homeless Assistance Program.
Shelter, Established: A building or group of buildings permanently used or intended for providing homeless shelter and incidental services.
Shelter, Seasonal: A building or group of buildings temporarily used or intended for providing homeless transitional or emergency shelter and incidental services for a maximum of six (6) months.
The Gitchell/Waldron building east of Lewis $ Clark Festival Park on First Street, The Dalles
What to do with Gitchell/Waldron Building?
In the business of history, Councilors will also discuss what the next steps will be with the demolition or preservation of the Gitchell/Waldron Building.
City Manager Julie Krueger said several months ago that she planned to follow through with plans for demolition of the building, noting she would not want the job left for her successor when she retires in coming months.
However, Mayor Rich Mays halted those plans when it was clear some locals were in opposition to the demolition.
The Gitchell/Waldron building is located just east of Lewis & Clark Festival Park on the north side of First Street. It has been a bone of contention for Council for several years as its dilapidation has continued and no plan to preserve the building has taken hold. City employees and officials cannot currently enter the building due to safety concerns.
But the building remains a top priority for the Historic Landmarks Commission as noted in their 2021 Commission Goals that were presented to the City Council on February 8, 2021, in its Annual Report.
More Hours for City Evidence Officer?
Pre-Tem City Manager Daniel Hunter is asking to increase the hours of the city evidence officer from 20 to 30 hours per week. Hunter said the hour increase is necessary to accommodate a new state law requiring discoverable evidence to be provided to the defense in criminal cases “as soon as practicable.” Hunter said cases are also expected to increase by some 200 during the coming year, putting a higher demand on the officer.
The total increase in expenditures to the Police Department Budget will increase $26,438 from January 1 to June 30 due to this proposed change. This increase includes pro-rated benefits. There are sufficient funds in the Police Department Personnel Services budget to cover this increase.
Adding $32,177 for utility project?
Finance Director Angie Wilson is set to ask the council to take $32,177 out of contingency and put it toward a feasibility study for the Underground Utility Project. Based on the scope of work, an additional $32,177 is needed to complete the feasibility study, according to the staff report. Compensation will be on the basis of actual hours worked and shall not exceed $72,177 without written authorization from Northern Wasco County People’s Utility District or PUD.
Consent Agenda
Police Surplus 8 Watchguard Vista Body cameras and 8 bay doc
Approve Surplus Two 2017 (2) Ford explorer SUV police cars (VIN: for use as trade-in on new vehicles
Approval of Issuance of Enterprise Zone funds to CGCC
Approval of Amendment No. 14 to Operations Management International (OMI) Agreement to operate the Wastewater Treatment Plant for Fiscal Year 2021-2022
