Dayton Council Gets Planning, Code Compliance Updates

DAYTON—At last week’s city council meeting, City Administrator Trina Cole said the public works staff was to meet with the Washington Dept. of Ecology on May 15 to talk about the wastewater treatment plant and the financing for it.

Planning Director Meagan Bailey discussed successes with code compliance enforcement, particularly yard debris at a house on Clay Street which has been cleaned up.

“Just this week we had 15-16 grass letters go out and about half of them have called to tell us they have mowed the grass,” she said. Bailey assured the council that code enforcement is very active.

Bailey said that RFPs for the preparation of the city’s upcoming comprehensive plan update will be out next week, she said.

Bailey reported that building permit activity is picking up. She said she has a pre-application meeting scheduled for a new Seneca building, which is a “very large valuable structure”.

The dog park sign will be installed at end of month, and trees will be planted at the park this weekend, said Bailey.

Bailey said the City Planning Commission is working on amendments for a very large zoning ordinance update, but she is also looking into an infill study done by the former city planning director. She said her office will reach out to landowners with empty lots to see if they are interested in selling them.

Special guests Fire Chief Jeromy Phinney, and retired Fire Chief Rick Turner, presented the Dayton City council with information about the upcoming EMS Levy, which will appear on the August ballot, and asked for their endorsement of it.

Turner said WACs and RCWs provide for fire protection, but not for EMS services. He said if the levy passes, the yearly cost for providing for ambulance service will be $12 per year for a 200,000 home.

The council approved a request from Katie Wamble to close S. 2nd Street, from Spring Street to Tremont Street on July 21, from 6-10 p.m. for a band to perform during Alumni Weekend.

The council authorized the Relight Washington Grant Agreement with the state Transportation Improvement Board in the amount of $63,967.

The city is finishing up contracts with Pacific Power, Inc. Street lights in Dayton will be switched to LED lights, saving the city approximately $5,600 a year in electric bills.

The city council also authorized:

Ordinance No. 1929, repealing certain ordinances and chapters of the Dayton Municipal Code that are already covered by existing state law, have adopted state law by reference, or that are no longer necessary, some of which are from 1918.

Ordinance No. 1931, Amending Ordinances 1896 and 1905, Section 06 of Title 1 Chapter 2 of the Dayton Municipal Code, Open to the Public – changing the time of city council meetings, from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Ordinance No. 1932, amending sections 17-02.022 and 17-02.025 of the Dayton Municipal Code regarding frequently flooded areas concerning two lines which are out of compliance with federal regulations.

Resolution No. 1340, amending the City of Dayton personnel policies and procedures manual, section 6.12, regarding sick leave.