Dayton City Council report for July

DAYTON—Dayton residents can phone the Dayton City Hall with non-emergency animal control complaints, and leave a message for staff in the city shops, who will be handling those calls said Mayor Zac Weatherford at last week’s meeting of the Dayton City Council,

He said staff have been trained in handling those types of calls, and complaints will be investigated the following business day, including calls that come in after hours, or on weekends. The number to call direct is 382-4571.

Weatherford said people should continue to call 911 for emergencies regarding issues with animals.

“I’m sure the Sheriff’s Office would be happy to send an officer out to investigate,” he said.

Negotiations with the County for noncontract services regarding law enforcement and municipal services are on-going.

Weatherford told the council the process is moving slowly, but he will report to them when there is more to say.

Planning Director Meagan Bailey said her department has been working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and coordinating with the County, about the levee system repair project.

She said the Annual Comprehensive Plan development cycle is open. Bailey plans to docket the Planning commission and the City council to amend zoning layers and clear some boundaries. Dockets will be accepted until Aug. 1.

Bailey said the Geographic Information System mapping database for public use should be ready within the next week.

The Main Street Safety Action Plan needs committee members. Bailey said she hopes to gain interest in that, so it can be adopted by the end of the year, for implementation in 2021.

Bailey said the Affordable Housing Commission is looking into new projects and is considering how, and where, the city can start incentivizing an affordable housing development in the City.

Mayor Weatherford said the Public Works Department is continuing to provide street maintenance as well as sewer line maintenance.

County Emergency Management Director Ashley Strickland informed City officials about additional funds for supplemental hazard mitigation. As a declared flood disaster county, Columbia County will have preferred access to that funding.

However, he said the project can’t already be funded with federal dollars.

He said if the city were to submit a project, but it is rejected, and another flood takes place, that project will have a higher priority the next time.

The Dayton City Council adopted the following:

Resolution No. 1420 - Designating Authorized Mayor Zac Weatherford, and alternate representatives from the City, to obtain Federal and/or State Emergency or Disaster Assistance Funds Associated with the Disaster No. FEMA-4539- DR-WA, January 20-February 10, 2020.

Resolution No. 1421 - Authorizing Public Assistance Grant Agreement between the City and the Washington State Military Department in response to FEMA Disaster No. 4359-DR-WA 3, which concerns the 2020 flood event.

City Administrator Trina Cole said the City will meet with FEMA representatives on July 23 to go over all the City’s submissions regarding response and recovery. Engineering analysis will take place after an agreement is in place. FEMA will cover 75 percent of the costs, and the City is anticipating responsibility for 25 percent of the costs associated with the mitigation.

Resolution No. 1422 - Authorizing an Interagency Agreement with Washington State Department of Commerce for the award of Coronavirus Relief Funding totaling $76,800 received by the City on May 20, to help the City’s business sector.

Resolution No. 1423 - Authorize Task Order 2020-02 with Anderson Perry & Associates, Inc., to perform engineering services associated with the Cameron Street Chip Seal Project 5.

Mayor Weatherford said the City won’t be able to do the actual work this year but will provide for some crack sealing as a temporary measure.

Resolution No. 1424 - Authorizing Cooperation Agreement between the City and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, for rehabilitation of a federal flood control work, on repair and restoration of four sections of the levee system within Dayton city limits.

“This agreement allows us to move forward and let them get that rehabilitation going on our levee system,” Cole said.

Cole said the project total for the ten sections needing repair and rehabilitation, both inside and outside of city limits is estimated at around $3.5 million. The four sections concerning the city is estimated to cost about $1.5 million.

She said the Corps will cover all costs, with the exception of engineering and some associated legal costs. The City may have to provide some soil for construction.

The Corps hopes to have the project completed by the end of the year, she said.

Ordinance No. 1964 - Authorizing an amendment to the 2020 Budget, Amendment No. 2020-01. Cole said she met with the Finance Committee. The amendment reflects a reduction of about $128,000 in the overall budget.

Ordinance No. 1965 - Authorizing an amendment to City Hall hours and days of operation, The Dayton City Hall will be open Monday through Friday, except holidays or times of emergency. The hours will remain the same, from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. The office will be open a total of 45 hours during the week, Cole said.

The Mayor was authorized by the City council to submit a letter on behalf of the City requesting the state legislatures prioritize and uphold Washington State’s commitment to providing affordable housing stabilization options. The assumption is the affordable housing crisis will worsen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Planning Director.