Interlocal Agreement with the County discussed at the Dayton City Council meeting

DAYTON—A new five-year Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the County for Law Enforcement, Dispatch, and District Court services was the main topic of discussion at the Dayton City Council meeting last Thursday.

According to the ILA terms, the City will pay the County an additional $200,000 for those services, beginning on Jan. 1, 2021, with rates adjusted annually.

The total amount paid to the County will be roughly half of the City’s $1.2 million Current Expense Budget.

Because of the increase, the City’s Finance Committee will need to discuss what cuts to city services should be made. Cuts will be to services currently covered by the Current Expense Budget, such as animal control services, code enforcement services, park and cemetery maintenance, and, possibly, to personnel.

The City has asked for, and will receive, certain assurances in the new ILA:

The Sheriff will provide monthly reports to the Dayton City Council, and his office will assist in tagging abandoned vehicles.

A dedicated deputy sheriff will be available inside City limits at all times.

The County will provide the City with quarterly expense reports, and representatives from both offices will meet every quarter.

Mayor Zac Weatherford said the data generated from the reports would help the city council renegotiate the ILA terms in the future.

Mayor’s report

Mayor Weatherford said the Third Street Sidewalk project should be finished by the middle of the month after inclement weather delayed work.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) levee rehabilitation project is complete, and the Front Street Bridge project will go out to bid the week after Thanksgiving.

Report from the Planning Director

Planning Director Meagan Hayes reported on the Affordable Housing Commission. She said the commission is wrapping up work on the development of surplus procedures for city-owned property. That will go to the Dayton Planning Commission for final review. The commission is also working on a marketing campaign.

The Planning Commission is working on the 2020 Docket Comprehensive Plan Update, which includes the Urban Forestry Management Plan for Main Street Trees and slight amendments to the zoning map.

The Urban Forestry Management Plan will be presented to the city council in Dec. for approval.

The Historic Preservation Commission is working on sign design plans for the 2021 Parks and Recreation Plan. The commission is also working through the small works roster to find a contractor to restore the grist wheel on the Touchet River levee path.

“Hopefully, we can get that shored up and secure, so it is good for another hundred years.”

Hayes said there are open seats on the three commissions she would like to have filled.

Work on policy recommendations with Walla Walla, Waitsburg, and College Place for the Regional Housing Action Plan, is underway.

Hayes said she would provide an update on affordable housing at the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy meeting in Dec.

Hayes said accolades go to the Port’s Executive Director Jennie Dickinson for administering CARES Act grant funds received from the City to help city businesses. The grant committee has approved another round of grants.

The Planning Department has received permits for the dental clinic’s construction planned for the Dayton General Hospital campus. Hayes has scheduled a pre-application meeting with the contractor for assisted living housing units located on the Dayton General Hospital campus.

The Dayton City Council considered and adopted the following:

Resolution No. 1445, authorizing a 1-percent increase in the property tax levy for the fiscal year 2021, in the amount of $4,260.00.

Resolution No. 1446, authorizing the CR (2) an agreement between the City and County pertaining to Law Enforcement, Dispatch, and District Court Services.