HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council - Regular Minutes - 11/16/1959 November 16, 1959 - Kent , Washington
Regular meeting of the City Council, present Mayor 'Thornton,
Councilman Curran, Pozzi, Scott , Shaffer, Shinners, Strain,
and Woodworth.
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Report of officers, . Budget, Clerks, Treasurers submitted.
W Minutes approved as printed of the last regular meeting.
The City Engineer would like permission to attend the
��! Regional Planning meeting in Seattle and. would like Mr. Fraizer
of the Planning Commission and one Councilman to attend also.
wZ It was so moved to extend the request of the Engineer. Motion
LUo carried.
0o Councilman Scott was happy to report that the City of Kent
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won the lawsuit with Vallev Construction Co. He also wished to
ire advise the Council that we have arnmended the sewer ordinance on
oQ the schedule of charges for Non-standard apartments. The City
Attorney has drawn up legal papers for amendments to the ordinance.
Mr. Thatcher, City Atty. , reported on the Valley Construction
Co. lawsuit and said the plaintiff lost his case. He reported
that the City made a .recovery of the repair of the sewage pump
that was in question.
TJLr. Thatcher reported that they were served with a summons
from Parker and Borowick on the Midway Annexation. Mr. Thatcher
recommended that we employ special councEl to defend the City in
the case of the suit. He recommended Elvidge, Watt, Veblen &.
Tewell. Motion duly made, seconded and passed to employ the
special councel.
. Councilman Curran reported on the defective. piers being
replaced for the high tank on West. hill. They were moving the
piers 30 degrees from the old lbc�ti-on. The.,,nee, piers are now
constructed. ..
Councilman Shinners reported on the renovation of the old
Library space for the offices; of Police, Mayor and Treasurer.
There was no action taken until a plan was submitted to the
Council.
Councilman Strain reported on the lights on 240th. _ He
recommended nothing be done about illumination on the
j channelization on highway 99 until the Midway Annexation lawsuit
is settled. A motion was made to have the Clerk :rite a letter
to Mr. Nesbitt to table illumination on channelization until
after lawsuit has been determined. Also a letter to the 1'flidway
Chamber of Commerce explaining the delay of the illumination on
channelization. Motion carried.
Mayor Thornton announced that Mr. Shaw was present and called
him up to the Council bar. Mayor Thornton made 'appointment of
Wra. F. Shaw jr. as Police Judge to take the place of Geo. O'Dea,
deceased. Motion was made to confirm the appointment of the
Mayor. Mayor Thornton requested the Clerk to swear Mr. Shaw into
office. That being done, the Mayor presented the new Police Judge
with a certificate of appointment and Mr. Shaw made a small tpeech
expressing appreciation at being with us.
Mayor Thornton announced that the hearing on Armscrest #3 Addn.
will be continued until the next meeting.
A letter of proposal was read from Cole , Dolman, land
developers, requesting the Council to construct a temporary
sewage disposal system ( sprinkler type) for Kentwood Hills. This
installation will be approved by the Pollution Control Commission
and the State Health Department as well as the City of Kent. This
will be a temporary system, 18 month time. They are requesting
time for a comprehensive study and design for the most feasible
route for a Trunk Sewer line for this area as well as adjacent
areas. Mr. Paul Williams, Engineer for the developers stated that
there would be 550 houses in Kentwood Hills but the temporary
j system would take care of only 60 homes. Woodworth moved th'-t the
Sewer Committee and City Engineer be designated. as a body to
negotiate the necessary contract , papers and plans for approval.
To be brought back to this group for final approval. Notion
duly seconded and carried.
Mr. Thatcher, City Atty. made inquiry of Mr. Dolman regarding
a deed to the H/W to the high tank site. Mr. Dolman said it
would come through in due course of time and that it was being
,straightened out .
238
continued:
Councilman Curran moved to change the order of
business and hold the hearing on the Nursing Home at this time.
Iviation carried.
Mayor Thornton announced that the hearing on the proposed Nursing
Home at 856 E. Smith is now in order. Comments for or against the
appeal to the City Council from ruling of the City Planning Commission
will now be heard.
Mr. Doug Gwinnett announced tliat they were against a Nursing
Home at E. Smith Street. Residents of the area in the Council
room tonight will be represented by Lillian Cavender. Mrs. Gavender
said she would like to have a reading of the minutes of the
Planning Commission meeting of October 11, , 1959 and also the tape
recording taken at that meeting. Mrs Cavender also referred to a
deed from U.R. Wood and Frances A. Wood, his wife, for sale of
the house that is to be used as a Nursing Home from Florence Coles
Mathews and also a deed from Florence Doles I4iathews to the Kent
Masonic Hall Assn. This property lies West of the proposed Nursing
HomeShe submitted notices of public highway meetings from the Kent
News Journal. This material to be placed on file and is a part
of this meeting. Mrs.. Cavender stated that the people objected
to the Nursing Home because it would cause a traffic condition on
Temperance Street and make the alley behind the residences a public
thoroughfare for which it is not intended and would create undue
noise in the neighborhood.
The minutes of the Planning Commission were read but the
recording tape was not a part of the minutes of that meeting. The
tape is used for the Sectys convenience.
The proponents in the case were now heard at this meeting.
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Wilson are the ones who are requesting the
Nursing Home at 826 B. .Smith Street. [sir. Wilson stated that not
more than 12 to 14 employees will be employed at the home. They
would just take care of sick peopld and not alcoholics, narcotic
addicts or psychiatric patients. They would not create a' tr. affic
menace on Temperance Street or the alley into the home. Nursing
Homes are always inspected and supervised by the State of Washington.
Mr. Sipe, Chairman of the Planning Commission, rend a letter I
stating the action of the Planning Commission and why they declared
this as a proper place for a Nursing Home. This letter is filed
as a record in the Clerkts office as part of the minutes.
Mr. Thatcher, City Atty. clarified an opinion of a use as to
a hospital being similar to a Nursing Home. He gave his opinion
that a Nursing Home is not considered in the same category as a
hospital.
Mr. Grover Nelson spoke against a Nursing Home. He stated
that Nursing Homes now are built on a one story level with lots
of parking space and not in areas such as Sm:i.th Street.
Mr. Sipe, Chairman of the Planning Commission spoke on
traffic on Temperance Street. He couldn 't necessarily see where
it would create a traffic hazard.
Mr. M. L. Armstrong was present and requested the definition
of an alley. Mr. Thatcher defined an alley out of the City Code.
Mr. . Johnny Anderson was present and would like to have some-
one notify people in the area that there was going to be a change
made so they could make a study of the plans.
Mr Gwinnett wanted to know if the alley was going to be a one-
way alley. Councilman Poz.zi gave Mr. Gwinnett an answer on the
alley stating that no .regulation was set as it being a one-way
alley.
Mrs. Helen Wells also objected to the proposed Nursing Home
in her area.
Mr. Thatcher stated to the council and to the people at the
hearing that disallowing the fadt that Wilsons property to the East
was not presented to the Planning Commission at their hearing it
should not be considered here. Also the statement by Mrs. Wilson
that she did not wish to treat alcoholics, narcotic addicts or
psychiatric patients because at any time the state may include
this type of patient in any Nursing Home making it out of control
of the City of Kent Planning Commission. Also to disallow
consideration at this hearing of the Masonic Home, this issue
was not to be included in this hearing. Mr. Thatcher also wanted
to know if the Police Department had made a study of the
traffic condition.
continued:
Mr. J.W. Bush from the area asked the question. "Why should
all this heavy traffic be transfered from Smith Street to
Temperance Street which is a residentual area."
Mrs. Grover Nelson of Temperance Street also objected to
the heavy traffic it would create as a hazard for her children.
Councilman Curran moved and was duly seconded to have the
hearing closed. Motion carried.
Mayor Thornton de&laced the hearing closed.
Councilman Pozzi requested a legal opinion from the
Gity Atty. Does a Nursing Home qualify as' a hospital? The
City Atty. replied that a Nursing Home does not qualify for an
R-1.
Councilman Woodworth didn 't agree that it would cause a
traffic hazard on Temperance Street and that the alley should
be used instead of making left hand turns on Smith Street.
Woodworth moved and was duly seconded by Curran that the appeal.
be granted.
Councilman Shaffer spoke on the Ivan Bloch comprehensive
plan. Also Mr. Thatcher said that it was money well spent and
would give us a long range plan to work by and would correct
conditions such as we had at this hearing.
Motion carried by the unanimous roll call vote of the
Council present, except Scott refrained.
The contract was read to continue with a joint recreation
program in the Kent community as in the past. Motion was made
and duly seconded for the Mayor and Clerk to sign the contract
Motion carried.
A letter was read from Hill & Ingman on Contract ##1, West
Hill Pump Station requesting a 30 day extention of time from
November 23 , 1959. Motion was duly made and seconded and passed
to grant an extention of 2 weeks from November 23 , 1959.
A letter from Hobert A. Morris was read stating that they
could not transfer funds from water district 75 until the
District 75 Commissioners issued vouchers for payment.
A motion was made for the Clerk to send a copy of the
summons on the Midway Annexation lawsuit to Mr. Gay. Motion
carried.
A letter from Hill & Ingman was head on the proposed
Outfall sewer and lift atation stating that the State of Wash.
Dept. of Natural Resources said they will grant an easement
for the proposed outfall: sewer. The charge for said easement
will be $50.00 plus a $1.00 fee. Motion made to instruct the
Consulting Engineers to write a letter to the Dept. of Natural
Resources stating that this is a renewal for an outfall sewer
and not a new one, asking if the City can be exempted the $50.00.
Motion carried.
Letters were read from the Pollution Control and the State
Health Dept. on the Sanitary Sewer system of the Hines Addn.
They re.commend providing a lamp hole or a man hole in the
plugged end of the 81, sewer. Councilman Curran moved and
Shaffer seconded to concur with the request of the Polution
Control Commission. Motion carried.
Mayor Thornton declared the hearing open on two Emergency
Ordinances . One on the Library,and one on the Park. No objections
were heard so the hearing was declared closed. The Library
Ordinance and the Park Ordinance were read and all the Counci.l.uen
voted in favor except Curran voted ney,to adopt the Emergency
Ordinances for Park end Library. Motion carried.
Gouncilman Woodworth wanted some action on the realignment
of Smith Street. Woodworth moved for the Street committee to
negociate with the N.P. R.R. Co. for a realignment of Smith St.
Motion duly seconded and passed.
- Councilman Shaffer moved that the Clerk write a letter to
the Library Board telling them to refrain from buying any more
books. Motion duly seconded and passed.
The City Atty reported on licenses and sewer agreement with
the Army on Military Road at the Nike site. He said that the
papers were all in order. Motion was made and duly secondedfor
the Mayor to sign the agreements.
Motion was made and duly seconded for the City Atty to draw
a contract for the sale of the City Building. on Railroad Ave.
to Heck &. Sons. Motion carried.
240
continued :
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Councilman Pozzi moved, was duly seconded and passed to
instruct the Clerk to write a letter to Hayes hvans to get a report PIQ
of the progress on the County plan for disposal of Garbage and
when we should proceed to start closing the, dump.
Motion was made and duly seconded for Curran to talk with
Mr. Gay on the Water District 75 issue. Motion passed.
The City Engineer is offering the Assistant Engineer job to
Walter Dent of Walla Walla. Ile would like the Council to approve
paying Mr. Dent 4475.00 for the first month and IW)0.00 from the
first of the year. (0500.00 per month. ) Motion was made, seconded
and carried to accept the City Engineer 's recommendation.
Councilman Curran reported on the lawsuit with Valley
Construction Co. The consulting Engineers gave very compitant
reports and aided in the result that we won the suit. Motion
was made for Councilman Curran to write the Consulting Engineers
commending them on their fine and most worthy assistance given
in the Valley Construction lawsuit. Motion carried.
CLAIMS PRESENTED AND ALLOWED AS FOLLOWS :
Current Expense Claims 2,015. 82
Water t1 2,112.34
Water Construction " 524.66
Street " 513 .13
Sewer Revenue 't 38. 11
Sewer Construction T' 96.26
Garbage " 202.47
. Library " 322 .00
Park T' 1, 550.61
LID 237 °t 10. 84
MEETING ADJOURNED:
Mayor
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_ -�;a7s . Bridges
City Clerk
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