BINGEN — The Bingen City Council met on March 4 following a community meeting held a week prior. This meeting included the results of the public open house, the final public hearing for the Dry Creek subdivision’s short plat, and updates on current projects.
Catherine Kiewit
Mayor of Bingen
Mayor Catherine Kiewit opened the public hearing on the proposed subdivision with an update from Skamania County Planner Mandy Hertel. Developer Stinson Flats, LLC, had revised the proposal based on council’s previous requests and added conditions. The road going through the new neighborhood will be public, not private, and will become city property once developed. The discussion focused on the lack of sidewalk on one side of the road, but this follows Bingen City code, and must be observed. The anticipated traffic is very low, so commensurate code applies. With very little public feedback shared at this meeting, the council unanimously approved the short plat following discussion.
Replacing several city water meters was up next. Two water meters on SDS Lumber property, and one on PBS Land Co., require replacement. City Administrator Krista Loney suggested Real Estate Excise Tax funds be used, and council agreed. The project status update saw council approve the bid from Oregon Correctional Enterprises to build the city’s four, grant-funded bus shelters, which will be located at the Amtrak platform, 400 W. Steuben, the Society Hotel, and in front of Ayutense Mexican Restaurant. The shelters will have glass sides and a colored roof; inside will be a bench, garbage can, and display board. Solar panels on the roof will provide lighting. These will be paid for with a Washington State tourism grant.
The project status updates segued into a review of what council heard from the public at its recent community meeting to gather feedback on funding. The city of Bingen faces a funding shortfall, and the council must decide whether to cut services or raise revenue. The community meeting was well attended, and revealed a unified community voice. Kiewit said that she “was relieved to hear that the community did not want to resolve this issue by cutting services.” Folks in attendance, including many business owners, noted that the city “already does so much with so little.”
Council heard from the public that the favored solution was two-pronged: a public safety sales tax and a general sales tax increase. Those in attendance felt that an increase to sales tax would not affect business traffic, and would share the funding burden with locals and visitors. Public safety, one of the city’s largest expenses, would be preserved.
Along with funding decisions, two council seats and the mayor’s seat will be on the next ballot. The next regular meeting is set for March 18, and it will include the final hearing of the city’s newly developed middle housing code. Council welcomes public feedback.
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