BINGEN — The Bingen City Council opened with public comment advocating for more opportunities for kids to be kids, including childcare options. This was a theme that came again in the Council Economic Development work session.
Two economic development consultants from Leland Consulting Group led the council through the work sessions. Their presentation summarized the results of the study they conducted, which included stakeholder outreach, interviews, focus groups, and a community survey. Key takeaways showed the access to housing is a significant limiting factor, as is the availability of developable land. Bingen has strengths, though, including entrepreneurship, both regional and local, and a healthy and stable employment rate.
A closer look at the biggest barrier to economic development revealed a significant gap between median income and median home price. The median income in Bingen is $79,000, but the median home price is $450,000, which requires an income of $111,000. Bingen also has three times the national average of Short-Term Rentals, with 8% of rentals qualifying as an STR.
Following the presentation, council members worked with the consultants to develop goals. The number one goal, all agreed, must be housing attainability. All ideas were offered up, including annexing property into city limits, adapting existing buildings to housing, and zoning changes which allow more units to be built. Complications were also considered including existing parking requirements, which are robust, and Scenic Area rules. City Administrator Krista Loney pointed out that residents sometimes need to be reminded that the public roadway in front of their home does not constitute their private parking; it is public parking. Other goals included supporting entrepreneurship and existing industry, and modernizing infrastructure, which the city is actively doing. Finally, the consultants encouraged working toward a “complete community,” meaning one that nurtures a variety of development, housing, and recreation.
The final issue was the proposed new water line the city plans to install. Bell Design Company presented four alternatives for replacement routes. Council weighed the pros and cons of each, such as cost, needs, coverage, fireflow, potential required easements, and size of line. Council settled on Plan 4, a line along SR 14 with the more robust size pipe, as their first choice; this option is the most expensive. The second choice, which is cheaper and an easy pivot, will be the back-up plan if funding is not available for the premier line.
The Bingen City Council meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month.
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