Ritzville Council weighs benefits of city code classification

The Ritzville City Council discussed the city classifications during the regular meeting on Tuesday, March 7.

Clerk-Treasurer Kris Robbins presented a Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) document stating the definitions of the four types of classifications first class, second class, code cities and towns.

Robbins suggested the Council discuss classifying Ritzville as a code city prior to the upcoming election.

Mayor Gary Cook stated being a code city would cause the ward positions on the council to be at large. With elections approaching in May, Cook said as a second class city, only residents from each ward could be candidates for the positions. Being classified as a code city would allow any resident from the city to be a candidate for any position, he explained.

Councilmember Mark Weigand said as an at large member of the council, he appreciates being able to receive feedback about the city from residents and discuss it during meetings.

Councilmember Mike Schrag emphasized the importance of all residents being represented during the meetings and expressed his concern of unequal representation during council meetings if the members become at large.

Councilmember Dennis Chamberlain said although both classifications have drawbacks, he believes being at large would open additional opportunities for residents to fill council positions and be beneficial due to the smaller population of Ritzville.

Cook stated the purpose of the discussion is to prepare for the election as if they decide to classify as a code city, an ordinance would need to be adopted before May.

A document from MRSC states a majority of Washington cities are classified as code cities under the Optional Municipal Code and the purpose is broaden the opportunities for residents to be represented during meetings and express their concerns about local issues.

A code city does not limit the powers of the council members to a specific department, allowing all members to discuss various issues.

Robbins explained a majority of communities have changed to a code city and Ritzville is one of only seven cities in the state still classified as a second class city.

After speaking to a consultant about reclassifying, Robbins said many cities are worried the state law will cease to provide regulations or amend regulations for second class cities, forcing them to restructure in the near future.

Robbins then requested the council discuss the dangers of the neglected buildings in downtown.

After bringing the issue to the Ritzville Planning Committee’s attention, she requested the council discuss enforcing a dangerous buildings code or ordinance for neglected buildings in historic areas in order to improve the overall aesthetic of the city, as well as improving safety.

The Planning Commission requested approval to begin researching how to enforce consequences for neglecting historic downtown buildings, she explained.

Chamberlain said in order to be consistent, the council needed to decide if they will continue to enforce the rules and codes of an ordinance. The Planning Committee is currently reviewing a dangerous buildings ordinance from Tacoma, which mandates landlords and owners to make necessary improvements to their buildings, which is the ultimate goal, he explained.

The Tacoma ordinance also grants the city rights to make the needed repairs unlike Ritzille’s current ordinance, added Chamberlain.

City Attorney Mark DeWulf stated Ritzville currently has a dangerous buildings ordinance in place directed towards historic buildings, but if a building does not meet the requirements, then it is classified as a nuisance and would require enforcement to fix the issue. Cook suggested they begin the process by reviewing the current ordinance.

Schrag questioned if enforcement would impact the city’s budget. Rawlings suggested the fees associated with violating the ordinance, compensate for the cost of enforcement.

Ritzville Police Chief Dave McCormick emphasized the importance of encouraging property owners to maintain their buildings in order to avoid tremendous costs to the city in the future.

Cook said they have not discussed the details of the financial side of enforcement due to their focus being on public safety and the retention of the historic district. He said they will continue to discuss the issue and make a decision at a later date.

Schrag stated the Tree Board applied for a grant through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to fund pruning of several Elm trees in the Ritzville City Park, which were damaged by a windstorm. He said the grant is for in-kind labor and would be at no cost to the city,

The committee plans on hiring a professional to conduct an analysis of the trees and they anticipate beginning pruning in the fall or the spring of 2018, he explained. The Council approved Cook to sign the interagency agreement with DNR for the grant.

During the public requests and comments, John Hunt requested streets closure of Main Avenue from Jefferson Street to Palouse Street from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 28, for the Ritzville Classic Car Show. The Council motioned to approve the street closure.

During the department updates McCormick stated the department participated in a traffic safety emphasis on Saturday, March 4, and they wrote six citations and made one custodial arrest for a suspended license, said McCormick. He stated there have been an overwhelming amount of burglaries already in 2017.

As of March 3, McCormick said there has been 15 reported burglaries in 2017. The number of reported burglaries in 2016 totaled 31 for the entire year, he explained.

In an attempt to prevent criminal activity, McCormick said the officers have extended their shifts to 10 hours and will be questioning residents walking around the city after dark.

In January 2018, McCormick stated he will be requesting to hire an additional law enforcement officer in order to maintain responsive to calls without going into overtime.

Robbins then informed the Council of the details of the new billing system. She said the new system allows them to list bills out separately for residents to view sewer charges, basic rate and debt service fees.

The standard rate remains $59.75, she explained, but the breakdown provides residents with a simple way to view outstanding balances and previous balances.

The purpose of the debt fee is to fund the payments for the sewer treatment plant project loans, which is based on the number of users in the city. The fee prevents the city from raising rates in order to pay for the loans, she added.

Councilperson Scott Yaeger requested for Cook to sign First Street Rehabilitation Project agreement from the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB). Yaeger said the quote for the design and engineering portion of the project is around $20,000 under the amount TIB agreed to fund.

For the construction portion of the project, Yaeger said the city will be responsible for costs over $30,000, he explained. The city has allocated for $2,200 for preliminary engineering, he added.