Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02-18 Work Session Minutes Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, February 18, 2009 Page 2 of 6 Pages UNGER: Move adoption. LUKE: Second. VOTE: UNGER: Yes. LUKE: Yes. BANEY: Chair vote yes. 3. Discussion of Knott Landfill Area A Post-closure Alternatives. Timm Schimke gave a brief overview of the item and how the liner system works. He referred to a map and a sketch of how the liner system works and how water runoff is handled. Dave Kanner said that there are four options developed that could go out for public comment. Closing a landfill is a once in a lifetime process and it will be there forever. Area A is not lined, Area B and the rest are. The first 48 acres have now reached final contours, and have to be addressed now. The kind of final coverage affects the cost tremendously. At a minimum there has to be topsoil and grass, and the Department of Environmental Quality limits the grade to 2% to 5%. Option 1 is the limited or no end use, the cheapest way to go, with walking paths around perimeter, but no one will be able to do much on the cap itself. This cost is about $2.6 million. Option 2 includes ballpark areas, parking, and more intense uses such as walking paths, bike paths, with dry land grasses that people can access. There could be dog park areas, originally with no vegetation, but this throws out the required water balance. There would have to be a liner system and a storm water pond. The cost is about $4 million. Option 3 is similar but the meadow areas would have sports fields, irrigated turn and lawn. The cost would be about $5.1 million. Some informal discussions with Bend Metro Park & Rec have taken place; they want input but do not have the funding to do much. Option 4 is the municipal golf course option. It could eventually accommodate 18 holes. The cost would be about $9 million. Mr. Schimke noted that he likes Option 4 the best, since as the ground settles it would just add character to the course. If soccer fields or other sports areas were put in, the ground might settle and they would have to be redone. Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, February 18, 2009 Page 3 of 6 Pages Mr. Kanner stated that he has gotten some information on municipal courses around the state and elsewhere, and they appear to be extremely profitable, but he does not yet have the details about management. They would also have to analyze how much use it would get during various seasons. The Commissioners discussed the golf course idea further, and felt that phasing made more sense rather than committing to that option. It appears that it would make the most sense to look at Options 1, 2 or 3 for the first cell, and then add Option 4 later if desired, when there is more land that needs to be reclaimed. Commissioner Unger noted that since this project is a cost to all County citizens, some of them living in outlying areas might not want to see any money go into the project. Mr. Schimke explained that money now goes into the fund from all over the County, as landfill services are provided to everyone. Commissioner Luke added that the County has been taking in their garbage at this site and others, and is responsible for it forever. People in the area have had to live with the landfill for decades. He thinks that perhaps the Negus landfill might be a park someday as well. He said that the Knott site will be within the city limits someday and will likely have residential areas all around it. There is irrigation available for the property, and it should be used. The people living around it will not stand for dust to keep blowing off it. A lengthy discussion took place as to which option would make the most sense and the timing of phasing in the various improvements. Mr. Schimke indicated there would be public meetings to receive input from citizens. Commissioner Luke suggested that presentations be made to the various city councils as well. Mr. Kanner said that perhaps a traveling display can be put in each of the libraries for people to view at their leisure, and leave the comments. Mr. Schimke stated that in conjunction with the closure, they need to construct the next cell. There is not yet enough in the reserve fund for this. They will have to either bond it or use the closure funds. Commissioner Baney said that she is not in favor of incurring more debt. Mr. Schimke pointed out that they incurred debt for cell construction and every citizen benefits. Commissioner Luke added that most jurisdictions go out for a bond to do landfill closures. With good leadership, the County was able to put this money aside. Erik Kropp said that there could be more formal conversations with the Park 7 Rec people, since they know more about park management. Mr. Schimke stated that they do not want this to have soccer fields or ball fields, since that is what they do. They like the idea of dog parks or open space. The consultant, David Evans, talked with Park & Rec and they are favorable to Option 2. They feel this is the park of the future. Water use is a big concern. Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, February 18, 2009 Page 4 of 6 Pages Commissioner Luke noted that dust will be an issue then, and they will have to keep people from using the entire property. He added that the County has bought some properties around the landfill as a buffer in the past, some of which have irrigation rights, and those properties might be sold at some point or incorporated into an overall plan. 4. Discussion of Upcoming Hearing: Plan Amendment/Zone Change regarding Agricultural/EFU to Airport Development (Aviation Support District - Bend). Anthony Raguine gave a brief overview of the item, which involves Gibson Airpark LLC. He said if a property is agricultural or forest, and a plan amendment zone change is requested and appealed, it automatically is to be heard by the Board. He said that the Hearings Officer denied the application based on two issues, inconsistency with Goal 2 and the Airport Master Plan; and a requirement to show a change of circumstances that warrants the zone change. Commissioner Luke note that the denial is not based so much on the application as much as it is that the City is not done with the revision of its master plan. They want to expand to do more. Mr. Raguine said that an appropriate first step would be an update of the existing Airport Master Plan and identifying areas for future development. The FAA recommends an update every seven years, and it was last done in 2002. The two issues that remain can be remedied by the Master Plan. The only other question is whether to add sewer, which is a Goal 11 exception. At this time the group discussed options, and the cost to the applicant of the application and the appeal. Commissioners Baney and Luke disclosed that they have known one of the principals, Pat Gisler, for a long time. Mr. Raguine stated that there was no opposition to this application. It makes perfect sense to do this if the airport is to be expanded, but the Master Plan does not yet support it. A public hearing on this appeal is scheduled for Monday, March 2 at 10:00 a.m. Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, February 18, 2009 Page 5 of 6 Pages 5. Other Items. None were discussed. 6. Executive Session, called under ORS 192.660(2)(h), Pending or Threatened Litigation. Additions to the Agenda 1. Consideration of Approval of a Services Agreement for Groundwater Monitoring Services at Knott and Southwest Landfill. Mr. Schimke said that the original scope of work fell within Dave Kanner’s signature authority at the time, and a notice of intent to award was issued. Now it is outside of his signature authority because it is a three-year contract. No one lodged a protest. This is for environmental engineering services, monitoring the groundwater on a quarterly or semi-annual basis, involving getting samples from five to ten wells in the area. They do chemical analysis of the water. This type of work needs to have continuity, and that is why it is for more than a year. UNGER: Move approval. LUKE: Second. VOTE: UNGER: Yes. LUKE: Yes. BANEY: Chair vote yes. 2. Consideration of Signature of Document No. 2009-076, a Memorandum of Contract Extension of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Deschutes County and the Deschutes County Sheriff Employees Association. Deputies Paul Navarro and Jeff Winters explained that negotiations started about three months ago, when the economy was better than it is now. They realized that the economy was getting worse and talked with the Sheriff about it. They concluded that the current contract should stay in place for another year. This was presented to the executive board, who unanimously indicated it is the right thing to do. There was then an emergency meeting of the association members, with over half showing up, and they unanimously felt that a freeze was appropriate.