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Workshop roundup: aquatic fee change, equipment purchases, playground replacement and emergency well repair sent to council
Summary
At the Jan. 6 council workshop, staff presented a parks fee amendment, several equipment purchases and a playground replacement and reported an emergency well repair; council voted to forward most items to the council packet for formal action and approved payment for the well repair.
The Washington City Council workshop on Jan. 6 advanced multiple departmental items to the full council packet and approved payment for an emergency well repair completed before the meeting.
Parks Department staff presented an amendment to aquatic complex fees, citing record pool attendance and rising costs for lifeguards and operations. Staff proposed increasing the daily admission from $7 to $8 and adjusting value cards accordingly (10-visit from $50 to $60; 20-visit from $100 to $120). The parks staff said some fees were omitted from the municipal code when the pool was built and presented a redline packet showing deletions and wording updates. The Parks and Recreation Commission supported the changes. Councilmember Patke moved, with a second from Holtmeyer, to send the amendment to council for formal consideration; the motion passed.
Parks staff also presented two equipment purchases that staff said were budgeted: a mower (purchase approved to go to council) and a Toro sprayer (purchase approved to go to council after trading in a 2004 mower to bring the sprayer under budget). Council approved motions to forward both items to the council packet.
The Parks Department also presented a replacement playground for Optimist Park. Staff said vandalism damaged a slide and replacement parts would have cost about $10,000, so staff budgeted for a full playground replacement and relocation slightly to increase visibility. The Parks and Recreation Commission supported the purchase (vote 4-3 on color choice). Council moved the playground purchase on to the council packet.
The Street Department presented a replacement track loader for the landfill (budgeted at $475,000; purchase price reported at $418,000). Staff said the replacement is for a John Deere 953 with a waste-handler package; expected proceeds from selling the old unit were estimated at about $200,000. Council moved that item to the council packet.
Public works staff reported an emergency failure of a municipal well (faulting/short-cycling on Jan. 30/31). Staff said Flynn Drilling pulled the well, found six deteriorated pipe segments and replaced them; the work was done as an emergency and is budgeted. Council approved a motion to authorize payment for the repair (motion by Wessels, second by Briggs).
Votes at a glance - Parks aquatic fee amendment: motion to send to council (Mover: Patke; Second: Holtmeyer) — Forwarded to council. - Mower purchase (parks): motion to send to council (Mover: Wessels; Second: Baer) — Forwarded to council. - Toro sprayer purchase (parks): motion to send to council (Mover: Holtmeyer; Second: Briggs) — Forwarded to council. - Optimist Park playground replacement: motion to send to council (Mover: Patke; Second: Baer) — Forwarded to council. - Street Department track loader replacement: motion to send to council (Mover: Patke; Second: Coulter) — Forwarded to council. - Emergency well repair (Flynn Drilling): motion to authorize payment (Mover: Wessels; Second: Briggs) — Approved.
Most items were routine, budgeted purchases or fee changes that staff asked be placed on the Jan. 21 council agenda for formal ordinance or purchase approval.
