Bridgeport Council hears from city planner, political candidates

BRIDGEPORT – Members of the Bridgeport City Council set a hearing date for their six-year Transportation Improvement Program, approved a Foster Creek Sidewalk Project change order, discussed the Marina RV Park and the city swimming pool and still had time to hear from three guest speakers, at their regular monthly meeting on June 20.

The guest speakers were Leeon Leyde, candidate for Douglas County Sheriff, Keith Goehner, candidate for 12th District Legislative Representative, and city planner Kurt Danison, owner of Highland Associates.

Leyde said his 32 years in Washington state law enforcement include 25 years with the Washington State Patrol, 12 of those as Patrol Sergeant and five-plus years as an East Wenatchee police officer. Leyde, a recipient of the Law Enforcement Medal of Valor said his priorities include supporting the regional SWAT team, participation in the Columbia River Drug Task Force, and protecting schools, communities, and constitutional rights.

Goehner is running for the seat being vacated by Cary Condotta who is stepping down after 16 years as 12th District State Representative. Goehner, a Dryden orchardist, is completing his fourth term as Chelan County Commissioner.

One statement Goehner made that resonated with Bridgeport council member was his pledge to work on restoration of the state’s Public Works Trust Fund that provides low interest loans to small communities for infrastructure projects.

“That fund is empty,” said Goehner. “You don’t have the tax base to fully fund the projects that you need to do.”

“We don’t have the tax base,” affirmed Bridgeport mayor Janet Conklin. “We don’t have wealthy businesses or anything that brings money into our coffers, and it’s tough.”

City planner Kurt Danison updated the council on current Planning Commission issues and included some ideas about future projects the city might consider. Among the commission docket items Danison reviewed was a data-mining bit coin interest in a Bridgeport commercial zone, zoning code updates for wireless communications, off-street parking standards, non-conforming uses of structures, and agriculture designations in R1-R2 zones,
 Two items the commission considered involved Bridgeport property rezones. Owners of an old lumber yard at 945 Columbia Avenue requested a zone change to commercial use. That raised the issue of adequate off-street parking.

“In downtown Bridgeport, off-street parking is not required,” said Danison adding that the commission was looking at options to meet potential demands for adequate off-street parking space.

The owners of property at 2515-2515-1/2 Tacoma Avenue would like to develop houses on those parcels and requested a residential zoning.

Danison said the commission is also considering a Trails Plan and Community Development Block Grant for the revitalization and rehabilitation of Foster Creek Avenue.

“There’s a lot of momentum out there,” said Danison of Bridgeport property improvements. “Every time I come to town it seems like somebody else has been working on their property or trying to clean it up.”

In other business a public hearing date for the WSDOT six-year Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) was set for the council’s next regular meeting date at 7 p.m., July 18.

A change order for chain link fencing along the inside sweep of 27th Street on the Foster Creek Sidewalk Project won council approval.

Mayor Conklin raised the issue of RV fees at the Marina RV park and a user requests to lower the nightly rental rate. Conklin said she checked other sites and discovered that “we are cheaper than anybody else around.” Brewster RV parking does offer a weekly and monthly rate.

“That might be something that we might want to consider,” Conklin said.

Public Works Superintendent Stuart Dezellem reminded the council that the city’s agreement with the Corps of Engineers does not currently allow the city to charge a monthly rate.

“They want it to be a transient park,” said Dezellem. “They don’t want people coming in and staying long-term.”
 

After some discussion about comparative prices at similar parks council members agreed that the city RV park fees are among the lowest available.
The swimming pools remains closed while the city continues to address the issue of finding lifeguards. One of the problems of extended pool closure is with the state Department of Health.

“Two years of vacant use of that public pool and they (Department of Health) are going to start coming after us about filling it in or getting a hard cover over the top of it, securing it,” Dezellem said.

Conklin said the city is addressing its increasing cat problem. Humane Society personnel from Wenatchee recently trapped several felines. Conklin encouraged anyone experiencing a problem with roving cats to contact the city.

Conklin also advised the council that she received a letter from a representative of the Bridgeport American Legion that Post 218 is closing its doors this year.