The July 27 Winlock City Council had a full compliment of council members to conduct their semi-monthly business.
First on the agenda was the matter of old business, the Toledo Interlocal Agreement. Most of this heated topic had been discussed at previous meetings, after several months of discussions occurred.
With the closing of the Winlock Police Department and the Toledo Agreement having been signed, the new Interlocal police will begin their patrol August 1, 2015.
Moving from the matter of old business, at this time, the council was notified of the Park Board's Director and the new updates they would give every month.
With this update, there were no plans for a future project, but the board was looking for the possibility of more members with broader experiences such as technicians and electricians. With the closing of public comment, the council set forward to bring up the agenda items.
Next on the agenda was the update about the Pickers Fest. This year, the park proceeds had gained the successful amount of $2,070. The report given proved to be all around successful other than the slight problem with a broken gate, which is now in the process of being repaired. Now it was time for the discussion of fireworks.
With this discussion came much debate. Amongst the topic of fireworks came the matters of banning and whether they were to be banned in the city limits.
Although if they were to be banned within the city limits, would the Lions Club be able to do their annual fundraiser of selling fireworks? And what of the families who lived within the city limits? This brought forth the question by councilwoman, Sarah Gifford; what are the families of Winlock supposed to do if they cannot set off fireworks? "I know the problem with debris, but why should my family have to suffer from other's mistakes?" she asked. After much discussion on just this part, the next was to bring forth the idea of shortening the time in which fireworks would be allowed to be used. Amongst the discussions, Aaron Mummert spoke up with the ideas of limiting the lighting of fireworks to the third and fourth of July, and allow the Lions Club to sell within city limits, and whether the city should be able to ban fireworks should the weather be too warm.
"I have a hard time telling parents with a six or seven year old that the children can't run around with sparklers," Mummert pointed out to the council. After much debate, the council agreed to wait for legal guidance from City Attorney Erin Hillier for what the city was allowed to do and thus led for this discussion to be tabled until the next meeting. Following this broad topic was the Winlock Development code amendment.
Within this development code, the information of developer contract expansions was listed. Amongst this information was that the code allows for one, two-year approval for the developer. When Hillier spoke with a representative, this option could definitely be a benefit for extending time. Should the city achieve four years, they would be offered three, two-year expansions. Which would add up to a ten-year contract in the long run, which is what the state requires. As the city attorney discussed the options, the council made the wise decision to allow the attorney to take amendment to county for approval.
Now it was time for the closing matter. This matter brought the information of recreational marijuana now being legally allowed within 100 feet of business, but still keeping 1000 feet from schools and day cares. As all the topics had been discussed, the meeting had come to an end. The meeting was promptly adjourned where the council members went in to a special Executive Session.
The next city council meeting for Winlock is scheduled for August 10 at 6:30 pm.