By Sharon Michael, The Chronicle, 5/12/98
In spite of some reservations about benefits to Chehalis, the city council Monday agreed to sign an agreement supporting Lewis County's Chehalis River Basin flood-control project.
Lewis County has taken the lead in pursuing state and federal money for flood-control projects designed by the county's consultant, Pacific International Engineering. But the county is seeking the support of local governments, the Chehalis Indian Tribe, and Thurston and Grays Harbor counties.
"Everybody's on board. It would behoove the city to support it," said Mayor Bob Spahr.
Spahr said the project won't get state Department of Transportation money unless it eliminates all flooding on Interstate 5.
Part of the county's strategy is to secure money for flood control that would otherwise go toward elevating the freeway above flood levels. County officials say the money could be better spent on flood-control projects that would keep the freeway open and reduce local flooding in the Twin Cities.
Chehalis officials have criticized PIE's first flood-control presentation because it failed to address flooding on the freeway south of the Highway 6 interchange.
"The area south of the airport is the focus - that's not a great deal of help to Chehalis," said Councilor Wayne Galvin.
City Manager Dave Campbell told the council the agreement doesn't obligate Chehalis to pay for flood-control planning or projects. If local governments are asked to contribute money to the project, that would require a separate agreement.
Campbell said assessments would be based on anticipated benefits and ability to pay.
Galvin, who now serves on the county's flood-control zone advisory committee, and Campbell will represent Chehalis on the flood-control project committee.
In other business:
Community Services Director Joanne Schwartz told the council the cat problem brought to the council's previous meeting by a group of Adams Avenue homeowners is being worked out by the neighbors.
"The neighbors are talking," Schwartz told the council.
Schwartz and Don Chambers, community service officer, contacted the cat owner and the complaining neighbors after the April 27 council meeting.
Schwartz said the cat owner would not say how many cats she has, but she has been cooperative in resolving her neighbors' concerns.
"She is now working on keeping (the cats) enclosed," Schwartz said.
Councilor Isaac Pope seemed amazed the city has no law limiting the number and type of animals that can be kept by city-dwellers.
"Do you mean I can have 20 pigs in my back yard" Pope asked Chambers. "And as many chickens as I want"
"Under our current animal ordinance - yes," Chambers responded.
But nuisance ordinances apply if animals become a problem for neighbors, he explained.
"We would prefer to deal with these issues on an as-needed basis," Schwartz added.
She said licensing cats is not the answer, and she would prefer not to legislate the number of animals people can keep.
Referred a requested change in the city's manufactured home ordinance to the city planning commission.
Brian Amburgy, Washington Home Center, appealed to the council for a change in the ordinance allowing manufactured homes not built to state uniform building codes to be placed in city neighborhoods zoned single-family residential.
Reappointed Patty Alvord and Tad Devlin to four-year planning commission terms.