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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-08-1982 MinutesMINUTES PASCO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING NOVEMBER 8, 1982 CALL TO ORDER Special meeting was called to order at 8 00 P M by Mayor, E A Snider. ROLL CALL By City Manager Councilmen present were Susan Boothe, Charles Grigg, Ira Schmidt, E A Snider, Joe Jackson and Emerson Morgan Also present were Leland F Kraft, City Manager, Greg Rubstello, City Attorney, James Ajax, City Engineer, Richard Erickson, Director of Parks/Recreation and Gary Crutchfield, Director of Community Development VISITORS There were no visitors wishing to address the Council at this time NEW BUSINESS ZONING REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO RADIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WASTES Mayor Snider acknowledged delegation in attendance and asked if there was a report from staff Mr Gary Crutchfield reported that Chem-Nuclear Systems, Inc , recently applied for a business license to operate a maintenance facility at 1907 East James The application was withdrawn by Chem-Nuclear in order to provide an amplified description of the intended operation A new application was submitted on November 4, 1982, together with an amplified description The Council, at their regular meeting of November 1st, directed the Planning Commission to review the current zoning regulations with respect to uses - involving radiological and chemical wastes and to recommend appropriate amendments, if any, to the council within 60 days (by January 1, 1983) Although staff is already researching information in order to bring the Commission (as welllas staff) up to speed on this issue, it is virtually impossible to absoft the information, draft appropriate amendments, and conduct adequate public hearings, all within the 60-day period At a minimum, staff feels 120-days is necessary Dude Boddy, President of Pasco Chamber of Commerce, read prepared statement - highlighted as follows " The Chamber appreciates the Mayor's and City Council's concern for the safety and well being of citizens of Pasco, but wish to caution against singling out specific industries which are already regulated, controlled, and governed by State, Federal ,and'locdKLaws The strong anti-business image that is created by this action will have a very negative impact on industries seeking or currently doing business in Pasco Many businesses that currently handle material considered hazardous are concerned about renewal of licenses and permits We would hope the Council is aware of businesses already dealing with hazardous materials Therefore, the Greater Pasco Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors presents the following Resolution A motion was made that the position taken by the City Council in regard to the moratorium on the issuance of new licenses for nuclear and hazardous waste is redundant, because of Ordinances already on the books " Mayor Snider reiterated that proposed moratorium would not affect existing businesses, but merely provide proper zoning and handling regulations for radiological and chemical waste only MINUTES PASCO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING NOVEMBER 8, 1982 NEW BUSINESS - Continued A communication from Ronald E Dashner, Farmers Union Exchange (Cenex) was highlighted as follows " Please be advised that CENEX sells approximately $3 million worth of chemicals from its facility located in the City of Pasco annually In the process of handling such chemicals, some of them become damaged and as a result, a hazardous waste is generated CENEX has in very recent years complied with new State and Federal regulations regarding the handling of such waste material Please take into consideration the effect that the passage of an Ordinance limiting business in the City of Pasco by those companies that might become involved in the handling of hazardous waste material could seriously effect not only the business of CENEX but of other companies that are doing business in the City " Jim Lamer, President of Oxarc, Inc , submitted the following communication " I wish to express my opposition to the proposed Ordinance you are considering tonight regarding a moratorium on the issuance or re-issuance of business licenses to firms handling hazardous materials and chemical wastes Current Federal, State and local regulations are in place to assure proper handling and location of any activities involving hazardous materials I feel that proper enforcement of existing regulations zoning classifications, and Ordinances provide adequate control over pro- posed new activities Literal application of the moratorium could result in shutting down present activities which have previously conformed to existing regulations and Ordinances " Again, Mayor Snider and members of the City Council concurred that there was no intent to close businesses in the City of Pasco, but merely provide legislation to protect our citizens against potential hazards of radiological or chemical waste Staff was directed to prepare a Resolution for consideration at November 15th meeting, providing for a moratorium of some time limit to develop more precise standards for the location and licensing of enterprises whose primary mission is the storage and transportation of hazardous chemical and nuclear waste ADJOURNMENT No further business, the special meeting adjourned at 8 25 P M E A Snider, Mayor , City Clerk PASSED and APPROVED this /57-ay of , 1982