Ritzville City Council approves new logo, Complete Streets Ordinance

During their Aug. 15 meeting, the Ritzville City Council unanimously approved a new logo and seal for the City.

The approval of the City’s new logo and seal came six days after the unveiling of Ritzville’s new branding system.

The City of Ritzville’s logo will utilize the same colors and fonts as the logo for the Ritzville branding system.

Above the words “City of Ritzville,” will be the seal, which includes the wheat sheaths and Ritzville, Washington, 1881.

Clerk/Treasurer Robbins said the logo would be associated with the City’s website and business cards.

When the seal by itself is used on documents, it will feature the taglines “United As One,” and “To Harvest Our Legacy.”

In other action items, Council adopted a Complete Streets Ordinance. The ordinance is a requirement for cities to be eligible for the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board’s (TIB) Complete Streets Award program.

According to the TIB’s website, the program awards money to any city or county in Washington state with an adopted Complete Streets ordinance and “shows an ethic of planning and building streets that use context sensitive solutions to accommodate all users, including pedestrians, transit users, cyclists and motorists.”

Through the ordinance, the City will incorporate Complete Streets principles into its comprehensive plan, Public Works Standards, Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and other rules and regulations.

The ordinance can also lay the groundwork for the city to adopt regulations for bicycle paths and other street amenities.

Robbins said Christa Draggie, Washington State TIB Project Engineer, had seen the video and told Robbins the city should adopt the ordinance, which would help them be eligible for grant funding through the program.

“By approving this ordinance, it opens up the door to be nominated to receive $500,000 for infrastructure improvements for streets,” Robbins said.

Complete Streets grant funding may be used to fund a single project or a series of smaller maintenance activities over time.

An example of a potential large project funded by Complete Streets grants would be upgrading the city’s sidewalks to meet ADA standards.

Complete Streets grants can also help increase the value of projects paid by other grants.

In other action items, council voted 6-1 to approve the Neglect of Historic Buildings ordinance. Councilmember Mark Weigand opposed the ordinance, saying he did not want to see the city spend money to foreclose properties and pay for building maintenance.

Councilmember Dennis Chamberlain explained the city would save money on properties with a lien on a building “that might sell,” versus a property where a structure was destroyed and staff had to clean up the rubble.

“The ordinance allows the building to be mothballed for future generations so we’re not just losing (them),” Chamberlain said.

Council also voted 6-1 to approve a $500 sponsorship for the Adams County Development Council’s Reviving Rural Downtown Workshop, which is scheduled from Sept. 20-21. Weigand voted against the motion.

Council approved the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce’s street closure request for the annual Ritzville Junior and Community Parade on Sept. 2.

The following streets will be closed from 6 a.m. to noon: Main Avenue from Jefferson Street to Columbia Street, and Broadway Avenue from Jefferson Street to Division Street. Division Street will remain open for emergency services.

When asked if he had a problem with the street closure, Police Chief Dave McCormick said he does not, and he reminds groups who make these requests that they are responsible for paying any costs associated with towing away illegally-parked vehicles.

Council also approved the Washington Associate Membership Agreement’s Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchasing/Procurement Agreement with the King County Directors Association.

Robbins said the agreement allows the city to purchase merchandise, supplies and equipment, and the procurement for the member public school districts at a discounted rate.

Council approved a pay estimate of $334,227.44 to Pump Tech Inc. for work on the Well No. 9 Pump Station project.

Council also approved the Prosecutor Agreement with Mark Monson. On a monthly basis, the City will pay $175 per hour for all attorney services and $75 per hour for paralegal/legal assistant services.

The City will also pay $50 per hour for attorney travel.

In addition to the legal fees, the City will be charged for in-house expenses incurred on their behalf.

Mayor Gary Cook said this agreement is the same as the previous agreement they had when City Attorney John Kragt served as the city’s prosecuting attorney.