Council wants to revisit parking for proposed park

After public meetings and the start of applications for grant funds for design work, members of the Cathlamet Town Council said Monday evening they want to revisit the planned parking for the proposed Queen Sally Park.

New Mayor George Wehrfritz secured the volunteer services of Oregon Architects Without Borders to design the project, which involves refurbishing town hall and the library and developing a community center including the Pioneer Community Center. The architects visited the site, met with officials and the public to discuss needs and suggestions, and came back with a plan that initially seemed to have council approval.

Councilor Walter Wright had been reserved in his support, and Monday, he raised his concern: The proposed plan changes the way parking can be developed around town hall and the library.

"Parking is the major problem in this town," he said.

He said he felt the proposed parking spots for persons with disabilities will be inadequate to serve customers of the library and the Pioneer center.

He added that his mother had donated $10,000 to the town to assist in the purchase of the Pioneer Church Parsonage Lot. The house there was demolished, and town officials had planned to develop that into parking. However, the Queen Sally Park plan envisions a small amphitheater there.

"I don't think this is a good idea," he said. "The heirs of the estate may ask for their money back. That would include me."

He also commented that the proposed park incorporates trees, shrubs and other plants. The town work crew is already over booked, he said; so who will look after the new plants?

"We can't keep up with what we have now," he said.

Other council members and officials expressed similar concerns over parking.

"I would like to see how much parking will be there," said Councilor David Goodroe. He is concerned that the proposed parking areas will be on terrain too steep for many library patrons.

Several expressed concern that the proposed location for new parking will be on ground that could become unstable if developed for parking.

Public Works Superintendent David Vik suggested the shape of the proposed amphitheater could be changed and several parking spots could be added along the Columbia Street sidewalk.

Goodroe said he wasn't opposed to moving ahead on the project, but "we need to revisit the design."

Mayor George Wehrfritz said a workshop could be scheduled to go over the design.

The council did vote 3-1 to authorize the mayor to apply to the state Recreation and Conservation Office for funds to develop the park. Wright voted against it; Goodroe, Ruth Doumit and Bob Rendler voted for it. Councilor Steve McNicholas was excused.

In other business:

--The council received a draft update zoning ordinance. The council will study the document, hold public hearings, and try to adopt it by next spring.

--Wehrfritz and council members expressed interest in using biosolids to fertilize the town's 600 acres of timber.

Consulting Engineer Ken Alexander said initial design of the new wastewater treatment plant didn't include facilities to develop biosolids because it wouldn't be economical for the plant's size. He added that the design could be rearranged to include space for equipment to produce biosolids suitable for land application.

The plant process will be treating material to the Class B biosolid level, he said. Class B biosolids are applied on a case by case, permitted basis.

Alexander said engineers would alter the design to keep the door open to biosolid processing.

"If you have a site we can dump on, we could dispose of it a whole lot more cheaper."