MATTAWA - The Mattawa City Council is set to raise the utility tax rate five percent at its next meeting, Nov. 6. That would add $3.57 to the average utility bill.

The council discussed a hike at its Oct. 16 meeting. It asked city staff to return with an ordinance on Nov. 6.

There is additional utility news from the Department of Ecology (DOE). It informed the council that the city will soon have to upgrade its sewer system.

"They said we are close to being out of compliance in some areas," City Clerk Robin Newcomb said.

Mattawa's license to operate will come up in the near future. It could be conditional.

The city is already preparing for the upgrade. It has applied for a planning only Community Development Block Grant.

Nancy Morter of Gray & Osborne Engineering said the maximum CDBG grant the city could receive is $24,000. The cost will be approximately $80,000 for a facility plan and $30,000-$40,000 for a ground water study for a total of about $120,000.

According to Newcomb, the city would apply for a loan and grant through the DOE to cover the balance.

Ecology's Megan Rounds discussed the upcoming DOE permit. There will be a public review process and changes made.

Rounds said that when the sewer plant was built, gates were not installed to allow for the cleaning of the clarifier. Sludge is getting into the infiltration beds, which can affect ground water.

In addition, Rounds said, the Total Dissolve Solids (TDS) cannot increase, and this is why it is necessary for Gray & Osborne to do a ground water study. Because of inert matter and/or growth, the plant is losing capacity, she said.

The new permit will have new testing requirements, including monthly testing, and a new electronic tool to monitor ground water.

In other revenue news, Police Chief John Turley would like to propose a sales tax increase next year for police department improvements.

He told the council the Multi Agency Communication Center (MACC) is doubling the city's user fee from approximately $15,000 to $30,000. The MACC is building a new dispatch center for $8.1 million.

In an unrelated matter, the council passed a medical marijuana ordinance.

Medical marijuana collective gardens or dispensaries will not be allowed. However, people with medical marijuana cards will be allowed to grow and use their own.

"Superior Court upheld the City of Kent's decision to ban collective gardens and dispensaries," Newcomb said.

City planner Darryl Piercy handed council members a map showing the areas where retail sales and processing of marijuana could be allowed.

The two areas are on Government Road from Riverview Ave. to Ellice Ave. and the west end of Government Road on the southeast area of Government Road and Highway 243.

The building for retail sales must be a physically separate building from any other business. No production would be allowed within the city limits.