^{MEETING OF THE CITY OF CONNELL, WASHINGTON}

^{CONNELL, FRANKLIN COUNTY, WASHINGTON}

^{August 12, 2002}

^{The regular semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of the City of Connell was called to order by Mayor Walton at 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall and was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.}

^{ROLL CALL}

^{PRESENT:       Mayor Gary Walton, Councilmembers Monica Pruett, Roel Martinez, Ron Boyer, Perry Skoglund and Andrew Sawyer.}

^{STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett, Chief of Police Rick Rochleau , City Attorney Terry Tanner, and Deputy City Clerk Maria Chavez.}

^{VISITORS:      Larry Seibel, Anderson Perry; Kathy Bingham, Franklin County Graphic; Ross & Melissa Bushong, Connell Heritage Foundation; Victor Reeve, Car Show; Frank Sanchez, Custom Cruisers; and John Wolf, Manager at Wheatland Apartments.}

^{CORRESPONDENCE}

1. ^{Coyote Ridge Department of Corrections - Invitation to their 10th anniversary August 20th.}

2. ^{Gambling Commission - Issuance of Gambling License to American Legion for a fund raising event during the Fall Festival.}

3. ^{WA State Liquor Control Board - Liquor license renewal for Quick Mart.}

^{PRESENTATIONS}

^{Mayor Walton made the following presentations for Yard of the Month:}

^{First Baptist Church, Marion & Bertina Steele, Sergio & Olivia Marroquin, Andrew & Eileen Sawyer, Williams & Bertha Aguilar, and Robert & Laurel Misener.}

^{CONSENT CALENDAR}

^{Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Consent Calendar as listed:}

^{Minutes of the July 22, 2002 Regular Meeting,}

^{Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.}

^{CITIZEN COMMENT / NON-AGENDA ITEMS}

^{Councilmember Sawyer noted that signs were missing along Garfield Road.} 

^{City Administrator Tackett advised that there were several signs missing through town and that they had been ordered.  Administrator Tackett also discussed the need to rename Garfield Road.}  

^{APPROVAL OF AGENDA}

^{Mayor Walton made the following addition to the agenda:}

            ^{Agenda Item 19 A - Use of Chairs and Tables by CRCC.}

^{Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the agenda as listed. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.}

^{ORDER OF BUSINESS}

^{VICTOR REEVE - Car Show Schedule of Events}

^{Victor Reeve was present to discuss the Car Show events.  There would not be any entertainment at the field this year but everything else had stayed pretty much the same.  Mr. Reeve also thanked the City, Police Department and Maintenance Department for their help and participation in organizing the Car Show.  Mr. Reeve did note that the City was lacking in motel space during that weekend.  He also brought up the need for transportation from one event to the other.}

^{Mayor Walton noted that the food vendors for the show needed to go through the BF Health Department.}

^{Frank Sanchez from the Custom Cruisers was present and asked questions in regards to allowing low riders and low rider bikes in the show.  Mr. Sanchez then got together with Mr. Reeve to discuss the possibilities.}

^{MUSEUM AGREEMENT}

^{City Administrator Tackett reported that the committee had not had a chance to look over the agreement.  There were some concerns regarding security, phone, and electrical costs.} 

^{Ross and Melissa Bushong were present to answer questions.  Melissa Bushong advised that a security system had been donated but they were unsure if it would be adequate for the building.  Ross Bushong noted that the Heritage Foundation would be holding another meeting on August 20th where they would address the City's concerns and bring the agreement back to Council.  A director would be appointed to oversee the volunteers and the operation of the museum.  Ross also thanked the City for all the work they had done in restoring the museum.}   

^{Mayor Walton advised that the museum would be brought up to ADA standards before it would be opened to the public.}

^{WASTEWATER FACILITY}

^{Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry was present to update the Mayor and Council on the progress of the projects.}

^{Schedule A - PACO Pumps would be removing the two pumps that were sounding the alarms for review and would then reinstall them.  A letter to Apollo had been written stating that they had to be done by the end of the month.}

         ^{Schedule B – Schedule B could not be checked until Schedule A was completed.  Selland submitted a request for payment.  Mr. Seibel noted that there was still enough of the retainage being withheld to cover work that had not been completed.}

^{Councilmember Boyer voiced a concern with paying the amount being requested since the system had not been checked and the City did not know if it would work or not.}

^{Attorney Tanner provided that the purpose of the retainage was to get all the work out of the contractor and that by paying the Pay Estimate the City was acknowledging the work that had been performed.   Attorney Tanner also provided that the City could go back on the bonds if necessary.}

^{Mr. Seibel advised he would take an additional percentage out of the irrigation system which had not been completed and bring back the request at the next council meeting.}

^{Partial Pay Estimate # 10 was tabled to be brought back at the August 26th meeting.}

^{USDA - APPLICATION}

^{City Administrator Tackett reported that the City had applied for a USDA application for water projects in the amount of $4.5 million. DOE would be in the office on Wednesday with an offer, at which time the Mayor or Mayor Pro-Tem would need to sign the agreement.}

^{Water projects included; the line from the farm, the line under the Esquatzel Coulee, the loop under 395, new lines at Striker, new water lines at the northwest corner of town, renovation of the 3 million gallon water reservoir and reconstruction of the 250 gallon reservoir.}

^{WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS}

^{This project was put on hold pending the outcome of the USDA funding.}

^{TIB- CLARK STREET - PROJECT UPDATE}

^{Larry Seibel reported that the curbs and gutters had been completed.  The sidewalks would be done later in the week, once they were completed the street would be paved.} 

^{Councilmember Skoglund inquired about a couple of residences that needed to be looked at and agreed to meet with Mr. Seibel to go over the sites.}

^{Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the Application for Payment No. 2 from Selland Construction in the amount of $163,816.29.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.} 

^{COMMUNITY CENTER}

^{City Administrator Tackett reported that the Community Center Committee had not had the chance to discuss the rental agreement and that discussion on this issue needed to be tabled.}  

^{John Wolf presented a Petition for Action, signed by 20 residents, relating to the Community Center.  Some of Mr. Wolf's concerns included the excessive noise when the double doors to the outside were left open, lack of parking space, and children not being supervised by their parents and throwing rocks at the surrounding buildings.  Mr. Wolf also commented that several times he has had to pick up beer bottles from his property.}

^{Mayor Walton advised that the Community Center Committee was working on the agreement and had been for a couple of months.  The Committee was trying to work out some of the concerns brought up by Mr. Wolf.}

^{ORDINANCE NO. 751 - CROSS CONNECTION}

^{Mayor Walton advised that due to Federal Government regulations being imposed on the State and the State passing these regulations down to local government for enforcement Public Works Director Munyan sent out notices to residents relating to backflow devices.}

^{Several Councilmembers voiced their concern with the way the notice had been written and suggested that it needed to be worded and explained clearer.} 

^{Administrator Tackett noted that the holder of the certificates, Public Works Director Munyan, was who would be held liable for the cross connections not the City. City Administrator Tackett advised that currently there was a cross connection ordinance, Ordinance No. 549 but that it needed to be updated.}  

^{Councilmember Skoglund moved to adopt Ordinance No. 751 relating to cross connections and repealing Ordinance No. 549.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.}

^{STREET GRANT - APPLICATION AUTHORIZATION}

^{City Administrator Tackett reported that historically small cities under 2500 population had access to a Main Street Pavement Program funded through the State Department of Transportation in the amount of $50,000.  At the last Legislative Session the State increased the population level to 10,000.  This change would allow the City of Connell, as well as many other cities, to be eligible for funding for streets.  The City would be able to do any street in town and would not have to provide a match.  The City would need to have a street wide management program in place by the application date of August 23.  This grant would be contingent on passage of Referendum 51 in November.}

^{Councilmember Skoglund moved to authorize staff proceed with the street grant application, Councilmember Martinez seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.}  

^{RAILROAD CROSSING GRANT - APPLICATION AUTHORIZATION}

^{City Administrator Tackett reported that there was a program available through DOT to fund safety improvements to railroad crossings.  There needed to be some changes made to the crossing on Clark to improve alignment with the TIB street project.  There would be no match requirement for this project.  Estimated cost for this project would be $200,000.} 

^{Councilmember Sawyer moved to authorize staff proceed with the railroad crossing grant application, Councilmember Boyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.}

^{LAW SUIT}

^{City Administrator Tackett reported that he had been contacted by the County to review the redistricting claim by the Democratic Party of Franklin County, who sued the County Commissioners, claiming that the districts were not properly formed.}

^{No action was taken by Council on this issue.}

^PHARMACY

^{City Administrator Tackett reported that DOC had terminated their contract with the Connell Pharmacy to cut costs.  Administrator Tackett recalled that according to DOC's contract, they would support local businesses.  A meeting with DOC had been scheduled for August 14.}  

^{IN CAR VIDEO CAMERAS}

^{Chief of Police Rochleau requested approval for the purchase of two in car video cameras and discussed the availability of funds.  A reimbursement for the Police Academy had been received in the amount of $23,929.  The cost for the two cameras would be $5,000.}

^{Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the purchase of two video cameras in the amount of $5,000.  Councilmember Boyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.}

^{USE OF CHAIRS AND TABLES BY CRCC}

^{City Administrator reported that he had been contacted by CRCC who was requesting the use of the City's tables and chairs located at the Community Center for their 10th anniversary celebration.  Administrator Tackett advised that the City did not normally allow the tables and chairs be loaned out.}

^{Council gave its consensus to allow CRCC the use of the tables and chairs on August 20th as long as the City did not pay the inmate crew to haul them to   and from the Corrections Center and as long as they were not being used at the Community Center for an event.}

^{PAYMENT OF BILLS}

^{Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $281,566.91.  Councilmember Pruett seconded. Motion carried unanimously.}

^{DEPARTMENT REPORTS}

^{POLICE REPORT - Chief of Police Rick Rochleau}

^{1.                  Two inmates had escaped from CRCC.  One had been apprehended.}

^{CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT - City Administrator Art Tackett}

^{1.                  The brochure for Connell had been completed.}

^{2.                  Received a letter from Canfield & Associates relating to hazards at the swimming pool.  The only safety concerns observed were the need to document training, signs needing to be posted, and installation of soap dispensers. The City had been receiving good reports on the work done by the lifeguards and Public Works.}

^{3.                  Would be attending a meeting to discuss the purchase of the Grange property.}

^{4.                  Would be doing a walk through on August 14 with DOE for the wastewater facility.}

^{5.                  Would be meeting with DOE to look at the wells, relating to water rights.}

^{6.                  Would be at Ocean Shores next week working on Equalization Tax.}

^{7.                  Discussion of sewer expenditures would be placed on the next agenda.}

^{ATTORNEY'S REPORT - City Attorney Terry Tanner}

^{1.         Advised Council that he had resigned from the Richland's City Council.}

^{MEETING ADJOURNED}

^{There being no further business to be heard before the City Council of the City of Connell, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 10:00 p.m.}