MEETING OF THE CITY OF CONNELL , WASHINGTON

CONNELL, FRANKLIN COUNTY , WASHINGTON

 

April 8, 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:      PRESENT:    Mayor Gary Walton, Mayor Pro-Tem Perry Skoglund, Councilmembers Monica Pruett, Ron Boyer, Roel Martinez and Andrew Sawyer.

 

STAFF:          STAFF:     City Administrator Art Tackett, Chief of Police Rick Rochleau, Public Works Director Patrick Munyan, City Attorney Terry Tanner and Deputy City Clerk Maria Chavez.

 

VISITORS:      VISITORS:   Larry Seibel, Anderson Perry; Kathy Bingham, Graphic; and Dee Burrie Shannon & Wilson .

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

1)                  1.    Washington Municipal Clerks Association - Scholarship granted to Deputy Clerk Chavez to attend WMCA Professional Development III classes.

2)                  2.    U.S. Department of Interior - Next meeting would be held April 8, 2002 in Moses Lake .

3)                  3.    AWC - 2002 Annual Business meeting June 21, 2002 .

4)                  4.    Dept of Social & Health Services- Questionnaire relating to interest in sighting secure community transition facilities.

5)                 5.     WA. St. Dept. of Transportation - Civil Engineering and Technical Student Summer Employment Referral Program.

6)                  6.    Library District - Friends of the Library - Requested that the City remove some of the asphalt behind the library to add a flower garden.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Consent Calendar as follows:

Minutes of the March 25, 2002 Regular Meeting  - Correction to page 4 Property Bid amount corrected from $2,001 to $12,001.

Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the agenda as listed.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

 

WASTEWATER FACILITY

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

 

Schedule A - Startup and demonstration of the project was rescheduled for April 11, 2002.

Schedule B - Would be ready for demonstration at the end of April. Reviewed the change order items for Council's approval.

 

Councilmember Pruett moved to accept Change Order No. 4.  Councilmember Skoglund seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

            Mr. Seibel noted that there was still $53,247 of unused grant funds.      

 

WATER RESERVOIR

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that computer models would be set up later during the week to come up with different scenarios to handle water demand once the reservoir had been emptied for repair. 

 

WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS - PROJECT UPDATE

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that they were holding off with this project till financing was determined.

 

Would be meeting with someone from USDA to review the potential water project.  Once this had been completed an application would be submitted.  The City could possibly have funding by July.

 

WATER RIGHTS

City Administrator Tackett reported Larry Seibel was working on consolidating the City's water rights and that Mr. Seibel had met with George Slender from DOE.  Mr. Tackett advised that he would take this project slow as to assure that no water rights were lost during the consolidation process.

 

Public Works Director Munyan reported that he would be checking the static levels for the wells.

 

TIB- CLARK STREET - PROJECT UPDATE

Phase I - Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that this phase had been put out to bid. Pre-bid meeting would be held Monday, April 15th.

Phase II - Funds would not be available until July.

 

SHANNON & WILSON  - COMMUNITY CENTER

Dee Burrie from Shannon & Wilson reported that the structural damage would continue to get worse if the building was not repaired.   The geotechnical engineering report and preliminary cost estimates for repair had been completed.  Pile spacing of about 3 feet would be needed to support the northeast corner and the west side of the building for a total of 56 piles.  A local contractor specializing in the installation of the pile system provided a cost estimate of $100,000 for the pile support and repair of the floor slab.

 

The next step would be to get together with the Clerk-Treasurer to look into funding.

 

Council gave its consensus to proceed with the next step.

 

CHIEF OF POLICE - CONTRACT

Mayor Walton reported that Chief Rochleau's contract had remained basically the same.

 

Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the Chief's Contract.  Councilmember Boyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

MALL CONSULTANT- FOLLOW UP

City Administrator Tackett reported that he had meet with Carlton Meiers in regards to the placement of an outlet mall.  Mr. Meiers seemed impressed with the area and would contact Mr. Tackett later in the week.

 

D.O.E. LAWSUIT

City Attorney Tanner reported that he had attended a pre-hearing conference where a date was set for the trial. 

 

CERTIFIED SITE ANALYSIS

City Administrator Tackett reported that TRIDEC had a program call "Certified Sites" which analyzed industrial sites for environmental and geotechnical review.  These sites are entered into a data base which then would be submitted to interested clients.  It would provide the City with more specific information regarding the sites and would answer questions posed by potential developers.

 

Further discussion of this item was tabled.

 

AGREEMENT WITH MESA

City Attorney Tanner presented a proposed Interlocal Agreement with the City of Mesa for court services.  Mesa would contract with the City for court time, judge and clerk, to decide on code enforcement issues.

 

Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the agreement with the City of Mesa .  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously. 

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS –

Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $134,395.78.  Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

 

PARK BOARD - City Administrator

1.         Lifeguard interviews would start the following week. 

2.         Received a cost estimate from First Wave.

 

B/F DEPT. OF HEALTH - Mayor Walton reported that he B/F Dept of Health had cut their     budget by 65% and would be laying off some employees and terminating some of their programs and services.

 

STREET COMMITTEE - Meeting scheduled for April 17th at 4:00 pm .

 

POLICE REPORT - Chief of Police Rick Rochleau

1.                  An 11 year old shot himself in the hand.

2.                  The fence at Clark Street Park had been run over.

3.                  An 11 year old, visiting from Richland , passed away in his sleep at his grandparent's house.

4.                  A new law was passed on racial profiling.  Would bring back to Council once more information was received.

5.                  Received an application from Matt Boyer for reserve officer.

Councilmember Boyer stepped down from the bench for the following vote.

Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the reserve officer application for Mark Boyer.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

6.                  Attended a Chief & Sheriff's Meeting to discuss the Port of Pasco contracting with local law enforcement for security at the airport.  More information would be brought to Council at a later date.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT - City Administrator Art Tackett

1.                  The Connell brochure would be finalized.

2.                  An economic consultant would be here on April 27th for the Economic Summit.

3.                  Would like to have several mayor's including our own, visit our elected officials and get legislation started on sales tax equalization.

 

CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT - City Attorney Terry Tanner

1.         Legislature increased traffic offense fees were being increased to $95 for the state.

2.         Looked into the Home Builders L & I Insurance and recommended the City proceed with this program.

 

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 9:30 p.m.