MEETING
OF THE CITY OF CONNELL, WASHINGTON
CONNELL,
FRANKLIN COUNTY, WASHINGTON
The
regular semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of the City of
PRESENT:
Mayor Gary Walton, Councilmembers Monica Pruett, Roel Martinez, Ron
Boyer, Andy Sawyer and Perry Skoglund.
STAFF:
City Administrator Art Tackett, Chief of Police
VISITORS:
Larry Seibel, Anderson Perry; Arnold Hudlow, Connell Heritage Foundation;
and Kathy Bingham, Franklin County Graphic.
WA
State Liquor Control Board - Notice
of discontinued liquor service for Odom's Tavern.
WA
State Liquor Control Board - Notice of liquor license application for Odom's
Mexican Restaurant for Felix Alvarez and Rocio Gonzalez.
No objections were heard.
Ben
Franklin Volunteer Center - Would be holding a recognition breakfast for
volunteers on October 22.
Councilmember
Skoglund moved to approve the Consent Calendar as listed:
Minutes
of the September 23, 2002 Regular Meeting,
Councilmember
Pruett seconded motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
The
following additions were made to the agenda:
Agenda Item 20a - Claim for damages
Councilmember
Pruett moved to approve the agenda as amended. Councilmember Sawyer seconded
motion. Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING - FY 2003 Budget Revenue Sources
Mayor Walton opened the Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Revenue Sources at 7:35 p.m.
City Clerk Treasurer Joan Eckman presented revenue sources for the 2003 Budget. The main operating fund for the City was the General Fund. Other revenue funds included the Water, Sewer, and Sanitation funds which were set by rate structure according to the City's needs. Clerk Treasurer Eckman provided Council with a spreadsheet on the General Fund.
The total estimate for the 2002 general fund revenues were $1,295,914.
The total estimate for the 2003 general fund revenues were $1,262,919.
General Property Taxes - The City had had the capability of utilizing a banked capacity since the City had not passed the full capacity for the past years. For future years the City would only be able to pass a 1% increase. Clerk Treasurer Eckman reported that she had been in contact with the Assessor's Office who provided that the City could levied to receive $286, 233 for 2002 with the banked capacity but chose to levy $266,630. If the City chose to utilize the banked capacity it would add an additional 1% to the $286,233 for a total of $289,095. Council would need to make a decision on what to levy and an ordinance would need to be passed.
PUD Occupational Tax
Due to the increase in the electrical utility bills the City would be receiving an increase in the 6% utility tax. This would help to offset our losses from the State Shared Revenue.
Local Government Assistance
The City would no longer be receiving any Local Government Assistance.
Court Receipts
Revenue
for the court receipts had gone down. The
City would not be receiving what had been projected for 2002, based on this the
projection had been lowered for 2003.
The
hearing was opened up to the public and Councilmembers for comments.
The Mayor closed the Public Hearing at 7:50 pm.
MUSEUM CONTRACT
City Administrator Tackett reported that a few changes had been made to the contract. The Lease Agreement between the City and the Connell Heritage Foundation would be for five years. The lease amount would be $1 per year. The City would provide for all the utilities including local phone service. The City would also maintain the grounds and buildings and would provide insurance for the building.
The Heritage Foundation would be responsible for long distance charges and the funding for the materials to build the display cases. They would also provide a security system for the building and would maintain the facility in good repair. The building still needed to be brought up to ADA requirements.
Attorney Tanner advised that the word fire should be removed from the second to the last paragraph on the fourth page of the lease agreement.
Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the Lease with the change noted. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
WASTEWATER
FACILITY
Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry was present to update the Mayor and Council on the progress of the projects.
Schedule A - Seal leak alarms had been corrected. Pump # 4 would be reinstalled on Friday. If everything worked correctly the system would be ran for 4 to 5 days before being accepted.
Schedule B – The contractor expected to have the final items done by the end of the week.
If Schedule A is running properly the changeover would be completed before the end of the month.
USDA - WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
City Administrator Tackett provided information on the USDA Grant Agreement, the Special Services Contract with Preston Gates and Ellis, and Resolution No. 2002-06 on the loan.
Councilmember Pruett moved to authorize the Mayor sign the USDA Grant Agreement in the amount of 2.5 million dollars. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Councilmember Sawyer moved to authorize the Mayor sign the Special Services Contract with Preston Gates and Ellis. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Councilmember Pruett moved to adopt Resolution No. 2002-06 authorizing and providing for the incurrence of indebtedness in the amount of two million dollars for water system improvements. Councilmember Skoglund seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that the surveys had been completed and work was being started on the design. Phase I construction would begin around March and Phase II construction would begin around May.
MEETING
OF THE CITY OF CONNELL
Minutes
of the Regular Meeting – October 14, 2002
City
Administrator Tackett recommended that water rates be increased in two phases.
The first one to take place after the first of the year and the second
one sometime in the winter or in 2004 depending on Anderson Perry's
recommendation. Mr. Tackett also
noted that after five years the water rights from the farm could be changed from
agricultural to municipal which would lower the farm payment by $50,000 a year.
The City would also look into doing a sewer rate study for the potential
of lowering the sewer rates.
A
Special Council meeting would be held on November 12th at 7:00 pm to
discuss the water rates.
ORDINANCE
NO. 753 - Establishing Fund # 204 USDA Loan
City
Clerk Treasurer Eckman advised that it was necessary to crate a new fund for
tracking the long term debt obligation for the USDA loan for the water projects.
Councilmember
Pruett moved to adopt Ordinance No. 753 establishing fund # 204 for the USDA
loan. Councilmember Sawyer seconded
motion. Motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION
NO. 2002-07 - Transfer funds from the Conti
City
Clerk Eckman advised that during the audit process the sate auditors brought to
the attention of staff that the Contingency Fund exceeded the limit of the
thirty-seven and one-half cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation.
$23,528.00 would need to be transferred to be in compliance with
regulations. The funds could be used
for emergency purposes such as the repair of the Community Center.
Councilmember
Sawyer moved to declare the repairs to the Community Center and the site upon
which it sits as an emergency situation. Councilmember
Martinez seconded motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
Councilmember
Martinez moved to adopt Resolution No. 2002-07 authorizing the transfer of
$23,528 from the Contingency Fund. Councilmembers Pruett and Sawyer seconded
motion. Motion carried unanimously.
TIB- CLARK STREET - PROJECT UPDATE
Larry
Seibel reported on the fallowing projects:
Phase I -A pre-final walk
through had been held the previous week. Several
items still needed to be completed. The
street lights had been shipped and would be installed the following week.
Stock piles needed to be removed and some minor grading would be done.
Phase II - Working on the
design. Part of the Sanitary Sewer
line would be included to this project. A
right-of-way issue needed to be addressed with the street belonging to the
school district referred to as Sixth Street.
GOLF
COURSE
City
Administrator Tackett reported that RFQ's had been placed and had received
several interesting responses. The
RFQ's were due October 21, the City would have more information at that time.
City
Clerk Treasurer Eckman requested that Council restate their motion for the
expenditure of $40,000 for the golf course to specify the funding source.
Councilmember
Pruett moved to approve the expenditure of $40,000 for the golf course out of
the Airport Improvement Fund. Councilmember
Skoglund seconded motion. Motion
carried with Councilmembers Sawyer and Boyer voting against.
SOCCER
FIELD - CLARK STREET PARK
City
Administrator Tackett reported that the City had gotten more complaints
regarding the soccer field and had contacted Attorney Tanner for direction and
had received a reply.
Attorney
Tanner advised that the City was able to limit the use of the park.
If a resolution were to be passed that only allowed youth soccer to be
played on the field any other activity would be banned.
Councilmember
Boyer suggested making one person in charge of the group.
Councilmember Boyer also suggested the Connell Baptist Church be
contacted to see if they would be willing to allow some of their land be used
for a soccer field.
City Administrator Tackett advised that he would talk to the soccer players as well as the Baptist Church.
ORDINANCE
NO. 754 - Sanitation Containers
City Administrator Tackett reported that complaints had been received in regards to the sanitation cans being left on the street and that he had came up with two options.
1)
No garbage can or garbage units for residential garbage, refuse,
recyclables, yard or garden waste shall be placed along a public sidewalk, or on
other public property any sooner than twenty-four hours before the time of
collection. All residential garbage
cans and garbage units shall be removed from public areas and stored according
to Connell Municipal Code 7.04.110 within twenty-four hours of the time of
collection.
2)
No garbage cans or garbage units for residential garbage, refuse,
recyclables, yard or garden waste shall be placed along a public sidewalk or on
other public property any sooner than twenty-four hours prior to collection or
left out longer than twelve hours after collection shall be notified that they
are in violation of this section. Any
subsequent violation in placing or leaving containers out prior to or after the
allowable times shall be assessed a $12.50 penalty.
Councilmember
Martinez moved to approve option 1 for Ordinance No. 754 on sanitation
containers, Councilmember Boyer seconded, motion carried unanimously.
INCUBATOR - USDA Rural Development Application
City Administrator reported that he had attended a meeting with a representative from USDA and representatives from the local banks to discuss a new grant program to fund the purchase of an incubator for Connell. The building in mind for the incubator was located across from the City Hall and needed about $70,000 to $100,000 of work. The incubator would provide a place for new businesses to start up and learn what it takes to run a business. The rent would be kept as inexpensive as possible. The local banks would be willing to contribute financially and the Department of Corrections was willing to donate inmate labor. Total project would be approximately $360,000, of that $180,000 would be USDA and the other $180,000 would be local match from bank contributions and in-kind. There would be no hard dollars from the City.
Councilmember Boyer voiced some concerns and suggested the City contact the individual who purchased the Akins building to see if he would be interested in working with the City to form the incubator.
This item was tabled for further information.
SURPLUS VEHICLES
Chief Rochleau advised that he would like to surplus two vehicles, 1992 For Ranger pickup and a 1994 Chevrolet Caprice 4 door, at the Booker Auction on 11/2/02.
Councilmember Boyer moved to surplus the two vehicles. Councilmember Skoglund seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT
City Administrator Tackett reported that the City had received a grant of $9,000 from CTED to update the Downtown Element of the Comprehensive Plan. RFQ's had been solicited and were due October 21 at 5:00 pm.
CLAIM FOR DAMAGES
Mayor Walton reported that he had received a request from Rodney and Jeannie Norstedt for the replacement cost of their heat pump that went out during the construction work on Clark Street. Mayor Walton read the correspondence received from the Norstedt's. Selland's insurance would not cover the claim nor would the City's.
Councilmember Sawyer moved to deny the request for reimbursement from the Norstedt's. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
PAYMENT
OF BILLS –
Councilmember
Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $196,647.54.
Councilmember Pruett seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
POLICE REPORT - Chief of Police Rick Rochleau
1. Held EVOC training.
2. Officers Boyer and Turner were attending school for child victim interviewers.
3. Homecoming would be on Friday. A parade would be held on Columbia Ave with police escorts in front and back.
4. Graffiti was found at the skate park. Sergeant Kuehny had the info on the kids.
5. Have had a few title brought in for old cars to be picked up.
6. Ordered software to upgrade the police software.
7. Inquired about hunting on the farm. Would talk to Kyle Night who leases the farm.
BUSINESS OFFICE - City Clerk Treasurer Joan Eckman
1. The exit interview with the auditor's had gone well, had no findings or management letter in the audit report. Discussed the need to update software in order to better track the utility billing.
2. Coming along with the budget. Need to set up a finance meeting to discuss payroll issues.
3. Cross Training of business staff has been going well.
CITY
ADMINISTRATOR REPORT - City Administrator Art Tackett
1.
Pilings had been put in
at the Community Center and were nearly completed.
2.
Received a letter from
Brenda Taylor Peterson requesting that the welcome signs include something about
the accomplishments of the kids in sports. She
would be contacted and advised that the booster clubs were the ones to contact.
Mayor
Walton closed the regular meeting at 9:43, for approximately 10 minutes, to go
into executive session to discuss a personnel issue.
There
being no further business to be heard before the City Council of the City of
Connell, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:53 p.m.