MEETING OF THE CITY OF CONNELL , WASHINGTON
CONNELL, FRANKLIN COUNTY , WASHINGTON

November 10, 2003

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, Mayor Pro-Tem Perry Skoglund, Councilmembers Roel Martinez , Ron Boyer, and Andy Sawyer.

EXCUSED:      Councilmember Monica Pruett

STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett , City Clerk-Treasurer Joan Eckman , Chief of Police Rick Rochleau, Fire Chief Robert Koch, City Attorney Terry Tanner , and Deputy City Clerk Maria Chavez Peρa.

VISITORS:      Larry Seibel, Anderson Perry; Kathy Bingham, Graphic; Mike Wasnick, Hillcrest Apartments; and Bobby Lattrell, Pasco Housing Authority.

CORRESPONDENCE

1)                  City of Pasco – Requested Mayor sign Proclamation for National Family Week November 23-29.

Mayor signed proclamation.

2)                  Secretary of State – Certificate of Commendation to Connell for its pivotal role in the history of the Washington Territory .

3)                  Liquor Control Board – Request for Special Occasion liquor license for Chamber of Commerce Wine Festival on November 15.

4)                  Liquor Control Board – Liquor license renewal for Pizza Station.

5)                  Home Builders Association – Invitation to the Evergreen Freedom Foundation lunch on November 21.

6)                  Home Builders Association – Annual Elected Leaders Reception December 2nd.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Consent Calendar as listed.

Minutes of the October 13, 2003 Regular Meeting.

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mayor Walton made the following changes to the Agenda:

            Tabled: Item No. 8 – Connell Pharmacy

            Addition: Item No. 19A  - Resolution No. 2003-05 Fast Flux Test Facility

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

ORDER OF BUSINESS

HILLCREST APARTMENTS & PASCO HOUSING AUTHORITY

City Administrator Tackett provided Council with Resolution 1999-05 that stated that the owners of Hillcrest Apartments desired to sell said property and that the Connell Housing Authority did not have the ability to purchase these apartments and therefore the Housing Authority of the City of Pasco and Franklin County wished to purchase these apartments. The resolution provided that the City Council of the City of Connell consented to the acquisition of the Hillcrest Apartments by the Pasco and Franklin County Housing Authority, provided that the Pasco and Franklin County housing Authority agreed to compensate the city for improvements, services and facilities furnished by the City and other municipal corporations, in an amount which equaled the amount last levied as the annual tax of the City.

Mike Wasnick, owner of Hillcrest Apartments and Bobby Lattrell, from Pasco and Franklin County Housing Authority, were present to answer questions.  Bobby Lattrell expressed that they wanted to work with the City in taking over the Hillcrest Apartments.  Mr. Wasnick provided that they were currently running a food bank for tenants who need supplies.  The tenants would take what they needed and then replace it when they could.  Ms. Lattrell noted that they had won several awards for their crime prevention efforts.

City Administrator Tackett advised that this was a private deal and did not involve City participation.

Attorney Tanner provided that the City would have to monitor item no. 3 of the resolution. 

PUBLIC HEARING – 2004 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET

 Mayor Walton opened the Public Hearing on the 2004 Fiscal Year Budget at 7:58 .

City Administrator Tackett reported that there was an overall increase of 1% to the budget.  Mr. Tackett also advised that staff was looking at decreasing the utility tax by 1% and putting a cap on the gas tax of $140,000 for each year.

City Clerk Treasurer Eckman provided Council with a draft of the budget and a draft of Ordinance No. 764 in the amount of $9,817,281.

There being no public testimony the Mayor opened the public hearing for Councilmember discussion.    

Mayor Walton asked staff to look into the possibility of paying off the land where the City’s sewer station was located.

There being no further discussion the Mayor closed the Public Hearing at 8:07 pm .       

RESOLUTION NO. 2003-04 – SETTING SALARY SCHEDULE FOR FY 2004

City Administrator Tackett advised that there would be a separate $100 contract for the building inspections and code enforcement done by Public Works Director Munyan.  This would be in effect for a limited time until a Building Inspector was hired.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to adopt Resolution No. 2003-04 setting salary schedules for 2004, Councilmember Sawyer seconded, motion carried unanimously.

ORDINANCE NO. 762 – AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAXES 2004

City Clerk Treasurer Eckman read Ordinance No. 762 setting the amount necessary  to be levied by Ad Valorem General Property taxes to raise the annual expenditures provided in the 2004 Budget for the General Bond obligation at $19,960.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to adopt Ordinance no. 762 relating to the Ad Valorem General Property Taxes.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC MEETING – BROWN FIELDS GRANT APPLICATION

          City Administrator Tackett advised that the Public Meeting was to inform the residents that the City was proposing to submit a $100,000 grant application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean-up the abandoned wastewater treatment facility.  An important portion of the grant application was to demonstrate citizen involvement and allow community input into the project.

            Mayor Walton authorized City Administrator Tackett to proceed with the grant application.

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported on the following:

Phase I – Schedule A was completed.  On Schedule B the reservoir was up and was being sandblasted.  On Schedule F work was substantially completed on the reservoir rehab, which was in service and one small leak had been detected. Would look into having a leak detection company come in to test for leaks. 

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to authorize Application for Payment No. 3 in the amount of $295,020.47 to Morse construction.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.            

Phase II –  On Schedules C, D, and I all pipes and services had been installed. On Schedule E the waterline would be completed during the week.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to authorize Application for Payment No. 3 to Pegram in the amount of $325,593.85.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Phase III –  Currently working on the crossings.

CLARK STREET – PROJECT UPDATE

Larry Seibel advised that the street lights were shipped out on Friday.

Motion:  Councilmember Martinez moved to approve Application for Payment No. 4 for West Clark Street – Phase II to M.L. Albright & Sons in the amount of $27,435.80.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve Application for Payment No. 2 for Brentwood Overlays to Transtate Paving Co. in the amount of $2,660.00.  Councilmember Skoglund seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

WASTEWATER FACILITY  

City Administrator Tackett advised that a meeting would be held the following week with City Staff, Anderson Perry and City Attorney to discuss the Wastewater Facility.

Larry Seibel advised that he had received a call from Familian that the pump was shipped out.

SEWER PROJECT STATUS

Larry Seibel reported that the project was complete except for the patch on Curry Road that needed to be redone.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve Application for Payment No. 5 for sewer improvements to Paragon Construction in the amount of $4,467.45.

DNR- LETTER OF INTEREST

City Administrator Tackett advised that he had received correspondence from the Department of Natural Resources regarding land sale and the Transfer Program.  The City had been working with DNR for over 12 years and now had the opportunity to purchase some of the property the City was interested in.  The City currently had a number of potential purchasers. DNR requested that the City share in administration costs.  The cost to the City would be $8,500 to be taken from the Industrial Park Reserve.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to proceed with the land purchase and expend $8,500 out of the Industrial Park Reserve.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously

SCHEDULE FOR HOLIDAYS

City Administrator Tackett requested that staff be authorized to close City Hall on December 26, the day after Christmas.  Staff would use their Personal Day or vacation time as necessary for that Friday.

Consensus of the Council was to authorize City Hall be closed on December 26 with the use of Personal Days or vacation by staff.      

RESOLUTION NO. 2003-05 – FAST FLUX TEST FACILITY

City Administrator Tackett reported that Resolution No. 2003-05 had been received relating to the restoration of the Fast Flux Test Facility.  

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to adopt Resolution No. 2003-05 relating to the restoration of the Fast Flux Test Facility.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

PAYMENT OF BILLS

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $865,567.70.  Councilmember Martinez seconded, motion carried unanimously.

PLANNING COMMISSION – City Administrator Art Tackett

            Would be meeting with the Planning Commission to discuss a Zone Change.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  Set Special Council Workshop for Budget Discussion for November 18th at 6:00pm .

2)                  Would be in Moses Lake doing a presentation on Wednesday.

3)                  Would be attending an Emergency Management meeting on Thursday in Olympia .

4)                  Would be in Seatac attending a Wellness Conference on Friday.

5)                  Discussed changing the Urban Growth Boundary for the City with the Planning Commission.

6)                  Would know more about the CRCC expansion in April or May.

ADMINISTRATION OFFICE – City Clerk-Treasurer Joan Eckman

1)                  Working on the Budget

2)                  Planning a Christmas Party for Staff and Council for December 18th.

POLICE DEPARTMENT – Chief of Police Rick Rochleau

1)                  Represented the City well at a Chili Cook Off.

2)                  Appointed Chairman to the Emergency Management Board.

3)                  Would be attending a Chief & Sheriffs Conference in Chelan the following week.

4)                  Had a rash of vandalisms of broken windows.  Had three young men identified in connection with the vandalisms.

FIRE DEPARTMENT – Fire Chief Bob Koch

1)                  Presented Council with the Thermal Imager

2)                  Next meeting would be turn in the payroll for the firemen.  There would be no payroll for himself.

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:15 pm .