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

August 23, 2004

City Council, Mayor, City Administrator, Police Chief and Public Works Director met at CRCC at 5:30 for a presentation and tour of the facility.

The regular semi-monthly meeting, of the City Council of the City of Connell was called to order by the Mayor at 7:36 pm 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 , Andy Sawyer, Pruett and Ron Boyer.  

STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett , City Attorney Terry Tanner , Fire Chief Bob Koch, Police Chief Rick Rochleau, Public Works Director Pat Munyan , and Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Maria ChavezPeńa.

VISITORS:      Larry Seibel and Alan Schroeder, Anderson Perry; Gene Stocking, Community First Bank; Ron & Linda Brandner, Hazy’s; and Kathy Bingham, Graphic.

CORRESPONDENCE

1)                  Valorie Adams – Recognition to Camp Outlook for their presentation of the flag at the Connell Swim Meet on July 24th.

2)                  Franklin County Disability Board – Chief of Police Rochleau would continue on the Franklin County Disability Board if Mesa and Kahlotus concurred.

3)                  Phyllis Holley  - Would not be renewing the lease on Clark Street Park for the coming year. This item was placed on the agenda for further discussion.

CONSENT CALENDAR

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

Minutes of the August 9, 2004 Regular Meeting with the correction to page 1, Correspondence, correct Liquor license renewal to Liquor license application.

Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

CITIZEN COMMENT/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Ron & Linda Brandner from Hazy’s were present to request permission to hold their annual street dance with everything being set up the same as the previous year.

Counsel gave it’s consensus for the annual Hazy’s street dance to take place September 11th.

Linda Brandner noted that due to the high increase for advertising on the highway, from $100 to $683, that they would not be renewing that contract and inquired about having a sign placed at the entrance of town that listed businesses.

Council suggested the Brandner’s contact the High School, CRCC or Boy Scouts and see if anyone would be interested in helping take on the project of the signs.

Councilmember Boyer advised that the Recycling Center had received a two week notice from BNSF to have the trash cleaned up or they would pull his lease.  Some of the trash was due to people dumping on the property leased to Mr. Byng by the Railroad.  Mr. Byng did not have the means to get it cleaned up and was requesting help from the City. 

Public Works Director Munyan advised that there was a dumping problem in this area.

This item was placed on the Agenda for further discussion.

Councilmember Boyer also inquired about Burn Permits.

Fire Chief Koch advised that they needed to come to the City Hall to fill out a Burn Permit.  They would also have to contact him before burning to know if it were a burn day and to let him know of the controlled burn location so that fire trucks would not be sent out.

Councilmember Boyer inquired about dumpsters for Spring Cleanup advising that this year’s dumpsters had been hard to find since they were located at the shop.

Public Works Director Munyan noted that there were two dumpsters located at the City Shop but that those wishing to dump would need to contact staff to set up a time to dump.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

The following items were added to the agenda:

            Item 16a. Clark Street Park – Phyllis Holley

            Item 16b Recycling Center – Winston Byng

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

ORDER OF BUSINESS

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
      Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported on the following:

Phase I & Phase II – Both projects were ready to be closed out.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve Phase I and Phase II of the USDA Water Improvements project for closeout. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Phase III –  Reservoir: Pre-construction meeting held, once a schedule of delivery for materials was received a notice to proceed would be issued.  Schedules G & H: A pre-bid meeting was held, bid opening would be held on September 7th.

City Administrator Tackett advised that the Water Rights Transfer request had been approved by the Franklin County Conservancy Board and was forwarded to Department of Ecology but had not heard back from the Department of Ecology.           

STREET PROJECTS - UPDATE

            TIB Clark Street Project – Presented the Release of Retainage for Schedules A, B, C, & D.  All the necessary paperwork had been received to closeout the project.

Motion: Councimember Pruett moved to approve Application for Payment No. 6 to M.L. Albright & Sons in the amount of $30,242.62. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Street Improvement Project - The bid opening for the street projects was held on August 17 at 2:00 pm , for Terrace Heights and chipsealing. Recommended award go to Inland Asphalt who was the lowest bidder.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to award the Street Improvement Project to Inland Asphalt.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to authorize the Mayor sign the Construction Agreement with Inland Asphalt.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

BNSF AGREEMENT

City Administrator advised that the by approving the BNSF Agreement the railroad would replace the grade crossings and warning devices. 

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Railway Agreement with BNSF.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

RESOLUTION NO. 2004-04- BNSF AGREEMENT

City Administrator Tackett advised that staff had contacted BNSF who advised that the Local Agency Railway Agreement could be used in the place of a resolution.

Motion:  Councilmember Pruett moved to adopt Resolution No. 2004-04 – Local Agency Railway Agreement.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

GUM STREET

City Administrator advised that Gum Street was an illegal street and that Staff had discussed closing it at Street Committee meetings for quite some time due to traffic problems.  Staff had been approached by an adjacent landowner to partner with the City and close off Gum Street to construct a rose garden and install a welcome sign.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to authorize the City close off Gum Street on the East and West side, Councilmember Pruett seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

DNR PROPERTY 

            Tabled for Executive Session

CITY BROCHURES AND LAPEL PINS

Deputy Clerk Treasurer presented Council with estimates for Lapel Pins and City brochure.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve the purchase of 1000 pins from the Pin Center in the amount of $1480 and 1000 brochures from Tim’s Computer sales in the amount of $829.29, Councilmember Pruett seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

CLARK STREET PARK – PHYLLIS HOLLEY

Mayor Walton advised that correspondence had been received from Phyllis Holley who did not want to renew the City lease for the property adjacent to Clark Street Park .  Mayor Walton requested that the meter box be fixed outside the apartment complex and requested Public Works come back with a cost estimate for the removal of the stubs, chains and waterlines and to put up a six foot chain link fence.

Council requested staff contact Phyllis Holley to see what could be worked out and report back at the next Council meeting.

RECYCLING CENTER – WINSTON BYNG

Council and staff discussed several different options.

Attorney Tanner advised that legally the City would have to follow the Connell Municipal Code for cleaning up the property.

Council gave its consensus to have Public Works Director Munyan proceed with cleanup of the Recycling Center following Connell Municipal Code.

PAYMENT OF BILLS –

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $154,191.86 (corrected to $154,191.87). Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS – Councilmember Roel Martinez

There was currently funding available for small businesses.

 

 

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – Public Works Director

1)                  Letter to City of Connell from A.C. Conrath with the intention to sell his property to the City.  Public Works Director advised that he had verbal permission to clean up the property but that he would get something in writing and proceed as directed in Connell Municipal Code.  Discussion of the purchase of this property was tabled.

2)                  Painted train car.

3)                  Adams Crossing was put back together.

4)                  Would be working on Clark Street .

 

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT – Police Chief Rick Rochleau

1)                  Working on vehicle prowls, some of the property had been recovered.

2)                  Attended a meeting with Court Clerk Cerna in regards to potential changes with Municipal Courts.

 

 

CITY HALL – Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Maria ChavezPeńa

1)         City Wellness BBQ at 6:00 pm at Pioneer Park .

 

 

FIRE CHIEF – Fire Chief Bob Koch

1)                  Had received four fire calls recently.  One structure burned, one minor fire, and two calls for controlled burns that were not called in ahead of time.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  Made the first cut for the IAC grant.  The next cut would be in September. Final cut would be in April or May.

2)                  Would be holding a Special Council Meeting for September 13th at 6:30 pm to discuss the budget.

3)                  Park Board meeting August 24th to discuss ball fields.

MEETING RECESSED

Mayor Walton recessed the regular meeting at 9:08 for approximately 30 minutes to go into Executive Session to discuss purchase of the DNR property.

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 10:15 pm .