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

 

December 13, 2004

 

The regular semi-monthly meeting, of the City Council of the City of Connell was called to order by the Mayor at 7:30 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 Andy Sawyer, Monica Pruett, Roel Martinez, and Ron Boyer.

STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett , Police Chief Rick Rochleau, City Clerk-Treasurer Joan Eckman , City Attorney Terry Tanner , and Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Maria ChavezPeńa.

VISITORS:      Alan Schroeder, Anderson Perry; and Kathy Bingham, Graphic.

 

CORRESPONDENCE, PRESENTATIONS & APPOINTMENTS

 

1)    WA State Liquor Control Board: Liquor Renewals for: Hazy’s, Leprekon, Michael Jay’s, and R & R Quick Mart.  No objections were heard.

2)   Benton-Franklin Health District – Reappointed Mayor Walton to serve on the District Board of Health.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

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

a)      Minutes of the November 22, 2004 Regular meeting,

b)      Minutes of the November 29, 2004 Special meeting.

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the agenda as listed, with an Executive Session after Item No. 18. Councilmember Skoglund seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

 

CLOSED RECORD HEARING – Rezone Recommendation


Mayor Walton opened the Closed Record Hearing at 7:33 pm .

City Administrator Tackett advised that the Planning Commission had held an Open Public Hearing on November 18, 2004 regarding a Zone Change request and approved the request for recommendation to Council to change the zoning from Agriculture to Low Density Residential for the land owned by Mr. Bennett north of the Jr. High and High schools.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the recommendation of the Planning Commission to rezone property owned by Mr. Bennett, north of the Jr. High and High Schools, to Low Density Residential from Agriculture.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

There being no further discussion the Closed Record Hearing was closed at 7:44 pm .

 

PUBLIC HEARING – Amending 2004 Approved Budget

Mayor Walton opened the Public Hearing for the amendment of the 2004 Approved Budget at 7:44 pm.

 City Clerk-Treasurer Eckman read Ordinance No. 774 which reflected changes to the 2004 fiscal year budget by $2,037,000.00.

Their being no further comments from the public or from Council, Mayor Walton closed the Public Hearing at 7:48 pm .

 

ORDINANCE NO. 774 – Amending 2004 Budget

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to adopt Ordinance No. 774 amending the 2004 approved budget, Councilmember Sawyer seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

PUBLIC HEARING – 2005 Fiscal Year Budget

Mayor Walton opened the Public Hearing for the adoption of the 2005 fiscal year budget at 7:49 pm .

City Clerk-Treasurer Eckman advised that the changes had been made as requested by Council.  The 2005 Budget was balanced at $9,403,970.

Their being no further comments from the public or from Council, Mayor Walton closed the Public Hearing at 7:52 pm.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 2004-07 – Setting Salary Schedules for 2005

Clerk-Treasurer Eckman read Resolution No. 2004-07, setting salary schedules for 2005.  The resolution reflected a 2% cost of living increase.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to adopt Resolution No. 2004-07 setting salary schedules for 2005, Councilmember Pruett seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

 

ORDINANCE NO. 775 – Adopting the 2005 Fiscal Year Budget

City Clerk-Treasurer Joan Eckman read Ordinance No. 775 adopting the 2005 annual budget in the amount of $9,403,970.00.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to adopt Ordinance No. 775 adopting the 2005 annual budget. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

 

USDA – Water System Improvements

            Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry advised on the following Phases:

            Phase II –.  A few issues still needed to be addressed, the retainage for Pegram would be held until a response from Pegram was received.

            Phase III  Reservoir – Still waiting for the bulk of the tank to arrive.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve Partial Pay Estimate No. 2 to Erwin Construction in the amount of $61,037.64.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

            Phase III G & H – 12,000 feet of pipeline work had been completed.  6,000 feet of that line had been pressured tested.  A change order was presented for traffic control.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve Partial Pay Estimate No.1 in the amount of $544,363.14 to L & L Cargile.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve Change Order No. 1 for L & L Cargile. Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve a change order to allow L & L Cargile to bore across SR 260 for future use of a sewer line.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

ORDINANCE NO. 772 – Amending Ordinance No. 753 Fund #204

City Clerk-Treasurer Eckman advised that this fund had been set up for the USDA loan but was not used due to it being interim financing.  Instead the fund would be utilized for DNR property debt. Clerk-Treasurer Eckman read Ordinance No. 772. 

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve Ordinance No. 772, amending Ordinance No. 753 relating to the purpose of Fund # 204 for long term debt obligation.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion Carried unanimously.

AIRPORT REAL ESTATE CONTRACT

 City Clerk-Treasurer Eckman advised that the City had received a request to extend the three airport contracts and eliminate the balloon payment that was due in 2005.  The interest rate would remain the same at 7% per annum.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the contract renewal for the purchase of the airport.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING: Meals on Wheels Program

City Administrator Tackett advised that it was time to renew the Memorandum of Understanding with the Meals on Wheels program.  Meals where provided to seniors three times a week at the Community Center.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Connell and the Meals on Wheels Program.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously. 

 

MEETING RECESSED

 

Mayor Walton recessed the regular meeting at 8:30 to go into executive session for approximately 10 minutes to discuss Reserve Officer applications.

 

MEETING RECONVENED

 

The regular meeting was called back to order by Mayor Walton at 8:50 and the following business was brought before the City Council:

 

RESERVE APPLICATIONS APPROVAL

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve Reserve Officer applications for Misty Turner, Peatro Ena, George Holdiman, Mark Knighton, and Raymond Thomas.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

PATROL CAR PURCHASE

Chief Rochleau requested authorization to purchase a new police patrol car.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to authorize Chief Rochleau purchase a new police car.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 2004-08 WELLNESS PROGRAM

 Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer ChavezPeńa presented to Council Resolution No. 2004-08 in support of the Wellness Program and requested authorization to apply for a Worksite Wellness Mini-Grant.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve staff apply for the Worksite Wellness Mini-Grant.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to adopt Resolution No. 2004-08 in support of the Wellness Program, Councilmember Skoglund seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the vouchers and payroll in the amount of $682,374.85, Councilmember Pruett seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

 

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT 

City Administrator Tackett advised that there would be a Downtown Development meeting on December 14th at 7:00 pm .

 

PUBLIC WORKS DEPT – Mayor Gary Walton

1)   Busy with water lines, sewer lines, and cleaning up

2)   Larry and Pat completing safety training

 

ATTORNEY’S REPORT – City Attorney Terry Tanner

1)    Court would be held twice in January due to the Court Clerk going on vacation in February.  Court dates would be January 10th and January 31st.

2)   Had reached an agreement with Apollo.

 

CITY HALL – City Clerk-Treasurer Joan Eckman

1)   The budget document would be completed after year end on January 15th.

2)   Mostly doing housecleaning on Budget.

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT - Police Chief Rick Rochleau

1)   Applying for a mini-grant for coffee mugs and a radar. Would also be applying for the $9,999 grant.

2)   Homeland Security grant funds were used to purchase a mobile command post and would be requesting that all participating cities share in its maintenance expense.  Would have more information at a future date.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)    Met with a number of people in regards to the “ Energy Park ”, would also be meeting with Maria Cantwell, Mark Shoesler, and Mike Hewitt on this matter.

2)   May have an intern to help out with the Downtown Development Committee.

3)    Would be attending a Coulee Corridor meeting on December 17th in Ephrata.

4)   Met with Lamb Weston in regards to the Waste Energy Project.

5)   Met with PUD, there would be a 10.5% increase in electricity rates.

 

Council gave its consensus to allow employees out at 3:00 pm on the 23rd and the 30th, and to pay all bills and payroll.  A meeting would be held on December 27th only if needed.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED

 

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:19 pm .