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

July 12, 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 Garland Walton, Mayor Pro-Tem Perry Skoglund, Councilmembers, Roel Martinez, Andy Sawyer, Ron Boyer and Monica Pruett.  

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

VISITORS:      Larry Seibel, Anderson Perry; Danna Herron & Roger Baile, Connell Grain Growers; and Kathy Bingham, Graphic.

PRESENTATIONS

Mayor Walton presented Yard of The Month to the following; Gary Achziger, Keith & Pam Leavitt, Terry & Susie Finkbeiner, James & MaryMargaret Nipper, and Connell Auto Parts.

CORRESPONDENCE

1)                  Representative Nethercutt – Thanked the City for their support of the Washington asparagus industry.

2)                  Mayor Walton, with Council consensus, signed a proclamation to proclaim Tuesday, August 3rd, 2004 as National Night out in Connell. Refreshments would be served at Pioneer Park Pavilion and inkless fingerprinting would be provided as well as free swimming from 7:00pm to 9:00pm .

CONSENT CALENDAR

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the Consent Calendar as noted:

Minutes of the June 28, 2004 Regular Meeting, correction to page 4 Meeting Adjourned, from Mayor Walton corrected to Mayor Pro-Tem Skoglund.

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

CITIZEN COMMENT/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Dana Herron from Connell Grain Growers was present to request that Council reconsider their decision not to allow a land swap with Connell Grain Growers.  Mr. Herron assured Council that there would be no cost to the City to relocate the drainage

pond.  Mr. Herron advised that they would need an engineering study done to determine if moving the drainage pond would be feasible.

Motion: Councilmember Boyer moved to authorize Connell Grain Growers utilize Anderson Perry for an engineers study with Connell Grain Growers incurring the cost of the study.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

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

ORDER OF BUSINESS

PUBLIC HEARING – SIX YEAR TIP

            Mayor Walton closed the regular meeting at 7:50 pm and opened the public hearing for the Six Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

            City Administrator Tackett advised that the TIP had been reviewed by the Street Committee and a few changes had been made from the previous years.  Administrator Tackett proceeded to discuss the 13 projects listed in the TIP and explained the funding sources.

Councilmember Boyer suggested taking a drive to tour the TIP projects and inquired about Priority Number 2, South Sixth Street Extension.

City Administrator Tackett advised that although this was a high priority for emergency vehicle access, it was not likely that it would be funded soon since the funds would come from Federal funding.  South Sixth Street Extension would provide a bridge for access to the northwest side of town from the southwest side of town, thereby avoiding the railroad tracks without having to go onto the highway.

Mayor Walton closed the Public Hearing at 8:17 and reopened the regular meeting.

RESOLUTION NO. 2004-03 – SIX YEAR TIP

Mayor Walton suggested setting up a workshop next year to look at all the streets prior to adopting the Six Year TIP.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to adopt Resolution No. 2004-03 regarding the Six Year TIP, on the condition that Councilmember Boyer have a chance to tour the TIP projects listed.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried four to one with Councilmember Boyer voting against.

TIB GRANT APPLICATION

City Administrator Tackett advised that the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) was accepting applications for street improvements and requested authorization to submit an application for reconstruction of a portion of Adams Street .

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to authorize the TIB application.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

 Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported on the following:

Phase II – The chip sealing and patching had been completed.  A prefinal inspection was scheduled for July 27th.   Application for Payment No. 8 was submitted. 

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve Application for Payment No. 8 in the amount of $34,336.77 to Pegram Construction.

Phase III – Schedules G & H would be advertised for bids on July 15.  The bid opening would be held in August and construction would begin in September.

Attorney Tanner recommended the bid award for the reservoir go to the lowest bidder, Erwin Construction.

Councilmember Boyer inquired about approval from the Conservancy Board for the transfer of water rights.

City Administrator Tackett advised that he did not anticipate any problems with the Conservancy Board but that it would be a matter of time in getting through all the requirements before approval was issued for the water rights transfer.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to award the reservoir construction to Erwin Construction with the contingency that work would not begin until approval was granted from the Conservancy Board.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

STREET PROJECTS - UPDATE

            Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that the catch basins had been corrected. Chip sealing had been done in Sagewood as well as on other city streets.   The cost of the street work on Clark would be paid by the City but would be covered by Apollo’s settlement. 

            Larry Seibel informed Council that the estimate for the overlay and additional chip sealing at Terrace Heights came in at $63,353.00.  The chip sealing would be completed by the end of August.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to have staff proceed with the Terrace Heights street projects and request telephone bids.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

WASTEWATER FACILITY  

Attorney Tanner advised that he had been in contact with Apollo and they were still working out the details.

DNR – Land Purchase

City Administrator Tackett advised that DNR had approved the purchase of the land by the City.  The appraisal had not yet been received.

IAC – GRANT APPLICATION FOR TRAIL

            City Administrator Tackett reported that he had been contacted by IAC who felt that the grant application for the expansion of the bike trail should be pulled due to the small scale of the project.

Council gave City Administrator Tackett authorization to pull the IAC grant application for the expansion of the bike trail.

RESERVE SECURITY COSTS

Police Chief Rochleau recommended that the fee for reserve security be increased from $11 per officer per hour to $15.  $11 did not cover the current costs of salaries and benefits.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to increase the fee for reserve security from $11 per officer per hour to $15 per officer per hour.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

SURPLUS BIKES

            Police Chief Rochleau requested permission to donate the bicycles and scooters that had been collected over the last few years to the Lions Club.  The law allowed police authorities of any city or town to donate unclaimed bicycles and toys to nonprofit organizations.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to authorize Police Chief Rochleau donate the bicycles and scooters to the Lions Club.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously with Councilmember Boyer, current president of the Lions Club, abstaining. 

PARK EQUIPMENT

            City Administrator Tackett advised that there was $15,000 budgeted for playground equipment and provided a drawing of the equipment to be purchased for Striker Park .  The City crew would install the equipment.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to authorize staff proceed with the purchase and installation of playground equipment.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

PAYMENT OF BILLS –

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $98,299.84. Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

ATTORNEY’S REPORT – City Attorney Terry Tanner

1)         Advised that the City was taking action on non payment of water bills.

 

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – Public Works Director Pat Munyan

1)                  Had advised a property owner that if water bills were not paid by a certain date that the water would be disconnected and the renters would have to leave.

2)                  The contractors building the church deck would be back in a few weeks to finish up.

3)                  There was money in the budget to paint the caboose and to place Plexiglas in the windows. This would try to be done before Fall Festival.

4)                  Discussed the placement of the wooden eagle.  Council consensus was to place it at the Community Center.

5)                  Work was being done on the sprinklers on Columbia Ave.

6)                  A tree was run over on Columbia Ave.

7)                  There was a problem with the air relief valve at the Wastewater Plant. 

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT – Police Chief Rick Rochleau

1)                  EVOC training went well.

2)                  Planning on submitting a grant to purchase tasers.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  Workshop for Council on goal setting July 26, at 6:00 pm .

2)                  Council would be touring CRCC August 23 at 5:30 pm .

3)                  Janitorial staff was doing a good job, had not received any complaints.

4)                  Met with Helen Tobin , coach for the Connell Swim Team, who had formed a league with four other communities.  An invitational would be held in Connell On July 24th.

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:32 pm .