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

July 26, 2004

The regular semi-monthly meeting, with a workshop session, of the City Council of the City of Connell was called to order by the City Administrator at 6:10 pm in the City Hall and was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL

PRESENT:       Councilmembers Roel Martinez , Andy Sawyer, Ron Boyer and Monica Pruett.  Mayor Pro-Tem Perry Skoglund and Mayor Walton arrived shortly after the meeting started.

STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett , Police Chief Rick Rochleau, Public Works Director Pat Munyan, City Clerk-Treasurer Joan Eckman and Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Maria ChavezPeña.

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

ORDER OF BUSINESS

COUNCIL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

City Clerk-Treasurer Eckman advised that revenue had come in as project for the 2004 FY Budget and that the General Fund was continuing to decline.  The City was losing approximately $90,000 for cash carry over each year.  The City would need to find a new revenue source for the General Fund.

City Administrator Tackett asked Council for input on what types of projects they wanted to see that would be within the City’s budget. 

Council discussed alternative power resources, promoting tourism, a transfer station, recreation options, shortage of housing and the interchange on the north end of Connell.

City Administrator Tackett advised that he would be meeting with Growth Management in regards to a grant for a Use Study on the farm land.

Mayor Walton recessed the workshop session at 7:30 for five minutes.

MEETING RECONVENED

The regular meeting was reconvened at 7:35 and the following was heard before the City Council.

CONSENT CALENDAR

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

Minutes of the July 12, 2004 Regular Meeting,

Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

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

ORDER OF BUSINESS

COUNCIL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Councilmember Skoglund moved to accept the workshop discussion as Item # 8.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry reported on the following:

Phase I –  Final application for Payment no. 7 was presented for payment. A final change order to reconcile actual quantities would be presented to Council at a future date.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve Change Order No. 10 to Morse Construction Group in the amount of $2,977.37.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve Application for Payment No. 7 to Morse Construction in the amount of $2,839.14.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Phase II – A pre-final inspection was held on July 22nd, Pegram would complete the punch list items before the end of the week. A change order from Pegram to reconcile actual quantities was presented to Council, this Change Order, #5, did not change the contract amount.

Mayor Walton inquired about hydrants that were being blocked and one that was not accessible.

Public Works Director noted that he would look into the issues with the hydrants.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve Change Order No. 5 to Pegram Construction in the amount of $39,029.78.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Phase III –  City Administrator Tackett reported that he had been in contact with the Conservancy Board who would be reviewing the water rights transfer application at their meeting August 5^th. A SEPA was also required which was now completed, and advertised, and would be presented to Council for their approval.  

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to authorize staff to proceed with the construction of the reservoir without the contingency set at the July 12^th meeting of work not to begin until approval was granted from the Conservancy Board.  Motion was seconded by Councilmember Sawyer.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to authorize advertisement for bid of Schedules G & H.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

STREET PROJECTS - UPDATE

           Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry advised that the chip sealing and overlay work had been completed on Elm Street and that it would need to be approved in order to close out the project.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the Elm Street Project.  Councilmember Skoglund seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

          Alan Schroeder reported that the bid opening for Terrace Heights Overlays, chip sealing and fog sealing would be held on August 17^th.

           Public Works Director Munyan advised that the project would be revised to include the sink hole in front of Michael Jay’s.

          Alan Schroeder reported that the work was completed on Clark Street over the wastewater force main repair area.

          Public Works Director Munyan noted that the City crew would install the sidewalk but would keep track of expenses to be added to Apollo’s retainage.

          Council discussed a pedestrian overpass for SR 260 as well as installing lights.

SEPA

City Administrator Tackett reported that the SEPA had been prepared and distributed to various agencies regarding the conversion of water rights.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to accept the SEPA.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

EMPLOYEE BBQ

City Administrator Tackett recommended that this years Employee Appreciation be combined with a BBQ as part of the Wellness Program for August 30^th at 6:00 pm .

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to authorize a staff and family Appreciation and Wellness BBQ for August 30, at 6:00 pm .

DNR LAND PURCHASE

           City Administrator Tackett advised that staff had received the independent appraisal for DNR land that the City was planning on purchasing and recommended setting a separate Executive Session Workshop to be held within the next week, he would be contacting Council to set up date depending on when legal council would be available.

LOBER PROPERTY

          City Administrator Tackett reported that he had been approached by Mrs. Loeber to have the City purchase her CRP contracts and to purchase the 28 acre triangle adjacent to the City’s farm.  City Administrator Tackett advised he would look more into the CRP contracts.

PAYMENT OF BILLS –

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $161,374.58. Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS  

POLICE DEPARTMENT – Police Chief Rick Rochleau

1)                  An inmate who escaped from CRCC was recaptured and a missing vehicle found.

2)                  Had a couple of car prowls and a car stolen.

3)                  The Grange was burglarized

4)                  Sergeant Kuehny  broke his leg and would be off of work for a few weeks.  

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – Public Works Director Patrick Munyan

1)                  Had one of the picnic shade areas removed due to rotting wood.  Would look at replacing it in the future.

2)                  Putting initiatives together for the Franklin County Mitigation Plan.

3)                  Street signs had been put up.  More would go up once things slowed down.

4)                  Re-roofing the storage shed at Well One.  

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  Would be gone on vacation starting August 5^th.

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

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:00 pm .