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

 

November 22, 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 and Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Maria ChavezPeña.

 

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

 

CORRESPONDENCE, PRESENTATIONS & APPOINTMENTS

 

1)                  WA State Liquor Control Board: Liquor Application for Panaderia El Nopal.  No objections were heard.

2)                  Franklin County Mosquito Control District – John White had agreed to continue serving on the Board.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

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

a)      Minutes of the November 8, 2004 Regular meeting, correction to page 3 Payment of Bills, corrected from “Councilmember Pruett seconded” to “Councilmember Martinez seconded”.

Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

 

CITIZEN COMMENTS/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

 

Councilmember Boyer complimented Public Works Director Munyan on the cleanup of the construction debris in Terrace Heights .

 

Mayor Walton advised that the City crews were doing some cleanup work in Terrace Heights .

 

Councilmember Boyer also expressed some concern in regards to the asphalt on North Chelan were there had been a water line brake about a month prior.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the agenda as listed.

Councilmember Skoglund seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

 

PUBLIC HEARING – 2005 Preliminary Budget

Mayor Walton opened the Public hearing for the 2005 Preliminary Budget at 7:34 .

 

City Clerk Treasurer presented the proposed 2005 Preliminary Budget to Council in the amount of $9,379,970.00.  A 2% COLA was projected and projections for benefits stayed the same.  The Police Department was still under negotiations for their benefits, an amended budget would have to be done if changes came out of the negotiations.

 

Mayor Walton then opened the hearing for any public comments, none were heard and the hearing was opened up for Council discussion.

 

A budget workshop was scheduled for November 29th at 7:30 pm to discuss several issues such as requests from various committees for Hotel/Motel tax funds and medical benefits.

 

Councilmember Boyer inquired about cost sharing of medical benefits for employees.

 

 There being no further discussion Mayor Walton closed the Public Hearing at 7:43 .

 

FRANKLIN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

John Sheer, Director of Franklin County Emergency Management, provided an overview of the Agency and advised that he was in attendance to renew the Emergency Management Organization Interlocal Agreement.  The Agency’s budget of $300,000 is received mostly from grants to provide preparedness for the County.  The Agency was overseen by a board.  Chief Rochleau was presently a member of that board.  It was a Federal requirement that every county had to have a mitigation plan in place in order to receive mitigation funds.

 

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to authorize the City enter into an agreement with Franklin County for Emergency Management and the Mayor sign the agreement.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

 

USDA – Water System Improvements

            Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry advised on the following Phases:

            Phase II – Final paperwork had been received to close out the phase.  There were still concerns over asphalt and meter boxes.  A warning inspection would have to wait until eleven months after completion of the project.  The retainage would be held until that time.

            Phase III  G & H – Pipeline work was underway.  Pipe columns were pulled from two wells for cleaning and inspection.  A partial pay estimate would be presented at the next meeting.  A change order would also be presented at a future meeting for traffic control.

 

            Phase III Reservoir – Not a lot going on.  The reservoir tank would be delivered approximately the 10th of December.  The road would be corrected at Anderson Perry’s expense. 

 

STREET PROJECTS

Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry advised that he had received an acceptance report and an Application for Payment from the Contractor.  The Contractors had completed their work.

 

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve Application for Payment No. 1 from Inland Asphalt Co. in the amount of $104,276.13. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

            West Clark Street There were still street lights not working, Sierra Electric would be working on the problem.

 

            Railroad Crossing – Had heard from BNSF and it looked like the Railroad Crossing project would be moving forward.  More information would be provided at the next meeting.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 2004-06 – AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT RESERVE

            City Clerk-Treasurer Eckman reviewed Resolution No. 2004-06 in regards to changing the Airport Improvement Reserve, department number 800 within the Capital Improvement Reserve Fund 300 changed to read Commercial Development Reserve in order to better track and maintain records for the changing needs of commercial development.

 

            The City had sold the airport to a private business and the City would be receiving lease payments and purchase payments from private businesses coming in from the DNR property that the city purchased in September of this year.

 

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to adopt Resolution No. 2004-06 relating to the change of the Airport Improvement Reserve to Commercial Development Reserve.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.

 

LOBBYIST SERVICES – ROBERT E. MACK

City Administrator Tackett provided information on the lobbyist retained by the City of Pasco and the Port of Pasco .  If contracted, Mr. Robert Mack would be providing lobbying services for the City related to pushing the construction of the expansion of the corrections facility.  The cost for his services would be $15,000, the cost to the City would be $5,000 and the Port of Pasco $10,000. 

 

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the expenditure of $5,000 to Robert Mack for lobbying services as long as the Port of Pasco paid the other $10,000.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the vouchers and payroll in the amount of $249,020.15, Councilmember Pruett seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

 

PLANNING COMMISSION ­–

City Administrator Tackett advised that the Planning Commission was considering changing their meeting date and time beginning in January.

 

CITY HALL – City Clerk-Treasurer Joan Eckman

1)                  The budget was coming along

2)                  Computer issues seemed to be resolved, backups were being run prior to month end.

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT - Police Chief Rick Rochleau

1)                  Attended the Chief and Sheriff’s conference.  Discussed officers involved in domestic issues.

2)                  Legislation was looking at requiring criminal training for officers.  The City Police department was already doing more training than what was being required.

3)                  Was reappointed Chairman for the Emergency Management Board

4)                  The car towing company would be in town and would be towing away vehicles that had been tagged.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  Received notice that the City’s TIB application for Adams Street did not get funded.

2)                  The Energy Park Project was moving fast. 

3)                  Attended the Coulee Corridor meeting with Councilmembers Pruett and Skoglund and provided a presentation requesting the City of Connell be included in the Corridor.  The group would be meeting in December and a decision would be made.

4)                  Met with the owner of the recycling plant who suggested the City purchase the building and property.  Mr. Tackett advised that he would need to look further into this.

 

MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Gary Walton

Advised that he had received an email from AWC on providing a location for training.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED

 

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 8:28 pm .