MEETING
OF THE CITY OF CONNELL, WASHINGTON
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.
PRESENT:
Mayor Gary Walton, Mayor Pro-Tern Perry Skoglund, Councilmembers Andy
Sawyer, Monica Pruett, Roel Martinez, and Ron Boyer.
STAFF:
City Administrator Art Tackett, Police Chief Rick Rochleau, and Deputy
City Clerk-Treasurer Maria ChavezPeña.
VISITORS:
Alan Schroeder, Anderson Perry; Dan Carter, Genie Tours; and Kathy
Bingham, Graphic.
1) Department of Corrections: Public Hearing on the proposed prison expansion. November 4, 2004 from 4 pm to 8 pm at Community Center.
2) Tri-City Area Chamber of Commerce – The Annual Elected Leaders Reception with the Home Builders Association would be held November 30 at 4:30 pm at the Clover Island Inn.
Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve the Consent Calendar as amended:
a) Minutes of the October 11, 2004 Regular meeting and
b) Minutes of the October 20, 2004 Special Meeting, correction to page 1, Roll Call, to add Roel Martinez as present.
Councilmember
Sawyer seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Walton made the following addition to the agenda:
Item No. 14 a) Appraisal
Motion:
Councilmember Martinez moved to approve the agenda as amended.
Councilmember
Sawyer seconded motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
SHUTTLE BUS
City Administrator Tackett introduced Dan Carter of Genie Tours.
Dan Carter inquired if Council was still interested in pursuing a shuttle bus from Connell to Pasco. There was currently a possibility of funding from DOT. The shuttle bus would run from Pasco to Connell and Connell to Pasco three times a day. A survey would be distributed to find the needs of customers. There would be handicap accessibility. As a promotion the first month of expected service, July ’05, would be free for passengers.
Council suggested areas where the survey could be distributed as well as placing it in the local newspaper.
Motion:
Councilmember Skoglund moved to authorize staff submit a letter of support for
Genie Tours with the Mayor’s and Councilmembers signatures.
USDA - WATER
SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry reported that things would be quite for the next few weeks. Some work was being done on Phase III, a submittal was sent into the Department of Health for the tank system. On Schedules G & H a pre-construction conference was held on October 13 and surveyors would be out the first week in November to stake out the waterline. DOT approved the contractor’s specific traffic control plans.
COULEE CORRIDOR
City Administrator Tackett advised that he had attended a meeting and meet with the Coulee Corridor Committee who requested that the City put together a presentation as to why the City should be on the Corridor. Being on this Corridor would give the City national exposure.
Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to authorize staff to proceed with being placed on the Coulee Corridor. Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
CITY ENERGY FUNDING APPLICATION AUTHORIZATION
City Administrator Tackett reported that he had met with the Alternative Energy Committee last Wednesday to discuss the Waste Energy project. Discussed was the possibility of the City applying for funding for an energy park demonstration project.
Motion:
Councilmember Skoglund moved to authorize staff to proceed with the Energy
Park Demonstration Project. Councilmember
Martinez seconded motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION NO.
2004-05 COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
City Administrator advised that the City was required to put together a plan for natural disasters. Public Works Director Munyan had been working put together the Franklin County Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Chief Rochleau noted that natural disasters had to be addressed in a Plan in order to apply for funding if funding were to become available.
Motion:
Councilmember Sawyer moved to adopt Resolution No. 2004-05 concerning the
Franklin County Hazard Mitigation Plan. Councilmember Martinez seconded
motion. Motion carried
unanimously.
LOBBYIST SERVICES
This item was tabled until the November 8th Council meeting
FLU SHOTS
Mayor Walton advised that the Benton Franklin Health Department would be at the Connell Community Center on October 27th to provide flu shots to those who needed them the most. A nasal mist would soon be available.
City Administrator Tackett expressed that a request had been made to allow City staff receive the pneumonia shot in place of the flu shot.
Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to authorize City staff receive the pneumonia shot in place of the flu shot not to exceed $20. Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
APPRAISAL
City Administrator Tackett advised that the appraisal previously done on the DNR land that was recently purchased did not apply an exact price to each parcel, the City would need this in order to sell the parcels.
Motion:
Councilmember Pruett moved to authorize an appraisal for the property
purchased from DNR, not to exceed $1,000.
Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
Motion:
Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the vouchers and payroll draws in
the
amount of $131,307.62, Councilmember Pruett seconded. Motion carried
unanimously.
Downtown Development Committee –
Administrator
Tackett advised that a picture of the mural would be at the Wine Festival on
November 20th and that he had met with CRCC who would be doing the
signs for the walking tour.
POLICE
DEPARTMENT - Police Chief Rick Rochleau
1) Staff was ready for Halloween
2) Two Officers would be attending a Criminal Investigations class in Seattle
3) Two Officers would be attending a survival Spanish class
4)
State Patrol had been in town the previous week
CITY HALL- Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Maria ChavezPeña
A representative from the Cardiac Rehab Center would be providing a presentation on Heart Health October 28th in the Council Chambers at 7:00 pm.
There being no
further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned
the meeting at 8:47 pm.