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

September 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 Roel Martinez , Andy Sawyer, Monica Pruett and Ron Boyer.  

STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett , City Attorney Terry Tanner , Fire Chief Bob Koch, Police Chief Rick Rochleau , Public Works Director Pat Munyan , and City Clerk-Treasurer Joan Eckman.

VISITORS:      Larry Seibel, Anderson Perry; Gene Stocking, Community First Bank; Kathy Bingham, Graphic; Roger Bailie, Columbia Basin Development League; Connell Citizens, Rick Kent, Refugio Bernal, Jr., Liz Bernal, Dave Kunkel, Bruce Snyder, Pam Moon, Pat Springer, Deliska Cole, Larry Smith, Carolyn Nordhus, Breena Stone, Mildred Stone and Roy Brown.

CORRESPONDENCE

1)                  Liquor Control Board – Notice of discontinue sales and service of Liquor at Golden Harvest Restaurant as of July 31, 2004; and discontinued sales and service of Liquor at Panaderia Lomeli as of August 1, 2004..

2)                  Human Rights Commission – A meeting about human rights laws is scheduled for Thursday, September 23, 2004 from 7-9 pm at the Pasco Red Lion Hotel.

3)                  Yard of the Month – There was no list available at this time for this months recipients.

CONSENT CALENDAR

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

Minutes of the August 23, 2004 Council Tour and Regular Meeting.

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried u nan imously.

CITIZEN COMMENT/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

      1)   Gum Street Closure. There were many citizens in attendance who voiced concern    about closing Gum Street at the Columbia Ave. intersection. The concerns raised included the possibility of increased traffic load on Fir Street which is already congested at the Columbia Ave intersection, the increased traffic through the residential center and increased traffic through the alley behind the M&M Motel. Public Works Director Munyan presented an option which would allow the Gum Street intersection to be moved further north by rerouting the street, but which would  require the cooperation of the property owners on both sides of Columbia Avenue due to the need to infringe on current use areas. There was much discussion also about the need for stop signs and or yield signs. The Police Chief and Public Works Director will look at the area and bring back suggestions to the council at the next meeting.  Mayor and Council indicated to the citizens at hand that they would try and hold a public hearing at some time in the future to further address the Gum Street situation.

        2)    Clark Street RR Xing.  Concern was voiced about the condition of the Railroad Crossing at Clark Street . Staff indicated that the project was scheduled to be done next Spring as the project had been delayed by the railroad. When the project was done it would be much like the Adams Street crossing with the concrete pads and sidewalks.

            3)   Fall Festival Parade.   There was concerned voiced about some problems that were  noticed including the motorcycles and throwing of candy. It was indicated by Fall Festival volunteers that they had recognized the problems and were trying to take care of those before next year. A suggestion for the distribution of candy was that people walk next to the sidewalks and hand out the candy instead of throwing it which would   help to keep the children out of the street.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

The following items were added to the agenda:

            Item 9(b) Phase II, Payment #9

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the agenda as amended.

            Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.   Motion carried u nan imously.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

COLUMBIA BASIN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE – Roger Bailie

            Mr. Bailie presented information regarding the irrigation from deep wells of an    estimated 172,000 acres with an estimated 450,000 acre foot of water being pumped creating severe impacts to the Odessa aquifer which the city draws from. The aquifer has been impacted negatively for many years with the static levels dropping and wells  having to be drilled lower. The problem impacts a large area and Mr. Bailie indicated that they are trying to raise seed money to prove the interest and mounting concern to various State agencies and to promote the expansion of the irrigation system to handle  the water needs and lower the use of deep wells. They feel that by lessening the use of deep wells the water table will have an opportunity to regain a portion of its static level.

  A coalition of stakeholders has organized a meeting for Wednesday night at 6 pm in the Moses Lake High School cafeteria. He encourages several people from Connell to    attend from the City Council and Chamber of Commerce as this problem impacts Connell’s future as well and they need to remain aware of how things are progressing.

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

            Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported on the following:

Phase III –  The bid opening for Phase III of the water system was held on September 7^th and engineers recommend award to the low bidder, L & L Cargile, Inc. out of Spokane for a total bid of $1,659,428.97. The bid documents and bonds are all as they should be and the award will be contingent upon approval from USDA. The bid is good for 60 days, but the city should let the contractor know as soon as possible. City Administrator Tackett indicated that we should have DOE approval for the transfer of water rights within the next couple of weeks.

Failed Motion: Councimember Boyer moved to award the bid of $1,659,428.97 to L & L Cargile Inc, based on the contingency that DOE approves the water rights transfer. Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion. Further discussion followed. The Motion failed with a three to two vote. No votes were Councilmembers Skoglund, Pruett and Martinez ; Yes votes were Councilmembers Boyer and Sawyer.

            Further discussion followed in regards to the need for the transfer of the water rights from DOE and also the issue of the grant funds for the project. After further discussion another motion was proposed.

Failed Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to award the bid of $1,659,428.97 to L&L Cargile, Inc and to authorize them to proceed with the project. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Further discussion followed. The Motion failed with a three to two vote. No votes were Councilmembers Boyer, Sawyer and Martinez ; Yes votes were Councilmembers Skoglund and Pruett.

            After further discussion the item was tabled until the September 27^th meeting.

Phase I – Payment #8 in the amount of $34,996.86 was presented for the final closeout.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve Payment #8 in the amount of $34,966.86.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion. Motion passes u nan imously.

Phase II –  Payment #9  in the amount of  $50,526.90 was presented for payment. The check will be held for USDA approval.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve Payment #9 in the amount of $50,526.90 as presented for payment to be held for USDA approval. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion. Motion passed unanimously.

STREET PROJECTS – UPDATE

Street Improvement Project – Larry Seibel indicated that the Terrace Heights and Downtown  chip sealing project  including the fog seal preconstruction  meeting  was held. If the temperatures get into the 80 degree area the chip sealing will begin next week otherwise they will delay until Spring. The paving will start next week as it is not dependent upon temperature and the fog sealing can be done with temperatures in the 70’s.

            TIB Application for Adams Street – Administrator Tackett informed council that the application was submitted last month for Adams street from Columbia Ave up to  6^th Street .

           Mr. Tackett also noted that the street committee had met and amended the (TIP) Six Year Transportation Improvement Plan because if streets are not listed on it they can not be considered for funding. The project included was for an ADA pedestrian overpass for Highway 260 with an estimated amount of $400,000.

ORDINANCE # 772 –

  Mr. Tackett presented information in regards to the annexation of farm land and will   have a draft resolution for the first meeting in October. Council consensus was for  staff to proceed.

DNR PROPERTY –

Mr. Tackett led discussion concerning the DNR purchase in the amount of $625,000     and the options available and the reasons for working with the bank for the financing.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the purchase from DNR in the amount of  $625,000. Councilmember Pruett and Martinez seconded. Motion passed unanimously .

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to finance the purchase of the DNR property  through Community First Bank. Councilmember Martinez seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the documents necessary to initiate the purchase. Councilmember Sawyer seconded. Motion passed  unanimously.

PAYMENT OF BILLS –

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $315,090.87. Councilmember Pruett seconded. Motion carried u nan imously.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

ATTORNEY TANNER –

1)         Court – Judge Gunter was not at court for the first time that anyone can remember, but all seemed to progress smoothly with the substitute from Moses Lake .

2)         Apollo – Nothing new at this time.

CITY HALL – City Clerk-Treasurer Joan Eckman

1)         2005 Budget process is progressing.

2)         Vacation – Deputy Clerk-Treasurer ChavezPeña will be taking a well deserved vacation with her family until Thursday, September 23rd.

FIRE CHIEF – Fire Chief Bob Koch

1)                  Fireman’s Breakfast – Bob indicated that they had a good turnout with approximately 275 people attending and made about $700.

POLICE DEPARTMENT – Police Chief Rick Rochleau

1)                  Fall Festival went fairly well.

2)                  School zone lights have received good comments.

3)                  Srgt. Kuehny has been released for active duty, but had also accomplished quite a bit while he was on light duty. He made good use of his time.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – Public Works Director Pat Munyan

1)                  Fall Festival seemed to go fairly well.

2)                  Lamb-Weston had a broken fire/water line due to deteriorating condition which was a problem as their building has been expanded over the top of the line. USDA has been contacted to see if the water line can be added to the water project since the bids have come in lower then anticipated.

3)                  Citizen Question about Street Stripping – Pat indicated that the crew that had been initially hired for the job was suppose to be here two weeks prior and had never shown up or returned phone calls and that this crew had been contacted at the last minute and they came in and did a good job under the circumstances.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  Mrs. Holley has not returned any phone calls in regards to the Clark Street Park.

MAYOR – Mayor Gary Walton

1)         There were concerns that the Department of Corrections had put a political brochure in with workshop materials which seems to violate public use regulations. Mayor Walton will talk with Mr. Donahue.

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:42 pm.