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

December 12, 2005

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

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

VISITORS:      Alan Schroeder , Anderson Perry; Rhonda Quinton, Kent Mosbrucker Councilmember Elects; Remie DeRuwe, Mike and Darlene Harrington, Food Bank; Dan Walsh, Avista; and Kathy Bingham, Franklin County Graphic .

 

CORRESPONDENCE/ APPOINTMENTS

1)                  Good Roads Association:  Meeting December 14th at 12:00 .

2)                  AWC: Newly Elected Officials Workshop January 13th in Spokane and January 14th in Yakima .

3)                  AWC: January 25th through 26th City Legislative Action Conference

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

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

a)      Minutes of the November 28, 2005  Regular Meeting,

Councilmembers Sawyer seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mayor Walton made the following additions to the Agenda:  

16 a) Police Contract  - ( to be discussed in executive session)

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the agenda as changed. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

ORDINANCE NO. 789

Clerk Treasurer Eckman read Ordinance No. 789 adopting the annual budget of the City of Connell for the year of 2006 in the amount of $11,922,641.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to adopt Ordinance No. 789 adopting the 2006 FY budget.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

AVISTA IMPROVEMENTS

Dan Walsh from Avista requested a right of way easement on property located on the vacated portion of Birch Street . This would allow for repair and replacement to the natural gas pipeline cathodic protection system.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to authorize the City enter into an agreement with Avista and for the mayor to sign the agreement. Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.

 

USDA

Public Works Director Munyan advised that he and Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry had done a final inspection on this project and that there was no reason to hold the retainage.  L & L Cargile would still be responsible for repairs under the warranty.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve Partial Payment # 9 to L & L Cargile in the amount of $79,688.06 to releasing the retainage.   Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.  

 

PUD – SALES CONTRACT FOR NORDHEIM RD PROPERTY

Tabled for executive session.

 

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO COMMENCE ANNEXATION PROCEEDINGS

City Administrator Tackett advised that Council needed to address three questions regarding the proposed annexation. 

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to accept the proposed annexation.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to leave the property zoned agriculture. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved not to require the assumption of existing city indebtedness. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

 

PROPERTY SALE

            Tabled for executive session.

 

LIERMAN PURCHASE OFFER

            Tabled for executive session.

FOOD BANK REQUEST

Remie DeRuwe of the Connell Food Bank was present to request the City donate property adjacent to the community Center to the Food Bank.  The property would be used to leverage a grant to build a permanent building for the Food Bank.

City Administrator Tackett advised that the City would have to make a formal request to the County to have them donate the strip of land that still belonged to the County and that an appraisal of the property would need to be done to show the value of the land being donated. The building would be constructed in such a way that it did not distract form the Community Center and other structures in the area.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to allow the City Administrator and the Public Works Director to proceed working with the County to get the property transferred over. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

HOLIDAY HOURS

          Mayor Walton requested Council approval to close City Hall at 3:00 pm on Friday December 23, and that there be no Council meeting for December 27th with the pre approval of payroll & bills to be presented at the January 9th meeting.  

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to close City Hall at 3:00 pm , Friday December 23 and that there be no Council meeting for December 27th with the pre approval of payroll & bills.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS      

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to pay the vouchers and payroll in the amount of $258,903.87. Councilmember Martinez seconded, motion carried unanimously.

 

COMMITTEE / DEPARTMENT REPORTS

CITY ATTORNEY – City Attorney Terry Tanner

1)         The smoking ban had gone into effect, no tickets had been issued.

 

PUBLIC WORKS – Public Works Director Pat Munyan

1)                  Provided Council with a Work Order General Report, would be providing these on a regular basis.

2)                  Working on the Esquatzel.

3)                  The skate park had been torn down and stored until a new site was designated.  Park Board would be holding a public hearing to discuss this issue.

 

CLERK-TREASURER – City Clerk-Treasurer Joan Eckman

1)                  Would have the budget document ready by January 23rd.

2)                  Would be working on year end documents.

   

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  The Christmas party would be held December 21st, everyone was invited.

2)                  There would be a Council workshop January 16th at 7:00 pm .

3)                  A request had been made by the cable company to put in overhead lines since their conduit had collapsed.  CCS would go before the Planning Commission for approval.

 

MEETING RECESSED

Mayor Walton recessed the regular meeting at 8:37 pm for a two minute break to be followed by an executive session to discuss the police contract and property issues for approximately half an hour.  At 9:15 Mayor Walton advised that executive session would last another 10 minutes approximately.

 

MEETING RECONVENED

Mayor Walton reconvened the regular meeting at 9:35 pm and the following business was heard before the City Council.

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

PUD CONTRACT FOR NORDHEIM ROAD PROPERTY

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to proceed with the sell of property on Nordheim Road to Franklin PUD and for the mayor to sign the contract.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.         

 

PROPERTY SALE

Mayor Walton requested a motion be made for a moratorium on all future sales of city property until the City had contracted with a land planner and to advertise for qualified proposals.

Motion: Councilmember Boyer moved to have a moratorium of 90 days to  allow for the contract of a real estate planner and/or marketing agent to help the City handle real estate transactions.

            Council discussed the Lierman offer to purchase city land.

            There was no second to the motion.

 

POLICE CONTRACT

Mayor Walton advised that a memorandum of understanding would need to be signed to resolve the grievance issue on holiday pay.            

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the memorandum of understanding to resolve the grievance issue on holiday pay. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.

LIERMAN PURCHASE OFFER

            Tabled until the next meeting.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:43 pm .