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

February 14, 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 Roel Martinez , Andy Sawyer, Monica Pruett, and Ron Boyer.

EXCUSED:      Mayor Pro-Tem Perry Skoglund.

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

VISITORS:      Alan Schroeder and Jake Hollopeter , Anderson Perry; Jim Ridell, Golf Course; and Kathy Bingham, Graphic.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

WA ST Liquor Control Board – Liquor license renewal for Mei-Ling Inn and Sun Mart #18.

WA ST Liquor Control Board – Liquor license application for Tapia’s Bakery and Market.

WA ST Liquor Control Board – Withdraw of liquor license application for Panaderia El Nopal.

WA ST Liquor Control Board – Liquor license application for Round-up Tavern.

            There were no objections heard in regards to the liquor license applications or renewals.

Good Roads & Transportation Association  - Setting the meeting date for the third Wednesday of each month.

WA Municipal Clerks Association – Advised of Northwest Clerks Institute, WMCA Annual Conference, and Advanced Academies.

AWC – Provided a Wellness Certificate of Recognition for Wellness Coordinator Maria ChavezPeña for her work in putting together a comprehensive wellness program for City employees.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

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

a)      Minutes of the January 24 Regular meeting,

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

 

CITIZEN COMMENT

Katherine Bingham reported that the Saint Petersburg Classic Ballet Theatre of Marina Medvetskaya would be performing at the Connell High School on February 22 at 7:30 pm .

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mayor Walton added 15 a) Ordinance No. 777 Relating to Administrative Procedures and

                                   15 b) Ordinance No. 778 Check-Handling Charge Fee.

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

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

CONNELL PHARMACY

Mary Hall advised that there were some items that needed to be addressed in regards to the pharmacy. The light fixtures were a problem as many of them were not working properly. A survey had been done by the Fire Department and the Pharmacy was out of compliance as there were no exit signs or visible fire extinguishers.  Ms. Hall also noted that the carpet was in bad shape and that she was willing to split the cost of the carpeting.

Public Works Director Munyan advised that he would look into installing the proper exit signs and fire extinguishers.  He also advised that the drop ceiling was in bad shape. Mr. Munyan noted that he had gotten a price quote several years ago in the amount of $5,000 with the understanding that the prep work would be done by inmates.

Mayor Walton advised on getting an updated real-estate lease for the Pharmacy.

Council requested both Ms. Hall and Mr. Munyan get proposals for carpet and that Mr. Munyan also get an estimate for replacing the ceiling.           This would be brought back at the March 28th meeting.

 

USDA – Water System Improvements

            Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry advised on the following:

Phase III  Reservoir – The tank & dome had been competed. Work would be done on the site grading and fencing the coming week.           

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve Partial Pay Estimate No. 4 to Erwin Construction in the amount of $34,519.36.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Phase III G & H – The waterline work had been completed.  There were a number of touchup items that needed to be done.  Well # 10 was progressing.  Well # 9 had a delay with the motor control center which would not arrive until April. 

            Mayor Walton advised that there were some areas of road work that needed to be looked at.  

Public Works Director Munyan advised that he would be meeting with the County Inspector and Jim from Anderson Perry to look at the road work.            

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve Partial Pay Estimate No. 3 to L & L Cargile in the amount of 328,225.02.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.

 

PAYMENT OF PAYROLL FOR FEBRUARY 28TH

            City Administrator Tackett advised that payroll for February would not be paid until March and that this was a hardship for those employees who needed to make payments before the first of the month.  City Administrator Tackett recommended that checks be issued on Friday the 25th.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve payroll be issued on February 25th.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

CATHOLIC CHURCH LOTS – ESTABLISH PRICE

City Administrator Tackett advised that there had been some interest demonstrated on the cost of lots south of the Catholic Church.  The City received these lots due to LID’s not being paid.  The market value for each lot was $12,000 according to the Franklin County Assessor. The LID’s for each lot was as follows:

            Lot 4 Blk 1 $9,774.52              Lot 7 Blk 1 $13,027.29

            Lot 5 Blk 1 $9,774.52              Lot 8 Blk 1 $  9,774.52

            Lot 6 Blk 1 $8,620.82              Lot 9 Blk 1 $  9,774.52

Motion: Councilmember Boyer moved to authorize the City advertise for bid the City owned lots south of the Catholic Church based on the LID amounts.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

INTERLOCAL RECREATION AND SPORTS FACILITY COOPERATION AGREEMENT

             City Administrator Tackett reported that four years prior the City had applied for IAC funds to assist the Eagle’s Nest, School District , and Field of Dreams in completing their project. The School District and City had to enter into A Memorandum of Understanding in order to meet IAC requirements.  With the renewal of this project the School District has asked that the original agreement be modified to include a new section.  The School District did not want to be responsible for assisting the City in replacing lost acreage.  This could be a moot point since the City owned the property adjacent to the school property which could be used as a replacement.

            City Administrator Tackett advised that he would discuss the agreement with Superintendent Kirby and have a final draft typed up and reviewed by legal council.

 

ALCOHOL AND DRUG TESTING, AUDIO TESTING

Public Works Director Munyan advised that L & I had suggested that employees should be tested for hearing acuity as there was an increase in hearing loss suits.  QCL, Inc. from Ephrata would be providing services for hearing test and substance abuse.  By doing hearing test for new employees the City would have a base line in the file on how well they could hear prior to employment.  The Public Works crew would go into a pool for drug testing as required for CDL’s.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to proceed with contracting for Alcohol, drug, and audio testing.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

ANNEXATION

City Administrator Tackett reported that staff had received a Notice of Intention to  Commence Annexation Proceedings from James Rodstol.  Council would need to set a date to determine whether the City would accept, reject, or geographically modify the proposed annexation, whether the City would require the simultaneous adoption of a proposed zoning regulation, and whether the City would require assumption of existing City indebtedness by the area to be annexed.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to set the date for discussion of annexation of the Rodstol property for February 28th. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

CABLE FRANCHISE

City Administrator Tackett advised that he had received complaints regarding the community’s cable service.

Attorney Tanner advised that there were a few options available to the City.  The City could cancel the franchise but would have to compensate them for fair market value of the system.  The City could take over the existing cable or grant the franchise to someone else.

Councilmember Martinez suggested informing the citizens on the City’s position.

Attorney Tanner advised that he would further research the problem and bring a recommendation back to Council.

 

ORDINANCE NO. 777 – RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

City Administrator Tackett advised that it had previously been discussed that there was a need to clean up some of the ordinances.  Ordinance No. 777 would amend Ordinance No. 669 relating to administrative procedures and would clean up some of the wording as it related to annexations.

            City Administrator Tackett read over Ordinance No. 777.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to adopt Ordinance No. 777 relating to administrative procedures.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

ORDINANCE NO. 778 – CHECK HANDLING CHARGE FEE

            Mayor Walton read over Ordinance No. 778.

Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer ChavezPeña advised that the bank fees for non-sufficient funds had gone up to $28.  The current fee the City was charging its customers was $20 which was set by Ordinance No. 634 establishing a NSF fee in 1994 and had not been updated.  Ordinance No. 778 would set the fee at $35.

Motion:  Councilmember Sawyer moved to adopt Ordinance No. 778.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS

            Councilmember Pruett inquired about the Pro-Cut bill.

            Public Works Director Munyan advised that it was for work done on the waterline that had been encroached by Lamb Weston and that it was an issue as Lamb Weston claimed it was the City’s responsibility since it was a City line. 

            Attorney Tanner suggest that the City go ahead a pay the bill but that they write a letter to Lamb Weston advising them that the City would no longer be responsible for any future damage to Lamb Weston’s building due to water line problems. Lamb Weston would be responsible for moving the line or moving its building.  Attorney Tanner suggested this letter go out to all businesses or property owners who were encroached on city lines.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to pay the vouchers and payroll in the amount of $489,682.75, Councilmember Pruett seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

COMMITTEE / DEPARTMENT REPORTS

ATTORNEY’S REPORT- City Attorney Terry Tanner

1)                  New legislation being worked on for DUI’s

2)                  Commended Connell City staff on their handling of public records.  Currently in litigation representing a different City in regards to records request.

3)                  Waiting for signatures on the Apollo agreement. 

 

FIRE CHIEF Bob Koch

1)                  Received a $400 finding from L & I in regards to being negligent with documentation relating to the respirator program.  A third of the respirator program was implemented before the inspection.

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT - Police Chief Rick Rochleau

1)                  Court Clerk Cerna was still on vacation.

2)                  Supplied a list of the items that were no longer being used by the department. 

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to authorize Chief Rochleau donate the obsolete equipment to the City of Asotin Police Department. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

PUBLIC WORKS DEPT – Public Works Director Pat Munyan

1)                  There was a broken water line at Hacienda Estates.

2)                  The sidewalk was completed at the Heritage Museum and work was being done on the hand railing.

3)                  Canfield & Associates had been down to do an inspection.  The City passed with flying colors.

Mayor Walton advised that he had received a complaint in regards to debris needing to be cleaned up around the Hogaboam residence.

Mayor Walton also reported that he had received a complaint in regards to the diesel smell that came from the property owned by Booker on S. Columbia .

Public Works Director agreed to send notices to Hogaboam and Booker.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  Street Committee Meeting set for March 1st at 4:30 .

2)                  Would be attending the CLAC in Olympia with Mayor Walton and Councilmembers Martinez and Sawyer.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED

 There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:45 pm .