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

February 28, 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, Mayor Pro-Tem Perry Skoglund, Councilmembers Roel Martinez , Andy Sawyer, Monica Pruett, and Ron Boyer.

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

VISITORS:      Alan Schroeder, Anderson Perry; Jim Riddell, Golf Course; Jim & Sandi Rodstol; Tim Fife, Franklin County Public Works; Fred Broberg; Gary Desmarais; Kyle Knight; Larry Hoffman; and Kathy Bingham, Graphic.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the Consent Calendar with the following correction:

a)      Minutes of the January 24 Regular meeting, Page 5, Payment of Bills, corrected to Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.

Councilmember Martinez seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mayor Walton added  14 a) CTED Grant    

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

Mayor Walton added  8 a) Memorandum of Understanding – Council of Government

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

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

ANNEXATION OF RODSTOL PROPERTY

City Administrator Tackett advised that Council needed to discuss three issues regarding the proposed annexation.  The City would need to accept, reject, or geographically modify the proposed annexation, decide if it would require the simultaneous adoption of a proposed zoning regulation, and decide if it would required the assumption of existing City indebtedness. 

Administrator Tackett reported that currently there was the indebtedness of the swimming pool with approximately three to four years left and that the zoning for the area to be annexed be changed from Agriculture to Rural Residential.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the intention to commence annexation proceedings submitted by James Rodstol to change the zoning from Agricultural to Rural Residential and to not require that the area to be annexed assume City indebtedness. Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

            (Note: per MRSC, the City is unable to change the zoning of a piece of property at the same time as annexation without having previously followed RCW 35A.14.340.  The zoning change would follow the regular rezone procedure and be brought before Council at a future date.)

 

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING – BFCG

Tim Fife, Franklin County Public Works Director, reported that the WSDOT had designated the Benton Franklin Council of Governments as “Lead Agency” for the distribution/allocation of all federal Surface Transportation Program (STP).

            Mr. Fife provided the Joint Benton and Franklin County Proposal and the FFY 2004 STP Allocation for discussion.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to authorize the mayor sign the BFCG/ Rural Franklin County STP Process Memorandum of Understanding.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

USDA – Water System Improvements

            Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry advised on the following:

Phase III G & H – All piping was in, the add on piping was being tested. Had been an arrangement made with the County in regards to the restoration of Curry Road .   Well No. 10 was coming along well and would be complete in the contract time.  There was an electrical hang up on Well No. 9, trying to work with the contractor to get well No. 9 done as soon as they could.

Mr. Schroeder provided Council with a budget summary for Phase III.  Remaining contingency funds totaled $46,100.

            Mayor Walton reviewed Change Order No.3.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve Change Order No. 3 to L & L Cargile in the amount of $58,383.84.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.

 

EVOC

            Chief of Police Rochleau presented the Use Agreement for EVOC with the Port of Ephrata .  The Police Department had used the Port’s EVOC course the previous year and it had worked well.  The cost for the Police Department would be $115 for the use of this course.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the Use Agreement for the EVOC course with the Port of Ephrata .  Councilmember Boyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

INCUBATOR BOARD FORMATION

City Administrator Tackett advised that there was a lot of interest shown on the Energy Park and that it was time to proceed with preparing materials for the creation of an Incubator Board for that project and requested two Councilmembers sit on the board.

            Councilmember Sawyer and Councilmember Boyer volunteered to sit on the board.  A meeting would be held on March 7, at 4:30 to discuss board formation.

 

MEETING RECESSED

Mayor Walton recessed the regular meeting at 8:28 pm for approximately 15 minutes to go into Executive session to discuss property, and union issues.

 

MEETING RECONVENED

The regular meeting was called back to order at 8:47 and the following business was heard:

Mayor Walton suggested looking into a PA system for the council room.

 

CITY LOTS

             City Administrator Tackett advised that Council needed to set fair and equitable cost for the DNR parcels.  There were some issues involving the triangular parcel.  This parcel had two leases on the property and would need to be divided into two parcels prior to sale.  The appraisal lists the properties significantly higher than the County Assessor ’s Office.  To make the cost fair it may need to be priced at cost per square foot and be brought back at a future Council meeting.

   

WESLEY GROUP CONTRACT RENEWAL

City Administrator Tackett advised that he had done some research on contract negotiations and that most city administrators did not sit in on negotiations and recommended the city renew the contract with the Wesley Group. The Wesley Group had worked with a lot of small cities and the contract amount had not changed.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Wesley Group Contract.    Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

LETTER OF INTENT

City Administrator Tackett reported that the City had received a Letter of Intent regarding development of the City Golf Course. RFP/RFQ’s request had been advertised and had received one response from Riddell Development Company.  The purpose of the Letter of Intent would be to spell out the parameters of the agreement that would allow the Development Company to proceed with the project. 

Mr. Riddell advised that the Letter of Intent did not bind the City but would allow the City Administrator to work with them.  Expressed being very interested in the golf course project. 

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve Mayor Walton sign the Letter of Intent with Riddell Development Company pending approval by the City Attorney Tanner. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

CTED - GRANT

City Administrator Tackett advised that a $10,000 request had been submitted to CTED last August which was approved.  This would provide for someone to come in to determine the best use of the property north of HY 260.  The City would have to match the grant with $10,000 for a total of $20,000 for the project.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to authorize Mayor Walton sign the CTED grant.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to pay the vouchers and payroll in the amount of $147,152.52 Councilmember Pruett seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

COMMITTEE / DEPARTMENT REPORTS

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT - Police Chief Rick Rochleau

1)                  Court Clerk Cerna was back from vacation

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  The Water Plan extension was approved through December 2005

2)                  Street Committee meeting March 1, 2005 at 4:30

3)                  Downtown Development meeting at 7:00 .

4)                  Meeting with DOC on Thursday.

 

CITY HALL – Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Maria Chavez-Pena

1)                  Wellness Trek had started.

2)                  Received the updates for the code book.

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:35 pm .