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


June 27, 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 , Monica Pruett, Ron Boyer and Andy Sawyer.

STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett , Chief of Police Rick Rochleau, and Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Maria ChavezPeńa.

VISITORS:      Alan Schroeder, Anderson Perry; and Kathy Bingham, Franklin County Graphic .

CORRESPONDENCE

1)                  State- Received correspondence from the state that there would be no new employee union formed.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Consent Calendar as corrected:

a)      Minutes of the June 13, 2005 Regular Meeting, page 5, Police Department Contract, corrected from “Councilmember Pruett moved …” to “Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Teamster Contract…”

Councilmember Martinez seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

CITIZEN COMMENT/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Councilmember Sawyer inquired about dead birds in anyone else’s neighborhood as he had seen quiet a few dead birds lately. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

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

ORDER OF BUSINESS

CLOSED RECORD HEARING – ZONE CHANGE FOR 748-750 W. ELM

Mayor Walton opened the Closed Record Hearing at 7:37 pm in regards to following:

Zoning Ordinance Amendment 

Property Owner: City of Connell

            Site Location: 748-750 W. Elm, Parcel No. 109-840-059

            Zoning: Agriculture

            Proposed Use: Zone change to Industrial, Light (IL)

 City Administrator Tackett provided the Finding of Fact and advised that the Planning Commission had held the Hearing in regards to the Zone Change.  The City was in the process of subdividing this property and felt it would be appropriate to rezone correctly.  Currently the property was zoned Agriculture which called for five acre parcels.  The subdivided parcels were not five acres.

Motion: Councilmember Andy moved to approve the zone change from Agriculture to Light Industrial for 748 – 750 W. Elm. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion, motion carried unanimously. 

CLOSED RECORD HEARING – ZONE CHANGE CRCC

Mayor Walton opened the Closed Record Hearing at 7:43 pm in regards to following:

Zoning Ordinance Amendment 

Property Owner: St. of WA Dept of Corrections

            Site Location: North of 1301 N. Ephrata

Parcel No: 106-550-075, 106-550-056, 106-662-133

            Zoning: Agriculture

            Proposed Use: Public Facility (PF)

City Administrator Tackett provided the Finding of Fact and advised that the Planning Commission had held a Public Hearing in regards to the zone change.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to change the zone for CRCC property from Agriculture to Public Facility.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

USDA – WATER IMPROVEMENTS

Alan Schroeder from Anderson Perry reported that they were in the process of getting the final quote from the contractor for PUD prices to utilize remaining funds.

RESOLUTION NO. 2005-01 – Six Year Transportation Improvement

            Mayor Walton requested that this item be placed on the agenda earlier in the year.

City Administrator Tackett noted that the Street Committee had meet and reviewed the TIP earlier but had not but it on the agenda since there were no changes from the previous year.

Councilmember Skoglund advised he was still in favor of the extension and if BNSF ever got its double line the City would need another route.

Council discussed the need to inform citizens about the process of receiving funds for street work.

Councilmember Boyer clarified that he did not intend for his street to be placed number two on the TIP list but that he did not feel that the number two project should be on the list. 

Councilmember Pruett advised that she felt there was a need for the overpass and that she had received comments from three citizens in favor of the project.

Mayor Walton noted that for Project No. 1, West Adams Street , he had discussed with TIB getting North Sixth Street added into the project.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to adopt Resolution No. 2005-01.  Councilmember Martinez seconded.  Motion carried with four votes for and Councilmember Boyer voting against.

CRCC LAND CONTRACT

            City Administrator Tackett advised that staff had received a modified version of the land sale for property adjacent to the City’s main reservoir.  Attorney Tanner had looked over the contract and some changes were made as noted.  The cost for the pump was $1.00. The pumps would be upgraded before the City assumed ownership.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to accept the agreement for the CRCC pump station for $1.00.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

PROPERTY COST –DNR

            City Administrator Tackett advised that the Finance Committee had met regarding per square foot costs of the property south of the County Shops .  Their recommendation was to set the amount at $.75 per square foot as it had been established across the street.  In addition, the Finance Committee had recommended that because of the importance of accelerating the sale of that property, that cash offers received preference.  They would also prefer sale to those individuals who were planning immediate development and not speculating on the property.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to set the property cost for the DNR property as recommended by the Finance Committee.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

ORDINANCE 785 – IMPACT CONNECTION CHARGE

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve Ordinance No. 785 setting impact connection charges.  Councilmember Skoglund seconded, motion carried unanimously.

Mayor Walton advised that there would be legislation concerning water issues coming out and thanked staff for keeping the City ahead of upcoming legislation.

PAYMENT OF BILLS           

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the vouchers and payroll in the amount of $265,146.00. Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

COMMITTEE / DEPARTMENT REPORTS

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – Councilmember Monica Pruett

1)                  Had  attended a Rural Development meeting.  Had very good speakers.

POLICE DEPARTMENT – Chief of Police Rick Rochleau

1)                  So far the summer had been fairly quiet

2)                  Held simulator training. Officers did well.

3)                  Would be holding training classes later this year, EVOC, tazers, firearms.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  Currently having property appraised for the IAC Pioneer Park .

2)                  Would be submitting a request for extension of the IAC ball field grant.

3)                  Met with PUD in regards to the waste energy.  Would be entering into negotiations.  A feasibility study would be completed within the next two weeks.

4)                  Would be meeting with the Finance Committee to discuss the budget again in July.  Would be holding budget workshops later. There was a 12% increase in medical cost.  City would be receiving $70,000 from the passage of 50/60.

5)                  Mr. Riddell would be setting up his shop sometime in September and was moving along with the project.

MAYOR’S REPORT –Mayor Gary Walton

Advised that he had attended the AWC conference which was one of the best ones in the past 10 years.

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 8:37 pm .