MEETING OF THE CITY OF
CONNELL,
The regular semi-monthly meeting, of the City Council of
the City of
PRESENT:
Mayor Gary Walton, Mayor Pro-Tem Perry Skoglund, Councilmembers Roel
STAFF:
City Administrator
VISITORS: Val
Bitton; Alan Schroeder,
Proclamation: Mayor Walton
proclaimed
Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Consent Calendar as listed:
a) Minutes of the April 25th Regular meeting,
Councilmember
Sawyer seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Councilmember Boyer inquired about dandelions throughout the City parks.
Public Works Director advised that the Crew had sprayed for dandelions.
Councilmember Boyer commented about the need for having the clean-up dumpsters for a longer period of time.
Public Works Director Munyan noted that the Spring Fling dumpsters cost the City $1,000. It would be up to Council to decide if they wanted to provide dumpsters for a longer period or all year. Mr. Munyan also noted that the City did have dumpsters available during business hours for dumping and that they also took tree limbs.
City Administrator Tackett advised he had discuss a Transfer Station with BDI and would continue to discuss the issue with them.
Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the agenda as listed. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
Alan Schroeder
from Anderson Perry reported on the following:
Schedules G & H – Everything was operational. There was still a few odds and ends and some punch list items to be completed. Mr. Schroeder presented Change Order # 4 to adjust for cost of things that were taken out of the contract and Partial Pay Estimate No. 6.
Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve Partial Pay Estimate No. 6 to L & L Cargile in the amount of $66,217.98. Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve Change Order No. 4 to L & L Cargile in the amount of -$ 51,911.67. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Schroeder advised that there would be a walk through on May 11th with Rural Development. There would be a final inspection on May 23rd.
Information would be presented to Rural Development on May 11th for the expenditure of the remaining funds. The intention would be to bring power, accessible from the treatment plant, down to a control valve that would regulate the flow of water from the farm water system into town. The two main pieces would be extending electrical service to the site and getting the telemetry system functional.
City
Administrator Tackett advised that he had been in contact with Senator
Murray’s Office and July seemed like a good time for a ribbon cutting
ceremony.
BAILIE ANNEXATION
City Administrator Tackett advised that Council needed to make a decisions on whether to accept, reject or geographically modify the proposed annexation, whether to require the simultaneous adoption of a proposed zoning regulation, and whether the City would require the assumption of existing City indebtedness by the area to be annexed.
City Administrator Tackett advised that Mr. Bailie whished to modify his request and not annex the triangle that included Post 60 as that land owner did not want to annex at this time.
The legal description for the area to be annexed would then be:
The east half of the east half of Section 7, Township 14, Range 32 less right-of-way.
ORDINANCE NO. 783 FARM ANNEXATION
City Administrator Tackett advised that the City had neglected to add a portion to the legal description on the last annexation.
Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to adopt Ordinance No. 783 annexing the remainder of the farm. Councilmember Martinez seconded, motion carried unanimously.
SPANISH INTERPRETER
City Administrator advised that the City’s court interpreter would no longer be providing that service for us. His rate was $25 per hour. The going rate was $40 per hour. The City did need to provide a Spanish interpreter for court. Correspondence had been received by Rosie Arteaga who would be willing to provide this service at $40 per hour plus mileage.
Attorney Tanner noted that the interpreter was needed usually about two hours during court and that he would check with Ms. Arteaga as to not charge per hour for travel time.
Councilmember Skoglund inquired about assessing a fee for interpreter services.
Attorney Tanner advised it was an option and would discuss it with the judge.
Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to authorize the expenditure of up to $40 per hour and mileage for a court certified interpreter. Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.
CHANGE OF REMUNERATION FOR MAYOR & COUNCIL
City Administrator Tackett reported that there had been some discussion regarding change in remuneration for Mayor & Council. There were two issues involved pertaining to amount and date of remuneration. It was suggested setting the Mayor’s salary at $600 per month and Councilmembers at $250. The Mayor’s salary could be changed at any time as long as he did not vote. Council salaries would not be changed until January 2006 for those seats up for reelection. The remaining seats would not change until January 2008, or the entire group could wait until 2008.
Mayor Walton noted that if Council waited to vote after July 1 Council would not receive the increase until 2010. Some cities also included COLA’s for their councilmember.
Councilmember Boyer commented that he did not feel this was something that needed to be considered.
Mayor Walton suggested forming a committee to look into remuneration.
Council
consensus, four to one, to establish a committee to look into remuneration.
PROPERTY PURCHASE OFFER
City
Administrator Tackett advised that he had received an offer to purchase the 4.8
acres adjacent to Highway 395 to the west side of Highway 260 and suggested
having it tied into the two other appraisals being done.
Attorney Tanner advised that the City did not have to go out for bid on the property but that it did need to get fair market value.
Council consensus was to have the
property appraised.
Chief of Police Rochleau reported that Roger Bailie had suggested a site on his property. This site seemed to be the best site for the gun range. This site was adjacent to City property. The site would have about a 100 foot backdrop, with dry land farming behind it. The site was not inside the City limits but it was inside the Urban Growth Boundary.
Chief Rochleau noted that there was the issue of not being able to separate county property under 20 acres.
City Administrator Tackett advised requesting a conditional use permit from the County Planning Commission.
WATER FEES
Public Works Director Munyan advised that there were many variables to consider when installing a meter and provided a breakout of several different scenarios. Director Munyan recommended that meter installation be billed at actual cost and not a set price due to the many variables and that impact fees for meters larger than two inches be negotiated. Impact funds would go toward future improvements.
Councilmember Skoglund suggested a workshop be held to go over impact fees for water connections.
A workshop was
set for May 18th at
AUTHORIZATION OF GRANT APPLICATION
City Administrator Tackett advised that due to activities taking place in the community staff recommended applying for a Growth Management Grant to update the existing Comprehensive Plan. The $30,000 grant, with a local match of $10,000, would look at demographics, housing, economic element and impacts on the City’s infrastructure.
Councilmember Boyer inquired about holding workshops on impacts.
City Administrator Tackett advised that this grant would cover public
workshops. Once the EIS came out it would be reviewed and provided to the
public. City Administrator Tackett suggested setting up a meeting with DOC,
Mayor, Council and city staff in
Council discussed impacts of the prison expansion, such as the need for a new fire truck, expansion of the fire station, and a yearly assessment fee for the fire department.
Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to authorize staff apply and Mayor Walton sign the Growth Management Grant application. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.
ROAD CONSTRUCTION – NORTH OF SEWER PLANT
Public Works Director Munyan advised that the cost estimate for materials for the road north of the sewer plant was about $10,000. He also noted that he had not had a chance to speak to Clerk-Treasurer Eckman to see if the funds were available.
Further discussion was tabled
pending availability of funds.
APPRAISAL QUOTE APPROVAL
City Administrator Tackett advised that he had received the quote from Pacific Appraisal Associates in regards to appraisals for the land for PUD and the land for IAC for a total of $3,950. Of this amount $2,200 would be covered by the grant for IAC.
Council suggested adding the remaining $1,750 for the PUD land appraisal to the purchase price of the land to recuperate cost.
City Administrator Tackett suggested requesting Pacific Appraisal
Associates to appraise the land adjacent to Highway 395 as they may give the
City a break since they were already doing two other appraisals.
STREET CLOSURE
Deputy City-Clerk Treasurer ChavezPeña requested permission, on behalf
of the Fall Festival, to close downtown
Consensus of the Council was to
grant permission to close downtown
OFFENDER WORK PROGRAM CONTRACT
Mayor Walton advised that the City needed to renew the Department of Corrections Offender Work Program Contract each year.
Motion:
Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the Offender Work Program Contract
with the Department of Corrections. Councilmember
Martinez seconded motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
Motion:
Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the vouchers and payroll in the amount of
$123,985.66. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – Public Works Director
1) Spraying for weeds
2) Doing general maintenance
POLICE DEPARTMENT –Chief of Police Rick Rochleau
1) Officer Arteaga was in academy
2) Four reserves would be graduating from academy next week
3) Night Court would be cancelled for the summer due to less staff
4) Would be gone to the Chief and Sheriff’s conference the week of the 23rd.
There being no further business
to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at