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

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

STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett , City Attorney Terry Tanner , Public Works Director Pat Munyan , and City Clerk-Treasurer Joan Eckman .

VISITORS:      Alan Schroeder , Anderson Perry; Rhonda Quinton, Kent Mosbrucker Council candidates; Jim Riddell, Annexation Request; and Kathy Bingham, Franklin County Graphic .

CORRESPONDENCE/ APPOINTMENTS

1)                  Teen-Aid – Invitation to the Teen-Aid’s Annual Pastors & Legislator Luncheon December 7th.

2)                  WA State Liquor Control Board – Liquor License Renewal for the Pizza Station. No objections were heard.

3)                  State of WA Gambling Commission – Gambling License Renewal for Hazy’s.  No objections were heard.

4)                  United Way – 2-1-1 Service Provider Forum December 1, 2005 recognizing local   2-1-1 contributors.

5)                  Anderson Perry – Once again sponsoring a scholarship of $750 for the Connell area.

6)                  American Water Works Association – Provided a Certificate of Appreciation to the City of Connell in grateful recognition of membership since 1976.

7)                  Tri-City Chamber – Invitation to the annual Homebuilders Association Reception November 29th at the Clover Island Inn.

8)                  DOC – November 29th EIS hearing for community input at Community Center. 

CONSENT CALENDAR

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

a)      Minutes of the October 24, 2005  Regular Meeting,

Councilmembers Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mayor Walton made the following additions to the Agenda:  

16 a) Franklin County Lease Extension

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

ORDER OF BUSINESS

PUBLIC HEARING – 2006 Preliminary Budget: Revenue Sources & Property Tax

            Mayor Walton opened the Public Hearing at 7:41 in regards to the following:

          2006 Preliminary Budget: Revenue Sources & Property Tax

          City Clerk-Treasurer Eckman advised that the increase in the regular property tax levy was $2,981.81, which was a percentage increase of 1.0 percent from the previous year.  The amount necessary to be levied by valorem property taxes to raise the annual expenditures provided in the 2006 Budget for General Bond obligation was $20, 128.  The City would be receiving $82,542 in City Assistance, this would help to replace some of the equalization funds.

          Mayor Walton asked for public comments, there being none the meeting was opened to questions from Councilmembers.

          Councilmember Boyer inquired about a water rate evaluation.

          City Administrator Tackett noted that the Water Rate Study would address evaluation of the water rates.  

          There being no further discussion Mayor Walton closed the public hearing at 7:53 pm .  

SEWER IMPACT FEE

City Administrator Tackett advised that at the request of staff Anderson Perry had prepared a Capital Facilities Charge Rationale.  An impact fee would be charged on the construction of new subdivisions that would be put into a sewer reserve to assure that there would be funding available when existing sewer capacity had been exhausted and expansion of the sewer facility would need to take place.

Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry reported that they had looked at the cost per household to build a sewer system and the cost of expanding the current sewer facility. 

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to authorize staff to proceed with an ordinance for a capital facilities charge on new construction to go towards improvements for the wastewater system. Councilmember Martinez seconded, motion carried unanimously.  

DOC WATER PROJECTIONS AND FACILITIES

Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry advised that DOC had requested the City move ahead with the design of facilities.  DOC would need water to the site by June or July. Mr. Schroeder discussed the current system for CRCC and reported that DOC projected three times more usage for water once the new facility was built.  Mr. Schroeder advised that the best option would be to build a new reservoir.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve amendment No. 1 for Engineering Services to the Anderson Perry Contract.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

          Alan Schroeder discussed the water system plan update that the City was working on. The direction for the water system plan would be to facilitate normal growth as projected in the Comprehensive Plan. 

USDA – CONTROL VALVE PROJECT

          Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry reported that two bids had been received for the Control Valve project.  A control valve would be placed on the waterline running from the farm to town.  Alan Schroeder recommended the bid be awarded to the lowest bidder, Quality Backhoe Services, for the amount of $28,325.10.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to award the project to Quality Backhoe Services.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.    

ORDINANCE NO. 792 – AMENDING CHAPTER 12.20 RELATING TO SIDEWALK SPECIFICATION STANDARDS

After a misunderstanding that revolved around the requirement for curbs, gutter and sidewalks staff reviewed the sidewalk ordinance with Attorney Tanner and Mike Corcoran.  Ordinance 792 would require that curbs, gutters, etc. be installed.  However it also allowed the Planning Commission, with the concurrency of the City Council, the ability to wave that requirement.   

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to adopt Ordinance No. 792 relating to sidewalk specification standards.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.  

ORDINANCE NO. 791 – CRCC REZONE & ORDINANCE NO. 793 – BENNETT REZONE

          City Administrator Tackett advised that staff and Council had gone through all the necessary steps to amend the zoning ordinance as requested except for the ordinances that would update the zoning map.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve Ordinance No 791, amending the zoning map and rezoning property owned by Department of Corrections.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.

Motion:  Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve Ordinance No. 793, amending the zoning map and rezoning property owned by Mr. Bennett.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.  

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO COMMENCE ANNEXATION PROCEEDINGS   

City Administrator Tackett advised that Council needed to set a date to discuss the Notice of Intention to Commence Annexation Proceedings

Council set November 28 to discuss the Notice of Intention to Commence Annexation Proceedings.

LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING WITH AVISTA

          This item was tabled to be discussed in Executive Session.

WASTEWATER – SEWER PRESSURE MAIN

          This item was tabled to be discussed in Executive Session.

FRANKLIN COUNTY LEASE EXTENSION

City Administrator Tackett advised that he had spoken to Tim Fife, Public Works Director for Franklin County and discussed their lease contract for 2005.  The next step would be to put together a buy/sell agreement for them to purchase the property currently being leased as well as some additional property.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the lease with Franklin County Public Works Department.  Councilmember Skoglund seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously. 

PAYMENT OF BILLS           

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the vouchers and payroll in the amount of $91,046.81. Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

COMMITTEE / DEPARTMENT REPORTS

CITY HALL – City Clerk/Treasurer Joan Eckman

1)                  Proceeding with the budget document, should have property tax ordinance, budget amendment for 2005, and salary resolution for review at the next Council meeting.

2)                  Staff had run out of cardstock for the water bills and used regular paper to mail out bills.  Cardstock had been received and would be sending out normal bills next billing cycle.

PUBLIC WORKS – Public Works Director Pat Munyan

1)                  Worked on Lift Station 4.

2)                  Working on Pioneer Park project.

3)                  Water meters were being insulated.

4)                  Burning weeds.

5)                  Would be cleaning up the Esquatzel Coulee.

POLICE DEPARTMENT – Chief of Police Rick Rochleau

1)                  Completing background checks on applicants.

2)                  Had a good Halloween.

3)                  Had two residential burglaries in the past two weeks.

4)                  Arrested an individual for possession of narcotics.

5)                  Re-elected as chairman for the Emergency Management Board.

6)                  Put together a draft ordinance for motorized scooters for Council to review.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  Working on CDBG application due November 17th.

2)                  Need to set up a meeting for Council after first of the year to work on goals and objectives.  

3)                  AWC would be holding a training session for newly elected officials.

4)                  Received the EIS from DOC, public hearing would be held on November 29th.

MEETING RECESSED

The regular meeting was recessed at 9:07 to go into Executive Session to discuss, personnel, property, and wastewater issues until approximately 9:30 pm .

MEETING RECONVENED

Mayor Walton reconvened the regular meeting at 9:23 and the following was heard;

LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING WITH AVISTA

            Letter of Understanding to have Avista market excess power for the City of Connell .

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to accept the Letter of Understanding with Avista and authorize the mayor to sign.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:25 pm .