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

November 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, Monica Pruett , Roel Martinez, and Ron Boyer.

EXCUSED:      Councilmember Sawyer

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

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

 

CORRESPONDENCE/ APPOINTMENTS

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

2)                  Franklin County : Resolution No. 2005 477 appointing Rick Miller to the Franklin County Mosquito Control District Board of Trustees.

3)                  Franklin County : Resolution No. 2005 478 re-appointing Richard Britton to the Franklin County Mosquito Control District Board of Trustees.

4)                  PUD – Contract for property purchase.  To be placed on the December 12th agenda.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

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

a)      Minutes of the November 14, 2005  Regular Meeting,

Councilmembers Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mayor Walton made the following additions to the Agenda:  

17 a) Councilmember Skoglund Resignation

17 b) Emission Fuel Grant Application

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

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

PUBLIC HEARING – AMENDING THE 2005 APPROVED BUDGET

            Mayor Walton opened the Public Hearing at 7:38 .

           City Clerk Treasurer Eckman advised on the significant impacts on the 2005 Budget. Increased interest earnings, increased utility and fuel costs, state excise tax audit, farm bond re-issue, early pay on DNR land loan, and other factors provided an increase of the total 2005 fiscal year budget by $3,957,869. 

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

          There being no further discussion Mayor Walton closed the public hearing at 7:43 pm .  

 

ORDINANCE NO. 787

Clerk Treasurer Eckman read Ordinance No. 787, amending Ordinance No. 775 and fixing the estimated 2005 fiscal year budget at $13,361,839, an increase of $3,957,869.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to adopt Ordinance No. 787 amending the 2005 fiscal year budget.  Councilmember Martinez seconded, motion carried unanimously.

 

PUBLIC HEARING – FIXING THE 2006 FINAL BUDGET

Mayor Walton opened the Public Hearing at 7:48 .

Clerk Treasurer Eckman provided that the 2006 Budget reflected the 1% increase to the Ad Valorem General Property taxes in the amount of $2,981.81. Clerk Treasurer Eckman also advised that some changes had been made to the proposed 2006 Budget and reviewed the changes with Council.  The 2006 budget was estimated at $11,922,641.

Mayor Walton opened the public hearing for comments from the audience.

Kent Mosbrucker inquired about what were some of the big increases to the 2006 budget compared to the 2005 budget and why the increase.

Council and staff discussed the 2006 budget and suggested Mr. Mosbrucker meet with Clerk Treasurer Eckman so that she could go over the budget in more detail and answer any questions Mr. Mosbrucker may have.

 

ORDINANCE NO. 788 – AD VALOREM GENERAL PROPERTY TAXES

Clerk Treasurer Eckman read Ordinance No. 788 authorizing an increase in the regular property tax levy in the amount of $2,981.81, which was a percentage increase of 1.0 percent from the previous year and setting the amount necessary to be levied by ad valorem property taxes for the General Obligation Fund at $20, 128. 

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to adopt Ordinance No. 788 Ad Valorem General Property Taxes. Councilmember Skoglund seconded, motion carried unanimously.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 2005-06 – SETTING SALARY SCHEDULES FOR 2006

            Clerk Treasurer Eckman read Resolution No. 2005-06 setting salary schedules for 2006.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to adopt Resolution No. 2005-06 setting the salary schedule for 2006.  Councilmember Martinez seconded, motion carried unanimously.

 

USDA – CONTROL VALVE PROJECT

          Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry advised that L & L Cargile had reported substantial completion of Schedules G & H in May. The punch list items had been completed and a certification of construction had been submitted.  Releases from the Department of Revenue and Labor & Industries had been obtained. L & L Cargile had requested release of retainage.  Mr. Schroeder suggested that he and Public Works Director Munyan do a final walk through of the project before releasing the retainage.

          Alan Schroeder presented the contract with Quality Backhoe Services for the Control Valve project that had been authorized at the November 14th meeting.

 

INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT: PROVIDING FOR LOCAL HOMELESS HOUSING ASSISTANCE

            City Administrator Tackett advised that staff had received an Interlocal Agreement between Franklin County and the cities of Connell, Kahlotus, Pasco , and Mesa .  The Interlocal Agreement provided for the collection, administration, and expenditure for the purpose of providing for local homeless housing programs/plans.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to authorize the mayor sign the Interlocal Agreement between Franklin County and the Cities providing for local housing and assistance programs/plans.  Councilmember Martinez seconded, motion carried unanimously.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 2005-08 – CDBG CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE

City Administrator Tackett advised that staff received an updated estimate for the cost of waterlines replacement for the CDBG application.  The new estimate came in at $755,000. Resolution No. 2005-08 would repeal Resolution No. 2005-07 for the amount of $637,000 and put 2005-08 in its place with the correct amount.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve Resolution No. 2005-08 certifications of compliance for CDBG.  Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

 

TEAMSTER CONTRACT RENEGOTIATION

Chief of Police Rochleau advised that during the negotiations for the three year contract with Teamsters the previous year the COLA and salary items were left open to be determined year by year. Teamsters had proposed a 3% COLA and a 5% salary adjustment in sergeant pay.

Motion:  Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the Teamster contract.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT AUTO PURCHASE

Chief of Police Rochleau requested to proceed with the order for a new Crown Victoria police car.  This item had been included in the 2005 budget in the Police Improvement Reserve fund.

Motion:  Councilmember Skoglund moved to authorize Chief Rochleau proceed with the purchase of the new vehicle.  Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

 

COUNCILMEMBER SKOGLUND RESIGNATION

            Mayor Walton read the resignation letter submitted by Councilmember Skoglund who had relocated to Kennewick and was no longer able to serve as councilman. The resignation was effective at the end of the November 28th council meeting.

            Mayor Walton thanked Councilman Skoglund for his dedication and wished him well.

 

EMISSION FUEL GRANT APPLICATION

            Public Works Director Munyan requested approval to submit a grant application to the Department of Ecology for emission fuel retrofits for diesel vehicles.   This would be a 100% grant with no cost to the City.

Motion:  Councilmember  Martinez moved to authorize staff submit an Emission Fuel Retrofit application to the Department of Ecology.  Councilmembers Pruett and Boyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS           

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the vouchers and payroll in the amount of $76,390.52. Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

 

COMMITTEE / DEPARTMENT REPORTS

PUBLIC WORKS – Public Works Director Pat Munyan

1)                  Currently had extra crews working on clearing the brush at the Coulee.

2)                  Had another sewer line break that was fixed. Parties willing to meet and discuss options.

3)                  Had some problems with Lift Station 4.

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT – Chief of Police Rick Rochleau

1)                  Assisted Pasco Police Department with an arrest.

2)                  Dealt with a shoplifting case, person arrested twice within a 24 hour period for shoplifting.

3)                  Arrested two juveniles in relation to a burglary case, recovered about 90% of the stolen property.

4)                  Working to get rid of hulk vehicles, would bring a resolution to council for review.

5)                  Would be applying for the Traffic Safety grant.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  CRCC open house November 29th to discuss prison expansion.

2)                  Discussed setting up an Impact Committee meeting

 

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:12 pm .