MEETING OF THE CITY OF
The regular semi-monthly meeting, of the City Council of
the City of
PRESENT:
Mayor
STAFF:
City Administrator
VISITORS: Thomas
Fisher, Jim Riddell, Grant Riddell, David Geil; Kevin Loresch, DOC; and Kathy
Bingham,
Association of Washington Cities – Annual AWC Conference
June 20-23 in
Motion:
Councilmember Quinton moved to approve the Consent Calendar with a correction to
Page 7, Commercial Lots, of the April 10 minutes to correct
“$.75 per square foot” to “$1.25 or $1.50 per square foot depending
on location”, and also a correction to Page 8 of the April 10 minutes,
City Administrator’s Report, to correct “Doreen Gagger” to “Doreen
Geiger”;
a)
Minutes of the
b)
Warrant Register
c)
Payroll of
(payroll did not include amounts
for Mayor and Councilmembers)
d)
Motion to surplus vehicles as listed on attachment
Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Jim Riddell, residing at 3036 Highway 260 in Connell, complimented city staff who worked in the front office at City Hall. Mr. Riddell requested it be put on the record that the Tullamoor project be included in the Growth Management update in relationship to the water requirements as they still planned on building 2400 homes. Mr. Riddell’s invitation to visit Tullamoor was still open to Mayor and Council. Development of Tullamoor would begin on the south half first instead of the north half as previously discussed. Mr. Riddell advised that he was interested in purchasing all the property south of town. In regards to the weeds at the farm, Mr. Riddell commented that he had lost about $150,000 on the farming effort this year and that he would like to work collectively with the City in maintaining the weeds. Mr. Riddell stated that he had been waiting since the 13th of February for comments from Council. Mr. Riddell requested that if Council had concerns or questions to issues in the Purchase and Sales Agreement that they be put out on the table to be talked about as he would like to move forward as time was important. Mr. Riddell referred to an article in the Tri-City Herald that the Tri-Cities was to profit from the Connell prison. Mr. Riddell felt that the community needed to be competitive in the market place. Mr. Riddell concluded by thanking the Mayor and Council for allowing him to speak.
Kevin Loresch, of CRCC, reported that they had gone over the contractors proposals and that they had accepted the bid from Hunt/Lydig. They would spend about two weeks negotiating the contract and once the contract had been negotiated they would start working on permits. The maximum allowable design and construction cost was $159 million. He hoped that excavation would begin by mid June if not sooner.
Dave Geil, residing at E. Edison, expressed that he had come home from work to find that he had more extensive tree trimming than he expected. His complaint was in regards to lack of communication and that he felt disrespected.
Mayor Walton requested that in the future residents be informed prior to the tree trimming.
Mayor Walton advised that he had been in contact with Vinai, from Mei Ling’s restaurant, who wished to donate the old signal sign to be set up by the City caboose.
Motion:
Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the agenda as listed. Councilmember
Quinton seconded motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
WATER SYSTEM PLAN
Public Works Director Munyan advised that Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry had gathered more information on the Water System Plan. A draft copy should be completed in about a month.
Public Works
Director Munyan reported that he was working on an Emergency Response Plan that
should be completed by the end of the week.
DOC
INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE
This item was tabled.
DOC OFFENDER WORK CREW
City Administrator Tackett
reported that a meeting had been scheduled for
Councilmember Klindworth requested that City staff remind CRCC that the City had received some special considerations that other communities did not receive because of the placement of the prison in Connell.
STREET CONSTRUCTION/EXCAVATION FEE SCHEDULE
Public Works Director Munyan reported that the Connell Municipal Code stated that the fee for street construction/excavation would be set by the Public Works Director on a case by case basis. Public Works Director Munyan expressed that he was concerned with the auditors questioning not having a set fee and presented a fee schedule for grading, plan checks, land clearing, and paving. These fees would impact future subdivisions.
This schedule would be put in ordinance form and would be brought back to Council.
Council and staff discussed permits for fences.
EMERGING ISSUES GRANT/CONSULTING FIRM SERVICES
City Administrator advised that the contract for the $10,000 CTED grant
had been received. The grant would
help the City plan and conduct the
Motion:
Councilmember Pruett moved to enter into a contract with CTED for a $10,000
grant. Councilmember Quinton
seconded motion. Motion carried
unanimously.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT
City Administrator Tackett advised that he felt it was appropriate to have a contract in place with the firm providing legal service for reviewing the real estate contracts.
Councilmember Klindworth requested that this item be tabled until the May 8 meeting so that Council could have a chance to discuss the contract with the attorney at the Special Meeting.
PLANNING COMMISSION –
City Administrator
The Planning Commission had met and would be holding a public hearing in regards to zone changes on May 16th. A recommendation would be made to the Council in a closed record hearing.
In regards to RV Park requirements, Councilmember Klindworth expressed that 2,000 square feet seemed to big.
PARK & RECREATION –
City Administrator
Would be meeting April 25 and would be interviewing more lifeguards.
PUBLIC WORKS – Public Works Director
1)
Working on
2) Working on pot holes
3) Working on weeds
4) Working on junk vehicles
5) Tree trimmer was in town. The trees on Geil’s property were on City right-of-way. They were trimmed high enough to allow the street sweeper to get underneath. The trees were planted on a water line and if allowed to continue to grow they would eventually lift up the curb. The stop sign had been blocked by the trees.
POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT – Police Chief Rick
Rochleau
1) The car crusher had been in town
2) Kids had been more active as the weather warmed up
3) The new patrol car had come in
Councilmember Mosbrucker expressed his concern with having signs posted that did not allow motor vehicles in the old railroad right-of-way when kids were being told they could ride in there anyways. He felt the signs should be enforced or taken down as there could be an issue with liability.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett
1)
Real Estate meeting Friday, May 28th at
2)
Special Council meeting April 26 at
3) Finance Committee meeting sometime in mid May, preferably on a Wednesday
4)
Street Committee April 27 at
5) Would like set up a trip for Council to look at city facilities
6) Would be gone all of the following week
7)
Would like to go to
MAYOR’S REPORT –
Mayor
The Good Roads Association was working on putting together a brochure.
CITY HALL – Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Maria Chavez Pena
1) Provided handouts for beer garden recommendations from Canfield & Associates, to be discussed at the next meeting
2) Attended WMCA, received a lot of good information
Mayor Walton recessed the regular meeting at
Mayor Walton reconvened the
regular meeting at