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

February 13, 2006

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 Ron Boyer, Councilmembers Monica Pruett, Rhonda Quinton, Kent Mosbrucker and Jim Klindworth.

STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett , Public Works Director Pat Munyan , City Attorney Terry Tanner , Chief of Police Rick Rochleau, and Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Maria ChavezPeńa.

VISITORS:      Kevin Loresh, Larry Hueter and Scott Frakes, DOC; Alan Schroeder , Anderson Perry; and Kathy Bingham, Franklin County Graphic .

CORRESPONDENCE

1)                  Liquor Control Board – Discontinued sales and service of liquor for Round-up Tavern.

2)                  Liquor Control Board – Liquor license renewal for Mei-Ling Inn and Sun Mart. No objections were heard.

3)                  AWC – Request to cities to plant a cherry tree in honor of the 30th Cherry Blossom Anniversary with Japan .

4)                  Master Gardeners – Invitation to plant a rose on April 1 for the American Association of Rose Societies.

5)                  Economic Development – Meeting March 29th at Moses Lake .  

CONSENT CALENDAR

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the Consent Calendar as listed with a correction to page 2 of the January 23, 2006 minutes under Wastewater Impacts to change “Department of Natural Resources” to “Bureau of Reclamation”.

a)      Minutes of the January 23, 2006 Regular Council Meeting

b)      Warrant Register 1/24/06 for $6229.80 

c)      Warrant Register 2/2/06 for $146.64

d)      Warrant Register 2/9/06 for $1,899.85

e)      Warrant Register 2/13/06 for  $76,869.03

f)        Payroll Draw $9,816.38

g)      Motion to approve Ordinance No. 794 amending Title 14 Chapter 14.04 Building Code of the Connell Municipal Code

h)      Motion to approve Ordinance No. 795 amending Title 14 Chapter 14.02 Fire Prevention

i)        Motion to approve the 2006 Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for Emergency Dispatch Service

j)        Motion to approve the 2006 Port of Ephrata Use Agreement for EVOC in the amount of $115.00

Councilmembers Quinton seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

CITIZEN COMMENT/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Councilmember Klindworth voiced a concern with the number of abandoned cars and felt that the city should be cleaned up.

Chief Rochleau advised that there was a person in town who was working on getting his hulk hauling license.

Councilmember Boyer agreed that something needed to be done to fix the problem and suggested a workshop.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the agenda as listed. Councilmember Quinton seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

PUBLIC HEARING PETITION FOR ANNEXATION

            Mayor Walton opened the public hearing on the petition for annexation of SR 260, Munyan property, and Parnell property at 7:55 pm .    

City Administrator Tackett advised that Council had passed an annexation last summer but that OFM opposed the annexation because the property in question was not contiguous with the rest of the community.  By annexing SR 260 to the farm it would connect the  farm with the existing city limits. 

There being no comment from the public, or reason not to proceed, the Mayor opened up the public hearing to the Council.

            Councilmember Boyer inquired about police protection on SR 260 and if there would be a need to hire more officers. 

            City Administrator Tackett affirmed that the Sheriff’s Department, State Patrol and City would continue to handle police protection.

            Chief Rochleau advised that there were only three homes located in the area being annexed and that additional officers would not be necessary.

Councilmember Mosbrucker inquired, and City Administrator Tackett confirmed, that the property would have to follow City Code once it was annexed.

Councilmember Klindworth stated he was against annexing SR 260 and having police monitor it with the radar.

Motion: Councilmember Quinton moved to approve the annexation of the SR 260, Munyan property, and Parnell property.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried, four to one, with Councilmember Klindworth voting against.

CRCC WATER AND SEWER UPDATE

            Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry reported on the following:

            CRCC Water Line – There was a push to get the waterline built to the top of the hill. The survey had been completed and work was starting on the design.  The waterline would be aligned with the future road to the site. DOC would need water available at the site this summer. The bid package would be put out by the end of March.

            CRCC Sewer Line – Currently the City’s two existing ponds had a capacity of 29 acres. The City would need an additional 23 acres of capacity for the expansion.

            City Administrator Tackett advised that he had spoken to Neil Smick about leasing the land for the sewer expansion and that he had no problem.

            Mr. Schroeder advised that the next step would be to finish up the final cost and get back to DOC.

WATER SYSTEM PLAN

            Alan Schroeder inquired as to what type of water rate increase Council would like to see.  An option would be an automatic cost of living increase each year or every other year.

            Council was in favor of small increases as opposed to a big jump.

            Mr. Schroeder noted that he would get together with Public Works Director Munyan to review waterline replacement priorities.

 MEETING RECESSED

Mayor Walton recessed the regular meeting at 8:30 for approximately 15  minutes to go into executive session to discuss selection of a building inspection firm, selection of a real estate broker, farm agreement, and Apollo.

At 8:50   Mayor Walton advised that executive session would go on for approximately another 15 minutes.

MEETING RECONVENED

Mayor Walton reconvened the regular meeting at 9:15 and the following was heard before Council:

BUILDING INSPECTION SERVICES

            City Administrator Tackett advised that a proposal from The Building Department, Inc. from Richland and a proposal from Franklin County Planning and Building Department were received.

Motion: Councilmember Boyer moved to accept the bid from Franklin County to work with DOC on inspection services.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

RESOLUTION NO. 2006-01 BUILDING, PLUMBING & MECHANICAL FEE SCHEDULE

            Tabled until the next meeting.

CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS

Public Works Director provided Council with Construction Standards for developers for their review.

RFP’S FOR REAL ESTATE BROKER

            Mayor Walton advised that Council would interview Coldwell Banker and Century21 at the Council Workshop on February 20th.

COULEE CORRIDOR SCENIC BYWAY

City Administrator advised that the Coulee Corridor was applying for a grant and were looking for contributions from the members to provide the amount needed for the match. There were funds in the Hotel/Motel fund to cover this expenditure.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to authorize the expenditure of $500 as match for the Coulee Corridor grant and for the Mayor to sign the application.  Councilmember Mosbrucker seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.

ORDINANCES NO. 796 – AMENDING FARM ANNEXATION

City Administrator Tackett advised that the County had informed the City that when the farm was annexed a portion of Parcel C was inaccurate and annexed land not belonging to the City. Ordinance No. 796 would correct that problem.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to adopt Ordinance No. 796 amending the farm annexation.  Councilmember Boyer seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.

ORDINANCE NO. 797 – AMENDING FARM ANNEXATION

City Administrator Tackett advised that the purpose of Ordinance No. 797 was to clarify the legal description for the township and range as they had been inadvertently left out.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to adopt Ordinance No. 797 amending the farm annexation.  Councilmember Mosbrucker seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.

ORDINANCE NO. 798 – ANNEXING SR 260, MUNYAN & PARNELL

            This ordinance covered the property discussed previously in the public hearing.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to adopt Ordinance No. 798 annexing SR 260, Munyan property, and Parnell property.  Councilmember Mosbrucker seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

FARM AGREEMENT

            This item was tabled.

APOLLO – SEWER LINE UPDATE

            This item was tabled.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT

City Administrator Tackett advised that according to the agreement the City was responsible for maintenance of the ball fields for the next two years and could re-negotiate maintenance at the end of the two years.

Councilmember Klindworth requested that the City have the school district assume maintenance of the fields at the end of the two years and that it be written into the contract at this time.  Councilmember Klindworth also brought up scheduling and financing. 

City Administrator Tackett advised that changes would be made and brought back to Council.

COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT

The Interlocal Cooperation Agreement provided for County/Cities to contract with BFCAC to carry out distribution of surcharge funds for low income housing programs.

Motion: Councilmember Klindworth moved to authorize the Mayor sign the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement.  Councilmember Boyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

COMMITTEE / DEPARTMENT REPORTS

POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT – Police Chief Rick Rochleau

1)                  Had an individual cut diagonally across the City Farm and ran into the City’s wheel lines.

2)                  Had received approval for two traffic safety grants, $1,000 for radar replacement and $500 for flashing lights.

3)                  Would be attending EVOC training.

Councilmember Klindworth brought up his concern with the blockage of the railroad tracks that lasted over 18 minutes and that the Train Master may need reminding of the time limits. 

Attorney Tanner noted that according to CMC the crossings were only to be blocked for five minutes if both crossings were being blocked and fifteen minutes if one crossing was being blocked. 

PUBLIC WORKS – Public Works Director Pat Munyan

1)                  The streets were being swept.

2)                  A crew was working at Pioneer Park .

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  One issue to be discussed at the February 20th meeting would be an independent attorney.

2)                  Would be meeting with the Columbia Basin Development League February 15th.

3)                  Street Committee would be meeting on February 23rd 4:00 pm .

MAYOR – Mayor Gary Walton

1)         Advised that the Connell Grange Supply alley needed to be paved.

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 10:00 pm .