MEETING OF THE CITY OF
CONNELL,
The regular semi-monthly meeting, of the City Council of
the City of
PRESENT:
Mayor
STAFF:
City Administrator
VISITORS: Kevin
Loresh, DOC; Roger Bailie;
Mayor Walton noted that John White represented the City on
the Franklin County Mosquito Control District.
Motion:
Councilmember Quinton moved to approve the Consent Calendar as listed
a)
Minutes of the
b)
Minutes of the
c)
Warrant Register
d)
Warrant Register
e)
Payroll for
Councilmember
Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Walton added the following to the Agenda:
16 a)
16 b) Par View LLC
16 c) Grant
Application Approval
Motion:
Councilmember Klindworth moved to approve the agenda as amended. Councilmember
Mosbrucker seconded motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
WATER SYSTEM PLAN UPDATE
RESOLUTION
NO. 2006-01 BUILDING, PLUMBING, & MECHANICAL FEE SCHEDULE
Councilmember Klindworth inquired about the Project Valuation for construction costs which seemed low.
Public Works Director Munyan advised that there was a regional multiplier
used in addition to the valuation table for determining the building and
mechanical permit fees.
Motion:
Councilmember Mosbrucker moved to adopt Resolution No. 2006-01 setting a
building, plumbing, and mechanical fee schedule.
Councilmember Quinton seconded motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS
There being no discussion Mayor Walton advised that a resolution would be
brought back to Council to adopt Construction Standards for the City of
RFP’S
FOR REAL ESTATE BROKER
City Administrator Tackett advised that Council had interviewed two brokers, Gary Kopf and Jeff Arlington.
Motion: Councilmember Quinton moved to accept the proposal submitted by Jeff Arlington. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.
A meeting with staff, Councilmember Klindworth, Councilmember Boyer, Mayor Walton and Mr. Arlington would be set up.
LAND USE PETITION –
VACATION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY
City
Administrator Tackett advised that DOC had requested the City vacate a street
that was part of a 1903 plat. There
would still be a utility easement for a City’s sewer line and PUD power line.
Motion:
Councilmember Pruett moved to accept Resolution No. 2006-02 setting a Public
Hearing for the vacation of right-of-way.
Councilmember Quinton seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.
ORDINANCE
NO. 799 – ADDING CONNECTION CHARGES
City Administrator Tackett advised that staff had worked on creating an ordinance on sewer connection charges.
Public Works Director Munyan advised that information provided from
Anderson Perry was used to come up with the fee amount.
Currently the City only had a $25 sewer inspection fee.
Councilmember Mosbrucker inquired about impact fees on existing homes that were not currently hooked up to the City’s sewer system.
Staff would make a change to the ordinance to exclude pre-existing homes from the impact fee and bring it back to Council.
WATER RIGHTS
City Administrator Tackett advised that staff had been approached by a gentleman regarding the potential for the City to purchase additional irrigation rights. He had approximately 600 to 700 acre feet at $300 per acre foot. This expense could be covered out of the water reserve. Another option being looked into was the possibility of having DOC fund the purchase.
Councilmember Pruett voiced a concern regarding the possibility defaulting on the farm bond and not having the money in the water reserve to cover the bond.
Noted was that there was a risk in trying to transfer the water rights.
Councilmember
Klindworth suggested requesting an option on the water rights for two to three
years.
Mayor Walton suggested further discussion with DOC.
Council gave its consensus to have City Administrator talk further with the individual selling the water rights.
AMENDMENT 2006-2011 TIP
City Administrator Tackett advised that the Street Committee met and
reviewed the TIP. The interchange at
Motion:
Councilmember Pruett moved to approve an amendment to the TIP to include a
interchange at
BRUCE LIERMAN LAND
Councilmember Klindworth provided several concerns he had in regards to the land sale to Bruce Lierman. Mr. Klindworth expressed that the Special Meeting held that approved the land sale seemed suspect and was not in the best interest of the citizens. The City was selling off the best acres leaving the poorest acres. The City owed its responsibility to its neighbors, such as the School District and Livestock Show and felt that the three new Councilmembers were being held hostage to a land sale they did not vote on and were having to answer questions. Councilmember Klindworth did not agree with Attorney Tanner’s advice that there was no remedy.
Councilmember Pruett informed Council that Mr. Lierman would be in
Connell on Friday to speak to the
Motion:
Councilmember Klindworth moved that the City of
Attorney Tanner advised that his opinion was that the Mayor was still bound by the original vote in December.
Staff would look into the conflicting motions with MRSC, Canfield &
Associates, and possibly an independent attorney.
PARVIEW LLC
Councilmember Klindworth voiced that there was a need to find out who Parview LLC was. There was a need of some sort of legal document to show that Parview LLC existed. Councilmember Klindworth thought that there was need to see the past two to three years of financials and credit worthiness. There was a need to see a plan of action, time was of the essence and nothing was happening.
Attorney Tanner
advised that he would get the answer to those questions and bring them back to
Mr. Klindworth at the next meeting if not sooner.
GRANT APPLICATION APPROVAL
City
Administrator Tackett advised that the City had been working with the
Motion:
Councilmember Quinton moved to authorize the Mayor sign a letter for a
$10,000 state grant application for growth management. Councilmember Pruett
seconded motion. Motion carried
unanimously.
B/F COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS – Councilmember Kent Mosbrucker
Regional Transportation Planning Organization spent $41 million across the state for transportation enhancement activities. Benton/Franklin/Walla Walla area received about $1.8 million.
PUBLIC WORKS – Public Works Director
1)
Working on the bid document for the slides at
POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT – Police Chief Rick
Rochleau
1) Spoke with Mary Duncan, Division Trainmaster, in regards to railroad crossings being blocked. She indicated that it was not possible to complete the switching activities necessary in five minutes, the norm was fifteen. The crossings could also be blocked if there was a malfunction. Chief Rochleau agreed to re-contact BNSF to emphasize the need for the crossings to be clear between the lunch hour and after school.
Councilmember Klindworth provided that he had heard more about abandoned cars since he had brought it up at the February 13th meeting. Councilmember Klindworth provided that in the CMC it provided for the cleanup of junk.
Chief Rochleau noted that the Officers tag the vehicles on
the streets and Public Works deals with the code enforcement on private
property.
Staff would continue to work with the abandoned vehicles and junk issues.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator
1)
Met with Karen Honey of Bureau of Reclamation.
Working through various requirements for leasing the property the City
was interested in.
2) Attended a Columbia Basin Development League meeting, they have been pushing for Bureau of Rec to complete the second half of the Columbia Basin Project study.
3)
Continued to work on the
4) Planning on joining with a group from the Tri-cities for April clean-up.
5)
Working with
6)
Council Workshop set for March 6th at
CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
– City Attorney
1)
Reminded Council that pursuant to Ordinance No. 95, 1942, it was unlawful
for any councilmember or anyone else in the City of
There being no further business
to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at