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

 January 23, 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 Jim Klindworth, Monica Pruett, Rhonda Quinton, and Kent Mosbrucker.

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

VISITORS:      Grant, Dee, and Jim Riddell, Ted Curtis, Valerie & Tom Fisher, Mark Koepl, Ron Brandner, Lee & Vicky Barrow; Larry Hueter and Jack Olson, DOC;   Alan Schroeder , Anderson Perry; and Kathy Bingham, Franklin County Graphic .

 

CORRESPONDENCE

1)                  Coulee Corridor – Applying for a grant, need to secure $5,000 in matching funds.

2)                  B/F & Walla Walla Counties Good Roads & Transportation – Membership dues.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

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

a)      Minutes of the January 9, 2006  Regular Meeting,

b)      Minutes of the January 16, 2006 Special Meeting,

Councilmember Quinton seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

 

CITIZEN COMMENT/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Jim Riddell, PO Box 280 , introduced staff that would be working with him on the Tullamoor project. Tom Fisher, Ron Bradner, Ted Curtis, Grant Riddell, and Dolores Riddell were introduced to Council.  Mr. Riddell also noted that Todd Bradner, Gary & Nick Desmarais, Dana Harron, and  Rob Davis would also be working with him. Mr. Riddell would also be providing long term job opportunities.

Fire Chief Koch requested permission to hold a parade on Friday after school for Jr. Miss Brook Didier  who was named second runner-up for Washington ’s 2006 Junior Miss State Program.

Council gave its consensus to have Chief Koch and Police Chief Rochleau work out the details for the parade. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mayor Walton made the following additions to the Agenda:  

14 a) Property Discussion

14 b) Committees

14 c) B/F & Walla Walla Good Roads & Transportation

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

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

WASTEWATER IMPACTS OF THE NEW PRISON

            Alan Schroeder from Anderson Perry advised that he had met with Larry Hueter and Jack Olson of DOC to discuss wastewater impacts from the new prison. It appeared that additional lagoon capacity was needed. That lagoon would be placed on land leased from the Department of Natural Resources.  A report would be put together and presented to Council.   

            Mr. Schroeder provided that to upsize the water line, as discussed at the last Council meeting, it would be about $50,000 and was not convinced that the City needed to upsize the line. The reservoir would cost $.40 a gallon to increase.

            Currently there was an Interagency agreement in place that provided for reimbursement to the City from DOC.  

 

BUILDING INSPECTION CONTRACT

            City Administrator Tackett advised that staff had contacted the City of Walla Walla who hired an outside firm. 

            Public Works Director Munyan provided a cost comparison between hiring staff and contracting and noted that after speaking to Larry Hueter that the permit cost would be lower then estimated.

            Larry Hueter, Project Manager for DOC, advised that the City would most likely need to hire two Plan Reviewers instead of one and three Building Inspectors instead of two.

            Mayor Walton noted that this item would be carried over until the next meeting and more information would be gathered.

            Jack Olson, DOC, advised that for the next three months DOC would be working with three different design firms who would need some questions answered by City staff in order to put their bids together.

 

ORDINANCE NO. 794 – BUILDING CODE

            City Administrator Tackett advised that the State of Washington had established the 2003 International Building Code as the basis for the new State Building Codes.  Staff prepared Ordinance No. 794 to bring the City into compliance with the State. 

Ordinance No. 794 was presented for review and would be brought back at the next meeting for adoption.

ORDINANCE NO. 795 – FIRE PREVENTION

            City Administrator Tackett advised that Ordinance No. 795 was a companion to Ordinance No. 794 and addressed fire codes. 

            Ordinance No. 795 was presented for review and would be brought back at the next meeting for adoption.

 

FEE SCHEDULE FOR BUILDING PERMITS

            Resolution No. 2006-01 fee schedule came out of the current addition of the Uniform Building Code and replaced the City’s current fee schedule.

            Resolution No. 2006-01 was presented for review and would be brought back at the next meeting for adoption.

            Councilmember Klindworth recommended that the rate schedule be sure to cover the expenses for the prison project.

 

FARM WATER RATES

            City Administrator Tackett advised that Mr. Riddell had indicated that he would be farming the property south of Highway 260.  Administrator Tackett suggested that the City put in place the same agreement that the City had with Kyle Knight, who paid the electrical costs of the wells directly to PUD.

             

MEETING RECESSED

Mayor Walton recessed the regular meeting at 8:30 for approximately 15 minutes to go into executive session to discuss farm water rates.

At 8:45 Mayor Walton advised that executive session would go on for approximately another 10 minutes.

           

MEETING RECONVENED

Mayor Walton reconvened the regular meeting at 9:03 and the following was heard before Council:

FARM WATER RATES

            Attorney Tanner advised that Addendum B complied with the current contract and provided for the purchaser to make an early payment on his contract.  This would help the City since the City redid the bonds and the due date was moved from the first of April to the first of February.

Motion: Councilmember Klindworth moved to approve Addendum B to Agreement No. 11271944, and provide a receipt for $130,180.00 payment. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

            Mayor Walton advised that staff would work with Mr. Riddell in regards to the electrical costs and it would be brought back to Council.

 

PETITION FOR ANNEXATION  - SR 260, MUNYAN, PARNELL    

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to set a public hearing for February 13 on the proposed annexation.  Councilmember Quinton seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

PROPERTY DISCUSSION

            Mayor Walton noted that he had been approached by an individual regarding City property located east of the DNR property the City purchased, next to the on ramp going south.

            City Administrator Tackett advised that RFP’s would go out to the Tri-City Herald and Graphic with a closing date of February 9th. 

 

COMMITTEES

Motion : Councilmember Pruett moved, seconded by Councilmember Boyer, to appoint the following:

          Finance Committee: Councilmember Kent Mosbrucker

         Street & Alleyways: Councilmembers Ron Boyer and Monica Pruett

B/F Council of Governments: Councilmember Kent Mosbrucker with Councilmember Jim Klindworth as an alternate. 

Good Roads Associates: Mayor Gary Walton with Councilmember Kent Mosbrucker as an alternate.

Park Board: Councilmember Rhonda Quinton, Andy Sawyer

Civil Service Commission: Regina Janosky, Roel Martinez

Prison Impact: Mayor Gary Walton , Councilmembers Jim Klindworth and Monica Pruett , City Administrator Art Tackett

Community Action Committee: Mayor Gary Walton

B/F Health Department: Mayor Gary Walton                

            Motion carried unanimously.

            Councilmember Klindworth suggested having Senator Schoesler on the Prison Impact Committee and Council discussed setting up a Hotel/Motel Tax committee.

           

B/F & WALLA WALLA COUNTIES GOOD ROADS & TRANSPORTATION

Motion: Councilmember Klindworth moved to pay $50 to B/F & Walla Walla Good Roads & Transportation Association for 2006 and delegate Mayor Walton as the City’s representative.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

PAYMENT OF BILLS           

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to pay the vouchers and payroll in the amount of $246,554.00. Councilmember Mosbrucker seconded, motion carried unanimously.

 

COMMITTEE / DEPARTMENT REPORTS

POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT – Police Chief Rick Rochleau

1)                  Hired a new officer, Kory Robertson

2)                  The Dispatch agreement was up for renewal, would be brought to next meeting

 

PUBLIC WORKS – Public Works Director Pat Munyan

1)                  Working on annual maintenance of sewer plants and lift station

2)                  Working on the Coulee

Mayor Walton requested the alley behind some of the main businesses be smoothed out.

 

CITY HALL  - Deputy Clerk Treasurer Maria ChavezPeña

1)                  City Clerk Treasurer Eckman had completed the 2006 Budget

2)                  Year end had been completed

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  Looking into applying for a “quiet zone” regarding railroad

2)                  Would be setting up a meeting with Doc Hastings office regarding the Coulee

3)                  RFP’s for real estate agent going out

4)                  Economic Development Conference meeting Jan 30th

5)                  Still participating in the Columbia Basin Development League

6)                  Would be including voucher reports in Agendas

 

MAYOR – Mayor Gary Walton

1)         Received notice that the Department of Natural Resources would be auctioning off water rights February 8th in Ritsville

 

CITY ATTORNEY – City Attorney Terry Tanner

1)         Would be meeting with Apollo before the next Council meeting 

 

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:48 pm .