Palouse City Council
Regular Council Meeting
April 11, 2017
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Echanove called the Council Meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
ROLL CALL: Council members present: Doreen Hanson; Bill Slinkard; Mike Hicks; Senja Estes; Rick Wekenman; Mark Wilcomb; Bob Stout. Staff present: Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; Clerk-Treasurer Kyle Dixon; & Officer Joe Handley.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilmember Wekenman MOVED to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of March 28, 2017. Councilmember Wilcomb seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Supt Griffin submitted a written report.
Mayor Echanove informed council that the cycling club will be moving the event to Troy, ID due to impassable roads on the designated route.
The skate park is looking to alter part of curb nearest police station to allow access for bicycles and skateboards. Possibly put in handicap accessible space. Aaron Flansburg will inquire with Disability Access Center to determine exact needs if they choose this option.
POLICE REPORT: Police have person of interest in the burglary case. No further details available at this time. Received a grant from WASPC for technology upgrades to police vehicles. SECTOR technology will allow PD to issue tickets and generate reports electronically. City’s share will be roughly $1500. Police car damaged in DUI accident will be out of the shop by Friday. Cameras at sewer plant will be installed once proper wire comes in, most likely later this week.
CLERK-TREASURER REPORT:
1st Qtr. Treasurer’s Report
Current Expense and Streets funds are down from the beginning of the year but overall are healthier than at this point last year. The Streets fund was hit especially hard due to snow removal from the long winter. All funds as a whole are healthy and stable at this time. The City is anticipating a large tax payment this month from the County that should bolster these funds. We are also awaiting reimbursement from state agencies on payments made to Maul Foster & Alongi, Varela, and Apollo that will be reflected in Current Expense, Water and Sewer Facility Reserve funds. RV rentals are up roughly $1,000 from this point last year and building permit dollars are up over $3,000 from the end of March 2016 as well.
First Step Internet will be installing an antenna at the Solar Farm on Wednesday, April 19th. Once this is installed, PCI (subcontractor for project) will be able to set up real time reporting of solar production.
CT Dixon will be attending a workshop in Dayton to gather more information on adopting a multi-modal streets ordinance that will help the city receive grant funds from state agencies for area street/sidewalk/transportation projects.
CT Dixon will be attending an Annual Report workshop hosted by the State Auditor’s Office in Pullman on April 25th. Annual reports for cities are due on the last day of May for the previous fiscal year.
OLD BUSINESS:
West Whitman Street project – construction award: Mayor read aloud all 6 bids that were received for the West Whitman Street project. ML Albright and Sons were the apparent low bidder at $548,536.07. Project engineer Munir Daud verified the accuracy of the bid and a Notice of Award was prepared. Councilmember Hicks made a motion to allow the Mayor to sign the Notice of Award for ML Albright and Sons. Councilmember Slinkard seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Review of Planning Commission’s wireless telecommunication policy: Mayor advised council to read through packet submitted by the Planning Commission and bring questions/concerns to next council meeting regarding changes to the PMC as it relates to zoning for a wireless telecommunications structure.
WWTP Facility update: An updated contract with Varela & Associates for their continued services on an updated Wastewater Facility Plan is under discussion. The plan is due to the Department of Ecology by the end of 2017.
NEW BUSINESS:
Resolution No. 2017-04 fee schedule: Proposing changes to the fee schedule, specifically charges relating to the city pool. Due to the statewide increase of minimum wage, increases to group and private swim lessons were necessary. Councilmember Hanson MOVED to approve Resolution No. 2017-04 as written. Councilmember Wilcomb seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:
Personnel & Pool, Chair Hanson- Held a committee meeting on April 5 to discuss the upcoming season. We are still in need of lifeguards. Holly Leendertsen is returning as pool manager and three lifeguards from last year are returning. The pool open date is June 17th. Due to the increase in minimum wage and our lifeguards’ salaries we have to raise the cost of swim lessons to $35 for residents, $45 for non-residents. Private lessons will increase as well. The cost for private pool parties will remain the same.
Water & Sewer, Chair Slinkard- All routes for delivering sewer flier addressing problematic items entering the sewer system have been assigned.
Streets & Sidewalks, Chair Hicks- Further discussed proposed storage shop for public works with Supt Griffin. Councilmember Hicks will bring estimates to council once three bids have been procured.
OPEN FORUM:
Nelson & Pamela Duran: Requesting alley that runs between Alder and Church street adjacent to their property be opened up and identified as city property. Other alleys in the area are opened. Looked into opening street back in 2004 but discussions with neighbors did not go well. They had area properly surveyed and access to road is allowed. May entertain option to just clearly delineate alley and property lines so all residents have fair access to alley. Streets and sidewalks committee will meet to discuss next course of action.
Aaron Flansburg: Update on Tony Kettel garden at the skate park. Benches have been ordered. Naming rights for benches are still available for purchase. $300 for partial, $800 for entire bench. Waiting for drier conditions to resume work. Seeking permission to paint some curbs around skate park for enhanced safety.
MAYOR’S REPORT: Liquor license for Palouse Lions Club is up for renewal. No objections from council. The city received a card and cookies from Robin Woltering for Public Works commending them on their great work. Palouse Shoreline Master Plan Comprehensive update has been approved by the Department of Ecology.
ALLOW PAYMENT OF BILLS: Councilmember Estes MOVED that the bills against the city be allowed. Councilmember Hicks seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously
The following checks are approved for payment:
Payroll Paid 3/31/17 Ck. #8205-8222 & EFT $45,088.15
Claims Paid 4/11/17 Ck. #8223-8247 & EFT $37,131.28
ADJOURN: Councilmember Hicks MOVED to adjourn. Councilmember Estes seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. The council meeting adjourned at 8:43 PM.
APPROVED: ________________________________ ATTEST: ________________________________