Palouse City Council
Regular Council Meeting
August 12, 2014

CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Echanove called the Council Meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

ROLL CALL: Council members present: Doreen Hanson; Bo Ossinger; Mike Hicks; Senja Estes; Bev Pearce; Christopher Langsett. Council members absent: Rick Wekenman is working harvest. Councilmember Hicks MOVED to excuse Rick’s absence, seconded by Councilmember Ossinger. Motion carried unanimously. Staff present: Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; Building Inspector Dan Gladwill; Clerk-Treasurer Joyce Beeson; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson. Public present: Donna Langsett; Debbie Druffel; Roy Druffel; Sharon Tharp; Corey Laughary; Kevin Poole; Chris Boyd; Scott Storch; Ben Davey; Ardis Wraspir.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilmember Pearce MOVED to adopt the minutes of the Special Council Meeting of July 22, 2014. Councilmember Langsett seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Supt. Griffin submitted a written report.

POLICE REPORT:
Made three arrests in last two weeks (2 in Palouse, 1 in Garfield);
Still working on nuisance complaints for junk vehicles;
New computer and printer for the PD arrived.

BUILDING INSPECTOR REPORT: Construction is down this year, slower than past three years. However there is some new growth coming.
The tavern hole should be getting filled in now that the site’s empty.

OLD BUSINESS:
Living in RV and using city sewer: Mayor read aloud the June 10, 2014, minutes in which council voted 4-3 to grant to Scott Storch and Ardis Wraspir a 60 day exception to our city policy to allow them to continue living in their RV hooked up to city sewer while they’re constructing their home. The deadline to be out of their RV and unhooked from city sewer was August 10, 2014, with no exceptions. Ardis Wraspir read aloud a letter from her and Scott Storch in which they outlined what they’ve done so far on their house construction and made other comments. Councilmember Hicks pointed out inaccuracies and untruths in their letter; no one at the June 10 council meeting stated they believed Scott & Ardis would have their construction completed. Nor did anyone on council EVER refer to them as “trailer trash” and “squatters”. Chris Boyd wants council to rewrite their policy and Title 17 to allow property owners to live in RVs onsite during construction. Much discussion ensued. Councilmember Hicks MOVED to table the discussion until later in old business. Councilmember Langsett seconded. Scott Storch stated their house should be livable before the snow flies. Motion carried unanimously.

Continue public hearing review of proposed changes to Title 17, zoning map, and comprehensive plan: Mayor opened the continued public hearing at 7:45 pm. The following draft changes were discussed and made:

17.04.040 (D) Conditional uses permitted (R1)

Add “8. School’s barns & stable”
Add “9. Temporary, owner-occupied living space (such as an RV or use of an accessory building), on-site only during construction of new housing”

17.04.040 (F) Prohibited uses & 17.04.050

Add “2. Mini storage business is prohibited outright”

17.04.060 Commercial District

(B) Principal uses permitted outright
Add “11. Non-storefront, street-level, residential uses”
Add “12. Upstairs residential uses”
(D) Conditional uses permitted
Add “3. Storefront, street-level, residences”
(F) 2. Change “residential uses” to “single-home residences”

17.12.020 RV Parks General Requirements

(B) “Occupancy in an RV park shall be restricted to 29 days, with the possibility of extending stay by a permitting process through public works.”

At 9:02 pm Councilmember Estes MOVED to suspend the public hearing until next council meeting. Councilmember Hicks seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Mayor took from the table the living in an RV past 29 days and being hooked up to city sewer. Council discussion was to rewrite Title 17 to allow temporary owner occupancy of self-contained housing (see 17.04.040 (D) above). But Title 17 won’t be adopted for a while; there’s still review to do. So in the mean time, Councilmember Hicks MOVED to extend permission to Mr. Storch to keep his RV hooked up to city sewer and reside in it for another 60 days from today’s date until Title 17 is adopted, at which time he’ll have to apply for a conditional use permit. Councilmember Estes seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:
Q2-2014 Treasurer’s Report & narrative: Joyce submitted a written report. She may do a budget amendment later in the year in the general fund since we hired Mike Bagott and we’ll have to allow for those costs. Joyce is currently working on two ordinances that will solve one problem: We have three capital funds that no longer fit the state’s definition so they will be dissolved. She’s working with the SAO and the attorney. The issue is we’re co-mingling water and sewer money with unrestricted money. Through a method that was approved by council last year, funds will be moved back to where they came from. A new fund will need to be opened to receipt the Real Estate Excise Tax. Certain projects that qualify will be able to be budgeted within this fund. Councilmember Pearce MOVED to adopt the Q2 treasurer’s report. Councilmember Hanson seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Resolution No. 2014-11, adopting changes to CIAW bylaws and Interlocal Agreement: Joyce highlighted the changes. CIAW changed their bylaws and interlocal agreement. The changes are very minor (changing their fiscal year so it more closely aligns with the city’s fiscal year). It makes projecting insurance premiums easier logistically. Councilmember Hanson MOVED, seconded by Councilmember Langsett, to adopt Resolution No. 2014-11 as written. Motion carried unanimously.

West Whitman Street reconstruction TIB application approval: Mayor would like authorization to sign the West Whitman Street reconstruction application to TIB. This is part of their Small Cities Arterial Program (SCAP). Reconstruction includes sidewalk on north side of street, repaving, fixing tracks, installing LED lights, etc. Munir Daud has estimated the street portion of the work will be $520,000. WSDOT estimates the railroad piece will be $300,000. For the public funds, the city will use arterial street levy money for a match. This is approximately a $900,000 project and is on the six year street plan. Councilmember Hicks MOVED, seconded by Councilmember Ossinger, to authorize the mayor to sign the TIB application for West Whitman Street. Motion carried unanimously.

COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:
No reports.

OPEN FORUM:
Roy Druffel submitted the documents for the first phase of his construction. They’ve paid the $150 Water Extension app fee and the $150 planned development app fee. They’re now awaiting approval from the Planning Commission whether or not to move ahead with the final Planned Development (PD) design. The proposed plan is for 21 buildable lots and an area for open space. Community Action Center wants 4 lots and Habitat for Humanity wants 2 lots. Munir Daud (his engineer) has a contractor lined up to begin ditch work soon. Munir has a copy of the Planned Development code and is working through it. Munir also supplied a complete water plan for the water and sewer committee review to determine whether it can move ahead with the approval process through the Department of Health (DOH). Once approved by the committee, Munir will send it to the DOH for review. DOH works with our public works and the engineer to make sure everything is consistent with our water plan and for the area being served. The approval process with DOH could take up to 60 days.

MAYOR’S REPORT:
Chris Langsett and Mike Bagott are attending a budget training in Leavenworth this week.
The Palouse Chamber beer garden liquor license application has arrived. No objections.
The private club liquor license status for the Lions Club was granted.
Joyce is working on the greenhouse gases policy.
City will begin interviewing next week the engineering firms for the WWTP.
Pool closes Sunday.

ALLOW PAYMENT OF BILLS: Councilmember Hicks MOVED that the bills against the city be allowed. Councilmember Pearce seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

ADJOURN: Councilmember Estes MOVED to adjourn. Councilmember Hicks seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. The council meeting adjourned at 9:32 PM.

The following checks are approved for payment:
Payroll Paid 7/31/14 Ck. #5878-5904 & EFT $47,856.02
Claims Paid Ck. #5905-5934 & EFT $28,680.38

APPROVED: ________________________________ ATTEST: ________________________________