REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING – DRAFT ONLY
August 8, 2006
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Michael Echanove called the Council Meeting to order at 7:01PM
ROLL CALL: Council members present were: Darcie Bagott; Mark Bailey; Mike Milano; Andy O’Neill; Norm Schorzman; Jeff Snook. Absent-Rick Wekenman. Also present were: Joyce Beeson, Clerk-Treasurer; Bev Pearce, Deputy Clerk; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; Tom Boone; J. Shannon Neiberg; Caitlyn McGehee; David Mayhan; Teresa Baker; Chris Ricketts; Commissioner, Greg Partch; City Attorney, Stephen Bishop.
Council Member Bagott made a correction under Committees: Streets and Sidewalks: Last sentence: “There is a Public –change hearing to meeting”
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Mark Bailey MOVED to approve the corrected minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of July 25, 2006. Mike Milano seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
OPEN FORUM :
Bev Pearce presented to the council on behalf of Shelly Goertzen a proposal for park equipment for younger children. She gave a brief description of equipment that Shelley feels is needed in our city park. Commissioner Partch told council that there is a group called U.S. Communities that acts as an intermediary for projects such as this. He recommended that council contact Tim Meyers of the Whitman County Parks and Rec. for available grants. Council Member Milano said he would follow up with Shelley and Tim.
Dave Mayhan requested proper signage for handicap parking in the city. The Mayor said that Dave would be an excellent contact on the design for handicap parking on the Whitman Street Project.
Greg Partch reminded council that he sits on the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) and feels that the project will be competive when the applications start to come in. Greg told council that the county recycling grant applications need to be in by October 1, with awarding to take place in January. The county wrote a letter to the Mayor thanking the city Fire Department in assisting on the Elberton Fire. He encourages Palouse to look into the cluster housing process and told council that the county is willing to work with each city and make the process work for them. The commissioner explained to the council that the letter writing campaign to the Governor regarding the I747 initiative was successful and that the county will need continued support to keep the state on track.
Council Member Schorzman told Commissioner Partch that 2 volunteer fire fighters voiced concern over the improper paging that occurred for the fire call on the Palouse Tavern. Greg apologized for that mistake and said that the situation was handled incorrectly and Whitcom is working to improve. He told council that he sits on the Whitcom board and encourages them to call him with problems such as this.
Dave Mayhan asked Council Member Milano if there was going to be handicap parking at the park during Palouse Days. Milano said he would look into it.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT : The Mayor reported that he had received calls of concern about the Alder Street work and asked Don Myott to look into traffic on the alley and put up more signs. The Mayor said that the city has just 3 employees and during the summer they take vacations, so projects can take longer to complete.
POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT: The chief reported that all is quiet. National Night out went well; the Bike Rally had a small turn out, but no problems. He told Commissioner Partch to pass along a Thank you to the Sheriffs department for the extra help during the bike rally. Events like this make good use of the motorcycle. The Mayor also told Commissioner Partch that the event coordinator for the bike rally needed some help with county paperwork and the county was very helpful in processing everything. Commissioner Partch complemented the organizers of the Blue Grass Festival; he was unable to stay but passed by and said the turn out looked great.
OLD BUSINESS:
- Annexation Request by property owners, Tim & Colleen Boone
Set date for Public Hearing
The Mayor read through the procedures for annexation to the council. With all the questions answered and given to the council, Council Member Bagott MOVED to accept the petition for annexation. Council Member O’Neill seconded the motion. Council Member Schorzman asked City Attorney Bishop, what would happen if the property owners wanted to sub divide. Bishop said that it would be no different then if any other property owner wanted to sub divide, they would have to follow the complicated sub division ordinance that Palouse has in place. The motion carried, with Council Member Bailey abstaining. A Public hearing will be set for Tuesday, August 22, prior to the regular council meeting. There is also another Public hearing on this date for the budget.
NEW BUSINESS:
- Consider contract renewal for maintenance of the river gauge
The US Geological Survey (USGS) can no longer fund a full 50% of the river gauge cost. The Mayor said this is an invaluable tool for the city. Council Member Schorzman MOVED to authorize the Mayor to the sign the contract for another year. Council Member Snook seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
- Discussion of 2007 revenue sources and forecasting-The Mayor told council that Joyce has prepared the forecast for the 2007 revenue sources. The council reviewed the material that Joyce gave them. The Mayor said that the city is able to maintain its budget.
COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:
PARKS, CEMETERY & BUILDINGS : Mike Milano
RV Park Update: Council Member Milano will put together data and set a public meeting soon.
PERSONNEL & POOL : Jeff Snook – No report
FINANCE, PROPERTY & EQUIPMENT : Norm Schorzman – No report
POLICE, FIRE & SAFETY : Rick Wekenman – No report
POLICY & ADMINISTRATION : Mark Bailey looked into purchasing the signs for the “No Jakes Brakes”, the cost would be $75.00 per sign and the city would have to submit a request to the State. The city police department would have to enforce the state RCW. In order to do this the city would have to purchase a decibel meter reading machine at the cost of $350.00. The Chief Neumann feels that his time would be better spent tracking down the specific violators. Council Member O’Neill commented that he would rather see our police department working on more pressing issues and not spending his time staking our noisy trucks. Council Member Bailey said that there is no progress on the Library Contract as Kathie Kirkpatrick was out of the office.
STREETS AND SIDEWALKS: Darcie Bagott reported that the August 3 Public Meeting for Whitman Street went well, with good comments for the public, the next step is to complete the application.
WATER & SEWER : Andy O’Neill is compiling data from Whitman County regarding Water and Sewer costs and will be setting up a town hall meeting.
MAYOR’S REPORT : The Mayor reminded the council of an AWC Small City Roundup that will be taking place Thursday, August 10 in Colfax:
Time Warner has purchased Adelphia Cable Company
The Mayor will be attending the PBAC meeting on Thursday, August 10, and the second annual Water Conference will take place in October
.
The Mayor has been asked to be a panelist at an Economic Development Conference in Vancouver , WA on Sept 7. He will be speaking about Palouse.
ALLOW PAYMENT OF BILLS: Member Schorzman MOVED that the bills against the city be allowed.
Jeff Snook seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURN Mike Milano MOVED to adjourn. Darcie Bagott seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. The council meeting adjourned at 8:47PM
The following vouchers/warrants are approved for payment:
Claims Paid Warrants: # 11855 through # 11904 Payment: $15,973.74
APPROVED:________________________________ ATTEST:________________________________