REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING – DRAFT ONLY
January 26, 2010

CALL TO ORDER:   Mayor Pro-Tem Wekenman called the Council Meeting to order at 7:01 PM.

ROLL CALL:   Council members present:  Darcie Bagott; Roger Marcus; Mike Milano; Norm Schorzman; & Randy Zehm.  Absent:  Mayor Echanove; Jeff Snook.  Also present: Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson.  Public present:  Pete Hertz; John Eastburn; Dean Huber; Bev Pearce; Greg Pearce; Doug Willcox; Tim Jones; Tracy Milano; Dave Tharp; Sharon Tharp.

The Mayor and Councilmember Snook are in meetings in Olympia.  Councilmember Milano MOVED , seconded by Councilmember Bagott to excuse them from the council meeting.  Motion carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:   Councilmember Bagott MOVED to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of January 12, 2010.  Councilmember Zehm seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

OPEN FORUM:
John Eastburn had the following questions:

• Wants to know where Munir Daud is with the engineering of a 6” line down D Street from 9th to 8th.  Supt. Griffin explained that Munir is in the process of engineering and we are going to get a preliminary copy before it goes to anyone.  No timeline that we know of.

• Back in Nov. of ‘09 Karen Emerson requested a lot for building site approval at the corner of E St. & 8th and we haven’t heard anything.  We also need to know the setback off of E Street under the Critical Areas Ordinance.  Supt. Griffin did already give him water and sewer estimates.
• I requested permission for a 2” line down C Street across 7th.  I haven’t heard anything yet.  Does the city need an easement from Nicole Wood?

Mayor Pro-Tem Wekenman told John that he will make a point of talking with Joyce when she gets back and trying to get answers.

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT:   Supt. Griffin submitted a written report.  Additionally, Supt. Griffin and Marc Arrasmith looked at a used chipper in Cd’A that Garfield wants to co-purchase with the city.  Supt. Griffin is unsure about its condition.  It was $12,000.  He is meeting with the Garfield PW and the county to discuss the chipper and the program.  Maintenance on the chipper is also an issue.  A survey about the chipper and compost facility went out via email.  There were 58 respondents.  The majority of people want to see the chipper program remain.  We really don’t have enough information yet to make any decisions.

POLICE REPORT:  Chief Neumann reported the P.D. heat pump issue with Ackerman’s has been resolved.  The heater is working and Ackerman’s re-billed the city with a zero-balance.

Regarding the ongoing Union St. speed reduction from 25 to 20, Chief showed an example of the signs he would like to post.  Union St is our last 25 mph residential street (the rest are 20 mph).  Councilmember Zehm would rather see traffic enforcement instead of signs.  Councilmember Marcus said the enforcement of the signs is a separate issue; the signs are another layer of safety and he doesn’t see any reason to NOT have them.  Councilmember Marcus MOVED to allow Chief Neumann to purchase a couple speed limit signs for Union Street with the wording at the discretion of the Chief.  Councilmember Bagott seconded the motion.  Councilmember Zehm opposed; Motion carried.

Councilmember Zehm asked Chief Neumann where things were at with Terry Snead.  Chief is still obtaining all Snead’s paperwork.  Snead’s certification is up to Neumann’s discretion.

OLD BUSINESS
Brownfields Update:  Doug Willcox submitted a written report (available by contacting City Hall).  To summarize, over the next 6 weeks MFA, with DOE’s approval, will complete the sampling plan.  MFA expects to conduct sampling work mid-March to mid-April.  At the same time, MFA will have other subcontractors involved with site and riverbank critical area studies along with riverbank restoration planning.  Site acquisition cannot commence until DOE has concluded their evaluation and is satisfied with the results.

MFA was in town last week for an economic development workshop with community members.  There will be another workshop in February.  Cleanup process may not start until mid to later 2011.  The whole point of evaluating the economy of our community is to get some general plan of attack and then to define a reuse of the site.  We can be patient in finding occupants for this site.  In the meantime, Palouse needs to be marketed.

NEW BUSINESS :
Resolution 2010-01:  Authorization to extend the maturity date of AWB Loan:  Mayor ProTem read aloud the Resolution.  Councilmember Schorzman MOVED and councilmember Marcus seconded to adopt Resolution 2010-01 authorizing the Mayor to enter into the agreement with AWB to extend the loan maturity date.  Motion carried unanimously.

Resolution 2010-02:  removing the fee for water aerobics from the fees for City services:  Councilmember Zehm MOVED to suspend the reading of the entire resolution.  Councilmember Bagott seconded and the motion carried unanimously.  No changes to the fee schedule other than removing the charge for water aerobics.  Councilmember Milano MOVED and councilmember Bagott seconded to remove the fee for water aerobics from the city’s fees for services.  Motion carried unanimously.

COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS: 

Parks, Cemetery, & Buildings :  Councilmember Milano wrote up bid parameters for the ADA accessible paths at the park for the Little People’s Park project.

In an attempt to have dialogue, Councilmember Zehm and Corey Laughary (Planning Commission) met with Jim Farr regarding the fraud complaint.  Farr was unable to show any evidence to support his fraud claims.  Doug Willcox commented that the city badly needs a policy on service extensions for utilities, a water plan, and there also needs to be some hydrologic work and planning done.  Councilmember Marcus is working to get this done.  It’s costly to get a water plan developed ($30,000-$40,000).  DOH has a man to help find grant money.

Water & Sewer:   Councilmember Marcus reported that we’re beginning on the water system plan.  We’ve already spoken with Tom Justus at DOH, and with Andy O’Neill at RCAC.  Tom Justus said the first thing we need to do is begin the grant application.

MAYOR’S REPORT :
Read aloud a letter from PBAC inviting council members to a roundtable on Feb. 26.

We want to recognize resident Connie Newman for her efforts in Olympia to help change some laws regarding Public Records Requests.

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

ADJOURN:   Councilmember Schorzman MOVED to adjourn.  Councilmember Marcus seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.  The council meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM.

The following vouchers/warrants are approved for payment:
Claims Paid      Ck #2015 – #2019           $6,183.92          Dec. 2009
Claims Paid      Ck #2020 – #2031           $1,598.09          Jan. 2010

APPROVED: ________________________________   ATTEST: ________________________________