PALOUSE CITY COUNCIL
Special Council Meeting
July 8, 2014, @ 7:00 pm
Public Hearing: 2015 Revenue Sources
Public Hearing: Six Year Street Plan
Followed by
Regular Council Meeting

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

ROLL CALL: Council members present: Doreen Hanson (7:11); Bo Ossinger; Mike Hicks; Senja Estes; Rick Wekenman. Absent: Christopher Langsett and Bev Pearce. Councilmembers Langsett and Pearce are on vacation. Councilmember Wekenman moved to excuse their absences. Councilmember Estes seconded and the motion carried unanimously. Staff present: Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; Clerk-Treasurer Joyce Beeson; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson. Public present: Aaron Flansburg; Judy Stone.

PUBLIC HEARING on Six Year Street Plan: Mayor opened the public hearing at 7:06 pm.
#1 is Wall Street Reconstruction from Elmo Street to Park Street. #2 is Spokane Avenue from west Main Street to Almota Street (SR 27). #3 is West Whitman Reconstruction from Bridge Street to Mill Street. #4 is West Whitman & Fir Street Reconstruction from Mill Street to Illinois Street. #5 is Culton Street Reconstruction from Park Street to Holyoke Street. #6 is Park Street Reconstruction from Holyoke Street to Wiley Street. Because of potential for a TIB grant for #3 West Whitman Reconstruction, Mayor would like to move it to #1 on the list. The projected cost estimate is $700,000. Councilmember Hicks MOVED to move #3 to #1 spot for priority. Councilmember Ossinger seconded. Supt. Griffin is fine with the move. Priority becomes important if we get federal funds for a project; otherwise, the order doesn’t matter. As long as the street is on the list, the order of work can be moved around. Motion carried unanimously. New order: #1 West Whitman from Bridge to Mill; #2 Wall Street; #3 Spokane Avenue; #4, 5, & 6 stay in same order. Mayor closed the public hearing at 7:20 pm.

PUBLIC HEARING on 2015 Revenue Sources: Opened the public hearing at 7:21. To recap: The 2014 general levy was $172,127. The 2014 General EMS special levy amount was $24,766 + new construction credit of $545 + state assessed property values of $1,937 for total of $27,248. With 1% increase as allowed by law ($1,721) and Adjustment entry by Assessor ($9,103), the 2015 General Levy is $182,951. This amount does not include new construction credit, banked capacity or changes in the state assessed property values. The General and EMS levy amounts will be set at a later date once those amounts are known. 60% of the general levy goes to Current Expense, 30% to Streets, and 10% to the Fire Equipment Reserve fund. The 2015 EMS levy would also increase by 1% ($272) and is not being set at this time. Councilmember Wekenman MOVED for Joyce to proceed with the 1% increase as allowed by law for our general and EMS levies. Councilmember Estes seconded. Motion carried unanimously. The two special levies need approval tonight to be on the November ballot. Street levy increased last year from $40k to $44k. Pool levy stayed the same last year. Special levies are in addition to the regular levies. Councilmember Wekenman MOVED to maintain the current levels: $44,000 for special street levy and $28,000 for pool M & O levy. Councilmember Ossinger seconded and motion carried unanimously. Closed public hearing at 7:42 pm.

Open Regular Council Meeting at 7:42 pm:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilmember Wekenman MOVED to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of June 24, 2014. Councilmember Hanson seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Supt. Griffin submitted a written report. Public Works pulled the fire-destroyed tree by the tavern and didn’t damage any electrical or water in the process. The welding shop is going to give an estimate for reconstructing the brace that goes under the decorative grate. We need to replace the decorative grate that was destroyed in the fire. We ordered three replacement light poles that were ruined as well.
We under-ordered by one our new street lights for the TIB/Avista project; we have 53 lights, not 52. A conversion kit has been ordered for the 53rd light and will be included in the TIB project.
Larry Hunt is making progress on the fire clean-up.

POLICE REPORT:
Chief did follow up after last council meeting and spoke with Larry Hunt about the cleanup. With the sidewalk opened up and sidewalk clean up we haven’t issued a citation yet.
Since last council, they had 6 Garfield call-outs, and 3 Palouse call-outs.
We had a few noise complaints regarding fireworks, otherwise the holiday weekend was fine.
PD updated its phone service, now have free Wi-Fi, and save $5/month.
Officer Snead has relocated to Palouse.
The PD is going to begin actively working on ongoing dog issues: at-large, biting, licensing issues, barking, and keeping more than 3 dogs. Enforcement will include yard checks and knocking on doors to ensure compliance. Immunizing your dog against rabies is a state law as well.

Councilmember Hicks received a citizen complaint regarding the welfare of someone who has pet geese. The complainant needs to contact police so they can check.

NEW BUSINESS:
Resolution No. 2014-07 adopting Six Year Street Plan:
Councilmember Hicks MOVED to adopt the six year street plan as amended with original #3 West Whitman reconstruction moving to #1 on the list. Councilmember Ossinger seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Resolution No. 2014-08 adopting amended 2014 salary schedule
Joyce is retiring in January. Deputy Clerk Thompson was offered the job of clerk-treasurer but she declined. So Mayor would like to hire Mike Bagott as the new city clerk-treasurer. If hired, he will begin training part-time next week so come December he can start full-time. Beginning January 1, he will start at $3,300 a month full-time, M-F 8-5. During training he will be paid $15/hour. Councilmember Ossinger MOVED, seconded by councilmember Wekenman to offer this position to Mike Bagott. Motion carried unanimously. Deputy Clerk Thompson has been with the city since 2006 and has made the same amount since 2009 although her job duties have greatly increased. Mayor read aloud Resolution No. 2014-08 with the two changes: adding Clerk-Treasurer in training at $15/hour and deputy clerk Thompson pay increase from $2,160 to $2,300/month. Councilmember Ossinger MOVED to adopt Resolution No. 2014-08 Amended 2014 Salary Schedule as written. Councilmember Hicks seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:
Streets & Sidewalks- Councilmember Hicks did a drive through town with Superintendent Griffin to evaluate the six year street plan projects and other issues.

OPEN FORUM:
Aaron Flansburg with the Palouse Skate Park Assn: Aaron filed a critical areas checklist application with City Hall. He heard back from City Building Inspector Dan Gladwill. The site on Whitman Street is exempt from the Critical Areas checklist; it falls outside of the area sensitive to flooding and critical areas. It has been signed off on by the City Clerk and BI. With that there is no further building inspection related requirements on that site that he is aware of.

MAYOR’S REPORT:
Different state agencies are requiring adoption of a greenhouse gas emission policy before application for funding. Joyce submitted a few greenhouse gas emissions policy examples from different cities.

At next council meeting we’re having a public hearing on proposed changes to PMC Title 17, zoning map and the Comprehensive Plan. Mayor implored council to really study it beforehand. After next meeting we can reject in its entirety, accept in its entirety, amend and accept, or make comments and send back to the Planning Commission.

Our RFQ for waste treatment upgrades are due Thursday, July 10. The initial review committee of SOQ’s will consist of: Mayor Echanove, Supt. Griffin, Joyce, and the water/sewer committee. Committee will review/rank and choose up to 5 to invite for an interview and presentation.

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

ADJOURN: Councilmember Ossinger MOVED to adjourn. Councilmember Wekenman seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. The council meeting adjourned at 8:33 PM.

The following checks are approved for payment:
Claims Paid Ck. #5826-5856 $23,916.35

APPROVED: ________________________________ ATTEST: ________________________________