DRAFT ONLY. Without council review or approval.
Palouse City Council
Regular Council Meeting
June 12, 2018
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Echanove called the Council Meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
ROLL CALL: Council members present: Chris Cook; Tim Sievers; John Snyder; Rick Wekenman; Mark Wilcomb. Absent: Bill Slinkard. Staff present: Police Chief Jerry Neumann; Officer Joel Anderson; City Administrator Kyle Dixon; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson.
Mayor Echanove read aloud Councilmember Stout’s letter of resignation. He and his family are moving.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilmember Wekenman MOVED to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of May 22, 2018. Councilmember Wilcomb seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Supt. Griffin submitted a written report.
POLICE REPORT:
Chief completed installation of the security cameras at the well-house/solar array. Cameras are linked to City Hall computers. Chief is pleased with their quality and would like city to consider upgrading cameras at the RV Park in the next few years. He may re-angle the cameras at the PD so as to also be able to see the skatepark.
As a service to the community, there is now a secure drug/medication disposal drop box in front of the PD.
Officer Handley’s vehicle just had its 90,000 mile tune-up. Officer Anderson’s vehicle is at 70,000 miles.
We’ve had a few felony drug arrests of people passing through town.
JOINT FIRE BOARD REPORT: May 2018 report. There was a brief meeting in May. Finances are on point. They had a successful training drill at Palouse Grain Growers where they practiced rescuing someone from one of the underground tunnels.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT:
Brownfields Committee met last week to discuss the process of transferring the property to a new owner. Project engineer Maul Foster Alongi was present. They put together a rough draft for Request for Proposals (RFP). They will meet again later this month to finalize RFP. City Atty. Hanson is working on the surplus property resolution which will be on June 26th agenda. There will be a 45-60 day timeframe to accept proposals. Brownfields committee will then evaluate those proposals and make an official recommendation to council. Council will then make an offer to the proposal that they feel is best. That will be followed by a purchase and sale agreement. Hoping to have this completed by fall of this year.
Atty. Hanson is going to be at the hearing to de-obligate a portion of the NE corner of the cemetery for the potential construction of a water tower. It will be held at superior court in Colfax at 8:30 AM on Friday, June 15th. If that goes through then Plateau Archeological Investigations will complete a cultural report on the site. That final report will be delivered to USDA by the 22nd of June to finalize the city’s application for funding. TD&H, engineers for the water tower project, will be at next meeting to provide further updates.
CA Dixon attended a Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) meeting last Thursday. They have a lot of money for small communities to improve streets. They have a new grant program that focuses on multi modal transportation that the city is eligible for from an ordinance passed last year. If successful in receiving grant, one option the city is considering is a foot bridge from the south side of the town by the Lions Club to Hayton Greene Park. Gloria Bennett of TIB doted on Palouse’s past successes through TIB funding.
CA Dixon is attending a CERB broadband funding workshop tomorrow in Pomeroy. Interested to see if city is eligible to get some funding to expand in Palouse. Attending AWC annual conference in Yakima June 27th.
There will be two public hearings at first council meeting in July: six-year street plan and 2018 revenue sources.
Will meet with engineer Munir Daud to discuss the budget the city has for a riverwalk trail between Shady Lane and the Palouse River. The city received a $26,530 grant last month from the Whitman County Commissioners .09 funds for construction of this trail.
Mark Wilcomb MOVED, Councilmember Snyder seconded, to go into executive session for 10 minutes to discuss a real estate transaction. 7:21-7:31 pm. Councilmember Snyder MOVED to authorize Mayor to submit an offer for purchase of property needed for upgrades to city’s wastewater facilities. Councilmember Cook seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:
Personnel & Pool, Chair Cook- Pool opens Saturday. Pool has been painted. All 7 lifeguards have officially certified with Red Cross. City will offer water aerobics if they can secure staff to teach it; three guards have expressed possible interest. If/when it is offered the city will post.
OPEN FORUM:
Colleen Boone is opposed to having the new water tower at its current proposed site. Mayor Echanove explained where city is currently with the project. The process began a year and a half ago. Engineers tested 8 alternative plans for the placement. TDH engineering and water/sewer committee recommended the current site (NE corner of cemetery) to council. They went with the most cost-effective plan that addressed all project priorities including redundant storage to get water to residents in case current reservoir had to be shut off; improving pressure on south side of town; increased fire flow. And fire hydrant pressure was a big deal; a majority of hydrants on south hill don’t currently have the necessary pressure. Booster pumps don’t offer redundancy and have a lifetime of expenses. Pressure issues will determine the height of the tower. Exact engineering specs have not been completed.
We haven’t gone overboard on the engineering until we get the financing figured out. If the financing doesn’t come through then all of this is a moot point, the opportunity isn’t present to even move forward. The city has been going down the deobligation process so we can show USDA that our preferred site is available, required for completing the application for funding. Our atty has been handling everything to do with the deobligation process including a 60-day comment period which began in February. That process just gives the city the option to put the tower there. Nothing is a done deal. City council can revisit the reasons this site was chosen and other alternatives with TD&H.
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor Echanove appointed Ann Warrington to the Palouse Planning Commission on May 23rd. Requesting council ratification of her appointment. Councilmember Wilcomb MOVED, seconded by Councilmember Wekenman, confirming Ann Warrington to the PC.
Mayor Echanove read aloud two requests from Janet Barstow:
1. The Palouse Community Center seeks permission for a beer garden at the Palouse Music Festival July 28 at the city park. The beer garden will be in the same location as recent years and will follow all the rules required by the state Liquor Control Board. No police issues. Councilmember Sievers MOVED to approve the beer garden. Councilmember Snyder seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
2. The Palouse Chamber of Commerce is planning to resurrect National Night Out on August 7. They are seeking permission to use the park and parking lots for the event from 5 pm until 9 pm. The main purpose is to acquaint newcomers with various aspects of Palouse and provide a fun family event for the public, which will include kids’ activities, food, information about various events and organizations in Palouse, as well as an introduction to our emergency services, etc. Councilmember Sievers MOVED to allow the use of park and parking lots for NNO Aug. 7th. Councilmember Wilcomb seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
ALLOW PAYMENT OF BILLS: Councilmember Sievers MOVED that the bills against the city be allowed. Councilmember Cook seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
The following checks are approved for payment:
Payroll Paid 5/31/18 Ck. #9215-9234 & EFT $43,849.65
Claims Paid 6/12/18 Ck. #9235-9273 & EFT $41,258.79
ADJOURN: Councilmember Cook MOVED to adjourn. Councilmember Wilcomb seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. The council meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.
APPROVED: ________________________________ ATTEST: ________________________________