Palouse City Council

Public Hearing

Followed by

Regular Council Meeting

June 14, 2016

 

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

 

ROLL CALL:  Council members present:  Doreen Hanson; Bill Slinkard (7:41 pm); Mike Hicks; Senja Estes; Mark Wilcomb; Christopher Langsett.  Absent:  Rick Wekenman.  Councilmember Langsett MOVED to excuse Councilmember Wekenman’s absence.  Councilmember Wilcomb seconded and the motion carried unanimously.  Staff present:  Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; Clerk-Treasurer Mike Bagott; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson.

 

PUBLIC HEARING:  Six Year Street Plan 2017-2022–  Mayor Echanove opened the public hearing at 7:02 pm.

No comments.  Mayor Echanove closed the public hearing at 7:04 pm and began the regular council meeting.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  Councilmember Hanson MOVED to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of May 10, 2016.  Councilmember Langsett seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.  Councilmember Hicks MOVED, seconded by Councilmember Hanson, to adopt the minutes reflecting the cancellation of the May 24, 2016, council meeting.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Interview candidates for City Council Position #2.  The city received two applicants for council:  Bill Slinkard and Mike Murphy.  Both candidates were interviewed separately and asked the same set of questions.  Councilmember Estes MOVED to go into executive session at 7:30 pm to discuss the two candidates.  Councilmember Langsett seconded and the motion carried unanimously.  Council returned from executive session at 7:41 pm.  Both candidates were excellent and this was a difficult decision.  Councilmember Hanson MOVED to appoint Bill Slinkard to council position #2.  Councilmember Wilcomb seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.   Mayor Echanove swore in new council member Bill Slinkard.

 

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

 

POLICE REPORT: 

Regarding the security cameras for the City.  Chief Neumann found one at Costco for $499 that’s expandable.  Chief would like to get the sewer plant/compost site set up right away.  The money has already been allocated; it will be split among all the various funds.  Council told Chief to order the cameras.

 

CLERK-TREASURER REPORT:

C-T Bagott received a call from State Rep. Nealey of Dayton regarding the City’s public records concerns.  Rep. Nealey has previously sponsored legislation intended to provide relief for local governments that are facing onerous records requests.  It is nice to know that he hasn’t given up on this issue.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

Solar Project Update:  Mike Fuentes from Apollo Solutions was present.  We have the amended Interagency Agreement from DES for signature tonight.  We’ve received formal notification from Dept. of Commerce for our $276,551 Solar Grant and what they need back from the City as far as documentation.  C-T Bagott has researched financing options for the City’s portion of the project and determined that the State Treasurer’s LOCAL (Local Option Capital Asset Lending) program provides the most advantageous terms.  The anticipated capital finance cost is $133,068.  Solar production will pay for all of Well #3’s power bill and any surplus will go toward well #1’s power bill.  We pay about $8,000 to power that well each year.

 

Interagency Agreement between DES and City of Palouse.  Councilmember Hicks MOVED, seconded by Councilmember Wilcomb, authorizing the mayor to sign the interagency agreement.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Ordinance No. 944 – authorization for the acquisition of personal property and execution of a financing contract and related documentation relating to the acquisition of said personal property.  Mayor read aloud the ordinance in its entirety.  The city should stand to realize a pretty substantial return after the 15-year loan period.  Councilmember Hanson MOVED to adopt Ordinance No. 944.  Councilmember Hicks seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

West Whitman Street Update:  Project Engineer Daud gave an update on the project.  Discussion ensued regarding project timing going forward and the processing of payments to project contractors.  Councilmember Hanson MOVED, seconded by Councilmember Langsett, to authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement with WSDOT to transfer the funding dedicated for this project in their name to the City of Palouse, pending legal review.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Resolution No. 2016-01 adopting the Six-Year Street Plan for 2017-2022:  Councilmember Hicks reviewed the Six-Year Street Plan.  The list can change every year.  Next year the list can be totally different.  This is a wish-list, but in order to work on these, they have to be on the list.  1.  Spokane Avenue from West Main Street to SR 27; 2. West Whitman & Fir Street reconstruction; 3. Culton Street Reconstruction; 4. Park Street chip seal; 5. Cannon Street to Mary Street reconstruction; 6. Beach Street to Church Street reconstruction.  Mayor read aloud the resolution in its entirety.  Councilmember Hanson MOVED to adopt Resolution No. 2016-01.  Councilmember Estes seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS: 

Personnel & Pool, Chair Hanson-  Had a personnel meeting to go over the applications received thus far for the CT position.  We are narrowing down our applicants and we continue to advertise.  The interview process has not yet begun.

 

Streets & Sidewalks, Chair Hicks-  Discussion ensued on the ongoing sidewalk issue with residents at 300 E. Mohr Street.  The council is staying the course and we will advise our attorney to follow-through with them.

 

MAYOR’S REPORT:

Steve Alred has resigned from the Palouse Planning Commission so now there are two vacancies.  An email went out yesterday looking for people to fill the vacancies.

 

Lions Club lease renewal.  No council objections so the lease automatically renews.

 

Regarding the ongoing building permit case at 520 N Bridge Street, our building inspector sent them another certified letter  today granting them a 180-day extension to secure engineering for their unauthorized project.  Also, the same party was advised that their greenhouse has to be removed no later than July 13, 2016, or a variance applied for by same date with no guarantee of a granted variance.

 

Wastewater facility committee met with Varela & Associates to narrow down the alternatives for screening of treatment and disposal.  Varela has to deliver the plan to DOE by December 2017.

 

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

 

The following checks are approved for payment:

Claims Paid      5/24/16             Ck. #7468-7478 & EFT              $  1,493.64

Payroll Paid      5/31/16             Ck. #7479-7495 & EFT              $38,777.55

Claims Paid      6/14/16             Ck. #7496-7523 & EFT              $24,036.55

 

ADJOURN:  Councilmember Langsett MOVED to adjourn.  Councilmember Slinkard seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.  The council meeting adjourned at 9:46 PM.

 

 

 

APPROVED: ________________________________   ATTEST: ________________________________