REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING – DRAFT ONLY
June 22, 2010

CALL TO ORDER:   Mayor Echanove called the Council Meeting to order at 7:01 PM.

ROLL CALL:   Council members present:  Mike Milano; Norm Schorzman; Rick Wekenman; & Randy Zehm.  Absent:  Cecil Floyd; Roger Marcus; & Jeff Snook.  Also present: Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; City Attorney Stephen Bishop; City Clerk-Treasurer Joyce Beeson; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson.  Public present:  Pete Hertz; Doug Willcox.  Councilmember Wekenman MOVED , seconded by Councilmember Schorzman to approve the absences of the three Councilmembers.  Motion carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:   Councilmember Wekenman amended the minutes as follow:  under Old Business, Ord. 869, “the 5% match will be split with Rural Fire.”   Councilmember Milano MOVED to adopt the amended minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of June 8, 2010.  Councilmember Wekenman seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT:   Supt. Griffin reported:

• The pool should be ready to go by Friday.
• Half of the new ADA accessible walkway at the park has been poured.
• Used Garfield’s chipper last week.
• Regarding the care of the nature walk as discussed at last council meeting, the grant stipulates that the city will maintain it for 10 years.  The level of maintenance is up to the city, however the trees can’t be disturbed.  The ultimate goal is to maintain it as a nature area with all natural plants and no maintenance other than to control broadleaf with spray, but no weed-eating, etc.  PCD will continue to help us with the maintenance.

There is some TIB grant money available for funding in 2012.  Anything we apply for will have to be on the 6 Year Street Plan.  We may shift our priority order based on what TIB will fund.  Supt. Griffin suggests we apply for pavement preservation, chip seal.  Pavement Preservation funding is $0 match and applications are due the end of August.

POLICE REPORT :  Jerry reported the PD has been staying busy.  They made two arrests on the park graffiti.  The county prosecutor approved a letter of trespass that was issued to the guilty party.  We can’t bar them from the freedoms permitted such as sidewalks, streets, etc., but since the park was entered and damage was done, we have the right and responsibility to protect our property and the public from that.  Bottom line this person can’t be in the park.  Since the vandalism, the City Park restrooms usually get locked up nightly by public works.  There is a 24-hour restroom available at Heritage Park.

JFB REPORT :  There were two very quiet fire calls in May for a total of 10 YTD.  The FD has been training ff on driving the trucks and SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) training.  They are in the process of reviewing turnouts to be purchased through the grant.  EMS had 9 calls in May, 28 YTD.  They’ve been training for potential farm accidents.  They are scheduling some pool training as well.

BROWNFIELDS UPDATE :  Doug Willcox submitted a written report:  MFA was able to begin gathering samples on June 16th.  Across the back of the property they took about 25 sample spots; there was evidence of continued hydrocarbon/petroleum by-products.  Once these samples are fully processed, MFA will have all the site data necessary to evaluate the environmental issues and design a cleanup strategy for submittal for DOE approval.  The timeframe is 2 to 3 months.  John Sell continues to remove his property from the site which will allow this process to continue.

OLD BUSINESS
Authorization to sign EPA grant agreement .  Mayor Echanove explained that this is a $0 match, $48K grant.  This grant will allow further testing and analysis in order to get a more comprehensive report of the actual levels of contamination.  Having this funding will free up remaining IPG funding to provide for our fullest planning and site reuse marketing efforts. Councilmember Schorzman MOVED , second by Councilmember Milano authorizing the mayor to sign the funding agreement with the EPA.  Motion carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS :
Award bid for road oiling .  Bid specs were for approximately 134,500 sq. ft. of road oiling.  Three companies submitted bids on the price per square foot:   Mort’s Street Oiling $5.6 cents; Lyman Dust Control $6.5 cents; Atlas Sand & Rock $17.5 cents (for a different product).  Supt. Griffin recommended accepting Mort’s bid.  Councilman Schorzman MOVED to accept Mort’s bid, second by Zehm.  Motion carried unanimously.

Award bid for pick-up .  An ad was put in the Daily News requesting bids for a used, 2004 or newer, 1 ton dually 4×4, regular cab, turbo diesel, automatic with tilt, cruise, & a/c, with an 8’ utility box.  Supt. Griffin opened and read aloud the following bids, all are + tax and licensing:  Bagott Motors – used 2004 Ford F350 $16,000; Jess Ford Pullman – used 2008 F450 $36,500 or new 2010 F350 $32,652; Westside Chevrolet in Ohio – new 2011 GMC $39,710 or used 2006 F350 $29,800.  The city’s 1990 1-ton which is used as the snow plow/dump truck/sander will be replaced.  It will be kept as a secondary vehicle.  Councilmember Milano MOVED to accept Bagott Motors bid, second by Councilmember Zehm, pending any further review by Supt. Griffin.  Motion carried unanimously.

The Art Walk is July 10th.  As a fundraiser, the Palouse Arts Council wants to sell sidewalk chalk and assign aspiring artists a sidewalk section to decorate in front of the downtown businesses.  If individual businesses don’t want this in front of their individual business, they won’t.  It washes off with the first rain or with a garden hose.  There were no objections.

COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS: 

Finance, Property, & Equipment-Mike Milano, Chair :  At our next meeting there will be a public hearing on revenue sources.  Council will be considering the 1% increase allowed for property taxes and use of our banked capacity.

Councilmember Milano MOVED to pay Woltering Construction mid cycle to allow for submittal to the RCO grant.  Councilmember Schorzman seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

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

ADJOURN:   Councilmember Schorzman MOVED to adjourn.  Councilmember Zehm seconded and the motion carried unanimously.  The council meeting adjourned at 8:17 PM.

The following checks are approved for payment:
Claims Paid        Ck. #2347- #2365       $32,314.20