City of Palouse – DRAFT ONLY
Special Council Meeting
Public Hearing for Water Use Efficiency goals
Followed by
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
May 11, 2010

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

ROLL CALL:   Council members present:  Mike Milano; Norm Schorzman; Jeff Snook; Rick Wekenman.  Absent:  Randy Zehm & Roger Marcus.  Also present: Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; City Clerk-Treasurer Joyce Beeson; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson.  Public present:  Pete Hertz; Andy O’Neill; Greg Pearce; Bev Pearce.  Roger Marcus had a medical appointment and Randy Zehm was at a tee-ball game.  Councilmember Milano MOVED to excuse the absences of Roger and Randy.  Jeff Snook seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC HEARING :  Public Hearing for Water Use Efficiency Goals – No comment.  Public Hearing closed at 7:03.
Close Public Hearing and Open Regular Meeting:
Water Use Efficiency (WUE) goals :  Andy O’Neill explained that the water use efficiency goal is a requirement from the DOH as part of the WUE report that is due on July 31, 2010.  The two goals being considered are:
1) Reduce water production by 1% over the next six years;
2) Complete the irrigation project at the city park in the next 6 years.

It is recommended that these goals be set by resolution and adopted at a future council meeting.  The state requires a minimum water loss of less than 10%.  Palouse is very close to meeting this goal already and Superintendent Griffin confirmed that with the new meter at the pool already installed and the completion of the park irrigation project we will be able to meet the 10% requirement.  Educating the public will be a major part of the plan to meet the water production goal of a 1% reduction.  Councilmember Milano MOVED to draft a resolution to adopt the two WUE goals as stated.  Councilmember Wekenman seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:   Councilmember Snook MOVED to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of April 27, 2010.  Councilmember Schorzman seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

OPEN FORUM:
Pete Hertz reported State Representative Susan Fagan and Rep. Gary Alexander will be at the Green Frog on Saturday, May 15, at 8:30 a.m. Rep. Alexander was a co-sponsor with Rep. Fagan on the Public Records Request Act.

Pete Hertz explained that next Wednesday, May 19th, there is a tour of the Whitman County Landfill.  They are adding two new cells which, upon completion, will allow them to reduce the number of trips they make to Oregon for transfer.

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT:   Supt. Griffin submitted a written report.  PW is short-staffed for three weeks and are doing their best to keep up.

POLICE REPORT: 

• The Garfield Contract for police services will be up for review this year.  This month is the beginning of our third year.
• May Day in Garfield is this weekend.
• Whitman County Human Society (WCHS) Contract is up for renewal upon council approval.  There are no changes to the contract.  Councilmember Schorzman MOVED , second by Councilmember Snook authorizing the mayor to sign the contract with WCHS.  Motion carried unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS

Brownfields Update – Acquisition plan and funding opportunity :  Through necessary steps addressing site ownership and the acquisition strategy (headed by Stephen Bishop) some progress has been made.  Mr. Sell has elected not to exercise his interest in the property.  Palouse Producers hold the title so that is who the city will be dealing with on the acquisition.  Mr. Sell has been asked to remove his property by June 1st, 2010.

Through the clean-up strategy, MFA has been working with the DOE.  The EPA notified DOE they have $48k left in grant money the city could apply for with the stipulation that it be spent by July 31, 2010.  It can be used for further testing on the site and to create a more comprehensive clean-up strategy.  The $48 k is a 100% grant with no match to the city.  With direction from council, through MFA, the city can work with Ecology to set up an Interlocal agreement to secure the EPA funds and apply them to the environmental investigation work that is already planned.  This approach uses the EPA funds by their deadline and provides flexibility to use the IPG funds for additional work.  Stephen Bishop recommends we do this simply to increase our knowledge of the quantity of the contamination down there.  Councilmember Milano MOVED to authorize the mayor to sign a grant application for $48 k for our Brownfields project.  Jeff Snook seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS :

Approval for boundary line adjustment on Beeson property near Palouse Cove Road :  This adjustment changes the size of existing lot, making one lot smaller and one lot bigger.  The questions for council to consider are – Does the adjustment create a new lot?  No.  Are both lots buildable?  Yes.  Councilmember Schorzman MOVED , second by Councilmember Milano to approve the boundary line adjustment.  It is not a short-plat.  Councilmember Wekenman asked if the Board of Adjustment needed to do anything, no because this is not a land division.  Motion carried unanimously.

Surplus playground equipment – Open sealed bids :  Supt. Griffin opened the following four bids at council.   All bids are before tax is added.  Jerry Atchison $300; Kaye McGehee $125; Tracey Wiekizer $101; Scott Stevens $200.  Jerry Atchison is the high bidder.  Councilmember Schorzman MOVED to accept the bid from Jerry Atchison.  Councilmember Snook seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS: 
Personnel & Pool-Jeff Snook, Chair :  Had a pool meeting with manager Annie Manning, pool committee, city staff and Supt. Griffin to discuss hiring of guards, swim lesson dates, trainings, needs, maintenance & repair.  He complimented Pool Manager Annie Manning on her efficiency.

MAYOR’S REPORT :
Joyce requested the finance committee meet to go over her annual report.

Liquor License Renewal requests from Palouse Tavern and McLeod’s Market.  No objections.

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

ADJOURN:   Councilmember Schorzman MOVED to adjourn.  Councilmember Snook seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.  The council meeting adjourned at 7:48 PM.

The following checks are approved for payment:
Payroll Paid     Ck #2236- #2253 & EFT         $37,201.16
Claims Paid     Ck #2254 – #2287                   $24,012.13