May 25, 2010

Posted on by Mike Milano

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING – DRAFT ONLY
May 25, 2010

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

ROLL CALL:   Council members present:  Roger Marcus; Mike Milano; Norm Schorzman; Jeff Snook; & Randy Zehm.  Absent:  Rick Wekenman.  Also present: Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson.  Public present:  Pete Hertz, Doug Willcox, Cecil Floyd, Bo Ossinger, & Butch Smith.
Councilmember Wekenman is on vacation this week. Councilmember Milano MOVED to excuse Rick’s absence from council.  Councilmember Zehm seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

INTERVIEW COUNCIL CANDIDATES :  There are three candidates for vacated position number 4:  Cecil Floyd, Bo Ossinger, & Butch Smith.  All three candidates were individually interviewed by the Mayor and the council.  They were each asked identical questions.

EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR REVIEW OF CANDIDATES :  At 7:35 Councilmember Schorzman MOVED , seconded by Councilmember Snook to adjourn for executive session to discuss candidates.  Motion carried unanimously.  At 7:45 they returned from executive session.  Councilmember Zehm MOVED and Councilmember Schorzman seconded to appoint Butch Smith to council.  Motion failed.  Councilmember Marcus MOVED , second by Councilmember Milano to appoint Cecil Floyd.  Motion carried unanimously.  Mayor swore in Cecil Floyd as new councilmember.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:   Mayor amended the minutes of May 11, 2010 under open forum to say “They are considering adding ……”  Councilmember Marcus MOVED to adopt the amended minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of May 11, 2010.  Councilmember Snook seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

OPEN FORUM:
Doug Willcox commented on the movie being filmed in Palouse and how great it is for our community.  We need to capitalize on that.

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT:   Supt. Griffin reported Marc Arrasmith is back to work on light-duty.

POLICE REPORT :

  • Ongoing family disputes in both Palouse and Garfield.
  • Bike Rodeo was a success last week.
  • We’re trying to put in a French drain behind the PD to prevent the water from coming into the basement.
  • The drop ceiling to eliminate ice damning in the winter is still being looked at.
  • We are encouraging residents to use the vacation-watch service when they are absent from their home for any length of time, even overnight.  It’s accessible at City Hall or via the city website.

JFB REPORT :

  • They are still looking at the various vendors’ turnouts.  Collecting specs so they can go out to bid at the end of July; they want them in-house by September.
  • They’re working on the next round of grants for radios.
  • Fire calls are below average.    

OLD BUSINESS:
Resolution No. 2010-06 :  Setting Water Use Efficiency goals required by the state of Washington.  Mayor read aloud the Resolution in its entirety.  The WUE goals are: to complete the irrigation sprinkler system at the city park within the next six years; and to reduce water production by 1% over the next six years.  The city wants to have less than 10% water loss.  We should easily meet our goals.  Councilmember Marcus MOVED to adopt Resolution No. 2010-06, second by Councilmember Snook.  There are many cities of all sizes that average 20-30% loss, and Palouse was at approximately 11% loss.  Some of the surrounding communities have a 45% loss.  Things like flushing fire hydrants, can cause a water loss.  Motion carried unanimously.

Brownfields Update :  Doug Willcox submitted a written report to council.  There are hopeful expectations the additional EPA/DOE grant funding will be approved, with the expectation the money will be expended by July 31st.  The city’s attorney continues to work on ownership issues.  Doug reminded council that the city doesn’t want ownership until this investigation is concluded.  If by Aug.-Sept. cleanup is concluded, DOE negotiations are concluded, and all legal input is concluded then the city will find itself in the position to acquire the site from Palouse Producers.  Cleanup and the funding won’t be possible until the city is in ownership.  Doug was clear that the city is NOT in ownership of the site, and making no representations of being in ownership at this point.

COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS: 

Parks, Cemetery, & Buildings-Randy Zehm, chair :
Got an email from the owner of the abatement and she is making arrangements to take the dangerous part down the first week of June.      

Supt. Griffin signed off on the new playground equipment.  The ADA pathway needs to be completed by the end of June.

Personnel & Pool-Jeff Snook, Chair :  Summer lifeguards have been hired; we are very pleased with the applicants.  Dwayne measured for the industrial stairs.  Prior to pool opening, the lifeguards will have an emergency preparedness training with the EMT’s.

Water & Sewer-Roger Marcus, Chair :

  • Will be doing a rate study with Andy O’Neill of RCAC soon. 
  • The w/s policy outlining refunds and back billing for multi-unit meters is being worked on.  

Finance, Property, & Equipment-Mike Milano, Chair :  Joyce got the 2009 annual report in.  Council members need to occasionally drop by and check petty cash, etc. to comply with findings from the last audit.  Joyce is going to do quarterly journal adjustment registers for council review.

MAYOR’S REPORT :
With Clerk Beeson and Councilmember Wekenman both out of state this week, we are missing a second signature for payroll and claims.  Ann will speak with AWB tomorrow to see what the options are.  If AWB approves, then payroll will be dispersed with just the mayor’s signature and claims will wait for the second signature.  Council approved.

TIB will have some funding available this fall for streets and sidewalks.

Regarding the large bill from Studio Cascade that the city is questioning, Mayor has spoken with them and asked them to reduce it from $577 to $100.  He is waiting to hear back from them.

ALLOW PAYMENT OF BILLS:   Councilmember Schorzman MOVED that the bills against the city be allowed.  Councilmember Zehm 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 8:46 PM.

The following checks are approved for payment:
Claims Paid     Ck. #2288 – #2300      $29,390.68
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