Palouse City Council
Regular Council Meeting
May 28, 2013

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

ROLL CALL: Council members present: Senja Estes, Connie Newman, Bo Ossinger; Norm Schorzman; Alison Webb. Absent: Tim Jones, Rick Wekenman. Also present: Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; Clerk-Treasurer Joyce Beeson; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson. Public present: Heather McGehee; Mary Estes. Councilmember Ossinger MOVED, seconded by Councilmember Newman, to excuse both councilmembers’ absences. Motion carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilmember Newman MOVED to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of May 14, 2013. Councilmember Ossinger seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

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

POLICE REPORT: Palouse PD had a juvenile drug overdose last week which resulted in an arrest. Additionally, in an unrelated event, there were two additional juvenile drug arrests in Palouse. Garfield May Day went well. This weekend we’re gearing up for the Hot Rod Car Show as well as the GP Graduation.

JFB REPORT: Had a long-term capital funding discussion for the FD. There will be a leadership meeting sometime in June to discuss need and financing options.

OPEN FORUM: Follow-up on permission for Mary Estes to put in another memorial rose garden at Heritage Park. Mary Estes spoke with Janet Barstow from Palouse Chamber and they are fine with the addition of another rose garden there. The original motion – Councilmember Webb MOVED, seconded by Councilmember Jones, to grant her the extra space. Councilmember Newman amended the motion for Mary to first approach the Palouse Chamber of Commerce for their thoughts since they use the space from time to time. Motion was tabled to the next council meeting. Councilmember Ossinger MOVED, seconded by Councilmember Webb, to take from the table the allowing of another memorial rose garden at Heritage Park. Motion carried unanimously. Vote was then taken on the original motion. Motion carried unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS:
Water System Plan presentation: Angela Taylor of Taylor Engineering gave an overview of all ten chapters. Taylor Engineering was granted approval from DOH to present this WSP to council. We’ve been working on this for 18 months. There are three Operation & Maintenance (O&M) projects on the Capital Improvement Plan over the next six years, all contingent on external funding sources. The city will not be required to complete the O&M projects at this time, they are rather more like a wish list. The only required project is an identified “System Deficiency” on W. Church St, outside city limits, replacing 1300 ft of 4” waterline with 8” to address a fire flow deficiency.

Resolution 2013-04 to adopt final Water System Plan: Mayor read aloud the resolution in its entirety, which adopts the City of Palouse Water System Plan 2012. Councilmember Newman MOVED to adopt Resolution 2013-04. Councilmember Webb seconded. Mayor wanted to be clear that the O&M projects identified in the WSP is a wish-list only and unrealistic. Motion carried unanimously. Connie thanked Doug Wilcox for his assistance with the WSP.

NEW BUSINESS:
Possible sewer rate increase: Last utility rate increase was February 2011. Committee and staff have been reviewing infrastructure and maintenance needs of sewer system. We are currently not meeting expenses for sewer operating. We have to be able to meet them. At this point, to meet the sewer expenses, we need to do a $2.00/month increase effective July 1. We’ve been talking about this for months. The Sewer fund has been unable to contribute as much as it should be into the reserves for its infrastructure and the Vehicle & Equipment fund. As it is, with this increase, we can move ahead in 2014 with the purchase of a backhoe. We may have to put together an interfund loan from Water to Sewer for its share of the cost. Councilmember Newman MOVED for Joyce to move ahead with an ordinance for the $2.00 increase to Sewer Fund 404 effective July 1, 2013. This ordinance will be on the agenda for the next meeting. Seconded by Councilmember Webb. Motion carried unanimously.

COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:
Water & Sewer-Connie Newman, Chair: W/S committee met last week (Supt. Griffin, Clerk Beeson, Alison Webb, & Connie Newman) and discussed a rate increase to the water. Possibly look at an annual 1% increase ($.25 cents). That water rate increase would be just for the intent of meeting increasing expenses and inflation.

Personnel & Pool-Norm Schorzman, Chair: Hired two new lifeguards for upcoming season. Three others will help with swim lessons and be on the sub list.

MAYOR’S REPORT: Avista Corp. contacted Mayor regarding the LED project in downtown Palouse. Avista anticipates having some rate figures by the second week of June. They will be sending out workers to investigate light poles.

If the city wants to shop around for insurance, we’re required to notify our carrier one year in advance since we are in an insurance pool. Councilmember Newman MOVED, seconded by Councilmember Webb to send CIAW a letter of potential withdrawal from their insurance. Motion carried unanimously. We didn’t meet the deadline to withdraw this September.

Clerk-Treasurer Beeson submitted the annual report.

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

ADJOURN: Councilmember Webb MOVED to adjourn. Councilmember Schorzman seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. The council meeting adjourned at 8:18 PM.

The following checks are approved for payment:
Claims Paid Ck. # 4878 – 4901 $4,300.09

APPROVED: ________________________________ ATTEST: ________________________________