Palouse City Council
Public Hearing – 2021 Preliminary Budget
Followed by
Regular Council Meeting via ZOOM teleconferencing
October 27, 2020
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Cook called the Council Meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
ROLL CALL: Council members present: Mary Welcome; Bill Slinkard; Tim Sievers; John Snyder; Jim Fielder; Steve Alred; Katie Cooper. Staff present: Police Chief Jerry Neumann; Police Officer Joel Anderson; Public Works Supt. Mike Wolf; City Administrator Kyle Dixon; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson.
PUBLIC HEARING ON 2021 PRELIMINARY BUDGET:
No written comments received.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilmember Alred MOVED to approve the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of October 13, 2020. Councilmember Slinkard seconded. Motion carried.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Supt. Wolf submitted a written report. Due to the unexpected snow and freeze, water meters won’t be read until April or May. Public Works will still winterize the meter boxes.
POLICE REPORT: Chief Neumann submitted the police log.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT:
2021 budget prep is ongoing. Major expenses in the budget include new a PD vehicle, replacing the old, red PW truck, various PW shop equipment, and a spring-cleaning event to address some properties in town that violate junk/health/safety/nuisance ordinances. The spring-cleaning will be a jumping-off point with the intention to then start cracking down more on violators. Junk yards were the biggest concern received on the city survey.
The city will continue to solicit written public comment on the 2021 preliminary budget up to the November 10th council meeting.
The brick building (old gymnasium) on Main Street between the Brownfields site and the Palouse Health Center sold last week. New owners would like to present their ideas for the building at an upcoming council meeting.
CA Dixon along with Mayor Cook and W/S committee will meet with ECY and various other funding agencies in November to discuss options for funding wastewater improvements. After that time, CA Dixon will make recommendations for any 2021 water and sewer rate increases.
Water system sanitary survey report from Dept of Health was received last week. Two items noted in their report were:
-Seal access port used to track the groundwater level in the well
-Begin tracking regular inspections of the reservoir interior and exterior. Annual inspections recommended.
OLD BUSINESS:
Resolution No. 2020-06 – renaming “H Street” to “Sgt. Jacob Demand Way”: “H Street” from Main Street north to Mohr St. is being renamed “Sgt. Jacob Demand Way” in honor and recognition of Sgt. Jacob Demand, a graduate of Palouse HS. Jacob served in the US Army from 1995-2004 and received both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Jacob gave the last full measure of his devotion while serving our country in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Councilmember Sievers MOVED to adopt Resolution No. 2020-06. Councilmember Fielder seconded. Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
Ord. No. 996 – amending 13.20.100, so that the reconnection fee is set via fee schedule instead of via ordinance. Councilmember Slinkard MOVED to adopt Ord. No. 996. Councilmember Cooper seconded. Motion carried.
Ord. No. 997 – This is a housekeeping item for code consistency. It combines 15.34 “Mobile Home Installation” into PMC 17.16 “Mobile Homes”. Both chapters cover mobile homes (includes manufactured homes). Councilmember Cooper MOVED to adopt Ordinance No. 997. Councilmember Welcome seconded. Motion carried.
Ord. No. 998 – repealing PMC 15.34. PMC 15.34 was moved into PMC 17.16, thereby making PMC 15.34 unnecessary. Councilmember Welcome MOVED to adopt Ordinance no. 998. Councilmember Fielder seconded. Motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:
Budget, Finance, & Major Acquisitions, Chair Welcome– encourages people to submit in writing any 2021 budget concerns or recommendations.
Personnel, Chair Snyder- Met last week with Palouse PD in regards to their compensation. Councilmember Snyder thought we had some things worked out but more questions have since arisen. He will bring committee suggestions to the next meeting.
Policy & Administration, Chair Cooper- Met with local veterinarian Andi Edwards regarding the feral cat problem in Palouse. Committee will investigate possible solutions.
Joint Fire Board, Chair Fielder-
In September there were 11 fire calls: 7 were mutual aid to other cities and 4 were local (2 were false alarms).
There were 12 EMS calls in September, 99 for the year so far.
The ambulance contract with Pullman is pending.
ALLOW PAYMENT OF BILLS: Councilmember Cooper MOVED that the bills against the city be allowed. Councilmember Alred seconded. The motion carried.
The following checks are approved for payment:
Claims Paid 10/27/2020 Ck. #11183-11196 & EFT $20,254.80
ADJOURN: Councilmember Sievers MOVED to adjourn. Councilmember Fielder seconded the motion and the motion carried. The council meeting adjourned at 7:34 PM.
APPROVED: ________________________________ ATTEST: ________________________________