DRAFT ONLY. Without council review or approval.
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Palouse Washington
May 8, 2012
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Echanove called the Council Meeting to order at 7:10 PM.
ROLL CALL: Council members present: Cecil Floyd; Tim Jones; Connie Newman; Bo Ossinger; Norm Schorzman; Alison Webb; Rick Wekenman. Also present: Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; Clerk-Treasurer Joyce Beeson; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson. Public present: Caitlyn McGehee; Pete Hertz; County Commissioner Greg Partch; Bruce Reim of Canfield & Associates.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilmember Newman MOVED to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of April 24, 2012. Councilmember Schorzman seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Submitted a written report. They are halfway done with putting in the chips at the park. The STOP legend for Main & Bridge Streets will be installed within the next couple weeks.
POLICE REPORT: Submitted April activity log. Palouse River Duathlon is this Saturday. Whitman County Animal contract is coming due. Contract is $900/year. Councilmember Schorzman MOVED to allow Chief Neumann to move forward on negotiations for a three year contract with Whitman County Humane Society for animal services. Councilmember Wekenman seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
OPEN FORUM: Rod Rosen discussed the ongoing issue with parking and right-of-way in his neighborhood at 300 E. Harrison. The property has been staked which now puts a bottleneck on the street. Rod has proposed at the end of the street, moving that retaining wall out 10’. The extra 10’ will eliminate the huge dispute for all of us on Harrison who are concerned and also will allow for the garbage truck and emergency vehicles, etc. Rod would like the city to consider his proposal so there are no more neighborhood disputes. Councilmember Wekenman MOVED to continue discussion for another five minutes. Councilmember Floyd seconded and the motion carried unanimously. Councilmember Floyd is going to familiarize himself with the situation and have a Streets & Sidewalk committee meeting to discuss it further. Rod Rosen also expressed concern about a tree on city property that is leaning over his property. He would like it topped for safety reasons.
NEW BUSINESS:
Whitman County Commissioner Greg Partch: Discussed Transportation Improvement Board (TIB). $.03 cents of every gas tax dollar goes into TIB fund which amounts to 80 to 100 million dollars a year. Palouse has been the beneficiary of quite a few TIB projects over the years. There is now another 1.5 million set aside for towns under 5000. Greg has proposed that Palouse be a beta test site for a street light program converting all street lights into LED. Councilmember Jones MOVED, seconded by Councilmember Schorzman to authorize Commissioner Partch to proceed pursuing Palouse be a beta test site for this program. Motion carried unanimously.
.09 funds are 9/10 of 1% of sales tax generated in Whitman County. That generates approximately $350,000 a year for the county. Funds have to be used for infrastructure that creates and/or retains jobs. In the past, .09 funds helped us with our RV Park, with Heritage Park restrooms, etc. They need people to serve on the committee.
COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:
Streets & Sidewalks-Cecil Floyd, Chair:
Met and discussed the 6 year street plan; Dwayne is going to put together a priority list.
Discussed sending a request to TIB to reclassify West Whitman Street as an arterial from highway to Mill Street. The committee believes that it meets the state criteria. This would make it eligible for TIB reconstruction grants. They discussed street opening and driveway opening guidelines. Regarding Mohr Street project, Taylor Engineering is finalizing the design. Committee is meeting with them Thursday on-site. Once that design is done, they send it off to TIB and once they approve it will go out for bids.
Personnel & Pool-Tim Jones, Chair:
In order to cover our expenses, the committee is recommending that the cost for private pool rentals will be raised to $75.00 + tax. Councilmember Floyd MOVED to increase the private pool rental fee to $75, seconded by Councilmember Webb. Motion carried unanimously. This will be adopted by resolution at next council meeting.
The pool hours will change slightly. Pool will open at noon on weekends (instead of 1:00), and close at 8:00 every day.
Parks, Cemetery & Buildings-Norm Schorzman. Chair: no report
Water & Sewer-Connie Newman, Chair: Had a committee meeting. DOH requires property lines around our water tower on the North Hill be defined and enclosed by fencing. Supt. Griffin is going to have a survey done and get it taken care of. They had more discussion on the development of the sewer extension policy. The final WSP draft was received by DOH. DOH’s 90 day review period has now begun so sometime within the next 90 days we’ll get their revision suggestions. Then will come the public comment/review period.
Policy & Administration-Bo Ossinger, Chair: Had a meeting going over the BARS regarding cost allocation for staff payroll costs and other indirect costs. We’re inclined to go along with Joyce’s suggestion to separate the cost allocation from the resolution.
Police, Fire, & Safety-Rick Wekenman, Chair: no report
Finance, Property, & Equipment- Chair: no report
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Regarding Brownfields Project, the demo bid specs are being advertised in the Spokesman Review and the Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Bid docs are also available on www.visitpalouse.com. Closes May 21st at 4:00 pm.
Mayor will be absent next council meeting.
Committee assignments: discussion ensued. No decision yet.
Joyce is in the final reviews of annual report and would like council to review. Finance Committee is meeting May 16 and will include review of the annual report.
ALLOW PAYMENT OF BILLS: Councilmember Jones MOVED that the bills against the city be allowed. Councilmember Schorzman seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURN: Councilmember Jones MOVED to adjourn. Councilmember Schorzman seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. The council meeting adjourned at 8:48 PM.
The following checks are approved for payment:
Payroll Paid, April 30, 2012
Ck. #3980-3997 & EFT $36,845.29
Claims Paid, May 8, 2012
Ck. #3998-4022 & EFT $18,829.97
APPROVED: ________________________________ ATTEST: ________________________________
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