Palouse City Council
Public Hearing &
Regular Council Meeting
July 9, 2013
CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Echanove called the Council Meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
ROLL CALL:
Council members present: Senja
Estes; Tim Jones; Connie Newman, Bo Ossinger, Rick Wekenman and Alison Webb. Absent: Norm Schorzman. Also present: Police Chief Jerry Neumann; Clerk-Treasurer
Joyce Beeson; Public Works Dwayne Griffin and Marc Arrasmith. Public present: Aaron Flansburg, Heather
McGehee, Kristin Jones, Heidi Fluegel, Garth Meyer, Katie Cooper, Jens Hegg and
Bruce Beeson.
PUBLIC HEARING:
2014
Revenue sources –
Mayor Echanove opened the public hearing and recapped council discussion from
the last meeting concerning options for 2014 revenue sources. Palouse resident Aaron Flansburg voiced his
support of a levy lid lift. With no
further comment from the public, Mayor closed the public hearing and opened
council discussion.
The Mayor
explained how a voter approved levy lid lift works. The general levy in 2013 was approx. $2.49
per $1,000 valuation. The city has the
capacity of collecting $3.10 per $1,000.
By law, cities are able to increase only 1% of the total amount levied
each year without going out to the voters.
Over the years, as valuations change and only 1% increases are taken,
the rate per thousand continues to drift down below capacity. Currently 65% of the levy stays in the
General Fund and 35% is receipted to the Street Fund.
The Joint
Fire Board and the Council Police Fire & Safety committee have expressed
concern for their aging vehicles and being able to meet equipment safety
requirements. They have set a goal of
having $150,000 available to them over the next 10 years to meet the capital
needs of the fire department.
Councilmember Wekenman explained that with this being a joint
department, Rural fire district 4 residents would also contribute $150,000 to
share in the total costs. Resident Aaron Flansburg asked if this
decision would include allocating a certain amount to the fire equipment
needs. Mayor explained that the
discussion tonight was about revenue, but yes, if a levy lid lift were to be
approved by the voters, a resolution could be approved by council dedicating
10% of the general levy to the Fire Equipment Capital fund to meet the goal of the
fire department. It would also help the
General Fund in supporting current needs such as bringing back the police
officer from 75% to 100%, restoring the employee salaries reduced two years
ago, maintaining our parks and cemetery, and contributing into our vehicle and
equipment needs. Several Councilmembers
voiced their support for putting the levy lid lift on the November ballot.
Councilmember Ossinger MOVED to proceed with the necessary paperwork to put the
levy lid lift on the November ballot. Councilmember
Jones seconded the motion. Discussion –
Councilmember Wekenman pointed out that a property valued at $100,000 would be
levied an additional $60 a year above the 2013 levy amount. The motion carried unanimously.
Voter
approved special levies
– Discussion began on the Swim pool maintenance & operation special levy
for $28,000.
Councilmember Jones MOVED to continue with the special
pool levy at $28,000. Councilmember Ossinger
seconded the motion. Discussion- Councilmember
Newman would still like to have community input on charging a fee at the door
in addition to the levy. Councilmember
Jones said it has been looked into and it seems that the costs associated with
collecting a fee may exceed the benefit.
Motion carried unanimously.
The special
levy for street improvements is currently $40,000. This amount is barely enough to oil the
gravel roads, crack seal, and rebuild 1 block a year. Five or six years ago, it would have done 4
blocks. Councilmember Jones said the
finance committee met and recommends that the Street levy stay at 40k this year
but consider an increase next year. Councilmember
Newman would like to see an incremental increase every year to keep up with
costs. Mayor Echanove asked if council would consider a 10% increase, bringing
it to $44,000.
After further discussion,
Councilmember Webb MOVED to
continue with the special street improvement levy and increase the dollar
amount by 10% to $44,000. Councilmember
Newman seconded the motion. The motion
carried unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Councilmember Newman MOVED
to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of June 25, 2013. Councilmember Wekenman seconded the motion
and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT:
Superintendent Griffin reported
that the gravel roads were oiled and the TIB pavement preservation project for
overlay is underway. The variable
frequency drive was installed on the booster pump. The pool is operating fairly well with the
new chlorine system installed. The compost
area has been busy and going well. The
town of Garfield will be borrowing our grader and an hourly rate will be
determined.
POLICE REPORT:
Chief Neumann reported an increase in traffic issues and domestic calls
but for the most part all is fairly normal for this time of year
OLD BUSINESS:
Discussion of proposed Skatepark and
location options -
Mayor updated council that since the last meeting, Aaron Flansburg staked out a
site between the pool and basketball courts and held a meeting there for
discussion and community input.
Councilmember Newman said that the skatepark group has been working
toward the goal of building a park for 10 years. Her question to council is, if a site is
approved, is the city interested in including and maintaining it as a city
park? With all the potential location
explored throughout town, the best option is the city park. The floor was turned over to Aaron
Flansburg. He handed out a site map (attached)
that showed two options at the city park.
Option # 1 is the site between the pool and bb court. Option # 2 is north of the parking lot and
between the walkway to the pool and the play area with the large slide. Aaron has been gathering info on each site –
With # 1 an access would need to be maintained to allow Public Works and
emergency access to the pool area and also access for Avista Utilities. Option # 2 would be close to the parking lot
and the walkway to the pool. Aaron reads
several comments from interested people abut the 2 options. The majority of them leaned to site # 1. Excerpts of several letters were read with
the majority in support of the skatepark.
He also received a pledge from Pepsi through Idaho Beverage to donate
$2,000 if it is built in the city park.
Council discussion and comments from the public ensued. Outlining some of the points that were made
·
Aaron-Maintenance on concrete is rare with
the only routine maintenance would be emptying trash cans.
Site
# 1 is most preferred because the design would include flat concrete that could
be used for access to the facilities and infrastructure. So far, $5,900 has been raised plus the
$2,000 pledge if located in the city park.
Estimated cost to build is about $10,000 because he would partner with a
company that has experience in building skateparks with salvaged and recycled
material.
·
Councilmember
Wekenman would like to see drawings of what this would look like and voiced
concern of more green space taken from the park.
·
Councilmember
Jones voiced support for the skatepark and said that maintenance costs would go
down since that area would not be mowed or watered. PW pointed out that sprinkler would still
have to be installed to water the grassy strips around it.
·
Public
comment both for and against-Bruce
Beeson supports keeping the park as is and listed other parks and programs that
the city couldn’t support and had to reduce.
Kristin Jones-skateparks had a positive impact on their children and
would like to see this as another option in town of things for kids to do.
Heather McGehee agreed. Jens Hegg
supports the skatepark and prefers site # 1 since the basketball courts have
seen only a small amount of vandalism.
·
PW
Griffin and Arrasmith
have concerns of vandalism like is evident at the City of Pullman
skatepark. Allen Davis, Pullman PW
recommends that it needs to be visible, not near buildings and a day park only
with no lights. Site # 1 is fairly
hidden, is next to the pool building and lit at night. Also concerns of future maintenance.
Mayor
Echanove took the floor. Attorney Bishop
has suggested to the Mayor that Aaron Flansburg take out a performance bond at
some point. Councilmember Newman would
like to see drawings also but would need to have a preliminary site first to
plan around.
Councilmember Newman MOVED that council give preliminary approval for option # 2
with the contingency that artist’s rendering are made available in the next 60
days, that the group’s funds are shown to be there for phase one, that a
performance bond is in place and that the design is reviewed and approved by
our insurance carrier. Councilmember
Ossinger seconded the motion. Discussion
- Councilmember Jones questioned why not options # 1. Chief Neumann pointed out that option # 1 would
be harder to secure, patrol, and access.
The Mayor urged council to vote this down tonight with so many
unanswered questions. Councilmember
Newman said there are many unknowns but they cannot be answered without a
potential site. Councilmember Estes
asked Aaron if drafts could be provided of both sites. Yes, they may be rough but site is the most
critical issue in design.
Councilmember
Ossinger asked for an amendment to the motion to not include a performance bond
at this time with so many undecided elements.
Amended MOTION that council
give preliminary approval for option # 2 with the contingency that artist’s
rendering are made available in the next 60 days, that the group’s funds are
shown to be there for phase one and that the design is reviewed and approved by
our insurance carrier. With two no votes, Councilmember Wekenman and
Councilmember Webb, motion carried.
Update of Palouse Cove Road possible
name change Mayor Echanove reported that he was unable to
talk with the county about this yet. The
name change would affect about 16 residents in Palouse who have been through
the process once already.
COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:
Water
& Sewer-Connie Newman, Chair: Councilmember Newman has set up a workshop
with our audit manager Debbie Pennick.
It is set for July 23rd at 5:30. This is training specific to governmental
services finance and budgeting.
Streets
& Sidewalks-Senja Estes, Chair: Out next meeting will include a public
hearing for the Six-year Transportation Improvement Plan.
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.
With no
motion to excuse tonight’s absence of Councilmember Schorzman, his absence is
considered unexcused.
ADJOURN:
Councilmember Jones MOVED
to adjourn. Councilmember Webb seconded
the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
The council meeting adjourned at 8:58 PM.
The following
checks are approved for payment:
Payroll
Paid Ck. # 4956 – 4983
& EFT $39,972.98
Claims Paid Ck. # 4984 – 5007 & EFT $25,437.23
APPROVED:
___
ATTEST: _____
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