Palouse City Council
Regular Council Meeting
September 10, 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. Councilmember
Ossinger MOVED, seconded by Councilmember
Newman to excuse both absences. Motion
carried unanimously. Also present:
Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Public Works Assistant Marc
Arrasmith; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; Clerk-Treasurer Joyce Beeson; &
Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson. Public
present: Scott Beeson; Kelly Dow;
Heather McGehee; Mike Kammeyer; Daniel Eastner; Debbie Arrasmith; Aaron
Flansburg; Ami & Daniel Kramer; Jens & Berlyn Hegg; Mary Estes; Kari
& Garrick Watkins; Robin Rilette.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Councilmember Schorzman MOVED
to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of August 27, 2013. Councilmember Estes seconded the motion and
the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT:
Supt. Griffin submitted a written report.
Award of
Wall Street paving bid. We received two bids: Poe Asphalt - $23 sy = $12,052; Motley &
Motley - $22.25 sy = $11,659. We’d like
permission to award the bid to Motley & Motley. Councilmember Newman MOVED, seconded by Councilmember Schorzman to accept the
Motley & Motley bid of $11,659 for the Wall Street paving project. Motion carried unanimously.
POLICE REPORT: Reserve
Officer Snead will be helping out for Palouse Days Friday and Saturday
nights. There are active nuisance
property clean-ups going on. We continue
to get barking dog complaints; dog owners need to be responsible. Even if your barking dog doesn’t bother you,
it bothers others. Chief has been
working on an ORV ordinance to allow ATV’s to be ridden into and out of town as
access points. With adult supervision,
juveniles 14 and older would be able to ride ATV’s into town. There are certain types of rules, equipment,
etc. required. Councilmember Webb MOVED, seconded by Councilmember
Estes, authorizing Chief Neumann to continue to investigate and bring forth
more data. Motion carried
unanimously.
The Palouse-Garfield
police contract is in Atty. Bishop’s hands.
It is a four-year contract (2014-2017) with 2%, 4%, 2% & 0% increase
over the next four years. Councilmember Newman
MOVED to authorize Mayor to
sign the contract once it comes back from the Attorney. Councilmember Schorzman seconded. Motion carried unanimously. In 2013-$70,019, 2014-$71,419, 2015-$74,276, 2016-$75,726
& 2017-$75,726. Per person, Garfield
residents pay about the same as Palouse residents for police services.
OLD BUSINESS:
Skate-park
– Aaron Flansburg: review drawings of proposed skate-park at Palouse’s city
park. As per the July 9 council meeting Aaron was
instructed to come up with a set of drawings.
At the July 9 meeting the skatepark was approved for preliminary
development. He would like
feedback. Much discussion ensued. Following are some of the comments:
The
elevations don’t align with existing sidewalks, etc. Why weren’t dimensions, elevations, etc
provided? 48” elevation gain. 6” difference between the sidewalk at
pool. The bank at the parking lot end is
5’ high. There could be a short fence
along pedestrian area to catch loose skateboards. Skateboard traffic will mostly be in a
north-south direction. There will be a visual
impact to the park aesthetics. There is
certain to be a monetary impact to the city even if it is built with outside
funding. There have already been cuts to
city services. The insurance company will need to approve the
design.
PW Supt.
Griffin pointed out that there are water, sewer, and gas lines directly under
the park plans. The skate park won’t
work as drawn.
Mary
Estes: Who are you looking for to use
this park? He’s hoping the youth of
Palouse and Garfield will use it.
Mike Kammeyer
of Potlatch, owns a skate shop in Moscow said Pullman and Moscow skateboarders
are supporters because they’re feeling their cities are missing the boat. The current skate scene in Palouse is small
because there’s nowhere to go.
Mary
Estes: 30 years ago we went through this
same process for the need of a tennis court and unfortunately it has fallen on
its nose. Why are we giving up green
space and a beautiful park that is very serene?
I cherish it. I don’t want to
have a skatepark there that languishes like the tennis court. She asked about usage and intended hours of
operation. Aaron - It’s up to city to
decide use and hours of the park but his intent is that it is for daylight use
since it will have no direct lighting.
Jens
Hegg: There are three local skaters here
tonight so he thinks it shows interest.
Scott
Beeson: Regarding the location, that
spot is one of the most used spots of the park.
And it’s right next to the swing set and pool. Is there a better location than this? Scott isn’t against a skate park, but doesn’t
think it should be at the city park. On
the other side of Main St. below the sewer plant comes to mind for Scott. Aaron likes the idea of it being at the
park. He thinks it will augment the use
of the park.
Councilmember
Webb: How can we talk about adding
another park when employees haven’t been reimbursed for the pay cuts they took
and we’re cutting city services?
Marc
Arrasmith: This is huge and it’s jammed between the pool and playground
equipment. Too much concrete jammed in
there. He never envisioned it looking
like this.
Robin
Rilette: Admires Aaron’s perseverance
but dislikes the location. What about the
space behind the pool, between the pool and river? PD said that didn’t work because of the low
visibility and PW was concerned about access into the pool pump house.
Garret
Watkins: Thinks by the school it’s a
hiding place for drug dealers.
In a neighborhood
it decreases property values, creates noise, etc.
Aaron will
have to get a performance bond and will need engineered plans. He will also probably need a building permit. He will need to factor in all those things
and the fencing into his budget. He is
looking to raise $20,000 for this plan. Idaho
Beverages will donate $2,000 towards his project with the understanding that it
will be at the park and there be signage acknowledging the donation. Mayor informed Aaron that isn’t his decision
to make.
Kelly Dow: inevitable
there will be a cost to the city when this is built. The lighted signs are turned off, we reduced
a police officer, and you’re trying to build a skate park? There is an eyesore of a skatepark in Spokane
dealing with graffiti and litter. Right
now the Palouse Park is open to everyone.
She feels the skatepark is exclusive to a very small minority. The park belongs to all the city residents. Pullman and Colfax skate parks aren’t in their
main parks for a reason; because they know it will attract non-family
crowds. Kelly believes many truly don’t
want this to happen. Also, what about
EPA erosion concerns? Can this be voted
on by the public, just to see what the interest is? A vote isn’t feasible. A survey was suggested but that would cost
approximately $400.
Councilmember Newman
doesn’t support the money being spent on that.
People can come to council meetings or send in their thoughts. Councilmember Webb MOVED to spend the money to send out a survey to see what
the public’s opinion is on the skatepark.
Motion failed for lack of second.
Debbie
Arrasmith asked when the graffiti hits the skatepark, who cleans it up? Once the park gets built, the skatepark
committee can do it. Yes, there will be
upkeep. 20 years from now Aaron can’t
say who will care for it. Mike Kammeyer
said Lewiston’s skate park is graffiti free.
Kari Watkins
wants a safe place for her son to skate.
She is seeing more kids trying to skateboard in unsafe areas.
Councilmember
Newman suggested that Aaron continue to work with PW and the Parks Committee,
specifically locating utilities. She
would like to see the measurements and dimensions written into the drawings. Make sure PW, PD, and Councilmember Estes’
concerns are addressed. Perhaps give a Powerpoint
presentation next time so everyone can see what he’s talking about.
COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:
Water
& Sewer-Connie Newman, Chair: Regarding the city council student liaison
position, Mr. Bishop is currently writing a resolution for that. The student will be allowed to sit at council
table, participate in discussion, but it is a non-voting position. For this position to be available, a
councilperson has to mentor the student.
This will be primarily for a senior student to fulfill their senior
project. If no senior student is
interested, it can be open to other grades.
Policy
& Administration-Bo Ossinger, Chair: Had a meeting to
get Councilmember Estes up to speed with the poultry issues.
Personnel
& Pool-Norm Schorzman, Chair:
Parks,
Cemetery, & Buildings-Alison Webb. Chair:
Police,
Fire, & Safety-Rick Wekenman, Chair:
Streets
& Sidewalks-Senja Estes, Chair:
Finance,
Property, & Equipment-Tim Jones, Chair:
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Our health
insurance carrier, AWC, is transitioning from being fully-insured to
self-insured. Their data shows whatever
plan the employees’ take, with the self-funded plan there is a 0% increase
whereas if it’s fully funded they’re showing a cost increase. The city will send to our attorney to look
over and we’ll learn more about the difference between fully-insured and
self-insured.
The TIB, LED
street lighting project is still moving forward. It will convert both the city and Avista-owned
street lights to the LED technology. It’s
100% funded. Once underway, it will
happen fairly quickly. We currently
spend about $25,000 per year on street lighting. These LED lights will save us thousands.
Mayor,
Clerk-Treasurer Beeson, met with Finance Committee (Councilmember Ossinger was
only one in attendance) for a budget meeting.
Mayor instructed Joyce to include the following in the 2014 budget: city employee 3% increase; the purchase of a backhoe;
$5,000 for new, updated city maps. Joyce
showed the budget with and without the levy lid lift. We will present the budget without the lid
lift and will make the adjustments if it comes through. If the lid lift passes, it will be
approximately $30,000 increase to the budget and we will send 60% to CE, 30% to
streets, and 10% to Fire Equipment reserve.
Between the
levy, donations, & lessons, the pool is within a couple hundred dollars of breaking
even this year. The new pellet
chlorinator uses half the chlorine so we saved about $800 on chlorine this
summer. Pool payroll stayed right where
we needed it to stay.
Cemetery
budget has been cut too close. Joyce has
bumped that up a little for 2014. We’re trying to restore that budget. We’re more than likely going to have to do a
budget adjustment before the year is up.
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 Estes MOVED
to adjourn. Councilmember Webb seconded
the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
The council meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM.
The following checks are approved for payment:
Payroll Paid 8/31/13 Ck. #5111-5136 & EFT $40,347.84
Claims Paid 9/11/13 Ck. #5137-5159 & EFT $91,044.82
APPROVED: ________________________________ ATTEST: ________________________________
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