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MOSES LAKE CITY COUNCIL
December 9,2014
Council Present:Dick Deane,Bill Ecret,Karen Liebrecht,Jason Avila,Jon Lane,David Curnel,andToddVoth
The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m.by Mayor Deane.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:Mr.Voth led the Council in the pledge of allegiance.
PRESENTATION AND AWARDS -None
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes:The minutes of the November 25 meeting were presented for approval.
Approval of Claims.Prepaid Claims.Checks,and Payroll:Vouchers audited and certified by the Finance
Directoras required by RCW42.24.080,and those expense reimbursement claims, certified as required by
RCW 42.24.090,have been recorded on a listingwhich has been made availableto the Council forapproval
and is retained for public inspection at the Civic Center.As of December 9,2014 the Council does approve
for payment claims inthe amountof $1,185,059.78;prepaidclaims inthe amountof $21,013.44;claim checks
in the amount of $1,460,860.29;and payroll in the amount of $305,931.05
Action Taken:Mr.Voth moved that the Consent Agenda be approved,seconded by Mr.Avila, and passed
unanimously.
COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS -None
CONSIDERATION OF BIDS AND QUOTES -None
PETITIONS.COMMUNICATIONS.OR PUBLIC HEARINGS
GRANT COUNTY ANIMAL OUTREACH -LAND ACQUISITION
Carmon Derting,Shelter Manager forGrant County Animal Outreach,requested time before the Councilto
discuss land options inorder to construct a largeranimal shelter and provide additional services.
Blair Koak, BoardPresident, stated they average over200 animals a month and have hadtoturn some people
away due to lack of space.With a larger facility more animals could be housed.
Joseph K.Gavinski, City Manager, provided some background on the existing building.
There was some discussion on the availability of land and it was the consensus that Grant County Animal
Outreach contact city staff concerning possible locations for a new building.
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
ORDINANCE -2014 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS -2ND READING
An ordinance was presented which adopts the 2014 Comprehensive Plan Amendments.
The ordinanceadoptingthe 2014 Comprehensive Plan amendments and completingthe periodic update of
the Comprehensive Plan required by RCW 36.70A.130 was read by title only.
Action Taken:Mr.Ecret moved that the second reading of the ordinance be adopted,seconded by Mr.Avila,
and passed unanimously.
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CITY COUNCILMINUTES December 9, 2014
JO/O ORDINANCE -AMEND 2014 BUDGET -1ST READING fN)
An ordinance was presented which amends the 2014 budget.
The ordinance amending the 2014 budget for the City of Moses Lake,Washington was read by title only.
Action Taken:Mr.Lane movedthatthe first reading of the ordinance be adopted,seconded by Mrs.Liebrecht,
and passed unanimously.
REQUEST TO CALL FOR BIDS -None
REFERRALS FROM COMMISSIONS -None
OTHER ITEMS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
STRATFORD ROAD SIDEWALK -DEVIATIONioi*
The City and Grant County have been awarded a grant from the Washington State Transportation
Improvement Boardto installsidewalk along Stratford Road from SR17 through Maple Drive.There will be
approximately 1,200'of sidewalk installedalongthe west side and 200'alongthe east side of StratfordRoad
inside the city limits.There is not sufficient right-of-wayto construct the sidewalk to city standards so a
deviation of the standards is being requested to allowa 5'sidewalk with no planter strip on the west side and
a 6'sidewalk with no planter strip on the east side.
Gary Harer,Municipal Services Director,explained the project and mentioned that the needed right-of-way
will not be provided by the property owners.The request is fora deviation to allow5' and 6'sidewalks instead
of the required 8'.
Teresa Adkinson,Grant County Health District,stated that they worked with the City and the Trails Planning f\
Team on safe streets and this area has been a concern for a long time.She pointed outthat there are many
low incomeresidents in this area who walk to the various stores nearby and sidewalksare neededeven ifthey
are less than what is required by the community standards.
Greg Wright, Grant Transit Authority,stated that they are partnering with the City on this project and the
sidewalks are needed as is a bus pull out.
Action Taken:Mr.Lane moved that the request be granted,seconded by Mr.Voth,and passed unanimously.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
fOc/^>PERSONNEL
MattBorschowa,Firefighter,provided information to the Council concerning thedisagreement he haswiththe
City over whether he should be required to use vacation or sick leave to care for his spouse and that the
Department of Labor and Industries has determined that if the vacation leave is not changed to sick leavethe
Citywould be fined. He mentioned that ifthe leave is changed from vacation to sick leave, no fine would be
assessed.
/IS?REAL ESTATE EXCISE TAX
Mark Fancher, 301 Inglewood,objected to the Council's adoption of the one quarter of 1% real estate excise
tax on a single reading ofthe ordinance.
Joseph K.Gavinski,City Manager,stated that the possible passage of this ordinance was discussed one
meeting before its actual passage and was included in the following meeting's agenda,which is posted ontheCity's website for any one from the public to view.f~*)
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES December 9, 2014
I J Mayor Deane pointed out thatthe issue ofthe taxwas reported in thevarious medias.He mentioned that the
^"^county has had the tax in place for a number ofyears and only 2cities in the county have not already adopted
this additional real estate excise tax.
Carol Calder,5776 Ridgeview,President of the Moses Lake-Othello Association of Realtors,stated that the
Association was concerned about theimpact of the tax on their clients and feltthat the tax should be repealed.
Mr.Voth stated that contrary to the newspaper article he did not feel that he had made a mistake invoting for
the tax and that the ad placed in the paper by the relators was misleading and alarmed the citizens.
Rick Serra,117 E. Belair,questioned the passing of the tax as he felt itwas targeting only the property sellers.
He also wanted to know when the City knew that REC was appealing its tax assessment.
Joseph K.Gavinski,City Manager,stated thattheassessmentwas appealed to the local Board of Equalization
and thedecision was communicated to the City in August2014.The Council was informed at the first meeting
in September of the budget shortfall for 2014.The full impact of the lack of payment of the taxes by REC is
in the 2015 budget.
COMPLAINT
Ray Castoreno,902 S.Hawthorne,stated that he wished the Council to knowthat he was unhappy about his
treatment at the hands of the justice system including police officers,the prosecutor's office,and the entire
judicial system.
AMBULANCE SERVICE
l j Dr.James Irwin,Samaritan Hospital,felt that the City should retain the ambulance service.
Jerry Lease,222 Linden,Firefighter in Spokane and volunteer with Grant County,felt that turning the
ambulance service over to a private company would be a disaster.
REC -REAL ESTATE TAX
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Peter Stephens,836 E. Plum, felt that the way to address the discrepancy in the tax assessment between
what the county assesses and what REC feels is the value is to have a flat rate tax.
COUNCIL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
AMBULANCE SERVICE
Mr.Ecret feltthat the City should retainthe fire and ambulance service in its current form and was opposed
to volunteers,or any more cuts to funding or equipment.
Mr.Lane suggested that staff investigate a levy for emergency services,eliminate the day car,re-instate the
volunteer program,and encourage the Fire Department to investigate cost saving measures.
Mr.Avila suggested that the day car be eliminated and the city raise the ambulance utility tax to $15 and
encourage the community to accept the raise.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND COMMENTS
BUILDING ACTIVITY REPORT
\^_J The November Building Activity Report was provided.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES December 9,2014
INVESTMENT REPORT
The City received $19,763.62 in investment income for October 2014.
SALES TAX/TRANSIENT RENTAL INCOME
The City received $493,879.14 in sales tax and $56,268.68 in transient rental income in November.
The regular meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Dick Deane,Mayor
jrtTaylor,France Director
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