2017 07 11MOSES LAKE CITY COUNCIL
July 11 , 2017
CALL TO ORDER:
The regular meeting of the Moses Lake City Council was called to order at 7 p.m . by Mayor Voth in the
Council Chambers of the Civic Center, 401 S. Balsam, Moses Lake, Washington.
ROLL CALL:
Executive Secretary Sophia Guerrero called the roll. The following were:
Present: Mayor Todd Voth, Deputy Mayor Karen Liebrecht, and Council members Don Myers,
David Curnel, Ryann Leonard, and Mike Norman and Position No. 1 is now vacant.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Park and Recreation Department Director, Spencer Grigg, led the Council in the pledge of allegiance.
SUMMARY REPORTS:
MAYOR'S REPORTS -None
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
Action Taken: Mayor Voth moved to amend MLMC 3.18 Chapter Gambling Tax, enter it
into the record as a first reading, and bring it back to the next council meeting as a public
hearing and a vote, seconded by Council member Mike Norman, and passed with a 4 to
2 vote . Aye -Council Members Myers, Curnel, Norman, and Mayor Voth. Nay -Deputy
Mayor Liebrecht and Council Member Leonard
CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS
Cit~ Manager John Williams confirmed with Council a public hearing has been set for July
251 to amend MLMC Chapter 3.18 Gambling Tax ordinance and advertise the public
hearing accordingly.
Council Position No. 1 seat is now open and City Manager John Williams would like to
discuss options in filling this position with the council.
Phase #1 -Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) has information regarding
on how to fill a vacant seat on the City Council and who has authority to do so.
Council has the ability to make an appointment to the vacant seat and must choose a
candidate within 90 days.
If Council fails to fill the vacant seat within 90 day, the Grant County Commissioners may
choose a candidate within 180 days to take the vacant seat.
Council may choose to keep the Council Position No. 1 seat vacant till December 31,
2017, but they must inform the Grant County Commissioners of their intent. There is an
upcoming election for that particular seat and Council may let the election process be the
deciding factor.
Considerable discussion among Staff and Council.
Phase #2 -Council Position No. 4 has no one running for this position now that Bill Ecret
has withdrawn his candidacy.
City Staff are in discussion with the Grant County's Legal Department and they in turn are
in discussion with the Secretary of State on how to start the 3 day filing period .
Considerable discussion among Staff and Council.
7829
CITY COUNCIL MLNUTES
Action taken: Deputy Mayor Karen Liebrecht moved to advertise the vacant council
position, accept resumes, and letters of intent from citizens who are interested in filling
the vacant Council Position No. 1, with the understanding that there will be an interview
for each interested candidate at the next council meeting and finally the closing date will
be July 19, 2017 at 5 pm. Seconded by Council Member Curnel and passed with a 4 to 2
vote. Nay -Council Members Myers and Leonard.
CITIZEN'S COMMUNICATIONS
Considerable discussion by the Council. No action taken.
CONSENT AGENDA
#1 a. Minutes: The minutes of the Ju ne 27, 2017 meeting were presented for approval.
b. Approval of Claims, Prepaid Claims. Checks, and Payroll: Vouchers audited and
certified by the Finance Director as required by RCW 42.24.080, and those
expense reimbursement claims, certified as required by RCW 42 .24.090, have
been recorded on a listing which has been made available to the Council for
approval and is retained for public inspection at the Civic Center. As of July 11,
2017 the Council does approve for payment claims in the amount of
$829,911 .98; prepaid claims in the amounts of $42,878.64 and $13,732.76; claim
checks in the amount of $1,045,686.52; and payroll in the amount of $411,258.66
and $3,658.48.
c. Acknowledgment of Receipt -Resignation
Council member Bill Ecret submitted his resignation from the Moses Lake City
Council Position No. 1 effective July 3, 2017.
Action Taken: Council Member Curnel requested item No. 1A be removed from the Consent Agenda for
discussion. The lot size numbers for the Harley B. Short Plat were transposed at the last council meeting
and were not changed in the June 27, 2017 minutes. Council Member Curnel requested the numbers be
corrected. City Manager John Williams assured council the error will be corrected. Council member
Curnel moved that the Consent Agenda be approved with the corrections made in the June 27'h minutes,
seconded by Council Member Leonard, and passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS -None
NEW BUSINESS
#2 STREET GANG ACTIVITY -CRIME FREE RENTAL HOUSING LEGISLATION
Council requested information on potential legislative tools to address gang activity in rental housing following a
citizen request. The City currently has the ability to address nuisance gang activity under its abatement process
contained in MLMC Chapter 8.14. The State also provided legislation contained in Chapter 35.106 RCW
regarding "Crime-Free Rental Housing". Several jurisdictions have implemented programs under this statute; a
copy of Sunnyside's ordinance and Walla Walla Crime Free Rental Housing Program has been provided as an
example.
Considerable discussion between City Staff and Council.
The Council would like to know if Sunnyside and Walla Walla have been successful with their programs.
Staff is directed to bring back their findings. No other action taken.
pg.2
7830
CITY COU CJ L MI UTES ------· -------------------------
#3 REQUEST TO ACCEPT AMENDED PARKS & FACILITY NAMING POLICY
The current Parks & Facility Naming policy was adopted in 2002. The updated version provided by the Parks &
Recreation Commission would replace the existing policy with a more detailed approach to naming parks and
facilities. City Staff has reviewed and made modifications to the policy also.
Considerable discussion.
City Manager reminded Council that they can recommend public participation to the Parks and Recreation
Commission when the Parks & Facility Naming Policy is involved with a particular project. No action taken.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
A Transportation Benefit District (TBD) Fact Sheet for Proposition No. 1 has been provided to the Council.
This fact sheet highlights issues regarding this proposition ballot. This will be placed on our City website
for the public's review. Our City Attorney's office will be delivering the proposition ballot to the Grant
County Auditor to be placed on the 2017 November ballot.
WATER RATIONING UPDATE
Municipal Services Director, Fred Snoderly, informed the Council of his decision to implement a city wide
water rationing recommendation on July 10. High water usage has caused reservoirs to have low level
alarms and the wells available in the residential zones cannot keep up with the high demand. Well #33
was working extra hard to keep up with the demand and was pumping air. On July 101h the Water
Division measured the water usage at 16.8 million gallons of water. After implementing the water
rationing, the usage dropped to 14.9 million gallons of water in 24 hours. With continued support from the
public, the Municipal Services Director hopes to lift the water rationing recommendation soon. Spencer
Grigg, Parks and Recreation Director also informed Council that his department has cut their irrigation
schedule down 70%.
Considerable discussion.
Council member Don Myers would like to revisit the water rates for conservation purposes.
LODGING TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE
With Council Member Bill Ecret's resignation in place, there is now a vacant chair position with the
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee that needs to be filled by a council member.
Action taken: Council member Norman moved that Mayor Todd Voth be assigned as Chair to the
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, until the current vacant position has been filled, seconded by Council
member Curnel, passed unanimously.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS-None
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The regular meeting was adjourned at 8:03 pm and the Council met in a 20 minute executive session with
the City Manager and City Attorney under RCW 42.30.11 O(c) and (i) to consider the minimum price at
which real estate will be offered for sale or lease and discuss with legal counsel representing the agency
potential litigation. No action to follow.
At 8:23 pm the Council extended the executive session for an additional 1 O minutes.
pg. 3
7831
CITY COUNCJL ML 1UTES
At 8: 33 pm the Council extended the executive session for an additional 10 minutes.
The executive session was adjourned at 8:43 pm and the regular meeting was reconvened.
ADJOURNMENT: The regular meeting was adjourned at 8:43 pm.
Todd Voth, Mayor
ATTEST
W. Robert Taylor, Finance Director
pg.4
7832