The URL can be used to link to this page

2002 02 26MOSES LAKE CITY COUNCIL February 26,2002 5817 Council Present:Richard Pearce,Ron Covey,Larry Tracy,Steve Shinn,Brent Reese,and Lee Blackwell Absent:Chris Blessing MINUTES: Mr.Reese moved that the minutes of the February 12 meeting be approved as submitted, seconded by Dr.Covey,and passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF BILLS.CHECKS.AND PREPAID CLAIMS Action Taken:Dr.Covey moved that the bills,checks,and prepaid claims issued be approved,seconded by Mr.Tracy, and passed unanimously. Vouchers audited and certified bythe Finance Director as required by RCW42.24.080,andthose expense U reimbursement claims certified as required by RCW 42.24.090,have been recorded on a listing which has been made available to the City Council. Claims:The vouchers included on the below list as modified by the Council and noted upon said list forthe Council meeting of February 26,2002 forthe funds listed beloware approved in the amount of$290,542.76. GENERAL FUND $57,878.27 WATER/SEWER LEASES 2,973.21 STREET 5,755.56 SANITATION FUND 7,592.99 EQUIPMENT LEASES 8,645.51 AMBULANCE SERVICE FUND 6,435.24 PARK&REC.IMPROVEMENT 8,391.29 CENTRAL SERVICES 9,901.13 WATER/SEWER 27,713.28 EQUIPMENT RENTAL 48,464.46 W/S CONSTRUCTION 2,299.96 BUILDING MAINTENANCE 104,491.86 TOTAL $290,542.76 Prepaid Cjaims:Prepaid claimsapprovedbythe City Manager according tothe processestablishedbyMosesLakeMunicipalCode3.42.030 andthe internal control policy approved bythe City Council hasbeen recorded on a listing which has been made availableto the CityCouncil.The claims listed below are approved inthe amount of$17,596.23 for all funds. GENERAL FUND $6,227.50 EQUIPMENT RENTAL 55.82 WATER/SEWER 72.97 BUILDING MAINTENANCE 49.95 AMBULANCE SERVICE FUND 64.14 ML YOUTH PARTNERSHIP TF 10,248.90 CENTRAL SERVICES 876.95 TOTAL 17,596.23 Prepaid Claims:Prepaid claimsapprovedbytheCityManager according tothe processestablishedbyMosesLakeMunicipalCode3.42.030 and theinternal control policy approved bytheCity Council hasbeen recordedon a listing whichhas been made available to the CityCouncil.The claims listedbeloware approved inthe amount of $17,596.23 for all funds. GENERAL FUND $6,227.50 EQUIPMENT RENTAL 55.82 WATER/SEWER 72.97 BUILDING MAINTENANCE 49.95 ,,AMBULANCE SERVICE FUND 64.14 MLYOUTH PARTNERSHIP TF 10,248.90{_J CENTRAL SERVICES 876.95 TOTAL 17,596.23 Prepaid Cjaims:Prepaid claimsapprovedbytheCityManager according tothe processestablishedbyMosesLakeMunicipalCode3.42.030 and theinternal control policy approved bytheCity Council has been recorded on a listing which has been made availableto the CityCouncil.The claims listed below are approved inthe amount of$99.26 for all funds. GENERAL FUND $53.99 WATER/SEWER CONSTRUCTION 27.00 STREET 14.73 EQUIPMENT RENTAL 3.54 TOTAL $99.26 Claim Checks:Checks 13146 through 13383 issued on February 13,2002 through February 20,2002wereapprovedforpaymentatthe Councilmeeting heldon February 26,2002 inthe totalamountof $879,418.24. Payroll:The payroll issued on February 15,2002 having been approvedpursuanttothe rule oftheCityCouncil set forth in Moses Lake Municipal Code 3.42.040, was paid by checks 24434 through 24615 inthe total amount of $59,602.76. EMPLOYEE PRESENTATIONS -None CONSENT AGENDA -None -CONSIDERATION OF BIDS BUILDING DEMOLITION PROJECT The cityreceived three bids for the demolition ofthe old Fire Station, SoilConservation Building,the house and shed at 314 S.Balsam and the house and garage at 401 S.Alder.Staff recommended that the bid be awarded to Larson's Demolition as the low bidder. Action Taken:Mr.Shinn moved that the bid for the building demolition project be awarded to Larson's Demolition inthe amount of $40,255.54,seconded by Mr.Reese,and passed unanimously. K^J PETITIONS.COMMUNICATIONS.OR PUBLIC HEARINGS -None ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS ORDINANCE -BALSAM STREET VACATION -2ND READING An ordinancewas presented which providesforthe vacationofthe portion of Balsam Street lying southeast of Seventh Avenue. The ordinance vacating a portionof Balsam Street was read by titleonly. ActionTaken:Mr.Pearce moved that the first readingofthe ordinance be adopted,seconded by Mr.Reese, and passed unanimously. /DIP /- 5818 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: 2 February 26,2002 0£^ORDINANCE -YONEZAWA BOULEVARD REIMBURSEMENTS -2ND READING ^llipl Ordinances were presented which provide for the reimbursement ofconstruction costs for the installation of'water,sewer, and underground utility improvements constructed as part ofYonezawa Boulevard. Gary G.Harer,Municipal Services Director,stated thatthese improvements werenotcovered bythe TIB grant. The ordinanceamendingChapter 12.40 ofthe Moses Lake Municipal Code entitled "Street Construction or Improvement Reimbursement Charges"was read by titleonly. Action Taken:Dr.Covey moved thatthe first reading ofthe ordinance be adopted,seconded by Mr.Shinn, and passed unanimously. The ordinance amending Chapter 13.08 of the Moses Lake Municipal Code entitled "Water and Sewer Connections"was read by title only. Action Taken:Mr.Tracy moved that the first reading ofthe ordinance beadopted,seconded by Dr.Covey, and passed unanimously. nL/^p ORDINANCE -ABACUS CABLE FRANCHISE -2ND READING Anordinance was presentedwhich would grant a franchise toAbacusCommunications,Inc.for cableservice in the City of Moses Lake. Mr.Tracy declared a conflictof interest and exited the room. The ordinance granting a franchise toAbacus Communications,Inc.tooperateand maintain acablesystemintheCityof Moses Lakeand setting forth conditions accompanying the grant of franchise was readby title only. Action Taken:Mr.Pearce moved that the second reading of the ordinance be adopted,seconded by Mr. Shinn. Mr.Shinnwas concerned thatthe citymay not receivea franchisefee based onthe way the cable company does its billings. JimWhitaker,City Attorney,statedthatthereisan auditprovision built into the ordinance.The companyis required to provide the citythe ratesbeingcharged.Under anauditthe citywould be abletodeterminehowmanycustomers they show for a service.Knowing the rate,the numberof customers at 5%shouldbe the amount remitted to the city. There was some discussion and itwas felt each company should be treated equally. The motion passed unanimously. I0L/L?RESOLUTION -DONATION -AUDUBON SOCIETY f*) A resolutionwas presented which accepts $2,537 from the Central Basin Audubon Society. The funds are to be used for the Museum and Art Center's natural history exhibit. The resolution acceptingacash donationfo$2,537 from the Central BasinAudubon Societywas readbytitle only. Action Taken:Mr.Shinn moved that the resolution be adopted,seconded by Mr.Reese,and passed unanimously. RESOLUTION -LEASE/PURCHASE AGREEMENT Staff recommended thatthe city's lease/purchase program for2002 be givento Sun Trust Leasing for 3.18% on $950,000. Ron Cone,Finance Director,explained the process forusing the funds underthe lease/purchase agreement. The resolution authorizing the execution and delivery ofamasterequipmentlease/purchase agreement,andrelatedinstruments,and determining othermatters inconnection therewith was readby title only. Action Taken:Mr.Peace moved that the resolution be adopted,seconded by Dr.Covey. Mr.Shinn stated that "I'm opposed to this.I do not feel when we have an excess of $15,000,000 that weshouldbegoingoutandborrowingmoney to pay for equipmentwhen we havethe moneyto payfor it.Webudgetedtopayforit.Yes, the interest rate is attractive at 3.18 butwe are only earning 2%ancf Iwill agree with Ron,Ithinkinterestratesare probably attheirbottomand probably will be goingup. But Idon'tthinkthat it will recover itself in the time penod to at least coming out 0...Idon't think itwould be cost effective over the term of the five year lease to go with it...So,Iwanted itnoted that I willbe voting against this because I don't think itis fiscally prudent to be doing it." Mr.Cone stated "Mr.Mayor,just for yourinformation,whichwill come outinthe next investment report,Dave just did itfor me today -we kind ofbottomed outon investmentsatabout1.86,which was the first part of February.We have started puttingsome stuff back out -we put stuff out inJanuary actually-at 3%. So, we f\ think the local government investment pool,which handles a fair amount of our money, has bottomed out ' because of the short term moneyand the way they revolve.They have hit bottom now and will start to come back. So,I think in the long run, within the year,we will be well above the interest rate that we (inaudible)." //&* done to fund this over we should not be'joirig outand borrowing money when we may be"needing to borrow money for other things and pay for it iown the line.And I'm concerned about it and Iwould like that noted." Mr.Shinn stated that "I still disagree because Ifeelthe paperwork andwhat has to be dtheyears,wearenotJDeing prudent with ourmoney.We arenota financial institution. Dr.Covey pointed out that this system hasworked well inthe past and he would be infavor of continuing the practice of purchasing equipment through a lease/purchase agreement. n u U 5819 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES:3 February 26,2002 The motion passed with Mr.Shinn opposed. RESOLUTION -BUILD ON UNPLATTED PROPERTY -ZIGGY'S A resolution was presentedwhich would allow Ziggy's to placea signon unplatted property owned byOdell andSandraCrittenden.The signwould be placedadjacentto Highway 17 nearthe intersection ofWheeler Road and Highway 17. Gilbert Alvarado,Community Development Director,stated that the sign will require a permit from the Department of Transportation since it is adjacent to a state highway.He mentioned that, according to previous Council direction,the rewrite of the development regulations would out-right permit signs. The resolution allowingZiggy's to buildon unplatted property owned by Odell and Sandra Crittenden was read by title only. Action Taken:Dr.Covey moved that the resolution be adopted,seconded by Mr.Reese. Mr.Shinn stated that he was concerned about the proliferation of off-premise signs on unplatted property along Highway 17. The motion passed unanimously. REQUESTS TO CALL FOR BIDS -None REFERRALS FROM COMMISSIONS -None OTHER ITEMS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST TO APPLY FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANT The Police Department is requesting authorization to apply fora School ZoneGrant inthe amount of$4,000. The funds would be used to purchase equipment to enhance the traffic safety,education,and tracking programs. Action Taken:Mr.Pearce moved that staff be authorized to apply forthe grant,seconded by Dr.Covey, and passed unanimously. NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS RENEWABLE ENERGY Jim Sanders explained to the Council thatthe Columbia Basin is a good area for companies engaged in the renewable energybusiness.He urged theCouncil and staffto attend the seminar by Rhys Roth on Saturday, March 30, during the Spring Fair. COUNCIL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS SIGNS Mr.Shinn requested the Planning Commission and staff discuss the off-premises signs issue with the idea of additional regulations or prohibiting them,except perhaps for direction signs for abusiness. HILL AND PIONEER Joseph K.Gavinski,City Manager, distributed a newspaper article about an accident at Hill and Pioneer. Mr.Reese wanted to know if accidents have occurred at the intersection at Division and Nelson. Mr.Gavinski stated that staffwill report back to the Council on that intersection. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND COMMENTS TRAFFIC REPORT Joseph K.Gavinski, City Manager, distributed a report on the citations issued by the Police Department in January 2002. WEB PAGE Joseph K.Gavinski,City Manager,distributed a copyofthe city'sproposed Web Pageand pointed outthatprovisionhas been madeto include pictures ofthe Council members,ifCouncil agrees. Itwas the consensus ofthe Council that pictures and a short bio of the Council members on the city's WEB page would be a good idea. AMBULANCE SERVICE Dave Helms,Fire Chief,reported thatwhenanambulanceservicelicenseis applied for,a numberof thingsneed tobe submitted with the application.The application alsoasks for verification thatthe applicant will beUoperatingwithinthescopeoftheregionalEMSplan.The city submitted itsapplication andwasgiven anALSverifiedtraumaagencylicense.Subsequently,the Region,upon recommendation oftheGrant County EMSCouncil,had changed some response territories and boundaries and requested that a second agency be allowed to have an ALS license in the Moses Lakearea.Thiswas done ina proposed changeto the Regional Plan.The city requested the localand regionalcouncils to reviewthe draft planand requested the documen tation,which is required by statute, that was cited when the regional plan was changed. There was no documentation providedsothe Fire Departmentwent tothe Governor'sSteering Committee inNovember andrequestedtheyreviewthesituation.It was determined bythe Governor's Steering CommitteeinJanuary that a need did notexistfor a second ALS verified ambulance service in the Moses Lake area.The regional planwas changed to reflect that.The regional plan thatwas distributed lastweek did not show the changesapprovedby the Governor's Steering Committee.A formal request for review was submitted andthe reply letter statedthatnotonly did the Steering Committee determine thatasecondALS ambulance service wasnotnecessaryinMoseslakebutapprovedtheresponseareathatwaspresentedattheSteeringCommittee meeting.The plan presented only showed the city's response area as the Moses Lake citylimitsand hadalso //jo 4 /r?9 ll<?<? /D&o ///'7 //79 //V7 //// 5820 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: 4 February 26,2002 cutoutthe advance life supportresponse for the rest ofthe area and replaced itwith an intermediate levelresponse. The Fire Department will follow up with the Department of Health to make sure the plan is amended to reflect the Steering Committee's action.He mentioned that by decision of the Steering Committee,the City of Moses Lal<e provides ALS service and Grant Medic One s license is for ILS care. There was some discussion by the Council and the status of Central Grant Medic One Ambulance Service was raised. Mr.Helmsstated that three weeks ago a letterwas sent to the city from twoofthe three partners that they would be shutting down.However,the third partner was going ahead with the service.So,they are still operating and continuing to respond to calls. SINKIUSE SQUARE ^ Joseph K.Gavinski,City Manager,distributed a letter from Grant County which informed the city that the request for funds from the Strategic Infrastructure Committee for improvements for Sinkiuse Square was not approved. The regular meeting was recessed at 8:15 p.m. and the Council met inan executive session to^discuss real estate.The executive session was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.and the regular session was reconvened.The regular meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. ATTEST:Mayor ~