The URL can be used to link to this page

2003 01 14MOSES LAKE CITY COUNCIL January 14,2003 5930 Council Present:Lee Blackwell,Larry Tracy,Brent Reese,Chris Blessing,Steve Shinn,Richard Pearce,and Ron Covey MINUTES:Mr.Blessing movedthatthe minutesof the December 23 meeting be approved as submitted,seconded by Mr.Shinn, and passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF BILLS.CHECKS.AND PREPAID CLAIMS Action Taken:Mr.Shinn moved that the bills,checks,and prepaid claims issued be approved, seconded by Mr.Tracy, and passed unanimously. v-^Vouchers audited and certified by the Finance Director as required by RCW 42.24.080,and thoseexpensereimbursementclaimscertifiedasrequiredbyRCW42.24.090,have beenrecorded on a listing which has been made available to the CityCouncil. Claims:The vouchers included on the below listas modified by the Council and noted upon saidlistfortheCouncilmeeting of January 14,2003 for the funds listed below are approved in the amount of $514,582.33. GENERAL FUND $60,680.76 AIRPORT 132.35 STREET 3,290.38 AMBULANCE SERVICE FUND 3,660.73 STREET REPAIR/RECON 2,048.76 SELF INSURANCE 1,067.53 2002 REFUNDING BONDS 181.19 CENTRAL SERVICES 6,414.87 PARK &REC IMPROVE.1,436.40 EQUIPMENT RENTAL 12,194.90 WATER/SEWER 34,008.13 BUILD MAINTENANCE 22,460.41 W/S CONSTRUCTION 266,716.18 FIREMANS PENSION 263.97 SANITATION FUND 100,025.77 TOTAL $514,582.33 PrepaidClaims:Prepaidclaimsapprovedbythe CityManageraccordingtothe process established by Moses Lake Municipal Code 3.42.030 and the internal control policy approved by the City Council has been recordedon a listing whichhas been made available to the City Council.The claims listed below are approved in the amount of $11,625.46 for allfunds. GENERAL FUND $15.74 SANITATION FUND 3.81 EQUIPMENT LEASES 1,624.15 CENTRAL SERVICES 2,643.58 WATER/SEWER 17.72 EQUIPMENT RENTAL 6,056.16 W/S LEASES 1,204.57 BUILD MAINTENANCE 59.73 TOTAL $11,625.46 Claim Checks:Checks 17409 through 17567 issued on December 23,2003 through January 10,I J 2003were approved for payment atthe Council meeting held on January 14,2003 in the total amount of $503,599.19. Payroll:The payroll issued on December 31,2002 having been approved pursuant to the rule of the City Council set forth in Moses Lake Municipal Code 3.42.040,was paid by checks 29681 through 29688 in the total amount of $5,818.98. Payroll:The payroll issued on December 31,2002 having been approved pursuant to the rule of the City Council set forth in Moses Lake Municipal Code 3.42.040,was paid by checks 29689 through 29698 in the total amount of $2,017.19. Payroll:The payroll issued on January 3,2003 having been approved pursuant tothe rule ofthe City Council set forth in MosesLake Municipal Code3.42.040,was paid bychecks 29699through 29874 in the total amount of $57,714.46. EMPLOYEE PRESENTATIONS Police Department:Lori Lopez,Police Clerk,was presented to Council. CONSENT AGENDA Request to Use Cascade Park -Northwest W[ater Competition:Northwest Water Competition has //?>/ reque 2003. requested the use of Cascade Park for outboard boat races to be held on September 20-21, Resolutions -Abandon Easements -Sage Vista Major Plat:Three resolutions were presented 'IOis> which abandon easements on the property being platted for the Sage Vista Major Plat. I J Resolution -Quit Claim Deed-Three Ponds-Bross:A resolution was presentedwhich acceptsaquitclaimdeedfromJohnandJillBrossforpropertyadjacenttotheThreePondsProject. Resolution -Accept Donation -SummerConcert Series:A resolution was presented which accepts the funds from various businesses and service clubs donated for the 2002 summer concertseries. /ofa Resolution -Accept Sewer Main - LPS Church:A resolution was presented which accepts the j/b fa sewer main along Nelson Road in connection with the LDS Church plat. Action Taken:Dr.Covey moved that the Consent Agenda be approved,seconded by Mr.Tracy, and passed with Mr.Blessing abstaining from voting on the abandonment of easements for the Sage Vista Plat. )03</ /Q3^ 5931 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES:2 January 14,2003 CONSIDERATION OF BIDS -None PETITIONS.COMMUNICATIONS.OR PUBLIC HEARINGS AWARD -PLANNING COMMISSIONER BILL BAILEY Bill Bailey,a Planning Commissioner for 20 years, was presented witha plaqueto commemoratehisyearsofservicetothecity. SNOW PLOWING -DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ,... ..highwayinside a city'^limits is astate responsibility ora city responsibility.In 1995the Association ofWashington Cities entered into an agreement with the DOT to establish a standard by which to judge who is responsible for the work on a state highway.There are three issues related to snow and ice control:1)isthe road a limited access road;ifitis limited access, the DOT has the responsibilitytomaintainit;2)does the DOT haveto travel through the city tothe limited access road;ifso, theDOTwillprovidethesnowandicecontrol;3)if neither ofthese conditions apply,the DOT will continueto provide snow and ice control ifthe citydoes nothave adequate snow plowequipment. The problem arises inthe interpretation ofadequate. The DOTtakes the position thatifa cityhas snow plow equipment,that is adequate.Since Broadway is not a limited access and DOT crews do not have totravelitto do theirjob,the DOTtakes the positionthat itisthe Cityof Moses Lake's responsibility to providesnow and ice control.The Cityof Moses Lake has contested this view by the DOT and untilthis issue is resolved,the DOT will continue to provide snow and ice control on Broadway. There was considerable discussion by the Council concerning this issue with Chris Christopher,State Maintenance Engineer,Olympia DOT,Lionel Heinold,Area Maintenance Superintendent, Ephrata DOT, Gary Hague, Maintenance Supervisor, Ephrata DOT, and John Wiersma,Lead Tech,Ephrata DOT. It isthe position of the DOTthat they would continue to provide snow and ice controlon Broadway until an agreement is reached with the City of Moses Lake.Chris Christopher,DOT,suggested that the DOT could continue to provide snow and ice control on Broadway if the city were to pay DOT for the cost of that service,which would be about $13,000 per year. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS ORDINANCES -PARKS - 2nd READING Two ordinances were presented which make housekeeping changes related to the names of existing parks. t\d(j,The ordinance amending Chapter 3.34 of the Moses Lake Municipal Code entitled "Park and 'Recreation Department Use Fees"was read by title only. Action Taken:Dr.Covey moved that the second reading of the ordinance be adopted,seconded by Dr.Pearce,and passed unanimously. //Lsi The ordinance amending Chapter 12.36 of the Moses Lake Municipal Code entitled "Park Regulations"was read by title only. Action Taken:Mr.Shinn moved that the second reading of the ordinance be adopted,seconded by Mr.Reese,and passed unanimously. /j^RESOLUTION -AMEND PERSONNEL POLICIES A resolution was presented which brings the city's personnel policies into compliance with state law. The resolution amending Resolution No.2297 setting personnel policies,compensation,and benefits was read by title only. Action Taken:Mr.Pearce moved that the resolution be adopted,seconded by Mr.Reese,and passed unanimously. REQUEST TO CALL FOR BIDS -None REFERRALS FROM COMMISSIONS PARK.RECREATION.AND OPEN SPACE PLAN The Moses Lake Park,Recreation,and Open Space Plan was presented to the Council.The Parks and Recreation Commission recommended that the plan be adopted. There was some discussion and it was the consensus ofthe Council that the Plan be receipted by the Council but that additional time is needed to review the Plan.The Plan will be discussed and reviewed during the 2003 Council/staff retreat. OTHER ITEMS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION BIG BEND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL The Big Bend Economic Development Council submitted an invoice in the amount of $7,100 for 2003 membership dues. n r^ r^ u 5932 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES:3 January 14,2003 Joseph K.Gavinski,City Manager,pointed outthatthisamounthas already been budgeted. Action Taken:Mr.Pearce moved that this invoice be paid,seconded by Mr.Reese,and passed unanimously. GRANT COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL The Grant County Economic Development Council submitted a contract for services for 2003 with a cost of $15,000. Action Taken:Mr.Blessing moved that the City Manager be authorized to sign the contract, seconded by Mr.Shinn, and passed unanimously. BUS TURN-OUT -AQUATIC CENTER Staff provided Council with four options for the provision of bus service along Fourth Avenue near ''' the Aquatic Center. Gary G.Harer,Municipal Services Director,stated that staff looked atthe different options and costs for removing the buses from the travellanes. The least expensive option isto designate a 135'loadingand unloading zone,which will accommodate two buses. There was some discussion by the Council. ActionTaken:Mr.Blessing moved that staff be directedto establish a 135'loading and unloadingzonefortheGrantTransitAuthoritybusesonFourthStreetneartheaquaticcenter,seconded by Mr.Tracy,and passed unanimously. SIGNS IN EASEMENTS Cascade Sign Co. has requested permission to place a free-standing sign within a public utility easement onthe Paradise Short Plat on Pioneer way.Structures havenotbeen permitted within ;r^napublicutilityeasementbuttheCityAttorneyhasdeterminedthatitmaybepossibletoenterinto/CA*^a stipulated agreement with a property owner to allow construction ofa sign in a public utilityeasement. The property owner would assume all responsibility for removal ofthe sign ifneeded. Currently the city's sign regulations do not allow for the placement of signs in a public utility easement.Ifthe Council agrees that a sign could be placed in a public utility easement,the ordinance would have to be amended.Staff is requesting direction from Council on this issue., Mr.Blessing declared a conflict of interest and exited the room. i )Mr.Alvarado pointed outthat in older subdivisions easements were not required,so signscanbe^-^placed closer to Pioneer Way than in some ofthenewly subdivided property which were required to provide a 15'easement along the front property line.Hementionedthatthe Council has allowed the placement of signs incity right-of-wayinthe past.The new sign ordinance does not allowfor the placement of signs in easements. Jim Whitaker,City Attorney,statedthat allowing signs in a public utility easement is reasonableprovidedstandards,such asCouncil permission,size ofsign,and that it is installed at theowner's risk, are provided in the ordinance. There was some discussion and staff was directed to draft an amendment to the sign ordinance to allow signs in public utility easements. NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS -None COUNCIL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS COUNCIL/STAFF RETREAT Dr.Covey suggested that,because of the tight budget this year,the Council consider holding its Council/staff retreat in Moses Lake. There was some discussion and it was the consensus that the Council/staff retreat be held in Moses Lake. Action Taken:Dr.Covey moved that the Council/staff retreat be held in Moses Lake on March 15 and 16,seconded by Mr.Shinn,and passed unanimously. SIDEWALKS i J Mr.Tracy was concerned aboutthe numberof sidewalk repairs and the city's current policy for^-^those repairs. GaryG.Harer,Municipal Services Director,stated thatwhen the cityreceives a complaint aboutasidewalk,the staff checks the sidewalk to verify whether or not there isa tripping hazard.Thecity's current policy defines a 1"difference in the sidewalks asatripping hazard and repair ofthesidewalkisrequired.Sidewalk repair constitutes prying upthe sidewalk andeitherremoving soiloraddingsoiltotake careofthe problem.Grinding or grouting arenot appropriate because manyof the oldsidewalks are only 3.5"thick and grinding them downwouldmake them too thinand grouting does not work. Mr.Tracy stated that he did not agree with the policy that grinding and grouting were viable options for repair of sidewalks so long as itdoes notcreate anothersafety issue. /03A /£& /oy&- lo%( 5933 CITYCOUNCIL MINUTES: 4 January 14,2003 Mr.Pearce stated that he also received a letter requesting that he repair his sidewalk and upon investigating grouting was informed that there is no way to make itwork and grinding is not any less expensive than installing new concrete. There was some discussion bythe Council concerning sidewalk repairs and itwas pointed outthat the city has some responsibility and liability for the safety of users of the sidewalk. It was decided to discuss this issue at retreat. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND COMMENTS INSURANCE SERVICES i .)7V Joseph k.Gavinski,City Manager,reported that the city had received two responses to the request for proposals regarding insurance brokerage services. /o/J It was the consensus of the Council that a committee be formed to review the proposals.Dr. Covey and Mr.Blessing were appointed to the committee. BUDGET -SALARIES Joseph K.Gavinski, CityManager, distributed a spreadsheet reflecting the difference inthe payroll increase from a proposed 5%increase to the actual increases. /03 BUILDING ACTIVITY REPORT The December 2002 building activity report was presented. SALES TAX/TRANSIENT RENTAL INCOME -Joseph K.Gavinski,City Manager,reported that the city received $249,705.72 in sales tax and $24,759.72 in transient rental income in December 2002. GAMBLING TAX REPORT The fourth quarter gambling tax report was presented. )Q0$INVESTMENT REPORT The investment report shows the city received $24,185.07 in income for December 2002. TITLE 20 //^ There was some discussion on the new regulations as outlined under Title 20 and it was deter mined to discuss them at retreat. AGCCT MEETING Joseph K.Gavinski,City Manager, reported that the AGCCT meeting will beheld on Thursday, January 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Museum and Art Center. AWC LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE Joseph K.Gavinski,City Manager,reminded the Council ofthe AWC Legislative Conference inOlympiaonFebruary19and20. A draft letter tothe legislators was distributed and approved to be sent. The regular meeting was recessed at 9:10 p.m. and the Council met in an executive session to discuss labor relations. The executive session was adjourned at 9:45 p.m. and the regular session was reconvened. 7 MAYOR/COUNCIL COMPENSATION SURVEY/Doy The Mayor and Council discussed a review of Mayor and Council compensation for Moses Lake positions. Action Taken:Mr.Blessing moved that staff be directed to prepare a compensation survey ofMayorandCouncilpositionsusingcomparablesappropriatetotheCityofMosesLake,seconded by Mr.Shinn,and passed unanimously. The regular meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m. 5T:Mayor t Finance Director ^