1979 07 31 Study SessionCITY OF MOSES LAKE
CITY COUNCIL STUDY,SESSION .,
COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ,.COUNCIL CHAMBERS-
July 31,1979 ''8:00 P.M.
Roll Call:Councilmen present:Donald E.Swanson,Robert Hill,Barry Ziegler,
Kent Jones.Absent:Stephen Shinn and Eric Skaug
This special study session was set to discuss the Larson Housing area,Big
Bend Community College,and Columbia Basin Job Corps Conservation Center
annexation to the City of Moses Lake.
The Mayor call the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m.
A letter to the Mayor and the Moses Lake City Council from City Manager,R.
Douglas Zenor,was read which listed the attachments that were distributed to
the Council and members of the audience.
Mayor Swanson asked the City Manager to go over the 5-year revenue and expend
iture projection.Mr.Zenor explained the report stating that the figures had
not been updated and were estimated.
Mr.Ziegler asked if the Council had figures from the housing authority of how
many units are currently rented.Mr.Herb Snelgrove from the Housing Authority
replied that there were 680.
Mr.Ziegler asked how many units have been sold,and Mr.Snelgrove replied
that 240 had been sold and there are 125 pending sales,and there will be 93
other units available for sale this year.'
Mr.Ziegler asked how many units were vacant,and Mr.Snelgrove'replied that"
there were 200 units vacant.
Mr.Ziegler asked about the 14 units that are presently being utilized as
moderate and low income housing,and wanted to know if there was a total
number of homes that would be set aside for low income homes,and Mr.Snelgrove
replied that the Housing Authority has no way of determining that,HUD is the
only one who makes those decisions,it could remain 14 for a long period of
time,because they are not approved as easily in a rural area,but he assured
Mr.Ziegler that it probably would never jump to a high figure like 200-300
units.
Mr.Ziegler asked Clyde Owens of the Port of Moses Lake,that since the Port
passed a resolution not to join in the annexation he wondered about fire
protection.Mr.Owens replied that it would be what fire protection could be
made available to other parts of the area.
Mr.Ziegler remarked that the college stated they were willing to pay a
certain dollar amount,and asked what the cost currently is.Pete DeVries of
Big Bend Community College stated that the cost would be $9,000 to $10,000 a
year.
Mr.Ziegler asked if they were providing any money to Fire District #5?Mr.
DeVries answered they they were not.
Mr.Barney stated that since Councilman Shinn and he both owned property in
the area,would they have to abstain in the annexation process?City Attorney,
Joe Gavinski stated that they should abstain from voting on resolutions and
ordinances.
Mr.Barney said that maybe he should withdraw until the Port decided to be
annexed.Mr.Gavinski stated that that would have to be a decision that they
would have to make personally.
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Mr.Hill asked about the duplexes in the area and Stan Bech,Community Develop
ment Director stated that those area where there are duplexes now and are best
suited for duplexes would be in R-2 zoning that allows duplexes.Mr.Snelgrove
stated that the Rl zoning in the county allowed duplexes.
Mr.Hill questioned about the mobile home park in the area and whether it was
included in the property tax considerations?Mr.Zenor replied that it was.
Mr. Jones stated that it was a mobile home subdivision and the owners own each'
lot individually.
Mr.Ziegler wondered what would happen if the area would be annexed if there
would be any problems,Mr.Bech answered that there would not be because the
City has a zone that would allow mobile home subdivisions.
Mr.Jones stated that a number of people did not want to be annexed,and Mr.
Zenor replied that the City has not had any contact from them.The boundaries
that were submitted to the City for annexation were submitted by the Housing
Authority.
Mr.Hill requested that the map showing the boundaries be shown on the overhead
projector and the lines could be adjusted at this time.
Mr.Owens stated that the map included some property belonging to the Port
within the boundaries and pointed out the property so that it could be removed
from the annexation area.
Mr.Ziegler asked if it was the time and place to begin to discuss the method
of annexation,he was in favor of the election method.
Mr.Hill stated that he agreed with Mr.Ziegler.
Mr. Jones stated that he would like to have some kind of election results also.
Mr.Barney asked if there were any home owners associations.
Jim Evans,a resident of the area to be annexed stated that he represented only
five residents,that he had an interest in the annexation and questions that he
wanted answered,but after having received a copy of the information submitted
by the City Manager,that he felt that his questions were answered.
Bill Frederickson,County Commissioner,stated that he was here on behalf of
the county and he felt that without question,the annexation should be a vote
of the people.He said that any income in revenue the city takes is income
from the county.He stated that the county would probably have to release five
deputies.He recommended that the city absorb these employees.He stated the
county does not use LID's.The county also removes snow that will become an
issue before the city.That's an issue that the people talk about.As far as
fire insurance is concerned,there are probably 100 homes out there and there
is no difference in the policies that he has written out there.The annexation
should be the feelings of all parties.If it's annexed you are talking close to
4,000 people.They should have 1/3 of the City Council positions and you
should have fair representation.
Mr.Ziegler stated that the Council has been concerned with anticipated revenues,
but felt that they had been talking about a governmental trade.
Mr.Frederickson said that the county would definitely be losing,that's the
big issue.The County is talking about $600,000 of per capita in the county,
that is 25%of the county population.
Mr.Ziegler stated that from what Mr.Frederickson was saying that the county
would be losing more than it was gaining,and asked what is the county's
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City Council study session:July 31,1979:Page 3
position was?..Mr.Frederickson replied that the county was not in favor of
the annexation,but it is getting to be a problem.The county is going to
fight to protect the farm land.He felt it's the extension of the state's
credit.The LID that annexed areas use compared to the county that requires
the money up front,and now with the city letting the LID's go for 20 years,
the county does not do.that.
Mr.Hill stated that Mr.Frederickson has made a good point about losing five
deputies and wondered if they qualified to be Moses Lake Firemen.
Mr.Ownes stated that they are trained firemen.
Mr.Frederickson said that some of the firemen are under the old LEOFF system.
Mr.Owens stated that the position of the county is that they have eight
people on their force—five are firemen and three acting as firemen and also
qualify as deputy sheriffs.
Russ Beeman,Moses Lake Fire Chief stated that that decision would depend on
the Moses Lake Civil Service Commission.
Mr.Hill asked about the annexation of the base increasing the population to
over 15,000 and what that would do to our city.Mr.Zenor related the Police
Union would have final binding arbitration and we would take over the signal^
ization of Broadway.He did not think the city would take over the signals on
Patton Boulevard.
Mr.Barney said that the image has always been the "old"Larson Force Base he
would like to see the city accept the annexation.
Mr.Jones stated that he was for the election method and let the people vote on
it.
Mayor Swanson:I think we should instruct city staff to proceed with this and
bring it back on the Council Agenda on the meeting of August 14th.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
ATTEST *J ^^Mayor Donald E.Swanson
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