1972 07 11COUNCIL MEETING -Regular Session July 11,1972
Council Chambers 8:00 P.M.
. .'Members present:Councilman Robt.E.Hill,W.B.Moe,Norman W.Johnson,Gordon M.Ebbert,
Otto M.Skaug,Ernest V.Lindell and Michael Boyle.
Mayor Skaug called the meeting to order.Pastor Mel Johnson of the Seven Day Advent'istHShurch gave the
J1 .invocation.
Mayor Skaug called for approval of the minutes of the previous meeting on June 27,1972.Motion by Johnson
'/that the minutes be approved as written.Second by Boyle.Motion carried.
REGULAR BILLS TOTAL AMOUNT PAID
FUND
GENERAL $4,344.83
A - STREET 3,502.43
»-PARK 828.17
LIBRARY 4,325.78
'URBAN ARTERIAL 32,503.00
WATER/SEWER -9,580.04
EQUIPMENT RENTAL 552.90
Motion by Hill that the regular bills be paid.Second by Lindell.Motion carried.
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Warrant No's.2730 through 278S in the amount of $55,637.15 were approved for payment.
CONSIDERATION OF BIDS -LID NO.26
Aletter was read from Public Works Director,Richard Weaver, stating that bids were opened on the '^
above project July 11,1972 at 9:00 A,M.McAtee and Heathe,Inc.,was the only bidder for the amount
of $3,501.00.and he recommended that the bid be accepted.The Engineers'estimate was $3,200.00.
Motion bylbhnson to accept the bid and award the contract to McAtee &Heathe,Inc.for $3,501.00.
Second by Hill.Motion carried.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE -REQUEST TO COVER PARKING METERS
Aletter was read from Pat Banks,Chairman of the Business Division of the Chamber d Commerce,///^
>requesting parking meter covers on the 14th and 15th of July during their Sidewalk Sale promotion.
Motion by Boyle,second by Johnson,that the request be granted.
Councilman Hill stated that perhaps they should be restricted for the sidewalk sale to display merchandise
«r either on the building side or the curb-side and not on both.Last year it was quite a mess without allow-
f ing hardly any walking space.I thinktte-public walking down the street should be able to walk two abreast
without fighting their way through the shoppers and the merchandise.It should still be a public right of way.
'Mayor Skaug stated that probably we should suggest they exercise some caution on this and see how it
works out this year.Motion carried.
Mayor Skaug also commented that it seems there have been advertisements in the newspaper regarding
this upcoming sidewalk sale before the request was acted upon by the Council.If for some reason a
Council quorum could not be met at this meeting or if the Council-denied the request outright —per
haps we should talk to Mr.Robinson about this.I see no reason they cannot come in some time in
advance.They have these set up in advance,no doubt.
INTER-RACIAL COMMISSION -RESIGNATION
The City Manager submitted a letter to Council stating that resignations from the Inter-Racial Commission
have been received from Jim Mendez and from Howard Nanto.Both resignations are occasioned because
the individuals are moving from the community.
Mayor Skaug advised the Council that out of the nine members this leaves four members and a couple of
these are not considered "active"and should be replaced due to their inability or lack of interest in
attending meetings.He stated he is still appealing to the Council to fill appointments to this Commission
which is very much inoperative with less than a quorum now.
Councilman Johnson asked if they are required to be residents within the City,and if not,thought they
should.We should find enough people in the City to serve on this Commission,he stated.Mayor Skaug
noted that appointments to this Commission have not been rade because there has not been a very prevailingJnumberofpeopleseekingtoserveonthisCommission.
Motion by Johnson suggesting that letters should be sent to Jim Mendez and Howard Nanto expressing
appreciation of their participation as members of the Inter-Racial Commission.Second by Skaug.
Motion carried.
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Council Minutes:2 July 11,1972
PARK &RECREATION COMMISSION -RE-APPOINTMENT
\Q I'Mayor Skaug stated that in connection with filling vacancies on Commissions he would like to presentIto Councilthe re-appointmentof Bill Brothertonlll as a member of the Park&Recreation Commission.
He has consented to serve again.His term expired June 1, 1972. With this re-appointment the Commission-
will be up to£ull strength.t , •
Motion by Ebbert to confirm the re-appointment.Second by Lindell.Motion carried.<?"
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES -TAIL INSPECTION REPORT '*
\1 fl The Department of Social & Health Services submitted a report completed by their Jail Inspector.City Manager Waggennr stated the report reiterates what they have previously reported, although there,
are some changes noted that might affect us,and perhaps Police Chief Bjorkcould enlighten the Council
regarding this inspection and summarize it..
Chief Bjork stated this is an annual report by the Department,and also the Grant County Health Department
makes periodic reports.The mostcritical change is the recommendation that we hold prisoners no longer
than 2 to 4 hours maximum.The nearest jail to meet approval is the County Jail.At the present time
prisoners are held over night; but we will have to meet the 2 to 4 hour recommendation that they put in the
jail report.Some of the other deficiencies noted the chain-hung bunks, whichare no longer recommended
for use;improper plumbing -referring to the improper type of water closets that are no longer standard,and
also no drinking fountain in the cell.Presently they recommend a combinationwater closet and drinking ,
fountain.One of the other areas where they mark us down real seriously is that we do not have dining room
facilities for the prisoners;a tray is brought in from the restaurant and the prisoner eats his meal while
sitting on the bunk.This does not pass the standards.The other things our jail cannot meet is the mini
mum floor space for each prisoner,and also the ventilation and heating system does npt qualify.The most
critical is the maximum holding time from 2 to 4 hours.
Councilman Ebbert asked - how compulsory is this?Do they give us a time limit as to when this will have
to be done?
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Chief Bjork stated,this report goes to the Legislature,and the Department of Social &Health Services
is directed through the Legislature.It depends on how far they will go on this.We have booking agree-
merilswith the County, they book their prisoners here in this area as well as the State Patrol and we charge
them $2.15 a day for bookings and they charge $2.15 a day for the prisoners they hold for us.That was a
figure established years ago.
Councilman Ebbert asked Chief Bjork - -What Is your recommendation?
Chief Bjork - My recommendation is that we get into serious study for new facilities -not a large jail,
but a minimum security type release barracks where people are housed to fulfill their sentences nights and
weekends and still stay employed;a minimum size jail for felonies,people awaiting court,investigation
types,etc.,for emergency holding and not plan a large jail type facility.
Councilman Ebbert -Would that have to include a drunk tank?
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Councilman Moe asked Chief Bjork - Your comments are mostly on jail facilities,but in your recommenda-*J
tions do you include the police department?*O
Chief Bjork stated -we are very much in need of police department facilities.We have far outgrown our
facilities.We need in this area for the total community,probably as much work space for the County
Sheriff's department as for our own people,and we need space for Juvenile people,for court room and
court office space very badly.This would all be one plan,jnoreor less a County-City building.Possibly
the minimum security type barracks could be operated by the Sheriff's Department and could be located
away fromthe main facilities.
Councilman Boyle asked Chief Bjork - -Basically we would be in the same situation as we are now?
Chief Bjork -Yes,but a short-time holding facility.We should not plan for long-time holding maximum
security;that could be done at the County Jail.The work release program has a lot of merit.The Sheriff's
Department cannot operate that type of program out of their maximum facility.Also they are too far removed
from the employment area,such as the agricultural work.«—*
Councilman Ebbert asked -What is the source of funds to support a situation such as this ?
Chief Bjork stated that he has been looking into the possibility of getting some Law &Justice funds, and 1
emphasis is being placed on updating present facilities,and perhaps they will turn loose some funding
for various types of facilities.Some cities have obtained work release funds,but have not exceeded 50%
matching money in any instance-;that seems io be the limit.
Chief Bjork stated -No,in January 1974 the trunk tank will be eliminated.Anyone in violation of being
drunk will no longer be lodged in jail,but in a treatment facility,except if they drive while "intoxicated,
that is still a criminal act.
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Council Minutes:3 July 11,1972
Councilman Boyle asked -What Is the normal procedure,say on a Friday :night when an altercation .
occurs downtown.If they are taken over to Ephrata,does one of our officers take them over there?
Chief Bjork stated that we book them here.If it is a State Patrol booking,a trooper takes them;if it
Is ourrbooking,then one of our officers takes them over to Ephrata.Councilman Boyle then commented,
that if our officers have to take them over there,it is roughly one to one and a half hours they will not
.be available here?o
Chief Bjork stated -that is correct.We booked 695 people in our jail last year.If they did not bail out,
•we have to go over to Ephrata and get them and appear before a Judge.It does require a lot of travel.
Upon inquiry from Councilman Ebbert as to when the 2 to 4 hours maximum holding would go into effect,
City Manager Waggener stated that he did not see any immediate pressure from the Department,but he
does see.it within another year or so,and we should start planning for a new facility..
This report was presented to City Council for informational purposes at this time; no action required.
REOUEST'TO CALL BIDS -GRAPE DRIVE PAVING ^
O "PublicWorks DirectorWeaverstated that the project is being brokendown into two phases,and find /Csf 7
1>'we are^aving about 30%in so doing.Phase II for Grape Drive calls for sidewalks and paving and
00 possibly traffic signals.The awaidihg of bid can be made at the first Council meeting in August.
*r\Motion by Lindell tp grant permission to call for bids for Grape Drive Project,Phase II. Second by
/—*i Hill.Motion carried.
^PROGRESS REPORT -GRAPE DRIVE PROTECT
Public Works Director Weaver statedthatthe project was started on June 5th and scheduled for completion JO/f
on August 17.*At the present time the contractor is on schedule.Gostovich has never used a CPM (criticalpattymethod)system of job scheduling before; but after they went to 12-hour days, 6 days a week, they
turned over the intersection for paving today.
He commented that possibly people have asked some of the Councilmen just what is going on,especially
at the intersection of Valley and Grape Drive.The whole project revolves around this intersection.We
cut down this intersection because in the past this has been a dangerous intersection with traffic approach
ing it coming up a hill.Lowering it will eliminate the hazardous conditions,but it is a real problem.We
purchased two buildings that are being demolished and another building that will be demolished.Also we
are regrading some of the adjoining property and have permission to cut it down so it fits with the lowering
of the intersection.We will be coming back to the regrading after finishing the piping contract.All the
water lines had to be lowered,and also the telephone lines were not right.The existing facilities were not
put in at grade.Presently it looks like everybody is left up in the air,but will be put back by grading.
.He also-mentioned,that the project should be in between contractors when the Fair is going on,and if
things stay on schedule,the road will be in shape during that time.
REQUEST TO PAVE A PORTION OF MILWAUKEE AVENUE
Aletterwas read from the Community Devebpment Director,Larry Hibbard,stating thata request was re-JO'//
ceivecLfrom Bill Brotherton of Brotherton Seed Company to pave a portion of Milwaukee Avenue between
his warehouse and his storage area.An earlier attempt to form an L.I.D.for the entire street did not gain
'support from adjacent property owners.The City's policy has been not improve only a portion of a block,
and that when an improvement is made that it be improved to City Community Standards with curbs,gutters
and sidewalks.The Planning Commission considered this item at their Jun«29th meeting and felt that the
present policy is good for residential and commercial areas in the City,but that they may not always apply
.in industrial areas,and recommended the Council grant the request along with the following conditions to
be met:1.Drainage from this paved area would be collected into dry wells.2.Along with the dry wells,
provisions should be made providing drain gutters in the asphalt.3.Should a special use permit be author
ized for paving something less than the total black,this permit should be accompanied by an agreement that
would assure the City of Moses Lake that there be no opposition by Brotherton Seed Company to any future
street improvements that might be considered along this block.
City Manager Waggener stated that we normally recommend against this type of development,but in this
instance being in an industrial section and almost impossible for an LID to go in,and also it is definitely
not a through street,there would be no objections.Neither have adjacent-property owners filed objections.
s Motionby Boyle that the request be granted and the conditions recommended by the Community Development
Director,Larry Hibbard,be made a part of the permit.Second by Johnson.
Upon inquiry from Councilman Hill,the City Manager stated that Brotherton Seed would probably provide the
engineering and the City Engineering Department would have to give some supervision.
Motion carried.
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Council Minutes : 4 July 11,1972
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS -OFFER TO SELL PIT SITE GT 67
A letter was read from the City Manager stating that the Washington State Department of Highways has"
expressed their Intent to sell their pit site GT 67,and has offered to sell the land to the City of Moses
Lake at their appraisal of $14,340.Their proposal was referred to the Planning Commission,who has
recommended purchase by the City.The City had previously offered to purchase this site from the State
for use as a boat launching area.Since that time however,the City acquired 22 acres on the opposite
side of the Peninsula for waterfront park and boat launching purposes.Also the pit site would be difficult
to develop;it is on the windward side of the Lake,which has disadvantages as a boat launching and
moorage facility.It is also almost directly across the Lake from the privately operated Westlake Marina.
The property currently owned by the City is more suitable for boat launching purposes and would adequately
serve the Peninsula area,and suggested that future expenditures for park purposes would be more advantageous
ly made at other locations.
Afterthe area was pointed out on the large city map,since some of the councilmen were not sure of the
exact location of the parcel of land,it was the consensus of the Council the City not go into the real es
tate business.City Manager Waggener commented that with our tight budget he would be hesitant to
recommend the City invest for future developing or obtaining it for trading property purposes.
Motion by Hill to decline the offer.Second by Skaug.Mayor Skaug commented that it would take an
awful lot of doing unless we have some immediate use for it.This area amounts to about 10 acres and
if our thinking is parkwise,we could well look at something that the Lee Street Park be enlarged instead
of being a single-lot size park.Motion carried.
Before the meeting adjourned ,Mr.Nash of Big Bend Community College,was recognized by the Mayor,
he stated that he wished to inform the Council that security type barracks are already out at the former
Larson Air Force Base.
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Meeting adjourned at 9:15 P.M.
ATTEST
MAYOR,-Otto M.SKaug
Clerk,Charles Daveroort