Loading...
1975 03 11LJ CJ CITY COUNCIL MEETING -Regular Session Council Room -City Hall March 11,1975 8:00 P.M. 2 mi Members present -Councilman Robert Hill,Bill Moe,Norman Johnson,Michael Boyle,Gordon Ebbert,and Don Swanson .Councilman Otto Skaug was not present. Invocation:Leigh Nygard,Free Methodist Church Mayor Ebbert called the meeting to order and announced that Boy Scout Troop No.69 was In attendance tonight with Scout Master Lavon Palmer and he welcomed them and appreciated their taking an interest ;ln Council meetings and hoped it meant quite a bit to them. Mayor Ebbert proceeded to the items on the Agenda for the meeting by asking for approval of the minutes of the previous meeting of February 25,1975.Motion by Boyle to approve the minutes as written.Second by Johnson.Motion carried. Mayor Ebbert read a letter addressed to him from Glen Barnhill that he wanted read before the Council for their information stating that he is in favor of the Ranch &Home Store the way it is.As a farming area he see's nothing wrong with the way Ranch &Home has it's farm equipment displayed. REGULAR BILLS GENERAL STREET ARTERIAL STREET FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING WATER/SEWER SANITATION 1972 WATER/SEWER CONSTRUCTION FUND EQUIPMENT RENTAL AMOUNT PAID $12,608.40 6,586.85 2,473.83 4,456.99 4,445.43 11,187.34 35,404.84 20,610.83 Motion by Moe that the regular bills be paid as presented.Second by Swanson.Motion carried. Warrant No's.2521 thru 2613 in the amount of $97,774.51 were approved for payment. ORDINANCE NO.717 -AMENDING FIRE ALARM ORDINANCE -second reading The ordinance was read by title only.The proposed amendment would require only those complexes that exit to the interior to have an alarm system.Specifically,Section 3.29.20,Sub-Section (1)C. as amended reads:"Apartment houses two (2) or more stories in height and containing three (3)or more units,unless each unit exits directly to the exterior of the building."This is the only change from the original ordinance. Motion by Hill to adopt the ordinance.Second by Johnson.Motion carried. ORDINANCE NO.718-ON-SITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS -second reading The ordinance was read by title only.Section l,was changed to specifically stipulate 'original design' of construction and installation of on-site waste disposal systems.Section 2,sub-paragraph A.in the last line was added,'or a Designer certified by the Director of Public Works.'Sub-paragraph B is new stipulating that if the soil characteristics are well-known,requlTements of a percolation test may be waived.Section 3.is new in that a designer program shall not be required for repair,modification or replacement of existing on-site sewage disposal systems. /O?^ Motion by Johnson to accept the ordinance as changed as final.Second by Boyle.Motion carried. RESOLUTION NO.706 -SHARON AVENUE WATER MAIN EASEMENT A letter was read from Jerry Fay,Public Works Director,and forwarding for Council action a resolution accepting a utility easement for the Sharon Avenue Water Main from Division Street to Skyline Drive. The main was Installed in 1974,at which time an easement was acquired from Viola Michel and Lorene Campbell.The easement has not been presented to Council for acceptance. ;osj> The ordinance was read by title only accepting the easement.Motion by Swanson to adopt the resolution. Second by Hill.Motion carried..:•-..:..„....:... - . BASIN ^COMMUNICATIONS -AGREEMENT .a -.. Aletter was read from M.G.McLanahan,Assistant-Public Works Director,stating that Roland Kissler JOS/dba Basin Communications,requests permission to install an antenna on Water Tank #2 and place a /^o transmitter in Wellhouse #5. These structures are located in Lakeview Park at Clover and Dahlia Drive."\\1^ Asimilar installation at the same location Is desired by Police Department. This will provide them more effective radio communications. The City of Moses Lake agrees to furnish electrical power to operate the transmitter. Basin Communication U u 2183 City Council Meeting Minutes:3 March 11,1975 RECOMMENDATION FOR A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MOSES LAKE SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT .__^ A letter was read from Mayor Ebbert stating that Bill Brotherton has agreed to serve as a representa tive for the City of Moses Lake on the Board of the Moses Lake Soil Conservation District,and he requested Council confirmation to recommend him to the Board for appointment as an Associate Supervisor. Mayor Ebbert added that Mr.Brotherton is well qualified and is highly accepted by the Soil Conservation people.He is presently on the Park &Recreation Commission.He may continue in that line,however, if the meetings get too involved he prefers to stay on the Conservation program. Moved by Hill,second by Johnson to confirm the Mayor's recommendation of Bill Brotherton to the Moses Lake Soil Conservation District for appointment as an Associate Supervisor. WASHINGTON STATE TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION PROTECTS. ///7AletterwasreadfromJerryFay.Public Works Director,attaching detailed task descriptions for the / Traffic Safety ProjectsandrequesteCouncil approval prior to submittal to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.The City tentatively has been allocated $9,900 in grant monies to accomplish the tasks. The Tasks submitted are: Standard #614 -Task #1 -Pedestrian Safety Study $900 Standard #612 -Task #2 -Inventory Hazardous Fixed Objects 2000 Standard #612 -Task #1 -Skid Resistant Inventory 1000 Standard #613 -Task #1 -Traffic Control Devices 6000 $9900 Jerry added this is the cumulative of our efforts for the $9,900-100%grant funds In our traffic work program for the Fiscal Year 1976 (July 1,1975 - June 30, 1976). The areas in most cases are identical and they do vary from time to time. Bob Hill inquired,when-we dothe skid test dowe have to reimburse the Stateoutof our own funds? Jerry Fay stated there will be a $1,000 grant funded for this reimbursement. Motion by Hill permission be granted to proceed with the programs as submitted.Second by Boyle. Motion carried. USE OF CITY VEHICLES Councilman Bob Hill requested this item be placed on the Agenda.Aletter was read from City Manager /'Q/£> Chester L.Waggener,in response to Bob Hill's inquiry of January 17,1975 regarding use of city vehicles. He listed those city employees authorized to drive vehicles home for off-duty calls.Also on a seasonal basis a park maintenance manwho is assigned to work a week-end split shift is authorized to take a pickup home.The City policy regarding use of city vehicles is frequently reviewed,with the latest review having been made in October,1974.Only those employees who are subject to emergency calls on a rather frequent basis or who"have need to report directly to a job site are authorized,evening use of city vehicles. City employees are not authorized to use city vehicles for personal use of any kind such as family shopping at a grocery store,etc.If aware of any violation of this procedure,he would appreciate knowing about it. The City employees that are authorized to take vehicles home on evenings are also authorized to use them for lunch on the basis that they often respond to a job site or to some location other than their normal working area.This simply provides more efficient use of the employees'time and thus accrues to the benefit of the city. Bob Hill stated that his letter to Mr.Waggener was prompted as results of some of his observations and a few calls he received.In the 6 to 7 names listed he does not quite see the justification of furnish ing cars specifically.He added,I would like to know how many times they are called out and for what purpose on evenings such as for Mr. Kimball, Mr. Lee and Mr. Fay on an emergency basis.I think we are spending a lot of gas money for where they might be living;we are extending our insurance coverage more vulnerable for accidents.I would just like some justification for taking cars home.Or maybe what justifies them being allowed to take cars home, I can't imagine the Building Inspector having any night inspections. Chet Waggener asked to answer in a general way to the City Council.First he would like to state perhaps It is general policy of where I think we are at.We lave adopted the budget which rather than going into line item detail is a results oriented budget.The Council then establishes through general policy the re sults of what they expect us to achieve in that budget,and it is Up to staff then and as City Manager to utilize our personnel and equipment to the finances and resources allocated in the budget to most effectively produce those results.These vehicles then I believe are assigned to most effectively utilize the services of these particular people,and emphasize that the use'of the vehicles is supposed to be for the city benefit and not for the employee's benefit,and it is on that basis that the assignments were made. It might also be worth noting that there will be other assignments made or people allowed to take vehicles home during the summer construction schedule.For instance when we get engineers employed that operateasInspectorsduringthesummerconstructionseason,I will grant authorization for them to take-vehicles •'.{'•*'\ .2184 City Council Meeting Minutes:4 March 11,1975 home because they too will be reporting directly to a Job site,and in that Instance they will be pafd on an overtime basis and it will be simply a matterof cutting dowi on the amount of overtime pay.,I thinkthis is a common policy in both government and in cities; I don't think it is outof lineat all with what other cities around us and throughout the state are doing. •Specifically you asked a question about Mr.Kimball.Yes,he does quite often make inspections on weekendsandevenings.I hope you will notwant these key people in ourorganization to start working a strict 40-hourweek,becausethey work far In excess ofthat and utilize city vehicles in doing so. Bob Hill- I presume you are saying that is an administrative matter which I think maybe it is,but goingbeyondthat. I still donotsee the justification. I don't care what othercities around us do.We are concerned,at leastI am concerned .about the expenditures in Moses Lake,and I justthink we are providing too much transportation for some of our city people. Bill Moe - in defense of our policy,I think our policy has been established by accepting the budget and byputtinginputintothebudgetandonthatbasiswehavemadeourdecisiontoallowwhatweareallowinghereCertainlythe useofthe cars is not for personal transportation.I hope that isn't being criticized here because I know thatit is not. If there are any instances, the Council should be made aware of it,I am sure. So, I cannotsee anything wrong withour policy that we have already established here. Bob Hill - I don't know ifthis came up in any budget discussion for theuseof cars,but I.feltthat wouldbemostof the Council'sreaction, butI thought it should be aired to the public. I cited the three cases that I question the need of a car that frequently. .Mayor Ebbert -in the case for instance of Bob Kimball inthe evening or early morning that he should use his own vehicle rather than the city's.? Bob Hill -no not at all - I just question how many cases you would have that;a few times he might have it he can come in and get his city vehicle and go out on his job. Mayor Ebbert -do you wish toseta minimum inrelation to the necessity for any particular . Bob Hill -No,I think It is .pointless Mr.Mayor.I merely wanted toairit because I do not think it is• a good policy and I would think it should be brought out inthe open.|—•*- Mike Boyle - I would concur in Mr.Moe's thinking on the policy ofthe use of city cars.I believe that ipeoplespecifiedhereWtieuoftheirabsencetheotherpeoplespecified,certainly would not be condoned (as far as personal use ofthese vehicles,and I am sure that this is not the case. Ifthere are calls thathavebeenmadeto city councilmen I would think that the first place we should come to is the city admini stration and make our objections known.Was there anything specific? Bob Hill - I believe the problems thatI was alluding to have been corrected.More specifically,the cityemployeegoingtothegrocerystorewasoneofthepartiesthatlivesonthebase.I don't recall which one. I just wanted it aired,'Mr. Mayor. Let's move on to the next item. CITIZEN INPUT Dick Collier commented on Mr.McLanahan's efforts that hehas put forth regarding the letterthat hewrotetoanumberofpeopleinrelationtothewaterproblemthatwehaveinlowerpartoftown.I appreciated it very much. STATUS/INFORMATIONAL 911 Emergency Telephone System -Chief of Police >\Q{q ,,.,«,...„-,naif*»r Police Chief stating after numerous meetings with other emergency ing to the Councilwithadditional information. Installation of Parking Meters -Chief of Police |Hb'Chief Baker submitted aletter stating ^^^eTeTca^nl?an^Tng^XfromtheTrafficAppliancefCorporation^\^^'^^^\^^^^b new meters will startcompletedtheirplanning^r installation.Itis anticipated tne ™™^£w meters have an option for {He »:?s?o«5^^sK^,^»si-.&s:Sf^-£«no way raanda-to?y and will only give atotal of two hours,which Is the limit for agiven parking space. City Council Meeting Minutes:5 March 11,1975 School Tire &Tube bid -Assistant Public Works Director Aletter was submitted and read from M. G.McLanahan stating the Moses Lake School District hasincluded the City of Moses Lake and Moses Lake Port District as participants to the contract fortheir annual invitation to bid for supply of tires and tubes.The current contract expires on April I,1975.The schedule requests the bids be opened at Moses Lake School District Purchasing Office on March 11,1975.The bids will then be evaluated for award presentation by City Councilon March 25,1975. City Manager: Reminded the City Council of the Study Session scheduled for March 18,1975 at 8:00 P.M.regarding the Basin Water Sources,Inc.,franchise. Association of Washington Cities Annual Conference: The City Manager announced the AWC Annual Conference will be held in Richland at the Hanford HousethisyearfromJune17ththroughthe20,1975.He urged all Councilman to attend since it would be very beneficial to exchange ideas and sure they will find it very worthwhile. Those that can find time to go should return the housing reservation forms as quickly as possible. Meeting adjourned at 9:15 P.M. J^.<£e*J&t,A • MAYOR -Gordon M.Ebbert ATTEST: City Clerk,R. R.Gagnier 2185 '.