City Council Meetings

MOSES LAKE CITY COUNCIL April 25, 2017 The regular meeting of the Moses Lake City Council was called to order at 7 p.m. by Mayor Voth in the Council Chambers of the Civic Center, 401 S. Balsam, Moses Lake, Washington. Executive Secretary Sophia Guerrero called the roll. The following were: Present: Mayor Todd Voth, Deputy Mayor Karen Liebrecht, and Council members Don Myers, Bill Ecret, David Curnel, Ryann Leonard, and Mike Norman PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Kevin Fuhr, Police Chief, led the Council in the pledge of allegiance. MAYOR’S REPORTS MOSES LAKE DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMEN Council member Curnel presented Certificates of Achievement to the 2018 Moses Lake Distinguished Young Women. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS - None CITY MANAGER’S REPORTS STREET TREES John Williams, City Manager, reported that the trees in the downtown paver district that are overgrown and lifting the grates will be removed by staff during normal operations and not replaced and the existing tree stumps will also be removed by staff. POLICE DEPARTMENT Juan Rodriguez and Kyle McCain, recently promoted to Sergeant, were presented to Council and sworn in. CITIZEN’S COMMUNICATIONS PATHS AND TRAILS Mike Riggs, Trails Planning Team, gave the background on the Trails Planning Team and mentioned that Joe Rogers was instrumental in its beginning and devoted many hours to the development of the program. The Team is requesting that the trail from Big Bend Community College to the Paul Lauzier ballfields be designated as the “Joe Rogers Trail”. He mentioned that grant requests have been submitted to cover the cost of two kiosks and about 4 trail markers. Mayor Voth stated that the City is in the process of reviewing the process of naming City facilities and the request would be taken under advisement. Council member Liebrecht stated that she is in favor of this request and wanted to know when the policy review would be completed. Spencer Grigg, Park and Recreation Director, stated that the Park and Recreation Commission has begun its review and hopes to have a recommendation to the Council in May. CONSENT AGENDA Minutes: The minutes of the April 11 meeting were presented for approval. Approval of Claims, Prepaid Claims, Checks, and Payroll: Vouchers audited and certified by the Finance Director as required by RCW 42.24.080, and those expense reimbursement claims, certified as required by RCW 42.24.090, have been recorded on a listing which has been made available to the Council for approval CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: 2 April 25, 2017 and is retained for public inspection at the Civic Center. As of April 25, 2017 the Council does approve for payment claims in the amount of $410,961.26; prepaid claims in the amounts of $26,988.05 and $115,625.28; claim checks in the amount of $1,076,930.87; and payroll in the amount of $340,409.80. Action Taken: Council member Curnel moved that the Consent Agenda be approved, seconded by Council member Leonard, and passed unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCE TBD ASSUMPTION An ordinance was presented which provides for the City Council to assume the rights, powers, functions, and obligations of the Moses Lake Transportation Benefit District. The public hearing was opened. There were no comments. Action Taken: Council member Leonard moved that the public hearing be closed, seconded by Council member Curnel, and passed unanimously. John Williams, City Manager, explained the process and results if Council were to adopt the ordinance allowing Council to assume the responsibilities of the Moses Lake Transportation Benefit District. The ordinance of the City of Moses Lake, Washington, assuming the rights, powers, functions, immunities, and obligations of the Moses Lake Transportation Benefit District, was read by title only. Action Taken: Council member Norman moved that the ordinance be adopted, seconded by Council member Myers, and passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS ORDINANCE - AMEND 10.12 - PARKING REGULATIONS An ordinance was presented which amends Chapter 10,12, Parking Regulations, by restricting parking on both side of Lakeland Drive from East Oasis Circle to Nelson Road. The ordinance amending Chapter 10.12 of the Moses Lake Municipal Code entitled “Parking Regulations” was read by title only. Action Taken: Council member Leonard moved that the ordinance be adopted, seconded by Council member Ecret, and passed unanimously. ORDINANCE - TERMINATE FRANCHISE An ordinance was presented which terminates the franchise granted to Ken Wiser for a private irrigation main under Truman Drive. With the development of the area by Hayden Homes, the irrigation main is no longer needed. An ordinance repealing Ordinance No. 2484 and terminating the franchise granted therein was read by title only. Action Taken: Council member Liebrecht moved that the ordinance be adopted, seconded by Council member Norman, and passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS ORDINANCE - AMEND 2.44 - PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION An ordinance was presented which amends the duties of the Park and Recreation Commission by eliminating the requirement to review the Parks and Recreation budget. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: 3 April 25, 2017 John Williams, City Manager, explained that no other Commission is charged with reviewing the budget and so it was eliminated from the duties of the Park and Recreation Commission. ORDINANCE - RESCIND 10.24 - PARADE REGULATIONS An ordinance was presented which rescinds the regulations for parades. John Williams, City Manager, stated that the parade regulations have been incorporated into the special event process that was previously adopted so the existing parade regulations are no longer required. DEVIATION REQUEST - PUD - UNDERGROUND UTILITIES The Grant County PUD requested a deviation of the requirement to place new electrical distribution lines underground in the Guffin-Eccles neighborhood. The PUD estimates the cost for undergrounding the line at $500,000 more than just replacing the overhead lines. The Council may approve a deviation if it is determined that the cost of the underground installation, when compared to overhead installation, is disproportionate in comparison to the benefit to be gained by the property and/or public. Shane Lunderville, Supervisor, Planning and Standards, PUD, explained that the proposed overhead rebuild is a part of a larger project. The section proposed to be constructed overhead is approximately 2,300' in length and is located along South B Street and the alley near Rose Avenue. He mentioned that if the line were to be placed underground about 163 customers would be affected with the cost to upgrade the electrical secondary system and the required excavations. There was considerable discussion by the Council. Action Taken: Council member Liebrecht moved that the variance be granted, seconded by Council member Myers. Council member Ecret was opposed to the variance because it is granted each time it is requested and he felt that the variance requirements should be reviewed. Council member Leonard stated that leaving the lines overhead would not cost the homeowners anything but underground would but she would still like to review the ordinance. Council member Liebrecht stated that she likes the look of the area where the lines will be placed underground but in a residential area the cost to place the lines underground is prohibitive. Council member Curnel felt that the number of variances granted to the PUD should be investigated. The motion failed with Council members Liebrecht, Leonard, and Myers in favor and Mayor Voth, Council members Erect, Curnel, and Norman opposed. REC SOLAR GRADE SILICON - WASTE DISCHARGE PERMIT A waste discharge permit for REC Solar Grade Silicon was presented and authorization was requested for the City Manager to sign the permit Shawn O’Brien, City Engineer, stated that this permit is a renewal of the existing permit and there have been no changes in the discharge from REC. Action Taken: Council member Leonard moved that the City Manager be authorized to sign the Industrial Waste Discharge Permit No. 4 for REC Solar Grade Silicon, seconded by Council member Liebrecht, and passed with Mr. Ecret opposed. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT - 9951 HARRIS Ashwani Sharma, ADI Investment LLC, requested an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan to allow a change of the land use designation of property located at the corner of Stratford Road and Harris Road from Residential to Commercial. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: 4 April 25, 2017 Anne Henning, Senior Planner, mentioned that the Council does not have to make a recommendation to the County but simply inform the County that the Council has seen the requested change. Mayor Voth requested staff provide a letter to the County with regard to the current land use regulations and also address the infrastructure situation at the Harris Road site since the City has no utilities in that area. Action Taken: Council member Ecret moved that staff be directed to notify the Grant County Commissioners that the Council has seen the request and include information regarding the City’s current land use regulations and address the infrastructure situation at the Harris Road site since the City has no utilities in that area, seconded by Council member Norman, and passed unanimously. BOND EXTENSION - GERBER The performance bond/savings account for Pacific Northwest Mechanical expired on April 14, 2017. The bond was for the construction of a parking lot at 6171 S. Frontage Road. Anne Henning, Senior Planner, stated that the existing paving on this property was in need of repair so the property owner was allowed to bond for the improvements for two years. The bond expired on April 14, 2017 and because the asphalt plants were not in operation in time to complete the paving the owner has requested an extension of the bond. Action Taken: Mayor Voth moved that the request be granted for one year, seconded by Council member Ecret, and passed unanimously. WATER/SEWER SERVICE - DELEON Robert and Jennifer DeLeon requested permission to connect 1564 Fairway Drive to the City’s sewer system. The property is within one half mile of the city limits which will require the property to be annexed or the property owners to sign an Extra Territorial Utility Agreement. Shawn O’Brien, City Engineer, stated that the property owners intend to use a domestic well even though City water is available to the lot. Robbie DeLeon, 1703 Fairway, stated that he has his own well but does not want to deal with a drain field and would prefer to connect to City sewer. There was considerable discussion by the Council Action Taken: Council member Ecret moved that the request for City sewer be granted, with the stipulation that an Extra Territorial Utility Agreement be required, and because there is an existing well the property not be required to connect to City water, seconded by Council member Norman, and passed with Council member Liebrecht opposed due to the possibility of setting a precedent. BID AWARD - SEAL COAT PROJECT The City received two bids for the 2017 Seal Coat Project. This project includes seal coating approximately 156,800 square yards of existing streets. Shawn O’Brien, City Engineer, stated that the bids were over the engineer’s estimate but within the budgeted amount and explained the increases in the bid amounts. There was some discussion by the Council. Action Taken: Council member Ecret moved that the bid be awarded to Granite Construction in the amount of $683,300, seconded by Council member Curnel, and passed unanimously. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS - None COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS - None CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: 5 April 25, 2017 EXECUTIVE SESSION The regular meeting was adjourned at 8:18 p.m. and the Council met in a 20 minute executive session with the City Attorney under RCW 42.30.110(I) to discuss potential litigation. No action to follow. At 8:31 the Council extended the executive session for an additional 30 minutes. At 9:01 the Council extended the executive session for an additional 10 minutes. At 9:11 the Council extended the executive session for an additional 20 minutes. At 9:38 the Council extended the executive session for an additional 15 minutes. At 9:57 the Council extended the executive session for an additional 5 minutes. At 10:01 the Council extended the executive session for an additional 5 minutes. The executive session was adjourned at 10:06 p.m. and the regular meeting was reconvened. ADJOURNMENT: The regular meeting was adjourned at 10:06 p.m. ________________________________________ ATTEST Todd Voth, Mayor ____________________________________ W. Robert Taylor, Finance Director