City Council Meetings

MOSES LAKE CITY COUNCIL October 10, 2017 CALL TO ORDER: The regular meeting of the Moses Lake City Council was called to order at 7 p.m. by Mayor Liebrecht in the Council Chambers of the Civic Center, 401 S. Balsam, Moses Lake, Washington. ROLL CALL: Executive Secretary Sophia Guerrero called the roll. The following were: Present: Mayor (Acting) Karen Liebrecht, and Council members Don Myers, Ryann Leonard, and David Curnel. Absent: Council member Norman. Action taken: Council member Leonard made a motion for Council member Norman’s unexcused absence from tonight’s meeting, seconded by Council member Curnel, and passed unanimously. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council member Myers, led the Council in the pledge of allegiance. SUMMARY REPORTS: MAYOR’S REPORTS - None ADDITIONAL BUSINESS - None CITY MANAGER’S REPORTS 2018 Budget Presented City Manager, John Williams informed Council the 1st copy of the City Manager’s balanced budget at the fund level has been presented. Attached is a memo explaining details of the budget. A retreat has been scheduled for Saturday, October 21st to discuss in more detail the 2018 Budget. FCS Group Presentation – Cost of Service Study Peter Moy and John Montenero from the FCS Group presented to Council an Ambulance Utility Cost of Service and Rate Study. The Moses Lake City Council asked FCS to gather information and study overall ambulance cost of service study, Fire Department performance, identify organizational and operational issues, and conduct an incident, alternative rate, and staffing scenario forecasts. Data from these studies were presented to Council. FCS offered recommendations to improve organizational and operational issues and scenarios to cover operational costs. FCS Group will provide to Council the final draft of the Ambulance Utility Cost of Service and Rate Study in the near future. Considerable discussion with Council. No action taken. CITIZEN’S COMMUNICATIONS – None  CITY COUNCIL MINUTES – October 10, 2017 CONSENT AGENDA a. Minutes: The minutes of the September 26, 2017 meeting were presented for approval. b. 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 and is retained for public inspection at the Civic Center. As of October 10, 2017 the Council does approve for payment claims in the amount of $1,109,577.91; prepaid claims in the amounts of $286.42, $1,187.85, $14,594.42, and $46,523.61; claim checks in the amount of $647,748.14; and payroll in the amount of $324,198.73 and $2,615.53. c. Set Date for Public Hearing – Property Taxation A public hearing was set for November 14, 2017 to consider the estimated amount to be received by the City from taxes on assessed valuations for property located within the City of Moses Lake. d. Set Date for Public Hearing – 2018 Preliminary Budget A public hearing was set for November 14, 2017 in the matter of the 2018 Preliminary Budget. e. Request to Accept Seal Coat Project – 2017 Granit Constructions, Inc. has completed work on the Seal Coat Project – 2017. The work should be accepted and the 60 day lien period entered into. f. Request Authorization – Repaving Project – Larson Rec. Center Parking Lot Staff request $150,000 be allocated from other areas in the current budget to augment the $14,091.74 received from FEMA to reconstruct the parking lot. Council member Leonard asked that Item No. f., be removed from the consent agenda for discussion. Action Taken: Council Member Leonard moved that item numbers a., b., c., d., and e., in the Consent Agenda be approved, seconded by Council Member Curnel, and passed unanimously. City Manager asked council to rename item f. to Item No. 1b. for the record. Considerable discussion among staff and council. Action Taken: Council member Leonard moved that Item No. 1b be accepted as presented, seconded by Council member Myers, and passed unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING #2 Ordinance – Vacate Right-of-Way – Fig & Commercial Street – Beck An ordinance was presented which vacates the right-of-way on Fig Street and the southeasterly side of Commercial Street, Lot 3 Penhallurick Addition, adjacent to parcel #110784000. Public utilities and municipal departments were notified and have provided comment as part of the record. The ordinance vacating a portion of right-of-way was read by title only. pg. 2  CITY COUNCIL MINUTES – October 10, 2017 The public hearing was opened. Public Input: Wayne Ostler, 249 N. Elder St., Columbia NW Engineering, Moses Lake, WA Mr. Ostler spoke on behalf of the proponent, Mr. Larry Beck regarding the request to vacate (10’) ten feet of right-of-way on Fig and Commercial Streets. The original request was for (20’) twenty feet but after considerable discussion with City Staff, the proponent agreed to request for (10’) ten feet. Mr. Ostler asks Council to consider approving this ordinance. Council member Leonard asked staff why (20’) twenty feet could not be considered. Building Official Kevin Myer addressed the question; to keep a more unified distance so when the street is built, there wouldn’t be an offset. Public hearing was closed and this was a 1st presentation of the ordinance, no action taken. OLD BUSINESS #3 Ordinance – Cascade Natural Gas Franchise An ordinance was presented which would allow the City of Moses Lake to grant Cascade Natural Gas Corporation, a Washington corporation, its successors, grantees, and assigns, the nonexclusive right, privilege, authority and franchise to construct, operate, maintain, remove, replace, and repair existing pipeline facilities, together with equipment and appurtenances thereto, for the transportation and distribution of natural gas products and byproducts within and through the City of Moses Lake. At the last council meeting on September 24th, council requested the City Attorney to contact Cascade Natural Gas and amend Section 15 - Insurance and Bond Requirements, to meet our insurance carrier requirements. Presented tonight is the amended version. The ordinance for Cascade Natural Gas Franchise Agreement was read by title only. Considerable discussion by the Council. Council member Leonard requested staff to contact our insurance carrier and ask them to contact Cascade Natural Gas, find a viable solution to each parties’ insurance requirements, so we may pass this franchise ordinance in a timely manner. Action Taken: Councilmember Leonard moved to table this agenda item until the next council meeting on October 24th, seconded by Council member Curnel, motion passed unanimously. #4 Ordinance – Amend MLMC Chapter 5.04 Business License Regulations An ordinance was presented which would allow city staff to issue citations according to the recent changes to Moses Lake Municipal Code Chapter 1.20 Civic Code Enforcement. Changes to the ordinance would make it more efficient to respond to repeat offenders and seek injunctive relief through the courts where appropriate. The ordinance to amend Moses Lake Municipal Code Chapter 5.04 Business License Regulations was read by title only. Considerable discussion by Council. Action Taken: Councilmember Curnel moved to accept Ordinance No. 2873 as presented, seconded by Council member Leonard, motion passed unanimously. pg. 3  CITY COUNCIL MINUTES – October 10, 2017 NEW BUSINESS #5 Ordinance – Amend MLMC 12.36 – Park Regulations An ordinance was presented which would provide more effective enforcement and voluntary compliance. The current park regulations ordinance was adopted in 2005 and does not currently meet the needs of the City. Presented tonight is a draft ordinance which repeals and replaces the current MLMC Chapter 12.36. The new ordinance carries forward the existing regulations and adds some additional provision which will enable staff to better protect the City parks and provide for enforcement of violations. Considerable discussion among staff and council. No action taken. 1st presentation of this ordinance. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS - None COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS - None EXECUTIVE SESSION - None ADJOURNMENT: The regular meeting was adjourned at 8:53 pm. _________________________ Karen Liebrecht, Mayor (Acting) ATTEST ____________________________________ Cindy Jensen, Finance Director pg. 4