REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 5, 2007
Officials in attendance were Mayor Clancy Bauman; Councilmembers Carra Nupp, David Haskell, Harvey Savitz, Sharon Ludwig, Barbara Mowrey, Roberta McMillin and Greg Rolstad; City Administrator Curt Kelling; City Attorney Pat Monasmith; Clerk/Treasurer Pamela McCart.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Agenda Additions, Deletions, Changes: None.
Audience Comments:
· Bethany Leicht of Chewelah and Chief Troy Anderson addressed the Council about the implementation of a Neighborhood Watch Program . Crime has gotten to the point where additional eyes/ears are needed. The program is still in its infancy – they are attempting to move onto the final steps in forming a 501-C non-profit organization. They will be making a presentation to the Chamber next week. If enough community interest is generated then they will be able to move on with other ideas such as a senior watch to assist with vacation security checks, patrol of the park, and assistance with school zones. The Chief stated that he would be asking for a 2008 budgetary line item to help pay for signs/pamphlets/equipment.
Executive Session:
· At 7:10 PM the meeting was adjourned to Executive Session for fifteen minutes to review the performance of a public employee. At 7:25 the session was extended ten minutes. At 7:35 the session was extended an additional ten minutes. At 7:45 the meeting was reopened by the Mayor.
Mail Received and Announcements:.
· The Mayor reminded Council of its retreat at 9:00 AM on Saturday, September 22nd. A grand opening of the tennis courts at the Barbour Complex will follow at 1:00 PM.
· The Mayor inquired as to which Councilmembers would be attending the AWC regional meeting on September 26th in Spokane. Councilwoman Nupp replied that she and Councilwoman Ludwig would attend.
· Mr. Monasmith read a proclamation by the Mayor declaring the week of September 17th – 23rd as Constitution Week.
Consent Agenda:
· Motion by Councilwoman McMillin to approve the Consent Agenda consisting of the August 1st Regular and August 10th Special Minutes; payment of claim vouchers # 55568 – 55703 totaling $153,549.31; and payment of payroll warrants # 18193 - 18271 totaling $147,555.02, seconded by Councilman Haskell. Roll call vote taken with all in favor. Motion carried.
Public Hearing on Draft Shoreline Master Program:
The Mayor opened the public hearing and set forth the format that would be followed. There were no objections to the Mayor participating as chairman. There were no objections to any Councilperson’s participating in the proceedings. No Councilperson acknowledged any communications outside of this hearing and no Councilperson acknowledged any gain or interest with regard to this matter.
Chaz Bates, City Planner, Staff Report: The proposed Shoreline Master Program covers Chewelah Creek and 200 feet landward of the ordinary high water mark. We’ve been working on this since August 2004. We had a hearing a while back at the Planning Commission level at which time it was decided to remove Thomason Peye Creek which was included in the earlier drafts. Then another public hearing was held. And that’s why you’ll see two dates for public hearings in the list of dates and staff reports. The Attorney General for the Department of Ecology informed the City that legal standing does not exist to include Thomason Peye Creek in a Shoreline Master Program. They are not shorelines of the State nor shorelines of statewide significance – there are certain minimum definitions that need to be met and for shorelines of State that includes 20 cubic feet per second of volume creek movement and they don’t meet that definition.
C/A: That is not to say that they will not ultimately be picked up – they are currently covered under your critical areas ordinance which is undergoing an update. In fact, we just got through submitting a grant for the Small Cities Consortium to update the Critical Areas Ordinances for Chewelah, Colville and Kettle Falls collectively. It will put a similar process of some of the “best available science” language that’s over in the shoreline document into the critical areas document. They’ll still be similar – it will just be two separate legal sections in our code.
Chaz Bates: On June 1, 2006 the City issued a Determination of Non-Significance on the State Environmental Policy Act. That determination was not appealed. Notice of this public hearing was issued on May 3, 2007. That notice indicated two public hearings – one at the Planning Commission level and at Council for this evening.
It’s best to think of this in basic categories. Chapter two talks about the science. We had a group from Central Washington University come out and inventory the Thomason Peye Creek and Chewelah Creek and identify the ecological functions of each – processing floodwaters, native habitat for fish, wildlife and vegetation. Chapters three and four discuss guidance – that’s the plan, the goal and policy of the Shoreline Master Program which identify the basic blueprint for the type of development and activity that you would like to see on Chewelah Creek. Chapter five talks about hopes and desires, a new requirement under the WA Administrative Code – it identifies restoration opportunities along Chewelah Creek and possible funding sources for those improvements. Chapter six discusses regulations – the rules for uses/setbacks, permit review, etc. The rules of the SMP do not propose any changes to the zoning code. We just modified the setbacks and buffers to meet the requirements of the Shoreline Management Act. Chapter seven discusses critical areas in shoreline areas.
Mr. Bates reviewed staff findings and conclusions, per attached portion of staff report dated September 5, 2007 consisting of 4 pages. It was recommended that the Draft Shoreline Master Program be adopted.
The Mayor opened the hearing to Public Testimony. There was no written or oral testimony.
The Mayor closed the public hearing.
Committee Reports:
· Councilwoman Nupp stated that the Airport Committee reviewed the Airport Layout Plan and discussed future goals and current issues. The layout plan, as is, has been approved by the Aviation Division of WSDOT. The Committee discussed the possible addition to Richmond Lane through the purchase of land currently owned by DNR. The Committee will be meeting soon to discuss standards for new hangars. They also discussed shortening of the runway “on paper” in order to qualify for grant funding. The C/A clarified that the FAA has adopted new standards post 9-1-1. They’ve come up with revised standards for crash zones – that may not be the correct political term – but off both ends of the runway. At the Sand Canyon Airport on one end is a road and at the other end is a pretty substantial dropoff. So the ability for us to expand not the taxiway itself for the planes but beyond it for those crash zones does not physically exist. To back them all the way up to FAA standards would drastically limit the type of planes that can utilize that airport. So we came up with a compromise and asked the State for clarification from the Feds of where they’re at with funding. There’s direct funding from FAA for which all their requirements have to be met and there’s indirect funding which trickles through WSDOT. So we’re trying to ensure that we meet the State interpretation of their requirements so we can still qualify for the pass-through funding. I don’t think this airport would ever get direct federal funding.
City Administrator Report:
· An agreement was arrived at in principal for the conditional sale of the property located at the corner of Main Avenue and Fourth Street to the United Building Investment Group stipulating that the group would be able to buy that property for $130,000 (which is $5,000 more than the minimum set by Council) when and if the bank is approved.
· The City now owns Peye Creek Park next to Pinebrook/Meadow Creek and the storm drain pond. We’ll ultimately look at what our options are in the future.
· Segment C is moving along. The contractor is essentially on schedule with completion anticipated before the 1st of October. We’re working on an alternate route while things are being hooked up on Flowery Trail – there isn’t enough room to use Stingy Lane as a detour so we will be building a temporary bypass off the shoulder of the road.
· Funding was originally applied for from the State (IACC) for the tennis courts at the Barbour Complex for four tennis courts and one combination court which would have basketball hoops on it. A second grant application was remitted to the US Tennis Association for five tennis courts. At this point, the Barbour Committee has decided that the combination court would hammer the newly paved surface so it has been decided to build an additional sport court for basketball closer to the parking lot at an estimated cost of $18,000. $3,500 is already in the original budget. The School is asking if the City would contribute $10,000 toward that new court. Motion by Councilwoman Ludwig approving use of $10,000 from the Real Estate Excise Tax Fund for a basketball court at the Barbour Complex, seconded by Councilwoman McMillin. Roll call vote taken with all in favor. Motion carried.
Old Business: None.
New Business:
· The C/A explained the need for a local business for computer services at an hourly rate. Motion by Councilwoman Nupp authorizing the Mayor to enter into contract for computer services with Advanced Computer Enterprises, Inc., seconded by Councilwoman Mowrey. Roll call vote taken with all in favor. Motion carried.
· Motion by Councilwoman Nupp authorizing Mayor to enter into contract with CTED for a $2,500 grant for Comprehensive Plan Review/Update, seconded by Councilman Haskell. Roll call vote taken with all in favor. Motion carried.
· The C/A explained that a replacement beacon was needed at the airport. A few months ago it was discovered that every night when the beacon came on, it was turning off the wireless antenna because the mechanical gears inside the light have been grinding around for the past 23 years causing resistance on the metal. We figured a way to adjust their equipment and it’s running okay for now. Also, David Park is looking to buy enough wire to satisfy department needs for the next few years and it makes sense to order in volume for a substantial discount. Motion by Councilwoman Ludwig to transfer $25,000 from Electric Reserves in the Capital Project Fund to the Electric Fund for operating supplies and to expend $5,000 from the General Fund for a replacement beacon at the Airport, seconded by Councilman Haskell. Roll call vote taken with all in favor. Motion carried.
· Mr. Monasmith read Resolution 07-09. Motion by Councilwoman Ludwig to adopt Resolution # 07-09 setting a public hearing during the October 3, 2007 regular Council Meeting on a petition to vacate that portion of North Bernard Street situated between West Valley Avenue and the Burlington Northern Railway, seconded by Councilman Haskell. Roll call vote taken with all in favor. Motion carried.
· Mr. Monasmith read Resolution 07-10. Motion by Councilwoman Mowrey to adopt Resolution # 07-10 setting a public hearing during the October 3, 2007 regular Council Meeting on a petition to vacate the eastern half of that portion of West Chewelah Avenue between North Victoria Street and North Bernard Street, seconded by Councilwoman Ludwig. Roll call vote taken with all in favor. Motion carried.
· The C/A explained that the City has a grant for airport paving. The project is budgeted at approximately $28,000. Utilizing the small public works roster through the County, five invitations to bid were sent out to companies which do that kind of work. None of those companies responded but one unsolicited bid was received which makes it non-eligible – that bid was $18,000 over the projected budget. The C/A recommended rejection of that bid and postponement of the project until next spring. The grant is valid through mid-2009. Motion by Councilwoman Mowrey to reject unsolicited bid received for the Airport Sealing/Striping project, seconded by Councilwoman McMillin. Roll call vote taken with all in favor. Motion carried.
· The C/A explained that since 1998 the City has negotiated extension of an agreement with the County for the fair exchange of the City’s loader for winter sand mix. Motion by Councilwoman Ludwig authorizing the Mayor to sign extension of Reciprocal Maintenance Agreement with WSDOT, seconded by Councilman Haskell. Roll call vote taken with all in favor. Motion carried.
Audience Comments:
· Pat Abbott, Chewelah resident, inquired about the recent disruption of garbage service. The Mayor explained that the garbage truck required repairs but service was resumed within a few days.
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:35 PM.
Mayor ___________________________ Clerk/Treasurer ___________________________
