11-12-14 MinutesYELM CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 MINUTES
1. Mayor Harding called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call Present: Joe Baker, Bob Isom, Jennifer Littlefield, Tracey Wood and Ken
Garmann.
14-095 MOTION BY JOE BAKER TO EXCUSE COUNCILMEMBERS JW FOSTER AND
RUSS HENDRICKSON FROM THE MEETING. CARRIED.
Agenda Approval
14-096 MOTION BY TRACEY WOOD APPROVING THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
CARRIED.
4. Special Presentations -none scheduled
5. Public Comment - none
6. Consent Agenda
Minutes - Regular Meeting October 28, 2014 & Study Session October 29, 2014
Payables - Checks #63533 - #63638 Totaling $1,630,192.68.
14-097 MOTION BY BOB ISOM APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA AS
PRESENTED. CARRIED.
7. Public Hearing -Ad Valorem Tax Rate Budget Year 2015
Mayor Harding opened the Public Hearing at 6:03.
Teresa Mattson explained the reason for setting the tax rate. Property owners
have their property assessed on a periodic basis by a public tax assessor. The
assessed value of the property is then used to compute an annual tax, which is
levied on the owner by his or her municipality. A public hearing must be held to
discuss any increases in property tax revenues. In order to set the property tax
rates an ordinance must be passed with both the dollar and percentage increases
and must be certified by the county by November 30. Cities with a population of
less than 10,000 can increase their levy amount by one percent with a vote.
Normally, taxes on new construction are exempt for the lid/limit factor and may
be added to the tax levy requested. This is only if the statutory maximum levy
rate times the assessed value of the city exceeds the highest lawful maximum.
The City has not exceeded this for several years due to the economic recession.
The assessed valuation of the City increased approximately $36,842,447 over the
previous year, therefore increasing one factor in the formula for determining the
rate (statutory rate limit x assessed value per $1,000). The new levy rate will be
$1.6843100 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for a total of $1,112,055 revenue.
This levy rate includes a councilmanic reduction of 1% to City of Yelm property
owners. Councilmember Baker appreciates the reduction in tax imposed on the
citizens of Yelm.
Mayor Harding closed the Public Hearing at 6:08.
8. New Business -
a. Ordinance No. 990, Setting Ad Valorem Property Tax for 2015
14-098 MOTION BY BOB ISOM TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 990 SETTING THE
AMOUNT FIXED AS AD VALOREM FOR THE REGULAR LEVY OF PROPERTY
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TAX NECESSARY TO RAISE REVENUES FOR ESSENTIAL EXPENDITURES
FOR THE CITY OF YELM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2015. CARRIED.
9. Old Business -none scheduled
10. Mayor and Council Initiatives
Councilmember Baker attended the Intercity Transit Board meeting and they
discussed raising fees to keep the transit at its current level of service.
Councilmember Isom attended the Thurston Regional Planning Council meeting
(TRPC). Yelm will be getting the assessment for the 2015 dues and Councilmember
Isom stated they would go up because it is based on population. Councilmember
Isom also attended the legislative subcommittee meeting for TRPC representing
the City of Yelm and discussed Affordable Housing, Homelessness,
Marijuana/Liquor regulation and revenue, wells, rural mobility funding, septic
conversions and standards for sewage treatment. Councilmember Isom attended
the Veteran's Day Celebration at the Yelm Cemetery sponsored by the VFW and
the American Legion.
Councilmember Littlefield has not yet received her committee assignments but
looks forward to attending upcoming meetings.
Councilmember Wood attended the TComm 911 Admin Board meeting where
they approved their 2015 Budget and 2015 Legal Services contracts.
Councilmember Garmann stated he has seen traffic driving on the freshly paved
Mosman Ave. Realignment Project.
Mayor Harding attended the Veteran's Day Celebration with Councilmember's
Isom and Foster. First Special Forces Col. Otto Liller also attended. Col. Liller is the
Community Connector with JBLM. Mayor Harding received a complimentary phone
call from one of the local residents located along the Mosman Ave. Realignment
Project stating that the construction crew and city staff were very helpful and did a
great job. Councilmember's Foster, Isom and Hendrickson along with Mayor
Harding attended the Exit Audit with the Washington State Auditor's Office and
city staff. The City received one finding for lack of additional layers of oversight for
financial reporting. Additional procedures will be put in place. Each Councilmember
received a copy of the Auditor's report. Mayor Harding had a conference call with
the Mayor of Shelton regarding forming a coalition of cities to come together and
work on the continuingly raising costs of operating sewer systems.
No Study Sessions in November & December.
11. Executive Session - none scheduled
12. Correspondence included -
Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce, November 2014
United Way of Thurston County Enewsletter, November 4, 2014
Thurston County Coalition Against Trafficking, October 31, 2014
13. Adjourn 6:20 pm.
Ron Harding, Mayor
Attest:
Lori Mossman, Deputy City Clerk
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