02-24-15 MinutesYELM CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 MINUTES
1. Mayor Harding called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call Present: JW Foster, Joe Baker, Jennifer Littlefield, Tracey Wood, Ken
Garmann and Russ Hendrickson.
15-014 MOTION BY JW FOSTER EXCUSING COUNCILMEMBER BOB ISOM FROM
THE MEETING. CARRIED.
Agenda Approval
15-015 MOTION BY JENNIFER LITTLEFIELD APPROVING THE AGENDA AS
PRESENTED. CARRIED.
4. Special Presentations - none scheduled
5. Public Comment - no comments
6. Consent Agenda
Minutes - Regular Meeting February 10, 2015
Payables - Checks #64143 - #64218 Totaling $254,775.07
15-016 MOTION BY RUSS HENDRICKSON APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA AS
PRESENTED. CARRIED.
7. Public Hearing -none scheduled
8. New Business - none scheduled
9. Old Business -none scheduled
10. Mayor and Council Initiatives
Councilmember Foster attended the Thurston County Solid Waste Advisory
Committee (SWAC) where they reviewed the results from the survey on the
plastic bag ban. It has been six months since the ban, about half of the
businesses are in favor of the bag ban, and less than half of the residents that
responded were in favor of the ban. The survey will be repeated in six months to
see what the results would be. Within a couple of months of the bag ban, the
waste recovery and recycling center noticed a huge reduction in the amount of
plastic bags. Councilmember Foster also attended the Nisqually River Council
meeting where State Parks gave a presentation on the new Nisqually State Park,
which has been in the planning stages since 2001. The very large recreational
park will be located near the Ohop Valley off Highway 7, about 25 minutes from
Yelm. There will be camping, horse camping and river access. Due to budgetary
issues, the start of the project will include a parking lot, vault toilet and some
access trails connecting existing trails. The Nisqually River Council also heard from
a scientist on the Puget Sound Partnership which conducted a risk assessment
survey from 150 different scientists on the threats and impacts to the Puget
Sound from the communities along the Nisqually River and the Puget Sound
Region from disasters such as a major oil spill from trains and the impact that
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development might have. Councilmember Wood asked if the primary concern in
banning the plastic bag was the problems it was causing at the landfill.
Councilmember Foster stated that a couple of reasons for the ban are the litter
problem it caused and it was problematic for the recycling center. The employees
at the landfill would constantly have to stop and remove plastic bags from their
equipment, as it would clog the machines. Since the ban, the landfill has seen a
great reduction of the plastic bags and time lost from employees at the recycling
center.
Councilmember Baker attended the Yelm Adult Community Center meeting
where they discussed upcoming fundraisers and an increase in membership and
stated they are doing well financially. Councilmember Baker also attended the
Intercity Transit (IT) Board meeting where an Intercity Transit Attorney, Dale
Kamerrer explained the process of a campaign for 1/10 of 1% tax and how it
would be presented to the voters. Councilmember Baker also attended a meeting
at Taco Gaby with Thurston County Commissioner Sandra Romero and Olympic
Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) Information Officer, Dan Nelson regarding wood
burning stoves and the pollution the older stoves create. The new stoves that are
manufactured now are almost pollution free. It was a very interesting meeting.
Councilmember Littlefield attended the State Wrestling Championship and saw
Yelm High student Daren Harris take 15t place in his weight bracket, the team
placed 6th overall.
Councilmember Garmann attended the Pilot Study demonstration at the Waste
Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) and Officer Devon Taylor's award ceremony for
saving a citizen's life at the Thurston County Courthouse.
Councilmember Hendrickson attended the Medic One meeting where awards
were given to two retirees and Job Well Done award to an EMT.
Mayor Harding attended the awards ceremony for Officer Devon Taylor where he
was given the Lifesaving Award and the Medal of Courage for rescuing a woman
who went off the road and in the Centralia Canal in November. Also recognized
was Thurston County Deputy, Brett Campbell. The event was well attended by
Councilmember's and Yelm staff. Mayor Harding also attended the Pilot Study at
the WWTP. The City of Yelm is looking for ways to improve the process at the
WWTP.
11. Executive Session —At 6:21 pm Mayor Harding announced that Council will go
into an Executive Session for the purpose of reviewing the proposals made in
collective bargaining negotiating sessions (RCW 42.30.140 (4) (a) (b). No action
will be taken, this is an informational meeting only.
At 6:52 pm, Mayor Harding reconvened the meeting and announced no decisions
had been made.
12. Correspondence included —
Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce, Free Marketing Seminar February 26, 2015 8-
9:30 am Yelm Cinemas
Invitation for dinner at the Indian Summer Golf & Country Club, March 21, 2015 to
benefit Behavioral Health Resources
Thurston Regional Planning Council Pre -Agenda Friday, March 6, 2015 8:30-10:45
am
13. Adjourned at 6:52 pm.
Ron Hdrd�g, Mayor
Attest: `
Lori Mossman, Deputy City Clerk
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