03-14-02 Minutes
YELM CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14,2001,7:30 P.M.
YELM CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
OPENING
1. Mayor Rivas called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Council Present: John Thompson, Bob Isom, Glen Cunningham and JW
Foster. Excused: Don Miller.
2. Agenda Approval with the addition of Commissioner Diane Oberquell to the
agenda.
01-27 MOTION BY JW FOSTER, SECONDED BY BOB ISOM APPROVING THE
AGENDA AS AMENDED. CARRIED.
Mayor Rivas welcomed Thurston County Commissioner Diane Oberquell to
the meeting. Commissioner Oberquell presented a Thurston County flag as a
personal gift to the City of Yelm.
3. Public Comment: None
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
4. Minutes: February 28, 2001
5. Vouchers 14634-14716, Totaling $341,901.82
6. Final February Payroll Approval, Checks 4350-4429, Totaling $116,910.85
01-28 MOTION BY JOHN THOMPSON, SECONDED BY JW FOSTER
APPROVING CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS AS LISTED. CARRIED.
NEW BUSINESS
7. Rural Mobility Program Request. Mayor Rivas welcomed Cindy Cecil,
Executive Director, Yelm Community Services. Ms. Cecil reported on heavy
use of the two vans YCS has at this time. The vans are used as part of the
Rural Mobility Program providing transportation services for group activities for
the elderly, special needs and youth. The vans are in almost continuous use at
this time and provide space for 25 individuals. Service needs are increasing as
the youth center and childcare facility near completion.
Under the Rural Mobility Program, the state is listed as the legal owner of the
vans for the first four years with Yelm listed as the lessor. The City would be
exempt from legal liability. YCS would be the lessee and have liability for
operating the vans. At the end of the four-year period the state and city
release interest and title to the vehicles transfers to YCS.
Shelly Badger added that the City of Yelm acts at lead agency for the
program. Councilmember Isom questioned funding for purchase of the vans.
Cecil responded that YCS has the funds available for the purchase.
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01-29 MOTION BY BOB ISOM, SECONDED BY JOHN THOMPSON APPROVING
THE RURAL MOBILITY PROGRAM REQUEST FOR THE 2001-2003
BIENNIUM. CARRIED.
8. Ordinance 731 (Budget Amendment) adding a permanent part-time office
assistant position to the Public Works Department. Shelly Badger provided an
overview of the staff report noting that when PW management restructuring
occurred it was known that at some point a clerical position would be
necessary due to the increase in management responsibilities for the PW
Office Supervisor. Prior to relocating to the new facility, the department lacked
adequate space to accommodate this position. The position would be flexible,
allowing coverage of the office during vacations, etc. and as needed to
maintain the workload. Stephanie Connors explained that the current need is
for part-time, but additional time may be needed depending on the capital
project workload. Agnes Bennick clarified that part-time ordinance could be
adopted now, and the matter revisited during next year's budget planning
process and revised there if necessary.
01-30 MOTION BY JOHN THOMPSON, SECONDED BY JW FOSTER ADOPTING
ORDINACE 731 ADDING A PERMANENT PART TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT
POSITION TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. CARRIED.
9. Housing Rehab Loan Subordination Request (Y1 0691). Agnes Bennick
provided a brief overview of the program and explained that a request had
been made asking the City of Yelm to subordinate it's position to allow
refinancing of an existing mortgage for a more favorable interest rate. Only
loan fees will be added to the current mortgage balance.
01-31 MOTION BY JOHN THOMPSON, SECONDED BY GLEN CUNNINGHAM
APPROVING A REQUEST TO SUBORDINATE HOUSING REHAB LOAN
(Y10691) FOR THE BALANCE PLUS LOAN FEES. CARRIED.
OLD BUSINESS
10. Drew Harvey Theater Response. Mayor Rivas provided an overview of the
visit from the Drew Harvey Theater requesting Hotel/Motel Tax funding for the
theater. Ownership is one of the key issues involved with use of these funds.
Mayor Rivas requested approval to send the drafted letter.
Council consensus supported Mayor Rivas signing the letter responding
to the request.
REPORTS
11. Councilmember Isom presented three park use requests.
01-32 MOTION BY BOB ISOM, SECONDED BY JOHN THOMPSON APPROVING
THREE PARK USE REQUESTS. CARRIED.
12. Financial Report - Agnes Bennick reported that the books had been closed for
February with everything in balance. Members were provided with a packet
including computer printouts, an overview of fund activity, fund balances and
bank balances.
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13. Library Report. A written report was provided. Kristen Blalack added that 25
new cards were issued today, she estimated that 5 were in the city.
14. Mayor's Report. Meetings/events attended by Mayor Rivas included: Nisqually
Valley News interview, TRPC, Commissioner Wolfe, Mayors' Forum, Jail tour,
Dollars for Scholars, Executive Session research, IT Authority Board,
Commissioner Oberquell, Governor Locke's press conference, and Council
Work Session.
The State Office of Financial Management and General Administration Dept.
sent letters responding to the City's letter requesting state reimbursement of
costs for the mandated update of the Shoreline Master Program. No check
was included.
15. Council Report.
Bob Isom attended a Transportation Policy Board meeting where action was
taken that will accelerate completion on the Rails to Trails project.
Glen Cunningham attended a School Committee meeting where proposals
were developed for presentation to the Yelm School Board in early April, and
also attended his first CAPCOM meeting. He also announced that the
foundation for the first city entry sign has been poured.
JW Foster will be attending his first SWAC meeting tomorrow. He met with
Fran Sherrill at the Senior Center and reviewed plans for their new facility to
be built on 1 03rd. Other meetings included the Chamber of Commerce and
School Board Facilities review meeting.
JW Foster (unofficially) attended the Thurston Co. Medic One Emergency
Medical Services Council (EMSC) meeting on 3/7/01. In 1993, the EMSC
formed the REDS (review, evaluate and design of the system) to evaluate
county needs. Recommendation #1 was two full medic units, one in SE and
one in SW Thurston County. County Commissioners chose option #2, one
medic unit in Yelm and a SPRINT unit in SWTC. In '95 Yelm Fire District
(YFD) entered into a contract with TCMO to support the unit using an
established 80/20 formula to fund paramedic/firefighter positions. In June of
the past year, YFD informed EMSC that unless the formula was changed to
1000/0 reimbursement, the district would no longer be able to support the
medic unit. Despite a revenue increase and disagreement over the district's
ability to fund the unit, the fire commissions have held firm. In response,
county commissioners solicited proposals from other contractors to provide a
short-term solution to the Yelm area problem and convened a planning group
to study long-range implications and solutions. Currently, YFD has agreed to
extend the 2000 contract month-by-month while the planning group considers
options for the county commissioner's consideration. The planning group
includes a seat for Yelm Fire District commissioners' participation, yet they
haven't been present at those meetings representing Yelm's interests.
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For the short term we will probably see no change. However, the long term
solution may give the Yelm medic unit to another contractor which could result
in delayed response times, decreased levels of service and decreased fire
response capability.
Councilmember Foster recommended continued presence, (official and
unofficial) at EMSC planning meetings to emphasize our opinion that there be
no degradation of service to the Yelm area. Council might also make verbal
requests to YFD commissioners to either become active in the discussions
with the EMSC planning group or allow the City to fill their vacant seat at the
table. My position has been to go to these meetings as an interested citizen
and report back to the council.
In response to a question about ongoing activities, Councilmember Foster
responded that the planning group is meeting twice a month to come up with
and consider options.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
16. Mayor Rivas announced that Council would be going into executive session
for approximately 30 minutes to consider a real estate lease and closed the
meeting at 8:08 p.m.
Staff returned to Council Chambers to advise that the meeting was taking
longer than planned. No one was in attendance.
Mayor Rivas reopened the regular meeting at 9: 18 p.m.
01-33 MOTION BY BOB ISOM, SECONDED BY JW FOSTER THAT THE MAYOR
AND STAFF CONTINUE REAL ESTATE LEASE NEGOTIATIONS AT THE
CURRENT LEVEL. CARRIED. ABSTAINED: COUNCILMEMBER
THOMPSON
CORRESPONDENCE
Correspondence was reviewed.
ADJOURN: 9:20 p.m.
Attest
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Ag . s P. Bennick, City Clerk
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