08-22-01 Minutes
YELM CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22,2001
OPENING
1. Mayor Rivas called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Council present: Don Miller, John Thompson, Bob Isom, Glen Cunningham and
JW Foster.
2. Agenda Approval
01-99 MOTION BY DON MILLER, SECONDED BYJOHN THOMPSON
APPROVING THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. CARRIED.
3. Public Comment - None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
4. Minutes: August 8, 2001
5. Payments: Checks 15755 thru 15803 Totaling $79,631.77
a. Claim Vouchers: 15755 thru 15798 Totaling $78,905.05
b. Manual Checks: 15799 thru 15803 Totaling $ 726.72
6. Payroll: Preliminary August 2001
01-100 MOTION BY JOHN THOMPSON, SECONDED BY GLEN CUNNINGHAM
APPROVING CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AS PRESENTED. CARRIED.
NEW BUSINESS
7. Centennial Clean Water Fund Grant Contract. Mayor Rivas reported that the
City has received approval of a $131,250 Centennial Clean Water Fund
(CCWF) grant. The grant provides an opportunity for additional reclaimed water
monitoring and testing. One of the project goals is to determine the ability of
constructed wetlands and rapid infiltration basins to provide effective treatment
of reclaimed water prior to groundwater recharge. This will be accomplished by
monitoring and comparing groundwater quality to an established baseline and
by testing for pollutants. Groundwater under the infiltrations basins as well as
drinking water supplies will be tested. The grant does not require payback if
certain standards are not met.
A staff recommendation requested authorization to begin contract negotiations
with Skillings-Connolly, Inc. to perform the tasks detailed in the grant scope of
work and to have Mayor Rivas sign the grant agreement forms.
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01-101 MOTION BYJOHN THOMPSON, SECONDED BY JW FOSTER
AUTHORIZING MAYOR RIVAS TO SIGN THE DEPARTMENT OF
ECOLOGY CENTENNIAL CLEAN WATER GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF
$131,250 FOR THE GROUNDWATER QUALITY MONITORING PROJECT
RELATED TO THE CITY'S WASTEWATER REUSE PROGRAM. CARRIED.
01-102 MOTION BY JOHN THOMPSON, SECONDED BY BOB ISOM
AUTHORIZING STAFF TO BEGIN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH
SKILLINGS- CONNOLLY FOR THE APPROPRIATE SCOPE OF WORK
WITH THE CONTRACT BROUGHT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR FINAL
APPROVAL. CARRIED.
8. Resolution No. 415, Intent to adopt a Model Business and Occupation Tax
Ordinance. Agnes Bennick pointed out that informal reports on this issue have
been provided over a period of time and explained that the Tax Roundtable
coordinated by AWC and some of the larger cities has been working on a gross
receipts business and occupation tax "Model Ordinance" for some time. The
goal is to have all cities adopt the model, with some modifications, and provide
some regulation consistency from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
Jurisdictions that will not be ready to adopt the model by the beginning of the
next legislative session have been requested to adopt a Resolution of Intent
providing the legislature with a view of the united effort on this project. Some
of the cities that are in the final process and anticipate having their Ordinance
adopted and effective by January 1, 2001 include Bellevue, Everett, Seattle,
Tacoma, Bellingham, and Lacey.
Mayor Rivas added that as a former City business owner for 14 years it's
exciting to see a move towards establishing consistent standards and that
other Councilmembers representing and having ties to the business
community include Councilmember Cunningham, a current City business
owner, and Councilmember Miller.
Discussion concerned the move to create the model ordinance, interest at the
state level and the invitation for the Washington Business Association to be
part of the process. It was clarified that this is a declaration of intent, not the
actual adoption.
01-103 MOTION BY JW FOSTER, SECONDED BY JOHN THOMPSON APPROVING
RESOLUTION NO. 415 INDICATING YELM'S INTENT TO ADOPT THE
MODEL BUSINESS AND TAX ORDINACE. CARRIED.
8. a. City Council Work Session, Mayor Rivas explained that the new
Comprehensive Water Plan includes too much material to cover during the
Budget Work Sessions and requires an additional work session. Mayor Rivas
recommended Tuesday, September 11,"6 - 9 P.M. to review the
Comprehensive Water Plan, including Improvements, Rate Analysis, and
General Water Use Policies Including Conservation
Consensus supported September 11, 6 - 9 P.M. for the Water
Comprehensive Plan Work Session.
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8. b. Approval to Sign a Cooperative Agreement with US Fish and Wildlife for a
$10,000 Yelm Creek Habitat Restoration Grant. Cathie Carlson explained that
the City has been approved to receive the grant which may be used for costs
associated with surveying, planning, and implementation of habitat restoration
in the Yelm Creek Watershed. The grant requires a 500/0 match that can be
any combination of in-kind, volunteer or cash. A Scope of Work will be
developed based upon one of the higher priority projects in the Yelm Creek
Study. Staff requested approval to enter into the agreement. The City attorney
is reviewing the contract at this time.
Discussion concerned the need to focus on maximizing the volunteer
component of the match.
01-104 MOTION BY DON MILLER, SECONDED BY JW FOSTER AUTHORIZING
STAFF TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH US FISH
AND WILDLIFE SERVICES FOR A $10,000 YELM CREEK HABITAT
RESTORATION GRANT. CARRIED.
OLD BUSINESS
9. Ordinance NO.7 43, Temporary Exemption for Location of Medic I. Cathie
Carlson reported that at the last City Council Meeting staff reported on the
move of the Medic Unit from the Fire Station to a location on West Road. At
that time staff reported that a Planning Commission public hearing would be
required. The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on the
proposal on August 20 and recommended City Council approval of a six-month
temporary zoning exemption to provide time to either submit and follow the
Special Use Permit Application process that addresses issues like
handicapped access, parking, etc., for the West Rd. location or for another
location within the City. Most of the neighbors seemed comfortable with the
proposal.
01-105 MOTION BY JW FOSTER, SECONDED BY BOB ISOM ADOPTING
ORDINANCE NO 743 ESTABLISHING A SIX-MONTH TEMPORARY
ZONING CODE EXEMPTION ALLOWING RELOCATION OF THE MEDIC
UNIT TO WEST ROAD. CARRIED. ABSTAINED: COUNCILMEMBER
THOMPSON
REPORTS
10. Councilmember Miller
a. Court - (Attachment) A written report for reflecting July 2001 activity was
provided.
b. Financial - (Audit Report Attached) Councilmember Miller reported that the
City received a clean audit with no findings or management letters.
Councilmember Isom commended staff for the job that is being done. It was
noted that there were a few recommendations for consideration and there was
some discussion concerning the costs/space issues involved with remodeling
to provide each employee with a separate cash drawer. Additional discussion
concerned the most appropriate time to address the auditor inconsistency and
communications issues.
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c. Other Meetings/Assignments - None to report.
11. Councilmember Thompson
a. Police - A written activity report was distributed at the meeting. Cases are up
230, and calls 600 over the same time last year. An agency audit was
performed to evaluate Yelm PD's data base entry and removal for accuracy
and timeliness. The department met all compliance standards.
b. Public Works - A written report was provided updating Council on activities
over the past month including the Water Comp Plan, sludge removal, chip
sealing and pothole repair. The water department continues equipment
testing. Current water levels are good.
There was some discussion concerning a schedule and options for repainting
crosswalks.
c. Other Meetings/Assignments - Councilmember Thompson attended the AWC
Budgeting and Fiscal Management Work Shop where he received a lot of
useful information that he will be discussing in coming days.
12. Councilmember Isom
a. Parks Advisory Board - No report
b. Park Use Requests
1) YCP, 9/9/01, Anderson Family Party, 1-9 pm, 40+/-
01-106 MOTION BY BOB ISOM, SECONDED BY JOHN THOMPSON APPROVING
ONE PARK USE REQUEST. CARRIED.
c. Other Meetings/Assignments - Councilmember Isom attended the Audit Exit
Conference.
13. Councilmember Cunningham
a. Planning Commission/Community Development - Due to agenda items,
Councilmember Cunningham was not able to attend the Planning Commission
meeting.
A written Community Development Department report was provided. Cathie
Carlson added that the City has obtained approval from Ft. Lewis for the Army
to perform some of the work at Longmire Community Park. However, approval
must also come from Georgia and there are already a number of jobs
scheduled, the work can't be performed before next year. The work has an in-
kind value of $80,000, making the wait is worthwhile. The granting agency is
also agreeable to the time schedule adjustment.
There was discussion concerning the Commute Trip Reduction Program.
Roberta Allen, CDD Office Assistant, started on August 15, she will be working
approximately 25 hours per week.
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b. Railroad Committee - No activity to report.
c. Other Meetings/Assignments - Councilmember Cunningham attended the
AWC/WFOA Budgeting and Fiscal Management Conference.
14. Councilmember Foster
a. City Hall - A written report covering ongoing activities was provided.
b. Senior Center - No activity to report
c. Other Meetings/Assignments - Council member Foster offered handouts from
the AWC/WFOA Budgeting and Fiscal Management Class if anyone wanted to
see the material. He heard several good comments about Yelm while at the
training session.
He participated as a judge for the VFW Chili Cook Off where he learned a lot
about chili. There were also a lot of fun activities scheduled for kids.
A complaint concerning kitchen cleanliness was referred to staff for follow up. A
clean-up procedure needs to be implemented that includes checking the
kitchen after use. Carl Provine volunteered to perform the inspections.
Discussion concerned release of the deposit based upon a non-employee
recommendation. There was also some discussion about various options to
provide a water source at the park.
There was discussion concerning Council attending additional training sessions
as the appropriation has been expended. Agnes Bennick suggested two
options to address this, either continuing to take advantage of training
opportunities this year and addressing it as part of the normal year-end budget
amendment or transferring unused funding from the Executive Travel and
Training or Reserve appropriation. Mayor Rivas and Council supported
continuing training participation and Mayor Rivas also supported utilizing his
budget appropriation for Council's benefit. It was noted that the Council
Travel/Training appropriation in next year's budget needs to be increased.
Councilmember Foster suggested that a regular Nisqually Valley News column
from the City Council could provide an opportunity for elected officials to
communicate with the public and offered to serve as coordinator. The NVN
editor supports the idea as long as the articles aren't used as a candidate
forum. Councilmember Isom felt that this should wait until after the election.
The topic suggested for the first article is City Government 101. It would
provide a brief description of who the elected officials are, define their roles,
and address how public input helps elected officials perform their jobs.
There was discussion concerning the frequency of articles, using the Hawthorn
Herald, educational benefit, advantages of having interaction between the
public and elected officials, and the public participation process, and how
Council operates. Mayor Rivas called for consensus.
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Consensus supported a City Council newspaper column.
Councilmember Isom pointed out that there was majority but not consensus.
15. Mayor Rivas - Meetings attended included: Yelm Fire District Contract
Negotiations, Interctiy Transit, Audit Exit Conference, Local Realtors and Shelly
Badger.
a. Shoreline Financial Request Response. Mayor Rivas reported that at the end
of 2000 new rules adopted by the state Legislature mandated a review and
update of the local Shoreline Master Program without funding that mandate. In
February 2002, the City submitted a Claim for reimbursement of the estimated
$50,000 in City costs to meet the mandate and citing the RCW and Initiative
prohibiting the Legislature from imposing new programs or increasing service
levels on local governments without full reimbursement.
A response denying the request was received this week
CORRESPONDENCE
Correspondence reviewed included items from AWC concerning training
opportunities and information about Initiative 747.
'45 P.M. /
V
IV
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P. Bennick, City Clerk
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