11-28-01 Minutes
YELM CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28,2001
OPENING
1.
Mayor Pro Tem Thompson called the meeting to order and explained that he
was filling in for Mayor Rivas who had been excused from the meeting.
Council present: Don Miller, Bob Isom, Glen Cunningham and Pat Fetterly.
Mayor Pro Tem Thompson administered the (short term) Oath of Office to
Bob Isom and Pat Fetterly.
2. Agenda Approval
01-1376 MOTION BY BOB ISOM, SECONDED BY DON MILLER APPROVING THE
AGENDA AS PRESENTED. CARRIED.
3. Public Comment - There was no response to the call for Public Comment.
CONSENT CALENDAR
4. Minutes: November 14,2001 Regular Meeting and Budget Work Sessions
for November 6 and 13, 2001.
5. Approval of Payments: Checks 15409-16453, Totaling $27,645.48
a. Manual Checks: 15409-15419, Totaling $576.00
b. Claims: 15420 - 15453, Totaling $27,069.48
6.
Approval of Payroll: Preliminary November 2001 Payroll
01-138
MOTION BY DON MILLER, SECONDED BY BOB ISOM APPROVING
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS AS PRESENTED. CARRIED.
NEW BUSINESS
7. Public Hearing - City of Yelm Final 2002 Budget. Mayor Pro Tem Thompson
opened the Public Hearing at 7:34 p.m. announcing the date, time, place
and purpose of the public hearing. No objections to participants were voiced.
Shelly Badger provided an overview of the 2002 Final Budget Highlights
noting that work sessions had been held each Tuesday in October and on
November 6 and 13 to consider 2002 revenue projections and department
budgets. The General Fund revenue and expenditure appropriation is
$2,956,269 and includes the addition of one full-time police officer and a 6
month seasonal employee to work in the park/street departments.
The General Fund appropriation provides funding for: a permit tracking
system, a 2001c>> increase in medical insurance premiums, a 3.50/0 across-the-
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board salary increase for non-union employees, billing, accounting, tax and
payroll program upgrades, and air taser units for each patrol officer. Also
included in the General Fund appropriation is funding for park structure
maintenance, animal impound shelter construction, debt service costs for
the Public Works Facility and City Hall remodel, and contract costs for library
services, fire suppression and Thurston County Communications (911).
Special Project Funds included planned expenditures for a museum, Yelm
Creek improvements, Longmire Park Phase I development, completion of
Yelm Ave.Nancil Rd. improvements and support for Yelm Roy Prairie Line
development.
Water Department appropriations reflected a rate increase necessary to
finance $2.5 million in improvements identified in the City's Water
Comprehensive Plan. The water rate increase includes a restructuring of
usage charges to encourage water conservation.
Sewer Department appropriations project no rate changes other than
hookup fee increases adopted in 1999.
A $25,000 transfer from the General Fund provides start up funding for the
Storm Water Program.
Mayor Pro Tem Thompson called for comments/questions from the public.
Being none, he called for Council comments/questions. Councilmember
Isom requested that it be placed on record that the budget falls within the
1% guidelines of Initiative 747.
Councilmember Fetterly requested a review of the proposed water rate
increase. Discussion concerned reasons for the rate increase and the need
for water conservation and its effects on water rights. There was additional
discussion concerning the effects of the increase on high volume
commercial users, that the rate increase and restructuring are applied
equally to residential and commercial customers alike, and possible
advantages of a rebate style incentive to conserve.
Being no additional commenUquestions Mayor Pro Tem Thompson closed
the public hearing at 7:56 p.m.
01-139
MOTION BY BOB ISOM, SECONDED BY DON MILLER CONTINUING
THE PUBLIC HEARING TO DECEMBER 12, 2001. CARRIED.
8.
Yelm Community Services Van Funding Request - Withdrawn
9.
Surplus Vehicles - Brian Asmus requested Council approval to declare a
1993 Ford Crown Victoria and 2 Harley motorcycles as surplus. There was
discussion concerning meeting vehicle needs for the new hire appropriated
in the budget. Discussion established that the Ford will not be needed for
the new hire; the normal rotation schedule will accommodate this need. The
Ford will be disposed of at the State Surplus Auction in Auburn; the
motorcycles will probably be disposed of using a sealed bid process.
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01-140
MOTION BY BOB ISON, SECONDED BY DON MILLER APPROVING A
REQUEST TO SURPLUS THREE VEHCILES AS RECOMMENDED BY
CHIEF ASMUS BASED UPON THE FACT THAT HIRING A NEW OFFICER
WILL NOT NECCESSITATE THE PURCHASE OF A NEW CAR. CARRIED.
OLD BUSINESS
10 Commute Trip Reduction Service Provider Recommendation - Cathie
Carlson referred to the last CTR Program update to Council on October 10
resulting in Council consensus supporting hiring a part-time consultant to
administer a scaled back CTR Program. Since that time the Committee
(Thurston County, Lacey, Tumwater and Yelm) developed a scope of work
and issued a Request for Proposals with responses from Intercity Transit,
Thurston Regional Planning Council and Shea Group. The committee voted
unanimously to recommend acceptance of the proposal from the Shea
Group. Staff requested Council approval of the recommendation and
authorization for Mayor Rivas to sign the final contract with the Shea Group.
The $2,800 annual cost will be covered by CTR funding received from
WSDOT for this purpose.
01-141 MOTION BY DON MILLER, SECONDED BY GLEN CUNNINGHAM
APPROVING THE COMMUTE TRIP REDUCTION PROGRAM CONTRACT
WITH THE SHEA GROUP AND AUTHORIZING MAYOR RIVAS TO SIGN
THE CONTRACT. CARRIED.
REPORTS
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Thurston Council on Cultural Diversity and Human Rights - No Report
Councilmember Miller - No Report
Councilmember Thompson - (See Mayor's Report)
Councilmember Isom reminded everyone of the transportation meeting
tomorrow night at 6 pm, at the Lacey Community Center to discuss the past
10 years of transportation. Staff from each jurisdiction will update the most
pressing issues facing their community in the next ten years. Anyone
wanting to carpool should be in the parking lot at 5: 15.
Councilmember Cunningham indicated that a written Community
Development report had been provided. Cathie Carlson added an update on
the work to be performed by the Army Corps of Engineers on Longmire
Community Park and the first planting of 39 trees as part of the Community
Tree Grant Program.
Councilmember Fetterly - deferred questions until the police report was
presented.
Mayor's Report - Mayor Pro Tem Thompson reviewed the Police
Department written report. Brian Asmus updated Council on recent events
including: 1) firearms safety locks distributed under Project Home Safe in
conjunction with the Lt. Governor's Office. 150 safety locks were distributed.
2) A weekend vandalism, vehicle prowl/theft, burglary spree occurring
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between 1-5 am., 5 individuals have been arrested, 3 of them 12 years old,
1 - 14 year old, and 1 - 16 year old.
Councilmember Fetterly inquired as to the current number of officers,
vehicles, and the shift coverage levels. Chief Asmus provided the requested
information. Councilmember Isom requested clarification about the
(neighbor) notification process when a methamphetamine lab is discovered.
Chief Asmus responded that Dept. of Ecology and the Health Dept.
performs an assessment and makes the notification determination.
Discussion concerned the neighbors' right to know vs. individual civil rights,
landlord responsibility and the possibility of applying penalties at the local
level, and extending school "safety/drug free zones" to include the entire
city/school district. There was additional discussion concerning the Thurston
Co. satellite operation at the Public Safety Building, possibility of using video
units at various sites as a deterrent to the high level of vandalism in the City,
legal issues encountered in implementing curfews, and costs from various
perspectives.
Mayor Pro Tem Thompson suggested that the meeting move forward to
other agenda topics.
Shelly Badger added that the December 10 jail meeting has been moved to
Thursday, December 20, and that on Monday, December 10 the City will
host an open house for the top 2-3 police chief candidates. Discussion
followed concerning the process of determining the top candidates.
Mayor Pro Tem Thompson reviewed highlights of the Public Works
Department written report noting that Water Conservation Kits had been
distributed and that all the sequence batch reactors or SBR's have been
taken apart, cleaned and new parts installed.
Shelly Badger noted and Council concurred that the PW Department had
done an outstanding job decorating City Hall.
Councilmember Isom moved to adjourn.
Mayor Pro Tem Thompson added that there was an additional item, a letter
from Bill Steele addressed to each Councilmember, but that nothing would
be done with the letter tonight. Councilmember Fetterly expressed concerns
about the fire contract and letter and was encouraged to discuss her
concerns with Mayor Rivas. However, as she has been excused from the
next meeting where the contract may end up as an agenda item, she
requested that the item be tabled to the January 9 meeting. Councilmember
Isom also requested that the item be tabled to the January meeting as he
will also miss the December 12 meeting.
Discussion continued concerning content of a November 16 letter, delay in
receiving a letter, other timeframes, complexity of the issues, and various
lengths of time for contract extensions.
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(2/495) Staff requested and received clarification for the minutes that
discussion focus and concern is that any decisions to be made at the next
meeting be limited to the length of the contract extension. There was an
affirmative response. Councilmember Fetterly added that she believes that a
three month extension is not long enough.
Shelly Badger added that the only decision to be made at the next
(December) meeting would be the length of time to extend the contract;
contract specifics would not be decided at that time. Staff asked if it would
be acceptable to continue extending by three month intervals if necessary.
Contract extensions have occurred in the past. Councilmembers Fetterly
and Isom felt a three month period wouldn't allow enough time to address all
the issues. Shelly Badger suggested that the extension be dealt with
separately as it is the simplest of the issues to deal with. Any other issues
could be dealt with later.
Mayor Pro Tem Thompson encouraged Councilmembers Isom and Fetterly
to put any concerns in writing to Mayor Rivas as they will both be absent
from the next meeting.
Staff reminded Council of a Work Session on optional budget formats has
been scheduled for 5 p.m., December 12, immediately preceding the regular
meeting. Information was provided concerning AWC's work sessions for
newly elected officials.
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Agnes P. Bennick, City Clerk
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