04-14-15 MinutesYELM CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2015 MINUTES
1. Mayor Harding called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm and invited Luann Hopkins
to lead everyone in the Pledge of Alliance.
2. Roll Call Present: JW Foster, Joe Baker, Bob Isom, Jennifer Littlefield, Tracey
Wood, Ken Garmann and Russ Hendrickson.
Agenda Approval
15-029 MOTION BY RUSS HENDRICKSON APPROVING THE AGENDA AS
PRESENTED. CARRIED.
4. Special Presentations -
Intercity Transit Bus Buddy Program -Emily Bergkamp and Janina Robbins
Emily Bergkamp, Dial a lift Manager for Intercity Transit (IT) stated that in 2013
IT formed a partnership with Catholic Community Services along with Washington
State Department of Transportation to provide a safe, useful way to travel to
doctor appointments, grocery stores and other places to individual with special
needs or people that have reservations about riding public transportation. This
program is called the Bus Buddy program of Thurston County. It is staffed solely
by volunteers who provide one on one assistance with riding the bus, finding
routes to accommodate their needs and is personalized to fit the needs of the
individual riding the bus. The Bus Buddy program enhances mobility, increases
independence, and gives more travel options free. The IT staff assesses your
travel needs and matches you with a Bus Buddy volunteer who will provide free,
on-going support. The volunteers receive training on how to help less experienced
bus riders and have cleared a Washington State Patrol background check. Janina
Robbins, Bus Buddy Coordinator for Catholic Community Services thanked the
Mayor and Council for the opportunity to share the Bus Buddy program with them.
Ms. Robbins is honored to be a part of this program. There are a lot of seniors,
youths, people with disabilities and people on fixed incomes that need assistance
traveling to appointments, shopping and other activities in their day to day lives.
This program enhances the lives of those who use it. Ms. Robbins invited some of
the volunteers to speak and explain what this program means to them. Midge
Welter, Bus Buddy stated that she was able to convince one of her friends to ride
the bus after 3 years. This friend had fears and concerns about riding public
transportation but took the bus to Safeway recently. Next week Ms. Welter is
looking forward to assisting someone who is wheelchair bound to ride public
transportation. Ruth Arnold has been a Bus Buddy for about six months and really
enjoys the program. Ms. Arnold has formed friendships with people that she
assists through the program. Jeff Bond has been a Bus Buddy for over a year now
and has a vast knowledge of the various routes on Intercity Transit. Mr. Bond is
also the lead for marketing and promotions and spends a great amount of time at
the Olympia Transit Center and has the most amount of hours in the Bus Buddy
program for Thurston County. Ms. Robbins again thanked the Mayor and Council
for the opportunity to share the program with them and invites anyone and
everyone to explore the program and possibly become a Bus Buddy volunteer.
Councilmember Littlefield thanked them for the presentation and their selfless
service to the community. Councilmember Foster inquired about the number of
individuals using the program and Councilmember Baker stated the Bus Buddy
program is a great program for our Thurston County community. Ms. Robbins
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stated the program is only in phase two of its conception and hopes to have more
people utilizing the program in the future. There are currently 10 volunteers but
that amount is increasing. Mayor Harding thanked Ms. Bergkamp, Ms. Robbins
and the volunteers for attending the meeting and educating them on the program.
Association of Washington Cities-Luann Hopkins, Chief Operating
Officer/Interim CEO and Tonia Sugarman, Director of Education
Luann Hopkins, Chief Operating Officer/Interim CEO explained that Association of
Washington Cities (AWC) is a non-profit corporation that was formed in 1933,
incorporated in 1999 and is a Municipal League that operates in every state
except for Hawaii. There are 281 cities and towns and 181 associate members.
The City of Yelm pays annual membership fees to AWC based on a tiered
population formula. The membership provides access to member pooling
programs such as Employee Benefit Trust (medical benefits), The Center for
Quality Communities, Worker's Comp Retro and Risk Management Service Agency
(RMSA). AWC's mission is to serve its members through advocacy, education and
services. There are many committees looking for members to serve. Janine
Schnepf, Yelm City Clerk served on the RMSA committee from 2007-2013. There
are scholarships that are available for training staff on various subjects through
AWC. The 2015 AWC Annual Conference will be held in Wenatchee June 23-26. It
is comprehensive training and an opportunity to help city staff and elected officials
stay informed. For 2015, the City of Yelm is a Well City Award recipient, which
means a 2% discount on health premiums. Yelm was also a recipient in 2011 and
2012. Yelm has also received a refund of $7,000 on their Labor & Industries
premiums through AWC. This year, the city will receive $2,000 in grant for
sidewalk repairs and a sewer camera. Ms. Hopkins thanked Mayor Harding for his
work testifying on various bills before the Senate and Councilmember Foster for
inviting AWC to the council meeting to give a presentation. Tonia Sugarman,
Director of Education showed Council some of the important information available
on the AWC website and training opportunities. Ms. Sugarman stated that AWC
offers a Certified Municipal Leadership Program that provides elected officials the
training they need to effectively operate within the law, plan for the future, secure
and manage funds and foster community and staff relationships. Most of the
training opportunities are free or very low cost to the individual.
Arbor Day Proclamation
Mayor Harding read the proclamation aloud and invited everyone to attend the
upcoming Arbor Day celebration at the Yelm City Park on Friday, April 24, 2015 at
11:00 am. Mayor Harding stated the celebration is always well attended and a fun
event.
5. Public Comment - no comments
6. Consent Agenda
Minutes - Regular Meeting March 24, 2015 & Study Session March 25, 2015
Payables - Checks #64392 - #64516 Totaling $653,546.94
YCP, Prairie Street Rod Association, August 1 & 2, 2015, All Day -Open to the
Public
15-030 MOTION BY TRACEY WOOD APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA AS
PRESENTED. CARRIED.
7. Public Hearing -none scheduled
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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) and reported that consultants from Green Solutions has been
hired by Thurston County to assist the solid waste staff in reviewing and creating
the new Solid Wastg Plan.
Councilmember Isom attended the Thurston Regional Planning Council meeting
where they reviewed the new TRPC website and was updated on the legislature.
Councilmember Isom invited everyone to go to the website and check it out.
Councilmember Littlefield attended the Lacey City Council meeting and
accepted a tree on behalf of the City of Yelm for Arbor Day. Lacey was the first
City to get the Tree City designation 24 years ago. The City of Yelm has been a
Tree City for 19 years. Councilmember Littlefield attended the Thurston County
HOME Consortium meeting and reported the numbers from the Homeless Connect
Event and the Homeless Census counts would go out for competitive bid.
Councilmember Wood attended the TComm 911 Admin Board meeting and was
updated on the scheduled Strategic Position Project and discussed the solar
powered cell tower system located in the Bald Hills. Councilmember Wood
attended the Intercity Transit Board meeting in Councilmember Baker's absence
where they discussed Washington and Oregon States taking over the operations of
the Amtrak's Cascade routes between Washington and Oregon. The Annual
Planning Session has been scheduled for August. Councilmember Wood reported
that the IT Attorney stated that discussing the Collective Bargaining Agreement
should not be done in an Executive Session. Mayor Harding stated staff will look
into the matter.
Mayor Harding attended the Mayor's Forum hosted by the City of Olympia. It
was well attended and there was discussion on regional issues such as a Criminal
Justice Sales Tax, Plastic Bag Survey and the shared revenues House Bill 2136
regarding Marijuana. Mayor Harding also attended the Yelm Prairie Historical
Society meeting and shared the history of Yelm. The Yelm Museum has been open
for 6 or 7 years after renovation by volunteers. Mayor Harding stated there may
be work on the Creek Street Sidewalk Project in the next week or so. The City of
Yelm will be replacing approximately 120-150 feet of sidewalk along Creek Street.
Councilmember Wood asked when work on Mosman Ave Realignment Project
would resume. Mayor Harding stated the paving should start the first or second
week of May depending on the weather.
11. Executive Session - none scheduled
12. Correspondence included -
Senator Randi Becker's Capitol Bulletin - March 27, 2015
Yelm Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Chatter April 2015
Nisqually Estates HOA letter dated March 30, 2015
Thurston Economic Development Council Report of Activities 2015
Senator Becker's Capitol Bulletin - April 5, 2015
13. Adjourned at 7:09 pm.
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��•�s Attest:
on Harding, Mayor/I � ��,,` Lori Mossman, Deputy City Clerk
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