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09-27-95 Meeting CITY OF YELM CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1995, 7:30 PM CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS Agenda/Motion Numbers 1. Mayor Wolf called the meeting to order at 7: 30 pm. All present joined in the flag salute. 2 . 95-153 3. 95-154 4. 95-155 Council present: Velma Curry, Martha Parsons, Amos Lawton, Bob Gallagher, and Don Miller. Visitors: Kristina Lord, Nisqually Valley News; Debra Delzell, Skillings Connolly; Cindy Cecil, UCBO; John Thompson and Don McGinnis, Yelm Community Schools; Sheriff Gary Edwards, Thurston Co. Sheriff's Office; J. Tripplett and ArIa Witt. Staff: Shelly Badger, Glenn Dunnam, Ken Garmann, Edward Smith, Tim Peterson and Agnes Colombo. Agenda additions/deletions. MOTION BY DON MILLER, SECONDED BY AMOS LAWTON APPROVING THE AGENDA AS PRINTED. CARRIED. Minutes: September 13, 1995. MOTION BY AMOS LAWTON, SECONDED BY MARTHA PARSONS APPROVING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 13, 1995 AS PRINTED. CARRIED. Approval of Payroll. MOTION BY MOTION BY MARTHA PARSONS, SECONDED BY BOB GALLAGHER APPROVING PAYMENT OF THE SEPTEMBER 1995 PAYROLL. CARRIED. 5. Public Hearing - Mayor Wolf opened the public hearing on the provisions of the City's Developmynt Regulations related to off-street parking, stormwater' and some minor text amendments. No objections to participants or conflict of interest was voiced. Shelly Badger gave an overview of the staff report explaining that when the new Zoning Code and Development Guidelines were adopted on 7/12/95, Council referred the off-street parking and stormwater provisions back to the Planning Commission for additional consideration. The Planning Commission has held additional public hearings on these issues and recommends that the City adopt the Washington State Department of Ecology Stormwater Manual to replace the Thurston Co. Manual which the City has been using. Other PC recommendations involve Development Guideline changes. The most substantive change recommended would allow minor street design standards adjustments when certain criteria was met. Also recommended are text changes clarifying design standards for STEP system tanks. Off-street parking recommendations reduce the number of parking stalls required and identify possible reductions CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 27, 1995 PAGE 1 for use as incentives for vanpools, leasing/sharing parking stalls by more than one business and other pedestrian friendly enhancements. 95-156 As no comments or questions were raised, Mayor Wolf closed the public hearing at 7:40 pm. MOTION BY BOB GALLAGHER, SECONDED BY MARTHA PARSONS THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE STAFF AND YELM PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING STORMWATER, DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES AND OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING. CARRIED. Councilmember Miller commended the Planning Commission for the extra work involved in reviewing these items. Mayor Wolf and Council concurred. Public Hearing - Mayor Wolf opened the public hearing on the 1996 Community Development Block Grant. No objections to participants or conflict of interest was voiced. Shelly Badger gave a program overview explaining that CDBG dollars are federal funds from HUD that are distributed through the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (DCTED). Funds may be used for housing, economic development, community facilities, public facilities or comprehensive uses. All programs must principally benefit persons of low-moderate income. Yelm qualifies for funds as 63% of our citizen's are classified as low-moderate income. Grants received since 1987 include two $500,000 grants for housing rehabilitation; two for the UCBO, $500,000 for the UCBO Center and $500,000 for expansion of the facility; and $500,000 to purchase land and provide infrastructure for a senior housing project. The City has a project to present for Council to consider along with the proposals submitted during the public hearing. $750,000 is available in '96. Criteria survey forms and general program information sheets were distributed to the audience. Public Comment was invited. Jay Trippett questioned how grants function in relationship to a builder/contractor. Shelly Badger responded that dollars are generally not available for new construction but for rehabilitation of existing housing. This is accomplished as a no interest loan or grant made to homeowners for rehabilitation purposes. The loan is not repaid until the home is sold or the homeowner dies. Cindy Cecil explained how the process works through the Thurston Co. Housing Authority and the advertising procedure for obtaining contractor bids. John Thompson - (Exhibit A) Public Facilities Director, Yelm Community Schools. Mr. Thompson explained that following construction of Mill Pond School, investigation CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 27, 1995 PAGE 2 into complaints about the school's water revealed a 9 parts per million copper content which exceeds recently established EPA standards. The same problem was found when testing was done at Ft. Stevens, which is also supplied by City water. The district also found significant amounts of rust in the middle and high schools which have iron pipes. These problems are is due to a low pH in the water supply causing the water to be acidic. The School District installed metering systems at a cost of $12,000 and spends an additional $2,000 p/year for chemical treatment of the water. Although metals in the drinking water have been reduced to EPA standards, the impact of the corrosive water on the pipes will eventually result having to replace the entire system. Mr. Thompson suggested that anyone with a house in the City is probably experiencing similar problems and that the Ci ty' s water system needs to be treated. The cost for individual homeowners to treat the water would be prohibitive. Mr. Thompson recommended addressing the City water pH problem as a CDBG project. Mayor Wolf asked if anyone else in the audience wished to address this issue. Ron McGinnis - a homeowner on City water, stated that he had noticed a metallic sheen in dishes of water after the water had set for an hour to an hour and a-half. After a couple of days this material would begin to clump together. Mr. McGinnis took the material to Tacoma for testing which identified a high level of copper. At that point he contacted the City about the issue and was told that the City was looking into it. His family no longer drinks the water. Mr. McGinnis also reported that Dr. Campbell, (local dentist) had mentioned that when doing dental work she has noticed a strange blue/green deposit in patient's teeth. Don Riach - ( Exhibit B) a neighbor of Mr. McGinnis provided written testimony concerning the blue colored stain in kitchen and bathroom fixtures from the water. He expressed concern about the quality of the water, and the metallic sheen and taste of the water. He purchases bottled water for drinking purposes and would like the City to remedy the situation. Yelm Physical Therapy Clinic (Exhibit C) written testimony from Pat Muchmore, supported corrosion control of the drinking water and stated that the water is progressively getting worse and is undrinkable to many of our clients and staff without a special filtering system. ArIa Witt - Rhoton Ct. - spoke of similar experiences and a sheen on cooking water. Edward Smith (Exhibit D) Yelm Water Superintendent, CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 27, 1995 PAGE 3 presented water related items to be considered including painting and inspection of the two of the City's water tanks, corrosion control treatment and disinfection upgrades for the system, water line improvements to provide adequate fire flow to various schools, rehabilitation of waterlines, and additional hydrants. Shelly Badger explained that copper level testing and standards have just recently been established and that the City has completed a corrosion control study. with the necessary funding the City is ready to move forward and construct a solution. Mr. Smith added that this problem is not just local, low pH, acidic water is found throughout Western Washington. Mayor Wolf stated that the City is aware of and has been monitoring the situation and that citizens should not think they are drinking unsafe water. The water supply has not changed. The remedy lies in finding the funding for the needed projects. The water system must be self-supporting and the income level of many citizens will not permit increased consumption costs. Mayor Wolf commended the public works staff for continuing to do an outstanding job with equipment in need of repair/replacement. Cindy Cecil - UCBO Director/resident - stated that she has been studying information regarding the water system and expressed support for the water improvement projects. For next year she would like to see adult day care and respite needs addressed. Also needed is program space for people with developmental disabilities. Space in the community to make life skills training available and allow these individuals a degree of independence is needed. Additional Head Start Classroom space is also needed and child care for low income families. Mayor Wolf mentioned the need to address economic development issues. The EDC and Port of Olympia are aggressively seeking new businesses to come to Thurston County. The City needs a better economic base and senior housing continues to be needed. Being no additional comments/questions, Mayor Wolf closed the public hearing at 8:14 pm. Shelly Badger requested that all speakers be sure to sign in and explained that a vote would be taken on areas submitted for consideration for the block grant application. Items were recorded on a display board for visibility. Individuals were requested to express their vote by a show of hands. Public Facilities - 8 votes, Housing - 1 vote, Community Facilities - 4 votes, Economic Development - 3 votes CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 27, 1995 PAGE 4 95-157 95-158 95-159 See Attachment A for Details. MOTION BY MARTHA PARSONS, SECONDED BY AMOS LAWTON ACCEPTING THE PUBLIC'S RECOMMENDATION FOR CDBG APPLICATION AS: 1ST CHOICE PUBLIC FACILITY (WATER) IMPROVEMENTS, AND 2ND CHOICE FOR COMMUNITY FACILITIES. CARRIED. Mayor Wolf thanked the audience for their participation and asked Cindy Cecil for her assistance in preparing the grant. 7. Public Comment/Questions Ron McGinnis - expressed appreciation for Yelm Police Department's efforts to discourage smoking in front of YHS. He stated that he has heard comments form other students supporting this effort. Chief Dunnam explained that citations are not issued. Officers will however, confiscate cigarettes. 8 . New Business: a. Ordinance No. 558 - employee request. MOTION BY BOB GALLAGHER, SECONDED BY DON MILLER APPROVING ORDINANCE NO. 558 AUTHORIZING $100 IN LIEU OF MEDICAL INSURANCE. CARRIED. b. Request from Pacific Peaks Girl Scout Council to sell calendars and cookies. MOTION BY VELMA CURRY, SECONDED BY MARTHA PARSONS APPROVING THE PACIFIC PEAKS GIRL SCOUT COUNCIL'S REQUEST TO SELL CALENDARS AND COOKIES. CARRIED. 9 . Old Business: a. Norm LeMay - LeMay, Inc. explained different options available to the City for garbage service. During the test period LeMay has installed a new computer billing system and new phone service to handle service change orders. Eventually the system will include the option to skip service one week and make it up in another. Mr. LeMay emphasized that whatever level of service delivery residents had experienced in the past, improvements would be seen in the future. Options available to the City include: 1) Contract - as in the past 2) Franchise Agreement 3) utilities & Transportation Arrangement Under a UTC arrangement the City could choose to totally opt out of the solid waste business, it would be as if the City didn't exist. Under an franchise agreement the rates could be set at the UTC level. This would allow the City to regain control of garbage revenues if desired and also to add other options into the agreement such as spring cleanup or recycling revenue sharing or adding a utility tax. In response to CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 27, 1995 PAGE 5 questions, Mr. LeMay stated that language in the contract could tie garbage rates to the current UTC level. Shelly Badger asked if she understood correctly that a franchise and the current contract are similar in that both parties negotiate terms and different in how the rates are negotiated. Mr. LeMay confirmed this and continued by stating that in a franchise rates would tie to UTC rates, but in a contract any agreement could be negotiated. UTC rates are a composite of all area rates and Mr. LeMay pointed out that the City should have slightly lower rates because of the density of population. The City could also add a utility tax on garbage collection fees or not charge a utility tax and experience lower service rates. An exclusive franchise would be preferred, although nonexclusive is also possible. No matter what plan is preferred, the City could have a letter of understanding that a cleanup would be provided, especially as the City provides the manpower to operate this project. In response to a Council question, Mr. LeMay indicated that under Yelm's current contract the City is paying UTC rates. Mr. LeMay indicated that he is available to answer any Council questions. Councilmember Gallagher agreed to work with a staff member to come to a decision on which direction the City should take. 10. Reports: a. Planning - Councilmember Lawton was on vacation and did not attend the last meeting. Shelly Badger reported that in addition to the parking and storm water issues and recommendations, the Commission continues design guidelines and sign code work. Both items will come before Council in the future. b. Library Report - (Written Report) Circulation exceeded 10,000 items during the month of August. c. Council Liaison Reports 1) City Hall/Court - Running smoothly. Written Court Activity Report showed 62 Criminal Citations and 72 Infractions in August. 2) Public Works - Ken Garmann reported on ongoing staff training, cleanup following the recent chip sealing, lawn mower status, water system improvements, and progress on the budget. .. Smitty" added that residents express their appreciation on seeing new fire hydrants added to the system. Councilmember Miller requested removal of political signs illegally placed in the right-of-way. Following discussion on sign locations, Mayor Wolf requested staff to look into the location of signs. 3) Police - Chief Dunnam welcomed Sheriff Edwards and CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 27, 1995 PAGE 6 95-160 reported on the proposed county 1/10 of 1% bond issue to raise $2 million for a juvenile detention center and a minimum security jail facility. Council was asked to approve a resolution supporting the 1/10 of 1% funding. A sample resolution of support is being prepared. MOTION BY VELMA CURRY, SECONDED BY MARTHA PARSONS EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR A 1/10 OF 1% TAX ON NOVEMBER'S BALLOT FOR JAIL AND JUVENILE FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION AND REQUESTING THAT A RESOLUTION BE DRAFTED. CARRIED. Sheriff Edwards explained that the tax would amount to $20 on a $20,000 car. Currently individuals are not being held accountable for their actions. The Sheriff's Department has 4,000 warrants on file that can't be served due to lack of confinement space. Everyone was invited for cake and to say goodbye to Officer Mercer at noon on Friday. The top 3 officer candidates from the 77 applications accepted have been interviewed for the vacancy created by Officer Mercer's departure. d. Financial - Councilmember Gallagher reported that review of financial reports indicates that everything is going fine. e. Mayor - Council was asked to bring department reports to Tuesday's 4: 15 budget worksession. The meeting will last until 8:15/8:30 and will include discussion to prioritize wants/needs. Sandwiches/salads will be provided. Other items reported: Nisqually River Interpretative Center booth at the Fair; EDC Corporate Marketing Breakfast, Membership is $1,000 and local members include prairie Security Bank, Yelm Telephone Company and Key Bank; Mayor's Forum, and Long Branch Reception and Street Fair. f. Council - Councilmembers Miller and Parsons attended the Grand Opening of the new State Farm Building in Dupont. 11. Correspondence was reviewed. 12. Meeting adjourned at 9:25 pm. Attest: Clerk CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 27, 1995 PAGE 7