11-25-14 MinutesYELM CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014 MINUTES
Mayor Harding called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Roll Call Present: JW Foster, Joe Baker, Bob Isom, Jennifer Littlefield, Tracey
Wood, Ken Garmann and Russ Hendrickson.
Agenda Approval
14-099 MOTION BY RUSS HENDRICKSON APPROVING THE AGENDA AS
PRESENTED. CARRIED.
4. Special Presentations -none scheduled
5. Public Comment -
Richard Fife, Yelm property owner expressed concern for the water and sewer
base rates that are being charged at his rental properties even if they are
unoccupied. One unit out of four has not been occupied for fifteen years and he
receives a bill for a monthly base fee of $84.00. He calculated the annual charges
to be about $1008.00 and he does not feel that is fair. Mr. Fife also stated that he
has an elderly disabled tenant that gets firework debris on his house and in his
yard a couple of times a year when the neighbors let off fireworks. He has called
the Yelm Police Department and nothing has been done. Yelm has a City
Ordinance that states there is no littering of private property. Each time the
neighbor lets off fireworks it constitutes about 10 lbs of garbage in and around Mr.
Fife's property. Mr. Fife called the Yelm Police Department and was told they
would not respond to the complaint. Shelly Badger stated that the Yelm Police
responded to the complaint twice according to the police report and there was an
email exchange with Mr. Fife back in July to try to resolve this matter. Mayor
Harding stated he had received a date for a meeting from Mr. Fife. The date did
not work for everyone that Mr. Fife wanted at the meeting. Mayor Harding
responded with a new date but that did not work for Mr. Fife. Mr. Fife would like a
response from the Mayor and Council regarding their intent of the monthly base
rate charges and why he has to pay $1008 a year and receive no water or sewer
services for that charge.
6. Consent Agenda
Minutes - Regular Meeting November 12, 2014
Payables - Checks #63639 - #63703 Totaling $472,019.39.
14-100 MOTION BY RUSS HENDRICKSON APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA AS
PRESENTED. CARRIED.
7. Public Hearing -2015 City of Yelm Budget
Mayor Harding opened the Public Hearing at 6:14
Shelly Badger stated Mayor Harding presented the 2015 budget forecast to
Council on October 29, 2014. In light of the current state and national economic
forecast, the $6.625 million dollar general fund budget reflects a conservative
approach to revenue projections (4.633 million), as well as a thorough analysis of
planned expenditures. The Projects and plans included in the 2015 Budget are as
follows: Community Center construction; Cullens to Solberg sidewalk project;
Comprehensive Plan update; continued effort to obtain funding for Phase 2 of the
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SR 510 Yelm Loop; SW Yelm 1A -construction of treatment system and reservoir;
water rights mitigation projects associated with Deschutes River Farm; AC water
line replacement projects; Cochrane Park wetland rehabilitation and rapid
infiltration basin construction; Completion of the Sewer Capital Facilities Plan and
Stormwater Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Badger gave a detailed account of each
fund through a power point presentation. The Public Hearing will be continued
until the Council meeting on December 9, 2014 to hear any additional public
comments and is scheduled for adoption that evening. Councilmember Wood
asked about the status of the Yelm Loop 510 Bypass Project. Ms. Badger stated it
was up to the Legislature on the development of a Transportation package. Mayor
Harding stated that we have spent a lot of time lobbying the legislature for that
project and we will continue to do so. Councilmember Wood asked about Phase 2
of the Mosman Ave Project. Mayor Harding stated that Phase 2 to Longmire is not
fully funded. Ms. Badger stated we do have small grant for additional design.
Mayor Harding stated the Public Hearing is continued until the December 9, 2014
meeting.
8. New Business —
a. Ordinance No. 992 - 2015 City of Yelm Budget
14-101 MOTION BY BOB ISOM TO CONTINUE THE HEARING TO THE DECEMBER 9,
2014 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. CARRIED.
b. Ordinance No. 991, Amending YMC Chapter 3.42.040 Utility Tax
Teresa Mattson explained that in 2009, Council adopted an increase of 2% to rate
imposed for those persons, firms or corporations engaged in the business set
forth; telephone, cable television, electricity, natural gas, manufactured waste.
The City owned water, sanitary sewer and storm water utility tax rate remained
at the 4% rate. The City currently charges its own utilities at a rate of 4% to the
other utilities. The City maintains the power to increase its own utilities without
the restriction of a statutory maximum. The revenue from the City owned water,
sanitary sewer and storm water utility tax increase would move to a six percent
tax on gross revenues from the individual proprietary utility funds to the General
Fund to fund essential services. Councilmember Isom stated the City has not
increased City owned utilities since 2006 or 2007. Councilmember Wood asked
for clarification of the Utility Tax. Mayor Harding stated this is a tax that we
charge ourselves on City owned utilities. Councilmember Isom explained that we
are cheating ourselves by not being able to pull enough money out of the water
fund and put it into the General Fund.
14-102 MOTION BY BOB ISOM ADOPTING ORDINANCE NO. 991, AMENDING THE
YMC, CHAPTER 3.42 UTILITY TAX WHICH INCREASES THE RATE IMPOSED
ON WATER, SEWER AND STORM WATER UTILITY FROM 4% TO 6% UPON
THE SALE, DELIVERY, DISTRIBUTION OR FURNISHING OF WATER,
SANITARY SEWER COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL SERVICES AND STORM
DRAINAGE FACILITIES. CARRIED.
9. Old Business —none scheduled
10. Mayor and Council Initiatives
Councilmember Foster attended the Nisqually River Council and the Thurston
County Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) meeting.
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Councilmember Baker attended the Yelm Adult Community Center and they
discussed getting contracts out to the people that would like to make use of the
Senior Center through donations. Mayor Harding added that there have been
many new board members and they are doing a great job of finding ways to
increase the revenue.
Councilmember Littlefield has completed the survey from Thurston County bag
ban online and encourages everyone to take the survey and express his or her
opinion on the bag ban.
Councilmember Garmann attended the Thurston County Law and Justice
meeting where an Olympia Police Officer gave a presentation on mentally ill
people. The Officer indicated that 40%-60% of his workday is spent dealing with
mentally ill people on the street in downtown Olympia. Councilmember Foster
added that Chief Stancil has stated that the Yelm Police Officers are very familiar
with the homeless population in Yelm and has reached out to them with resources
that could help them.
Mayor Harding attended the Finance meeting for the Business Resource Center
and prepared for next year's budget.
11. Executive Session - none scheduled
12. Correspondence included -
Invitation to the Annual Human Rights Celebration, December 9, 2014 6:30-9:30
pm in Olympia
Chamber of Commerce Storefront Decorations Contest, November 25, 2:30-5 pm
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater Visitor & Convention Bureau, November 17, 2014
Terri Thomas -Thurston County Solid Waste, Online survey, November 18, 2014
Thurston County Solid Waste Reduction News, November 18, 2014
Thurston Regional Planning Council Pre -Agenda Friday, December 5, 2014 8:30-
11:30 am
Open House to Honor Cecelia Jenkins, December 9, 2014 4-6pm at the Prairie
Hotel in Yelm
13. Adjourn 6:51 pm.
"11-91- Attest: GI
Ron Hardi Mayor ori Mossman, Deputy Ci Cle k
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