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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/11/2017 - City Council - City Council Meeting Minutes - Steven C LacyCITY OF EAST WENATCHEE COUNCIL MINUTES April 11, 2017 REGULAR SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL CONVENED MAYOR STEVEN C. LACY, PRESIDING April 11, 2017 6:30 P.M. Mayor Steven C. Lacy Councilmember Tim Detering Councilmember Sandra McCourt (Excused —Motion Detering, 2nd Raab, 6-0) Councilmember Wayne Barnhart Councilmember John Sterk Councilmember Harry Raab Councilmember Chuck Johnson Councilmember Jerrilea Crawford EMPLOYEES IN ATTENDANCE Finance Director Nick Gerde Community Development Director Lori Barnett Public Works Director/City Engineer Greg Pezoldt Police Chief Randy Harrison Events Coordinator Dan White PUBLIC COMMENTS Jack Cates with Freedom Foundation explained the general purpose of the organization was to promote open negotiations with labor unions. He indicated that an open process benefits the taxpayers, employers and employees. When the process is open, the public and employees are able to witness the process and be more informed. There were several questions from Council. Mr. Cates indicated that there have been no court rulings either prohibiting or permitting the open negotiation process. He mentioned there had been an appeal to the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) that ended up not being pursued. He mentioned that PERC supports the open process. If there is a court action, the Freedom Commission will take care of the expenses. Lincoln County, Pullman School District, and Grays Harbor County have adopted the process. Mr. Cates provided Mayor Lacy a packet of information including a draft resolution. Following discussion, the Council recommended providing copies of the materials brought by Mr. Cates to the Council and putting it on the agenda for the April 20, 2017 Council Workshop. BUDGET ISSUES Nick Gerde, Finance Director addressed the Council regarding a concern that the state legislature is considering a bill that would push the state contribution to law enforcement pensions to the cities. The state currently pays 3.5% of the pension and cities pay 5%. The proposed change would have the state eliminating their contribution and thereby requiring the cities to pay 8.5%. The City contribution currently is roughly $95,000. The change would increase the dollar amount by approximately $65,000. Mr. Gerde urged Council to contact their state senators and CITY OF EAST WENATCHEE COUNCIL MINUTES April 11, 2017 representatives regarding the proposed bill. Mr. Detering asked Mr. Gerde to provide the Council with the bill number so they could communicate with state legislators regarding the issue. Mr. Gerde indicated that at the April 20, 2017 Council Workshop, he would be discussing several budget amendments that he believes should be considered early on to ensure that no fund balances become critically low. Mayor Lacy reminded the Council that if they have any items for the Workshop, they need to contact Mr. Gerde by April 17, 2017. Council asked staff to invite the Union representatives to the meeting since they will be discussing the Freedom Foundation's information. DEPARTMENT REPORTS Events Coordinator Dan White briefed the Council on the successful Easter Egg Hunt. He provided a photo montage showing some of the attendees, the mascots, and the number of people in attendance. Mr. White indicated that the volunteers did a terrific job organizing, setting up for the event and working the event. He mentioned the hard work of Kathy Kurpuis to put together 60 special baskets. Mike Machado and his wife, and Reserve Officer Jose Torres helped immensely. He mentioned that his wife helped with distributing tickets. He estimated there were over 700 kids and they sold 1500-1600 tickets. He praised Fred Meyer for the great prizes that they provided and for their staff who turned out to help with the event. Councilmember Johnson suggested that the Council send thank you notes to the volunteers and Fred Meyer. Mr. White explained that he sends thank you notes and they do have a City sponsored dinner at the Olive Garden for all volunteers. Mayor Lacy mentioned that he would like the City to provide plaques for the major sponsors of the events. That would be something they could display in their n businesses. The Council supported that suggestion. Mayor Lacy mentioned that there was an item relating to Events that needed to be taken up for action as it was inadvertently left out of the agenda and packet. All members of the Council were provided with a copy of a proposed contract with Davis Shows Northwest for the carnival at the Wings and Wheels Festival. He asked for Council approval to sign the Contract. It was noted that it is the same Contract that is used every year and the City Attorney was familiar with it. Council Action: A motion was made by Councilmember Barnhart, second by Councilmember Johnson, to approve the Mayor's signature on the 2017 Contract with Davis Shows Northwest for the Wings and Wheels Carnival. The motion carried, 6-0 -,43 tu OnLIR41 Mayor Lacy updated the Council on the Gateway Project Team Meeting that was held on Thursday, March 30, 2017. Councilmembers Sterk, Johnson, and Raab attended. The consultant provided two site plans. Neither of the designs included retaining the existing buildings. The design that was most appealing to the group was a trail head style of project. He indicated that the consultant would be refining the sketches. Lori Barnett explained that there were some changes that would be made to each sketch and there would be a public meeting that is tentatively scheduled for May 15, 2017. Mayor Lacy asked staff to forward copies of the sketches to Councilmembers as soon as they are available. Mayor Lacy announced that two new police officers had been hired. Chief Harrison gave a brief background for each officer. John Clary was most recently a lieutenant in the Federal Way Police Department. He has over 24 years of experience. Miguel Valdez lives in Wenatchee and has been working as an officer in Quincy for the past year and a half. Both officers will be patrol officers. He indicated that there is still one opening and they will be filling that with an entry CITY OF EAST WENATCHEE COUNCIL MINUTES April 11, 2017 level officer who will have to go through the police academy. The Chief mentioned that Eldon Chowning and Christy Patterson are both planning to retire in 2017 so they will likely be hiring additional officers later this year. Mayor Lacy mentioned that there was a study recently issued listing the Best Cities to Raise a Family in Washington State. He indicated that 111 cities were listed and East Wenatchee was ranked 28 while our neighbor Wenatchee was ranked 45. Mayor Lacy indicated that there were continuing discussions with Douglas County regarding the Open Space provisions and proposed amendments. He explained that he was able to talk to the County Prosecuting Attorney after receiving the last letter from the County. He also met with Commissioner Sutton and Lori Barnett on Monday morning. He mentioned that the County has softened their stance somewhat and have expressed an intention to accept the funds. They are also considering an interim regulation that would immediately change the Open Space requirements including reducing the set -aside to 5%. He explained that he still thinks it is a good idea to have the Council, Park District Board, County Commissioners, and perhaps the City Planning Commission, along with legal staff, sit down and discuss the issues and come to some agreement. He indicated that Lori Barnett would be working on setting the meeting and will contact the Councilmembers. Lori Barnett explained that the County staff are generally basing the interim open space regulation on the latest City version of the proposed amendments. She noted that the City Attorney is recommending some additional changes. She mentioned that the interim regulation proposed by Douglas County would only apply to projects filed after the date of adoption. Any projects already in process would need to reapply under the interim regulations. QCONSENT CALENDAR Items listed below were distributed to Councilmember's in advance for study and were enacted in one motion. Mayor Lacy mentioned that on page 4 of the March 28 Minutes the last item did not have a record of the vote taken. He also noted that the Council Workshop had been held on March 23, not March 30. Councilmember Johnson requested clarification of Teresa Allen's March salary. Mayor Lacy explained that there was a reclassification of her job and there has been quite a bit of overtime with Teresa and Marcia Martz filling in for an employee who has been out. Councilmember Detering asked why there were two different vendors for the polygraph tests. Chief Harrison explained that it was easier for one of the new officers to have the test take in Federal Way. 1. Consideration of Minutes — Regular Session, March 28, 2017 2. Consideration of Minutes — Council Workshop, March 23, 2017 3. Consideration of April 11, 2017 Payables and Payroll 2017 Pa a� — As of this date, April 11, 2017, Council does approve check numbers 47720 and 47737 thru 47793 in the total amount of $128,464.17. No payables checks were voided. 2017 February Payroll — As of this date, April 11, 2017, Council does approve check numbers 47475 thru 47495, 47549 thru 47550, 47558 thru 47574, 47650 thru 47661 and direct deposits on February 16th and March I" in the total amount of $396,876.65. No payroll checks were voided. CITY OF EAST WENATCHEE COUNCIL MINUTES April 11, 2017 Council Action: A motion was made by Councilmember Sterk, second by Councilmember Johnson, to approve the Consent Calendar, as amended. The motion carried, 6 - 0. RESOLUTION 4. 17-04-04 Resolution 2017-02 - Consideration of a Resolution of the City of East Wenatchee, Washington, amending Resolution 2015-06 by approving and adopting the Salary Step Plan for City Officials and Non-Bargaining/Non-Contract Employees. Presented by Nick Gerde, Finance Director. Council Action: A motion was made by Councilmember Barnhart to approve Resolution 2017-02, second by Councilmember Detering. The motion carried, 6 — 0. ►ToI[I]a# am& -]I 5. 17-03-06 2017 Equipment Purchase Request for a Two Ton Pickup. Presented by Greg Pezoldt, City Engineer. Council Action: A motion was made by Councilmember Detering, second by Councilmember Johnson, to approve the Mayor's signature on a contract to purchase a 2017 2 ton Crew Cab Pickup with a snow plow, sander, dump body and other options in the amount of $95,720. The motion carried, 6 - 0. Councilmember Detering expressed appreciation to Councilmember Barnhart for his previous recommendation to reevaluate the size of the vehicle proposed to be purchased. COUNCIL REPORTS Councilmember Johnson reminded the Council that they need to file with the Public Disclosure Commission. The deadline is April 17, 2017. Councilmember Detering mentioned that Councilmember Johnson had asked him to fill in on the Link Transit Board Meeting — it was clarified that the next meeting is April 18, 2017 starting at 3:00 PM. Councilmember Sterk explained that he is not Councilmember Barnhart's alternative for the RiverCom Board, according to the list the alternate is Councilmember Johnson. ADJOURNMENT 7:32 PM j ,,Lori Barnett VCommunity Development Director 4