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Home My WebLink About1/12/2016 - City Council - City Council Meeting Minutes - Steven C LacyREGULAR SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL CONVENED MAYOR STEVEN C. LACY, PRESIDING JANUARY 12, 2016 6:30 P.M. OATH OF OFFICE Steven C. Lacy - Mayor, Harry Raab - Council Position 2, Sandra McCourt - Council Position 5, and Tim Detering - Council Position 6 were sworn in by City Clerk Dana Barnard. John Sterk - Council Position 1 was sworn in by Mayor Lacy. ROLL CALL Mayor Steven C. Lacy Councilmember George Buckner - Excused Councilmember Harry Raab Councilmember Sterk Councilmember Chuck Johnson Councilmember Wayne Barnhart Councilmember Sandra McCourt Councilmember Tim Detering EMPLOYEES IN ATTENDANCE Q Land and Water Resource Program Manager Tom Wachholder Public Works Director/City Engineer Greg Pezoldt City Attorney Devin Poulson City Clerk Dana Barnard Finance Director Nick Gerde Executive Secretary/Accounting Assistant Teresa Allen Police Chief Randy Harrison Clerical Assistant Shawn Murison MAYOR'S REPORT(S Mayor Lacy noted that the application process for the delegation visit to Misawa, Japan, August 12-21, 2016, has begun. He said he has requested a response from Misawa regarding them sending a representative to Narita Airport to meet our Delegation this year, but the City has not yet received a response. He noted that he will not be attending the trip this year. However, Mr. Kelts has offered to lead our delegation to Misawa again. He would like feedback from Council if they are interested in going, because we will possibly be sending two Councilmembers this year based on the budget. Council Representative Assignments for 2016 Mayor Lacy said his intent for Councilmember Sterk is to fill the positions previously occupied by Councilmember Collings. He said he is content to leave all other Councilmembers in the same positions they are at. Council agreed. Mayor Lacy said in regards to the Budget Committee in 2016-17 he would like to appoint Councilmembers Detering, Johnson, and Sterk. Mayor Lacy opened nominations for 2016 Mayor Pro Tempore. Council Action: A motion was made by Councilmember Johnson, second by Councilmember Raab, to appoint Councilmember McCourt as Mayor Pro Tempore for 2016. The motion carried, 6-0. CITY OF EAST WENATCHEE COUNCIL MINUTES JANUARY 12, 2016 Discussion regarding snow removal Mayor Lacy said there were a lot of complaints this year about the speed of snow removal in East Wenatchee. He said the City has had some difficulties with lack of available equipment, and the fact that the additional snow plows purchased have not yet arrived. He said the most significant issue had to do with parked vehicles that prevented snow removal in certain residential areas of the City, and the accumulation of snow on and around vehicles. Mayor Lacy and Legal Counsel looked at the Ordinance, Chapter 10.08 - Parking, in order to remind people what the rules are regarding specific provisions about snow removal and parking, because residents are not aware of those rules. Mayor Lacy said he is open to discussion regarding this matter, feels we should implement it, and do a better job at getting the word out to the public regarding City Ordinances. He asked Councils opinion on the matter, because what we are doing now is not working, but there are different options available. Delvin Schorzman, 618 1101 St NE, East Wenatchee, suggested that the City should plow snow into the middle of wider Streets instead of to the sides, so both sides of the Street could be driven on. Mayor Lacy said the City will work within the confines of the code that is in place now, and he will do a better job, as Mayor, working with the Police and Street Departments to see if we can provide better education and enforcement to solve this problem. Councilmember Johnson noted that he rode with the Street Department while snowplowing from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. He noted that some of the staff worked until 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon, at one point they were down to one truck, and they have been plowing major arterial Streets twice. He said their first priority is major arterials and school bus routes, not residential Streets, they work very hard, and he is very proud of them. ® Discussion regarding insurance claims Mayor Lacy said the City has contracted with Insurance Broker Shane Heston to do several things for the City including an overview of our insurance situation. Mr. Heston informed the City that they have had an increase in rates as a result of the number of comprehensive and liability claims filed. He is suggesting that we set a threshold at $1,500 for making small comprehensive collision claims, and if claims are more than that we would file them, if not we would pay it without filing. He said more research needs to be done, he is making that recommendation to Council, and if they feel it is worth looking into then we would draft a policy for them to consider. Council agreed to the change of a $1,500 threshold. CONSENT CALENDAR Items listed below were distributed to Councilmember's in advance for study and were enacted in one motion. Council Action: A motion was made by Councilmember Detering, second by Councilmember Barnhart, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried, 6-0. 1. Consideration of Minutes — Regular Session, December 8, 2015 2. Consideration of Transportation Benefit District Meeting Minutes, December 8, 2015 3. Consideration of 2015 Payables and 2016 Payables i. 2015 Pa,, a� — As of this date, January 12, 2016, Council does J approve check numbers 44819, 44834, 44835, 44838 through 44842, 44864 through 44870, 44911, and 44927 through 45038 in the total amount of $905,260.92. Payables checks 44784, 44836 through 44837, 44795, and 44871 through 44890 were voided. 2 CITY OF EAST WENATCHEE COUNCIL MINUTES JANUARY 12, 2016 and how the organization can better serve the communities. He noted that it is very impactful for our community here, so if there are any suggestions or recommendations, they will be looking into that throughout the year. Councilmember Raab mentioned the letter included in the packet from citizen Yvonne Mares regarding the stop sign on 5th Street and Highway 28. He said he would like to see the City put blinking lights on that stop sign to draw more people's attention to it. He asked what that might cost the City, and if we are responsible for doing the work. Mayor Lacy said the Department of Transportation (DOT) does have funding, and plans to put a round -about at that location. Public Works Director Greg Pezoldt noted that the cost would be more than $5,000 but less than $10,000 to put blinking lights on a stop sign, because the signs are not wired into the electrical system. Mr. Pezoldt said there is a jurisdictional issue, and he would have to do some research to figure out who would have to do the improvement. Mayor Lacy said the City will look into a cost benefit analysis, and will talk to DOT, because this is a safety issue. Mayor Lacy noted that he signed a letter today from a group studying the effects, and what can be done, with regard to the Alcoa shutdown. He said the group decided to write a letter to Governor Jay Inslee signed by all the stake holders in the valley, Mayor Kuntz, himself, County Commissioners, and various organizations that have an interest. He said the first draft the group wrote did not suggest specifically what they wanted, so they redrafted it, gave specifics, and noted that they are looking for resources to help with relocation, etc. He said the letter showed solidarity and didn't embarrass anyone, so he signed it, and it's on its way around the County now. He noted that the letter should be going out in the next day or two. ADJOURNMENT 7:35 p.m. Ord S¢e C. ma .y-eterk M ALIo r 4