HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/13/2005 - City Council - City Council Meeting MinutesCITY OF EAST WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON
REGULAR SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL CONVENED
MAYOR STEVEN C. LACY, PRESIDING
SEPTEMBER 13, 2005
6:30 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Present: Councilmember McCourt, Councilmember Hendricks, Councilmember
Bremmer, Councilmember Buckner, Councilmember DeWitt, and Mayor Lacy. Councilmember Aiken
and Councilmember Raab were excused.
Council Action: A motion was made to excuse Councilmember Aiken from this Council Meeting by
Councilmember DeWitt, second by Councilmember McCourt. The motion carried, 5-0.
Council Action: A motion was made to excuse Councilmember Raab from this Council Meeting by
Councilmember Buckner, second by Councilmember Hendricks. The motion carried, 5-0.
Staff Present: Linda Countryman, Randy Harrison, Erin Martindale, Teresa Allen, and Chuck
Zimmerman.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Waste Management District Manager Ted Woodard said he had responded to a letter from
Councilmember Aiken regarding several discrepancies between the printed Waste Management yellow
tags and the contract the City of East Wenatchee has with Waste Management. Mr. Woodard said new
bi-lingual, universal tags had been printed and should address the discrepancies. Mayor Lacy thanked
Mr. Woodard for his letter of response, complimenting him on the thoroughness of his responses to
specific issues.
PRESENTATION
Craig Larsen, Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, gave a report for the second
quarter of 2005.
Mr. Larsen said the total membership for the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce is 600 with 113
of those members located in East Wenatchee. He said the next Noon Network luncheon will be held at
Morgan's and will feature the Wings & Wheels Festival on Wednesday, September 14`h from 12:00pm —
1:30pm. He added the Chamber will be holding a Business Expo Wednesday, October 121h from 12:00pm
— 4:00pm. He said this would include educational seminars on subjects such as healthcare options for
small businesses, leadership, and internet security.
Mr. Larsen reported that the Chamber is re -organizing its website, making it more attractive and easier to
navigate. Also, the Chamber would be printing new Wenatchee Valley street maps in a larger font,
making the street names easier to read. In response to a question from Councilmember Buckner, Mr.
Larsen said the Kentucky Avenue Annexation, if approved in November, would be included on the new
maps as East Wenatchee city limits.
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CITY OF EAST WENATCHEE COUNCIL MINUTES
September 13, 2005
MAYOR'S REPORT
Mayor Lacy said an Executive Session regarding litigation had been added to the agenda and would be
held at the end of the Council Meeting.
Mayor Lacy said the Wenatchee Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau had met with the Hotel/Motel
Association regarding possible revenue sources for its members.
Mayor Lacy said the offices in the basement of City Hall are now complete. Wings and Wheels and the
Finance Department are occupying the offices. Mayor Lacy invited Council to visit the downstairs.
Mayor Lacy said he had received a packet from Legal Counsel regarding proposed amendments to
RiverCom's Charter. The amendments would add an at -large member to the RiverCom Executive Board.
A second amendment would prohibit members from withdrawing until July 2024. Mayor Lacy said he
supported the amendments and a proposal would be presented at a future Council Meeting for Council
action.
Mayor Lacy said the deadlines had been met and the Kentucky Avenue Annexation was on schedule for
the November 8, 2005 ballot.
Mayor Lacy said he would be meeting with Commissioner Ken Stanton and RSN Administrator Jim
Colvin to discuss any interest in a collaboration amongst jurisdictions regarding the old junior high
building on Ninth Street NE.
Mayor Lacy said there have been numerous incidents of vandalism at the Japanese Garden, Mayor Lacy
asked for Council's assistance in getting the word out to the Community to be aware and vigilant.
Mayor Lacy said the five year lease contract with the North Central Regional Library will expire at the
end of this year. He said the Library has leased the space at City Hall for $2,250.00 a year.
Mayor Lacy appointed Councilmembers Buckner, Bremmer, and Raab as the 2006 Budget Committee.
The first Budget Committee Meeting was set for October 4 at 6:30pm.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Action: A motion was made to approve the consent calendar as presented by Councilmember
Hendricks, second by Councilmember DeWitt. The motion carried, 5-0.
1. Consideration of minutes -- Regular Session, August 23, 2005
2. Consideration of Bills
Vouchers audited and certified by the auditing officer as required by RCW 42.24.080, and those expense
reimbursement claims certified as required by RCW 42.24.090, have been recorded on a listing that has
been made available to Council.
As of this date, September 13, 2005, Council does approve warrant numbers 16124 through 16195, in the
total amount of $162,936.72. Warrant numbers 16127, 16155, and 16168 were voided.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember DeWitt submitted minutes from the Chelan -Douglas Regional Support Network
Governing Board meeting held August 1, 2005.
CITY OF EAST WENATCHEE COUNCIL MINUTES September 13, 2005
Councilmember McCourt asked about the deadline on submitting the Kentucky Avenue Annexation and
when the City would actually start collecting taxes on the annexed area if the proposal passed on the
November 81h ballot. City Attorney Zimmerman said the dates funds are collected are set by State Statute.
Councilmember Bremmer said the City of Wenatchee recently placed a moratorium on billboards and
asked if this was something East Wenatchee should consider . Mayor Lacy said the City had adopted an
extensive sign code and additional restrictions should not be necessary.
Councilmember Hendricks suggested the City owned house on the corner of Baker Avenue and
Standerfer Street, purchased as part of the Central Business District Project, could be used as a practice
burn for the Douglas County Fire Department. This would reduce demolition costs. Mayor Lacy said
Street Superintendent Goodman could check with the Douglas County Fire District.
Councilmember Buckner suggested the City schedule a Council Workshop regarding disaster
preparedness and the City's role in a disaster. Police Chief Harrison said he was working on an
Emergency Management Plan for the City in conjunction with the Washington State Plan. An ordinance
had been drafted establishing an Emergency Management Department and would be forwarded to Legal
Counsel for review.
Mayor Lacy read a letter from the Storm Water Utility Management Team into the record:
Dear Douglas County Commissioners:
The Storm Water Management Team unanimously recommends reassigning the annual
Storm Water Utility fee relating to the Apple Capital Loop Trail from Odabastian Bridge
to Hydro Park to the assessment billed to Washington State Department of Transportation
(WSDOT) since they are the owner of the property. This assessment will not increase the
annual fee paid by WSDOT but it will reduce the amount of revenue received by the
Storm Water by $4,132.00.
Mayor Lacy said the Storm Water Utility Management Team was requesting Council authorization for
Councilmember Bremmer's signature on the letter.
Councilmember Bremmer added Council had unanimously agreed to this option at the July 12, 2005
Council Meeting.
Council Action.: A motion was made to authorize the City's Storm Water Utility Management Team
representative, Councilmember Bremmer, to sign the letter on behalf of the City of East Wenatchee by
Councilmember DeWitt, second by Councilmember Buckner. The motion carried, 5-0.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 7:20 p.m. Mayor Lacy called a five minute executive session regarding litigation. Council reconvened
at 7:25 p.m.
ADJ MENT — 7:25 P.M.
Linda Countryon
City Treasurer