COUNCIL Meeting: Audio and City Minutes from May 11, 2006

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[G.R.I.T. note: Click on links in this sentence for City Minutes & G.R.I.T. audio for hearings held prior to the start of this council meeting for General Sewer Plan and Water System Plan.]

[AUDIO FILE A, 10:04 min, 1,6 mb - includes meeting start, changes to agenda and public comment by Danny Mullene]

The regular meeting of the Sultan City Council was called to order in the Sultan Community Center by Mayor Tolson. Councilmembers present: Champeaux, Wiediger, Slawson, Flower, Blair and Boyd.
Absent: Seehuus.

Changes to Agenda:

  • Discussion: Add council meeting and animal control
  • Consent: Add excused absence of Councilmember Seehuus

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

  • Danny Mullene (see above Audio File A for her comments): Discussed the letter she sent to the City regarding the pit bull attack on a small dog that she and her family witnessed at the park. Several dogs are running loose in town and it is no longer safe to go walking without protection. Expressed concern that the next attack would be on a child or adult instead of another animal. Encouraged the Council to do something about animal control.
  • [Audio File B, 4:05, 720 kb] East County Youth Council: Christian Wilde introduced several volunteers from the Youth Council that work towards county wide prevention of drug use. They recently participated in a clean up along Highway 2 and were surprised at the amount of trash along side the road. Recommended that the City place "no littering" signs along the highway.

COUNCILMEMBERS COMMENTS [Audio File C, 7:43 min., 1.4 mb]:

  • Wiediger: Thanked Ms. Mullene for her comments and the kids for the cleanup work.
  • Slawson: Advised that the SMC does have codes that cover animal control and requires a license. Code enforcement costs have been an issue for the city.
  • Flower: Appreciates the work done by the kids on Highway 2. Agrees that the city needs to look into a viscous dog ordinance.
  • Blair: Agreed that animal control is a concern for the city. Thanked the kids for the cleanup along the highway.
  • Boyd: Asked if the city could put "no littering" signs along the highway or if the state would need to approve them first. (Connie Dunn advised that regulatory signs are controlled by the state.)
  • Mayor Tolson: Encouraged everyone to vote on the school levy.

PUBLIC HEARING - Ordinance 924-06 Planning Board

The public hearing on Ordinance 924-06 establishing a Planning Board was opened by Mayor Tolson. There were no objections to the Council participation.

Staff Report: Lee Walton, City Administrator, briefly reviewed the ordinance which establishes a Planning Board to replace the Planning Commission which was eliminated. Terms for the five member board are set at two years and there is no residency requirement.

Council: Discussion was held on residency requirements, powers and duties of the board, time line for adoption and appointments and the process for appointment and confirmation. Concern was expressed about appointing members that live outside the UGA and School District. The appointment and interview process was discussed at length and it was the consensus that the Mayor should conduct interviews and provide names to the Council for confirmation. Council also requested that there be language in the rules and regulations to provide for a minority opinion report from the board on controversial issues.

[Audio Files D-1, 6:54 min., 1.2 mb, D-2, 8:23 min., 1.5 mb, and D-3, 12:38 min., 2.2 mb, includes a presentation by Lee Walton, and questions and discussions among and between council members and staff.]

Public Input [G.R.I.T. note: The comments below is legal public testimony, not "input"]:

  • Loretta Storm [Audio File D-4, 3:20 min., 589 kb] : It is a good ordinance but she does have misgivings about people outside the UGA being on the board. Should consider motivation for applying and look for people in the UGA not just Sultan. Suggested 7 members instead of 5 and a council liaison. Need to provide training to the members.
  • Josie Fallgatter [Audio File D-5, 8:51 min., 1.6 mb]: All applications should be processed in the same manner and not be based on the applicant. There are new procedures for notification - asked if there was something wrong with the old ones. What good are procedures if no one follows them? There were prior problems with following procedures in the past, what will be different with this board.
  • Garth York [Audio file D-6, 2:59 min., 527 kb]: The school district is large but the council should check the motives of the people who apply. The Council should be able to look at the resumes and know how they answered the interview questions.

On a motion by Councilmember Blair, seconded by Councilmember Boyd, the public hearing was closed. All ayes.

[G.R.I.T. NOTE: ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE NOT MENTIONED IN THESE MINUTES, but included in-council closed record hearings for Garth York's Steen Park and Cascade Breeze Estates developments; click links provided in this note to access the audio for these hearings. Steen Park's hearing began at 8:05 PM, ending at 9:26; Cascade Breeze started at 9:26 and ended at 9:54 PM. For audio of the John Galt Hearing Examiner hearings on these two developments, please contact us for a CD.]

CONSENT AGENDA [Audio File G, 0:17 seconds, 52 kb]:
The following items are incorporated into the consent and approved by a single motion of the Council. On a motion by Councilmember Champeaux, seconded by Councilmember Flower, the consent agenda was approved as amended. Champeaux - aye; Wiediger - aye; Slawson - aye; Flower - aye; Blair - aye, Boyd - aye.
1. Minutes of the April 27, 2006 Council meeting as on file in the Office of the City Clerk.
2. Minutes of the March 23, 2006 and April 13, 2006 public hearings on the Critical Area Regulations.
3. Minutes of the March 23, 2006 and April 13, 2006 public hearings on the Shoreline Master Program
4. Vouchers #06-395 through 06-441 in the amounts of $62,976.89 and payroll through April 21, 2006 in the amount of $87,792.74 to be drawn and paid on the proper accounts.
5. Set a public hearing for June 8, 2006 at 6:30 PM on UDC Amendments.
6. Excused absence of Councilmember Seehuus from the May 11, 2006 Council meeting.

ACTION ITEMS:

[Audio File H, 4:22 min., 771 kb; includes WWTP facility plan workshop and stopping the clock action]

WWTP Facility Plan: Connie Dunn discussed the stake holders meetings and need for a council workshop on the Wastewater Plant Facility Plan. On a motion by Councilmember Flower, seconded by Councilmember Slawson, a workshop on the WWTP Facility Plan was set for June 13, 2006 at 6:30 PM.

Stop the Clock (10:00 PM): In accordance with ordinance setting meeting times, the adjournment time for Council meetings is 10:00 PM. On a motion by Councilmember Slawson, seconded by Councilmember Blair, the clock was stopped for 15 minutes. All ayes.

[Audio File I, 7:06 min., 1.3 mb] Ordinance 924-06 Planning Board: Thom Graafstra, City Attorney, briefly reviewed the changes to the ordinance that the Council requested. A revised draft will be provided for action at the next meeting.

DISCUSSION ITEMS [Audio File J, 6:47 min., 374 kb]:

  • Council Meeting: Mayor Tolson and Councilmembers Champeaux and Wiediger advised that they [G.R.I.T. Note: Tolson, Wiediger and Champeaux] will be absent from the May 25, 2006 meeting.
  • Animal Control: Brief discussion was held on the problems with lack of animal control and methods to ban specific breeds or control viscous dogs. Council requests that the matter be placed on the next agenda for further discussion.

[Audio File K, 5:33 min., 978 kb - includes the remainder of the meeting.]

Stop Clock: On a motion by Councilmember Champeaux, seconded by Councilmember Boyd, the clock was stopped for an additional five minutes. All ayes

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Josie Fallgatter: Asked if it would be cheaper to ban pit bulls then go thru the "bite" enforcement.
Asked when Timber Ridge and Denali Ridge were vested and why level of service was not an issue. (Was advised that they vested prior to the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan). Park mitigation fees have been discussed since 2003. Not fair for developers to have to pay now for deficiencies they did not cause. The city needs to develop the industrial park and create a tax base.

COUNCIL COMMENTS

Blair: Advised that the City can't force people to develop in industrial park.

Adjournment: On a motion by Councilmember Boyd, seconded by Councilmember Blair, the meeting adjourned at 10:20 PM. All ayes.