AUDIO & SUMMARY/MINUTES

City of Sultan Council Meeting - November 9, 2006

G.R.I.T. 11/10 email distribution UPDATE
contains contact info for Dept. Emergency Mgt. and VOA (in Word, pdf)
Click here if you would like to receive our periodic updates.

NOTES on our recording and digital audio.

 

 

G.R.I.T.
Home

Agenda Packets & Minutes for this, and previous meetings

For more info on meetings and hearings, visit our TRANSCRIPTION page

AUDIO of previous meetings

 

 

November 9, 2006 Hearing and Council Meeting

6:30 PM HEARING (11:49 min., 2.0 mb audio file)

Sewer General Facilities Connection Fees - Increase (Proposed fees document presented at hearing)

7:00 PM COUNCIL MEETING

Pledge of Allegiance. Meeting called to order. Changes to agenda; requested revisions by John Seehuus (or Perbaugh's statement at 10/26 meeting).(Audio File A, 2:42 min., 476 kb)

PRESENTATION - Snohomish County's Dept. of Emergency Mgt. (Audio File B, 3:48 min., 1.96 mb)
Re flood issues; request people to submit estimates of their flood damage to them to include in their request for financial aid/relief (425-388-5060; see GRIT update link above for more info).

PUBLIC COMMENTS

  • Dave Wood, new Director, Sultan's VOA (Volunteers of America); they are in dire need of donations; contact info on our G.R.I.T. update of 11/10/06. (Audio File C-1, 3:48 min., 670 kb)
  • Jeffrey Beeler (Eagle Ridge resident) re construction mess (mud, etc.) (Audio File C-2, 1:35 min., 282 kb)
  • Loretta Storm - Responded to Beeler's comments; there's plenty of laws on the books guiding Best Management Practices (BMPs) for construction sites; the problem is the City's lack of code enforcement. Expressed gratitude to all those who worked so hard on SPD Levy election. Disappointed that city attorney(s) could not be present to rule on City's potential legal liability due to inadequate/illegal agenda distribution. Mentioned problem with City Planner's statements in recent Planning Board meeting re future new and additional incursions from industrial area onto U. S. 2, which is counterproductive to interests of all, and in conflict with the City's Industrial Park Master Plan as well as comp plan. Asked if someone could advise who -- the developer or the city -- is paying for improvements to Sultan Basin Road needed for Timber Ridge community currently under construction. (Audio File C-3, 3:17 min., 580 kb) [check out our updated Storm and Surfeace Water quality page for info on this subject.]
  • Gerry Gibson (Dyer Road resident and co-chair of the Prop. 1 SPD Levy election committee) - Stated how heartwarming it was to see the community come together during the flood. Dyer road was flooded over and people came from everywhere to sandbag and help. (Audio File C-4, 0:50 min., 148 kb)

COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS

Audio File D-1, 4:10 min., 734 kb:

  • John Seehuus (heartening to see community come together; thanks to Gordon MacDonald; his and others' election ballots dropped off at Red Apple have not yet been tallied by County Auditor.
  • Jim Flower re VOA needs request; he had a carload for Mr. Wood. Re new construction debris and mess -- we need to be "more tidy." Thanks to Gordon MacDonald for assistance during flood.
  • Kristina Blair: Could not help with food, was in horrible traffic on U. S. 2 trying to et to Sultan. Nice to see the community pulling together in time of need. Sultan Harvest needs coats, blankets, stuffed toys.

Audio File D-2, 2:38 min., 435 kb:

  • Derek Boyd: Thanked all for pitching in, but special recognition and thanks goes to city staff who put in "extensive hours."
  • Bruce Champeaux and Steve Slawson had no comments: "Everything has already been said."
  • Ron Wiediger: Asked why we can't do a better job of "cleaning the streets" of construction debris, eliciting Connie Dunn's comment that "We're working on it."

G.R.I.T. NOTE: The problem is not cleaning upthe roadway after trucks have dropped mud, etc.. The challenge is following laws mandating that developers/contractors use BMPs -- Best Management Practices -- in all aspects of construction so debris and mud does not get onto the roadways -- and into our streams and water bodies -- in the first place. Contractors are currently placing the he City at great risk in this regard. [check out our updated Stormwater and Surfeace Water quality page for info on this subject.]

Audio File D-3, 4:07 min, 7625 kb

  • John Seehuus - Thanked Dan Barmon, who donated 6,000 bags of sand. Also thanked the SPD for their performance during the flood.
  • Kristina Blair - Thanks, too, to SPD, especially for their phone work and accurate information (Said "mainstream" media sources -- KOMO -- were distributing "terrible misinformation," saying the bridge was closed.
  • Derek Boyd - Also thanked SPD -- phone work great; couldn't raise anyone at city hall.
  • Fred Walser - We all need to critique our performance. Gave special recognition to Connie Dunn as a hero during the flood; "deserves a pat on the back" for her efforts. [Fred's statement was greeted with a round of applause for Connie and her crew.]

Audio File D-4, 1:09 min., 204 kb

Mayor Tolson - Specific thanks and kudos to Gordon MacDonald (and his son).

Audio File D-5, 5:16 min., 927 kb - At Tolson's permission, Susan Hollenbeck was allowed to give update on the problem she brought to council on 10/26 re violations by her neighbor. Asked "Whose responsibility is it at the SPD to know the codes" when complaints are filed?

STAFF REPORTS

  • Planning - Kurt Latimore (Audio File E-1, 4:21 min.,768 kb) - Summarized Planning Board's recent training, education, direction given and activities to date. Gave their timeline for completion of tasks; they will start task of bringing the Capital Facilities Plan into compliance with the Comp Plan.

    Public Works - Connie Dunn:

    Audio File E-2a, 1:50 min., 324 kb:

    • Update on Sultan Basin Road; will be closed through mid-December. Notice on TVW.
    • Asked residents and businesses to KEEP THEIR SANDBAGS until March, 2007, as they may be needed again.

     

    Audio file E-2b, 5:15 min., 925 kb:

    • Gave a big thank you to Gordon MacDonald for trucking and dumping sand where it was most needed. It was of great help and allowed easy and efficient filling of the sand bags. Thanked Debbie Copple for calling to request early release for kids so they could help with the bagging.
    • Thanked and recognized John Landy and two of his WWTP workers for their help in coming to help with the clean-up of Sultan's WWTP plan. Brown and Caldwell visited today (11/9) and plans on being here again on Friday (11/10).
    • Jeff Beeler asked (from the assembly) if the city could erect cones in the new left-turn lane to Sultan Basin Road, or provide some other diversion to prevent folks from turning left onto that temporarily-deadend road (SBR). Now that the signal is working, folks are turning, then having to make U-turns and come back out to U.S. 2 again.

     

    Finance - Gordon Hey (Audio File E-3, 4:32 min., 799 kb) - Distributed information from AWC re distributions of tax revenue (per ESSB6050) - document in pdf

    Police Report - Chief Fred Walser

    Audio File E-4a , 4:12 min., 742 kb (all comments related to flood event):

    • Called officers in for duty; feared for burgled homes during flood
    • School kids were a terrific help.
    • Thank you to Jeff Aikins and Gerry Gibson for their work on SPD Levy election
    • They had serious communication issues (media exacerbated problems). Mary Carson Ford asked if she could help, worked the phones constantly for nine hours, then volunteered to come back to help the next day.
    • Rep. Kirk Pearson came by and they jointly surveyed damage to businesses (est. worth 300,000)
    • The SPD is the city's alternate emergency command center; FD5 moved all equipment up to new property at the "V" created by intersection of Cemetery Road and U. S. 2.

     

    Audio File E-4b, 5:03 min., 889 kb:

    • Kristina Blair commented that, ironically, as a new resident, her welcome pack included a Lake Bronson T-shirt but no info on emergency evac/preparedness.
    • Steve Slawson asked what happens if/when the SPD gets flooded out? Chief said he didn't know. But the Hillside Baptist Church is the Basin's designated evac/disaster center
    • Chief mentioned their Wish List includes eventual purchase of a satellite phone for emergencies
    • Jim Flower said his work with the County's Health Department includes scenarios for pandemics, and key is communication and effectively getting information to the public. If the city holds a critique or workshop to review its performance during the flood, he would like to be involved in that process.

CONSENT AGENDA Hold 10/26/06 minutes until next session - All ayes, as amended (Audio File F, 0:42 min., 124 kb)

ACTION AGENDA

  • Ordinance 937-06 2007 Property Tax Levy, 2nd reading (Audio File G-1, 7:49 min., 1.4 mb) - Discussion was held re Storm's caution re passing ordinances because of inadequate agenda publication. Tolson asked Deborah Knight, newly-hired city administrator, to comment/give her advice on issue. Vote: all ayes but Jim Flower, voting nay.
  • Ordinance 938-06 - Police Tax Levy Bond, 800 Mhz system, 2nd reading (Audio File G-2, 1?21 min., 239 kb) - All ayes but Bruce Champeaux, voting nay.
  • Ord. 939-06 Police Equipment Fund, 1st reading (Audio File G-3, 4:58 min., 874 kb) -- All ayes to approve on first reading.
  • Set Hearing for Surface Water Utility (Audio File G-4, 2:35 min., 457 kb) - Derek Boyd asked Connie how much monthly rates might be for this utility? Connie stated figures have been thrown out ranging from $3.50 to $15.00 per month. She's discussed this with Reid Shockey; we first need to set the procedures and review, then decide on rates. All ayes.
  • Supplemental Voucher approval (Audio File G-5, 0:53 min., 158 kb) Supplemental vouchers for charges to following projects: Sultan Basin Road, 5th Street, and finalization of purchase of the lot/parcel on Alder. All ayes.

PUBLIC COMMENTS (Audio File H, 2:19 min, 408 kb)

Josie Fallgatter - Thanks for setting Surface Water Utility hearing. Re Plng. Board report, this feature is a tremendous idea and should be a regular council item. Disagrees that the PB's first item of business was the CFP. The first was to establish and finalize the public participation process.

COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS (Audio File I, 1:48 min., 320 kb)

No comments from Councilmembers Boyd, Champeaux, Slawson, Flower, Wiediger or Blair. John Seehuus thanked everyone for coming. Tolson announced a memorial ceremony to add names to Sultan's Veteran's Memorial Wall on Sat., 11/11 at 11:00 a.m.

Meeting adjourned at 8:27 PM
   

NOTES ON OUR DIGITAL RECORDING AND FILES:

  • This audio is accurate and complete. However, we urge that people contact the City directly to obtain the final agenda, and certified minutes, ordinances, resolutions or other documents: City Clerk Laura Koenig 360-793-2231. If you receive the automated message, you can bypass it and go directly to her voicemail by pressing "2" and then the pound (#) sign.
  • As of the October 26, 2006 council meeting, the city began recording meetings using a Morantz MP3 digital recorder, which has records directly from the microphones to the recorder, thus, clearly than the audio we present here, with is captured from "room" sound from a microphone located near the podium. If you wish to secure a copy of the City's audio, contact Clerk Koenig.
  • All of our digital audio files are in MP3 format, playable on Windows Mediaplayer or other MP3-compatible digital device