AUDIO & AGENDA DOCUMENTS:

City of Sultan Budget Hearings and Council Meeting Nov. 15, 2007

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11/15/07 Agenda Documents & Links to AUDIO

HEARINGS:

6:00 PM - HEARING - 2008 FINAL BUDGET (2 mb pdf) Audio for the hearing has have been split into separate files; see below)

SLIDE SHOW - The 15-slide PowerPoint hard copy presentation distributed at the Hearing. Good thing, too, as the PPT/Notebook decided to be finicky, and refused to work.

AUDIO: There are a total of 7 MP3s files:

6:30 PM 2007 - HEARING - 2007 Amendments to 2007 Budget (586 kb pdf) Audio File B, 6:46 min., 1.2 mb.

COUNCIL MEETING:

7:00 PM CALL TO ORDER - Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call and Changes to Agenda (Audio File C, 45 sec. 135 kb) - Mayor Tolson removes Action Item #7, Res. 07-24, "Interest Distribution Policy" Read associated excerpt from Transcription.

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC:

  • Steve Fox, Commissioner for Snohomish Co. Fire Dist. #5 (Audio File D-1, 3:59 min. 702 kb ) - Re error in 10/25/07 Minutes (Joint Council/PB Mtg); restates FD5's several requests regarding city's plans for road crossing their property.
  • Loretta Storm (Audio File D-2, 3:06 min., 547 kb) - Costs to do take yet another whack at Sultan's Comprehensive Plan, trying to make it compliant.
  • Josie Fallgatter (Audio File D-3, 3:14 min., 572 kb) - Sultan's CP Consultant (Shockey) stated 11/13/07 that the CP compliance was "80% done" so another $400,000 to make it compliant seems excessive. City needs a consultant who understands the GMA.
  • Gerry Gibson (Audio File D-4, 4:24 min., 775 kb) - Re the Dyer Road residents' proposed comp plan docket amendment; takes umbridge with proposed Dyer Road sewer line as shown in current Comp Plan; asks about details re Twin Rivers developer donations.
  • Jeff Beeler (Audio D-5, 2:15 min., 397 kb) - Appreciates the yellow middle-lane striping on SBR's hill, but the bottom of the hill is very dark and also needs better defintion. Re 14% incresae in city's employee health care costs, as a small independent business owner, when those costs rise too high has to reassess and adjust his coverage accordingly, and suggests the City does the same.
  • L. Storm (Audio File D-6 47-sec., 140 kb) - Follow-up statement re making new Comp Plan consultants accountable for final product as part of otheir contract.

COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS: Audio file of all 3:39 min., 644 kb

STAFF REPORTS - Written Reports Submitted [we assume "submitted" means department heads have given written reports to the City Admiistrator.]

[G.R.I.T. NOTE: As usual, the city chose not to include these reports in the council's agenda packet. If Citizens want to read the reports, they will have to submit a separate Public Disclosure Request with the City of Sultan. Click here for information on how to do this. Once again, we urge the city include these reports in the agenda packet; based on our previous experience, substantial information and decision-making criteria is often contained within these reports which should be shared with citizens and taxpayers.]

CONSENT AGENDA: Audio File 1:15 minutes

1. Approval of the October 25, 2007 Joint Meeting Minutes [Note: Mayor Tolson pulled these for correction, based on comments made by Fire District #5 Commissioner Steve Fox.]
2. Approval of Vouchers
3. Adoption of Ordinance 966-07 - 2008 Tax Levy
4. Adoption of Ordinance 965-07 - 2008 Tax Levy - Police Bonds
5. Adoption of Ordinance 967-07 - Capital Project Fund REET 1

NOTE: Consent Agenda Items 5 through 10 contain the same information and are the same document. We have therefore linked the document only once, to Consent Item #5 above.

6. Adoption of Ordinance 968-07 - Capital Project Fund REET 2 (see Consent Item #5)
7. Adoption of Ordinance 969-07 - Park Impact Fund (see Consent Item #5)
8. Adoption of Ordinance 970-07 - Transportation Impact Fund (see Consent Item #5)
9. Adoption of Ordinance 971-07 - Stormwater Utility Fund (see Consent Item #5)
10. Adoption of Ordinance 977-07 - Repeal Chapter 16.112.100 [see Consent Item #5)
11. Adoption of Ordinance 974-07 - Amend Title 13.12 Disconnection Fees
12. Interlocal Agreement with Snohomish County - Emergency Management
13. Interlocal Agreement with MRSC for Rosters


ACTION ITEMS:

1. Ordinance 972-02 2008 Budget (80 kb pdf) - 1st Reading - AUDIO G-1 54 seconds, 161 kb [NOTE: There was an unnoticed typo in this ordinance number. It is shown in the city's agenda as 972-02 when it should have been 972-07.]
2. Ordinance 973-07 2007 Budget Amendment (586 kb pdf) - 1st Reading - AUDIO G-2, 49 seconds, 145 kb
3. Ordinance 975-07 2008 Salary Schedule (775 kb pdf) - 1st Reading - AUDIO G-3, 5:03 min., 891kb
4. Ordinance 976-07 2008 Capital Budget (407 kb pdf)- 1st Reading - AUDIO G-4, 3:25 min., 602 kb

[G.R.I.T. NOTE: As explained by City Administrator Knight during the meeting -- read the associated transcription -- an ordinance was not required for the Capital Budget action, merely a discrete vote re the 2008 Budget (remember, there was a mistake on that ordinance number as well, published as 972-02 when the correct number is 972-07, creating further confusion). Who owned that mistake?

QUESTION: This raises a question re the process, assignment and disposition of Resolution and Ordinance numbers. After a number has been assigned and published in a City's agenda, but changed or left an orphan, will it be placed back into the "pool" of available numbers and reassigned to a new council legislative action, or will it be "deleted"? This was not the only councilmatic action that evening to cause confusion: Resolution 07-23 approving the City's Investment Policy was redesignated 07-30 during the meeting, and the resolution setting the annual Payroll Allocation -- originally designated 07-21 -- was renamed 07-29.

ALSO, Res. 07-24 "Interest Distribution Policy" was pulled from the agenda altogether, because of "midnight hour" questions raised re the legality of transferring $9,064 of Transportation Impact Fee funds to the General Fund for general use to help balance the 2007 budget. Information obtained after the council meeting verified that the city's source for this recommendation was a statement made by Stan Finkelstein of the AWC during the Oct. 17th Sultan Blue Ribbon CAP meeting. The logical conclusion is that the City Attorney does not review any resolution, ordinance or other legal city executive actions except when specifically requested, or to review it as a regular procedure as to the corrections of its form, not substance. On ever ordinance, in additon to the Clerk's and Mayor's signatures, the signature line reserved for the city attorney states: "Approved as to form." This raises questions as to staff's knowledge, ability and qualification to authorize such legislative actions based on assumptions.

FINALLY -- and I REALLY hate to "start in" on Mayor-elect Carolyn Eslick even before the poor woman takes the Oath of Office, I have a significant concern. She has stated in at least two public venues (a recent Chamber of Commerce meeting and during the Toastmasters' 9./25 SHS Debate) that she believes the city would save money by excluding the city attorney from many (most?) council meetings. Bottom line: The attorney serves at the mayor's pleasure; He/she either follows the mayor's direction or finds another job. Therefore, Mayor-elect Eslick will have complete control over Mr. Graafstra's (or whomever's) effectiveness in council. Given the City's recent legal entanglements, I would suggest this is not a good time to begin cutting corners on legal advice and guidance.]


5. Resolution 07-21 - Payroll Allocation (137 kb pdf) - AUDIO G-5, 2:25 min., 427 kb [G.R.I.T. NOTE: This resolution was corrected to 07-29; per L. Koenig, "because of a duplication."]]
6. Resolution 07-23 - Investment Policy (173 kb pdf) - AUDIO G-6, 2:10 min., 358 kb - [G.R.I.T. NOTE: This resolution # was changed to 07-30; read the associated transcription]
7. Resolution 07-24 - Interest Distribution Policy (417 kb, pdf) - AUDIO - There was no audio for this item since it was pulled from the agenda; see brief verbal comment on this item and associated transcription in Action Item #6, "Resolution 07-23 - Investment Policy" above. [G.R.I.T. NOTE: This resolution was pulled from the Action Agenda by Mayor Tolson, for the following reason: "Conflict between what the RCW (state law) says and what AWC has been informing the City.]
8. Resolution 07-27 - Purchase Policy (619 kb pdf) - AUDIO G-7, 1:55 min. 342 kb
9. Everett Animal Shelter Interlocal Agreement (331 kb pdf) - AUDIO G-8, 9:32 min., 1.8 mb
10. Comprehensive Plan Amendment to 2007 Annual Docket (2.0 mb pdf) - AUDIO G-9, 2:49 min., 496 kb
11. Caimcross & Hempelmann Professional Service Agreement (311 kb pdf) - AUDIO SPLIT INTO SEVEN SEPARATE FILES BELOW:

  • Audio G10- A (3:39 min., 645 kb): City Admin. Knight's summary re Comp Plan deadlines and city's inability to meet Growth Mgt. Hearings Board's imposed deadlines for submittal of compliant documents of 12/31/07 for a compliant TIP, and 1/28/08 for a compliant CFP.
  • Audio G10-B (6:20 min., 1.1 mb): City Admin. Knight summarizes issues/problems at hand; second issue is to decide whether to use a Land Use specialist attorney.
  • Audio G10-C (6:59 min., 1.2 mb): Discussion....
    • City Admin. Knight attempts to outline specific costs, which are "squishy," and explains council's three choices: Use in-house staff, use current Comp Plan consultant Reid Shockey, or use land use attorney.
    • Disagrees with some citizens holding the perception that city staff has been "standing in the way" of a compliant comp plan, as the city has "given the process over to the consultants."
    • C/M Jim Flower makes (his first) motion (amended later).
  • Further General Discussion (Description for this portion of this agenda item will be "filled in" later; and we also hope to do a full transcription.)

PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY:

COUNCILMEMBER RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: AUDIO FILE I, 1:35 min., 281 kb - Comments mostly "Thanks for coming," "Have a nice Thanksgiving" or both, with the exception of C/M Blair, who explained to citizens that brief, or no, discussion re action items does not reflect extensive work behind the scenes on those issues.

   

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