COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Mayor Hawkins called the meeting to order with Councilmembers Turner, Hunt, Amenn, Price and Minder present. City Attorney Olbrechts, Chief Ruchty, Public Works Director Light, and City Clerk Gilleland were also present.
Mayor Hawkins requested Council to add Council Rules as Item #2 under New Business and to add an Executive Session after Citizen Comments/Non Agenda Items to the Agenda. By motion of Councilmembers Price and Minder, the Agenda was approved as amended.
By motion of Councilmembers Minder and Turner, the Minutes for April 14, April 20, and April 26, 2004, were approved. During discussion, Councilmember Amenn requested a written statement he prepared and distributed before the meeting be attached to the Minutes of April 20, 2004.
By motion of Councilmembers Hunt and Minder, claims vouchers in the amount of $103,740.97, paid by checks #11815 through #11857, were approved.
Joan Amenn addressed the issue of the proposed Interim Kennel Ordinance, asking if Council was considering some type of relief for those that might be forced to get rid of a family pet. Mayor Hawkins stated that would be taken under consideration when Council discussed the ordinance.
Mayor Hawkins displayed a trophy presented to Richard Baker and the City for his participation in the Mayor’s Cup Race on behalf of Mayor Hawkins and the City. Richard enjoyed himself and the Mayor and Council congratulated him.
Mayor Hawkins read the proclamation, proclaiming June 2004 as the 60th Anniversary Local Veterans Employment Representative Program.
Mayor Hawkins reported on the recent Council workshop conducted by AWC regarding Council roles and responsibilities and how to conduct meetings.
Public Works Director Light reported the bids and specifications for the Generator project went out today. The Gateway Park grant should be going through the County Council in June or July. He announced we had some vandalism to the benches in front of City Hall and urged all to watch City Hall when they can and report what they see.
City Attorney Olbrechts reported new legislation has been adopted dealing with manufactured housing within cities and Gold Bar may have to revise their zoning code to deal with it.
Councilmember Amenn requested Council to consider having a Town Meeting on the fireworks issue. He volunteered to set it up with the school. Council agreed to proceed with the idea. Councilmember Amenn also asked Council input regarding the proposed SCT interlocal for planning UGA transitions.
NEW BUSINESS
ORDINANCE: INTERIM ZONING/KENNEL
City Clerk Gilleland gave a first reading, by title only, to a six-month interim ordinance amending the Gold Bar Zoning Code to increase the number of cats and dogs allowed per household or facility in various zoning districts including residential districts and amending the requirements for a kennel license.
City Attorney Olbrechts provided background information regarding the proposed ordinance and the process used to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Amenn recused himself because he is directly affected by the ordinance.
Councilmembers Price and Hunt moved to accept the interim zoning/kennel ordinance for first reading. Discussion was held regarding adding a "grandfather" clause. City Attorney Olbrechts suggested the following wording "Any combination of five adult dogs and/or cats existing at the time of adoption of this ordinance shall be allowed notwithstanding the above." Councilmembers Minder and Turner moved to accept the proposed amendment language as stated by the City Attorney. The motion to amend passed. The motion to accept for first reading, as amended, passed.
Mayor Hawkins stated she distributed excerpts she gathered from other cities based on her understanding of items the Council would like to see in their rules. She requested feedback from the Council as to what they would like to incorporate into their rules. Comments included keeping our existing rules and augmenting them with excerpts from the others. Most Councilmembers especially liked Bothell’s example and several sections were discussed. Council requested the standards and the vision statement formulated during the retreat be included in the rules. The majority of the Council requested a section be included in the rules to subject accessibility to legal staff to approval by a majority of the Council.
During discussion it was also requested that all new Councilmembers receive an "initiation packet" to include the rules, policies, training opportunities, etc.
Mayor Hawkins suggested Council defer further discussion until a new draft can be made and so that the meeting could proceed. By motion of Councilmembers Minder and Turner, discussion of the Council Rules was tabled.
OLD BUSINESS
VARIANCE: ARCTIC REFRIGERATION
Mayor Hawkins provided background information to the Variance, reminding the Council that no new testimony may be introduced because the Public Hearing portion has been closed. City Attorney Olbrechts provided additional information. Councilmembers Turner and Amenn recused themselves from the Variance proceedings. Councilmember Turner was an acting Planning Commissioner during the public hearing and Council-member Amenn attended the public hearing. They both left the Council Chambers.
By motion of Councilmembers Hunt and Price, the Council accepted the Facts and Findings and approved the Variance request by Arctic Refrigeration with the conditions as recommended by the Planning Commission.
REVIEW FEE SCHEDULE (Tabled)
The item remained tabled.
Vicki McDaniel asked if other small animals were included in the Kennel zoning ordinance, such as ducks, chickens, etc. It was stated that other animals are covered in other areas of the code.
Mark Hopkins asked if there were rules about a Councilmember attending Planning Commission meetings because it seemed counterproductive to him for a Councilmember to attend those Planning Commission meetings and then have to recuse one’s self from a vote on the matter. Mayor Hawkins stated some cities do have such rules and that is has been the recommendation of the City Attorney not to attend Planning commission hearings but Gold Bar does not have specific rules preventing it. He then asked if there was a time frame regarding adoption of the UGA that the Planning Commission has recommended. Mayor Hawkins stated Council should be dealing with that in June or July.
Mayor Hawkins recessed the meeting at 8:28 PM to Executive Session to discuss potential litigation. Time to be in session was announced to be 15 minutes. An additional 15 minutes were added. Council returned at 8:55 PM.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:55 PM by motion of Councilmember Minder.
ATTEST: ________________________
Colleen Hawkins, Mayor
____________________________
Hester Gilleland, Clerk-Treasurer