CITY OF GOLD BAR

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, February 1, 2005

CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL

Mayor Hawkins called the meeting to order with Councilmembers Hill, Price, Amenn, Norris and Turner present.  Public Works Director Light and City Clerk Gilleland were also present.  Chief Ruchty arrived shortly after roll call.

AGENDA APPROVAL

Mayor Hawkins explained that, as a result of Councilmember Amenn’s request for discussion regarding the SnoPac memo, she called and verified that the SnoPac contract has been rolled into the Sheriff’s contract.  This does not change our contractual relationship with SnoPac and the correspondence received from SnoPac does not apply to Gold Bar.

Councilmember Amenn moved to add discussion regarding SnoPac contract questions he has to the Agenda.  Motion died for lack of a second.  By motion of Councilmembers Price and Norris, the Agenda was approved as submitted.

MINUTES APPROVAL (None)

VOUCHER APPROVAL

Mayor Hawkins reported that check #12252, payable to Corstone Contractors, will be voided and reissued for a lower amount due to a lower reimbursement from the grant than was submitted.  By motion of Councilmembers Amenn and Turner, Claims Vouchers in the amount of $29,459.62, paid by checks #12207 through #12251 and #12253 through #12260, and Payroll in the amount of $24,224.54, paid by checks #2773 through #2790, for a grand total of $53,684.16, were approved.

PRESENTATION:  Mike McAllister, DEM re: NIMS

Mayor Hawkins introduced Mike McAllister from the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management.  She expressed the City’s thanks to his department for their assistance with the Wallace River dike repair during the recent flood incident.  Mayor Hawkins acknowledged DEM for the awesome job they did in coordinating and accomplishing the project.

Mr. McAllister provided background information as to how the DEM works and what is entailed with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS).  NIMS was developed by the Department of Homeland Security and will enable responders at all jurisdictional levels and across all disciplines to work together more effectively and efficiently.

At this time, Federal, state, and local agencies are being asked to adopt the Incident Command System as the Federal government has outlined it.  In addition, any responder agency at the site of a major emergency needs to take Introduction to NIMS, an online course IS700, or take the course offered by DEM.   Training will be offered on site and the Council is invited to attend.  In the future, the next step will be to revise plans and other documents to be compatible with NIMS.

Mr. McAllister provided the Council with an example of a Resolution adopting the NIMS.  Adoption of the Resolution and training would enable the City to apply for grants to help fund additional government security mandates that will follow.

CITIZEN COMMENTS/AGENDA ITEMS

No comments were offered.

MAYOR’S REPORT

Mayor Hawkins called Council’s attention to copies of emails provided to them from citizens in appreciation of the letter sent last week explaining the new Sheriff’s contract.  She has also received many calls and visits in the office praising the contract.

Mayor Hawkins called Council’s attention to the emails between Councilmember Amenn and herself over the last few days.  She has been advised by the City Attorney there is a potential violation of the open public meetings act in this type of communication and that Council should consider adopting a policy on the issue.  Discussion followed.  Council-member Hill called for the question.  By motion of Councilmembers Turner and Hill, Council authorized the attorney to draft a resolution to prohibit council-wide emails, excluding memos from the City to Council.  All members voted yes except Councilmember Amenn.  Motion carried.

Mayor Hawkins handed out an issue paper from Attorney Pat Proebsting regarding questions of order and appeal.  Mayor Hawkins pointed out that it is in our policies that Robert’s Rules of Order may be used as a guideline.  We have not adopted them.

Mayor Hawkins requested Council to allow the new Councilmembers to meet with Phil Olbrechts for an hour or more.  Councilmember Amenn requested a written summary of their discussions.  By motion of Councilmembers Turner and Price, Council authorized the City Attorney to meet with or call Councilmembers Norris and Hill for one hour each to discuss city matters and to provide a written summary of the discussions.

Mayor Hawkins asked if Council wanted another Retreat.  She asked Council to think about it and be ready to discuss at a future meeting.  It was suggested by the City Attorney that half of the retreat be on parliamentary procedures and the other half be on goals, etc.  The cost would be about four hours of the City Attorney’s time.

STAFF REPORTS

Public Works Director Light reported that at the end of the recent DEM meeting there was discussion of the possibility of DEM merging with Snohomish County.  It is his opinion that DEM is currently running very efficiently and we receive quick response from them whenever we need it.  The question is how efficient would the County be in responding to our needs.

Public Works Director Light reported on a workshop for SR2 and the Route Development Plan.  Grant funds in the amount of $500,000 have been secured and there are additional funds to be applied for.

Public Works Director Light reported that the crew would be flushing the water system April 14 through 18 at night.  He also reported Gateway Park is almost complete.

Chief Ruchty handed out the monthly report.  He stated he met with all the deputies that will be working in the City and explained to them how the new contract would work.  He introduced Deputy Terry Halderman, our newest deputy in the Gold Bar Region.

COUNCIL COMMENTS

Councilmember Hill was contacted by Community Transit regarding the bus stop at 10^th.  Mayor Hawkins explained the situation, stating it has been resolved and re-installed.

Councilmember Price stated he was saddened by the closure of the Trailhead.  He thanked Rick and Pam for their years of community service.  Councilmember Price thanked the Mayor for writing the letter to the citizens about the Sheriff’s contract.  It was well written.  He then stated that a fence needs to be installed at Gateway Park.  Mayor Hawkins stated staff would look into it.

Councilmember Amenn, referencing all the emails, again offered to sit down with the Council at a retreat to work out a solution to the problems. 

Councilmember Turner reported that he also attended the SR2 meeting and the coalition is moving in the right direction.  He appreciates John’s representation at the meetings.  The coalition wants more meetings with more staff involved.  There is the possibility of reimbursing for staff time.  They also want open houses to get the citizens’ input.

With reference to the ERT training in Monroe, Councilmember Turner stated it cost $40 for the class and it meets every Thursday for two to three hours for 7 weeks and a Saturday.  He recommends the class.  Councilmember Turner then thanked all those that contributed to the 8^th grade class trip.  They held a pancake breakfast and a rummage sale that brought in $4,000 and there will be more fund raising activities.

Councilmember Turner reported attending his first Snohomish County Tomorrow meeting.  Former County Executive Bob Drewel is now with PSRC and he spoke about process, the leadership board, and discussed the importance of regional unification and stability.

NEW BUSINESS

ORDINANCE:  City Parks (1^st Reading)

Mayor Hawkins provided background information regarding the proposed ordinance prohibiting skateboards, bicycles and rollerblades on City Property.  City Clerk Gilleland gave a first reading, by title only, to an ordinance relating to use of city parks and public property and creating a new Chapter 12.08.  Discussion was held.  By motion of Council-members Price and Norris, the Ordinance was accepted for introduction and first reading.  The motion carried, with Councilmember Amenn voting no.

OLD BUSINESS

ORDINANCE:  Garbage Collection (2^nd Reading)

City Clerk Gilleland gave a reading by title only to an ordinance relating to garbage collection and disposal; amending the maximum term of a garbage franchise agreement and providing for rates to be set by the city council; amending Sections 8.04.040 and 8.04.080 of the GBMC.  By motion of Councilmembers Price and Hill, the Ordinance was approved for second reading and adoption.

INTERLOCAL: Jail Services

Mayor Hawkins provided background information regarding the interlocal with Snohomish County.  Because we are small and there isn’t any history recorded about our past jail usage, it is recommended we go with option #3, “pay as you use”.  At this time, there isn’t much risk of a capacity problem.  By motion of Councilmembers Amenn and Turner, the Mayor was authorized to sign the Interlocal with Snohomish County for jail services, using Option #3.

Discussion was held regarding using Okanogan County for longer term prisoners and those that receive sentences of five days or more at $40 per day and no booking fee.  They pick up every Tuesday and Thursday for free.  We can make arrangements with the Court to hold those hearings on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  By motion of Councilmembers Amenn and Turner, the Mayor was authorized to sign an Interlocal with Okanogan County for long term as well as court imposed sentences for five days or more.

Another option the Mayor is investigating is an Interlocal with the City of Mountlake Terrace for cooperative electronic home detention.  This is available for less severe crimes and there is no expense to the City.  The prisoner pays for it.  This allows us to select a less expensive housing option for our prisoners.

COUNCIL RULES & PROCEDURES (Tabled)

The item remained on the table.

CITIZEN COMMENTS/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Bert McClellan stated the Christmas lights were great this year. Bert reported that the trees were getting so big down at the new Fire District building that the airlift wouldn’t land.  The property owner let the Fire District cut the trees down and the District had a community work crew from the prison perform the work.  The District hasn’t had an open house yet but he invited all to stop by.  The District also received a grant to buy a video camera and a compressor to fill the tanks.  Bert stated that the Chief, Eric, is “awesome” and has been responsible for most all of the grant funds received by the District.

Al White stated he hoped the City would get another grant to build a park for the kids.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned by motion of Councilmembers Price and Amenn.

ATTEST                                                                                  ________________________

                                                                                                Colleen Hawkins, Mayor

___________________________

Hester Gilleland, Clerk-Treasurer