CITY OF GOLD BAR

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, April 5, 2005

 

CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL

Mayor Hawkins called the meeting to order with Councilmembers Price, Hill, Amenn, and Turner present.  By motion of Councilmembers Price and Turner, Councilmember Norris was excused because he was out of town on business.  Public Works Director Light, Deputy Haldeman and City Clerk Gilleland were also present.

 

AGENDA APPROVAL

Mayor Hawkins requested the Agenda be amended by adding a brief Executive Session before adjournment to discuss potential property acquisition.  Councilmembers Amenn and Hill moved to approve the Agenda as amended.  Councilmember Amenn moved to postpone the Resolution regarding the County Hazard Mitigation Plan to allow him more time to review the Plan.  Some discussion followed.  Motion died for lack of a second.  The original motion to approve as amended passed.

 

MINUTES APPROVAL (None)

 

VOUCHER APPROVAL

By motion of Councilmembers Turner and Price, claims vouchers in the amount of $17,489.71, paid by checks #12337 through #12358, and Payroll in the amount of $24,046.99, paid by checks #2809 through #2826, were approved.

 

PRESENTATION:  Al Robinson, School Superintendent

Al Robinson, Sultan School District Superintendent, provided information regarding the progress on the new school planned for Reiter Road.  He reviewed the planning process for the Council and audience and displayed an architectural concept of what the new school might look like.  Mr. Robinson also provided details regarding future plans for the District, including upgrading the existing buildings.  In closing, he invited all to attend the committee meetings and take part in the planning process.  The next meeting will be Wednesday at 4 PM.  Anyone interested could contact Jackie at the School District offices.  Some discussion followed.

 

**STAFF REPORT

Deputy Haldeman requested to give his staff report because he had a call to go to.  Council consented.  Deputy Haldeman handed out the monthly activity report.  He reported the Sheriff’s office helicopter found another meth lab yesterday.  They found two more tonight and that is the call he needed to respond to.  Council congratulated the department.

 

CITIZEN COMMENTS/AGENDA ITEMS

Superintendent Robinson announced there would be a meth presentation at the school for the 7th grade on Friday.

 

MAYOR’S REPORT

Jail Services:  Mayor Hawkins updated Council on the jail service contract issues.  She has contacted Monroe regarding an Interlocal for temporary housing for our prisoners and Monroe has no space available.  Mayor Hawkins also contacted Marysville and received the same response.  Marysville is building additional space, but it is not available yet.  At the present time, there seems to be no other option but the County jail.  She is looking into one other option, home detention, but has nothing to report right now.

 

Sonsteng Lawsuit:  Mayor Hawkins sent a memo to Council stating the Sonsteng suit had been dismissed by summary judgment last month.  Subsequent information she received was that AWC might not be filing against the Sonstengs to recover legal fees.  However, she received information today that AWC will be doing so.  We might get some of our legal expenses returned.

 

DEM:  Mayor Hawkins reported on the Department of Emergency Management meeting she attended recently.  Snohomish County desires to run the department and has decided to pull out of DEM.  The County requested the Board to dissolve DEM.  Mayor Hawkins explained how the DEM is organized and funded.  She was successful in getting the action tabled until the County puts in writing what they intend to do.  However, she believes the other cities will go along with the County’s plan to dissolve DEM as it now exists.  Mayor Hawkins will keep the Council informed about the situation.  The next meeting is April 21st. 

 

Videos:  Mayor Hawkins announced she has training videos in her office available for Council use.  The videos were distributed by AWC and address various Council issues.

 

Equipment Repairs:  Mayor Hawkins reported the one-ton truck needs emergency brake repairs that will cost approximately $2,000.  It is not safe to drive at the moment.  Mayor Hawkins stated this emergency is a direct result of not budgeting the funds on an annual basis for routine maintenance on our equipment. 

 

Mayor Hawkins requested Council to think about whether or not we want to continue to provide street sweeping services.  If so, the sweeper needs approximately $5,000 to $10,000 in repairs to make it operable.  Public Works Director Light stated professionals should repair the sweeper this time because the minor repairs we have done periodically are just patch jobs and have made things worse.  Specialized equipment is necessary to calibrate parts.  Mayor Hawkins stated it would require an interfund loan for the Street Fund to fix the sweeper.  She then suggested the Council consider combining the Street and General Funds because the Street Fund is consistently under funded.  It simply doesn’t have the revenue sources available.  Some discussion followed.  It was the consensus of Council to direct staff to proceed with estimates and with the repairs.  An interfund loan resolution will be prepared for a future meeting when the actual cost is known.

 

 

STAFF REPORTS

City Clerk Gilleland reminded Council that the Annual Spring Gas Up sponsored by the Antique Tractor Club would be held at the SR2 Park on April 9th.   The Club wants to make this an annual event in Gold Bar and there are hopes it will get bigger and better.

 

City Clerk Gilleland reported she received information from the Cocoon House that they are opening a new endeavor in Everett as part of their outreach program for homeless and troubled teens.

 

City Clerk Gilleland reported on her recent meeting for the liability insurance pool.  The Pool is in excellent financial shape, they have been extremely successful in shopping the insurance market for the best price, and they have closed most of the pending suits.  The Board is considering another refund distribution to participating cities.

 

 

COUNCIL COMMENTS

Councilmember Turner reported on the Snohomish County Tomorrow meeting he attended.  The SCT voted to accept the Route Development Plan grant request proposed by the SR2 Coalition and it will be going to the Puget Sound Regional Council.  Our proposal for SR2 is competing with some big projects but it is hoped it will be accepted by PSRC.  He reported on a discussion held with Brian Sullivan regarding various legislation under consideration in Olympia.  Councilmember Turner reported Gold Bar hasn’t paid the SCT dues.  If Council doesn’t want to pay the dues, he will continue to attend the meetings as a private citizen but he won’t have a vote on any issues.  It was suggested to put the SCT dues issue on the next Agenda for discussion.

 

Councilmember Amenn requested additional time to review draft proposals such as the Hazard Mitigation Plan.

 

Councilmember Price asked if the Town Meeting was still planned for April 16th and if the Council Retreat was still scheduled for May 21st.  Mayor Hawkins answered yes to both questions.

 

Councilmember Hill voiced her concerns about rumors the City is going to unincorporate.  She asked for advice on how to deal with the negative comments.  Mayor Hawkins, to clarify the situation, provided detailed background information to the story that appeared in the Herald.

 

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

RESOLUTION:  County Hazard Mitigation Plan

Mayor Hawkins provided background information regarding the Plan and the process that the entities involved went through.  She gave a reading to the Resolution, by title only, for the adoption of the Snohomish County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan.  Councilmembers Price and Turner moved to adopt the Resolution and authorize the Mayor to sign it.  Councilmember Amenn asked questions regarding the Plan and the Resolution.  Public Works Director Light provided more detailed information regarding what the Plan is, how it was developed and why it was developed.  Discussion followed.  Councilmember Amenn moved to table the issue.  The motion died for lack of second.  The motion to adopt the Resolution was approved by the Council.

 

ORDINANCE:  Council Compensation (1st Reading)

Mayor Hawkins explained the ordinance doesn’t change the amount of compensation for the month.  It changes the per meeting fee to a monthly fee.  The ordinance would affect any new Councilmembers, not the members currently elected.  She read the ordinance for the benefit of the audience, being an ordinance amending compensation of City Councilmembers for attending Council meetings from $50 per meeting to $100 per month.  Councilmembers Price and Turner moved to accept the ordinance for introduction and first reading.  Councilmember Amenn suggested eliminating the salaries entirely.  Some discussion followed.  The motion passed.

 

ORDINANCE:  Amend Zoning Code (1st Reading)

Mayor Hawkins gave the ordinance a first reading by title only, being an ordinance amending the zoning code.  Mayor Hawkins reviewed for Council the various housekeeping changes and explained the process the Planning Commission used to develop the amendment.  Some discussion followed regarding the special event section, junk vehicles, the posting of political signs near City signs, and the authority of the Mayor to delegate certain functions within the building and other departments.  By motion of Councilmembers Price and Amenn, the Council accepted the ordinance for introduction and first reading.

 

PLANNING CONTRACT AMENDMENT

Mayor Hawkins stated the proposed amendment to the Planning Consultant Contract with Berryman & Henigar will allow staff to consult with our Planners as needed throughout the year on such issues as the Comp Plan, Critical Areas Ordinance, Zoning Code and implementation and enforcement issues that arise from time to time.  The amendment has a cap of $5,000 for the year.  Some discussion followed.  By motion of Councilmembers Amenn and Hill, Council authorized the Mayor to sign the contract amendment.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

COUNCIL POLICIES and PROCEDURES (Tabled)

This item remained on the Table.

 

 

CITIZEN COMMENTS/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Al Robinson, Superintendent of Sultan School District, addressed a number of issues that had been brought up during the meeting.  The issues were Council Compensation, the newspaper article, the County Mitigation Plan, the Street Fund, and the role of the Mayor and the designation of positions.

 

J. Jefferies, Megan Court, asked about the notice regarding recycling that was hung on his door recently.  Mayor Hawkins explained the recent finalization of the recycling contract and the mandatory recycling program in Gold Bar.

 

Bert McClellan asked whether or not there was an ordinance in town to protect neighbors against “pack rats” that collect junk in their yards.  City Clerk Gilleland stated it would be covered under the nuisance code and citizens need to call in and report problems.  Staff will look into the situation and do what they can.

 

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION:  Potential Property Acquisition

Mayor Hawkins called for a five-minute break before the Executive Session.  After the break, Council recessed into Executive Session to discuss potential property acquisition.  It was announced the Session would take approximately ten minutes and no action would be taken after.  The meeting reconvened at the stated time.

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned by motion of Councilmember Price.

 

 

ATTEST                                                                                  ________________________

                                                                                                Colleen Hawkins, Mayor

_______________________________

Hester Gilleland, City Clerk-Treasurer