CITY OF GOLD BAR

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, May 3, 2005

 

 

CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL

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

 

AGENDA APPROVAL

Mayor Hawkins requested Council to amend the Agenda by moving “Citizen Comments/Non-Agenda Items” after the item “Citizen Comments/Agenda Items”.

She also asked Council to consider placing it there on a permanent basis in order to give citizens an opportunity to address the Council without having to wait until the end of a long meeting.  Councilmember Amenn objected to the request.  After discussion, by motion of Councilmembers Hill and Turner, the Agenda was approved as amended.

 

MINUTES APPROVAL

Councilmember Amenn objected to all Minutes as submitted by the City Clerk, stating he felt they misrepresent those that participate in the meetings.  Councilmember Amenn moved to table the Minutes of January 4, 2005, stating his vote on an issue was misrepresented.  Mayor Hawkins reported the tape for that meeting was checked and the Minutes reflect the vote correctly.  The motion died for lack of a second.  By motion of Councilmembers Price and Norris, Minutes for January 4, February 1, March 1, and March 15, 2005 were approved.

 

VOUCHER APPROVAL

By motion of Councilmembers Price and Amenn, Payroll in the amount of $23,789.11, paid by checks #2827 through #2844, were approved.

 

CITIZEN COMMENTS/AGENDA ITEMS

Councilmember Amenn interrupted the meeting at this point to ask Mayor Hawkins to give an overview of the proposed Resolution regarding the Citizen’s Committee that appears on the Agenda later.  Mayor Hawkins stated that is an Agenda Item and she would not take the item out of order.  Councilmember Amenn continued to interrupt and he was ruled out of order.

 

Samantha Hockett voiced her concern regarding the direction she felt the citizen’s committee is taking.  She reported Mr. Oliver from the PUD stated he could obtain the funds to do a feasibility study to see what the current condition of our system is.  Some discussion followed.

 

 

CITIZEN COMMENTS/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

No comments were offered.

 

 

MAYOR’S REPORT

Mayor Hawkins reported on the DEM vote taken regarding dissolution.  The dissolution was approved and the DEM as we now know it will no longer exist as of December 31st.  In the interim a transition team will establish a plan for transition, the distribution of assets, and how the County will proceed to offer services.  Public Works Director Light will be Gold Bar’s transition team representative.  The dissolution vote came with the stipulation that there is an acceptable transition plan in place by the first of October.

 

Mayor Hawkins reported a meeting would be held next week with all of Mayors and emergency responders for the Skykomish Valley, along with the Director of Emergency Management, to discuss our options.  Mayor Hawkins will keep the Council informed as to the discussions.

 

Mayor Hawkins reported she heard County Councilmember Jeff Sax is spearheading an effort to have law enforcement contract cities pay for “indirect” costs above and beyond the negotiated price.  She doesn’t have all the information at this time but it could be as high as $17,000.  Some discussion followed.  Mayor Hawkins will keep the Council informed regarding this issue.

 

Councilmember Amenn asked Mayor Hawkins if she has any feedback regarding our UGA expansion.  Mayor Hawkins stated she has no definite information at this time.  Councilmember Amenn asked Mayor Hawkins if she has heard from the State regarding the extra money they have appropriated for Gold Bar.  Mayor Hawkins stated she has heard nothing definite other than the newspaper reports and it would be more appropriate to discuss the issue at a budget session.

 

 

STAFF REPORTS

Chief Ruchty provided Council with copies of the monthly stats report.  Since February there have been eleven meth labs shut down.  The County held their property viewing from the large arrest that occurred in Sultan and there is still a lot of property left.  The officers are getting ready for the summer months.  Everyone is pleased with the new contract and the way they can now deal with problems outside of town that affect all those within the city limits.  He wanted Council to know he was unhappy with the direction the contract discussion was taking.

 

 

COUNCIL COMMENTS

Councilmember Turner complimented the Chief on the way things were going in his Department.  He then promoted van pooling for those interested.  Citizens should look into starting a pool if they work in the same location.

 

Councilmember Norris stated he reviewed some of the County Plan and noticed they did not include our maps in their planning documents.  What it means he is unsure but he thought it was noteworthy.

 

Councilmember Amenn voiced his concern about the attorney bills and wished an answer to his emailed questions.  He then thanked the citizens for their response at the town meeting and voiced his concern about the direction the formation of the committee was taking.  He stated he was against the proposed resolution before Council tonight.  Councilmember Amenn stated he has been talking to Councilmembers and staff from Sultan regarding the Salmon Recovery Plan and they have invited Gold Bar to attend a detailed presentation and workshop in June.  He stated they have concerns and he suggested Gold Bar hold off passing a resolution until after that meeting.

 

Councilmember Price stated he noticed people using the park and asked about the progress staff has made regarding the fence.  Staff was directed to obtain costs to build a fence.

 

Mayor Hawkins answered Councilmember Amenn’s email questions regarding items on the attorney bill.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

RESOLUTION:  Citizen Committee

Mayor Hawkins reported to Council she had intended to postpone this item because a citizen stole the sign up list from the City Hall counter and refused to return it.  The list was not received back until this morning.  Mayor Hawkins stated that Councilmember Hill has requested Council to allow an additional two weeks for citizens to sign up for the committee.  Mayor Hawkins read the Agenda Bill included in the packet for this issue and then read the proposed Resolution.

 

 Councilmember Amenn moved that citizens that wished to address this Agenda Item be given the opportunity to do so at this time.  Councilmember Norris seconded the motion and the motion carried.

 

Alice Beuhring stated she was generally in favor of the proposed resolution and asked how would directive #3 in the resolution with respect to Council approval of concerns work.  Mayor Hawkins explained.  Al White stated he has a problem with a Council-member on the committee.   Jerry Woods stated he felt non-water customers should not be on the committee.  Samantha Hockett stated it appears there would be some issues that would not be addressed and she has a problem with that.  She further stated she and some others would be having their own citizen’s committee meeting and invited others to attend.  Elizabeth Stowell stated she felt the resolution is taking an emotional issue and turning it into a business issue.  She supports the resolution.  Bert McClellan spoke in favor of the resolution even though he has been against the formation of a committee.  No further comments were offered.

 

Councilmember Amenn moved to table the Resolution.  The motion died for lack of a second.

 

Councilmember Price moved to approve the Resolution.  Councilmember Turner seconded the motion with an amendment to extend the August 16th deadline by at least one or two months.  Mayor Hawkins explained the deadlines are guidelines only and the committee may explain to the Council if they cannot meet a deadline.  Councilmember Turner withdrew his amendment.  Discussion followed.

 

Councilmember Amenn moved to specifically include that the cost investigation cover usage of water fund money.  The motion died for lack of a second.  Councilmember Amenn moved to open the committee to anyone that wants to participate and not limit the number.  The motion died for lack of a second.  Councilmember Amenn stated his opinion regarding the formation of the committee.  He further stated his objection to Councilmember Hill’s participation on the committee.

 

Councilmember Norris moved that the committee be required to have at least one announced public hearing type of meeting and that all meetings be open to the public.  Councilmember Amenn seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 

Councilmember Amenn moved to expand the committee to 15 members.  The motion died for a lack of second.  Councilmember Amenn moved to remove Crystal Hill from the committee and that no council representative will be on the committee.  Motion died for lack of a second.

 

The motion to approve the Resolution was voted on and it was passed.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

RESOLUTION:  Salmon Forum

Mayor Hawkins stated it has been suggested we postpone this issue pending a shared informational meeting with Sultan.  She further stated Council could postpone the issue until the next meeting and staff would confirm the date the Forum would like to have the Resolution by and also confirm the meeting in Sultan.  After discussion, by motion of Councilmembers Norris and Amenn, the Resolution was tabled to the next meeting.

 

 

DISCUSSION:  SCT Dues

Mayor Hawkins provided background information regarding this item.  The dues are $325 and it is not currently in the budget.  Councilmember Turner stated he would be attending the meetings regardless of whether or not the City pays the dues.  After discussion, it was the consensus of the Council to hold off paying the dues for the time being.

 

COUNCIL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES (Tabled)

This item remained on the table.

 

CITIZEN COMMENTS/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

By motion of Councilmembers Amenn and Turner, Council allowed additional citizen comments on non-agenda items.

 

Lee Gerry complained about the traffic on First Street.  People are speeding all night long, driving on the sidewalks, and hitting cars.  The hours are early in the morning until about 8 am and in the evening after 6 pm.  Councilmember Norris also lives on that street and he concurred.  Chief Ruchty will enhance the coverage.

 

Elizabeth Stowell would like to extend the enforcement coverage up around to May Creek Road.  Councilmember Hill asked if anyone along May Creek Road has had any break-ins or miscellaneous thefts in the area.

 

Al While asked if a camera could be installed on First Street.  Chief Ruchty stated that would cost a great deal of money.  Discussion followed.  Staff would look into options, costs, and regulations regarding arterials, traffic and speeds.  Chief Ruchty will conduct a survey of traffic and report the number of tickets written, the speeds written for, and additional information to get an accurate picture of what is happening and how to fix it.

 

Frank Linth congratulated Chief Ruchty on a great job.  He then stated that he felt Councilmember Amenn’s comments about Councilmember Hill tonight were disparaging and insulting.

 

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

 

 

ATTEST:                                                                                 ________________________

                                                                                                Colleen Hawkins, Mayor

__________________________________

Hester L. Gilleland, City Clerk-Treasurer