CITY OF GOLD BAR

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, June 7, 2005

 

 

CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL

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

 

AGENDA APPROVAL

By motion of Councilmembers Price and Amenn, the Agenda was approved.

 

MINUTES APPROVAL (None)

 

VOUCHER APPROVAL

By motion of Councilmembers Price and Turner, Claims Vouchers in the amount of $6,969.54, paid by checks #12427 through #12448, were approved.

 

 

CITIZEN COMMENT/AGENDA ITEMS

Dave Cotterill asked if Council was going to be able to get through the Agenda tonight.  He stated that Council is responsible for conducting the business of the City and the last meeting became out of control.  Mayor Hawkins stated it was her hope that Council completes the Agenda tonight.

 

 

MAYOR’S REPORT

Mayor Hawkins requested Council to consider canceling the next regular meeting, June 22nd due to the AWC Conference that week.  Staff will be attending as well as possibly some Councilmembers.  By motion of Councilmembers Amenn and Turner, Council canceled the June 22nd meeting.

 

Mayor Hawkins reported that she and Public Works Director Light attended a public hearing of the Snohomish County Council/Planning Commission on June 1st.  Both offered testimony regarding our UGA and received positive feedback from members of the Council and Planning Commission.

 

Mayor Hawkins announced she will be on vacation the first two weeks of July and Councilmember Price will be acting as Mayor Pro Tem during her absence. 

Mayor Hawkins reported that at the last council meeting an attorney from AWC was in the audience to observe the meeting.  Mayor Hawkins had asked AWC if they could provide some assistance to Gold Bar with the meetings and interactions.  AWC RMSA sent Larry Hoffman, the attorney that had provided training previously to the City regarding meetings and roles and responsibilities of Councilmembers and Mayors.  He will be submitting his observations and comments in a written report soon.  One of his suggestions is to take the Bothell Protocol Manual and adapt it to Gold Bar.  Mayor Hawkins is currently reviewing the manual.  Once Mr. Hoffman’s report is received, it would be a good time to reschedule the Council Retreat.

 

 

STAFF REPORTS

Public Works Director Light reported receiving a couple of short plats and one long plat.  Staff is reviewing the applications at this time.  On July 5th there will be a plat alteration and street dedication hearing before Council.  This is a unique situation and has been a learning experience for all involved.  Public Works Director Light also reported on the DEM situation.  He will keep the Council updated.

 

City Clerk Gilleland reported she would be attending the AWC Annual Conference as a member of the AWC Small Cities Advisory Board.  She reported on the recent AWC RMSA Operations Committee meeting and announced the pool is extremely healthy.  The Operations Committee has recommended a premium rebate to member cities and the AWC Board will vote the issue on.  City Clerk Gilleland reported the Sultan Branch of Bank of America is scheduled for closure.  She has a name and address for letters to be sent protesting the closure if anyone is interested.

 

City Clerk Gilleland reported on the computer situation in City Hall, stating that the Public Works Director’s computer is now malfunctioning.  The City can purchase computers from Dell utilizing a government discount.  The Building Department computer is the same age as the other two that malfunctioned.  There are sufficient funds within the budget and she intends to purchase two computers so that operations can continue functioning.

 

Chief Ruchty asked for confirmation that the Council intends to celebrate National Night Out again this year.  Council consensus confirmed the request.  Deputy Upton will be organizing it again this year.  He then reported that the traffic issue on 1st Street is getting better and the Deputies will be moving to May Creek Road.  Chief Ruchty explained why some junk vehicles appear to be around town for quite some time.  He stated the City has to enter into a contract for hauling them away and he is working on that.  Deputy Haldeman has taken into custody four additional meth labs.  In addition, as a result of a noise complaint, the department arrested a person on an outstanding warrant.  He also urged citizens to use 911 for all police business.  Do not use the office phone message system.  The calls need to be tracked through the dispatch system.

 

 

COUNCIL COMMENTS

Councilmember Turner asked about the fence at Gateway Park.   Public Works Director Light reported the crew would be checking what materials are on hand.  Councilmember Turner asked what the plan was for the lower portion was for the park.  He suggested maybe installing barbeque pits or a skate park.  He then reported he attended an SCT meeting where they discussed affordable housing and the salmon forum.

 

Councilmember Amenn stated he supported Councilmember Turner’s ideas regarding the park.  He then called attention to a packet of information he compiled and handed out to Council regarding council meetings, point of orders, appeals of points of order, and impartiality of the Chair.  He stated he would also be distributing the information to the citizens.

 

Councilmember Price, in reference to Councilmember Amenn’s comments, stated the Policies and Procedures have been tabled for some time.  Part of those procedures deal with the issues mentioned by Councilmember Amenn.  He stated it would have been helpful if Councilmember Amenn had attended the meeting with Mr. Hoffman and if he has been at the first Council Retreat.  Maybe someday the procedures can be completed and Council can achieve another retreat.  

 

Councilmember Hill asked staff to look into potential liability issues regarding skate parks or a barbeque pit at the park.   She then addressed Councilmember Amenn’s comments regarding meetings, stating she felt full participation by all members of the Council has not been possible due to Mr. Amenn’s tendency to ruminate on every minor subject that comes before Council.  In addition, his removal from meetings or early adjournment has been necessitated by the need to maintain order and decorum.  Hopefully Council can work on the procedures and that will take care of the problems.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

ORDINANCE:  Junk Vehicles (1st Reading)

Mayor Hawkins provided background information regarding the proposed ordinance.  She read the ordinance in total for the benefit of the audience.  Discussion followed regarding the restoration of vehicles.  By motion of Councilmembers Turner and Amenn, the ordinance was accepted for introduction and first reading.

 

RESOLUTION:  Accept Gateway Park Project

Mayor Hawkins provided background information regarding the proposed resolution.  By motion of Councilmembers Amenn and Turner, the Resolution was adopted.

 

RESOLUTION:  Street Interfund Loan

Mayor Hawkins provided background information regarding the proposed resolution.  Mayor Hawkins read the Resolution by title.  Some discussion followed.  By motion of Councilmembers Price and Amenn, Council adopted the Resolution for an interfund loan with an interest rate of 1% for three years as recommended by staff.

 

INTERLOCAL:  School District/Computer Tech

Mayor Hawkins provided background information regarding the proposed Interlocal for tech services to be provided to the City by School District employees.  Discussion followed.  By motion of Councilmembers Amenn and Turner, Council authorized the Mayor to sign the Interlocal.

 

OLD BUSINESS

SELECT WATER COMMITTEE

Mayor Hawkins provided background information regarding the Ad Hoc Water Committee.  Mayor Hawkins asked for nominations with seconds and stated she would only vote to break a tie.  Mayor Hawkins stated her only request is that Council considers her objection to appointing Samantha Hockett due to an incident at City Hall.  She then opened the floor for nominations.

 

By nomination of Councilmembers Turner and Paul, Richard Verlindi was appointed.  By nomination of Councilmembers Hill and Turner, Joe Beavers was appointed.  By nomination of Councilmembers Price and Hill, Elizabeth Stowell- Lof was appointed.  Councilmember Amenn questioned her recollection of the town meeting and her objectivity.  Some discussion followed.  By nomination of Councilmembers Price and Amenn, Alice Buehring was appointed.  By nomination of Councilmembers Price and Amenn, Ray Coleman was appointed.  By nomination of Councilmembers Amenn and Price, Roxanne Clouse was appointed.  By nomination of Councilmembers Price and Turner, Merlin Halverson was appointed.  By nomination of Councilmembers Turner and Price, Ken Castleberry was appointed.  Councilmember Amenn questioned the balance of the committee to this point and some discussion followed.  By nomination of Councilmembers Turner and Hill, Gil Gilleland was appointed.  By nomination of Councilmembers Hill and Price, Donna Strom was appointed.  Councilmember Amenn again asked about the balance and voiced his concern but he did not choose to nominate anyone.

 

Mayor Hawkins then read the list of committee members.  She stated Councilmember Hill will be contacting the members to set up the first meeting and will facilitate the meeting.

 

COUNCIL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES (Tabled)

This item remained on the table.

 

CITIZEN COMMENTS/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Bert McClellan read a statement to the Council voicing his objection to Councilmember Amenn’s behavior at Council meetings and suggested the Council officially request Mr. Amenn to resign.

 

Dorothy Croshaw stated that she worked with the Youth Council and pointed out that a skate park is a very expensive venture and a great liability to the City.

 

Joe Beavers spoke in defense of Samantha Hockett.

 

Ron Jellison pointed out that a scrap vehicle processor and a vehicle wrecker are completely different operating licenses and wanted to be sure the proposed junk vehicle ordinance recognizes the differences.  Mayor Hawkins stated staff would research the issue.

 

Leon Skinner stated he donated money to the City for toys for the park play area and he would like to leave the play area as a play area, not for anything else.  He also suggested the City should come up with some idea to generate money to put the toys there.

 

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

 

 

ATTEST:                                                                                 ________________________

                                                                                                Colleen Hawkins, Mayor

_______________________________

Hester Gilleland, City Clerk-Treasurer