CITY OF GOLD BAR
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, July 5, 2005
CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL
Mayor Pro Tem Price called the meeting to order with Councilmembers Hill, Amenn, Norris, and Turner present. Mayor Hawkins and Public Works Director Light were on vacation. City Attorney Proebsting, Chief Ruchty, and City Clerk Gilleland were also present.
AGENDA APPROVAL
By motion of Councilmembers Amenn and Hill, the Agenda was approved.
MINUTES APPROVAL (None)
VOUCHER APPROVAL
By motion of Councilmembers Turner and Norris, claims vouchers in the amount of $65,401.04, paid by checks #12449 through #12477, and Payroll in the amount of $24,461.22, paid by checks #2863 through #2880, for a grand total of $89,862.26, were approved.
CITIZEN COMMENTS/AGENDA ITEMS
No comments were offered.
MAYOR’S REPORT
Mayor Pro Tem Price announced the National Night Out Celebration for August 2nd. By motion of Councilmembers Amenn and Turner, the Council meeting regularly scheduled for August 2nd was moved to Wednesday, August 3rd.
Mayor Pro Tem Price called Council’s attention to the memo from Mayor Hawkins regarding the fence quotes for Gateway Park. After discussion, by motion of Councilmembers Hill and Turner, Council directed staff to proceed with installation of the fence as recommended in the memo.
STAFF REPORTS
City Clerk Gilleland reported attending the AWC Annual Conference as a member of the Small Cities Advisory Committee and she urged Council to consider budgeting for next year funds to allow the Mayor and/or Councilmembers to attend this conference in 2006.
City Clerk Gilleland reported that Mayor Hawkins requested her to announce a workshop of the City of Sultan with Rick Larsen’s office regarding the Wild Sky issue. It is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 27th, at 5 PM. If anyone is interested they should contact Sultan for a firm date and time.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
No comments were offered.
NEW BUSINESS
PUBLIC HEARING: Kaastrup Addition Plat Alteration/Road Dedication
Mayor Pro Tem Price opened the public hearing for testimony. City Attorney Proebsting stated this is a quasi-judicial hearing and she provided an explanation to the Council and audience regarding regulations and procedures for the hearing. She also explained the appearance of fairness doctrine. There were no conflicts of interests stated by Councilmembers.
Marty Robinette, the applicant, provided background information to the request, stating the Staff Report included in the packet provides the information in more detail. The Kaastrup Addition is one of the original plats in the city and is located at the end of Grand Avenue. The streets and alleys were vacated by Council action in the 1920’s. Mr. Robinette has been working with staff for the past few months to reconfigure the plat according to current zoning and development rules and regulations and the Council has before them the final product. He is requesting Council approval of the plat alteration and acceptance of the proposed roads to serve the plat as recommended by City staff.
Discussion followed during which Council asked a number of questions of the applicant regarding the number and size of lots and construction details of the streets and sidewalks. It was explained by staff and the City Attorney that the zoning of that area is R9600 and the proposed lots in the plat alteration meets the zoning code.
Bert McClellan objected to the size of the lots, stating the minimum set by Council is now 12,500 square feet. The City Attorney again explained that this is a plat alteration of any existing plat, not a new plat. The zoning for the plat is R9600.
Mike Camerer, 111 Grand Avenue, stated there was standing water on lots 9 and 10 this winter.
Don McGraw, 257 1st Street, stated he was concerned about the elevation of the road because his property would be lower than the road. The applicant stated he would work with him to assure drainage problems were addressed.
Cheryl Crumpler, 501 Croft Ave W #10, asked about parcel numbers, if the issue went before the Planning Commission, street widths, and fencing. It was explained a plat alteration did not go before the Planning Commission and parcel numbers assigned by the County do not equate to number of lots. Fencing requirements are not part of the process either.
Phil Holmes, 115 Grand, voiced his concern about fencing when development begins and about the setback from May Creek.
Vicki McDaniel, 504 First Ave W, voiced her concern about the road construction and protecting May Creek.
Dick Fry, 42020 156th Street SE, stated he did 75% or so of the Nugget development septic systems and voiced his concern about the elevation of the proposed lots and septic system installation.
There being no further public testimony, Mayor Pro Tem Price closed the public hearing.
KAASTRUP ADDITION PLAT ALTERATION
Discussion was opened for Council questions and comments. It was again explained by staff and the City Attorney that this is an existing plat and the alteration of an existing plat does not have to go through the entire subdivision process as a new plat would have to go through. In essence, all the applicant is requesting is permission and acceptance of the road reconfiguration in the existing plat. If the request is denied, it could be considered a “taking” and it would be difficult to defend. The applicant will be meeting current standards for construction. By motion of Councilmembers Norris and Amenn, the Council accepted the Plat Alteration, authorized appropriate staff signatures of Plat Alteration, agreed to accept the dedication of subject roads after construction and final inspection showing approval, and with the provision that all appropriate land use fees are remitted prior to signing.
CONTRACT: Community Work Crew
Mayor Pro Tem Price provided background information from the Agenda Bill regarding this issue. By motion of Councilmembers Turner and Amenn, the contract renewal with the State of Washington Department of Corrections for Community Work Crews was approved and the Mayor Pro Tem was authorized to sign the contract.
AGREEMENT: Illegal Dumping Cleanup Program
Mayor Pro Tem Price provided background information from the Agenda Bill regarding this issue. After Council discussion, by motion of Councilmembers Amenn and Turner, Council approved the agreement with the Snohomish Solid Waste Management Division and authorized Mayor Pro Tem Price to sign it.
OLD BUSINESS
ORDINANCE: Junk Vehicle (2nd Reading)
Mayor Pro Tem Price gave a second reading, by title only, to the ordinance declaring junk vehicles a nuisance and amending GBMC 8.16.050. By motion of Councilmembers Hill and Turner, Council approved the Ordinance for second reading and adoption.
COUNCIL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES (Tabled)
This item remained on the table.
CITIZEN COMMENTS/NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Dorothy Croshaw stated she called 911 twice last night and received no response. Chief Ruchty explained the officer was busy last night and attempted to get where he was needed.
Jeff Dwyer, 711 Verlindi, complained his neighbors had a bonfire, causing sparks and ashes to fall on his car and property; they have too many cars around and they park in the middle of the street; he has been having problems with them for a year; they are noisy and his 911 calls go unanswered. Discussion followed. Councilmember Norris suggested we hire extra deputies next year. Chief Ruchty stated he would have an additional deputy on duty next year.
Al White stated there were a lot of fireworks on First Street and suggested the City consider establishing some place where they could be set off. He also asked about the wooden bridge on May Creek and load limits. Some discussion followed.
Elizabeth Stowell-Lof stated the City should figure out how to afford additional law enforcement staffing. She feels we are seriously understaffed and can’t deal with the traffic, noise and other problems. Chief Ruchty stated we would be having the motorcycle officers patrolling soon on May Creek Road, 1st Street, and Lewis.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned by motion of Councilmembers Hill and Amenn.
ATTEST: ________________________
Paul Price, Mayor Pro Tem
_______________________________
Hester Gilleland, City Clerk-Treasurer