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MINUTES OF THE CASHMERE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2007 AT CASHMERE CITY HALL
OPENING Mayor Valison opened the regular city council meeting at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. Clerk-Treasurer Kay Jones took minutes.
ATTENDANCE Present Not Present Mayor: George Valison
Council: Dean Falteisek Bruce Moses Debbie Knutsen Skip Moore Jim Fletcher
Staff: Kay Jones, City Clerk-Treasurer Mark Botello, Planning/PWD Terry McCauley, City Attorney
FLAG SALUTE
ANNOUNCEMENTS & INFORMATION Councilor Fletcher reported that Link’s budget is near completion and there will be no fare increases for 2008.
Planner/PWD Mark Botello reported the Rank Road project is near completion. At project completion there will be a reimbursement agreement for the pump house and the waterline. The City Council approved the Rank Road waterline extension with a maximum of 14 connections. The Department of Health reviewed the extension application and informed the City the connections could not be limited, the line was available for future growth. Attorney McCauley confirmed any new connections would have to bring water rights with them.
The City was awarded a $198,415 grant for curb, gutter and sidewalk on Titchenal Way. The City applied for a grant for the reconstruction of Division Street, but we’ve not received an answer.
Planner/PWD Botello reported there was a sewer line extension going in on Locust Lane; it’s a low pressure system for 6 lots. There is another sewer line extension on Pioneer Avenue, which is a gravity system for 8 lots.
Also, Botello reported that developers are working with the City and County on a proposed 17-lot development on Pioneer and Tigner. They will be transferring water rights to the City for 17 ERU’s.
The City called for Bids on the removal of cattails from the lagoons. The City received 2 bids, one from Bulldog Construction for $49,680 and the other from Selland Construction for $70,200. Bulldog Construction was awarded the bid and the project will be complete by the end of next week. PUBLIC COMMENTJudith Mott residing at 110 Aldous Avenue addressed the council to thank everyone for the last year and everything they accomplished. She recognized the time and energy it took to make Cashmere a great city. Ms. Mott thanked Mayor Valison for the great job he’s done and encouraged the council to continue to press on.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA Moved by Councilor Fletcher and seconded by Councilor Knutsen to approve the agenda with the addition of item #11 Setting a public meeting to discuss contracting with Waste Management for the collection of refuse and recycling. Motion carried unanimously.
CONSENT AGENDA Minutes of October 22, 2007 Special Study Session Meeting Minutes of October 22, 2007 Regular City Council Meeting Payroll and Claims Packet Dated November 13, 2007
Claim Check Nos. 922438 through 922511 totaling $295,836.55Payroll Check Nos. 19888 through 19902 totaling $88,602.30
MOVED by Councilor Falteisek and seconded by Councilor Moses to approve the items on the consent agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
2nd PUBLIC HEARING ON 2008 PRELIMINARY BUDGET Mayor Valison opened the public hearing on the 2008 Budget at 7:14 pm. Clerk-Treasurer Kay Jones presented a summary of anticipated changes in revenues and expenditures for each fund. January 1, 2008 Chelan County PUD is increasing the city’s wholesale power rate 5%. The City will be passing that 5% increase onto the customers. April 1, 2008 the city’s water rates will increase 4.23% and the wastewater rates will increase 15%. The capital expenditures were discussed for each fund. The council appropriated another $150,000 transfer into the water/wastewater reserve fund and $100,000 was appropriated for dredging the lagoons. Employee wages will increase 3% and increases in insurance benefits are estimated at 15%.
Jeff Gomes, retired Fire Chief for the City of Cashmere announced that Cashmere is in need of a ladder truck. A ladder truck scores a lot of points with the Survey & Rating Bureau. Without a ladder truck the Survey & Rating Bureau will increase the city’s fire rating and fire insurance premiums for Cashmere residents will increase greatly. Cashmere Fire Chief Rob Sweigard stated the cost of a new ladder truck is approximately 450,000, the City and County need to work together to purchase a truck for the benefit of both parties.
With no other comments from the public the hearing was closed at 7:43 pm.
PUBLIC HEARING ON COMP PLAN, MAP AMENDMENTS, AND TITLE 16 SUBDIVISIONS Mayor Valison opened the public hearing on the comprehensive plan, map amendments, and Title 16 Subdivisions at 7:43 pm. Planner Mark Botello gave a brief summary on the following proposed changes recommended by the Planning Commission:
Map amendments: proposed amendments to the text and map in the land use element to include new land use categories and existing infrastructure connections and capacities related to available water; urban growth policies and capital facilities elements to reflect changes.
Title 16 Subdivisions: proposed amendments to add language to the introduction such as basic requirements, concurrency, and water line extensions; changes to lot access Section 16.08.070; add approval language to Section 16.12.060; delete Section 16.16.060 Survey and Documentation; and delete language in Section 16.20.010 Requirements.
Comp Plan amendments: proposed zoning change from Suburban Residential to Mixed Commercial/Industrial for approximately 1.5 acres owned by Don Eldredge; zoning change from Multi Family to Downtown Business for approximately .20 acre owned by Cashmere 407 LLC c/o Mark Hamilton; proposed zoning change from Single Family to Public for approximately .26 acre owned by Cashmere School District; proposed zoning change from Single Family to Public for approximately .67 acre owned by the City of Cashmere (site is Cottage Avenue Park), and an area near downtown rezoned from Downtown Business to Multi-Family, which includes several parcels on River Street, Perry Street, and West Pleasant Avenue.
Jean Schweitzer residing at 104 Perry Street was concerned about the zoning code restricting the ability to rebuild for non-conforming uses. Planner Botello stated that the rezone would actually benefit her property and her non-conforming use would be eliminated.
With no other comments from the public the hearing was closed at 8:00 pm.
ORDINANCE NO. 1113 AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL PROPERTY TAX LEVY Total proposed tax levy amount for collection in 2008 is $472,806; this amount includes an increase of $4,645, which is a 1% increase from the previous year.
MOVED by Councilor Falteisek and seconded by Councilor Fletcher to adopt Ordinance No. 1113, authorizing the general property tax levy. Motion carried unanimously.
FITZPATRICK SURVEYING – PROPERTY CLARIFICATION ON SUNSET HWY & RIVER STREET Shawn Fitzpatrick from Fitzpatrick Surveying asked the council to honor city ordinance no. 220 from 1934 by approving a quitclaim deed to clear up the ownership of property on the corner of River Street and Sunset Highway. Ordinance No. 220 authorized the transfer of one triangle-shaped piece of property for another triangle of the same size to improve the city’s right-of-way on River Street. Several years later in an effort to correct a lot line, a gap in legal descriptions was created. A quitclaim deed transferring the two properties would clarify ownership and honor the intent of ordinance no. 220.
MOVED by Councilor Fletcher and seconded by Councilor Moore to authorize and approve a quitclaim deed to transfer the two properties in question. Motion carried unanimously.
FIRE CHIEF ROB SWEIGARD – RESPONDING TO AID CALLS Fire Chief Rob Sweigard presented documentation on the type and number of aid calls Cashmere responds to. Out of 51 calls since June, Cashmere didn’t respond to 11, none of which were life-threatening. Cashmere now follows the same call criteria that Wenatchee, East Wenatchee and Chelan and Douglas Counties follow, even career Firefighters don’t respond to assist calls, which are not life threatening. When a 911 call comes in RiverCom goes through a list of questions to determine whether the call is life threatening or an assist call. The call criteria is nationally recognized.
Money was not the main motivator for the decision to change call criteria to life-threatening only. The motivator was preventing burnout, in an effort to preserve the volunteers. It’s always a struggle recruiting and maintaining volunteers.
Councilor Moses stated the council and the citizens should have been informed of the change. Putting an article in the newspaper was suggested to inform the citizens and Chief Sweigard will request RiverCom to inform the caller whom they will be dispatching, so they won’t be expecting Cashmere for an assist call.
SKATE PARK CLOSURE AND SURPLUS OF EQUIPMENT MOVED by Councilor Moses and seconded by Councilor Fletcher to surplus the skate park ramps and equipment, and use the excess skate park contributions and the revenue from the sale of the equipment toward purchase and installation of a slide at the Cashmere Water Park. Motion carried unanimously.
CONTRACT FOR LEGAL SERVICE FOR 2008 The proposal was to increase the retainer for City Attorney Terry McCauley to $1,325 per month commencing January 1, 2008, which would then increase 3% per year for cost of living. The proposal for the hourly rate was to increase to $125 commencing January 1, 2008, which would increase $5 each year until it arrives at $145 per hour.
MOVED by Councilor Falteisek and seconded by Councilor Knutsen to approve the proposed increase in legal fees commencing January 1, 2008. Motion carried unanimously.
SET A PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS CONTRACTING WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR THE COLLECTION OF REFUSE AND RECYCLING The consensus of the council was to hold a public meeting to discuss the possibility of contracting with Waste Management. A special study session was scheduled for November 26, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss proposed rates from Waste Management.
ADJOURNMENT MOVED by Councilor Moore and seconded by Councilor Moses to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:47 p.m. |