--- date: "2006-08-09" title: "Council Meeting Minutes 2006-08-09" source: "2006-08-09-minutes-council-monthly.pdf" --- CITY COUNCIL MEETING August 9, 2006 Attended: Jim Hamsher, Mayor Marvin Casebeer, Councilor Mike Springer, Councilor Don Strong, Councilor Roger McKinley, Councilor Jim Wood, Police Dept. Bob Titus, Public Works Lyn McDonald Stan Horrell Kevin Purnell Mona Lindsey Joe Hitz Mayor Hamsher called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Roll call was called, Tom McAuslan being absent. The pledge of allegiance was recited. The minutes of the July 26th, 2006 meeting were considered. MSP: To approve the minutes of July 26, 2006 as written, Mark Wishard/Marvin Casebeer. The Council recognized Kevin Purnell who addressed them regarding the little league field owned by the school. He said a few years back he had talked with Lyn McDonald and Bob Titus about not being billed for water at the field because the school does not use it. He said it is more of a community field, even though the school owns it and uses water to irrigate the field. He said Lyn had called him and informed him the water use had increased dramatically and that the bill was over $1,000 for July, but he didn’t think they should have to pay it and that the field should be watered as a courtesy. Lyn explained that in the past she had not been billing for the meter because she was under the impression it was only for the water fountain. Meter readings had been in the 160 to 300 gallon per month range and it did not seem to be a problem not billing for the minimum. Because the council has recently required that all revenue be accounted for, she said she became very concerned when the water use went from hundreds of gallons to 263,640 in one month and that is why she called the school. She said she felt it was the council’s call to decide whether or not they want to charge for the water. There was general agreement that the city would be willing to supply water for the field, however it was stressed that some conservation should be exercised. Jim Wood said that during nightly patrol he has seen the water run non-stop. Mike Springer said that when the landowner agreement is finalized on the water project, the school will most likely be realizing some relief with water rates. It was agreed that the school would not be billed for this season’s watering. No limit on the amount of water was set but they were instructed to conserve. Purnell agreed to instruct the maintenance personnel to do so. Planning: no report Minutes August 9, 2006 Public Safety: Only one bid for the police car was received. Being in the amount of $2.00 Mayor Hamsher recommended the city not accept it. He was reminded that the council agreed to advertise the car with no minimum bid. The Recorder said she had put a minimum of $1 on it because otherwise they would have had to give it away. She also reminded the Mayor that she had asked them to at least put a minimum bid of $50 or enough to cover the advertisement but that he had said “no minimum bid.” She asked the council if that was correct and Mike Springer said it was. MSP: To award the bid to Ed Negus for $2.00, Mike Springer/Mark Wishard. Officer Wood recited the police, fire and ambulance logs and said he has 11 cases on his desk. He stated that this amount was more than he had ever had and that it was becoming overwhelming. He was asked if there is anything the City can do about the signs at the residence on Hall Street, but he said not really. He said the city attorney is drafting a response to the suspect’s demand for discovery documents and that he had turned over all his information to the DA as per standard procedure. There was discussion as to whether or not the fence on which the signs are mounted is in the City’s right of way. Abatement: The Council considered a written complaint from Kevin Purnell regarding the property located at 253 W. 12th Street. Officer Wood reminded the Council that the resident had been charged with 220 counts of animal neglect some time back, had since moved out of the area, and that the issue of cleaning up the property was subject to state law. He said the DA (at the time) had indicated it would probably cost more to abate the property than it was worth. He was instructed to check into the status of the case and report back to the Council at the next meeting. Landfill: A written report was turned in. Roger McKinley said the CAT was being repaired and that more work than anticipated had to be done. Public Works: Bob Titus reported that there is still an overflow at the galleries but that water restrictions had been put into place. He said he is still waiting on a quote for removing the J- boxes from the wet wells and didn’t know why it was taking so long. He was instructed to keep after it and get a quote. He said he had an estimate for some type of sealer to repair cell #2 in the amount of $68,000 and that the Jet Rodder pump is leaking and needs repair. He said he talked to someone but didn’t get an estimate. He said the soft start problem at the booster site has been fixed and that the company will send a quote on fixing the old one. He reported that a limb had fallen on the well building on Dixie Creek so they took the tree down but still need to fix the roof. The Council was asked to consider participating in the Preferred Worker program offered by the state in which they would provide up to $25,000 worth of equipment to accommodate Chris Camarena’s injury related disability. It was noted that the City would also be eligible to receive an amount equal to 6 months of Camarena’s wages and a reduction in SAIF premiums. They were also asked to consider paying the additional amount over $25,000 for equipment costs and it was agreed that the City would be receiving enough to cover the overage of approximately $9,000. MSP: To approve the Preferred Worker Agreement including spending the additional funds beyond $25,000, Mike Springer/Roger McKinley. Minutes August 9, 2006 The Council considered whether or not they should sell the tractor that is not being used. It was noted that the equipment is worth more than $2,000 and must be approved to sell by the voters. MSP: To put the question of selling the tractor on the ballot, Mike Springer /Marvin Casebeer. Well Drilling: Mike Springer reported that the landowner agreement for the well sites is nearly done. Joe Hitz reported that the original permit for drilling wells has a completion date of October 1, 2006 and will expire before the wells are done and recommended putting in for an extension. He said the City can use “reimbursement authority” to submit a request for additional time. Since Water Resources is experiencing a very large backlog of cases, reimbursement authority can be used to allow them to hire a contractor to do the work. Hitz said there is a $125 submittal fee to process the request. MSP: To approve the application for reimbursement authority, Mike Springer/Marvin Casebeer. Hitz also said he had talked to ODFW regarding the 30 day window to cross Dixie Creek and was assured there would be no problem at least until irrigation season stops. Accounts Payable: MSP: To pay the bills, Mike Springer/Marvin Casebeer. Resolutions/Ordinances: A number of resolutions (as follows) to authorize budget transfers to cover expenditures exceeding budgeted amounts through June 30, 2006 were presented. Resolution 2006-09 authorizing a budget transfer of $3,952 from contingency to street projects in the Road Fund was considered. MSP: To pass Resolution 2006-09, Mike Springer/Marvin Casebeer. Resolution 2006-10 authorizing a budget transfer of $1,257 from contingency to collection system rehab in the Wastewater Treatment Fund was considered. MSP: To pass Resolution 2006-10, Mike Springer/Marvin Casebeer. Resolution 2006-11 authorizing a budget transfer of $8,288 from contingency to materials and services in the Water Fund was considered, MSP: To pass Resolution 2006-11, Mike Springer/Marvin Casebeer. Resolution 2006-12 authorizing a budget transfer of $5,500 from contingency to materials and services and capital outlay in the Sewer Fund was considered, MSP: To pass Resolution 2006- 12, Mike Springer/Marvin Casebeer. Resolution 2006-13 authorizing an interfund loan from the Road Fund to the Sewer Fund to cover additional operating expenses during FY 2005-06 was considered. The resolution was read aloud and the Recorder explained that the amount is needed to cover the shortfall from not raising the sewer rate enough. MSP: To pass Resolution 2006-13, Mike Springer/Marvin Casebeer. Resolution 2006-14 increasing the sewer rate to $46 per month beginning in September 2006 was considered. The resolution was read aloud. The Recorder explained that the rate increase Minutes August 9, 2006 will not be enough to cover the additional amounts needed to replace the wastewater pump (approximately $30,000), the additional amount (approximately $32,000) above the $36,000 estimate to repair cell #2 nor the cost to move the J-boxes from the wet wells. MSP: To pass Resolution 2006-14, Mike Springer/Marvin Casebeer. The Recorder reminded the Council that they had also budgeted for a water rate increase and that she had begun doing an analysis of the rates. She stressed the need to not continue to put off an increase as they had done with the sewer fund. Mayor Hamsher said he didn’t want to piss everyone off by raising the rates before completing the well project and providing better water. The Recorder noted that it is not a matter of making people mad or happy, but one of being fiscally responsible and reminded the Council what had happened to the Sewer Fund when they continued to spend their reserves on operating expenses. She noted that people also don’t like less frequent but really big rate increases either. Mike Springer agreed that the City should at least begin the analysis. The Recorder said she would be working with Joe Hitz to come up with some scenarios. Other Business: The Council addressed the damage to the ceiling and floor in the fire department office due to the leaky roof and agreed something needs to be done immediately. The discussion then switched to resurfacing the front steps of City Hall. It was agreed that quotes for both should be obtained and that the Public Works department could replace the floor. Bob Titus said he would have quotes at the next meeting (August 23) and that he would address the floor soon. He was advised to wait until the roof is repaired before fixing the floor and to replace it with plywood instead of chipboard. The Council addressed the issue of paving the Texaco parking lot and was advised that 2 or 3 paving companies would most likely be in the area soon. Joe Hitz said the loose gravel would need to be cleaned up, a skin coat put down and then paved with approximately 1 ½” of asphalt. He was instructed to get some quotes on the project. 7:45 p.m. It was moved and seconded to adjourn the meeting. Respectfully submitted: ___________________________ Diane Clingman, City Recorder Approved this Date: ________________ _________________________________ Jim Hamsher, Mayor Minutes August 9, 2006