--- date: "2024-09-11" title: "Council Meeting Minutes 2024-09-11" source: "2024-09-11-minutes-council-monthly.pdf" --- City of Prairie City City Council Meeting September 11, 2024 Attendance: Mayor Ed Clark Councilor McClung Councilor Bradford Councilor Gangler Councilor Williams Councilor Shaw Shonalie Oakes, City Recorder Chris Camarena, Public Works Director Rob Gaslin, CPA Marvin Rynearson, Fire Chief Visitors: Sue Maloney Fran Bunch Nancy Hitz Jennifer Kingsford Frances Preston Mayor Clark called the meeting to order at 6:04 pm, the pledge of allegiance was recited and the roll call taken. Councilor Reagan was not present with an excused absence. Minutes: The minutes of August 14, 2024, council meeting minutes were considered. Councilor Gangler thought the minutes were missing some details and asked to listen to the recording. Minutes were tabled for the next meeting. Sue Maloney was first on the speaker’s roster, Mayor Clark gave Maloney the opportunity to ask her questions. Maloney asked for an update on the city-wide Hazmat Collection opportunity, the USDA meat processing facility, and the Sherrif’s reduction in hours. Councilor Bradford said he would follow up on Hazmat Collection day. Mayor Clark said last time he spoke with Chuck regarding the meat processing facility, the business owner was very busy processing fair animals and was trying to facilitate a meeting with DEQ and Public Works after things slowed down. Mayor Clark amended the agenda to include law enforcement and stated that the City has continued to pay 40 hours a week per the old contract until the new contract is in place. Mayor Clark said he was going to reach out to the Sherrif McKinley again, as the fires have died down. Councilor McClung expressed his concerns about the consequences that cutting the law enforcement hours/budget would bring, and says that we have been seeing more crime, thinks maybe police haven’t been spending 40 hours a week in Prairie. Because we haven’t been getting regular updates from the Sheriff’s office, we really don’t know the extent of their presence. Mayor Clark said that he too would like to keep law enforcement. Rob Gaslin the City’s CPA, explained to the City Council that paying for law enforcement straight out of the City’s general fund is not a sustainable long-term solution. Cities all over the country are struggling with paying for law enforcement services, Prairie City is not alone in this struggle. Gaslin suggested the City consider other options such as a Franchise Fee that would go out in the water and sewer bills which would go into the general fund to help pay for law enforcement services. Gaslin also suggested that the Council consider updating the City’s fee schedule. Councilor Pam Gangler signed up on the speakers roster to discuss the City Charter. She wanted to know why we didn’t follow the City’s Charter. Mayor Clark asked her what specifically in the City’s Charter she believes we aren’t following. She said all of it, appointed offices, personnel, filling vacancies. Mayor Clark asked what we did that didn’t comply with filling the vacancies for the council and mayor. Councilor Gangler said things are not being followed. Mayor Clark asked her if there was something we didn’t follow when we appointed those vacancies? Councilor Gangler said no, we followed that. Councilor Gangler says in the City Charter the Council has the authority to appoint and abolish City Employees, disagreeing with the Council Rules stating that City Council members are not to be involved in personnel and employee issues, that the City Charter supersedes the resolution put in place for City Council members regarding council rules and conduct. Mayor Clark explained to Counciler Gangler that normally the Charter would supersede a resolution. However, the City’s insurance company said that there are things in the City’s Charter that are no longer in compliance with State and/or Federal laws. In those instances, the sections out of compliance are to be superseded by State and Federal law. Mayor Clark and the City Recorder explained to Councilor Gangler that should the City go against the legal counsel directed to them by CIS Insurance, the insurance company will not defend the City in a lawsuit should the City be sued after being thoroughly advised not to do something. Flood Development Permit Application: The updated Flood Development Permit Application was sent to the City’s attorney for review. Shonalie Oakes City Recorder would also like for the City’s engineer to review the permit and process to make sure that we are protecting the City from any potential liabilities. Carrie Young Memorial: Council discussed the positive things the Carrie Young Memorial does for the community and budgeted funds for donations. MSP: To donate $1000.00 to the Carrie Young Memorial Councilor Williams/Bradford. All present in favor. Accounts Payable: Gaslin read out loud the financial overview and appropriations review. The Council reviewed the check detail. MSP: To pay the bills Councilor Williams/Gangler. All present approved. Fire Report: Fire Chief Marvin Rynearson says conditions have been very dry and that we are expecting another lightening storm, encouraging the public to be ready and be creating defensible space. Chief Rynearson expressed the need for another radio for the fire department, costing $2600.00 which can be transferred from the Public Works Capitol Fund. Public Works: Public Works Director Chris Camarena reported that the City applied for the Small Cities Allotment Grant. The awards for the grant should be announced this fall. Camarena updated the Council on Faiman, saying that Xylem will be coming to put the electrical system in place at Faiman. The Water Meter Project is on hold until the SHIPPO gives us the okay. Camarena announced that Public Works had to help our neighbors in Canyon City with a plugged sewer line with the City’s vac truck. Public Works helped Dayville with their water emergency, fixing the water line that got ripped about by the CAT running dozer line for the impeding fire toward the town. Public Works also assisted Monument with their sewer emergency using the City’s vac truck. The Mayor asked if there was any public comment regarding the topics discussed on the agenda. Mayor Clark called on Frances Preston. Frances Preston asked why we are helping other cities and wanted to know if we are billing those cities for our help. Frances Preston also wanted to know why Public Works hired two seasonal employees for the Water Meter Project before the City received funding? Camarena said no we aren’t billing them that Canyon City has helped us with expensive leak detection, that John Day gave us water for free when we had the water emergency, that neighbors need to help neighbors. The County gave the Prairie City Fire Department a car and a water truck. Adjourn: MSP: To adjourn the meeting Councilor Williams/Shaw at 7:13 pm. All present unanimous. Approved by the City Council on this 16th day of October 2024 and signed by the mayor. Ed Clark, Mayor Attested: Shonalie Oakes, City Recorder