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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000.11.20 Council Minutes MINUTES REGULAR MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 20, 2000 CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Michael L. Garrison, Mayor. ROLL CALL: By Deputy City Clerk. Councilmembers present: Charles D. Kilbury, Joe Jackson, Chris Jensen, Dan Lathim, Rebecca Francik, and Carl Strode. Also present: Gary Crutchfield, City Manager; Leland B. Kerr, City Attorney, Stan Strebel, Administrative & Community Services Director; Erin Forrest, City Engineer; Bob Alberts, Public Works Director; Dave McDonald, City Planner; Denis Austin, Police Chief; Greg Garcia, Fire Chief, Jim Chase, Finance Manager; Webster Jackson, Administrative Services Manager; Richard Smith, Community & Economic Dev. Director; Tim Arntzen, Management Assistant; and Kurt Luhrs, Personnel Manager. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. CONSENT AGENDA: MOTION: Ms. Francik moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Mr. Strode seconded the motion. Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. Consent items are as follows: A) Approval of Minutes: To approve minutes of the Regular Meeting held November 6, 2000. B) Bills and Communications: To approve General Claims in the amount of $613,150.50 ($23,404.62 being in the form of Wire Transfer No. 3505; and $589,745.88 consisting of Claim Warrants numbered 122673 through 122897). Bad Debt Write-offs: To approve bad debt write-offs for utility billing, ambulance, miscellaneous, cemetery and Municipal Court non-criminal, criminal and parking accounts receivable in the total amount of$137,471.36, and of that amount, authorize $132,509.27 be turned over for collection. C) Interlocal Agreement for Emergency Management Services: To approve the interlocal agreement providing for Emergency Management Services within Franklin County and, further, authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement. D) Addendum to Pasco Police Officers Association Collective Bargaining .Agreement: To approve the addendum to the 1999-2000 Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Pasco Police Officers Association and, further, authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement. E) Waiver of Utility Service Requirement: To approve the Utility Service Waiver Agreement for Connell Sand and Gravel. PROCLAMATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: None. -1- MINUTES REGULAR, MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 20, 2000 VISITORS: None. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND/OR OFFICERS: None. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1-722 Budget Impacts: Mr. Gary Crutchfield, City Manager, addressed Council and the citizens in attendance with an overview of the impact of I-722 on the City's budget for 2001 and beyond. Mr. Crutchfield presented several options available to Council and the citizens present for funding the short-fall. MAYOR GARRISON DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN TO CONSIDER 2001 BUDGET SOLUTIONS IN RESPONSE TO PASSAGE OF INITIATIVE 722. Ms. Valli Ross, of 4614 Baja Dr, spoke in favor of keeping the fire station open and felt the library could be sacrificed to do this. Mr. Jim Mahoney, Library representative, spoke in favor of keeping the library open and pointed out how important it is in conjunction with the schools for the children of our community. Mr. Bill Webber, of 4204 Meadow Sweet, spoke in opposition to closure of the Fire Station #83 and felt Council should not make this decision lightly. Mr. Rick Dawson, of 4508 44th Place, felt that closure of the fire station or the library would be unpleasant because both enhance the quality of life for citizens of Pasco. Looking at a delay in the overlay program is not a bad idea and would allow the City to look at other options. Dr. Ron Davis, Medical Director of OLOL Emergency Dept., disagreed with statements that closing Station #83 would have little or no impact. Dr. Davis felt the community should understand that closure of the fire station would affect the response time of both fire and ambulance, which is critical in an emergency. Ms. Barb Fritz, of 4905 W. Nixon Street, felt the library should be kept open for the sake of the children of the community. Mr. James Larson, of 3320 W. Pearl Street, felt Council and staff failed to practice wisdom last year after I-695 was passed by voters. Mr. Torn Larson, of 3320 W. Pearl Street, suggested that maybe a change in the form of government was necessary, i.e., the City Manager's job could be eliminated and maybe the other department heads could be consolidated? Mr. Strode asked what would happen if the City Manager position was eliminated, as well as, the other department head positions? How much money would be saved? Mr. Crutchfield responded that $600,000 would be saved. -2- MINUTES REGULAR MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 20, 2000 Ms. Francik pointed out that after I-695 was approved citizens came to public hearings and asked that the fire station be left open and they would pay the tax. Ms. Cindy Purdin, of 1832 W. Margaret Street, wanted to point out there are a lot of sick people out in the district. They are taken care of by Station 083 and if it were closed 6 minutes would be too long for them. Mr. Ricardo Espinoza, of 2215 Road 33, felt the City should take the legal action necessary to prevent the County from refunding tax monies before I-722 has gone through the Courts for a decision on its constitutionality and postpone any closures or cuts in programs. Mayor Garrison pointed out that if the City waits for a court decision on I-722 before doing anything, and it's found constitutional, the City would be in an even bigger hole. Mr. Wayne Wilson, of 3291 Dent Road, expressed his confidence in the Council and staff to make the best decision. Ms. Janet Hewlett, 1901 Road 40, felt it was inconceivable that Council would even consider closing the fire station. Ms. Hewlett also felt that the DARE/GREAT program was vital to the community by building up in the students a respect for the law and law enforcement officers. Mr. Leo Craven, of 8211 Lummi Drive, was in support of the initiative and would support whatever cuts needed to be made, except closing the fire station because that cut would involve peoples' lives. Ms. Patty England, of 6717 Richardson, wanted to point out that a 6 minute response can mean the difference between lift and death. Mr. Aaron Beasley, of 195 Road 36, asked why Rivershore Enhancement, improvements to Volunteer Park weren't among the cuts being made to the budget? Mr. Bealsey felt those types of cuts should be made before closure of a fire station. Mr. Crutchfield responded that the monies for Rivershore Enhancement and improvements to Volunteer Park came from different funds and the monies in these funds can only be used for specific things. Mr. Sal Beltron, of 2316 N. Road 72, felt staff should have shown what items did get cut from the budget to help the public understand the scope of the situation. Mr. Beltron also agreed with Mr. Espinoza and felt Council and staff should wait for the Courts to decide the constitutionality of 1-722. Ms. Alice Allison, of 6121 W. Melville, felt the closure of the library would be a mistake for the community. Mr. Jim (Unclear), 820 Road 27, didn't want to see the loss of the fire station or manpower at Road 68. Ms. Barbara Clark, of 1712 N. 15th Avenue, spoke against closure of the fire station because of the need for ambulance service in the area, specifically, a paramedic equipped ambulance. Mr. Crutchfield explained that as many paramedics as possible would be retained. Mr. Fred LaMothe, of 10024 W. Court Street, spoke in favor of maintaining Station #83 to provide fire and ambulance protection to those living in the area. Mr. LaMothe stated that having used the -3- MINUTES REGULAR,MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 20, 2000 ambulance service several times he had personal experience of its importance to that area of the community. Ms. Cosette Sinclair, of 924 W. Leola Street, spoke in favor of maintaining the fire station, but also felt the library was very important to the youth of the community. Ms. Linda Brown, of 6603 Rigley Drive, asked if it would be possible to cut back on the costs of the library in an effort to keep it open? Ms. Brown also felt it would be a tragedy for the homeowners in the area of the TRAC to lose the Road 68 fire station. Ms. Linda Oak, of 7012 W. Argent Street, wanted to point out to Council that Community Development has a department head over 6 employees and of those one is an Inspection Services Manager who oversees 3 of the 6 employees. Ms. Oak felt some fat could be cut in the management area and she wanted the fire station left open. Mr. Crutchfield explained that the management position alluded to is equivalent to a working foreman. That manager is not in the office all the time, in fact, he's out doing inspections much of the time. Mr. Jensen wanted a show of hands for those present who wanted the fire station to remain open, then a show of hands of those who wanted the library left open, after which those with testimony not relating to the fire station and library could speak. Mayor Garrison asked for a show of hands of those who wanted the fire station to remain open at which the majority of those present raised their hand. Mayor Garrison asked for a show of hands of those who wanted the library to remain open, at which a smaller percentage of those present raised their hands. Mr. Chris Brown, of 6603 Rigley Drive, felt that items funded by the general fund, other than the fire station and library, need to be looked at again for additional cuts. Mr. Ken Werst, of 4104 Desert Drive, asked if the new baseball team could be eliminated? Mr. Crutchfield explained that could save $30,000 a year, but this would have an adverse effect economically because there is some economic spin-off from the operation of the baseball stadium. Mr. Cruz Garcia, of 5315 Mariner Lane (Dare Officer for Pasco), felt Pasco could work with the 5th graders in the schools or end up working with them through the courts later in life. Mr. Ken Meyers, of the Pasco Fire Department, explained that Washington State Law states that in order to do interior firefighting in a situation that is dangerous to life and health, firefighters cannot enter the building unless there are two firefighters outside in full air-packs for two people ready to go in full air-packs. Sometimes this cannot occur with present staffing levels. Most of the time it works out. With assistance from the other stations firefighters can go in and save victims or put out the fire. If the fire truck that's coming to assist is removed, we can't go in, it's against state law. Mr. Meyers couldn't live with himself if he had to stand outside and watch somebody die because fellow firefighters and their engine weren't coming. -4- MINUTES REGULAR MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 20, 2000 Following three (3) calls from Mayor Garrison for comments from the floor, either for or against, the public hearing was declared closed. Miss (unclear) Hoffman, of 536 N. 8th Avenue, stated that she lives within walking distance of the library, which she visits regularly, and would miss having the opportunity to do so if it were closed. Miss Hoffman also stated that her mom probably wouldn't have time to take her to the Kennewick Library. Mr. Jensen felt that the message he had received was that the citizens of Pasco wanted to have sufficient emergency services, i.e., police, fire, ambulance. Mr. Jensen also felt that Council had been urged to take some risks and wait for I-722 to get through the Courts. Mr. Jensen strongly urged Council to suspend the Street Overlay Program, to re- enact the other taxes and fees and to defer any action until such time I- 722 works it's way through the Court system. Mr. Lathim asked Chief Garcia about response times and some past agreements with the two County fire stations for mutual aid. Chief Garcia explained that response times would depend on where the unit was at the time it received a call. From the airport station the response time would be under ten minutes, average time would be at least 8 minutes response time. Regarding mutual aid from the fire district, lately, Pasco has been supporting them. The fire district has a longer response time, but still under ten minutes. Mr. Crutchfield explained that prior to opening Station #83 the City contracted with Fire District #3 to provide automatic first response in the area west of Desert Plateau. The City and Fire District #3 both responded at the same time to calls in that area. It's not the same level of service as can be provided by a fully staffed station, but it did suffice for some sixteen years. Mr. Lathim asked how long it would take to get the fire station reopened (if it were closed) and operational after a vote of the people approving the tax necessary to pay for it? Mr. Crutchfield stated it would be 2002 before the fire station could be reopened. Ms. Francik thanked those in the audience for attending, but noted they didn't give any real suggestions for solving the funding problem. Ms. Francik stated she did get the message that the fire station should remain operational. Mr. Kilbury felt it was evident that Council shouldn't remove the fire station, that it was evident that there was a lot of enthusiasm for keeping the library open. However, the Council is limited by how long they can stay away from doing something. Something will have to be done. Mr. Jackson also thanked those present for attending and for their comments regarding these issues. Mr. Jackson stated he concurred with Mr. Jensen's suggestions. Mr. Strode felt the testimony of those present had not helped him make his decision. Mr. Strode felt the citizens needed to present some real suggestions on how to manage these problems. -5- MINUTES REGULAR MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 20, 2000 ORDINANCES/RESOLUTIONS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS: None. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: None. MISCELLANEOUS - INCLUDING SUGGESTIONS FROM COUNCIL: Executive Session: Mayor Garrison recessed to an executive session at 9:10 p.m., for approximately 20 minutes, for the purpose of discussing possible litigation with legal counsel. Mayor Garrison reconvened the regular meeting at approximately 9:30 p.m. ADJOURNMENT: No further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:31 P.M. APPROVED: ATTEST: t � Michael L. dailrison, Mayor Catherine D. Seaman, Deputy City Clerk PASSED and APPROVED this 41h day of December, 2000. -6-