Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994.12.05 Council MinutesMINUTES PASCO CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 5, 1994 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7 30 P M by Joyce DeFelice, Mayor ROLL CALL By Deputy City Clerk Councilmembers present Joyce DeFelice, Michael Garrison, Edgar Hargrow, Chris Jensen, Charles Kilbury, Dan Lathim, and Carl Strode Also present Gary Crutchfield, City Manager, Greg Rubstello, City Attorney, David McDonald, City Planner, Bob Alberts, Public Works Director, Richard Smith, Community & Economic Dev Director, and Kurt Luhrs, Admmistrative Assistant PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The meetmg was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance CONSENT AGENDA MOTION Mr Garrison moved to approve the Consent Agenda Seconded by Mr Lathim Motion carried unanimously Consent items are as follows A) Approval of Minutes To approve minutes of Regular Meeting held November 21, 1994 To approve minutes of Special Meetmg held November 28, 1994 B) Bills and Communications To approve General Claims in the amount of $790,623 62 ($16,836 01 bemg in the form of Wire Transfer Nos 2948 and 2949, and $773,787 61 consistmg of Claim Warrants numbered 89210 through 89397) Payroll Claims To approve Payroll Claims in the amount of $488,539 29, Payroll Voucher Nos 39333 through 39528, and 39553 through 39750 Bad Debt Wnte-offs To approve bad debt wnte-offs for utility billing, ambulance, cemetery, and Municipal Court non-criminal and criminal accounts receivable in the total amount of $70,370 36 and, of that amount, authorize $68,960 67 be turned over for collection C) Interlocal Agreement for Emergency Management To approve the Interlocal Agreement with Franklin County and other Franklin County municipalities for the provision of Emergency Management Services and, further, authorize the Mayor to sign the Agreement D) Code Amendment - Micro-Brewenes/Wmenes in the C-2 Zone (Central Business District) (MF #94-83-CA) To set 7 30 p m, December 19, 1994, as the time and date for a public hearing to consider the proposed C-2 code amendment E) Special Permit Location of a Day Care Center at the Southwest Corner of 6th Avenue and "C" Street (MF #94-74-SP) To approve the Special Permit for the Day Care Center at 6th Avenue and "C" Street, as recommended by the Planning Commission MINUTES REGULAR MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL DECEMBER 5, 1994 F) Special Permit Location of the Western Baseball League Stadium (MF #94-76-SP) To approve the Special Permit for the Western Baseball League Stadium, as recommended by the Planning Commission PROCLAMATION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS None VISITORS None REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND/OR OFFICERS Mayor's Activity Report Mayor DeFelice reported On November 25, 1994, judged Chnstmas trees for Our Lady of Lourdes Festival of Trees, also attended a banquet where awards were announced On November 30, attended a nbbon cutting ceremony for the Grand- Opening of West One Bank at Albertsons Supermarket Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting, December 1, 1994 Mayor DeFelice was unable to attend the meeting Mock City Council Meeting at New Honzons Heights High School - November 22, 1994 Mr Garrison reported that the meetmg was very good The students involved formed seven companies that were environmentally pro-active The students gave presentations to the Mock Council concerning their businesses and went into extensive plans and environmental impact statements A lot of work went into the project PUBLIC HEARINGS 1995 Budgets - Annual Operating and Capital Projects Mr Dan Underwood, Finance Director, addressed Council and noted for the record that notice of the public heanng was published as required by law Mr Underwood explained that there were no proposed changes to the budgets as presented at the budget workshop Those budgets include an overall Operating Budget of $48,338,757, and Capital Projects Budget with a net increase of $16,567,300 MAYOR DEFELICE DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE 1995 ANNUAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL PROJECTS BUDGETS Mr Jim Cumiskey, of the Arts Council of the Mid-Columbia Region, addressed Council to request $8,000 funding to sponsor arts programs and presentations within the City After discussion it was the concurrence of Council that Mr Curmskey work with staff to provide more specific information and return to Council with a request Following three (3) calls from Mayor DeFehce for comments from the floor, either for or against, the public heanng was declared closed ORDINANCE NO. 3060 AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE CITY OF PASCO OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 1995 -2- MINUTES REGULAR MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL DECEMBER 5, 1994 MOTION Mr Jensen moved for the first reading by title only of Ordmance No 3060, for consideration of the 1995 Annual Operating Budget Mr Hargrow seconded the motion Motion earned unammously ORDINANCE NO. 3061 AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE CTIY OF PASCO CAPITAL PROJECTS BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 1995 MOTION Mr Jensen moved for the first reading by title only of Ordinance No 3061, for consideration of the 1995 Capital Projects Budget Mr Gamson seconded the motion Motion earned unanimously 1994 Budget Supplement Mr Dan Underwood, Finance Director, addressed Council and noted for the record that notice of the pubhc heanng was published as required by law Mr Underwood explained that there were no changes in the proposed amendment for the Operating and Capital Improvement Budgets The amount requested for the operating budget is $19,360,195 of which the majority are mterfund transfers to accommodate debt service, cash receipts, and to pay for construction projects The Capital Improvement Budget will need a supplement of $13,894,200 MAYOR DEFELICE DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE 1994 BUDGET SUPPLEMENT Following three (3) calls from Mayor DeFelice for comments from the floor, either for or against, and there being none, the public hearmg was declared closed ORDINANCE NO. 3062 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 1994 ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE CITY OF PASCO BY PROVIDING A SUPPLEMENTAL THERETO, BY APPROPRIATING AND REAPPROPRIATING REVENUE, BY PROVIDING TRANSFER AND EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY, BY ADJUSTING THE EXPENDITURE PROGRAM OF VARIOUS FUNDS AND THE BUDGET WITHIN FUNDS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY MOTION Mr Garrison moved for the first reading by title only of Ordinance No 3062, for consideration of the 1994 Operating Supplemental Budget in the amount of $19,360,195 Mr Lathim seconded the motion Motion earned unanimously ORDINANCE NO. 3063 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO SUPPLEMENTAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 1994 MOTION Mr Hargrow moved for the first reading by title only of Ordinance No 3063, for consideration of the 1994 Capital Improvements Budget Supplement in the amount of $13,894,200 Mr Garrison seconded the motion Motion earned unanimously Mr Crutchfield explained that the proposed increase in fees for housing inmates in the Franklin County Jail could play havoc with the 1995 Operating Budget Staff wanted to inform Council that one of the possible options is increasing the property tax levy by the 6% authorized by law Doing this would raise approximately $100,000 per year, however, staff felt it is more important to forego that property tax -3- MINUTES REGULAR MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL DECEMBER 5, 1994 increase and absorb the $100,000 if necessary with the ending fund balance next year Staff felt that by foregoing the property tax increase the City would offset about half of the Bond Issue tax It is also important that the tax rate be lowered as soon as possible to assist with economic investment ORDINANCES/RESOLUTIONS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS None MISCELLANEOUS - INCLUDING SUGGESTIONS FROM COUNCIL Mr Crutchfield explained that the City and the County have had an on- going dispute over the City's occupancy of part of the Public Safety Building This dispute was almost settled in August, 1993, when the County made an offer to the City but then elected not to follow through with it The City took the County to court feeling that the offer was, in effect, an agreement The Supenor Court of Walla Walla denied the motion on the part of the City Since the judegement the City appealed that decision and also asked the County to reconsider the rejection of their own offer discuss the issue in an attempt to avoid legal action The County declined to do this In the year that has gone by smce then, there have been repeated attempts to urge the County to work with the City m resolving the dispute, whether it be by direct negotiations or with a mediator Each of these attempts have been rebuffed by the County, if not ignored entirely The remodel of the Old McLoughlm School into the new Civic Center has been partially completed and the Police Department was scheduled to move to the new facility The County was informed, approximately 2 months ago, that the Police Department would be moving and the Municipal Court would move over to the space occupied by the Police Department The County advised the City that this couldn't be done because it would involve structural alterations The City modified its plan to move just the office furniture and the personnel without making any alterations to the space the City had occupied for over 12 years The County was advised of the move, in writing, on November 18, 1994 At 5 00 p m, December 1, 1994, the City received a letter from the County which said they would not give approval for the City to move its court offices into the space formerly occupied by the Police Department The County was notified of the move and the City staff repeated the desire to work out a solution to the dispute, in the mean time, the Municipal Court employees needed adequate space The space they were occupying was much too small according to Labor and Industry standards The move over the weekend was earned out with no problems, however, late this morning staff was advised that the contractor employed by the City to switch the Municipal Court phones and computers over to the new area was denied access to the switch boxes Staff requested, of the Commissioners, that the contractor be allowed to switch the phone and computer lines The Commissioners advised staff that this was a -4- MINUTES REGULAR MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL DECEMBER 5, 1994 conscious decision of theirs to withhold access to the telephone and computer switches Staff provided a letter asking the Commissioners to reconsider their decision by 3 00 p m today This needed to be resolved to keep the Court processes in line and avoid disruption of that system The Commissioners made the decision not to change their decision, therefore, the City Attorney was authorized to petition for a temporary restraining order The restrammg order was granted by Judge Brown The phones and computer have been switched over Staff felt this action was necessary in order to maintain the operation of the Municipal Court Staff sent a letter to the Commissioners office requesting that they meet with the City with respect to the Jail Agreement, however, given the magnitude of the Jail Agreement and the heightened emotions which become associated with the Court Lease dispute, staff feels it is imperative that the two parties find some way to sit down and work out a solution To this end staff urged Council to pass the proposed resolution This resolution references the disputes mentioned and notes the frustration and the harm to public service in the community that is being created by the difficulties The resolution will commit the City Council to a third party mediation process to resolve the problems outlined with a long term settlement that would allow both parties to go about their business without resorting to the kinds of activities witnessed the last few days It calls on the County to do likewise The City would be willing to commit to the financial obligation associated with a third party mediator Mr Garrison supported the resolution, however, he felt that all the past overtures have gone on deaf ears Mr Strode supported the resolution and was hopeful that the County would agree to a mediation, fully funded by the City, to resolve the disagreements Mayor DeFelice hoped that the Commissioners would agree to the assistance of a mediator Mr Kilbury felt that the City and the County should be able to resolve these problems Mr Hargrow felt that the City might need to go past mediation onto conflict resolution where both parties can learn to work together and get to the root of the problem and past the hard feelings Resolution No. 2162 A RESOLUTION DECLARING A COMMITMENT OF THE PASCO CITY COUNCIL TO MEET WITH THE BOARD OF FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF AN INDEPENDENT MEDIATOR TO SEEK RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES CONCERNING THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING LEASE AND A SUCCESSOR JAIL AGREEMENT MOTION Ordinance No 2162, was read by title only Mr Strode moved to approve Ordinance No 2162 Mr Garrison seconded the motion Motion earned unanimously -5- MINUTES REGULAR MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL DECEMBER 5, 1994 ADJOURNMENT No further business, the meetmg was adjourned at 8 16 P M Joirett eFelice, Mayor ATTEST I INSIOMMIV"n &AAA K.An - _ athenne D Seaman Deputy City Clerk PASSED and APPROVED this 19 day of December 1994 -6-