Omak city council regular meeting minutes draft

OMAK CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES DRAFT

June 18, 2012

CALL TO ORDER:

Mayor Gagne called the regular meeting of the Omak City Council to order at 7:00 PM and everyone joined in the flag salute.

COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL:

Michael Foth Patrick Dalton, Building Official

Steve Clark Kevin Bowling, Fire Chief

Lew Goebel Larry Schreckengast, Police Chief

Nattalie Cariker Ralph Malone, City Administrator

Leanne Whitener Kathy Lobdell, City Clerk

John Sackman

Dino DeCesari-absent

CONSENT AGENDA:

Member Clark moved, seconded by Member Sackman, to approve the consent agenda consisting of minutes from the June 4, 2012 regular meeting, and claims checks numbered 6518-6578 in the amount of $527,563.13. As there was no discussion and no comments from the audience, Council voted and unanimously approved the motion.

MAYOR’S CORRESPONDENCE:

Mayor Gagne reported the flag retirement ceremony held July 16^th in Eastside Park was very tastefully done. She also attended a book signing by two local writers and felt the Art in the Park held over the weekend in Civic League Park was a well-attended success. She reminded Council of the public meeting to be held in North Omak School, Wednesday, June 20^th from 7:00-9:00 PM for local residents involved in the Sewer Replacement project. The contractor will be introduced and residents will be given another opportunity to have any questions answered.

NEW BUSINESS:

Mike Hassing-Request for Letter of Support-Family Health Centers Building Project

Mr. Hassing introduced himself as the Chief Executive Officer for the Family Health Centers. He told Council the focus of their organization is to encourage health care for everyone who comes through their doors. There are four facilities in different localities, but they are grossly inadequate. Their goal is to construct one facility in north Omak. They have purchased five acres of property just south of the Okanogan Behavior Health Clinic, and west of Koala Drive. They want to be a collaborative partner in community health care, focusing on low-income and under-insured county residents, which would represent approximately 30% of the population. He asked for a support letter from the City in their efforts to get funding on this $9 to $11 million project through a USDA or Washington Healthcare loan. He added it has taken a couple of years to finally get to this place and they would like to be in the new facility by the end of 2013. Member Goebel moved, seconded by Member Clark, to provide a support letter from the City. As there was no further discussion and no comments from the audience, Council voted and unanimously approved the motion. Mr. Hassing thanked Council for their time. Resolution 25-2012 – Emergency Land Use Rental Agreement-Dept. of Natural Resources-Airport

Member Clark moved, seconded by Member Sackman, to approve Resolution 25-2012. City Administrator Malone stated the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) annually requests this agreement to establish a wildfire helitack crew at Omak Airport during fire season. The City does not charge them for this use and they respond with various improvements to the airport area. He introduced Kevan Roberts, DNR District Manager. Mr. Roberts expressed his appreciation to Council for their support, noting the DNR and the City had been partners in this effort for quite some time. He added that his crew brings revenue into the Omak area through fuel purchases, restaurant meals and overnight accommodations. As there was no discussion and no comments from the audience, Council voted and unanimously approved the motion.

Resolution 26-2012 - Accept Aerial Mosquito Spraying Contract

Member Sackman moved, seconded by Member Cariker, to approve Resolution 26-2012. In conjunction with the cities of Okanogan and Oroville, one bid was received for aerial mosquito spraying in April. The bid amount is $.28 per acre higher that 2011. The City has published a notice and is in the process of receiving a five-year license from the Department of Ecology. There is a 30 day waiting period after the notice is published and that will end July 2^nd. He noted the river is rising again, expected to crest in five or six days, so now is not the time to spray. Early July looks to be an opportune time to spray after the river level drops.

Mr. Malone noted last year there was some discussion about trying to establish a Mosquito Control District that would stretch along the length of the Okanogan River. He suggested this idea is something to think about for the future. As there was no discussion and no comments from the audience, Council voted and unanimously approved the motion.

Resolution 27-2012 - Delegate Change Order Authority - Phase 1 of Sewer Replacement Contract

Member Goebel moved, seconded by Member Foth, to approve Resolution 27-2012. City Administrator Malone apologized to members of the Water/Sewer Committee for not bringing this to them before Council. He noted, however, that this type of resolution was brought to Council for the Sewer Plant Upgrade Project, allowing the Mayor to approve Change Orders up to $5,000 and the Water/Sewer Committee would be authorized to approve them up to $25,000, as long as the total contract cost does not exceed the original funding approved. These Change Orders would then be reported to the full Council at the next scheduled meeting. This policy will help in the forward motion of Phase 1 of the Sewer Replacement Project when un-anticipated situations come up creating the need for cost adjustments. These issues must be resolved quickly and it will allow the contractor to stay on task and the project to stay on time, while holding the City accountable to the process. After a short discussion and no comments from the audience, Council voted and unanimously approved the motion.

Resolution 28-2012 – Reject All Bids for Omak Avenue Sidewalk Improvement Project

Member Sackman moved, seconded by Member Clark, to approve Resolution 28-2012. City Administrator Malone reminded Council they had passed a resolution at the last meeting allowing the City to accept the contract on the Omak Avenue Sidewalk Improvement Project, if certain financial conditions were met. The financial obligations could not be met, and after consulting with the engineers, a Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) representative, the Street Committee and staff, it had been decided to reject all bids received. Mr. Malone felt it would be hard to get it constructed this summer before the Stampede Rodeo. Member Cariker, chairperson of the Street Committee, confirmed the Committee agreed to this. Mr. Malone added that the project will be re-evaluated by the engineers and put out to bid this fall or early spring of 2013. He noted that the TIB will only increase their funding by $50,000 over the $228,000 already in their grant. The design and scope of work may have to be adjusted to fit the available funding. As there was no further discussion and no comments from the audience, Council voted and approved the motion.

Ordinance 1743-1^st Reading-Amend 2012 Budget-Sewer-Various Sewer Project Budget Revisions

City Administrator Malone asked that the Water/Sewer Committee be open to a meeting in the near future to discuss this ordinance in detail. He told Council this budget amendment concerns the current year appropriations in the Sewer Fund based upon what we know now. The actual Beginning Fund Balance in the Sewer Fund was lower than estimated for 2012 because the City did not receive some of the anticipated loan draws; the anticipated revenue for 2012 is reflected in this amendment and there is an increase in the costs for Phase 1. This funding will be taken from the projected cost for Phase 2, because of a change in the scope of work to Phase 1.

OTHER BUSINESS:

Staff Reports

Fire Chief Bowling told Council the burn ban in Omak will begin on July 1^st. He stated there were originally five jurisdictions involved in the federal grant funding he is applying for, and Riverside Fire District has now dropped out. In addition to the air packs, the cascading air pack refilling system on the truck needs to be upgraded to a high pressure system at a cost of $8,000. He estimates the total grant to be $66,256, and the City is obligated to a 5% match of $3,300.

City Clerk Lobdell told Council she had met with the treasurer of the Omak Kiwanis Club, Wally Richards, regarding their request for Hotel/Motel funds for the Art in the Park in 2012. He spoke very highly of the City’s public works crew and how well they prepared the Civic League Park for their event last weekend. He was pleased also that extra picnic tables and garbage cans had been brought to the park, noting they had a record 51 vendors at this year’s event. Ms. Lobdell told Council that employee Kristi Mollman, the Administrative Assistant for the Public Works Department, had recently undergone surgery in Seattle, but is recovering well and due home in the next day or two.

City Administrator Malone thanked those who participated in the recent employee BBQ held in Eastside Park. He told Council that City staff had met again with the Department of Transportation (DOT) representatives who are working on the preliminary plans for the SR 215 grind and pave work in 2014. They are continuing to review various aspects of the work, including pedestrian and sidewalk upgrades, but do not have funding for upgrades to the intersections of First, Second and Third Avenues with Main Street. He spoke of a Complete Streets grant the City is applying for that may assist in financing those upgrades and the funding could be incorporated with the DOT project to complete those improvements. Even though there is no Council resolution required in this application, it is important that Council is aware of and supports the grant application.

Member Whitener stated she had seen a presentation of the Complete Streets program. There were projects that were accomplished through this funding to enhance Main Street areas and she felt they were well done. She cautioned that this type of project should be done in the next three to four years before the DOT is faced with reduced staff and funding.

Member Clark asked if the restroom doors at Civic League Park could be repaired as their condition could possibly be a safety issue. Citizen Vern Haase agreed. This request will be forwarded to the Public Works department.

Member Goebel told Council he had watched the emergency vehicle driving exercises conducted by the police department at Omak Airport. He was impressed with the professionalism of the instructors and ability of the drivers. He also complimented the flag retirement ceremony.

Member Sackman asked City Administrator Malone about the decision to tell Morgan & Sons the City was not interested in selling its 200 acre property to be used as a sewer lagoon. He did not recall that subject being discussed at a Council meeting. Mr. Malone answered he was being contacted by Morgan & Sons several times a week, and felt the City should not be involved in land transactions when there is private property available.

Mayor Gagne reminded Council of the public meeting on the sewer project that will be held Wednesday in the North Omak School.

Member Cariker reminded those present the time capsule will be buried at City Hall on Saturday, June 30^th at 3:00 PM, followed by a community picnic in Civic League Park.

As there was no further business, Council was adjourned at 7:35 PM.

___________________________ ______________________________

Kathy Lobdell, City Clerk Cindy Gagne, Mayor

June 18, 2012