The City Council met in regular session on June 7, 2010 at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Mayor Walker presided:
Councilmembers present:
Wes Lester
Del Houger
Mike Peterson
Brian Lorentz
Rob Bentley
Georgia DeHaas
City employees present were Public Works Director Gortsema, Attorney Green, Chief Quantz and Clerk Kennedy.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the minutes of the May 17th meeting was approved as presented by Councilwoman DeHaas, second by Councilman Peterson. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
PUBLIC HEARING ON SEWER RATE INCREASE: A public hearing was held to hear comments on a sewer rate increase of $10.00 per month. No comments were made and the hearing closed at 7:32 p.m.
VISITORS: Linda Fisher did not show up to present her request.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: The department responded to 155 calls for service. There were 91 cases written, 24 misdemeanor arrests, 2 felony arrest, 30 citations, 10 written warnings issued, 5 dogs and 1 cat handled. The Police and Animal Control Report for May 2010 was accepted on motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Peterson. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
ORDINANCE ON PARKING A VEHICLE OR TRAILER FOR SALE ON MAIN STREET OR HERITAGE SQUARE:
ORDINANCE NO. 857
(Ordinance No. 857 in its entirety on file in the City’s Ordinance File)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GRANGEVILLE PROHIBITING THE PARKING OF VEHICLES AND TRAILERS FOR SALE ON MAIN STREET OR IN HERITAGE SQUARE FOR MORE THAN THREE CUMULATIVE HOURS IN ANY TWENTY FOUR (24) HOUR PERIOD; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE UPON ITS PASSAGE, APPROVAL, AND PUBLICATION; AND, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH.
On motion by Councilman Lorentz, second by Councilman Houger that the first reading be approved, that the rules be suspended, the second and third readings be waived and the ordinance be approved and adopted. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: DeHaas, Houger, Lester, Lorentz, Bentley, Peterson. NO: none. The motion passed. Mayor Walker then declared Ordinance No. 857 duly approved and adopted.
POLICE RESERVE PROGRAM: Chief Quantz and Officer Beene were present to introduce the police reserve program. There are several people that have shown an interest in applying. The reserves would be scheduled to ride with different officers so they would receive training and be able to view the different work styles of the various officers. Councilman Houger felt that officer safety in the City is at risk and felt this was the smartest way to protect the officers’ safety without having to hire additional employees. On motion by Councilwoman DeHaas, second by Councilman Peterson to give the police department full approval to go forward with the reserve program. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
DISPATCH AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY AND SYRINGA HOSPITAL REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT: The main change in the agreement is an automatic 3% annual increase. On motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Houger to accept the police service agreement with Idaho County and the renewal agreement with Syringa Hospital. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
BEER GARDEN AND CATERING PERMIT FOR BORDER DAYS: On motion by Councilman Lorentz, second by Councilman Peterson to approve the beer garden request during Border Days and to approve the Grangeville Country Club request for a catering permit for the same event, July 2nd-4th, 2010. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
GRANT ADMINISTRATOR DISCUSSION: Mayor Walker stated that he would like to see a grant administrator on staff as soon as possible for the sewer project. He would like to make the recommendation that the City use Walter Steed as he is extremely knowledgeable, has applied for and received three grants in the past and is able to leverage money to get the City the best package. On motion by Councilwoman DeHaas, second by Councilman Lester to hire Walter M. Steed to be the City’s grant administrator. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
NORTH MEADOW PROJECT DISCUSSION: The base bid for the project is complete rehabilitation starting at the intersection of North 2nd and Meadow to North 7th and Meadow. In addition, the City is planning to put curb and gutter on the East side of North Meadow from North 4th to North 7th. The alternate was for curb, gutter and driveway approaches between North 2nd and North 4th. If the City did the base and the alternate, the street would be completely redone from North 2nd to North 7th. Public Works Director Gortsema’s recommendation is to take money from the chip seal project ($80,000) in addition to funds left over from snow removal funds ($26,000) to completely finish street, which is alternative 2.
The City may want to consider not chip sealing this year as the chip seal bid would probably increase with a lesser project. Councilman Lester did not like taking money out of the chip seal project, but also hates to not finish the street project as it should be. On motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Lorentz to approve alternate #2 and use funds from seal coating and snow removal to make up the difference. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
CHIP SEAL BID: Public Works Director Gortsema will find out from Poe Asphalt if they will hold their bid for the lesser project (now that some funds are moved to the North Meadow project – see above). Councilman Lester felt if Poe would hold their price, the City could proceed with a partial project; if not then the City should re-budget next year with a larger amount.
CHANGE ORDER #1 FOR THE SEWER PROJECT: Public Works Director Gortsema explained that the best estimate at this time is that there would be an $82,000 surplus in the project as the bids came in favorable. He would like to suggest doing some additional work as the bids were more competitive than estimated. It was suggested to replace the sewer main on Crooks Street from Meadow and 3rd to Crooks and 7th and move the line and West South First for a total of $121,000. In order to complete the addition, the City would need to add about $40,000 to the project. The City budgeted funds to purchase land and Gortsema would like to use some of those funds to complete the project. On motion by Councilwoman DeHaas, second by Councilman Peterson to approve change order #1 on the sewer project. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
ORDINANCE TO INCREASE THE SEWER RATE:
ORDINANCE NO. 858
(Ordinance No. 858 in its entirety on file in the City’s Ordinance File)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GRANGEVILLE PROVIDING FOR THE AMENDMENT OF SECTION 8-5-3-1 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF GRANGEVILLE RELATING TO SEWER RATES; PROVIDING FOR INCREASE IN SEWER RATES AND INCREASING THE RATES OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF GRANGEVILLE; CONTINUING THE DEFINITION OF THE USAGE RATE AS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THE EARLIER DRAFT OF 8-5-3; PROVIDING FOR THE RETENTION OF THE REMAINDER OF SECTION 8-5-3; PROVIDING FOR THE ORDINANCE BECOMING EFFECTIVE UPON ITS PASSAGE, APPROVAL, AND PUBLICATION; AND, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH.
Councilman Lester made a motion, second by Councilwoman DeHaas that the first reading be approved and the ordinance pass to the second reading. Mayor Walker commented that he didn’t think section G should be charged without a service rendered. Councilwoman DeHaas felt the customer would have the service and it’s necessary to pay. It was felt that the requirement to pay may be premature since the City has not had a bond election to make it necessary that the City require the minimum payment. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: DeHaas, Lester NO: Houger, Lorentz, Bentley, Peterson. The motion failed.
Councilman Houger felt section G and the title relating to it should be deleted. On motion by Councilman Lorentz, second by Councilman Houger that the first reading be approved, striking the title section providing for a monthly minimum service fee of $10.00 and section G, that the rules be suspended, the second and third readings be waived and the ordinance be approved and adopted. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Houger, Lester, Lorentz, Bentley, Peterson. NO: DeHaas. The motion passed. Mayor Walker then declared Ordinance No. 858 duly approved and adopted. (Clerks Note: Prior to publication, an error was found in the out of City rate and the ordinance was not published. A new ordinance will be created with the correct rates.)
ITEMS TO NOTE:
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 P.M.
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Bruce Walker – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – City Clerk
