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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 04/02/2002 4636 CITY COUNCIL MEETING Port Angeles, Washington April 2, 2002 CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Wiggins called the regular meeting of the Port Angeles City Council to order at REGULAR MEETING: 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Mayor Wiggins, Councilmembers Braun, Campbell, Erickson, Headrick, Rogers, and Williams. Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Acting Martager/Attorney Knutson, Clerk Upton, B. Collins, G. Cutler, D. McKeen, T. Riepe, Y. Ziomkowski, T. Smith, L. Haehnlen, R. Dyker, D. Miller, and C. Kochanek. Public Present: L. Lee, P. Lamoureux, K. Smith, C. Isenberger, T. Price, and L. Rasmussen. PLEDGE OF The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Erickson. ALLEGIANCE: PUBLIC CEREMONIES, 1. Earth Day Proclamation PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS: Mayor Wiggins began by reading the Proclamation declaring April 22, 2002, as Earth Day. Recycling Coordinator Miller accepted the certificate and introduced his assistant Earth Day Proclamation and daughter, Markie Miller, who distributed recycling information to the Council and staff. Mr. Miller thanked the Council and staff for their support. Disaster Preparedness 2. Disaster Preparedness Month Proclamation Month Proclamation Following Mayor Wiggins' reading of the proclamation declaring April, 2002, as Disaster Preparedness Month in Port Angeles, Fire Chief McKeen addressed the Council, thanking them for their support. He emphasized the vulnerability of the area with regard to September 11 ~ and the Nisqually earthquake and mentioned issues about which all should be concerned. Chief McKeen presented the Mayor with an item helpful during an emergency (pon-a-john) and advised the Council that possible funding is forthcoming about disaster preparedness. International Building 3. International Building Safety Week Safety Week Mayor Wiggins read the proclamation for the International Building Safety Week, which was accepted by Building Official Haehnlen. Mr. Haehnlen presented the Council with construction pencils. LATE ITEMS TO BE Councilman Campbell asked that a letter to the Department of Ecology regarding the PLACED ON THIS OR Rayonier clean-up be added to the agenda; it was added as Item 1.4. Mayor Wiggins FUTURE AGENDA: asked to address the matter of the eastern entrance to Port Angeles which was added as Item 1.5. under Other Considerations. -1- 4637 CITY COUNCIL MEETING April 2, 2002 LATE ITEMS TO BE Cynthia Isenberger, 1614 West 6t~ Street, representing the Olympic Peninsula PLACED ON THIS OR Bicyclists, thanked the Council for all that they have done on the completion of the FUTURE AGENDA: Waterfront and Discovery Trails. She inquired ifa date has been set for the opening of (Cont'd) the Rayonier portion of the trail, as the club and other interested businesses and groups would like to plan a celebration for that opening. Councilmember Rogers questioned if an indoor work area had been acquired to work on the bridge, and Kathe Smith, 607 E. 4th Street, related that Peninsula College welding students would be doing the work on the bridge at Lincoln Welding. She stated that other items were still in process and that she would be glad to return to Council in two weeks with more concrete information. Councilman Rogers complimented the group for their efforts and the work that they have completed. Ms. Isenberger returned to the podium and expressed how much of an asset this trail will be for the people of Port Angeles. Not only will it bring tourism to the area, it will also be a very positive aspect for newcomers. Ms. Isenberger added that a grand opening celebration would attract much attention. Attorney Knutson directed the Council's attention to a summary in the packet regarding the completion of the trail site. Gary Gleason, 2211 East 7th Avenue, mentioned trespassing problems on the still-closed Rayon!er portion of the trail and requested that a sign be placed indicating the end of the trail. Leland Lee, 905 West 11% referenced his appearance last September regarding the costs and poor quality of the 8th Street paving. He asked if the f'mal acceptance, to be determined at this Council meeting, of a difference of 30.9% will, in fact, be accepted because the work is still not completed. To his estimation, the contract amounts have routinely been exceeded. He urged the City to make more effort to control project costs and specifications and to implement quality control. Paul Lamoureux, 602 East Whidby, related the issue of the public meetings regarding Stormwater management. Referencing a newspaper article which quoted Councilmember Rogers as saying this is an unfunded mandate, Mr. Lamoureux reminded the Council that just because the government mandates an unfunded project, it is not necessarily something that has to be done. While many good things are accomplished, the fact remains that not all mandates should be implemented and common sense should prevail. He inquired as to what the penalties might be if the City were to refuse to meet the stormwater requirements. Both the Mayor and Councilmember Rogers responded to Mr. Lamoureux's comments and stated that the Council will be earnest in their study of the issues and in their decision making. Councilman Williams noted that he, too, had asked what the consequences might be if the City did not proceed with a stormwater utility. He urged discussion on this matter at a future meeting. Attorney Knutson added that the upcoming series of meetings will cover all the issues raised, and he referenced Page 88 of the Information Agenda which included a status report on this issue. Councilman Williams asked how concurrency will factor into this mandate and, if it is required of the City, will it also be required in the Urban Growth Area. WORK SESSION: None. FINANCE: None. CONSENT AGENDA: Councilman Braun asked that Consent Agenda Item No. 4 be set aside for individual consideration. The Council, therefore, turned its attention to the remainder of the Consent Agenda items, with discussion ensuing on such matters as vehicle maintenance protocols, and an $8,000 expenditure on a computer and monitor. Councilman Braun -2- CITY COUNCIL MEETING 4638 April 2, 2002 CONSENT AGENDA: moved to accept Consent Agenda Items 1 - 3, to include: 1) City Council Minutes - (Cont'd) March 19, 2002 regular meeting; 2) Check Register - March 22, 2002 - $1,010,940.73; and 3) Payroll Information - March 17, 2002 - $437,335.88. Councilman Iteadrick seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. Concerning Item 4, Public Works & Utilities Director Cutler reminded the Council that contract change orders are included in the agenda packet. He noted that staff had submitted a previous report on the Airport Road pavement irregularities, all of which were improved to fall within the Washington State specifications. Regarding the 8th Street Restoration Project, portions of the road were out of specification. Lakeside Industries returned and ground down the sections which were too high. This coming July, the City will fill in the ridges, add a fog-seal, and complete striping. Director Cutler then explained the variances in contracts and how the remainder of the contract costs will be handled. Mayor Wiggins pointed out that public works contracts throughout the nation typically incur cost overruns because of the nature of the projects. Following a short question and answer session, Councilman Campbell moved to accept the project as completed by Lakeside Industries and authorize the release of the retainage bond in the amount of $84,225.93, upon receipt of clearances from the Departments of Revenue and Labor & Industries. Councilmember Erickson seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. CITY COUNCIL Councilman Braun reported on his speaking engagement with the Chamber of COMMITTEE Commerce where he addressed the ice-skating facility for Port Angeles. He felt the REPORTS: proposal was well received. He also appeared at a PUD meeting on the broadband network. Mayor Wiggins attended the Drunk Driving Seminar at the High School and felt it made an impact on all who attended. ORDINANCES NOT Modify Ordinance That Provides Legal Representation to City Employees and REQUIRING PUBLIC Officials HEARINGS: Fire Chief McKeen summarized the recommendation, noting that the matter of Modify Ordinance That employee legal representation was addressed during the last labor negotiations with the Provides Legal fire fighters. Mayor Wiggins read the Ordinance by title, entitled Representation to City Employees and Officials ORDINANCE NO. 3113 Ordinance No. 3113 AN ORDINANCE of the City of Port Angeles, Washington, amending the City's Ordinance providing for legal representation of City officials and employees in defending against claims or lawsuits and amending Ordinance 2196 and Chapter 2.64 of the Port Angeles Municipal Code. Councilman Braun moved to adopt the Ordinance as read by title. Councilmember Eriekson seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. RESOLUTIONS: None. OTIIER 1. Appointment to Planning Commission CONSIDERATIONS: In considering the appointment of either Leonard Rasmussen or Michael Bolster to the Appointment to Planning Planning Commission and to break a previously tied vote, it was suggested that the Commission Councilmembers vote again on their preferred candidate. Therefore, Clerk Upton conducted a roll call ballot. Mr. Rasmussen was appointed to the Planning Commission -3- 4639 CITY COUNCIL MEETING April 2, 2002 Appointment to Planning by a 4 - 3 vote, with Councilmembers Erickson, Headrick, Rogers, and Williams voting Commission (Cont'd) for Mr. Rasmussen, and Mayor Wiggins and Councilmembers Braun and Campbell voting for Mr. Bolster. The term to which Mr. Rasmussen .was appointed is for the period, March 1, 2002 - February 28, 2006. Rate Study for Water/ 2. Rate Study for Water/Wastewater Utility Wastewater Utility Director Cutler reviewed the history of previous rate studies and informed the Council that it had been determined that rate studies should be conducted every three years in the interest of keeping rates in line and to avoid having rate increases all at once, Following a brief question and answer session and an explanation of previous rate increases by Finance Director Ziomkowski, Councilman Braun moved to authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement with Economic and Engineering Services, Inc., to perform a comprehensive water and wastewater rate study with a total cost not to exceed $26,150.00. Councilman Campbell seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. Break Mayor Wiggins recessed the meeting for a break at 7:00 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 7:15 p.m. 2001 Year-End Financial 3. 2001 Year-End Financial Report Report Finance Director Ziomkowski presented the Financial Report for the year ending December 31, 2001. After summarizing the total expenditures of $59 million, Director Ziomkowski reported on the accounting structure of the City and the General Fund summary. Also included in the report were General Fund Revenues, Sales Tax Comparison and Components, Property and Utility Taxes, General Fund Expenditures and Reserves, Street Funds, Governmental Capital Projects, all Utilities and an Investment and Portfolio Review. During the report, discussion was generated about jail costs, and there was expressed interest in an analysis of jail costs associated with pre-and post-conviction, probation, and the like. Upon completion of the report, comments of appreciation were directed to Director Ziomkowski for the straight forward approach of the report, particularly as it was tied to the Budget. Mayor Wiggins noted that Council would need to address the disposition of the surplus funds from 2001, and it was agreed by consensus that the Finance Committee would initially discuss the potential use of the funds and follow with a recommendation to Council. Letter to DOE re Rayonier 4. Letter to DOE re Rayonier Clean-Up Clean-Up Councilman Campbell informed the Council about the DOE' s public meeting to review the work plan for the investigation of the marine environment for the Rayonier site. Mentioning the DOE's request for input as to the merits of the plan, it was his recommendation that the Council endorse the plan and emphasize the importance of the site work proceeding as rapidly as possible. Therefore, the City should send a letter which would support the draft work plan as it is presented and urge the DOE to adhere to the schedule. The Council agreed by consensus to send such a letter, and Attorney Knutson informed the Council that staff will draft the letter to DOE for signature. Eastern Entrance to 5. Eastern Entrance to Port Angeles Port Angeles Mayor Wiggins mentioned his vision of a tree-lined entrance to the City that starts at Morse Creek and extends to Lincoln Street at the Gateway Project. What Mayor Wiggins would like to see is a contest that would encourage participation by all property owners. He then opened the matter for discussion by the Council and encouraged input from Economic Development Director Smith, who responded that this was an excellent idea. He added that the City should seek input and assistance from the County, as well -4- CITY COUNCIL MEETING 4640 April 2, 2002 Eastern Entrance to as the Chamber of Commerce. Entry fees would be charged from entrants to the Port Angeles (Cont'd) contest. Councilman Campbell advised that he thought this idea would be worth pursuing and that an ad-hoc group could be developed to do some brainstorming on the matter. Following further suggestions and discussion from Councilmembers, Mayor Wiggins asked that Mr. Smith take the lead on this endeavor. The Mayor and Councilmember Rogers offered to assist in that regard. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None. QUASI-JUDICIAL: PUBLIC HEARINGS - None. OTHER: INFORMATION: Attorney Knutson mentioned the Project Update and other items in the calendar. Councilmember Braun noted the upcoming Public Safety meeting. The PRTPO meeting has been changed to Friday, April 19, 2002, at 10:00 a.m. at the Jefferson County Courthouse regarding the Hood Canal Bridge repairs. Also mentioned were the need for an AWC voting delegate, as well as Area 6 fishing improvements. EXECUTIVE SESSION: The meeting was adjourned to Executive Session at 8:35 p.m. to discuss potential litigation for 15 to 20 minutes. RETURN TO OPEN The meeting returned to Open Session at 9:15 p.m. SESSION: ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Glenn Wiggins, Mayor Becky J.-UCt~ CI~ t- -5- 4641 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK