CITY OF LA CENTER COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING November 13, 2013

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1 : 1. Mayor James T. Irish called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL: Council: Mayor Irish Mayor Pro Tem Luiz Councilmember Carmona Councilmember Williams Councilmember Thornton Councilmember Cerveny Staff: Marc Denney, Chief of Police Dan Kearns, City Attorney Jeff Sarvis, Public Works Director Guests: Al Filla Gary & Pam Fournier Candi Irish Peter Loeb Nelda Perryman Andy Sheriff Taylor 4. CONSENT AGENDA. A. APPROVAL OF CLAIMSADJUSTMENTS B. MINUTES C. RESOLUTION NO DECLARING CERTAIN PROPERTY AS SURPLUS AND AUTHORIZING ITS DISPOSAL (PD) MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER LUIZ SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 13, 2013 CONSENT AGENDA. Page 1 of 6

2 5. COUNCIL STAFF REPORTSANNOUNCEMENTS: A. MAYOR S REPORT None. B. ATTORNEY S REPORT. Attorney Kearns discussed the Amicus Brief that Karl Anuta filed last week in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in the federal case challenging the Bureau of Indian Affair s fee-to-trust Cowlitz decision. This case will be decided on a motion for summary judgment with no trial. Briefs from all parties are available and will be provided to Councilmembers for their review. Attorney Kearns provided Council with a Kitsap County Superior Court decision where councilmembers personal computer hard drives were subject to a public records request, if used to conduct city business. Though this case is not binding to the City, it was suggested that Councilmembers forward any city business s received at a personal account to an official City account and respond from there. C. COUNCIL COMMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER CARMONA Welcomed new guests in the audience. COUNCILMEMBER LUIZ None. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS None. COUNCILMEMBER THORNTON Congratulated the three re-elected Councilmembers and thanked them for their continued service. COUNCILMEMBER CERVENY The Clark County Walk & Knock Food Drive will be December 2. Mayor Irish added that the La Center church has opened up their facility to collect the goods and will be providing breakfast to volunteers the first Saturday of the month. D. STAFF REPORTS. MARC DENNEY, POLICE CHIEF, POLICE DEPARTMENT. Chief Denney provided his November report, The Monthly Blotter, to Council electronically. Chief Denney thanked Council for the Police Department s two new replacement patrol vehicles and the mobile observation platforms. PD will be educating the public on holiday safety, and patrols will be out to enforce any incidents, such as DUI, that come with the upcoming holiday season. Page 2 of 6

3 DIRECTOR JEFF SARVIS, PUBLIC WORKS. Director Sarvis provided Council with his November staff report electronically which included updates of projects and work that is ongoing. The Timmen Road reconstruction, which started in June 2013, is near completion and construction signs will be removed soon; the Planning Commission has completed their work on the Comprehensive Plan Amendments (DEIS comments were due November 5); a grant will be received for the design of the 4 th Street and Pacific Highway roundabout (2014 budget item). 6. CITIZENS PUBLIC COMMENT. PETER LOEB, 1810 E. BARLETT COURT, LA CENTER. There is a problem with speeding and drivers running stop signs in the City, particularly on Aspen, 18 th, and Heritage. His hope is that something can be done before a tragedy happens. Public Works Director Sarvis and Police Chief Denney will assist Mr. Loeb and determine what can be done to resolve the issues. CANDI IRISH, 1653 E. HERITAGE LOOP, LA CENTER. Thanked Mr. Loeb for bringing forward the speeding problem in the City and offered to volunteer to help, if needed. ~ She thanked Jeremy Klinski of Public Works and the other volunteers who represented the City and the La Center Float in the Veteran s Parade in Vancouver. ~ She congratulated Kristine Carmona and Randy Williams for securing their positions on, and Al Luiz for his victory. ~ The La Center Museum will hold its open house on November 16. The Museum Association is seeking individuals interested in being appointed to the Board of Directors. Applications are available at City Hall. ~ She commended Director Sarvis and the Public Works staff for keeping the walking trails and paths in clean and good condition. ANDY SHERIFF TAYLOR, 1414 E. 4 TH CIRCLE, LA CENTER. La Center Wildcats are the Trico League champions and the champion playoff against Blaine High School will be Saturday, November 16, at Ridgefield High School. 7. PRESENTATIONS. A. SCOTT CAMPBELL, WASTE CONNECTIONS ANNUAL REPORT. Mr. Campbell presented Waste Connections 2012 Annual Report to Council which included such items as residential, commercial and school waste reduction information as well as operations, customer service, and community involvement. Mr. Campbell then answered Councilmembers questions. It was noted that Waste Connections participates in La Center s Clean Up day and provides free recycling at all of the City s events. Page 3 of 6

4 8. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS. A. PUBLIC HEARING 2014 BUDGET (FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.) Director Sarvis asked for input from citizens or groups on items they would like to see included in the City s 2014 budget. Another public hearing on the preliminary 2014 budget will be held at the November 20 meeting, and adoption of the budget is scheduled for the December 11 meeting. Mayor Irish opened the discussion of the City s 2014 preliminary budget to public comment at 7:49 p.m. STEVE WORKMAN, 1985 E. HEITMAN CIRCLE, LA CENTER. He recommends the highest possible reserve setup for the sewer budget as well as a reserve for equipment maintenance in the future. PETER LOEB, 1810 E. BARLETT COURT, LA CENTER. He would like allocation for speed limit signs and speed bumps where appropriate in the City. CATHY MCCARTY, 651 E. 15TH CIRCLE, LA CENTER. It would be nice to have an activity center staffed with volunteers for La Center teens. Right now, there is no place for them to go. Mayor Irish pointed out that the next meeting of Education Service District 112 Drug Free Communities Mentoring Grant Coalition would be a good place to discuss this subject, and invited Ms. McCarty and anyone else who is interested to attend and perhaps volunteer. Councilmember Luiz mentioned groups he is involved in as well regarding the youth in the community and invited her to participate in those. Mayor Irish closed the discussion to public comments at 7:57 p.m. Councilmember Thornton thanked the citizens for their comments and input. B. PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED INCREASES TO SEWER RATES. The City is considering increases to its sewer rates to cover increases in sewer utility operating costs, provide resources for capital repair and replacement, and to pay debt service (which is now paid by the Reserve Fund). After an overview of options by Paul Lewis, Councilmember Thornton thanked him for working with the City these past several months. Mayor Irish then opened the discussion up to public comments at 8:07 p.m. STEVE WORKMAN, 1985 E. HEITMAN CIRCLE, LA CENTER. The sewer rate increases since 2006 have been considerable. The budget reserves should be protected to pay off the debt. The sewer rates should be looked at on a oncea-year basis. Page 4 of 6

5 CANDI IRISH, 1653 E. HERITAGE LOOP, LA CENTER. A monthly increase of $5 is a very reasonable amount for everyone to pay to maintain La Center s award-winning, state of the art treatment plant which was designed for growth. The City should no longer have to subsidize the costs. Mayor Irish closed the discussion to public comments at 8:12 p.m. Discussion ensued among Councilmembers wherein various rate increase amounts were s well as duration periods (including the effects of the Cowlitz sewer extension and growth of the city) or to continue utilizing the Reserve Fund to subsidize the debt. MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER CARMONA SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS TO INCREASE THE SEWER RATE BY $6 A MONTH ANNUALLY FOR A DURATION OF THREE YEARS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE 2014 PRELIMINARY BUDGET. Motion failed for lack of a majority vote. MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER LUIZ TO INCREASE THE SEWER RATE BY $5 A MONTH ANNUALLY FOR A DURATION OF THREE YEARS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE 2014 PRELIMINARY BUDGET. Motion died on the floor for lack of a second. MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER LUIZ AND CARRIED BY MAJORITY TO INCREASE THE SEWER RATE BY $5 A MONTH ANNUALLY FOR A DURATION OF FIVE YEARS AND REVIEWED EVERY TWO YEARS PER ORDINANCE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE 2014 PRELIMINARY BUDGET. A second public hearing on the proposed increases to the sewer rates will be held at the November 20 meeting. 9. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA None. 10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 11. NEW BUSINESS None. Page 5 of 6

6 12. ADJOURNMENT. Meeting was adjourned at 8:39 p.m. Mayor James T. Irish Suzanne Levis, Finance DirectorClerk Page 6 of 6