MINUTES OF 02/08/07 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

135 East Johnson Avenue, Chelan, Washington

PRESENT:  Mayor Witherbee, Council Members Morehouse, Olsen, Harper, Weldy, McCulley, Rodionoff, Administrator Fonfara, City Attorney Galbraith, Interim Clerk Lingle, Public Works Director VanEpps, Community Development Director Gildroy.  Absent: Council Member Pape-Miller.

Mayor Witherbee called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

CONSENT AGENDA

Weldy moved to approve the consent agenda as follows:

1.  Approve Payroll Warrants No. 25751 through 25819 totaling $122,426.30

     Approve Claims Warrants No. 57363 through 57443 totaling $153,148.00

2.  Approve Minutes of 11/21/2006, 12/14/2006 & 1/11/2007 regular City Council Meeting

3. Approve Council Member Pape-Miller's excused absence for February 8, 2007 Council           meeting.

Seconded by McCulley, motion passed unanimously.

VISITORS/PUBLIC INPUT

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN CHELAN ASSOCIATION:   Libby Manthey, 7400 Navarre Dr., spoke on behalf of the Historic Downtown Chelan Association.  Manthey reported the National Trust Main Streets Conference is to be held in Seattle March 25 - 29.  Manthey also reported that on April 27 a State Board from the State Historic Trust Association will be doing a walking tour of the downtown and visiting many of the historic buildings. 

LAND USE:  Mike Stowe, 223 E Nixon, updated Council on the progress a recently assembled group of Chelan citizens have made in support of  Council decisions on land use. 

REGULAR AGENDA

CRYSTAL CREST:  Mayor Witherbee introduced the Closed Record Public Meeting explaining the meeting is to consider the recommendation of the Hearing Examiner to approve, with conditions, the preliminary plat of Crystal Crest, a 17 lot residential subdivision.  Council will be asked to make a decision based upon the information and evidence presented at the Open Record Public Hearing before the hearing examiner and no additional evidence or information may be presented.  Mayor Witherbee addressed the appearance of fairness with Council and the public.  Council Member Weldy advised he had discussed the entry and exit onto Hwy 150 with Dan Hodge.  Hearing no objections, the Closed Record Public Meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m.

Community Development Director Gildroy provided background information.                         

Morehouse and Rodionoff expressed concern for dust control during the excavation of this area.  Gildroy advised this issue was addressed in the recommendations of the Hearing Examiner.

Charles Worthing, 3020 County Rd., Malaga, advised the major excavation was completed in 2005.

The Closed Record Public Meeting was closed at 7:21.

Weldy moved to adopt the hearing examiner's findings of fact and conclusions of law by Resolution No. 2007-1166 on the preliminary plat of Crystal Crest.  Seconded by McCulley, motion passed unanimously.

LEGACY RIDGE:  Mayor Witherbee introduced the Closed Record Public Meeting explaining the meeting is to consider the recommendation of the Hearing Examiner to approve, with conditions, the preliminary plat of Legacy Ridge, a 94 lot residential subdivision with 3 large open space tracts for storm ponds, open space & pool areas on approximately 60 acres of land located west of Crystal View Estates.  Council will be asked to make a decision based upon the information and evidence presented at the Open Record Public Meeting before the hearing examiner and no additional evidence or information may be presented.  Mayor Witherbee addressed the appearance of fairness with Council and the public.  Council Member Weldy advised he had discussed the entry and exit onto Hwy 150 with Dan Hodge.  Hearing no objections, the Closed Record Public Meeting was called to order at 7:22 p.m.

Community Development Director Gildroy provided background information.

Rodionoff expressed concern with safety issues involving the intersection.

There was no public comment.

The Closed Record Public Meeting was closed at 7:31.

McCulley moved to adopt the hearing examiner's findings of fact and conclusions of law by Resolution No. 2007-1167 on the preliminary plat of Legacy Ridge.  Seconded by Rodionoff, motion passed unanimously.

BID AWARD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FARNHAM STREET BOOSTER:  Public Works Director VanEpps reported the Farnham Water Booster Station has been designed to address current and future fire flow needs in the South Chelan area.  A tabulation of the bidders was provided to Council prior to the council meeting. The bid opening for this project consisted of four bids ranging from $527,742 to $571,320 with Pipkin Construction being the lowest bidder.  The budget was significantly underestimated for this project and a budget amendment will be needed as the project moves forward.

Council discussion followed.

Rodionoff moved to award the Farnham Street Booster Project to Pipkin Construction in the amount of $527,742 including tax and authorize staff to prepare a budget amendment to include additional construction cost and developer cost sharing revenue. Seconded by Harper, motion passed unanimously.

ORDINANCE AMENDING CMC 10.48.030 REDUCING THE SPEED LIMIT ON PORTIONS OF SR97A:  Public Works Director VanEpps advised in coordination with the installation of the traffic signal at the intersection of 97A and Apple Blossom Drive, both WSDOT and city staff recommend a reduction of the speed limit in this area from 45 mph  to 30 mph.  The recommendation also includes a transitional reduction of speed from 50 mph to 45 mph between milepost 235.71 near the concrete plant to the east city limits. 

McCulley moved to adopt Ordinance No. 2007-1331 amending section 10.48.030 of the Chelan Municipal Code reducing the speed limit on certain portions of State Route 97A and establishing an effective date.  Seconded by Morehouse, motion passed unanimously.

AMENDMENT TO LAKE CHELAN AIRPORT JOINT OPERATING AGREEMENT - STATUS REPORT:  Administrator Fonfara reported that the City has been working with Port of Chelan County to amend the Lake Chelan Airport Joint Operating Agreement  at the request of the Federal Aviation Administration/FAA.  In June of 2006, the FAA advised City and Port that the sponsorship section of the Joint Operating Agreement was not in conformance with FAA Guidelines.  City and Port legal counsel have been collaborating with FAA to amend the agreement in a manner acceptable to the FAA.  Fonfara expects to bring this item back to Council sometime within the next month for consideration of approval. 

No action was taken.

At 7:53 p.m. Council meeting recessed to allow the Mayor and Council Members to participate in the regular meeting of the Lake Chelan Airport Board. Council meeting reconvened at 7:54 p.m. following adjournment of the Airport Board meeting.

                                                  REPORTS/COMMENTS

HARPER:  Reported on the Public Works Committee meeting where General Facilities Charges, Farnham Booster Station, parking on Lakeside and new garbage trucks were discussed. 

RODIONOFF:  Advised he was reelected as Chairman of the Solid Waste Advisory Council.  Expansion of the solid waste landfill and the burning ban was discussed at the last meeting of the Solid Waste Advisory Council. 

Rodionoff commented on the letter received from Spectrum Eye Care regarding the chronic parking problem in the downtown area.

MCCULLEY:  Reported parking issues and amending parking ordinances to limit overnight parking at Lakeside Park was discussed at the Safety Committee meeting. 

WELDY:  Commented on the letter from Nathan Scott at Spectrum Eye Care regarding the chronic parking problem.       

Weldy expressed hope that the City, PUD and Chamber could work together to keep Chamber restrooms open year round.

Weldy commended Chelan community for a great recycling effort.

Weldy asked status of new street sweeper.

MOREHOUSE:  Asked status of lowering the speed limit on Hwy 97A in the area of the Public Works office. 

MAYOR WITHERBEE:  Advised that local seniors will be taking a field trip to City of Wilbur on February 23 to view the new Senior Center designed and constructed by the same architect/contractor that was nearly unanimously endorsed by the seniors at a recent meeting. LINK is providing a special bus for this purpose.

Olsen moved to adjourn the regular meeting and go into executive session to discuss pending litigation to last no longer than 45 minutes.  No action will be taken.   Seconded by Rodionoff, motion passed unanimously.

At 8:17 p.m. Mayor Witherbee and Council Members adjourned to executive session.

The regular meeting reconvened at 9:10 p.m. following adjournment of the executive session.

There being no further business, meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

________________________________                         _____________________________

Patricia Lingle, Interim City Clerk                                     Date Approved by City Council