MINUTES OF 04/26/07 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

135 East Johnson Avenue, Chelan, Washington

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

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

CONSENT AGENDA

Rodionoff moved to approve the consent agenda as follows:

1.  Approve Payroll Warrants No. 26108 through 26197 totaling $124,254.34

     Approve Claims Warrants No. 57654 and 57768 through 57845 totaling $253,825.05

     Warrant No. 57803 Void

2.  Approve Minutes of 4/12/2007 Regular City Council Meeting

3.  Set Tait Annexation Public Hearing Date for May 10, 2007

Seconded by Weldy, motion passed unanimously.

VISITORS/PUBLIC INPUT

REGULAR AGENDA

APPOINTMENT TO FILL VACANT CITY COUNCIL POSITION #4:  Mayor Witherbee reviewed the guidelines established at the April 12 City Council meeting  for the selection of a new Council Member to fill the position vacated by Bernice McCulley.  It was determined letters of interest from citizens would be accepted through April 20, 2007.  Five letters were received by April 20 and one on April 23.  Council agreed to consider the letter of interest received April 23. 

The following citizens submitted a letter of interest:

            George Lingard                               329 High Point Place

            Bob Eier                                          1076 E Johnson Avenue

            Tanya Greenfield                             144 Long Drive

            Mike Cooney                                   203 Orchard View Drive

            Ben Higgins                                      506 W Woodin Avenue

            Micheal Steele                                   808 W Highway 150 Condo #304D                                        

Each applicant addressed Council providing background experience and knowledge which they would bring to Council if chosen for the position. 

Morehouse moved to appoint Mike Cooney.  Motion died for lack of second.

Harper moved to adjourn to executive session to discuss the qualifications of each applicant. Seconded by Rodionoff.  Mayor Witherbee recessed the regular meeting at 7:30 for a period not to exceed 15 minutes.  No decisions or voting would be made during executive session.

Meeting reconvened at 7:45.  Morehouse moved to appoint Mike Cooney to fill the unexpired Council Position #4.  Seconded by Weldy, motion tied 3-3 with Pape-Miller, Weldy and Morehouse voting aye and Harper, Olsen and Rodionoff voting nay.  Mayor Witherbee chose to break the tie voting nay.  Motion failed 3 to 4.

Harper moved to appoint George Lingard to fill the vacant Council Position #4.  Seconded by Rodionoff, motion passed 4 to 2 with Weldy and Morehouse voting nay.

George Lingard was sworn into office by Mayor Witherbee.

ALTERNATE MAYOR PRO TEM:  MayorWitherbee advised Council the Alternate Mayor ProTem position was previously held by Council Member McCulley and was now vacant.  Witherbee asked Council to appoint a new Alternate Mayor ProTem. 

Harper moved to appoint Council Member Steve Olsen as Alternate Mayor ProTem.  Seconded by Rodionoff, motion passed unanimously.    

PROCLAMATION FOR LIBRARY EMPLOYEES:  Mayor Witherbee honored long time Chelan Librarians Lou Verellen and Kara Rock by proclaiming April 26, 2007 as a day of recognition for their efforts to make the Chelan Library such a great place to learn about the many wonders of the world.

PINGREY PARK PROPOSED MURAL:   Parks & Recreation Director Erickson advised the Chelan Rotary Club is requesting approval of a mural to be located on the western face of a retaining wall on Woodin Avenue across from the Forest Service Office.  Approval of the mural would exempt the Rotary Club from sign permit requirements. 

Scott McKellar of the Rotary Club provided additional information and answered Council questions. 

Morehouse moved to approve the mural as presented for the face of the retaining wall in Pingrey Park provided that the Rotary Club and its representatives comply with Department of Labor & Industries standards for the painting process and that indemnity agreements and insurance requirements are provided to the City prior to work commencing and ascertaining the mural is consistent with the current mural program.  Seconded by Rodionoff, motion passed unanimously.

SEASONAL CONCESSION AGREEMENT - INNAMORATA:  Parks & Recreation Director Erickson requested Council to authorize Mayor Witherbee to enter into a concession agreement with Scott Logan of the Innamorata for dinner cruises at the Lakeshore Marina.  Erickson advised that this operation is included in the 2007 anticipated revenues.  The agreement was reviewed and approved by the Finance and Recreation Committees.    

Harper moved to recommend approval of the Seasonal Concession Agreement with Scott Logan of the Innamorata.  Seconded by Lingard, motion passed unanimously.

SEASONAL CONCESSION AGREEMENT - RSI Sports:  Parks & Recreation Director Erickson requested Council to authorize Mayor Witherbee to enter into a concession agreement with RSI for watercraft rentals at Lakeshore Marina.  Erickson advised that this operation is included in the 2007 anticipated revenues.  The only significant change in the 2007 proposed agreement is the term of the agreement from a one year agreement to three one year agreements.  After meeting with the Finance Committee, a 3% annual escalator to account for inflation was added to the base rate for each year of the agreement.   The agreement was reviewed and approved by the Finance and Recreation Committees.   

Rodionoff moved to recommend approval of the Seasonal Concession Agreement with RSI Sports.  Seconded by Harper, motion passed unanimously.

FEE RESOLUTION:  Parks & Recreation Director Erickson advised staff discovered some omissions in fees including Athletic Field Use Fees, Athletic Team Sponsorship and Athletic Field Outfield Banners.  Staff believes the fees were inadvertently deleted from the fee resolution last year during the 2007 budget process and recommends adding the fees back into the resolution at the rate they were deleted.  Erickson also recommended adding a replacement fee for wristbands provided to RV Park registered guests that are lost or misplaced.

Erickson advised RV Park rates for 2008 need to be set to allow for preparation of promotional materials prior to the nine month reservation window.  Erickson recommended no rate changes for 2008.

Harper moved to amend the fee resolution to include the Athletic field Use Fees, Banner Program Fees, Program Sponsorship Fees and Wristband Replacement Fee and set the rates for the Lakeshore RV Park for the 2008 season as presented.  Seconded by Morehouse, motion passed unanimously.

CONSIDERATION OF TREE ORDINANCE:  Parks & Recreation Director Erickson requested approval of a tree ordinance.  A tree ordinance provides guidance to the Parks Department for the care, maintenance and pruning of publicly owned trees.  The ordinance is one of the requirements of the 2006 DNR Grant accepted by Chelan.  This is also one of the four requirements of the Tree City USA program.  The City will be fulfilling the remaining three requirements later this year. 

Rodionoff moved to approve the City Tree Ordinance No. 2007-1333.  Seconded by Harper, motion passed unanimously.  

APPROVAL OF DON MORSE PARK MASTER PLAN:  Administrator Fonfara advised during the 2005 budget process Council approved funding for the development of Master Plans for Lakeside Trail and Don Morse Park.  Robert W. Droll, landscape architect, was selected as the consultant for both projects.

Droll provided a detailed presentation and slide show depicting the proposed changes at the Don Morse Park.  The 20 year plan was the result of community input from the three Core Group meetings and three Public Workshops held between June 2005 and December 2006. 

Lengthy Council and citizen discussion, comments and questions followed.

The following citizens provided comment on the proposed Don Morse Park Master Plan:  Bob Eier, 1076 E Johnson; Clint Campbell, 301 W No See Um; Stan Morse,  219 Center Street; Libby Manthey, 7400 Navarre Dr.; Kathy Moorehead, 117 S Robinson; Russell Miller, 225 E Trow.

Harper moved to approve the Don Morse Park Master Plan as presented.  Seconded by Olsen, motion passed 4-3 with Morehouse, Pape-Miller and Weldy voting nay.

SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM GRANT:  Community Development Director Gildroy advised the City's Shoreline Master Program is required to be updated by 2013.  Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) is accepting grant applications for shoreline master plan updates.    Chelan County has approached cities within the county to participate in a grant application to include all jurisdictions within Chelan County.  Gildroy asked Council to provide a grant application letter of support for the Chelan County Shoreline Master Program Update Grant Application.

Pape-Miller moved to authorize Mayor Witherbee to sign the letter of support for the Chelan County Shoreline Master Program Update Grant Application.  Seconded by Rodionoff, motion passed unanimously.

LAKESIDE TRAIL SECTION J GRANT ACCEPTANCE:  Public Works Director VanEpps explained the County recently approved a grant request for $90,000 to be applied  to Segment J of the Lakeside Trail leaving an amount of $112,911 to appropriate to proceed with the project.  VanEpps proposed the appropriation be made in the Street Construction Fund.

Lengthy Council and citizen discussion, comments and questions followed.

The following citizens provided comment on the proposed Segment J of the Lakeside Trail:  Stan Morse, 219 Center St.; Scott McKellar, 119 Water St.; Eloise Harle, 2120 Terrace; Dixie Baker, 2025 Terrace; John Anderson, 2037 W Woodin.

Weldy moved to appropriate $112,911 from the Street Construction Fund to match $90,000 in grant funding from Chelan County to construct an alternate Segment J of the Lakeside Trail.  Seconded by Pape-Miller, motion passed unanimously.

SALARY CLASSIFICATION STUDY AMENDMENT-PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER:  Administrator Fonfara reminded Council at the April 12 City Council meeting the initiation of a year-round parking enforcement program was approved.  Based on this action, Council was asked to adopt a resolution amending the City's Salary/Classification Study to establish a Parking Enforcement Officer position. 

Morehouse moved to adopt Resolution 07-1171 amending the City of Chelan Salary/Classification Study adopted July 13, 2000.  Seconded by Rodionoff, motion passed unanimously.  Weldy absent.

PARKING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT:  Administrator Fonfara advised following a discussion at the April 12, 2007 City Council meeting regarding a proposed amended ordinance, two sections were deleted including the Lakeside Neighborhood Residential Parking Permit and one-way only streets from Water Street north at Highway 97A and west on Terrace Avenue to Center Street.  Based on direction from Council, Fonfara introduced the following proposed amendments to the City's Municipal Parking Code:

v  Day parking only from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Lakeside Park including Terrace Avenue between Johnson Place and Center Street and Johnson Place between Woodin Avenue and Terrace Avenue.  (Fine amount - $50.00 and vehicle towed away.);

v  Day parking only from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the parking lot located behind City Hall.  (Fine amount - $50.00 and vehicle towed away.);

v  Two (2) hour parking only on South 3^rd Street area adjoining Ruth Pingrey/Chelan Rotary Park.

Harper moved to approve Ordinance 2007-1334 amending various provisions of the Chelan Municipal Code to improve and regulate parking with the City.  Seconded by Morehouse, motion passed unanimously.

COMP TIME POLICY FOR EXEMPT/MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES:  Administrator Fonfara presented a proposal to consider amending the city's existing comp time policy for exempt/management employees.  Fonfara explained the city's current comp time policy states that exempt employees are not eligible to accrue or use comp time.  The Exempt Employees Comp Time Policy would cover six employees including the Finance Director, Parks & Recreation Director, Planning Director, Public Works Director, Assistant Public Works Director and City Clerk. 

Rodionoff moved to approve the proposed amendment to the Personnel Policies Chapter 2 Section 3.2 to permit comp time for exempt/management employees as presented.  Seconded by Morehouse, motion passed unanimously.

GARBAGE TRUCK PURCHASE:  Public Works Director VanEpps explained replacement of a garbage truck is scheduled for this year.  Research conducted by staff, working with the Public Works Committee, indicates that an automated pickup system would provide significant economy by using one person rather than two for garbage collection and will reduce strains and injuries.  VanEpps advised that the $190,000 budgeted for this purchase represents the accumulated amount associated with the purchase of a conventional manual load system.  An additional $32,670 would be required for the automated system.  VanEpps recommended the additional appropriation be borne by the Equipment Rental Fund and be reimbursed with an adjustment to the future sanitation contribution schedule.  In addition, Chelan could benefit by "piggybacking" onto a contract the City of Olympia has established with Western Peterbilt for the automated system being considered.

Brief Council discussion followed including questions of funding for special cans required for the automated system.  VanEpps assured Council appropriations of $150,000 for purchase of the cans was included in the 2007 budget in anticipation of moving forward with the automated system. 

Weldy moved to authorize the purchase of a garbage truck through the City of Olympia cooperative purchasing agreement in the amount of $222,699.28.  Seconded by Harper, motion passed unanimously. 

At 11:15 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 11:16 p.m. following adjournment of the Airport Board meeting.

                                                  REPORTS/COMMENTS

MOREHOUSE:  Morehouse commented on the Don Morse Master Plan.  Morehouse referred to previous studies examining concerns/issues of the Don Morse Park including reference to an aquatic center for the community.

RODIONOFF:  Rodionoff advised that a letter was included with the warrants from the Teen Center expressing their "heartfelt thanks" for support of the Teen Center.

LINGARD:  Lingard commented on the Don Morse Park Plan and the decision by Council to alter the Section J of the Lakeside Trail Project.

WELDY:   Weldy received an inquiry from Don & Gwen Early on the status of parking/no parking signs to be installed on the blue lamp posts in downtown Chelan. 

PAPE-MILLER:  Pape-Miller commented on a letter from Lake Chelan Recreation Development Foundation listing concerns for safety and recommendations for improvements of safety and maintenance of the baseball fields. 

Administrator Fonfara reminded Council of a special workshop meeting on Thursday, May 3, with the Chelan County Commissioners regarding joint planning issues.  

Rodionoff moved to adjourn the regular meeting.  Seconded by Olsen.                        

There being no further business, meeting adjourned at 11:25 p.m.

________________________________                         _____________________________

Patricia Lingle, Interim City Clerk                                     Date Approved by City Council