MINUTES OF 9/13/07 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
135 East Johnson Avenue, Chelan, Washington
PRESENT: Mayor Witherbee, Councilmembers Harper, Lingard, Morehouse, Olsen, Pape-Miller, Rodionoff and Weldy, Administrator Fonfara, Attorney Galbraith, Clerk Liles, Planning/Community Development Director Gildroy, Finance Director Grant.
Mayor Witherbee called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA
Pape-Miller moved to approve the consent agenda as follows:
1. Approve Payroll Warrants No. 58659 through 58769 totaling $417,230.90 and Claims Warrants No. 27185 through 27311 totaling $172,869.31; and
2. Minutes of the 8/23/07 City Council Meeting.
Seconded by Weldy, motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC INPUT
RICHARD UHLHORN & KEN DULL – TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS: Uhlhorn and Dole, representing the Trails Committee of the Lake Chelan Recreation Development Foundation, asked the City to support trail improvements the Committee is proposing to meet recreation requirements of the license issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the Public Utility District’s continuing operation of the Lake Chelan Hydroelectric Project. Uhlhorn invited Councilmembers to attend a Chamber of Commerce meeting at 4:00 p.m. on 9/17/07 where Committee members will review their proposal. At Councilman Harper’s request, Uhlhorn promised to provide Council with a timeline of the FERC compliance process as it relates to the trails project.
BOB GOEDDE – FALL IN LAKE CHELAN: Goedde, representing the Chelan Valley Automotive Tourism Group, expressed appreciation for the assistance public works employees and law enforcement officers provided in support of the “Fall in Lake Chelan” event held the weekend of September 8, 2007.
AL LORENZ – SIGN PROLIFERATION: Lorenz, 6 Riverview Cemetery Road, complained about the proliferation of signs along Highways 150 and 97A in Chelan County’s jurisdiction. Lorenz said that the signs are giving the area a “trashy, junky” appearance and that most violate Chelan County’s sign code. Lorenz asked City Council and citizens to contact Chelan County Commissioner Buell Hawkins or the county code enforcement office to urge enforcement of the sign code. Mayor Witherbee suggested that the Department of Transportation may have some leverage under the Scenic Highways Act. Lorenz confirmed that 97A is a designated scenic highway and said he believes DOT could be an ally in the effort.
LARS CLAUSEN – COUNCIL APPRECIATION: Clausen, 214 East Chelan, said that through his recent involvement in local issues and politics, he’d developed an appreciation for the work the Mayor, City Council and City Administrator do week in and week out. Clausen said he feels privileged to live in Chelan, and he thanked Mayor Witherbee, the Councilmembers and Administrator Fonfara for their service to this community.
REGULAR AGENDA
APPLE BLOSSOM CENTER PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT: Councilman Morehouse reported that he’d met with the Mayor, City Administrator and City Attorney just before this Council meeting and was advised to recuse himself from further consideration of PacLand, Inc.’s application to amend the Apple Blossom Center Planned Development District. Referring to a letter dated 9/5/07 from Daniel Dimmit to Council requesting Morehouse’s recusal based on the Appearance of Fairness Doctrine, Morehouse denied Dimmit’s allegation that he had verbally assaulted City staff in an effort to exert influence on this issue. Morehouse also complained that the letter should not have been distributed to Councilmembers since it introduces fact and argument relating to the Defender’s of Small Town Chelan.
Morehouse asked that Council delay consideration of the proposed amendment because (1) he’d received Dimmit’s letter only the day before and hadn’t read the letter in its entirety until a few minutes before this Council meeting and (2) Council hadn’t been given enough time to review all the agenda bill exhibits. Morehouse then moved to delay a decision on the Apple Blossom Center Planned Development District until the City Council meeting of 9/27/07. Motion died for lack of second.
Morehouse then said he would recuse himself from further consideration of the amendment, but first wanted it known that he objects to participation in this matter by Mayor Witherbee and Councilman Olsen. Asked to state the basis for his objection, Morehouse said it relates to “prejudgement and failure to comply with the Municipal Code.” Morehouse then exited Council Chambers.
Mayor Witherbee opened the Closed Record Hearing on PacLand Inc.’s application for amendment of the Apple Blossom Center Planned Development District and, following the “Mayor’s Script” set forth as Exhibit F to Agenda Bill 02-039L, determined that the Council now sitting was empaneled free of any conflict of interest or appearance of fairness objections. Planning/Community Development Director Gildroy then presented the Planned Development District Amendment request, complete hearing record and Hearing Examiner’s recommendation to City Council. At the conclusion of his presentation, Gildroy responded to Councilmember Pape-Miller’s request for clarification of building size restrictions in the the Warehouse Industrial zone. There being no further comments or questions, Mayor Witherbee called for a motion. Harper moved to adopt the Hearing Examiner’s findings, conclusions and recommendation concerning the Apple Blossom Center Planned Development District Major Amendment as the decision of the Council and to instruct the City Attorney to prepare the appropriate ordinance for presentation to the Council at its September 27, 2007 meeting. Seconded by Rodionoff, motion passed unanimously.
At 8:32 p.m., immediately following the motion pertaining to the Apple Blossom Center Planned Development District, Councilmember Morehouse was summoned and did return to Council Chambers and resume participation in the meeting.
REGIONAL PLANNING GRANT APPLICATION: Planning/Community Development Director Gildroy encouraged Council to support a joint City/County application to the Washington State Office of Community Trade & Economic Development for a $125,000 GMA regional planning grant. Gildroy explained that the grant would fund a collaborative study/analysis of urban and rural growth and land use to develop a regional vision for the whole Chelan watershed basin and a land use plan for the water and sewer district service area boundaries, Chelan Falls, Howard Flats and the Manson urban growth area. Rodionoff moved to authorize Mayor Witherbee to sign a letter of support for the City of Chelan/Chelan County joint application to the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development for a GMA planning grant. Seconded by Harper, motion passed unanimously.
PETTY CASH RESOLUTION AMENDMENT: Finance Director Grant recommended adding a checking account to the City’s existing petty cash system to facilitate payment of refunds. Grant reported that the State Auditor has no objection and the Council Finance Committee supports the change. Harper moved to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 07-1176 amending Resolution No. 06-1157 and authorizing an additional petty cash fund. Seconded by Rodionoff, motion passed unanimously.
2008 BUDGET CALENDAR: Administrator Fonfara presented the proposed 2008 Budget Calendar, saying it meets Washington State budget requirements for code cities and is consistent with the budget review process the City has followed over the past three years. Morehouse moved to accept the 2008 City Budget Calendar as presented. Seconded by Olsen, motion passed unanimously.
DATE OF 2008 RETREAT: Administrator Fonfara reported that three Councilmembers had asked that next year’s retreat date be set several months in advance to avoid scheduling conflicts. At Fonfara’s recommendation, Rodionoff moved to schedule next year’s Mayor/Council Strategic Planning Retreat for Saturday, August 23, 2008, and Sunday, August 24, 2008. Seconded by Morehouse, motion passed unanimously.
COMMUNITY LAND TRUST PROGRAM: Administrator Fonfara introduced Paul Palumbo and Sue Garrood, representing the Lake Chelan Community Land Trust (LCCLT). Fonfara explained that LCCL is a private, non-profit, community based, 501(c)(3) organization interested in identifying partnerships with other organizations, including the City of Chelan, in an effort to create affordable housing in the Chelan Valley. In addition, LCCL is working with several local governments and non-profit groups to apply for a Washington State Growth Management Act planning grant to determine how land use, zoning and development regulations could be modified to promote more affordable housing. Palumbo and Garrood reiterated information provided to Council as Exhibits #1 and #2 to Agenda Bill 07-070 and then heard Council comments and answered Council questions.
Fonfara noted that he had issued a memo on 9/12/07 revising the suggested motion set forth on Agenda Bill 07-070. At Fonfara’s recommendation, Weldy moved to direct the City Administrator to explore partnership opportunities with the Lake Chelan Community Land Trust to support affordable home ownership in the Lake Chelan area and to direct Mayor Witherbee to sign a letter of support for a Washington State Growth Management Act Planning Only Grant to be submitted by the Columbia Valley Housing Association. Seconded by Rodionoff, motion passed unanimously.
At 7:58 p.m. Council meeting recessed to permit the Mayor and City Councilmembers to participate in the regular meeting of the Lake Chelan Airport Board. Council meeting reconvened at 7:59 p.m. following adjournment of the Airport Board meeting.
COUNCIL REPORTS/COMMENTS
SR 150 LANE RECONFIGURATION: Pape-Miller said she’d read Public Works Director Vanepp’s report stating there had been a lot of positive feedback for the SR150 lane reconfiguration test, but she’d been hearing negative comments from Manson residents. Pape-Miller asked VanEpps if he’d heard from these people. VanEpps said he’d heard no adverse comments concerning the lane reconfiguration.
TOURISM PROMOTION GROUP: Weldy reported that the Lake Chelan Tourism Promotion Group would like to make their annual presentation to Council on 10/11/07. Administrator Fonfara said he’d let Weldy know.
SIGN PROLIFERATION: Weldy said he appreciates Al Lorenz’s letter to the editor of the Lake Chelan Mirror concerning the proliferation of signs along Highways SR150 and 97A and would like City Administration to prepare a letter in support of that effort. Weldy said that if the signs don’t comply with the County’s sign code, the County should be pressured to enforce. Council concurred.
LINK TRANSIT: Asked by Pape-Miller if he would be representing the City of Chelan at the special Link Board meeting at 4:00 p.m. on October 16, 2007, Olsen said that he would.
TOURISM PROMOTION GROUP, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CITY WEBSITES: Morehouse complained that the Lake Chelan Tourism Promotion Group isn’t keeping their website current – the last promotion listed is dated May 7; that the job listing section of the Chamber of Commerce website lists no jobs, indicating that there are no job openings in this city; and that the City of Chelan website is one of the worst city websites. Morehouse said there is a need to improve these websites.
SIGN PROLIFERATION: Morehouse said he’d received citizen complaints about sign code violations on Highway 97A in the area where Performance Glass used to be, including a jet ski being used as a sign and several sandwich board signs, some encroaching on the right of way.
There being no further business, meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
PREPARED BY: DATE APPROVED BY ATTEST:
CITY COUNCIL:
_______________________ ___________________ __________________________
Linda Allison Liles Jay Witherbee
City Clerk Mayor