MINUTES OF THE 10/11/07 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
135 East Johnson Avenue, Chelan, Washington
PRESENT: Mayor Witherbee; Councilmembers Harper, Lingard, Morehouse, Olsen, Papé-Miller, Rodionoff and Weldy; Administrator Fonfara, Attorney Galbraith, Clerk Liles.
Mayor Witherbee called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA
Weldy reported that Councilmember Olsen could not attend tonight’s meeting and had asked that his absence be excused. Weldy moved to approve an amended consent agenda reflecting
Olsen’s request as follows:
1. Approve Payroll Warrants No. 27428 – 27535 totaling $153,458.23 and Claims Warrants No. 58853 – 58942 totaling $427,892.82;
2. Approve Minutes of 9/27/07 City Council Meeting;
3. Adopt Ordinance No. 2007-1345 adopting a City Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan for 2008 – 2014 and related elements; and
4. Excuse Councilmember Olsen’s absence from the 10/11/07 City Council meeting.
Seconded by Papé-Miller, motion passed unanimously.
REGULAR AGENDA
CHELAN VALLEY PLAYERS’ FUNDING REQUEST: Fonfara reported that the Chelan Valley Players is asking the City to contribute $306 towards the total cost of $918 to install permanently affixed numbers on the seats at the Performing Arts Center. The Lake Chelan School District is expected to contribute an equal share of the cost, and the Chelan Valley Players will pay the remaining $306.
Chris Czerniak, Secretary of the Board of the Chelan Valley Players, reviewed the information she’d provided in her 10/3/07 letter of request.
Responding to an inquiry from Mayor Witherbee, Fonfara explained that the contribution, if approved, would come from 2% stadium funds.
Rodionoff moved to support an expenditure of $306.00 to cover a portion of the cost of installing numbers on seats at the Performing Arts Center and to amend the City’s 2007 Budget for that purpose. Seconded by Lingard, motion passed unanimously.
LAKE CHELAN TOURISM PROMOTION GROUP REPORT: Fonfara provided a brief history of the Lodging Tax Funds Agreement between the City and the Tourism Promotion Group (TPG), noting that the current agreement expires 12/31/07. Fonfara said the Group has done a good job of marketing/promoting Chelan per the scope of the Agreement, and he intends to present an agenda bill for consideration of renewing the Agreement to Council on 10/25/07.
Dave Weldy, City liaison to TPG; Clint Campbell, TPG Vice President; Barb Watkins, TPG Treasurer; Roni Freund, TPG Administrative Assistant; Mike Steele, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director; and Jayne Payne, Chamber of Commerce Event Promotion Manager, provided a report on TPG/Chamber activities during the past year and plans for next year.
PUD RELICENSING – STAKEHOLDERS POSITION PAPER: Fonfara explained that the Lake Chelan Stakeholders Group (LCSG) is requesting the City’s endorsement of a position paper LCSG prepared for insertion into the “Recreation Resources Management & Implementation Plan” prepared by the Chelan County Public Utility District (PUD) for submittal to FERC as part of the Lake Chelan Hydroelectric Project re-licensing process. Richard Uhlhorn, representing LCSG, reviewed the Position Paper and explained why it is being submitted. Michelle Smith, PUD Licensing and Compliance Manager, countered with the PUD’s position as related in her 10/10/07 letter to Mayor Witherbee. There followed lengthy discussion on both sides of the issue with comments and questions from the Mayor and City Council and additional information from Uhlhorn and Smith. Also commenting were: PUD Commissioner Ann Congdon, who said she isn’t opposed to the Position Paper, but would advise Council against endorsing it without first checking its accuracy; Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mike Steele, who noted that although he hasn’t yet read the Position Paper, its summary statement lists the Chamber as one of the entities endorsing it; and audience member Bob Eier, who spoke in support of the Position Paper.
Papé-Miller moved to endorse the Lake Chelan Stakeholders Group Position Paper to be submitted to the Chelan County Public Utility District and FERC in response to the Utility District’s Recreation Resources Management & Implementation Plan for License Article #407 of the Lake Chelan Hydroelectic Project, contingent upon deletion of the first paragraph of the summary section of the Position Paper. Seconded by Weldy, motion passed 4-3 with Papé-Miller, Weldy, Harper and Lingard voting aye and Morehouse, Olsen and Rodionoff voting nay.
SENIOR CENTER PROJECT: Fonfara advised that the primary source of funding for the new senior center is anticipated to be a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Fonfara briefly described the CDBG program and said that a public hearing will be held during the 10/25/07 Council meeting to advise citizens regarding the availability of CDBG funds. Fonfara introduced Cal Jordan, who was hired by the City to assist in the planning, design layout and grant funding for the project. Jordan described the planning process, including an assessment of the existing facility’s shortcomings and needs for the new center as determined by surveying seniors. Jordan then presented the plan for the new facility, explaining that it was selected by seniors from three options he’d prepared and presented for their evaluation. During his presentation, Jordan entertained Council questions about the plan and the grant application process.
PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR JOB DESCRIPTION AMENDMENT: Fonfara reminded Council that Papé-Miller had recommended adding “Resource Conservation Coordinator” to the Parks & Recreation Director job title and changing the position’s job description to include related responsibilities. Papé-Miller explained why she felt there was a need for a City employee with responsibility for resource conservation. She reported that she’d learned at the Sustainable Communities Conference that most Resource Conservation Coordinators have a parks and recreation background, so many small towns combine the Resource Conservation Coordinator and Park and Recreation Director positions. She said that since the City’s Parks and Recreation Director position is currently vacant, this would be a good opportunity to make the change.
Harper asked how the recommended change would fit in with the City’s recruitment process for filling the vacant Parks & Recreation Director position. Fonfara explained that the recruitment process has been underway for some time, so the recommended change would require re-advertising and that would delay the hiring process. Discussion ensued, with most Councilmembers expressing support for the concept proposed by Papé-Miller, but opposed to any delay in the current recruitment process. Consensus was to take no action on the recommendation at this time.
At 9:50 p.m. Council meeting recessed so that the Mayor and Councilmembers could participate in the regular meeting of the Lake Chelan Airport Board. Council meeting reconvened at 9:51 p.m. following adjournment of the Airport Board meeting.
COUNCIL REPORTS/COMMENTS
LINK TRANSIT: Olsen confirmed that he would represent City of Chelan at a special Link Transit meeting on October 16, 2007, where the current composition of the Link Board will be reviewed. Olsen said he saw no need for a change in the Board’s composition at this time.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: Harper reported that the Public Works Committee discussed a proposal from the Chelan River and Isenhart Irrigation Districts and said that the Public Works Director would be presenting the proposal to City Council later in the month.
LEOFF I COMMITTEE: Rodionoff said he intends to continue to serving as the City’s representative on the LEOFF I Committee.
PLANNING COMMISSIONER RECOGNITION: Rodinoff recommended that the City honor Rich Thompson in some way for his years of service as a Planning Commissioner. At the Mayor’s request, the City Clerk agreed to order a plaque to be presented to Thompson.
LAKE CHELAN STAKEHOLDERS GROUP POSITION PAPER: Lingard said he voted to endorse the Lake Chelan Stakeholders Group Position Paper in the hopes that it would help keep some options open, but he did not appreciate having to make yet another last minute decision.
SISTER CITY: Weldy reported that the Lake Chelan School Board would like City of Chelan to strengthen its Sister City relationship with Kato City. Weldy explained that each of the three cities that merged to form Kato City had sister city relationships with U.S. cities, and the School Board is concerned that Chelan may be phased out if those other cities have a more active relationship.
TOURISM PROMOTION GROUP: Weldy said he intends to give up his position as the City’s liaison to the Tourism Promotion Group at the end of the year and would like to see his alternate take his place.
WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE: Papé-Miller reported attending a Water Quality Committee meeting in the past week and expressed disappointment in attendance since only three citizens were present. She said there is a need to get more people involved.
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES: Papé-Miller said that Chelan is way behind when it comes to planning for sustainability. She will share information she obtained at the Sustainable Communities conference
There being no further business, meeting adjourned at 10:08 p.m.
Approved by City Council October 25, 2007
Prepared by:
Linda Allison-Liles, City Clerk