MINUTES OF THE 11/20/07 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

135 East Johnson Avenue, Chelan, Washington

PRESENT:  Mayor Witherbee; Councilmembers Harper, Morehouse, Papé-Miller, Rodionoff and Weldy; Administrator Fonfara, Clerk Liles, Finance Director Grant, Planning/Community Development Director Gildroy, Public Works Director VanEpps. EXCUSED ABSENCES: Councilmembers Lingard and Olsen.

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. 27712 through 27785 totaling $107,603.39 and                              Claims             Warrants No. 69126 through 69197 totaling $332,157.29; and

            2.         Excuse Absence of Councilmembers Harper & Olsen from the 11/15/07 special                            Council meeting and Councilmember Lingard from the 11/20/07 regular Council                                     meeting.

Seconded by Weldy, motion passed unanimously.

PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION

Dr. Richard Thompson was recognized for his service to the community as a member of the City of Chelan Planning Commission from1994 through most of 2007.

REGULAR AGENDA

2008 CITY BUDGET:  Mayor Witherbee introduced a public hearing on the City’s 2008 Preliminary Budget by stating that City Council had reviewed the Preliminary Budget at workshops on November 8, 14 and 15 and had held a public hearing on November 15 to determine 2008 revenue sources. The Mayor explained that the purpose of this evening’s hearing was to review changes made to the Preliminary Budget since it was initially submitted and to receive any additional public comment on the Preliminary Budget.

The Mayor then declared the public hearing open and called for the staff report.             Grant   and Fonfara reviewed changes made to the Preliminary Budget since it was initially submitted. Following the staff report, the Mayor called for public comment. There being none, the Mayor called for Council comments and questions. There being none, the Mayor           closed the public hearing.

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CEMETERY DISTRICT 4 ANNEXATION:  Gildroy reported that Chelan County Cemetery District No. 4 has submitted a Notice of Intent to Commence Annexation and is asking the City to initiate an alternate direct petition method annexation as provided under RCW 35.14.120. Gildroy explained that Chris Hansen, representing the Cemetery District, was present at this meeting to fulfill the requirement that the petitioner meet with City Council. Gildroy provided a map indicating the area proposed for annexation and presented the staff report, including Council’s role at this meeting and the next step in the annexation process.  

Rodionoff moved to accept the annexation petition submitted by Chelan County Cemetery District #, to require that the annexation area assume its share of the City’s indebtedness and to stipulate that the zoning of the annexation area shall be in accordance with the pre-annexation zoning map.  Seconded by Harper, motion passed unanimously.

SR 150 LANE RECONFIGURATION: VanEpps briefly explained as follows: the City’s Traffic Enhancement Plan includes reducing the number of lanes on SR150 between Columbia Street and Gibson Avenue from the existing configuration of two lanes in each direction to a single lane in each direction separated by a two-way left turn lane. User concerns prompted the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to test the planned reconfiguration by restriping that stretch of the highway for a period of time prior to final implementation of the change. Jennene Ring, Maintenance/Traffic Engineer for WSDOT’s North Central Region, requested this opportunity to report to the City on test results.

Ring and Assistant Traffic Engineer David Kieninger then distributed and reviewed  WSDOT’s written report entitled “SR 150 – Chelan, 4-Lane to 3-Lane Re-stripe” and heard Council comments/answered Council’s questions.

TOURISM PROMOTION GROUP AGREEMENT:  At the recommendation of the City Administrator, Rodionoff moved to approve the Lodging Tax Funds Agreement with the Lake Chelan Tourism Promotion Group for a five year period from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2012, and to authorize Mayor Witherbee to sign the Agreement as presented.  Seconded by Papé-Miller, motion passed unanimously.

LAKEVIEW DRIVE-IN GROUND LEASE:  At the recommendation of the City Administrator and City Council Finance Committee, Rodionoff moved to approve the 2007 Addendum to the Lakeview Drive-in Ground Lease for 2008 and 2009 business operations and to authorize Mayor Witherbee to sign the Addendum as presented. Seconded by Papé-Miller, motion passed unanimously.

STATE ROUTE 97-A SPEED LIMIT AMENDMENT:  VanEpps reported that the speed limit was reduced on SR97-A on the east end of town when the traffic signal was installed at the intersection of Apple Blossom Drive and SR97-A. Since then, the City and WSDOT have been monitoring traffic flow in that area and have determined that increasing the speed limit is warranted. VanEpps provided a map indicating the original, existing and proposed speed limits

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on SR97-A from mile post 235 to milepost 236.53.

Papé-Miller said that a lot of drivers entering the city from the east exceed the current speed limit and she is afraid they will drive even faster if the speed limit is increased. Following brief discussion, WSDOT Maintenance/Traffic Engineer Jennene Ring said she would investigate.

Morehouse moved to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 07-1348 amending Chelan Municipal Code 10.48.030 to increase the speed limit on certain portions of SR 97A. Seconded by Rodionoff, motion passed unanimously.

At 8:00 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 8:01 p.m. following adjournment of the Airport Board meeting.

COUNCIL REPORTS/COMMENTS

EXCUSED ABSENCE:  Council consensus was to excuse Councilmember Morehouse’s absence from the Special City Council meeting of 11/15/07.

MEETING CANCELLATION:  Papé-Miller moved to cancel the regular City Council meeting scheduled for December 27, 2007 to avoid conflict with holiday plans. Seconded by Morehouse, motion passed unanimously.

There being no further business, meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m.

PREPARED BY:                         ATTESTED:                               DATE APPROVED BY COUNCIL:

______________________    _____________________      _________________________

City Clerk Linda Allison-Liles  Mayor Jay Witherbee

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