January 24, 2005 Regular Meeting

The City Council met in regular session on January 24, 2005 at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.

Mayor Vanderwall presided:

Councilmembers present:

Wes Lester
Bruce Walker
Georgia DeHaas
James Zehner
Brian Lorentz
Jane Kissinger

City employees present were Public Works Director Gortsema, Chief Sedam, City Attorney Albers and Clerk Kennedy.

The meeting was called to order and the minutes of the January 3rd regular meeting were approved as presented by Councilwoman Kissinger second by Councilwoman DeHaas. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

VISITORS: James Kimball and Frank Desroches, of J-U-B Engineering were present to review the draft report of the User Rate Study and System Development Charges for the Water and Wastewater System with the City Council. J-U-B had some suggestions for the water and sewer systems as follows:

Sewer System:
1. Change the base rate calculation so high users pay their share.
2. Increase the base rate from $14.23 to $18.20 and the overage rate from 1.97 cents/gallon to 2.8 cents/gallon.
3. Adopt a buy in fee of $2,868.12 as figured in the draft report.
4. Charge at least half the base sewer rate on accounts that are not active but connected to the system.
5. Adopt a new calculation to evaluate the base rate charge annually

Water System:
1. Add a 6% rate increase per year which allows the City to keep up with maintenance and operation increases.
2. Charge the debt retirement fee on accounts that are not active but connected to the system.
3. Charge at least half the base water rate on accounts that are not active but connected to the system.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Chief of Police Sedam submitted a 2004 Year End Report for the Council’s review. On motion by Councilwoman Kissinger, second by Councilman Lester that the 2004 Year End Report for the Police Department be accepted. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

SECTION 504 TRANSITION PLAN: On motion by Councilwoman DeHaas, second by Councilwoman Kissinger to change the target date on sidewalks to February 2005 and to then accept the Section 504 Transition Plan. Motion carried. Councilman Walker voting no.

EQUITY BUY IN FEE: Councilman Walker explained how he listened to the recommendations of the engineers and their extensive evaluation of the City’s water and sewer systems. Councilman Walker made a motion, second by Councilman Lorentz to direct Attorney Albers to draft an equity buy in ordinance, working with Jim Kimball and Frank Desroches of J-U-B Engineers, using their water recommendation of $1,540.00 per ERs (equivalent residences) with an annual adjustment included in the ordinance.

Discussion continued on the motion. Councilwoman Kissinger appreciated the figures and all the work that has gone into the study; however, she felt that $4,400.00 was too high. Councilman Zehner was in agreement with Councilwoman Kissinger. Councilwoman DeHaas felt the Council is pricing the City out of business. Developer Richard Baines felt that if the buy in was $1,000.00 and the hookup $500.00 then a total of $1,500.00 wouldn’t be too bad. Councilwoman Kissinger felt that the total fee for water and sewer should be no more than $3,200.00.

A roll call vote was taken with the following results:

Councilwoman DeHaas - Yes
Councilwoman Kissinger - No
Councilman Walker - Yes
Councilman Lorentz - Yes
Councilman Lester - Yes
Councilman Zehner - No

Motion passed.

Councilman Walker made a motion, second by Councilman Lester to direct Attorney Albers to draft an equity buy in ordinance using J-U-B Engineer’s sewer recommendation of $2,860.00 per ERs (equivalent residence) and to delete the current $1,800.00 outside City limits connection fee and change it to $500.00.

A roll call vote was taken with the following results:

Councilwoman DeHaas - No
Councilwoman Kissinger - No
Councilman Walker - Yes
Councilman Lorentz - Yes
Councilman Lester - Yes
Councilman Zehner - No

Mayor Vanderwall broke the tie voting Yes. Motion passed 4 to 3.

The ordinance will be drafted for next meeting with a public hearing in February on the proposed equity buy in fees.

CONSENT AGENDA: Councilwoman Kissinger moved, second by Councilman Lester to accept the following items as part of the consent agenda.

A. Approve the applications submitted by the following businesses for liquor license, wine and/or beer license by the drink and/or by the package pending State approval:

Askers Harvest Foods d/b/a Askers Harvest Foods
Cash & Carry Foods, Inc. d/b/a C & C Express
George McCallum d/b/a Camas Café
Chae McCallum d/b/a Camas Diner
Brenda & Doug McRoberts d/b/a Camas Lanes
Ernie’s Steakhouse LLC d/b/a Ernie’s Steakhouse & 41 Club
Cash & Carry Foods, Inc. d/b/a Grangeville Cash & Carry
BPOE #1825 Inc. d/b/a Grangeville Elks Lodge #1825
Beth & Mike Sturdevant d/b/a Grangeville Pizza Factory
Xie Quan Deng d/b/a Hong Fa
Richard & Linette Pearson d/b/a Oscars Restaurant
Ceressero Corp. d/b/a Palenque Mexican Restaurant
Cenex Harvest States d/b/a Primeland Cooperatives
Rae Brothers Sporting Goods d/b/a Rae Brothers Sporting Goods
Sunset Marts Inc. d/b/a Sunset Mart #12
Jimmie W. Henderson d/b/a The Establishment
Sue Kutner d/b/a The Gallery
Kimberly Ann Eliott d/b/a Triangle Tavern
JAPO d/b/a Zip Trip #21

B. Bills:

Payroll Fund $ 39,039.37
General Fund $ 55,662.89
Street Fund $ 28,036.54
Library Fund $ 4,197.49
Library Memorial Fund $ 843.56
Recreation Fund $ 609.75
Snowhaven Fund $ 4,452.25
Medical Insurance Fund $ 12,593.43
Water Fund $131,613.84
Sewer Fund $ 30,496.11
Sanitation Fund $ 34,307.19

C. Snowhaven Minutes – January 5, 2005

A roll call vote was duly taken with the following results:

Councilwoman DeHaas - Yes
Councilwoman Kissinger - Yes
Councilman Walker - Yes
Councilman Lorentz - Yes
Councilman Lester - Yes
Councilman Zehner - Yes

Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

BILL WILLIAMS INFORMAL REQUEST TO OPEN ELK AND COURT STREETS: Public Works Director Gortsema explained that Bill Williams would like a letter stating that Elk and Court Streets west of E street are dedicated right of way and could be opened at the developer’s expense and if there is water and sewer available to his property. Mr. Williams plans to dedicate F Street and Frontage Road (along Highway 95) and re-plat it like the original Lewiston Addition. The Streets when developed would need to meet City specifications. On motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Zehner to have Attorney Albers send Bill Williams a letter that the City is in a position to allow Elk and Court Street extensions to be opened and that water and sewer is available. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

DEBCO PAY REQUEST #5: Councilman Lorentz made a motion, second by Councilman Lester to ratify the approval of Debco’s pay request #5. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

CALL FOR BIDS ON WWTP MIXERS: Public Works Director Gortsema informed the Council that he had talked to Jim Kimball and asked whether he should proceed with the purchase of the mixers as budgeted. Jim thinks we should go forward with the purchase since it will help with the processing at the plant. On motion by Councilman Zehner, second by Councilwoman DeHaas to call for bids for the WWTP mixers as budgeted. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

SIDEWALK WAIVER FOR LARRY ALLEN: On motion by Councilman Zehner, second by Councilman Lester to approve an indefinite sidewalk waiver for Larry Allen, Tax #337, on the Mt. Idaho Road (property South of Dr. Niemi’s residence). Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

PRELIMINARY PLAT SUBMITTED BY GERALD ARNZEN: Mayor Vanderwall noted that the City has received a preliminary plat from Gerald Arnzen and asked that the Council schedule a special meeting on January 27, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. On motion by Councilwoman Kissinger, second by Councilman Lester to schedule a special meeting on January 27, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. for the purpose of an executive session. A roll call vote was taken with the following results:

Councilwoman DeHaas - No
Councilwoman Kissinger - Yes
Councilman Walker - Yes
Councilman Lorentz - Yes
Councilman Lester - Yes
Councilman Zehner - Yes

Motion carried.

ITEMS TO NOTE: A copy of the RC&D Minutes of December 23, 2004 were distributed to the Council.

The Council received copies of the Walco Tonnage Reports for July 2004-December 2004.

The City is sponsoring a coffee break at the IRWA Conference for $200.00 out of Public Works Director Gortsema’s budget.

Public Works Director Gortsema supplied additional informational handouts on the Nez Perce Water Rights Settlement.

The meeting adjourned at 9:40 P.M.
_________________________________
Terry Vanderwall - Mayor
ATTEST:

_________________________
Tonya Kennedy – City Clerk