March 7, 2005 Regular Meeting

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

Mayor Vanderwall presided:

Councilmembers present:

Wes Lester
Bruce Walker
Georgia DeHaas
Brian Lorentz

Councilmembers absent:

James Zehner
Jane Kissinger

City employees present were Water Superintendent Curtiss, Chief Sedam, City Attorney Albers and Clerk Kennedy.

The meeting was called to order and the minutes of the February 22nd meeting was approved as presented by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Lorentz. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

VISITORS: Julie Schumacher and Sally Payne, representing the Grangeville Youth Baseball Program explained to the Council that the program is trying to raise money for capital projects and would like to find additional sponsors. They would like to place concrete pads under the bleachers and will plan to move home plate and the other bases farther from the backstop. They already have team sponsors for the shirts. The additional sponsors would be represented by having their name printed on a vinyl sign approximately 3’ by 4’ in size which would be hung at the four fields (providing a name for each field) during the season. These signs could be displayed daily and taken down each evening. Another option would be to have semi-permanent signs that would be posted at the fields for the entire season and then removed. Councilman Walker was personally in favor of a temporary vinyl sign. On motion by Councilman Walker, second by Councilman Lester to allow Grangeville Youth Baseball to pursue their endeavor with a temporary sign that can be removed daily. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Chief of Police Sedam summarized the monthly report, reporting that the department responded to 165 calls for service. There were 128 cases written, 40 arrests, 58 citations and 5 written warnings issued. The Police and Animal Control Report for February 2005 was accepted on motion by Councilman Lorentz, second by Councilman Lester. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

Mayor Vanderwall presented Officer Hewson with his Basic Law Enforcement Certificate. Chief Sedam explained in order to receive the certificate, Officer Hewson had to complete 511 hours at the police academy and then work in Idaho for 1 year with 40 hours of field training. Chief Sedam voiced his approval of Officer Hewson and the excellent job he has done.

The Water Leak report for February 2005 was presented and it was reported that the department repaired 9 leaks (17 year to date) and installed 2 new services.

On motion by Councilman Lorentz, second by Councilman Lester that the Snowhaven Minutes of March 3, 2005 be approved. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present. The Snowhaven Board decided the tubing hill would not open this season either.

EQUITY BUY IN FOR WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS: Mayor Vanderwall asked the Council to address when the buy in fee should be collected. Councilman Lorentz suggested as a compromise to the developer, to have the developer pay 25% down and then pay an additional 25% every two years until the total is paid. Mayor Vanderwall stated that in agreeing to work with the developer and allowing them to not pay the entire cost upfront, the City still needs to be prepared for expansion of the systems as needed. To simplify the process, it was suggested that a 25% down payment could be paid by the developer and the remaining balance due when the building permit was taken out. If the buy in is not paid in full at the beginning of the project, the remaining balance would be determined at the current cost of the buy in, with a credit for the down payment already received. On motion by Councilman Lorentz, second by Councilman Walker to have the developer pay a 25% down payment with the balance due determined at the current rate and paid when the building permit is taken out. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

Clerk Kennedy explained that she had asked the auditor if the fee needs to be in a separate fund. It was determined that the fee could be kept in the water and sewer fund but under a separate line item for equity buy in. Re-wording of the section on turnon and turnoff charges was suggested and the time changed from 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

PARKING ON SO. C STREET AND MAIN STREET: On motion by Councilman Walker, second by Councilman Lorentz to eliminate parking on C Street from South Street to Main Street and to allow one 22 foot parking space on Main Street between Ernie’s driveway and C Street with the parking space located close to the driveway. Councilman Walker made the motion for safety issues and because of the current site restrictions. Councilman Lorentz is concerned with the intersection and that it is so busy at lunch with the high school kids. Councilwoman DeHaas felt that if this intersection is restricted then other intersections on Main Street need to be addressed too. Councilman Lester felt that the area is a problem. During discussion on the grease trap and the retaining wall the Council was concerned about site restrictions. Now that there is a site restriction some feel that it should be ignored. Motion carried, Councilwoman DeHaas voting no.

Attorney Albers pointed out that this change should be in ordinance form as other areas in the City are restricted in Section 9-2-21. An ordinance will be prepared for next meeting.

CITY ZONING MAP: Hunter Edwards did not submit the map and legal descriptions as expected. Mayor Vanderwall stated that the City has been waiting for the map for two years and he would like a letter sent to Hunter letting him know that if the map is not at the next meeting, the City’s commitment is over and the City will get the map elsewhere.

SIDEWALK WAIVER REQUEST: Clerk Kennedy reported that Gerald Arnzen was suppose to drop by a sidewalk waiver request for his property in the area of impact and asked the Council if they would like to proceed with a verbal request. On motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Lorentz to grant an indefinite sidewalk waiver to Gerald Arnzen for Lot 5 of Willow Creek Properties Subdivision. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

SPRING WORKSHOP: The AIC Spring Workshop in Lewiston is on April 21st. Mayor Vanderwall plans to attend and invited any of the Council to attend also.

COLLECTION REPORT: Clerk Kennedy reported that Claudia Roberts has been collecting on write off accounts; specifically Slims Place which had a large account balance. The City has also collected on approximately $3,900.00 for the work done to tear down the house on North College and the $1,500.00 for sidewalks installed on North Idaho.

COMMISSIONERS AND AREA OF IMPACT: Mayor Vanderwall asked Attorney Albers if a Council Committee should be appointed to work with the Commissioners on items of interest in the area of impact. Attorney Albers recommended waiting until the next Council meeting as the Commissioners would have had a chance to meet and decide if that would be beneficial.

POOL REPORT: Clerk Kennedy reported that the Recreation Committee had met and had recommendations for the Council. In hopes of having guards return to the City, the Committee recommends raising the starting wage of lifeguards by $.50. The Committee also discussed Manager Lynda Allen’s salary. The Committee needed to decide whether to increase Lynda’s salary or to change her to hourly in order to conform to the amendments made in the Fair Labor Standards Act. The committee also recommends that Lynda’s salary be changed to the minimum of $455.00 per week. On motion by Councilman Walker, second by Councilman Lester to accept the recommendation of the Recreation Committee to raise the starting lifeguard wages by $.50 per hour and to change Lynda’s salary to $455.00 per week. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 P.M.


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Terry Vanderwall - Mayor
ATTEST:


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Tonya Kennedy – City Clerk