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Levy Lid Lift Reduced Thirty-Nine Cents by Council
by Dixie A. Walter
May 15, 2008
The May 12 council meeting was
beset by problems when the sound system refused to work. The
system, which cost
taxpayers over $10,000 several years ago, would only shriek with
feedback. After half an hour and a recess called before the
meeting, the powers-that-be decided to hold the meeting with no
microphones or speakers.
There hadn't been a problem with the system during the study
session prior to the regular meeting.
Finally a small voice activated recorder was brought out. It was the only recorder
working to get the important second reading of the fire levy lid
lift discussion on record. This levy is "permanent."
At this writing it is still unclear whether the small
recorder picked up the entire meeting since some
people sit at
one long table with the council and treasurer seated at another
table. There is quite a bit of distance between them.
Citing the state of the economy and the financial hardships
inflicted on citizens with fixed incomes
Councilmember Jim Valentine advocated strongly to reduce the amount of the levy.
He was supported by Councilmembers Rich Adams and Brenden Pierce.
When the council, after hours of debate, finally took a vote
the ordinance was amended and the levy
price lowered to $1.02 per $1000 which would put the levy at an "estimated $2.71
per $1000. The first ordinance was to raise the levy lid lift to
$1.41 per $1000 which would have an "estimated" levy rate of $3.10
per $1000 of assessed property value. A drop of 39 cents. If the
levy passes the money won't be available until April 2009, eleven
months from now.
Councilmembers Bobbi Allison and Bruce Rath voted against
lowering this latest tax. At an earlier
council meeting Pierce said Allison (who has been unemployed for several months)
couldn't afford the levy lid lift and wanted to keep the $1.41
number because it wouldn't pass. Allison denied Pierce's
statement.
Most of the meeting was taken up by discussion of the levy
lid lift leaving new business on the table for future
meetings. One issue which was not acted upon by the council was a
public hearing regarding Ordinance 2008-12, concurrency management
and impact fees.
To read the "new" language of Proposition 1 which is
supposed to be on the ballot for the primary
election of August 19 please see
Levy Lid Lift Changes
.
Big Plans on a Tight Budget...
Interim Fire Chief Bud Lucas hopes for $609,000
from the town's 2009 budget some of the funds
coming from the levy. Part of the plan included $40,000 for sleeping quarters for
two, a room with a divider, full bathroom and kitchen/kitchenette.
Valentine felt that money could be found in the budget, by cutting
meetings out of town and various other cuts he said could be made.
He also suggested wording be changed from an "all volunteer to a
full-time fire department" to "all volunteer to a part time
volunteer and part full time fire department." The town
administrator said he had already done this.
Mayor Tom Smallwood defended attending meetings saying the
town wouldn't get grants if meetings
weren't attended. He also said they had cut the general fund as far as "we
could cut it." He asked Town Administrator Gary Armstrong backed
him up saying he didn't think there were any "huge cuts" to be
made in personnel, adding, "I think the town residents will
support it [levy]."
This ordinance was nearly passed at one reading when the
council voted to skip the second reading
during the April 28 meeting. Nancy Ellis, a former council member and presently on
the civil service board, spoke at that meeting and said the issue
was too important to pass without two readings. Watch and listen
to her plea at
April 28 Council Meeting-Nancy
Ellis.
Earlier she told the council "don't
trust you."
At the same meeting former council member Bob Schaub,
currently chair of the planning commission,
also made a plea to the council asking them to consider the taxes already
placed on citizens and wondering why no options were given to the
council. Watch the video
April 28 Council Meeting-Bob Schaub
.
Rich Adams stated, once again, that all the safety
committee and council had been asking for it options
regarding the levy. The options were never given to the council Instead the
members were presented with a three-page document about the levy.
Adams pointed out that the domestic partnership documents
presented at the April 28 meeting numbered 15 pages and noted this
showed what the town's priorities are. The domestic partnership
benefits were voted down three to two.
There has been a lot of talk about purchasing a used
ambulance. Councilmember Rath thought the levy
should be left at $1.41 - one of his reasons being that the town would need a
replacement aid car. Smallwood said the "we are going to wear out
the aid van." And thought the lowest the town could go with the
levy was $1.20. Lucas told the council the town had made 18
transports last month and as yet hadn't been paid for them. He
added there had been one transport as of May 12.
Pierce asked what kind of plan "do we have" if the levy
doesn't pass. He didn't get an answer.
Since this was
published Steve Lind received a CD from town hall with the audio
of the May 12 meeting. To hear this please go to
Council
Planning Comm Packets and
click on the green link "Audio of Council Meeting of 5-12-08.
Council
Agenda and Actions
Monday April 28,
2008
Property Taxes to be Raised in "Excess" of RCW?
April
26, 2008
Preliminary agendas
are subject to last minute changes. Council meetings are held in the Community Center, 305 Center Street West, regular meetings
beginning at 7 p.m. (See raw video of council before the
April 14 meeting. Left to right at the table are Treasurer Mike Schaub
and Councilmembers Jim Valentine; Bobbi Allison; Mayor Tom Smallwood;
Councilmembers Bruce Rath; Brenden Pierce and Rich Adams. Walking around
with his back to the camera is Nick Bond, town planner.
Before Council Meeting April 14
)
Consent Agenda: Approval of
minutes from March 10, March 24 and April 14
Payroll
- 20087 through 20124 - $71,957.72
Payroll - 20125 through 20129 - $1,500.00
Claims -
- $185,888.50
$258,114.59
(Passed
four to one with Councilmember Rich Adams voting "No.")
Old Business:
A. Ordinance 2008-8
annexing certain properties adopted in Resolution 2008-B.
(West Eatonville
annexation.
(This ordinance was originally
Ordinance 2008-6. It was broken into two ordinances at the last
council meeting - Ordinance 2008-8 for the West Eatonville
annexation and Ordinance 2008-9 for North Eatonville annexation.
West annexation passed four to one with Councilmember Jim
Valentine voting "No." Rich Adams abstained from voting. This meant his non-vote was counted as a
"Yes." The North annexation passed unanimously.)
(Passed April 28 four to one with Councilmember Jim Valentine
voting "No.")
B. Ordinance 2008-9 annexing
certain properties adopted in Resolution 2008-A.
(Baublits annexation) (Passed
unanimously.)
New Business:
A. Resolution 2008-CC
authorizing the execution of consultant agreement with Morrissette
Engineering.
(Agenda Bill Authors Gary Armstrong
Town Administrator and Town Clerk Chrystal McGlone: "The Town of
Eatonville received a grant from the Transportation Improvement
Board ([TIB] for Curb, Gutter and Sidewalk improvements to Rainier
Avenue. The grant amount from TIB is $152,250. The total estimated
match for this project is $111,000. The total estimated project
amount is $263,250. Town staff has selected Jerome W. Morrissette
and Associates from the Town Consultant Roster and has negotiated
a fee from consultant services. The consultant agreement has been
submitted to TIB and has received TIB approval.")
(Passed four to one with
Councilmember Adams voting "No.")
B. Ordinance 2008-5
authorizing the mayor to extend employee benefits to employee's
domestic partners through AWC [Association of Washington Cities]
Employee Benefit Trust. (The
Association of Washington Cities Employee Benefit Trust, as the
provider of employee benefits for the Town of Eatonville has voted
to extend eligibility for coverage to domestic partners of same or
opposite sex.) (Failed.
Councilmembers, Brenden Pierce, Valentine andAdams voting "No" -
Councilmembers Bobbi Allison and Bruce Rath voting "Yes."
According to Town Clerk Chystal McGlone the town has 25 employees
who receive benefits - adding domestic partners and those 62 and
older [who may depend on an employee for sole support] would cost
taxpayers $467 per month.)
C. Ordinance 2008-10
authorizing the town to levy regular property taxes in excess of
the limitations of Chapter 84.55 RCW; setting forth the text of
the ballot resolution. (Text
of levy ballot: "Proposition 1 - Levy Lid Lift for Fire and
Emergency Services- The Town Council has adopted Ordinance
__________ concerning funding for fire and emergency services. If
approved, this proposition would fund fire and emergency services,
including the transition from an all-volunteer to a full-time fire
department. This proposition authorizes a 2009 regular property
tax increase of $3.10/$1000 assessed value. The 2009 levy amount
will be used to calculate subsequent levy limits. Should this
proposition be: Approved? Rejected?" To read RCW 84.55.050 (1) please
see
RCW
84.55.050: Election to authorize increase in regular property tax
levy
.
See Fire
Department Transports and Response times
at
Transports
.)
(This
Ordinance was a "First reading" although it wasn't publicized on
the agenda. Council voted to pass it on the first reading and
waive a second reading. After much discussion it was decided to
rescind waiving the second reading. Passed as it stands with
a second reading at the May 12 council meeting.)
D.
Resolution 2008-DD accepting
bid from Nybo Construction for Washington Avenue and Madison
Avenue improvements.
(The town solicited bids for
light and sidewalk improvements. The town opened bids April 24
with Nybo Construction being the low bidder. Town consultants
Morrissette & Associates Inc., reviewed the bids, checked
references and recommended award. The improvements will cost
$162,496.60. No other bids were included in the council packet.)
(Passed with Adams voting "No.")
Read the complete packet
- accountants payable; warrant/check register; complete text of
levy; domestic partners Employee Benefit Trust; consultants
agreement; minutes from March 10, March 24 and April 14; state
auditor's 2006 report -
http://www.s-lind.com/cpprelim42808.PDF
2006 Audit
Report...
According to a memorandum by Town
Clerk Chrystal McGlone dated April 28 over $300,000 is not
"missing money," but is
the result of "bad bookkeeping." This is "confirmed" by the
"auditor's office and Toni Nelson. The audit reports that the "The
Town did not maintain accurate and complete accounting records" in
the prior audit, and those issues have been "partially resolved"
in the 2006 audit.
Small Cities Specialist for the State Auditor's Office Toni Nelson
also made an audit report. Nelson lives in Spokane and was a
small city clerk at one time. Nelson's report states her "dates of
service" in Eatonville were May 15-17, August 30-31 and October
24, 2007.
Among her recommendations are 1) "Interfund
loan from Sewer and Electric utility funds to cover cash
shortfalls in the general fund (001), street fund (101), water
fund (401) and storm drain fund (450). 2) "Increase water utility
rates to meet utility M & O costs, plus debt service, plus future
capital needs." 4) "Obtain councilmanic loan to cover the police
vehicles purchased in 2007. This will allow for an increase in
cash. (The city did not have sufficient cash reserves to support
this expense.)"
Read clerk's memo and Nelson's "Project Report" at
Audit Memo and Report
Council
Agenda and Actions
Monday April 14,
2008
Study Session at 6:30 p.m.
April
11, 2008
Preliminary agendas
are subject to last minute changes. Council meetings are held in the
Community Center, 305 Center Street West, regular meetings
beginning at 7 p.m.
Study Session:
David Hymel will
present an
overview of the Nisqually Watershed Basin Plan
recently
completed by Pierce County Surface Water Management. Pierce County
Councilmember Roger Bush recently appointed Hymel to the Nisqually
River Basin Plan for the Storm Drainage and Surface Water Management
Advisory Board (SWAB).
Consent Agenda:
Payroll
- 20040 through 20086 - $76,204.01
Claims - 25452 through 25454 - $1,500.00
Claims -
- $115,165.91
$192,869.92
Passed four to one with Councilmember Rich Adams voting "No."
New Business:
A. Ordinance 2008-6
annexing certain properties.
(West Eatonville annexation and
North Eatonville
annexation - Baublits's property.)
(This ordinance was broken into two
ordinances - one for the West Eatonville annexation and the other
for North Eatonville annexation. West annexation passed four to
one with Councilmember Jim Valentine voting "No." Rich Adams
abstained by not voting, this meant his non-vote was counted as a
"Yes." The North annexation passed unanimously.)
B. Resolution 2008-AA
authorizing the mayor to sign a contract agreement with Puget
Sound
Collections (PSC, Inc.).
(The Town of Eatonville Municipal
Court will sign a contract with PSC, Inc. from April 15 to
continue indefinitely unless thirty days notice by either party is
given in writing of the intent to terminate the contract or a
desire to renegotiate a new contract to collect unpaid accounts.
PSC, Inc. is licensed and bonded by the state to collect accounts
assigned by the town.)
(Passed unanimously.)
C. Resolution 2008-BB
authorizing the mayor to purchase a park shelter.
(Authorizing the mayor
to sign a contract with Play Creation
for $50,913.19 which includes sales tax, installation of shelter
and US Communities discount. Millpond Park Picnic Shelter: Agenda
Bill by Town Administrator Gary Armstrong states, "The Town of
Eatonville has received a State Park Grant for Eatonville Family
Parks and one of the purchases identified in the grant is a park
shelter for Millpond Park. The Park Committee has recommended an
open timber shelter with a metal roof. This heavy timber design
fits into the background of the site and will provide needed
covered picnic area space. The purchase will be through US
Communities bid process. The purchase price includes US
Communities discount and installation by a certified installer.
Concrete slab work will be bid separately. The shelter will be
purchased out of the capital outlay line item in the general
fund.")
(Passed
unanimously.)
Covered Park
Picnic Shelter will have green metal roof.
D. Motion to authorize the
mayor to advertise for bids for shelter floor slab.
(The town wishes to pour
a concrete floor for the shelter that
extends outside the 20X40 shelter on all sides. The park site plan
also calls for a sidewalk to extend to the shelter slab. The town
will solicit bids from the Small Works Roster to accomplish this
work. The request for bids will be advertised in the Daily Journal
of Commerce. The concrete work will be paid for out of the parks
capital outlay line item in the general fund. This project is
funded by a State Parks grant.)
(Passed
unanimously.)
E. Motion to approve
personal services contracts for standby first aid response
personnel. ( Standby
personnel are Rebecca (Becca)
Atkins and Sarah Marshall. The term of the agreement is until July
31, 2008 unless mutually extended by both parties for an
additional three months. Either party may terminate the agreement
for any reason with no less than 14 calendar day notice. Standby
personnel will work at the direction of the mayor or his designee.
The standby personnel respond to first aid calls, provide general
maintenance to equipment and fire station, perform public services
and other duties as assigned. Standby time shall be defined as
eight (8) hours per day normally performed during the hours of 6
a.m. and 6 p.m. Standby personnel shall be responsible for
providing a monthly report of hours to the town. The standby work
station shall be the fire station. The town will provide necessary
working gear. Standby personnel shall be paid $125 per eight hour
shift with the first monthly payment due the last day of April and
each succeeding last day of the month.)
(Passed
unanimously.)
To see the fire department's
transport report from March 27 to April 9 which includes advanced
life
support transports please go to
Transport Report
For Fire Department
Consultant report by Bud Lucas please see
Consultant
Report
See the entire town council
packet: draft of Ordinance 2008-7 - levy tax for Emergency Medical
Services; accounts payable; warrant/check
register; animal control report; Youth Connection report;
building department activity; annexation maps and descriptions;
Puget Sound Collections contract; invitation to bid for park
shelter floor and sidewalk; power and light report; fire
department monthly report and town crew "to do" list please go
Steve Lind's site
http://www.s-lind.com/tc41408prelim.pdf
Eatonville High School Student has Say About
Political Behavior in Town...
Read the letter -
My View of Town
 Special
Council Meeting
Mayor Calls 11th Hour Meeting About Medical Services
from Chrystal McGlone
Town Clerk
March 28, 2008
The Mayor has called a Special
Council meeting for Monday March 31st at 5:30 p.m. to authorize
the
Mayor
to provide standby Basic Life
Support Personnel. The meeting will be held at Town Hall in the
courtroom.
The News Tribune will be publishing the
notice in Sunday's paper due to time restraints.
(Publisher's Note: Residents within the Town of Eatonville will
lose advanced life support services
beginning midnight
Tuesday, April 1, 2008. Below is the agenda for the special
meeting. This meeting is not announced on the town's official Web
site or the reader board at town hall.)
RESOLUTION
2008-V
A
RESOLUTION OF THE EATONVILLE TOWN COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR
TO HIRE STANDBY BASIC LIFE SUPPORT PERSONNEL
WHEREAS, The Town of Eatonville has the need to provide basic
life support
service for its citizens and the surrounding area,
WHEREAS, The Town will not receive the services of Districts 15,
17, 21, 6, and
18
for advanced life support after April first,
WHEREAS, The Town of Eatonville is in the process of advancing a
levy lid lift
to
the voters of the Town,
WHEREAS, The Town wishes to continue to provide basic life
support service
until permanent full time advanced and or life support personnel
can be hired;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Council authorize
the
Mayor or his designee to provide standby BLS personnel on a
personal services contract for the standby rate of one hundred
twenty five ($125) dollars per day.
Passed
by the Council of the Town of Eatonville at a special meeting
this 31st day
of March 2008.
Council Agenda
and Actions
Monday March 24,
2008
March
22, 2008
Preliminary agendas
are subject to last minute changes. Council meetings are held in
the Community Center, 305 Center Street West, regular meetings
beginning at 7 p.m.
Consent Agenda: Approval
of minutes from February 25 meeting and revised January 14 minutes.
Payroll
-
20002 through 200389946
- $69,703.44
Payroll - 19993 through 19997
- $214.68
Claims $158,989.76
$228,907.88
Consent agenda passed four
to one with Councilmember Rich Adams voting "No."
Old Business Added Late:
A. Resolution 2008-T
authorizing the mayor to sign a contract agreement with Harold
LeMay Enterprises, Inc. for refuse and recycling collection
service. (Passed
unanimously.)
New
Business:
A.
Resolution 2008-X
authorizing the mayor to hire a part-time bailiff for municipal
court.
Town
administrator Gary Armstrong states, as author of the Agenda Bill,
"The Town of Eatonville courts system has a need for a bailiff
during those times that court is in session. This is a new
position that is not currently filled. The Mayor and Town Judge
Thomas Faubion have identified the need for added security in and
around the courtroom. This position is also recommended by the
Washington State Courthouse Public Safety Standards. The
recommendation from Mayor and Staff is to hire a qualified part
time bailiff using a personal services agreement with the a
contract hourly amount of fifteen ($15) dollars per hour.
"Fiscal Impact: The position will be
funded with surplus court fees, fines and forfeitures. The
position is
necessary to protect and provide security for the Court Staff and
Town Hall Staff."
(Passed.)
B. Resolution 2008-Z authorizing
the mayor to purchase automated refuse containers.
Also from Gary
Armstrong is this agenda bill. "The Town of Eatonville is
currently in the process of changing its refuse collection service
to an automated system. The Town has several free litter and
customer service containers that it provides for the public to
use. These containers need to be changed to a decorative automated
container. The approximated cost of each container is $375 plus
freight and sales tax. LeMay enterprise has offered to purchase
ten of these containers with the Town purchasing fifteen
containers not to exceed cost of $7,500. LeMay enterprises will
provide free pickup of ten of these containers as a public
service."
(Passed.)
To see the "decorative automated
container" models in the town council packet please go to
Garbage Cans
- there you will find a
photo of the current town containers too.
Park Shelter Memo...
Also in the packet, a memo from
Gary Armstrong to mayor and council. "Mayor recently you asked me
about the process
necessary to purchase the Shelter for Millpond Park. The
prefabricated shelter can be purchased fro a US Communities
business without going to formal bid. The concrete floor and
border around the shelter, installion of the shelter and the
walkways will be solicited from our Small Works Roster. All the
purchases and concrete work will be paid for by the State Grant
money on a reimbursable basis. I am in the process of soliciting
bids for the concrete work and also I am soliciting costs from the
shelter supplier."
Fire Department Consultant's Report...
To read the first report from recently hired consultant Bud Lucas
please see
Fire
Consultant Report
For the complete council packet including minutes from January 14
and February 25; accounts payable; building department activity;
treasurer's report; and warrant/check register please see Steve
Lind's Web site -
http://www.s-lind.com/cpprelim32408.PDF
Planning Department Update - March 10...
by Dixie A. Walter
March 13, 2008
For those of you who have been wondering about the huge Mashell
Meadows project on the Hamilton
Property/Old Mill site here is an
explanation of the project's demise from Town Planner Nick Bond.
"Mashell Meadows:
The developer has stated to me in an email that they are no longer
pursuing the purchase of the Hamilton property. The development
permits for the site are still valid for the site for 5 years from the
date of approval. Town staff has contacted Weyerhaeuser and Quadrant
Home about the possibility of picking up this project, but we have
been told that they feel that this project has to high of a density to
be marketable in our area. They also stated that the volume of real
estate transactions in the Eatonville area is too low for their
involvement this project. Town staff will continue to pursue other
options for the resurrection of this project."
For the rest of Bond's report about other
planning projects please see
March Planning
Update
Will There
be an Empty Seat on the Council?
My View
by Dixie A. Walter
March 14, 2008
Ran
into former appointed mayor and present Councilmember Bruce Rath at
the post office the other
day. I mentioned I had
seen that his house is for sale. He said yes it was and added he was
looking forward to "not" going to any more council meetings. Rath also
confirmed he was planning a move to Seaside, Oregon.
If, indeed, Rath leaves town his council term will
need to be filled. The council and mayor choose who
fills empty
council seats. For the sake of all the citizens in this community I
sincerely hope someone with qualifications and no hidden agendas come
forward and apply for the position. This would be a good time to begin
a search for a caring, sharp, get-the-job done citizen to help get the
town back on track. We will see eventually.
For a "virtual tour" of the property please
see
Eatonville Luxury Estate (404451)
Council Agenda
and
Actions...
Monday March 10,
2008
Executive
Session - Complaints/Charges Against a Public Employee
March
7, 2008
Preliminary agendas
are subject to last minute changes. Council meetings are held in
the Community Center, 305 Center Street West, regular meetings
beginning at 7 p.m.
Consent Agenda: Approval
of minutes from February 25 meeting and revised January 14 minutes.
Payroll
-
19947 to 19946
-
$69,695.11
Claims -
25343 to 25362 - $7,837.07
Claims - $121,703.28
$199,235.46
Passed three to two with Councilmembers Rich Adams and Bruce Rath
voting "No."
New
Business:
A.
Resolution 2008-S authorizing the mayor to sign an attorney fee
agreement for personnel matters with
Eileen M. Lawrence with
Davis, Grimm, Payne & Marra.
(The client wishes to retain services of the firm...in connection
with any upcoming employment law services for 2008. All services
associated with this matter shall be covered by this agreement if
they fall outside of the time frames provided by AWC RMSA
Personnel Hotline (which covers the first hour of any personnel
matter.)
The costs for such services shall be as follows:
Eileen Lawrence - $215 per hour; Amy Plenefisch - $185 per hour; Patrick Pearce - $ 195 per hour; Selena Smith - $170 per
hour and paralegal - $90 per hour.)
(Passed unanimously.)
B.
Resolution 2008-T authorizing the mayor to sign a refuse and
recycling collection services contract with
Harold LeMay
Enterprises, Inc.
(This
contract states, "The Town agrees to sign a Contract agreement
from March 11, 2008 to March 11, 2030 subject to the terms of
agreement with LeMay Enterprises, Inc..." This would be a contract
for 22 years. During the February 25 council meeting Councilmember
Jim Valentine asked to see prior/current contracts for LeMay. Both
town administrator Gary Armstrong and Mayor Tom Smallwood said
they hadn't seen contracts. Smallwood said he hadn't "personally
read the contract" and advised the council the town would
negotiate the contract when the new "rates go through."
Valentine emphatically expressed his frustration
about the processes not be followed in town. To hear his
short, but pithy, comments please go to
My View of Town
on Steve Lind's Web site, look for the title
Another Troubled Council Meeting on March 10, 2008, the sound byte
link about this contract is easy to find and click on
the blue link.
Lind explains, in his editorial,
"Using the 2008
budget of $250,000 this contract is worth in 2008 Dollars almost $5,500,000. This I believe is the
largest contract that the Town will have ever signed. I believe
that the largest previous contract that the Town has entered into
is for the new water treatment plant at about $2,500,000 to
$3,000,000..."(Tabled
until March 24 council meeting.)
C.
Resolution 2008-U authorizing the mayor to sign a contract
agreement with Carl Bud Lucas for consulting
services for the town's fire department.
(The town
would pay Lucas $1,000 per month to make weekly reports, attend
meetings at mayor's direction, represent the town's interest
regarding fire department negotiations and would work a minimum of
40 hours per month.)
(Passed
unanimously.)
D.
Resolution 2008-V authorizing the mayor to sign professional
services agreement with Systems Design Northwest,
Inc. for ambulance billing.
(Summary
statement: "Currently the Town pays approximately $1,200 plus
wages every year for software support and the books needed to stay
current with the various laws, coding and addresses needed to
provide ambulance billing. With the ever changing laws and amount
of transports done it is more cost effective to send the billing
out."
(Passed.)
E.
Resolution 2008-W authorizing the town to continue to provide and
ambulance transport system for a fee and adopting
a revised fee schedule.
(Council is
revising the fee schedule to only bill for BLS (Basic Life
Support), ALS 1, ALS2 (Advanced Life Support) and mileage. Fees: Residents- BLS - $550; ALS 1 - $750; ALS 2 - $850;
mileage - $15. Non-residents - BLS - $670; ALS 1 -
$870; ALS 2 - $970.)
(Passed.)
Councilmember Jim Valentine made a motion to form a legislative
committee. Passed three to two with Councilmembers Bobbi Allison
and Brenden Pierce voting against the motion.
%20red-star.jpg) To
see the entire council packet: budget positions; accounts
payable; checks/warrants; transaction journal; LeMay
contract; Bub Lucas contract; ambulance services;
agreement for legal services; Eatonville Fire Department
procedure fees; Youth Connection, animal control, fire
department and mutual aid and power/light reports please go to
s-lind.com/cpprelim31008.PDF
Council Agenda
and Actions
Monday February
25,
2008
Study
Session at 6:30
p.m.
February
22, 2008
There is a very light agenda for Monday's meeting. Preliminary agendas
are subject to last minute changes. Council meetings are held in
the Community Center, 305 Center Street West, regular meetings
beginning at 7 p.m. There
is a study session this week beginning at 6:30
p.m.
Consent Agenda:
Payroll
-
19909 through 19946
-
$ 67,843.74
Claim
- $199,061.08
$266,859.82
Passed
four to one with Councilmember Rich Adams voting "No."
Study Session: Presentation
of Draft Emergency Management Plan re: disaster. This is not
about the Eatonville Fire Department and
Emergency Medical Services problems. It's about the Region 5
Hazard Mitigation Plan put together by Gaille Finley, Director,
Emergency Management for the town.
2008 Mitigation Grant
Timeline - February and March - as part of the pre-adoption review
process conduct
elected official meetings for all jurisdictions. As plans are
approved we will consider staggering the state EMD and FEMA review
process. Continue review, formatting and updating draft sections
of plan.
April - Forward all plans to state
EMD and FEMA for review.
June - Plans resolutions and
ordinances approved by chief elected officials. Plans at this
point will be
considered adopted and approved.
Note:
Timeline is subject to changes if disaster impacts the county or
if a jurisdiction is unable to complete designated tasks.
New
Business:
A Resolution 2008-R setting
the rates for refuse collection and recycling collection in the
town and repealing Resolution 2007-N. (The
town contracts services with Pierce County Refuse and the rates
charged has been changed. It is therefore necessary to change the
collection rates to add a new automated service for refuse. The
change is for $103.06 per ton as opposed to $100 per ton in 2007.)
(Passed.)
To read the entire town
council packet - accounts payable; minutes of December 10, 2007
and January 28, 2008; breakdown of garbage rates and payroll
details please see Steve Lind's Web site at http://www.s-lind.com/cpprelim22508.PDF
Council Agenda and
Actions
Monday February 11,
2008
Study
Session at 6:30
p.m.
February
8, 2008
Preliminary agendas
are subject to last minute changes. Council meetings are held in
the Community Center, 305 Center Street West, regular meetings
beginning at 7 p.m. There
is a study session this week beginning at 6:30
p.m.
Consent Agenda:
Payroll
-
19847 through 19868
-
$3,632.92
Payroll - 19869 through 19908 - $69,007.64
Claims -
25231
- $187.08
Claims
- $74,024.69
Claims
- $98,927.95 (Pivetta Brothers
Invoice)
$245,780.28
The
consent agenda was not passed on the first vote. Councilmembers Jim
Valentine, Bruce Rath and Rich Adams voted "No." Mayor Tom
Smallwood asked why they voted the way they did and Rath said that
according to the Eatonville Municipal Code the council should go on to
the next item o business. After much discussion it was decided to
remove the Pivetta Brothers bill from the claims and the consent
agenda was passed. The council then voted on paying the Pivetta
Brothers with Valentine and Adams voting "No."
Also on the consent agenda, approval of
council minutes from
December
10, 2007; January 14, 2008 and January 28, 2008.
Study Session:
Pierce
County Library Services.
New
Business:
A. Proclamation - Motion
to approve proclamation for Pierce County Library Services. (Passed
unanimously.)
B. Resolution 2008-O - Repealing Resolution 2007-RR confirming the
mayor's appointment of planning commission member William Fitzer. (Original
resolution had wrong expiration date of 2014, the amendment is to
correct the date to 2012.) (Passed
unanimously.)
C. Resolution 2008-Q
authorizing the mayor to sign a contract agreement with Sprint for
water tower use. (Sprint/Nextel
desires to enter into a site agreement to lease space on the
town's water tower located on Dow Ridge to provide cell phone
service to the town and surrounding area. The monthly contract
amount will be $950.) (Passed
unanimously.)
To
see the entire town council packet including accounts payable,
warrant/check register, minutes of three meetings and details of
Sprint/Nexter site agreement, please go to
http://www.s-lind.com/cpprelim21108.PDF
Sign Ordinance
Letter Sent to Businesses in December...
by Dixie A. Walter
January 24, 2008
A letter from Town Planner
Nick Bond, in early December, sent a message to business people in
town
telling them about the
new sign ordinance and threatening to take action against those who
didn't get permits in the past.
Bond has said the town "...completed our list of individuals who would be
required to connect to the sewer in November but wanted to wait until
after the holidays to send the notices." He explained further
during the last council meeting that the town didn't want to drop the
sewer hookup mandate on citizens because of the holidays, not wanting
to upset them at that time.
Councilmember Bruce Rath wondered
about the timing and said, "You were sending Christmas cards out around
town about the signs." And later reinforced the timing of the
sign letters, "You sent out Christmas cards to tell everybody to
take their signs down."
The sign ordinance was passed by council
October 19, 2007 and almost immediately caused conflict and controversy.
The applications also include awnings, bulletin boards, marquees, etc.
To read the letter dated December 11, 2007
and see the application forms please go to December
Sign Letter
Council Agenda and Actions
Monday January
28,
2008
Study
Session at 6 p.m.
January
25, 2008
Preliminary agendas
are subject to last minute changes. Council meetings are held in
the Community Center, 305 Center Street West, regular meetings
beginning at 7 p.m. There
is a study session this week beginning at 6 p.m.
Consent Agenda:
Payroll
-
19761 through 19804
- $68,119.06
Claims
$319,097.41
$387,216.47
Consent agenda passed after removal of $112,892.95 for Pivetta
Brothers Construction, Inc.
Study Session: Pierce
County Library and Pierce County Planning and Land Services. (Study
session canceled due to weather conditions.)
Old
Business:
A. Ordinance 2007-1
relating to school impact fees. (Taken
off agenda.) (This
ordinance regarding school impact fees was apparently misunderstood by
the council during the last meeting when it was denied. Town Planner
Nick Bond included the following in the January 26 council
packet. "ISSUE: The Town Council voted
against Ordinance 2008-2 at our first meeting in January. Ordinance
2008-4 is identical to that Ordinance and I have put it on the agenda
because the school district did not have representatives is attendance
at the January le meeting.
"When I was asked by the
Superintendant [Ray Arment] whether he needed to come testify, I told
him that this was a straight forward annual fee increase and I did not
expect any controversy. The school district did not send a
representative and the Town Council voted down the ordinance. I have
since contacted the school district and offered to put this item back
on the agenda so that they might have an opportunity to testify. I
expect them to be in attendance on the 28 th and I ask that you
reconsider this matter and accept the school districts testimony in a
public hearing. RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends that council approve
Ordinance 2008-4."
In letter
to Mayor Tom Smallwood, dated December 14, 2007 School District 404
Superintendent Ray Arment explained, "Eatonville School District
would like to request the Eatonville Town Council to consider revising
the impact fees for residential development in the town to match
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