**DRAFT**

 

                                                                        Budget Workshop

A Budget Workshop was held at 6:00 pm on Tuesday November 24, 2009 in the Council room at City Hall, Tonasket Washington.

 

Those present were Mayor Walter and Councilmembers Fancher, Griffin, Maden and Ramsey. City Clerk Treasurer, Alice Attwood was also present.

 

The Hotel/Motel Funds were discussed and the 2010 Budget items. Each Department head request was discussed.

 

A proposed salary schedule was presented to the Mayor and Council that would consist of a beginning salary and progressive increases for each full time position in the City. This will be discussed further at a later date.

 

There was discussion on the health care coverage of each employee that will increase $47.83 per each employee per month.

 

The question was asked if the Cemetery Trust Fund principal can be spent. The City Clerk will find out from Attorney Howe.

 

The request from Chief Burks for a part time Police Clerk was discussed.

 

The Budget workshop was adjourned.

 

                                                                        Regular Meeting

The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Tonasket was held on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 7:00 pm in the City Hall, Tonasket, Washington.

 

Those present were Mayor Walter and Councilmembers Fancher, Griffin, Maden and Ramsey who joined in the flag salute. 

                                                                        Approval of Minutes

It was moved by Griffin and seconded by Fancher to approve the minutes of the previous meeting and the Budget workshop that was held November 9, 2009. Motion carried.

                                                                        Scott Furman

Scott Furman, County Assessor, was in attendance to answer questions regarding setting the tax levy. Mr. Furman explained the basics of how the taxes are determined and the various taxing districts. The Mayor and Council thanked Mr. Furman for attending the meeting.

                                                                        Vugteveen/Phone

Councilmember Vugteveen was out of town but joined the meeting by phone for the discussion on the ad valorem taxes and the following budget discussion.

                                                                        Final Budget Hearing

This meeting has been advertised as the Final Budget Hearing on the 2010 Budget. Mayor Walter opened the public hearing. It was moved by Griffin and seconded by Ramsey to approve the following distributions from the hotel/motel funds for 2010:

Tonasket Airport Improvement Club                   800.00

            Tonasket Rodeo Club                                        2250.00

            Garlic Festival                                                      500.00          

            North Country Car Club                                     600.00

            Tonasket Chamber of Commerce                        800.00

            TVBRC                                                            4000.00

            Promo. of Tonasket @ NW Aviation Conf.      800.00

            Coulee Corridor Publication                              600.00

                                                                     Total      10350.00

Motion carried.

 

It was moved by Fancher and seconded by Griffin to approve the increase of $47.93 per employee per month for health care coverage. Motion carried. Ramsey voted no.

 

It was moved by Fancher and seconded by Ramsey to approve the continuation of $30 per employee per month for the Deferred Comp Program or employees can use towards their families health care coverage. Motion carried. Maden voted no.

 

It was moved by Griffin and seconded by Ramsey to approve payment of $500 to the Okanogan County Transportation and Nutrition Program. Motion carried.

 

It was moved by Griffin and seconded by Ramsey to approve payment of $1000 to the Okanogan County Transportation Bus Replacement Program. Motion carried.

 

The Public Works requests were reviewed and voted on. Item #1, the 3% cost of living increase was deferred until another time.

 

It was moved by Maden and seconded by Griffin to approve the following items from the Public Works Department Request:

2)           32 UV Lamps and 32 Quartz sleeves

           Price: $2,500.00 plus tax and freight

3)           Clean and Inspect lower and upper Reservoirs

            Price: $5,700 plus tax

4)           Sweeper Repairs

           Price: $550.00 plus tax and freight

5)           Cat Backhoe—Two tires

           Price: $1,080.00 plus tax

6)           John Deere Lawn Mower—2 Tires

           Price: $220.00 plus tax

7)           1984 Chevy Pickup—2 Tires

           Price: $400.00 plus tax

8)            5/8 hose for irrigation at old cemetery---700’

            Price: $420.00 plus tax

9)            12 Work shirts and 4 hats

             Price: $267.71 plus tax

10)         Hustler 3 bag 12 bushel bagger with blower

             Price: $2,451.54

11)         Grind 10 stumps at History Park

              Price: $1800

13)        Consider budgeting money each year to purchase a new street 

             Street sweeper

14)         Heaters for Pool---Price: $8,500 plus tax and freight. Installation (not

              sure on that price. Only if other heaters quit.)

Motion carried.

 

The Police Department Requests were discussed. The Police Department’s request for the 3% raise will be deferred at this time.

 

It was moved by Ramsey and seconded by Fancher that a part time police clerk will not be hired at this time. Motion carried.

 

It was moved by Ramsey and seconded by Maden to accept the following line item figures:

            Uniforms and Clothing              1500.00

            Office and Operating                            5000.00

            Fuel                                                      8500.00

            Small Tools and Minor Equipment         2000.00

Professional Service                              1000.00

Technological Services              3000.00

Communications                                   5200.00

Travel Expense                         1600.00

Advertising                                             300.00

Insurance                                              8400.00

Utilities                                     4000.00

Misc, Training and court Costs  1500.00

Repairs and Maintenance/Veh. 4500.00

Repairs and Maintenance/Fac.    500.00

LEOFF I Medical                                 1500.00

Booking and Jail Fees                         30000.00

Prisoner Medical                                  1200.00

Dispatch Service                                 15000.00

Motion carried.

 

In City Hall requests the request for a 3% raise will be deferred at this time.

 

It was moved by Griffin and seconded by Fancher to approve the purchase of cash receipting software in the amount of $6000 and utility billing software in the amount of $8000. Motion carried.

                                                                        Plumb/Park Tables

Mayor Elect Plumb was in the audience and stated the park needs the picnic tables and that the city needs to take care of the parks. After further discussion it was moved by Griffin and seconded by Fancher to allow the use of some of the Hirst Foundation Funds to repair the two picnic tables in the amount of $1000 plus tax and freight. Motion carried.

 

The Mayor closed the budget hearing portion of the meeting.

                                                                        Public Comments

There were no public comments given from the audience.

                                                                        Mayor Elect Plumb

There was discussion that at the previous meeting the Mayor had asked Mayor Elect Plumb to work with Chief Burks on the internet details for the computers in the police cars. This will be done.

                                                                        Ordinance #670

It was moved by Griffin and seconded by Fancher to adopt Ordinance #670 setting the tax levy for 2010 allowing a 1.63% increase. Motion carried.  Ramsey voted no.

                                                                        Ordinance #673

It was moved by Maden and seconded by Griffin to adopt Ordinance #673. Motion carried. Ordinance #673 is a budget amendment ordinance.

                                                                        Bonaparte/Meeting

Councilmember Ramsey reported on the Bonaparte Creek Landowners meeting she attended. She stated there was discussion regarding obtaining a planning grant to plan for possibly installing sewer lines in the Bonaparte Creek area. There was also discussion that Bonaparte Creek needs to be cleaned up again. There is garbage and mattresses along the creek.

                                                                        EECBG Grant

Mayor Walter reported the cities of Tonasket and Oroville have been awarded the EECBG Grant for the Bioenergy project for setting up a Revolving Loan for persons to purchase energy efficient heat sources.

                                                                        Winterfest Activities

It was moved by Griffin and seconded by Maden to allow the use of the City Hall for the book sale and the Day Park for the Winterfest Activities. Motion carried.

 

                                                                        Candy Cane Purchase/Gerhard Funds

It was moved by Fancher and seconded by Ramsey to allow the purchase of candy canes from the Gerhard Funds for the children at the Winterfest Activity. Motion carried.

                       

                                                                        CDBG Grant Application

Mark Varela, the city’s engineer, is requesting to apply for a CDBG Grant for sewer lines and water lines to be installed in the Mill Drive/Bonaparte Creek area. There was much discussion on this subject. There was a motion made by Griffin and seconded by Fancher to allow Mark Varela to apply for the CDBG funds. Councilmember Griffin withdrew the motion. A motion was then made by Griffin and seconded by Fancher to allow Mark Varela to apply for CDBG Funds for the Mill Drive/Bonaparte Creek sewer and water installation project and allow up to $5000 for the engineering services. Motion carried.

                                                                        MOU/Criminal Justice Services

It was moved by Fancher and seconded by Griffin to accept the MOU and authorize the Mayor to sing the document. Motion carried. The Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement joins the City of Tonasket with other cities to negotiate a new agreement with Okanogan County for Criminal Justice Services.

                                                                        Ordinance #674

Ordinance #674, a Budget Amendment was submitted for its first reading.

                                                                        Resolution 2009-12

Resolution 2009-12 was introduced. This resolution would adopt an Information Systems and Communications Policy as an addition to the City Personnel Policy. The City Clerk asked the Council to review for possible adoption.

                                                                        B3 Skate Park/Best of 2009

The City Clerk announced the Tonasket B3 Skate Park has been voted “Best of” for 2009 in the North Okanogan Country by the Omak Chronicle readers.

                                                                        Fireworks Display

It was the consensus of the Council to allow Jack Hughes to have his fireworks stand in the Day Park parking lot to sell fireworks for the New Years holiday.

                                                                        EMS/Old Firehall Building

There was discussion regarding the matter of possibly charging rent to the EMS District for their use of the City’s old firehall building. It was stated this is something the City should negotiate with the EMS District and Jeff Cravy, EMS Board Director, should be invited to Council along with Superintendent Pilkinton for the discussion.

                                                                       

 

 

 

Adjournment

It was moved by Griffin and seconded by Fancher to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                        ___________________________________

                                                                        Patrick Walter, Mayor

 

 

______________________________

Alice J. Attwood, Clerk-Treasurer