Council Meeting Notes: Sept. 21. 2009

Here's what I found interesting at the last meeting. Be sure and attend yourself for the full scope.... Karen

The meeting began at 7 pm with all the elected officials present. After the flag salute, the agenda was approved after business item 3 was removed (proposed weight restriction on the new Baltimore Street). The minutes from the last meeting were approved 4-0-1 with Albertson abstaining.

Staff Reports
Police: Chief Kunkel outlined his various recent meetings and training. He noted the crew from Remman Hall will be out again this Saturday to paint curbs. Officer Nicholas caught two suspects in Ruston that had been hitting car washes along the I-5 corridor. The coroners report was finally done for the death in the condos on Pearl. The death has been determined to be from natural causes.

Council Member Stebner wanted to know how much portable scales would be for enforcement of commercial traffic codes. Kunkel said they were expensive and extensive training would be required to enforce these codes. Stebner said he heard gunshots again last weekend and called 911 this time.

Fire: 8 calls came in during August, 2 fire related (that turned out not to be fires) and 6 medical aid. Chief Torbet attended a summit on the H1N1 flu virus. The biggest challenge is getting people to believe this is a serious threat. The experts are estimating 30 to 50% of the population will contract this flu, which is a combination of 4 different types of flu. The best way to fight this is to wash hands often and stay home when sick.

Public Comment
JJ McCamment gave an update on the Point Ruston project. They have spent $1 million on design and preparation for the LID improvements. The cost for the LID has risen from $11 million to $14 million, mostly on water and power improvements. They hope to get the sewer line installed this fall, but will probably have to wait until spring.

Two lenders have offered them terms, so financing is starting to flow again – good news for the project. Their suggestion for weight restrictions on the new Baltimore Street was only to limit truck traffic through the residential neighborhood, not as a cost savings despite Stebner’s concerns.

Point Ruston will be hosting two groups in October. The Cascade Land Conservatory will be volunteering at the ferry/sales center and they will host a group from the national Brownfield conference at the model home on Stack Hill.

Don and Beth Torbet reported hearing gunshots last weekend as well and estimated about 20 shots. Don wondered if there was a way for the town to put information on their web site to answer questions when these situations arise so folks are not left wondering or afraid. Kunkel said there was no problem in Ruston that night.

Business
1. Discussion of increase of engineering costs for Mo Fesharaki: Mo estimates the additional time to redesign the 12 poles on Pearl Street to include flags (but not flower baskets) will be $450. The poles will also cost more money. Council Member Hunt handed out an example of a potential flag.
2. Ordinance 1295 – Adopting Building Permit, Plan Review and Building Department Services Fee Scheduled (Second Reading): Stebner was concerned that Ruston was going to charge $90 to inspect sprinkler systems when Tacoma was already doing the same inspection. The line item for this charge was removed until it could be researched further and the ordinance passed 5-0.
3. Removed from the agenda.
4. Resolution 455 – USDA: Several corrections were made to the ordinance. Hunt outlined the meeting she, Stebner, the mayor and the town attorney had attended with USDA. USDA presented a 9-page letter of requirements for accepting the loan, which generated many questions. She was satisfied that this was a good move for the town. She suggested the town hire someone to track the paperwork on the project. The mayor did not think it was a necessary expense since it was a single project with a single contractor. Albertson wanted to be sure the contract made it very hard for any change orders. The town attorney said any change orders would still be paid from the loan. The agreement requires that the town continue to put $26,000 per year into the sewer reserves. The resolution passed 5-0.
5. Proclamation –October Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Passed 5-0.

Claims and Payroll
Passed 3-1-1 with Stebner voting no and Albertson abstaining.

Mayor’s Time
Mayor Hopkins is excited about the new accounting software. It will allow the utility bills to be paid on-line. Residents will be able to get their bill and town newsletter electronically and view their bills for the last 24 months. There is a onetime licensing fee of $2,000 and then $55 per month (plus an 18 cent charge for each credit card transaction). He thanked Hunt for her work learning the new system. There will be training on Oct. 6th. The new system will give the clerk more flexibility to create more detailed reports.

The town needs to think about garbage collection with the new larger buildings opening soon like The Commencement. The current containers and how they are collected may not serve the town’s needs for much longer.

Curb painting will start at 10 am Saturday on N. 49th – anyone and everyone welcome. The community center has a fully functioning kitchen now; thanks in part to Kevin Moser’s help hanging cabinets and other help. The mayor is still hoping to start holding meetings in the new space by Nov. 1st. The council can then look at a system to rent the space out for events.

He noted the change in dynamics around town now that the new high school is open at Point Defiance. Not to judge all teenagers, but maybe a neighborhood watch might be in order. He thanked the council members for their personal time given to projects like the sewer upgrade. The USDA will present a ceremonial large check to the town at a special meeting soon, probably attended by someone from Norm Dicks office.

Council Time
Stebner wanted to confirm the town would not allow any blogging on the town web site. The mayor said he wanted to add some human interest stories to the town web site to make it more interesting. Stebner said he is not in favor of any tax increases, even though the council is considering a variety of potential increases.

Huson, Hedrick, Alberston and Hunt had no further comment.

The meeting adjourned about 8 pm.