Council Meeting Notes: Nov. 16, 2009

There were two study sessions before the regular council meeting – 5:30 pm to discuss the electrical meter deposits and 6 pm to discuss the 2010 budget. I arrived at 5:50 pm and caught the tail end of the meter discussion.

Meter Deposits

Everyone was present except Council Member Huson. Council Member Hedrick summed up the consensus as having each landlord sign an affidavit and use the same policy as Steilacoom. I don’t have details on either yet. Council Member Hunt noted that Huson was excused from this study session, but he would attend the budget discussion.

2010 Budget

Huson arrived just as the discussion got underway at 6 pm. Chief Kunkel had invited Mr. Orr, the director of LESA, to discuss their recording keeping services. Mayor Hopkins explained that he had cut the $40,000 cost for these services that the council had authorized a couple of years ago (which did not include cutting the dispatching service). Chief Kunkel explained that having LESA do the record keeping meant their department could instantly share information with other agencies (which helps solve crimes). LESA handles all public information requests. Mr. Orr outlined other advantages, such as the annual statistical reports they do for the town. The bills are based, in part, on the number of fulltime officers in the department. Mr. Orr noted that our rate would go down slightly since there are not as many fulltime officers this year. After more discussion, it appeared the council was willing to add that cost back into the budget for 2010.

The mayor announced that $31 million in new tax value add been added in Ruston over the last year, generating $50,000 more in tax revenue. The increase was primarily from the sold units at The Commencement condos and Stack Hill homes. He is still researching the revenue that will be generated by the utility taxes, in part because Puget Sound Energy is not sure what accounts they have in Ruston. He is looking into getting Ruston its own zip code so we can ensure payment from these outside vendors. He also noted that the town needs a new investment policy. He would like to have the issue addressed in the next two months. He is estimating a deficit of $145,000 (plus the LESA costs just approved).

Council Member Albertson wanted to see a trend chart for how the deficit and budget compared year to year. He also wanted to add the current fund balances to the budget. The mayor noted that with the new building services, he discovered that building permit fees had not covered the cost of the old building inspectors monthly bill. Hunt thanked the mayor for all the work he had done on the budget, and thanked Clerk Carlisle for the new budget format. Once the budget was approved for the year, she wants the council to complete a 5-year plan that includes projected revenues from Point Ruston and The Commencement.

Regular Meeting

After the flag salute, agenda approval generated some discussion. Hunt wanted to see a fiscal impact statement for Ordinance 1299 (utility taxes). The mayor was guessing it would add $60,000 to the budget. He noted the taxes would not start until February so all the utilities would have time to prepare. His research showed most municipalities were charging the 6% allowed by law, although some had gone higher with voter approval. After the discussion, the agenda was approved.

The minutes from the last study session and council meeting were approved with only Hunt adding that she was excused from the last meeting.

Staff Reports

Fire: Chief Torbet noted that all the fire fighters received the swine flu vaccine except one who did not want to be inoculated. The department had 5 calls last month, including the fuel spill call. He had one small correction to the fire department budget.

Police: Chief Kunkel said the Halloween celebration had gone well and thanked the fire department and town hall staff for their efforts. Ruston officer Joe Lawless received an award for DUI enforcement.

Public Comment

Jim Wingard noted the recent funeral for Fred Greer, who was one month shy of 100 years old. Mr. Greer had retired from the smelter and lived in the area all his life, an indicated for Mr. Wingard that the soil was fine even before remediation. He was disappointed that only Bill Walker has been allowed to comment at the EPA study session.

Sherri Forch congratulated everyone on the recent election and thanked the council members who were leaving for their service. She wanted to be sure the new light poles could be used to hang flags.

Eddie Tallman was not happy with parking on court days and suggesting paving the yard at the house next to town hall now that Ruston owned the property.

Chief Kunkel thanked Sherri for her donation of teddy bears to the police department to be used for upset kids they might encounter.

Business

1. JW Morrissett & Associates – Proposed Amendment #1: The proposal is for engineering costs through bid implementation as outlined under Option 1 in their January 29, 2009 letter. He noted the USDA loan does not pay until the project is complete, even though it has been approved. The town needs a bridge loan. The mayor reminded the council that they had turned down the terms for a bridge loan from Bank of America, where the bank required that all town investments be placed with their bank. He is hoping that USDA will also provide a bridge loan once several banks have turned them down. The amendment to the agreement with the town engineers was approved 5-0.

2. Ordinance No. 1299 – Creating a new chapter 5.10 of the Ruston Municipal Code Relating to Utility Tax Rates (Second Reading): The town attorney said this is a tax on electricity, natural gas and phone service. Hedrick confirmed no public hearing or comment was required. Hunt noted this revenue goes directly into the general fund. If the council finds they don’t need the money, they can lower the tax rate. Hedrick was uncomfortable without the fiscal impact information, but felt they needed to get it done. It was time to bring Ruston into the 21st century tax-wise. The mayor said no one wanted to do this, but Ruston not a mill town anymore. The ordinance passed 4-1 with Stebner voting no.

3. Ordinance No. 1300 – Public Hearing for Ordinance 1300 of the Town of Ruston Providing for an Ad Valorem Tax Levy for the year 2010 (Second Reading): The mayor opened the required public hearing. Only Sherri Forch commented, supporting the measure. After the public hearing was closed, the ordinance passed 5-0

4. Ordinance No. 1301- Ordinance Amending Chapter 5.01A and 5.01A.230 of the Ruston Municipal Code for Fire Inspections (Second Reading): Huson confirmed the language that excludes in-home businesses from the fire inspection requirement. The ordinance passed 4-1 with Albertson voting no.

5. Ordinance No. 1302 – Ordinance Amending Chapter 17.01A of the Ruston Municipal Code Pertaining to Residential Utility Deposits (Second Reading): The ordinance was tabled until it could be updated based on the study session discussion.

6. 2010 Budget Discussion: The mayor gave an overview of his proposal. Stebner thought the mayor had done a great job. Hedrick agreed and had some changes to suggest. Hopkins asked the council to make notes and get them to him. The 2009 budget was forecast with at $600,000 deficit. No one likes the forecast deficit for 2010 either, but at least it’s less than last year.

Claims and Payroll were approved 4-0-1 with Albertson abstaining.

Mayor’s Time
He looked at a “dark sky” light the previous night and liked it. He talked to Cohen about changing the poles on Stack Hill. The new poles will cost about $1,100 more (cost for those the town is installing).

Council Time
Stebner had nothing.

Huson thanked the mayor for the work on the budget. He thanked the candidates for a “safe and sane” election season (and no yard signs). He also thanked Stebner and Albertson for their service to the town.

Hedrick noted Officer Lawless’s award. He thanked Clerk-Treasurer Carlisle and the mayor for their work on the budget. He noted the burn rate for the town’s reserves is greatly reduced and we had a better chance to survive now until development comes on line. He said the time for SEPA appeals on Point Ruston has passed. He apologized for his clashes with Albertson in the past and thanked him for his service. He then announced he has a new baby due on May 18th.

Albertson appreciated his chance to serve. He felt he gave it his best effort and always said exactly what he thought. He urged the council to stay on top of the soils issue.

Hunt thanked the public for their votes on her re-election campaign. She was trading phone calls with her opponent, but he ran a good campaign. She noted that Albertson was one of the smartest people she had ever known and she hoped he would continue to volunteer. She congratulated Chief Kunkel for his appointment as chief.

Stebner noted that he had two more meetings, but that this was Albertson’s last meeting. Once the election is certified on November 23rd, Lyle Hardin will be sworn in.

The meeting moved into executive session to discuss personnel and litigation matters at about 8:15 pm. I left when the executive session started.