TOWN OF CATHLAMET

January 19, 2010

COUNCIL MEETING

CALL TO ORDER – Mayor George Wehrfritz

The regular council meeting for the Town of Cathlamet was called to order by Mayor George Wehrfritz at 7:02 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19, 2010.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL – Clerk/Treasurer Tina Schubert

Present: Council Members Bob Rendler, Walter Wright, David Goodroe, Ruth Doumit, Steve McNicholas and Mayor George Wehrfritz. Absent: 0

Also present were Town Attorney Thomas Doumit, Clerk/Treasurer Tina Schubert, Gray & Osborne, Inc. engineer Ken Alexander, Public Works Superintendent David Vik, Wahkiakum Eagle reporter Rick Nelson, Assistant Fire Chief Fred Johnson, EMS Lieutenant Beau Renfro, Librarian Connie Christopher and members of the public.

ADDITIONS, CORRECTIONS, DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA

VOUCHER REVIEW COMMITTEE

1. Voucher Review Committee Report – Ruth Doumit and David Goodroe reported no errors and accepted the vouchers as presented.

2. The Voucher Review Committee for the February 16, 2010 meeting consists of Bob Rendler and Steve McNicholas. Walter Wright will be the alternate.

CONSENT AGENDA

Council Member Bob Rendler noted that the December 21st Minutes did not state that the vote to approve the contract with the LCEDC was 3 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstention. Council Member David Goodroe had abstained from the vote due to a conflict on interest.

Council Member David Goodroe noted that the December Minutes did not include the swearing in of Council Member Steve McNicholas.

Motion to approve the amended Consent Agenda made by David Goodroe, second by Bob Rendler. The consent agenda consists of the Minutes of December 21, 2009 Regular Meeting, Payroll for December in the amount of $13,670.40, EMS Stipends for December 2009 in the amount of $2,641.20; Vouchers for December 2009 in the amount of $53,620.00 and Voucher for January 2010 in the amount of $68,192.91. With no additional changes to the consent agenda the motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

MAYORS REPORT

Mayor George Wehrfritz told the Council that Planning Commission Chairman Fred Johnson, whose term expired on December 21, 2009, had asked him to delay the appointment of his successor until the completion of the Zoning Ordinance. The Mayor noted that the Planning Commission had been working on this project for some time and that he felt it would be beneficial to keep Mr. Johnson on the Commission and approved his request.

Mayor Wehrfritz said that he had met with Northern Star LNG representatives Peter Hackett and Scott Peterson on January 15, 2010. The Mayor said that the meeting, which had occurred at the request of Northern Star, gave him an opportunity to ask several questions that pertained to the Town of Cathlamet. Mayor Wehrfritz told Northern Star that the Town had not been represented in the "needs assessment" which had taken place although the final report had listed the Town as having taken part in it, he requested that the Town be included in all communications between Northern Star and Wahkiakum County and said that he would like to observe the planned Emergency Response Plan negotiations between Northern Star and the county which were to be held on January 21st. There were no comments from the Council regarding his report.

CITIZEN’S PARTICIPATION

Citizen George Exum of Puget Island asked if Assistant Fire Chief Fred Johnson had entered into a non-disclosure agreement with Northern Star and if so, did the Town authorize it and does the Town have copies of the agreement. Mr. Exum then asked what benefit the LNG plant would have on the Town. Mr. Johnson responded that he had never signed a non-disclosure agreement with Northern Star, but rather a Waterway Suitability Agreement and that he has given the Mayor a copy of the agreement. Mr. Johnson went on to say that he personally has never had a private discussion with Northern Star, but that the Fire Department Chiefs have been in meetings with Northern Star.

Mayor Wehrfritz told Mr. Exum that he has not seen the non-disclosure agreement, so he did not know who had signed it. Mr. Johnson responded that there is a large box that contains the agreement at "the office".

CURRENT PROJECTS REPORT

G&O engineer Ken Alexander reported that the National Marine Fisheries Service had issued concurrence on the ESA review of January 13, 2010 which will allow the EPA to release STAG funds for the design of the WWTP, lift station and conveyance lines. Mr. Alexander told the Council that Gray & Osborne, Inc. would like to meet with the Town to review current funding opportunities and determine how the Town would like to proceed. Mr. Alexander said that the Watershed Plan Implementation grant submitted on 12/31/09 was not successful, but another option available may be for the Town to use the USDA RD loan funds from the water line project. As for the R 4 Water Main Replacement project, Mr. Alexander said that the entire pipe has been connected with the exception of the final connection on Boege Rd. and that he expects the final testing to be complete by the end of January. Mr. Alexander reported that the Columbia Street Water Main Replacement is on schedule and expects it to wrap up in the latter half of February, and finally the design to replace the Water Treatment Plant Pump is completed with an estimated construction cost coming in at around $126,000.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

a. Wahkiakum County Commissioner Lisa Marsyla commented on the visit to the Town Hall she had attended with Mr. Blumthal of Architects Without Borders. Ms. Marsyla said that she feels very positive about the community effort on this project and would like to continue those efforts by being present at future Council meetings. Council Member Steve McNicholas said that he was impressed with the Architects Without Borders background. Commissioner Marsyla stated that having a Master Plan created by AWOB should increase the Town's ability to receive grant funding. Council Member Bob Rendler agreed that an overall plan should be implemented. Mayor Wehrfritz suggested that the Town schedule a site visit with AWOB and Council Members to discuss the proposed Master Plan. The Mayor said that he will schedule a date with Architects Without Borders and contact Council Members with the details.

Council Member Bob Rendler made a motion to form a committee as a whole for the purposes of meeting to discuss the potential design of the Town Hall property. Motion seconded by Steve McNicholas. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

b. Council Member Walter Wright said that he was not ready to give his authorization for the Mayor to sign the contract with Utilize I.T. for computer services because he had not had the opportunity to read it yet. It was agreed by consensus for the Council to examine the contract and let the Clerk/Treasurer know if they approve of the contract.

c. After discussion, it was agreed that a meeting with representatives from the PUD, Town of Cathlamet and Wahkiakum County would be a positive step to explore the possibility of creating a wind farm. Council Member Steve McNicholas recommended having an expert in the field attend these meetings. Mayor Wehrfritz said that he will contact the PUD and the County to see if there is interest.

NEW BUSINESS

a. Motion to direct the Mayor to have the Town Attorney draft all Ordinances, Resolutions and amendments was made by Bob Rendler and seconded by David Goodroe. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

b. Human Services Representatives Kelly Guest, Lisa Frink, Linda Hartung and Chris Holmes were present to request support from the Town for a proposed community garden project. They told the Council that the labor, funding and plan will be provided by Human Services, but that they need to have a location provided in order to qualify for the funding. A motion was made to support the idea by Council Member Bob Rendler and seconded by David Goodroe, but the motion was withdrawn after the Town Attorney advised that the consensus to support the garden was all that was needed at that time.

c. Motion for the Town of Cathlamet to apply for the USDA grant to secure funding for the Library remodel/upgrade was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Walter Wright. During discussion it was determined that the Town should develop a Master Plan first and that this would not be complete before the grant application was due. Motion failed 2 Yes, 3 No, 0 Abstentions. Council Members Goodroe and Wright cast the Yes votes.

d. In response to a request for change order #2 from contractor John Hadaller, it was agreed that the corner of the Town Hall building should be raised in order to level the building. The Council questioned how the situation had been missed during the structural evaluation and it was determined that the engineer did not "shoot the floor". It was noted that there are funds available for the change order due to the initial bid coming in low. Motion to accept Change Order #2 was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Walter Wright. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

Motion to approve Change Order #3 in which the collapsing walls of the small office located in the west corner of the Library would be removed was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Bob Rendler. During discussion, it was suggested that there was already space available for an office in the old Marshall's office but Librarian Connie Christopher insisted that she needed that particular space. The Council agreed to respect her wishes. Motion failed 1 Yes, 4 No, 0 Abstentions. Council Member Goodroe cast the Yes vote.

e. Motion to designate the space in the upstairs of Town Hall that was formerly occupied by the Fire Department as Library space was made by David Goodroe. The motion was withdrawn. Motion to designate the entire second floor of Town Hall with the exception of the Clerk/Treasurer's office as Library space was made by Bob Rendler. This motion was also withdrawn. Motion to designate the space formerly occupied by the Fire Department as Library space was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Bob Rendler. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

Council Member Walter Wright made a motion to designate the entire second floor as Library space upon completion of the Town Hall remodel that was to include a private office space for the Clerk/Treasurer. The motion died for lack of a second. The Council would like the minutes to reflect that it is the intent of the council that the office used by the Clerk/Treasurer Schubert remain Town Hall Space until such time as a private office is completed for the Clerk/Treasurer and renovations to Town Hall are complete at which time the entire second floor of the Town Hall building will become Library space.

f. Assistant Fire Chief Fred Johnson told the Council that the Homeland Security grant covers the entire cost of a prime-mover vehicle that would enable the Fire Dept. to stop using the reserve ambulance for pulling the emergency response trailer. Motion to approve acceptance of the Homeland Security grant was made by Walter Wright and seconded by Steve McNicholas. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

g. Fred Johnson told the Council that the service of an environmental scientist is needed to complete the Critical Areas Ordinance. Motion to approve procuring the services of an environmental scientist was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Bob Rendler. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

h. Motion to designate Bob Rendler as Mayor Pro-Tem for the six month period beginning January 1, 2010 and ending June 30, 2010 was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Walter Wright. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

ORDINANCES

Town Attorney Thomas Doumit read Ordinance No. 524; Amending Cathlamet Municipal Code (CMC) Title 2, Section 2.05.040, Removing References to Certain Officers of the Town of Cathlamet for the second, third and final reading.

Motion to approve Ordinance No. 524 for the second, third and final reading was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Bob Rendler. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

Attorney Doumit read Ordinance No. 528; Amending Ordinance No. 496 to Change the Regular Meeting Place of the Town Council for the second, third and final reading. Motion to approve Ordinance No. 528; Amending Ordinance No.496 to Change the Regular Meeting Place of the Town of Cathlamet for the second, third and final reading was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Bob Rendler. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

RESOLUTIONS

Attorney Thomas Doumit read Resolution No. 277-10; A Resolution Approving the Interlocal Agreement with the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Risk Management Service Agency (RMSA) and its Members. Motion to approve Resolution No. 277-10 was made by Bob Rendler and seconded by David Goodroe. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

SIGNING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

GENERAL DISCUSSION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS –

Mayor Wehrfritz reminded the Council that there is a Special Meeting coming up at 10:00 a.m. on January 29, 2010 in the River Street Meeting Room.

Clerk/Treasurer Tina Schubert told the Council that she will present a proposal regarding the voucher process at the February meeting.

EXECUTIVE SESSION – none.

ADJOURNMENT – at 10:35 p.m.

George Wehrfritz, Mayor Tina M. Schubert, Clerk/Treasurer