1. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Norm Childress called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Present were: Mayor Childress and Councilmembers Helen Darr, Bill Flory, Pam Horner, Jan McDonald, Javier Rodriguez and Joan Souders. Councilmember Robert Morales was absent.

Staff present were: City Administrator Scott Staples, City Attorney Jack Maxwell, and City Clerk Anita Palacios.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Jaelei Grant, Student of the Month at Harriet Thompson Elementary School, lead the pledge of allegiance.

3. PRESENTATIONS

Mayor Childress presented Evan Garcia with the February Youth of the Month Certificate of Appreciation.

4. PUBLIC COMMENT - None

5. CONSENT AGENDA

On motion by Councilmember Flory, second by Councilmember Souders, Council unanimously approved the Consent Agenda consisting of the following:

A. Minutes of the February 5, 2007 study session

B. Minutes of the February 5 2007 regular meeting

C. 2007 Claim Warrant Nos. 78018-78136 in the amount of $164,612.79

D. Payroll Warrant approval for February 15, 2007

E. Resolution No. 2007-5; authorized the Mayor to sign the Technical Assistance Contract No. 010107GV with the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments

F. Resolution No. 2007-6; amended Section 5.4 Overtime/Compensatory Time, Section 6.2 Vacation, Section 6.3 Longevity, Section 6.4 Sick Leave and Section 6.6.1 Bereavement Leave of the Grandview Personnel Manual

G. Resolution No. 2007-7; declared certain property as surplus and authorized its sale or disposition

H. 2006 Well Rehabilitation Project (Wells 2, 3 & 12); accepted the project as complete and authorized the release of retainage in the amount of $24,846.75

6. ACTIVE AGENDA

A. Legislative Update

Mayor Childress, Councilmember McDonald and City Administrator Staples attended the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Legislative Action Conference on February 14^th and 15^th in Olympia.

City Administrator Staples updated Council regarding the following proposed legislation:

Local Franchise Authority Threatened – SB 6003 would replace local franchise authority for cable television with a state franchise authority at the Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission. The bill would also prohibit build-out requirements, and calls for a more restrictive definition of gross revenue than many cities use, thereby decreasing revenue to local governments. In addition, the bill places the responsibility for transmission compatibility of PEG channels on the local government, which may have the effect of PEG channels being eliminated in some local communities.

Utility Liens – SB 5854 would prohibit cities and counties from collecting delinquent utility debt from property owners if the owner notifies the city or county in writing that their property is a rental and provides a complete and accurate mailing address for the tenant.

Eliminating Non-Supplanting Language in Voter-Approved Funding Sources – SB 5498 would eliminate the non-supplanting language in the voter-approved levy lid lift and voter-approved sales tax.

Transportation Benefit Districts (TBDs) – HB1858/SB 5767 would permit the establishment of TBDs , which would allow councilmanic authority to impose the first $20 of the maximum $100 vehicle license fee if a TBD was jurisdiction-wide; and allow councilmanic impact fees if a TBD was jurisdiction-wide. Provisions prohibiting a district and a city to impose the same fee were included (a no double dipping requirement).

Auto Theft – HB 1001 would enhance penalties for auto theft, allow prior vehicle prowling offenses to be used when calculating an offender’s sentence, creates new crimes for possessing motor vehicle theft tools, and establishes a statewide Auto Theft Prevention Authority to distribute funds and coordinate auto theft efforts. The bill would also impose a 50-cent surcharge on vehicle insurance policies.

Increasing Assistance to Small Cities and Counties – HB 2022 would enhance the city-county assistance account. The bill would raise the maximum assistance a city could receive to $175,000 a year from $100,000, plus inflation. The bill would continue to provide assistance to cities based on a sales tax and property tax equalization formula but would increase the sales tax threshold as follows:

For cities with a population less than 5,000, from the current level of 55% of the per capita statewide average to 70%; and
For cities with a population of 5,000 or more, from the current level of 50% of the per capita statewide average to 70%.

This bill would transfer an additional $10 million into the account annually from the state general fund. Cities would split this $10 evenly with counties.

Providing the Authority to Impose Local Sales & Use Tax for Criminal Justice Purposes – HB 1851 would give cities councilmanic authority to levy an additional one-tenth of one percent sales and use tax to pay for:

Increased costs of existing criminal justice services; and
The costs of enhancements to existing criminal justice services.

Funds would not be allowed to replace or supplant criminal justice expenditures funded by other sources.

7. COUNCILMEMBER MEETING REPORTS

New Vision’s Annual Meeting – New Vision will hold their annual meeting on March 22^nd from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Yakima Convention Center.

8. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Potential Litigation

Mayor Childress adjourned the meeting to an executive session at 8:00 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes to discuss potential litigation with the aforementioned Mayor, Council, City Attorney and City Administrator present. The regular meeting resumed at 8:15 p.m.

9. ADJOURNMENT

The regular meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

__________________________ __________________________

Mayor Norm Childress Anita Palacios, City Clerk