GRANDVIEW CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

APRIL 2, 2007

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, Jan McDonald, Javier Rodriguez and Joan Souders.  Councilmembers Pam Horner and Robert Morales were absent.

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

 2.        PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Jennielyn Bermudez, Student of the Month at McClure Elementary School, lead the pledge of allegiance.

3.         PRESENTATIONS

Mayor Childress proclaimed April 11, 2007 as Arbor Day in the City of Grandview.

4.         PUBLIC COMMENT - None

5.         CONSENT AGENDA

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

            A.         Minutes of the March 19, 2007 study session                                                           

B.                 Minutes of the March 19, 2007 regular meeting

C.                 Minutes of the March 26, 2007 special meeting

D.                 2007 Claim Warrant Nos. 78334-78442 in the amount of $502,726.28        

E.                 Payroll Warrant approval for March 31, 2007

F.                  Museum Board Resignation – Vivian Reiger Martin

G.                 Ordinance No. 2007-6; amended Section 13.28.140(C) regarding delinquent utility payments and fees

H.                 Ordinance No. 2007-7; annexed City property into the City of Grandview and zoned said property as “PF” Public Facility

6.         ACTIVE AGENDA

            A.         Legislative Update

City Administrator Staples updated Council on the following proposed legislation:

• Transportation Benefit Districts (TBDs) – SHB1858 was heard in the Senate Transportation Committee and would be a local tool for local transportation purposes.  The substitute bill would allow cities or counties to impose the first $20 of the vehicle fee if a TBD was jurisdiction-wide (the balance remains voter approved), and would allow cities or counties to impose limited transportation impact fees, but prohibit “double-dipping” of existing impact fees and residential property.

• Combating Auto Theft – E3SHB 1001 was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 28^th.  The bill would enhance penalties for auto theft related crimes and would create an auto theft authority to help fund regional efforts to address this significant problem in many cities.  AWC has worked diligently to support this legislation and encouraged cities to voice their support to members of the Judiciary Committee.

• Family and Medical Leave Insurance – E2SSB 5659 was heard by the House Commerce and Labor Committee on March 20^th.  This legislation would require all employees to pay a two-cent per hour premium for an insurance benefit that would pay $250 a week for up to five weeks of family leave, even if they already have a generous leave program or never use the benefit.  AWC remained opposed to the bill because of the potential conflicts and overlaps with federal and state law and local leave policies.  The Commerce and Labor Committee was expected to pass the bill.

• Six-Year Collective Bargaining Agreements – ESB 5251 would allow local governments and their employees to agree to contract terms of up to six years, instead of the current three-year maximum term.  The bill must have passed out of the House Commerce and Labor Committee by March 30^th to remain alive for the session.

7.         COUNCILMEMBER MEETING REPORTS

Fourth of July Flag Raising Ceremony – Councilmember Flory reported that Representative Newhouse has agreed to speak at the annual Fourth of July Flag Raising Ceremony.

Friends of the Library Book Sale – The Friends of the Library book sale will be held on May 10^th and 11^th.

YVCOG General Membership Meeting – The Yakima Valley Conference of Governments General Membership meeting on May 16^th will take place in Grandview at Country Park.

8.         UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS          

AWC Conference – The Association of Washington Cities will hold their Annual Conference on June 20-23 in Spokane.

Grandview United – The next meeting of Grandview United has been scheduled for Thursday, April 12^th at the GHS Cafeteria.  At the last meeting, attendees developed action plans for the following topics:  leisure time activities, parental responsibility, mentoring, community pride, economic development/employment, family issues and crime.

Leadership Grandview – City Administrator Staples and YVCC Grandview Campus Dean Bryce Humphreys have developed the brochure and application forms for the Leadership Grandview program.  A Steering Committee consisting of the Mayor, Minerva Morales, Jesse Palacios, Gary Christensen, and Gloria Mendoza has been chosen to review the applications and select participants.

2007 National Main Streets Conference – City Administrator Staples, along with Chamber Board Member Elizabeth Alba and Chamber Executive Director Beth Bourgeois attended the National Main Streets Conference on March 24^th–28^th in Seattle.  The conference provided an excellent venue for sharing ideas on building sustainable communities through cost-effective and preservation-based economic development.

9.         ADJOURNMENT

The regular meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

__________________________                                __________________________

Mayor Norm Childress                                                Anita Palacios, City Clerk