LID , ANNEXATION

Study session Ruston town council Monday March 2, 2009 6 p.m.

Starts with slide presentation by J. J. McCamment, POINT RUSTON.

Pretty much same old stuff. The Tacoma cabal persons on the council were unwavering in their negative questions and comment while the Ruston council persons were supportive of the LID and the project. You judge by the comments.

Jim H - House Bill 2285 (Washington State Legislature) Representative Flanagan (Tacoma) on Transportation committee will allow two communities to cooperate and enter into a single LID. Needs two votes in committee by next Friday else goes back to Senate committee. Corrects an oversight in previous bill. Not sure what happens then. Requires a vote in Ruston Town council April 6, 2009 consenting to single LID.

There is no financial risk to Ruston, no impact. Ruston Way will be closed 40 to 45 days per construction schedule with a maximum of 90 days to cover unforeseen problems. Karen Pickett will post charts on RUSTON HOME.

Dan - I need to be alerted to all bills in legislature affecting Ruston. All council persons should be notified so they can attend hearing if they desire.
Bruce - I own that one, had little notification.
Wayne -
. will roads in Ruston belong to Ruston? Answer YES.
. even if there is a bankruptcy? Answer YES.
. who finances utilities? Answer private financing.
. is Baltimore street reconnect in LID? Answer YES.
Jim H - improve road to improve Superfund status.
Loren Cohen - there will be a private engineering firm on site daily.
Jim H - any LID assessments in Ruston? Answer NO.
Dan - what about dust monitor. In Stack Hill construction a resident found her pillowcase covered in dust. Also kitchen counter top.
(note: Jobs for Justice missed that one.)
Loren - constant air monitoring, three monitors on site.
Dan - continues, meaning not always clear. Four thousand? LIDs not your usual day. Tacoma likes Point Ruston pays. Why do you need LID? Are financial costs guaranteed by LID?
J.J. McCamment - costs paid (LID) by Point Ruston. You can look at books. City of Tacoma can also look at books.
Dan - what is provided to City of Tacoma to back up financing?
J.J. - Construction loans are paid forward. Cannot exceed costs. Bond Underwriters, Bond Counsel and financial staff City of Tacoma are involved.
Dan - we need to see documentation. NO. City of Tacoma undertakes full responsibility. Ruston has no financial risk (second time) had to be told.

Jane Hunt - God bless! Informs Dan questions should have been asked in prior study sessions, not pertinent here. Engineers for Ruston and Tacoma have looked at plans.

Dan - not swayed, problems, insurance. Tacoma not same as Ruston. Town of Ruston side?(Ruston Way) needs LID financing. This is a tremendous benefit to POINT RUSTON. Wants Point Ruston to pay for sewer upgrade on Ruston side of Baltimore street.
J.J. - not in LID. No cost to Ruston, all by Tacoma.

Discussion of ANNEXATION options (Stebner)

Wayne- leads off. We need to talk with Tacoma. What are our options?
Bradley - Problem. Bob Everding and I talked to Tacoma. Annexation came up. We were told Tacoma was not interested.
Dan - non pulsed, we need to authorize the Mayor to send a letter to Tacoma inviting annexation talks. The mayor and a council person to meet with Tacoma.
Note: Guess who the council person will be?
Jane - Need a list of all Tacoma taxes.
Dan - makes motion to discuss annexation to Tacoma.
Jim H - need to see a draft of letter to council before sending.
Bruce - My two cents. We need to talk to Pierce County also. Obviously this discussion has gone on for months.
Wayne - what about current Tacoma levies? Are we responsible.
Jane - wants to be on Committee.
Dan - talks won't cost us a dime.
Motion passes 3-2 with no public input.

PUBLIC COMMENT only allowed during PUBLIC COMMENT TIME -
Terry - need one council person for each side.
Lyle - can we be annexed?
Jim - Instead of continuing secret meetings why not invite Tacoma officials to come to a Ruston town meeting where all the towns people can attend and ask questions?
Connie - Money squandered. Lawsuit losers. You already know outcome. Shameful to destroy this town.
Note: Wow. Tell it like it is Connie.

PUBLIC COMMENTS -
Lyle - Rust way closure affect on businesses in Ruston? Ex: Ruston Market.
Jim - Waterview street was washed out for months and we all survived.
Beth Torbet - (owner Ruston Market) Point Ruston has been very helpful to our business. We hope to continue supporting them during construction and appreciate the business they provide for us.
MAYORS TIME-
Bruce - Appreciate dialogue, remaining calm. We need to make Ruston what we can. Bring up to speed voluntarily.
COUNCIL TIME -
Bradley - thanks Sheeri Forsch for support in Easter Egg hunt April 11th. Instead of full breakfast will have coffee and donuts in Town Hall following.
Dan - Annexation. Methods by which it can occur, both councils must agree with public vote. (Note: public comments would have been appreciated.)
SOLUTION: balance the budget, will require $5,000 dollars per household to cover deficit and sewers. Services are beyond our level. As to Point Ruston I hope they make it but have worries.
Jane - AWC, Association of Washington Cities, met in Olympia February 18 and 19. Most communities arrived day before and stayed day after to lobby legislature for services. All communities are in the same boat financially. Ruston needs to pay more attention to Legislature.
Wayne - Do we need budget amendment? Answer NO, already approved. Three houses in town in foreclosure. Who will do upkeep so grass doesn't grow a foot high?
Towns people who want to remain Ruston need to come up with a plan to reduce deficit!

Here is mine.
. We do not need another high priced ceremonial Police Chief. We have an acting Police Chief as good as any. Give him the job and a raise. He has shown loyalty and devotion to the town and is deserving of a bonus also.
. A town that used to get by with one Police officer does not need ten or the $420,000 dollar budget that goes along with them, including 1,500 hours of overtime.
. Seven days requires only 14 twelve hour shifts maximum for 24 hour coverage. This requires only three to four officers, depending on coverage.
. Checking license plates in Ruston business' parking lots does not provide any useful training and is a wasted effort in a town in a financial mess.
. Pay them wages corresponding to other communities so they will stay and provide full benefits.
. Give them a bonus if necessary, $5,000 dollars each.
. These changes could save the town $200,000 dollars minimum.

Drop frivolous lawsuits (we don't like your sign). Town was offered a very generous settlement and they turned it down. Who benefits from a lengthy expensive lawsuit? The town will more than likely lose ( imposing death tax ) and pay all court costs both sides. They could lose $9.6 million in damages. They increased their liability coverage with AWC to ten million dollars but this program was not designed to support cabal lawsuits and likely will not cover damages. This misadventure put the town's largest taxpayer out of the gambling business costing the town $30,000 dollars per year in taxes. In financially stressful times try to make any sense out of that.

Town of Ruston officials:
Mayor, Bruce Hopkins
Council, Bradley Huson, Jim Hedrick, Wayne Stebner, Dan Albertson, Jane Hunt
Attorney, David Britton
Planner, Rob White
Clerk, Karen Carlisle

Adjourn 9:25 p. m.

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