Ruston, WA regular council meeting Monday September 21, 2009 7pm:
All present and accounted for noting the return of Dan
STAFF
Jeremy -
.attended leadership conference
.cleaning crew coning from Remann Hall
.coroner report - natural death
.Senator Patty Murray getting back to us on GRANTS.
Wayne - scale trucks - answer none
Jim - 66 verbal warnings, 6 parking
Don -
.8 calls August, 2 fire related rest medical aid
.attended summit on swine flu
.combination of four flus - 2 human, 1 aviary, 1 animal
.will not take lives but will make you very, very sick
.expect 40-50 percent of workforce out
.each individual will miss work one week
.expect media blitz including Governor Gregoire
.IMPORTANT: WASH HANDS
PUBLIC COMMENT
JJ -
LID
.spent $1 million on design, road construction
.cost increase from $11 to $14 million dollars plus water and power
.60 percent in Ruston
BALTIMORE STREET
.weight restriction
.no affect on cost (sorry Wayne) for Point Ruston
.weight allowed equal to weight of fire truck
.bringing two groups int Ruston
DON -
.heard 21 to 24 gunshots at 1245 am
.If town knows about them should give out information if does not conflict with law enforcement
BUSINESS
Agenda item # 1 - Discussion of increase of engineering costs for Mo Fesharaki
Wayne - take care of next meeting
Jane - have printout of flag and pole costs
note: Why not electrical outlets for XMAS lights etc.,
Bruce - we can sell advertising if not used
Ordinance 1295 - Adopting building permit, plan review and building department services fee schedules (second reading)
Wayne - amend to remove $90 dollar lawn sprinkler inspection fee
passes 5-0 as amended
Ordinance 1296 - Maximum load limits on N Baltimore street between Ruston Way and N Commercial street (second reading)
Removed from agenda
Resolution No, 455 - USDA
Jane - met with difficult time. Requires a revenue bond. Went through several times. Basically not a bond guarantees payment to USDA.
Wayne - cannot discriminate for any reason. Requires an audit, sooner not later.
Jane -
.loan requires a construction loan. When work is completed USDA loan kicks in.
.USDA interest rate is 4.5 percent, can go lower but not higher
.need sub contractor to monitor loan draws
Bruce - Money is guaranteed. Banks get 3 percent on construction loan.
Dan - cost overruns charged to Ruston?
Bruce - covered.
Dan - change orders, weather delays? Could get slammed.
Bruce - economy is down contractors hope to use less than $4.9 million dollars
Bruce - we could go back for more money if needed.
Dan - paying back over $10 million dollars over loan period
Bruce -
.over $125 thousand dollars for engineering our contribution
.We could put in $600 thousand dollars to lower loan
David - Claims will start first day. Need to budget for.
Jane - we can payoff loan sooner.
Jim - Need loan reserve account $26 thousand dollars per year for 10 years to meet criteria
passes 5-0
Agenda item #5 - October Domestic Violence Awareness month
Jane - authorize mayor to sign proclamation
passes 5-0
MAYOR'S TIME
.need to put into budget licensing cost for new online accounting system
. $55 dollars per month thereafter
.Can look at utility bills past 24 months
.can pay electronically. 18 cents charge per card usage
.thanks Jane for help in new accounting system
.need to put into budget for online training with accounting firm
.On the radar - garbage, Commencement will require compacting waste, new hauling containers
.Point Ruston will come online. Need to upgrade truck or?
.curb painting N 49th and Winnifred this weekend
.Commencement meeting room kitchen fully functional
.thanks Kevin Moser for tremendous amount of work effort, moving cavinets
.will be available December one for Town meetings
.we have need for neighborhood watch
.thanks Jane and Wayne for donating time on sewers
.handoff of USDA check will be big occasion
COUNCIL TIME
Wayne - will we be able to blog on Town website? Answer NO.
Bradley, Jim and Dan - nothing
Jane - don't be surprised in Norm Dicks releases a public announcement
ADJOURN 8pm (one hour)
NOTE:
.notice how facilely they add budget items when it pleases them?
.notice how they never increase their utility taxes?
.notice how they couldn't increase employee wages because it was not budgeted for?
.Is this the heighth of HYPOCRISY? We would love an explanation!
.Whatever happened to the budget (fiscal) inpact statements Dan and Wayne were pushing for?
.another amazing theme is how much they use the COMMENCEMENT trust fund for whatever?
.Never mentioning how they hated it and fought tooth and nail to stop it or delay it?
.Only one word comes to mind over and over: HYPOCRITES.
.Almost item for item the workload increases on the already overworked and underpaid Town employees without a murmur. Do they in totality have a conscience.
.These comments are here because they moved PUBLIC COMMENTS to before the agenda to keep comments on BUSINESS off the recorded record.
.Hope you serve coffee at meetings after December first from your new kitchen donated by the COMMENCEMENT.
.and while you are at it move EXECUTIVE SESSIONS to 6 or 6:30 before the meeting.
.Hard to find time for this as I am now into HUSKY blogging.
.will link to Karen's comments when available. Lots of comments there.
.Getting harder to hear the lower voices so please attend at the new expanded council meeting and get it straight from the horses mouth. Still plenty of seats at the Town Hall also.
.I apologize to the horses and I might have mentioned the wrong orifice.
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/Treasurer, Karen Carlisle
Fire Chief. Don Torbet
Police Chief, Jeremy Kunkel
Electrician, Mo Fesharaki
-30-
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
BABEL MANIA
aka Ruston, WA Town Council in irregular action. Ever lose your keys or your mind? Ever forgetful of their own ordinances and resolutions they often meet up with themselves, never getting anywhere and always with a surprised look. Did WE really? Constructing their very own TOWER OF BABEL in Ruston. Leaderless they wander in the vast mindless spaces in their very own small world.
When recently a council person had three unexcused absences he should have been replace via an resolution he introduced and had passed aiming at another council person but ending up ensnaring himself. If only law and order applied to the Ruston, WA Town council. Apparently they are immune from their very own ordinances and resolutions.
But most unruly they cannot remember what they just did! With all five less than four years experience as council persons they have a very limited knowledge of past goings on in the Town council. Nor will they allow any public comments during the BUSINESS discussions unless it is a favored person inside the cabal. To be enlightened might also shine a light on the confusion they prefer.
Ruston Town Council meeting September 8, 2009 continued:
Agenda item no. 6 - PEARL STREET ZONING
Jim - Do not amend until 2011. To do so now would be cost prohibitive. We need to move on $5 thousand dollar flags and eliminating employee raises.
*Three of the present council members voted affirmatively for Pearl Street zoning to commercial with three story height limit when they were on the Planning Commission but having restored the height limit they are now voting for residential. This was after spending $35 thousand dollar grant to study Pearl Street Zoning and then Bob and Wayne amending it back to being useless. They still want all the grants they can apply for though.
MAYOR'S TIME
.USDA loan for sewers goes out 30-45 days.
.Thanks Jane Hunt for dedication and work over the weekend.
.Getting up to speed on accounting system.
.Town clerk prepared budget previously on past instructions.
.New budget will be different format.
.Will be able to review building permit online, pay utility bills online and review your account and status online.
.Volunteer fire department very helpful in working on new Mary Joyce Community center.
COUNCIL TIME
Wayne - concerned Tree Committee not getting proper marching orders. Do they need approval not to meet?
Ginger Kryger - Committee is dormant only two members left.
Bruce - Need to add members, bring up to staff level.
Wayne - need to put hold on trees because of street lights.
Bruce - contractor sees no issues nor problems.
Bradley - Thanked Ruston Voluntary Fire Department for unbelievable response when false alarm went off at 3am. Alarm company unable to reach anybody but assured by Ruston Volunteer Department Fire Chief Don Torbet not a problem. VERY IMPRESSED!!!
Jim - nothing.
Dan - absent.
Jane -
.Starting budget process soon.
.Dan A excused or not excused?
.Anecdote- printer repair man detained twice by Point Ruston security and Ruston Police approaching him. Comment was you have good security.
Note: Yes at but what cost? Using half the town budget and with eight officers almost enough for one per block. Is it legal to detain people without cause? Enter Ruston at your own risk.
Adjourn
Final note: It doesn't seem to matter who gets elected/assigned to this council. The mantra never changes. Inhibit all progress where possible. Expect the Town employees to work for subsistence wages. Money is always available off budget for pet projects (flags, flower gaskets).
But no money in budget for Town employee raises. Of course, flags and flower pots increasing light standard costs were budgeted, weren't they? Hypocrisy reigns.
Look for BUDGET FISCAL IMPACT statement they voted for in recent meeting for the flags and flower pots at the next meeting September 21, 2009. Good luck. Nothing ever changes and when it does it is reluctantly. Sad. Long range planning apparently is a no no when you have to constantly vote for the whim of the day.
But it is schocking and unconscionable to subsidize this town on the backs of the Town employees while refusing to raise your own utility rates! And hypocritical to the extreme.
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/Treasurer, Karen Carlisle
Fire Chief. Don Torbet
Police Chief, Jeremy Kunkel
-30-
When recently a council person had three unexcused absences he should have been replace via an resolution he introduced and had passed aiming at another council person but ending up ensnaring himself. If only law and order applied to the Ruston, WA Town council. Apparently they are immune from their very own ordinances and resolutions.
But most unruly they cannot remember what they just did! With all five less than four years experience as council persons they have a very limited knowledge of past goings on in the Town council. Nor will they allow any public comments during the BUSINESS discussions unless it is a favored person inside the cabal. To be enlightened might also shine a light on the confusion they prefer.
Ruston Town Council meeting September 8, 2009 continued:
Agenda item no. 6 - PEARL STREET ZONING
Jim - Do not amend until 2011. To do so now would be cost prohibitive. We need to move on $5 thousand dollar flags and eliminating employee raises.
*Three of the present council members voted affirmatively for Pearl Street zoning to commercial with three story height limit when they were on the Planning Commission but having restored the height limit they are now voting for residential. This was after spending $35 thousand dollar grant to study Pearl Street Zoning and then Bob and Wayne amending it back to being useless. They still want all the grants they can apply for though.
MAYOR'S TIME
.USDA loan for sewers goes out 30-45 days.
.Thanks Jane Hunt for dedication and work over the weekend.
.Getting up to speed on accounting system.
.Town clerk prepared budget previously on past instructions.
.New budget will be different format.
.Will be able to review building permit online, pay utility bills online and review your account and status online.
.Volunteer fire department very helpful in working on new Mary Joyce Community center.
COUNCIL TIME
Wayne - concerned Tree Committee not getting proper marching orders. Do they need approval not to meet?
Ginger Kryger - Committee is dormant only two members left.
Bruce - Need to add members, bring up to staff level.
Wayne - need to put hold on trees because of street lights.
Bruce - contractor sees no issues nor problems.
Bradley - Thanked Ruston Voluntary Fire Department for unbelievable response when false alarm went off at 3am. Alarm company unable to reach anybody but assured by Ruston Volunteer Department Fire Chief Don Torbet not a problem. VERY IMPRESSED!!!
Jim - nothing.
Dan - absent.
Jane -
.Starting budget process soon.
.Dan A excused or not excused?
.Anecdote- printer repair man detained twice by Point Ruston security and Ruston Police approaching him. Comment was you have good security.
Note: Yes at but what cost? Using half the town budget and with eight officers almost enough for one per block. Is it legal to detain people without cause? Enter Ruston at your own risk.
Adjourn
Final note: It doesn't seem to matter who gets elected/assigned to this council. The mantra never changes. Inhibit all progress where possible. Expect the Town employees to work for subsistence wages. Money is always available off budget for pet projects (flags, flower gaskets).
But no money in budget for Town employee raises. Of course, flags and flower pots increasing light standard costs were budgeted, weren't they? Hypocrisy reigns.
Look for BUDGET FISCAL IMPACT statement they voted for in recent meeting for the flags and flower pots at the next meeting September 21, 2009. Good luck. Nothing ever changes and when it does it is reluctantly. Sad. Long range planning apparently is a no no when you have to constantly vote for the whim of the day.
But it is schocking and unconscionable to subsidize this town on the backs of the Town employees while refusing to raise your own utility rates! And hypocritical to the extreme.
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/Treasurer, Karen Carlisle
Fire Chief. Don Torbet
Police Chief, Jeremy Kunkel
-30-
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
FLAGS FIVE GRAND, EMPLOYEES ZERO
Ruston Town council meeting Tuesday Sep. 8th, 2009 7pm:
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mainly concerning Pearl Street zoning 52nd to 54th whether to make permanent change to residential. One for residential, four favoring commercial. Memories are very short on this council with Wayne now the senior council person. Remember a while back after spending a $35,000 grant to study this it was approved commercial 51st to 54th on Pearl street by the Planning Commission. All this was wasted when the bedroom community cabal duo, Wayne and Bob E., managed to amend out two blocks and lower the height limit basically emasculating the grant. Wasted grant and wasted effort town of Ruston vs. the cabal getting us to where we are now.
The present council isn't a lot of improvement doing over the do over. There is no long range planning here sticking to their campaign pledge of four years ago to turn Ruston into a bedroom community and annexing it to Tacoma.
One other comment requested accounting of legal costs of Point Defiance Cafe and Casino vs. Ruston eliciting a very still silence. All other comments received numerous responses from mayor and Council persons. One public commentator asked why and got response "too technical". My guess exceeding $50 thousand dollars and we haven't even gone to court yet. Will file FOIA public records request.
BUSINESS
STREET LIGHTING - COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
Wayne - can new pole standards hold flags and flower pots?
Mo -
.They are 150 feet apart not capable of handling banners.
.Increased costs above 50 pounds plus cross arms to hold.
.Cross arms approximately $4 hundred dollars. Beefing up poles increases to $5 hundred dollars.
.Design changes needed.
Jane - to Mo. can you provide pictures of what poles look like?
* look at new street lighting on Karen's blog RUSTON HOME.
.Possible to hang flag and picture of flower pot?
.Cross arm must go up at installation?
Wayne - need to advertise out request two bids.
Mo - Will need to write new specs, advertise.
Wayne - Costs? Need to move on this. Any council comments.
Mayor - $20 thousand dollars additional costs.
Mo - Nothing on 51st street.
Beth - Community would support, find dollars.
Mo - Would be higher. Different poles adding 250 pounds weight.
Jane - Add flag no weight?
Mo -
.Cost of concrete poles is higher to handle more weight.
.$5 thousand dollars added cost just for flags.
.There are standards we have to follow.
Jane - Agree with Wayne. We should have talked about this four months ago.
Bruce - we have incurring extra engineering costs.
Wayne - Makes motion to two require two separate bids, with without flags.
Jane - Second.
David - Expending added costs not valid on motion.
Mayor - Come back next week.
Mo - Get one bid on Pearl street, one on rest else higher costs two bids.
*Dipsy-do, got hit in the head with a screwball! As usual chasing their tails in an endless game of round and round we go.
RESOLUTION No. 454 - Building Department Services
Jim - One firm, need to terminate others?
Bruce - Will do tomorrow.
Jane - Benefit Town tremendously.
Jim - Lots of development, need Professional Services.
Wayne - In support of, can not support not getting more bids.
Bruce - Set fee schedule, no benefit RFP.
Wayne - Need to go out for bids. This is not right.
*Gee, way to slow things down Wayne who is functioning on his own sans Dan.
Bruce -
.Not random act. This was done systematically.
.We need automation, fund accountability. We need to know what is coming in going out, currently unknown, unacceptable.
Jane - They do a good job. Other towns quite happy.
Passes 4-0.
Ordinance 1295 - Building Department Services Fee Schedule
(first reading)
Ordinance 1296 - maximum Load Limits
Wayne - What is purpose.
Rob - Stop truck traffic over Burlington Northern trestle.
Wayne - If OK with BN. We need road rebuilt to new standards, new curbing.
Jane - We don't want a school bus dropping into tunnel.
Don T -
.My understanding not a weight issue, not engineering situation.
.Do not see a problem. Tacoma brings Ryder trucks.
Bruce - Need engineering approval.
Don T - Go a different agenda.
ITEM 5. Salary Provisions for Collective Bargaining Agreement
Bruce - Negotiator accepted council provisions except salary.
Jim - Passed last week on overtime hours.
Bruce -
.Can't talk on this, ongoing negotiations.
.Need council guidance to go back to negotiation.
Jim - Can we exclude some employees.
Bruce - Negotiations are torture session. Don't have right to call EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Jane - other commercial rate.
Bruce - Next step arbitration.
Jim - Go back to union with different numbers.
Jane - We can't approve, not in budget. Can't agree with this.
*But of course the flags and flower pots were in the budget???? Right? Wrong.
Wayne - make motion to approve so I can vote against.
Mayor - COL, 2 1/2 percent of 1.7 percent?
Jim - Hiring freezes all over, come back in 2011 and revisit.
Jane - second.
Passes 4-0.
*Does this really make sense. Stiff the Town employees for four years. All sorts of money for flower pots and flags though. Ongoing vendetta against town clerk goes on. Shameful. Just last month they voted to have fiscal, budget impact statements but none have been forthcoming.
All for now. Sorry for my short hand notes. More and better reporting on Karen's blog Ruston Home re: Council meeting. Finish later.
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/Treasurer, Karen Carlisle
Fire Chief. Don Torbet
Police Chief, Jeremy Kunkel
Mo - Town Electrician
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mainly concerning Pearl Street zoning 52nd to 54th whether to make permanent change to residential. One for residential, four favoring commercial. Memories are very short on this council with Wayne now the senior council person. Remember a while back after spending a $35,000 grant to study this it was approved commercial 51st to 54th on Pearl street by the Planning Commission. All this was wasted when the bedroom community cabal duo, Wayne and Bob E., managed to amend out two blocks and lower the height limit basically emasculating the grant. Wasted grant and wasted effort town of Ruston vs. the cabal getting us to where we are now.
The present council isn't a lot of improvement doing over the do over. There is no long range planning here sticking to their campaign pledge of four years ago to turn Ruston into a bedroom community and annexing it to Tacoma.
One other comment requested accounting of legal costs of Point Defiance Cafe and Casino vs. Ruston eliciting a very still silence. All other comments received numerous responses from mayor and Council persons. One public commentator asked why and got response "too technical". My guess exceeding $50 thousand dollars and we haven't even gone to court yet. Will file FOIA public records request.
BUSINESS
STREET LIGHTING - COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
Wayne - can new pole standards hold flags and flower pots?
Mo -
.They are 150 feet apart not capable of handling banners.
.Increased costs above 50 pounds plus cross arms to hold.
.Cross arms approximately $4 hundred dollars. Beefing up poles increases to $5 hundred dollars.
.Design changes needed.
Jane - to Mo. can you provide pictures of what poles look like?
* look at new street lighting on Karen's blog RUSTON HOME.
.Possible to hang flag and picture of flower pot?
.Cross arm must go up at installation?
Wayne - need to advertise out request two bids.
Mo - Will need to write new specs, advertise.
Wayne - Costs? Need to move on this. Any council comments.
Mayor - $20 thousand dollars additional costs.
Mo - Nothing on 51st street.
Beth - Community would support, find dollars.
Mo - Would be higher. Different poles adding 250 pounds weight.
Jane - Add flag no weight?
Mo -
.Cost of concrete poles is higher to handle more weight.
.$5 thousand dollars added cost just for flags.
.There are standards we have to follow.
Jane - Agree with Wayne. We should have talked about this four months ago.
Bruce - we have incurring extra engineering costs.
Wayne - Makes motion to two require two separate bids, with without flags.
Jane - Second.
David - Expending added costs not valid on motion.
Mayor - Come back next week.
Mo - Get one bid on Pearl street, one on rest else higher costs two bids.
*Dipsy-do, got hit in the head with a screwball! As usual chasing their tails in an endless game of round and round we go.
RESOLUTION No. 454 - Building Department Services
Jim - One firm, need to terminate others?
Bruce - Will do tomorrow.
Jane - Benefit Town tremendously.
Jim - Lots of development, need Professional Services.
Wayne - In support of, can not support not getting more bids.
Bruce - Set fee schedule, no benefit RFP.
Wayne - Need to go out for bids. This is not right.
*Gee, way to slow things down Wayne who is functioning on his own sans Dan.
Bruce -
.Not random act. This was done systematically.
.We need automation, fund accountability. We need to know what is coming in going out, currently unknown, unacceptable.
Jane - They do a good job. Other towns quite happy.
Passes 4-0.
Ordinance 1295 - Building Department Services Fee Schedule
(first reading)
Ordinance 1296 - maximum Load Limits
Wayne - What is purpose.
Rob - Stop truck traffic over Burlington Northern trestle.
Wayne - If OK with BN. We need road rebuilt to new standards, new curbing.
Jane - We don't want a school bus dropping into tunnel.
Don T -
.My understanding not a weight issue, not engineering situation.
.Do not see a problem. Tacoma brings Ryder trucks.
Bruce - Need engineering approval.
Don T - Go a different agenda.
ITEM 5. Salary Provisions for Collective Bargaining Agreement
Bruce - Negotiator accepted council provisions except salary.
Jim - Passed last week on overtime hours.
Bruce -
.Can't talk on this, ongoing negotiations.
.Need council guidance to go back to negotiation.
Jim - Can we exclude some employees.
Bruce - Negotiations are torture session. Don't have right to call EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Jane - other commercial rate.
Bruce - Next step arbitration.
Jim - Go back to union with different numbers.
Jane - We can't approve, not in budget. Can't agree with this.
*But of course the flags and flower pots were in the budget???? Right? Wrong.
Wayne - make motion to approve so I can vote against.
Mayor - COL, 2 1/2 percent of 1.7 percent?
Jim - Hiring freezes all over, come back in 2011 and revisit.
Jane - second.
Passes 4-0.
*Does this really make sense. Stiff the Town employees for four years. All sorts of money for flower pots and flags though. Ongoing vendetta against town clerk goes on. Shameful. Just last month they voted to have fiscal, budget impact statements but none have been forthcoming.
All for now. Sorry for my short hand notes. More and better reporting on Karen's blog Ruston Home re: Council meeting. Finish later.
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/Treasurer, Karen Carlisle
Fire Chief. Don Torbet
Police Chief, Jeremy Kunkel
Mo - Town Electrician
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