TARGET POINT RUSTON

Ruston, WA Town Council meeting October 5th, 2009 7pm:

Short and sweet with a negative diatribe on POINT RUSTON entitled ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE TOWN OF RUSTON?

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jim Wingard - noted almost automatic approval of items requiring budget revisions with the lone exception "raises for town employees".
Kevin Moser - commented on the glare from street lights on STACK HILL. Need to eliminate glare, not considerate of town. Likes street lights on 49th street better where light is downward directed. Used up his allotted two minutes.
Dan- motion to allow time to finish, Jane second. Passes 5-0.
Kevin continues -
Provided handout of four different types of street lights.
Wayne - You need to talk to me on this.
Bruce - street lights are out for bid now. Deciding between 100 watt bulbs or 70 watt bulbs, out for research. You have access to town electrician.
Jane - lights from Commencement light up my deck.
Dan - surprised neighbors have not complained?
Bruce - they (Point Ruston) paid for lights. See no need to change no homes affected.
Note: PROGRESS IS BAD, STOP IT OR SLOW IT DOWN WHEN POSSIBLE? Couldn't be could it?
JJ - Lights needed for security purposes.
Beth - follow through like Point Ruston.
Note: I thought SAFE STREETS encouraged outdoor lighting? Apparently Ruston hasn't got the word. Extra lighting deters burglars and vandalism elsewhere.
BUSINESS
Agenda item one - ORDINANCE 1297 BUDGET AMENDMENT
Wayne - budget why are we shifting.
Bruce - so money comes out of budget not electrical reserve fund
Wayne - why not $6 thousand dollars instead of $12 thousand dollars?
Karen - will be further expenditures
Wayne - would like to approve all expenditures individually
Jane - lining up items
Bruce - access ability there anyway. We cannot know exact dollars
Wayne - I am only one vote.
David - fund transfer requires public comment
Note: big brouhaha takes place whether it is one fund or two funds?
Jane - only one fund
Karen - Karen - budgeted out of 401, Electrical fund, paying out of 402 (Electrical reserve fund). Like checking and saving accounts.
David - excess funds
Bruce - not moving funds, just allocation source. Pay out of reserve fund.
Dan - just have public comment. Nobody will comment anyway.
Jane - need to cover
PUBLIC COMMENT ORDINANCE 1297
Kevin Moser - Saves money to have MO working hourly. More cost effective than bidding out.
First reading complete.
Agenda item two - Environmental issues in the town of Ruston (Albertson)
Dan - concerned about arsenic in Town.
.arsenic extremely toxic. Source of many cancers, names several.
.soil samples taken outside Point Ruston
.EPA standards 230 ppm
.testing shows, 300 ppm and 460 ppm
.Who in Ruston is monitoring?
.EPA fact sheet, in almost all cases, shows material leaving site below levels
.Shows picture of large dust cloud, cause for concern
.Gate is in Tacoma
.Why training for creating hazardous waste
.Nobody checking
.need EPA regulators to show up at council meeting
.Independent lab in Seattle did testing on readings from public street
.need explanation
.Why I put this on agenda Have not talked to Kevin Rochlin of EPA. Talked to Citizens for Healthy Bay.
.happy to have EPA and Citizens for Healthy Bay give 1/2 hour presentation to council
.am concerned about contamination off of Point Ruston
Wayne - We need Department of Ecology too.
Dan - forced to agree, regret it
Jane - called all government agencies. EPA, Federal Government, in charge.
Need this project to go forward.
Note: public comments not allowed on agenda items so here is my two cents for next meeting.
. sounds like another JOBS FOR JUSTICE hit job
. Ruston is not the right venue to vent your spleen.
. Public streets in Tacoma?
. Tacoma annexation duo has plenty of contacts in Tacoma
. Appears to be a last minute hatchet job by departing soon council member
. no documents provided
. no proof provided
. no witnesses identified
. In my Introduction to Law class it was made clear HEARSAY is inadmissible in a court of law
. But all Dan's comments appear to be HEARSAY!!
. I have yet to determine a reason for all this vitriol except to hamstring the town of Ruston leading to it's demise
Agenda item three - Meter Deposits (hopkins)
Bruce - Only one deposit required. Holding $11 thousand dollars in noncollectable utility bills from 2006. One utility deposit given back after ten years.
Note: Aren't unclaimed deposits required to be turned over to the state after three years?
Jane - change our laws. hold owner liable not tenant.
Wayne - why was meter not pulled?
Karen - not legal to pull meter November 15th to March 15th during winter.
All - on and on, landlord tenant, no pay no rental, make landlord responsible. do not accept deposit if overdue, etc., Note: It appears they don't have a clue!!!
Bradley - a voice of reason has had enough. Let's table this for a future study session.
Note: Wow, way to go or this could of went on all night in their now familiar chasing your tail routine or the circular firing squad. Thank you Brad from those of us who have another life.
MAYOR'S TIME - nothing
COUNCIL TIME
Wayne - worried about going above $40 dollar monthly sewer charge for residents
Bruce - BofA wants money in bank despite guarantee by Federal government and three percent interest.
Jane - need to spread our money around for safety
Bruce - Need to set investment policy. Remember Bof A owns Merrill Lynch holder of many suspect loans. need to address our own policy, self financing.
Jim, Bradley - nothing
Dan - three percent loan may be good years from now.
. Need to fund up front.
. When will Copperline condos be occupied?
. When is Point Ruston money coming in?
. If funding gap what happens?
. Need to see Point Ruston building plans
Bruce - need to focus on being able to get by on our own.
. facing services cuts nobody will like.
Dan - takes off on spiel on COMMENCEMENT
Bruce - They want temporary occupancy permit.
. I go down there two or three times a week.
. Dialog schedule meeting.
. reward at end of project.
. for now we need to survive seven to eight years on our own.
Jane - wants Point Ruston timetable. When is revenue coming in?
. need to know what is in front of us.
. thanks Kevin Moser and volunteers for work on Mary Joyce community center
. in talking to Kevin Commencement not completing anything in center
David - send Notice of Violation
Wayne - people moving furniture in. We need a stop work order.
David - violation of permits
Bruce - elevator is signed off.
Note: For God's sake don't try to help out getting things completed. Throw as many obstacles in their path as you can. It's not like Ruston needs the money or anything.
ADJOURN 8:07
Note: Another council meeting another step backwards!!!


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