Ritzville City Council pass multiple resolutions

The Ritzville City Council meeting took place on April 5 and began with an hour-long executive session with Attorney Milt Rowland in regards to the Well 9 project.

The meeting opened with Rowland asking the council to pass Resolution 2016-05, which outlines a declared emergency in which the citizens of Ritzville are in need of a reliable well before mid-summer. The resolution states the City Engineer is to work with the legal counsel to select a responsible contractor to complete the Well 9 Pump Station Project.

The goal is to have a contractor in place and a contract let no later than the first Council meeting of May 2016 to complete the project as per the specifications set in the original April 2014 contract.

Rowland advised they would not stop pursuing the original contactor for being in default of the contract but sees the City cannot wait on others.

Citizens of Ritzville will not have to commit to any further funds than what was approved in April of 2014.

The Council unanimously passed this Resolution as they were in agreement, time is of the essence and they would like this project completed.

The next item discussed was in regards to the agreement between the City of Ritzville and the Ritzville Downtown Development Association (RDDA).

This agreement states the specific items the RDDA agrees to do for the city such as economic development and implementing a plan to attract new business.

The City agrees to pay bills and/or invoices from the RDDA via reimbursement in the total amount of $4,000. In the RDDA’s recent meeting they approved this agreement with only the concern of the cost of upkeep for the neon lighted sign downtown.

When the budget was first discussed they were quoted $325 and were comfortable with the $4,000 total reimbursment. Their quote has now been increased to $1,900.

Since the RDDA approved the agreement the Council agreed unanimously as well with the stipulation they would look into the cost for the sign upkeep.

Mayor Gary Cook then read an Arbor Day Proclamation for 2016, which declares April 29 to be celebrated as Arbor Day and encourages citizens to support the efforts to protect the trees and woodlands for future generations.

A resolution for the council to express support for adequate funding of the Municipal research and Services Center (MRSC) was then presented.

The MRSC was created over 80 years ago and provides resources and guidance on complex legal and policy issues to local governments in Washington.

In the recent Legislative Session in Olympia the idea of defunding the MRSC was discussed. If this occurred small cities such as Ritzville would then need to consult the city attorney or use outside legal counsel, which is more costly.

The Legislature decided to continue funding the MRSC for one year and they will reexamine the situation next at the session. MRSC has always been funded through a portion of the City’s liquor tax. The Legislation proposed taking this same amount and using it in their general budget, which would then require the City to pay for MRSC on their own.

Resolution 2016-04 would show the City’s continued support for MRSC and the pursuit of it being fully funded through the State’s budget. The Council unanimously passed the resolution.

The Council also approved the closure of Cherry Street to vehicle traffic Money through Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. This was a request from the Bi-County Little League board of directors to ensure the safety of participants and spectators.

The City provides barriers and the Little League members can use them to block off traffic when needed during the allotted time frame during the season, which takes place beginning on April 18 until June 3.

Ordinance 2095 in regards to requiring permits for fences was presented to the Council for final approval. City Attorney Mark DeWulf approved the language changes, which were suggested at the previous meeting. A permit will now be required prior to installing, constructing or erecting a fence.

The permits will be issued at City Hall for a cost of $30. Any person in violation of the provisions of the ordinance shall be deemed a civil infraction punishable by a fine of up to $500.

The Council then approved to extend the Golf Course Manager contract until negotiations can be agreed upon. In the past the contract has covered both the course manager and the restaurant on the course. They are working to split the two into separate contracts, which has taken longer than anticipated.

The Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing was also rescheduled from the April 19 meeting to May 3. This is so the City can give proper notice to the Department of Ecology in line with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).

In recent weeks, Councilperson Ben Cross made the decision to resign from his post as councilperson number five, at large.

Due to this change, Mayor Cook asked the Council to approve the appointment of Councilperson Dennis Chamberlain as the mayor pro tem since Cross had been serving in this position. The Council voted Chamberlain into the position.

Clerk/Treasurer Kris Robbins then discussed the current outcome of the income survey, which was sent two weeks ago to 545 residents in Ritzville. Currently, the City has received 200 surveys and need 207 to meet the guidelines.

The reasoning for this survey is to apply for a grant through Community Development Block Grant to help solve sewer issues. Of the 200 responses 53 percent were recorded as low to moderate income. For the application the City needed to show a 51 percent or higher level.

Low to moderate income is considered to be approximately $32,000 or lower. Of the responses 85 percent were from residents who were retired.

Chamberlain stated the Ritzville Public Development Authority requested to have the council vote in favor of reinstating a five-member board. This would assist the group as they currently struggle with the number of members in the committee. The Council approved this change.

Councilperson Mike Schrag also reported on the location of the four trees to be planted at Ritzville City Park on Arbor Day with the help of the fifth grade students from Ritzville Grade School. Schrag presented a map with multiple locations and the council agreed those locations seemed ideal.

The Council then approved the Tree Board to spend up to $700 to have the two larger trees on Columbia Street trimmed as they are hanging over the roadway and also to have the stump in the park removed.

The Council also agreed to meet at 6 p.m. on May 24 to have an informal discussion on the issues the City faces. The public is welcome to attend this meeting.