The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About04/04/2007 Wednesday, April 4, 2007 COONCl APPRO APR 112007 DIGITAL RECORDING CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES The weekly meeting of the City Council of the City of Bremerton was called to order in the City Council Chambers, of the NORM DICKS GOVERNMENT CENTER 345 6th Street, Bremerton, Washington, Wednesday, April 4, 2007, at 5:30 PM, with Council Vice-President Brad Gehring presiding. Council members present were Carol Arends, Mike Shepherd, Wendy Priest, Adam Brockus, and Cecil McConnell. Council Members Will Maupin, Dianne Robinson, and Nick Wofford were absent. Also present were City Attorney Roger Lubovich; City Clerk Paula Johnston; and Council Assistant Christine Grenier. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council Member Cecil McConnell followed by the invocation provided by Pastor Butch Hall of Kitsap Lake Baptist Church. Vice-President GehrinQ announced that a Pre-Council Session to discuss General Council Business was held prior to the meeting; and that Item 6A has been pulled from the agenda. MAYOR'S REPORT . Wyn Birkenthal, Parks & Recreation Director presented the "Employee Recognition Award" for April 2007 to Chris Smith of the Parks & Recreation Department; and thanked Mr. Smith for the amazing transformation of Pat Carey Vista at Lions Field. Mr. Smith also thanked fellow co- workers Brock Stodden, Steve Munsen, Dave Coleman, and VirQilio Ibarra for their contributions to the project; . Provided an update on funding for Harborside Park; and believed that the project is on schedule for the Public Grand Opening on May 5th; . Announced that Bremerton will be hosting the annual Cascadia Mayor's Forum in September; . Hoped to include Callow Avenue in the City's flower basket program; . Received news that St. Vincent de Paul and Salvation Army will be expanding in the future; . Announced that a Parks Plan Update meeting for the public will be held on April 19th beginning at 5:30 PM at the Bremerton High School Library; . Invited Council Members to the Employee Recognition Breakfast on May 16th; and . Looked forward to the Armed Forces Day Parade in May. PUBLIC RECOGNITION & ANNOUNCEMENTS Wendy Priest announced that Districts 4 & 5 will be hosting a Stakeholder's Meeting to get feedback on the downtown sub-area plan from residents. The meeting will be held on Thursday, April 5th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at Fire Station NO.1 located at 911 Park Avenue. For more information, please contact Geoffrey Wentlandt at the Department of Community Development at (360) 473-5845. Mike Shepherd also encouraged residents to attend the Stakeholder's Meeting; and invited the public to the Bataan Death March Remembrance Ceremony on Saturday, April yth at 10:00 AM at Evergreen Park. Mike Walton, Marketing Director for the YMCA, announced that the T-Ball and Coach-Pitch baseball program will be starting April 16th; the next Military Date Night will be on Saturday, April yth from 5:30' to 9:30 PM; the Easter Eggstravaganza will be held tomorrow, April 5th starting at 1 :00 PM; and the Splash & Jam program will be held on Saturday, April 21st. Mike Eliason found irony in that this year's Council Vice-President has been a small business owner and a motorcycle rider, and also is an elected official and chairing a Council Meeting. Pamelonia McCrary presented a petition to City Council and City Clerk opposing the West Hills Annexation. City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes Wednesday, April 4, 2007 Page 2 of 3 CONSENT AGENDA A. Check Numbers 315774 through 315933; and EFT-7042 through EFT-7051 in the amount of $1,390,847.89 for the period ending March 31,2007; and Retiree Payroll in the amount of $84,813.34 for the pay period ending March 31,2007 (#AB07-071) B. Minutes of Meeting - March 21,2007 (#AB07-072) C. Minutes of Meeting - March 28,2007 (#AB07-073) D. Purchase of an Emergency Generator for Pump Station OB-2 (Oyster Bay) (#AB07-074) E. Budget Amendment and approval of Professional Services Agreement with THE CONNECTIONS GROUP for communications plan development and citizen outreach efforts (#AB07-075) 05:54:15 M/S/C/U (Priest/Arends) Move to approve the CONSENT AGENDA as presented. GENERAL BUSINESS 6A ORDINANCE NO. 5003 AMENDING SECTION 2.09.020 AND CHAPTER 2.30 OF THE BREMERTON MUNICIPAL CODE (6MC) RELATING TO CITY EMPLOYEES COVERED UNDER THE CITY'S CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM (#".607 076): This item was re-scheduled to May 16, 2007... 6B - PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH VIA ARCHITECTURE TO CREATE A DOWNTOWN REGIONAL CENTER SUB AREA PLAN (#AB07-077): Andrea Spencer, Department of Community Development Director, stated that the Department of Community Development has selected VIA ARCHITECTURE to develop a sub-area plan for the Downtown Regional Center. The plan will include public outreach, development QUgr;m-based zoning code and standards, circulation plan and parking strategies, and development of streetscape standards. There were no comments from the public. Mike Shepherd believes that this is a big step towards downtown redevelopment and emphasized that there will be many opportunities for the public to participate in this process. Adam Brockus indicated he would abstain from voting on this issue due to prior communication with the VIA ARCHITECTURE. Wendy Priest indicated that several of the applicants were highly qualified but that she looks forward to working with VIA ARCHITECTURE. 05:58:13 M/S/C (Priest/Arends) Move to approve the Professional Services Agreement with VIA ARCHITECTURE to create a Downtown Sub Area Plan, and authorize the Mayor to finalize and execute the contract in substantially the same form as presented. Voted in favor of the motion: Priest, Shepherd, Arends, McConnell, Gehring Abstained: Brockus Motion carried: 5-Yes; 1-Abstention 6C - ORDINANCE NO. 5004 REPEALING AND REPLACING CHAPTER 2.74 OF THE BREMERTON MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION AND EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT (#AB07-078): Cathy Johnson, Finance Officer, pointed out that the current travel policy, adopted in 2003, provides for payment of actual meal expenses with a specified maximum per meal. Due to the variation of reasonable meal costs between travel destinations and the cost to properly administer the current program it is proposed that the basis for meal reimbursement be changed to a per diem reimbursement program based on rates set by the US General Services Administration. Additionally, references to procedures related to administration of the program have been removed from the ordinance and placed in the Travel Authorization and Reimbursement Policy. City Council Reg. Mtg. Minutes Wednesday, April 4, 2007 Page 3 of 3 There were no comments from the public. Gary Nystul, City Auditor, provided his reasons in support of the ordinance as 1) repealing the previous ordinance allows much needed changes; 2) the ordinance allows flexibility to address new situations as they come up; and 3) use of the per diem method of reimbursement for meals saves on administrative costs. Cecil McConnell emphasized that the change to the per diem method also allows flexibility for the employee. Brad GehrinQ thanked Cathy Johnson for bringing this issue forward, and for responding to Council's questions. 06:04:41 M/S/C/U (Arends/Shepherd) Move to approve Ordinance No. 5004 repealing and replacing Bremerton Municipal Code Chapter 2.74 Travel Authorization and Expense Reimbursement. COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS Cecil McConnell was thrilled that he landed a hole-in-one on Sunday; and stated that his birthday is next week. Adam Brockus thanked people for attending the WSDOT workshop; and asked people to reflect on Martin Luther King Jr's assassination as well as his contributions and hoped that the world will be better place. Wendy Priest encouraged people to attend the First Friday Art Walk this week. Mike Shepherd hoped that there is further discussion regarding how mass transit will fit in with the plan for the Manette Bridge as well as addressing aesthetic deficiencies. Carol Arends believed that getting public feedback is important to the Manette Bridge project. Brad GehrinQ thanked Chris Smith for beautifying Lions Field; was excited that the Cascadia Forum will be held in Bremerton; and invited the public to attend the Grand Opening of Harborside Park on May 5th. With no further business, Vice-President GehrinQ adjourned the Council Meeting at 6: 11 PM. Prepared and Submitted by: itA.;. ~---- CHRISTINE GRENIER Council Assistant WM:PJ:ls:cg