Mayor Kaske called the regular Brier City Council Meeting to order at 7:30 PM, and the flag salute was given.

Roll Call:

Present:            Councilmembers Starks, Morgan, Gipson, Colinas, and Warner.

Excused:            Councilmember Doolittle.

Reports of Committees & City Officials:

Mayor Kaske welcomed the new members of the Council and introduced Nolan West as the new Building Official who will start January 14, 2002. Mayor Kaske introduced Lisa Graham. Councilmember Colinas reported on the road designation committee and his contact with Hammond, Collier, and Wade-Livingstone’s traffic engineer.

Public Requests & Oral Communications:

Mayor Kaske asked if there was anyone from the public who wished to speak. Lisa Graham stated that she would comment later in the meeting regarding Sasha Doolittle’s replacement.

Consent Agenda:

Mayor Kaske opened for consideration of the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Warner moved and Councilmember Starks seconded to approve the Consent Agenda, which was to approve the Brier City Council Minutes of December 11, 2002. Motion carried with Councilmembers Gipson and Morgan abstaining, as they were not in attendance at that meeting.

New Business, Petitions, Communications, Application Appeals:

Mayor Kaske opened for consideration to approve the absence of Councilmember Doolittle. There was Council discussion. Councilmember Colinas moved and Councilmember Warner seconded to approve the absence of Councilmember Doolittle through the end of March, 2002 as her activity in Olympia as an legislative intern will benefit the City of Brier with the information she will bring back. Motion Carried.

Mayor Kaske opened for consideration the appointment of a City Council ProTem per RCW 35.A.12.065. Councilmember Colinas moved and Councilmember Warner seconded to appoint Lisa Graham as ProTem Councilmember through the end of March 2002. There was Council discussion. Motion Carried.

Mayor Kaske asked for a five-minute recess to administer the Oath of Office to Lisa Graham at 7:40 PM. The meeting reconvened at 7:44 PM and Mayor Kaske welcomed Lisa Graham to the Council.

Mayor Kaske opened for consideration approval of Personal Services Contract Title Change for Dick Russell. Councilmember Colinas moved and Councilmember Warner seconded to approve the Personal Services Contract Title Change for Dick Russell. Motion Carried.

Mayor Kaske opened for consideration approval of Personal Services Contract with Nolan West for Community Development Permit Specialist Position. Councilmember Gipson moved and Councilmember Colinas seconded to approve the Personal Services Contract with Nolan West for the position of Community Development Permit Specialist. Councilmember Gipson suggested looking at performance steps instead of automatic steps in future contracts. Motion Carried. There was Council discussion with Nolan West.

Mayor Kaske opened for consideration to authorize up to $1,200.00 for Professional Services for an arborist to examine and prepare a report and recommendation on ten Poplar Trees on Russet Road. Councilmember Warner moved and Councilmember Starks seconded to authorize up $1,200 for Professional Services for an arborist to examine and prepare a report and recommendation on ten Poplar Trees on Russet Road. There was Council discussion. Motion Carried.

Mayor Kaske opened for consideration to approve excluding non-subscriber related revenue from the AT&T Broadband Franchise Fee Payment Obligation. Mayor Kaske explained that he did not support this, as he does not see the savings to the subscribers. There was Council discussion. There was Council consensus to not change itand to leave it as is.

Mayor Kaske opened for the selection of Mayor ProTem. Councilmember Starks reminded Council that, two years ago, the Council, at that time, decided that the position would be passed on throughout the Council. Councilmember Colinas nominated Councilmember Warner as Mayor ProTem. Councilmember Gipson asked if Councilmember’s Starks statement meant that an agreement was made and Mayor Kaske responded that there had been discussion last year regarding this but also stated that he will work with whomever they choose for Mayor ProTem and that it is up to Council to choose. Councilmember Colinas stated that it had not been an agreement but that it was a suggestion that he himself had made at that time. Councilmember Morgan nominated Councilmember Starks for Mayor ProTem. Councilmember Gipson related how the City of Everett tries to control power by not sharing the responsibilities throughout the group. Councilmember Colinas moved to close nominations for Mayor ProTem. Motion Carried and Mayor Kaske declared the nominations closed. Councilmember Starks voted for Councilmember Starks; Councilmember Morgan voted for Councilmember Starks; Councilmember Colinas voted for Councilmember Warner; Councilmember Gipson voted for Councilmember Starks; Councilmember Graham voted for Councilmember Warner; Councilmember Warner voted for Councilmember Warner. Since it was a tie, there was Council consensus to wait to fill the position until the vacant Council position is filled at the next regular meeting on January 22, 2002.

Mayor Kaske opened for consideration the appointments to various boards and committees for Snocom Representative; SERS Representative; ESCA Representative; Snohomish County Tomorrow Representative; Health District Candidate; and Community Transit Representative. There was Mayor and Council discussion. Councilmember Colinas moved and Councilmember Warner seconded to appoint the Mayor as representative to the SNOCOM Board, SERS Board, and Snohomish County Tomorrow Board. There was Mayor and Council discussion. Councilmember Morgan expressed an interest in the SNOCOM Board and Councilmembers Gipson and Morgan asked if others could attend and Mayor Kaske responded that they could. Motion Carried. Councilmember Colinas moved and Councilmember Warner seconded to authorize Chief Minor as the Emergency Services Representative to ESCA. Motion Carried. Mayor Kaske asked Council if they wanted to select a candidate for the Snohomish County Health District or Community Transit Representative. There was Council discussion. Councilmember Gipson stated he was interested in Community Transit. Councilmember Colinas moved and Councilmember Warner seconded to recommend Councilmember Gipson as a Community Transit Representative.  Councilmember Colinas moved and Councilmember Warner seconded to appoint Councilmember Gipson as alternate to Snohomish County Tomorrow Board. Motion Carried. Councilmember Colinas moved and Councilmember Graham seconded to appoint Councilmember Colinas as the alternate to the SNOCOM Board and the SERS Board. Motion Carried.

Mayor Kaske opened for consideration Council confirmation of Sue Walgren to Planning Commission Position No. 5 with term to expire January 31, 2004. Councilmember Colinas moved and Councilmember Graham seconded to confirm Sue Walgren to Planning Commission Position No. 5 with the term to expire January 31, 2004. Motion Carried.

Miscellaneous Business by Call of Council Members & City Officials:

Mayor Kaske asked if anyone would like to attend the AWC Legislative Conference Dinner and Councilmember Colinas asked the Mayor if he would like to attend. Mayor Kaske stated that he plans to attend the dinner.

Mayor Kaske asked Tom Evans his opinion regarding Sasha Doolittle having submitted a letter asking that her pay go to whoever was appointed to fill her vacancy. Tom Evans explained that the Councilmember ProTem would be entitled to the pay as that person is now the Councilmember.

Mayor Kaske informed Council that Joe Murphy is going to have to spend $20,000 to $30,000 relocating some PUD poles on Poplar Way and Mayor Kaske discussed the City participating in the cost to put the lines underground instead. There was Council consensus to not participate in the cost or require underground lines.

Councilmember Gipson discussed the nuisance pictures that had been submitted by Vezzani. Councilmember Gipson asked what issues the Council had for the revisions to the nuisance ordinance. Councilmember Gipson suggested having a couple of workshops to get a sense of what items need to be worked on in the committee. There was Council discussion. Councilmember Colinas moved to nominate Councilmember Gipson as Chairman of the Nuisance Ordinance Committee. Councilmembers Morgan and Warner expressed interest in serving on Councilmember Gipson’s committee.

Auditing of Accounts:

Mayor Kaske opened for consideration approval of the December 2001 Payroll Warrants. Councilmember Colinas moved and Councilmember Warner seconded to approve the December 2001 Payroll Warrants No. 10437 through No. 10482 in the amount of $71,262.08 with Warrants No. 10436 and No. 10447 being void. Motion Carried.

Mayor Kaske opened for consideration approval of the December 2001 Claim Warrants. Councilmember Colinas moved and Councilmember Morgan seconded to approve the December 2001 Claim Warrants No. 14643 through No. 14695 in the amount of $119,182.00. Mayor Kaske stated that there are some more bills that have been received for 2001 so a supplement to these claims will be submitted on January 22, 2002. Motion Carried.

Adjournment:

Councilmember Colinas moved to adjourn. Motion Carried, and the Brier City Council Meeting of January 8, 2002 adjourned at 9:25 P.M.