Mayor Starks called the regular Brier City Council Meeting to order at 7:34 PM and the flag salute was given.

Roll Call:

Present:            Councilmembers Colinas, Gipson, Warner, Morgan, McClenny and Corpron-Smith.

Absent:             Councilmember Doolittle.

Public Request and Oral Communications:

Mr. Wayne Kaske asked that the council continues his efforts to keep the City of Brier on the map and that they all need to be involved and serve on the boards that are open to our City.

Reports of Committees & City Officials:

Mayor Starks called for reports and Mr. Wayne Kaske who serves as our SnoCom and SERS representative spoke as to the status of the 800mhz dispatching system. SnoCom will begin dispatching on the 800mhz radios as of December 29, 2003. It is expected that all the agencies and cities in Phase 1 will be transferred over to the new system by the end of January 2004. SnoCom needs 1.5 million dollars to bring permanent power to the towers for Phase 2. There are estimates that if permanent power were brought to the towers that within 15 years the City of Brier would save $21,000 from the ability to lease space on the towers by other federal agencies and cell providers.

Approval of Minutes:

Mayor Starks opened for consideration of approval of the Brier City Council Minutes of December 16, 2003. Councilmember Colinas moved and Councilmember Warner seconded to approve the Brier City Council Minutes of December 16, 2003. Motion Carried with Councilmember Gipson abstaining.

Mayor Starks opened for consideration of approval of the Brier City Council Workshop Minutes of December 16, 2003.  Councilmember Warner moved and Councilmember Gipson seconded to approve the Brier City Council Workshop Minutes of December 16, 2003. Motion Carried.

Ordinances, Resolutions & Orders:

Mayor Starks removed Ordinance No. 309 2004 Final Budget from the agenda due to issues to be addressed regarding the budget. A new summary sheet with the corrected fund totals was handed out to the council and there was council discussion. It was decided that the council would go ahead and consider the 2004 Final Budget after the changes were described. Councilmember Warner moved and Councilmember Gipson seconded to approve Ordinance No. 309 approving the 2004 Final Budget with the revised 2004 Final Budget summary sheet as Exhibit “A”. Motion Carried.

Mayor Starks opened for consideration of approval of Ordinance No. 310 establishing a New City Hall Construction Fund, Fund No. 301. There was Council discussion. Councilmember Colinas moved and Councilmember Warner seconded to amend the language in Section 4 to say the City Clerk/Treasurer is authorized to deposit up to $800,000 from a loan if so approved through the City Council from Local Option Capital Asset Lending into Fund No. 301. Motion Carried. Councilmember Colinas moved and Councilmember Gipson seconded to approve Ordinance No. 310 establishing a New City Hall Construction Fund, Fund No. 301 with the amended language. There was council discussion. Motion Carried.

Miscellaneous Business by Call of Councilmembers & City Officials

Councilmember Gipson brought to the floor the Community Transit Board election. Councilmember Colinas nominated Councilmember Gipson. Councilmember Gipson said that he is only available to serve as an alternate and would be willing to step down if someone else would like to serve as a full board member. Councilmember Colinas moved and Councilmember Warner seconded to nominate Councilmember Gipson as a representative for a seat on the Community Transit Board. Motion Carried.

Councilmember Warner asked if any responses to the council vacancy have come in. Mayor Starks stated that he has received a few letters and will pass them along to the council in the near future.

Councilmember Warner stated that with the end of his term on December 31, 2003 it leaves our current police negotiations short a representative, he stated that he would be interested in continuing in that position on the committee if the council wishes. Councilmember Gipson moved and Councilmember Morgan seconded to appoint Councilmember Warner as a member of the negotiating team for the labor negotiations with the Brier Police Department as of January 1, 2004. Motion Carried.

Councilmember Colinas reported that the police department meeting was cancelled last week.

Councilmember Colinas asked if Nolan West was being paid through the end of the year and why is that the case. Mayor Starks adjourned to executive session for 10 minutes to discuss personnel at 8:55 PM. The council returned from executive session and the meeting resumed at 9:28 PM

Councilmember Warner asked what the status was for filling the four vacancies in the staff. Mayor Starks stated that the police chief is going through due process to fill the patrol officer position. Mayor Starks is still looking at applications for the Planning and Development Director and Building Official positions as they come in and he will make an interviewing panel that will consist of at least one to two Councilmembers.

Adjournment

Councilmember Colinas moved and Councilmember Warner seconded to adjourn. Mayor Starks declared the meeting adjourned at 9:32 PM.