HomeMy Public PortalAboutCouncil Minutes 2003 08/14MINUTES
McCall City Council
Regular Meeting
Thursday, August 14, 2003
Table of Contents
Call to Order and Roll Call
Public Hearing
AB 03-117 Adoption of Ordinance No. 782, Budget Appropriation for Fiscal Year
2003-2004
AB 03-95 VAC-03-3 Ordinance No. 780 Vacation of a Portion of Dawson Ave. and
Potential Property Exchange (Continued from July 24, 2003)
AB 03-96 Adoption of Ordinance No. 783, Amendment of FY 02-03 Budget
Appropriation to Reflect Unanticipated Revenue and Expense
Public Comment
Consent Agenda
Minutes of July 24, 2003
Invoice Approval List Dated August 8, 2003
Payroll Report for Pay Period Ending July 18, 2003
Payroll Report for Pay Period Ending August 1, 2003
AB 03-107 Xerox Rental Agreement
AB 03-111 Alcohol Beverage Catering Permits
AB 03-114 Allocate Funds From Library Contingent Revenue And Expense
Business
AB 03-108
AB 03-115
AB 03-118
Reports
WRICOPS Community Policing Survey
Sale of Lifetime Golf Passes, Approve Agreement between City and Golf
Foundation. (Attachments to be provided to Council Members at the
meeting)
Golf Course Alternatives Following Public Meeting
Executive Session
Litigation Idaho Code §67-2345(1f) to consider pending litigation
Adjournment
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CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Colton called the regular meeting of the McCall City Council to order at
7:00 p.m. Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, Council Member Muller, and
Council Member Eimers answered roll call. A quorum was present. City staff
members present were City Attorney Susan Buxton, City Manager Robert Strope,
Community Development Director Lindley Kirkpatrick, Public Works Director Bill
Keating, Police Chief Ralph Appa, Parks and Recreation Director Brock Heasley,
Library Director Anne Kantola, Director of Golf Operations Dan Pillard, Airport
Manager Kevin Delaney, Network Administrator Dave Simmonds, Nancy Lockhart,
Liz Tash, Amanda Townsend and Finance Director & City Clerk Barbara Bauer.
PUBLIC HEARING
Mayor Colton opened the Public Hearing on AB 03-117, Adoption of Ordinance
No. 782, Budget Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2003-2004 at 7:05 p.m.
AB 03-117 Adoption of Ordinance No. 782, Budget Appropriation for Fiscal Year
2003-2004
City Manager Robert Strope reviewed information provided to the Council Members on
Agenda Bill 03-117. Following adoption of a tentative budget for FY 2003-2004 of
$12,037,234 and after holding an August 14, 2003 Public Hearing on the tentative
budget, the Council must approve a final budget no later than September 3, 2003 in
order to allow certification to the Valley County Commissioners. The Sewer Treatment
Plant budget was approved by the Joint Powers Board at their meeting earlier in the
day.
After Council adopted the tentative budget, Regence Blue Shield notified the City that
the actual increase in employee Health Insurance costs would be 49%. The draft
budget included in Ordinance 782 includes changes to pay for this increase without
additional revenue by allocating the last of the Health Care Savings Carry Forward
dollars. It also removes the $150,000 Urban Renewal District budget, which is not
adopted by the City Council. The published FY 2004 Public Hearing notice reflects
transfer expenses of $10,432 from the General Fund into the Special and Enterprise
funds. Since the total amount of all budgets is the figure we cannot exceed, we are able
to make this adjustment without violating Idaho Code.
Brock Heasley responded to previous Council questions concerning the new Recreation
Staff Supervisor position. This position will replace a Recreation intern and a
Recreation Aide but only increase the annual budget by $10,076 or 4.4%. He also
provided the staff with an overview of the programs available in McCall.
Michael Anderson, who is affiliated with the MCPAWS program, told the Council that the
shelter has a $35,000 shortfall this year and anticipates the same type of shortfall again
in the next fiscal year. After explaining the breakdown of funding sources and percent
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of animals in each type of service coming from within the City limits, MCPAWS asked
the City Council to increase it's funding for FY 2004 by $20,000 and provide additional
emergency funding of $20,000 during the current fiscal year. Amy Crookshanks
thanked the group for previous support of MCPAWS and reviewed the agreement
between MCPAWS and the City of McCall, the total number of animals taken in during
the year, success stories, and types of expenses.
Pat Hill, Recreation Advisory Committee member spoke in support of and gave some
additional clarification regarding the Recreation Program Supervisor position and the
goal of the Advisory Group to increase the recreational opportunities of local youth and
create a strong economic advantage for local merchants.
Boyd Paulson spoke about the need to pave streets within the Rio Vista subdivision and
other city streets and expressed concern that there is not money to achieve this goal in
the budget. He also expressed the sense that this is a much higher priority than
spending tax money on the Golf Course.
Dave Faurot, Chair of the Recreation Advisory Committee stated the desire related by
the Advisory Committee to the Recreation Director is to increase recreational
opportunities for the youth of the community and that the addition of a Recreation
Supervisor would help do this.
City Manager Strope noted that with only the Mayor commenting on possible uses of
the potential increase of 3%, the staff recommendation stands with the possibility of
considering the new request from MCPAWS.
Mayor Colton noted that he continues to feel strongly that the City has not honored
previous commitments to pave in Rio Vista, since the only paving done in the past ten
years in that area is Pinedale. He strongly supports placing the 3% new property tax
growth in the Council Contingency to allow Council to allocate as needs are prioritized
during the year.
Council Member Arp noted the strong need at MCPAWS, decisions by other
communities in Valley County not to provide funding or to shift it to support to another
group in Cascade, and stated a desire for MCPAWS to leverage any additional McCall
support. She also placed a high priority on increasing our paving program beyond the
approximately $50,000 per year spent on paving repairs or new paving in each of the
last three years.
City Manager Strope discussed the staff proposed priorities for a tax increase and noted
that only the Mayor provided additional comments regarding Council priorities on
possible uses of the potential increase of 3%. Mayor Colton had stated he would list his
priorities as new paving followed by recreation.
Council Member Muller noted that he strongly supports finding a way to provide more
funding to the Golf Course and with other priorities that the City will not be able fund.
Council Member Eimers noted that the Recreation proposal was ill prepared for the
previous meeting. He also stated a belief that no one should feel bad for the City
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because new construction has already provided an increase of almost 3% without
taking the available increase in taxes.
Council Member Arp raised concerns that the Council Members continue to receive
such an expensive health insurance benefit while serving in a part-time position. She
recommended covering the cost of health insurance benefits for City Council Members
only, rather than paying for full family coverage and providing a cash payment to an
FSA account for Council members who opt out, or consider eliminating City -paid
Council Member health insurance benefits. She asked other Council members to
respond directly to her suggestion regarding this change in policy.
Robert Strope noted that the Benefits Committee would be providing a proposal at the
next meeting to change health insurance carriers in order to limit the increase to 35%
rather than 49%.
Council Member Muller stated that the cost of health insurance for the Council is a huge
amount and noted that he would be supportive of Council Member coverage only, since
he takes the family member opt out FSA payment and personal insurance coverage.
He believes that we should seek a new local option tax to make it possible to meet more
of the community needs. The last vote failed by only 17 votes. If a local option tax did
not apply to food, it may make it more palatable to some, but will decrease the new
revenue by nearly ten -fold.
Council Member Eimers stated that having more money coming in will not end the
difficulties with finding adequate funding and expressed the opinion that government is
the only place in the country that is not trying to reduce spending. He would be happy
to go in and make his own cuts to the budget proposal but will not support any use of
new tax dollars in the 3% budget. He would not be supportive of funding MCPAWS
unless there are cuts made other places in the proposed budget. He does not support
paying for a School Resource Officer through the Police Department and believes that
the City should force the school district to pay for that officer and use that money at
MCPAWS unless there are cuts made other places in the proposed budget. He does
not support paying for a School Resource Officer through the Police Department and
believes that the school district should pay for that officer so the City could use that
money could fund MCPAWS instead.
Mayor Colton restated his preference to include the 3% growth increase in a Council
Contingency line for distribution when needs are more clearly defined. He does not
support making specific cuts in the tentative budget, including a cut in health insurance
coverage for City Council members or other programs proposed by staff.
Bill Keating stated that paving Pine-Wooley would be his priority for paving in FY 2004 if
he had the $30,000 proposed spending options for a 3% tax increase. The $60,000 in
the budget is designated to complete the Syringa project. It will take until 2006 before
any other new paving projects can be done due to the Spring Mountain Blvd project,
and longer if money is not allocated to Pine-Wooley work this year.
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Bonnie Bertram advocated a tax increase, suggesting that the Council remember that
paying a small increase each year rather than losing ground or being hit with a big
increase at one time is much easier for taxpayers.
City Manager Robert Strope asked that if the Council is considering making changes in
what has been proposed by staff, that the staff be allowed to create another draft.
Since increases in budgeted health insurance costs were covered by funds previously
dedicated by Council for that purpose, any reduction in that area should be carried
forward into FY 2005 to help cover future increases. He reminded Council members
that they had specifically endorsed the School Resource officer position earlier this year
without salary payments from the school.
When asked for clarification on Council's intent regarding funding for MCPAWS, Mayor
Colton restated his request for staff to review the budget and said that if the answer is
no, staff can't find it, then to say so, but to review the budget.
Mike Anderson noted that he appreciates the difficulty the Council faces in prioritizing
many competing needs. Since the majority of the MCPAWS funding comes from
donations and volunteer labor, allocating tax dollars to that program can be very cost
effective. He asked that staff find a way to fund the MCPAWS request.
Jim Staup commented on his believe that the local option tax failed because it was an
across the board increase of 1 % rather than a "bed and booze" tax. The difference
between the two options is ten -fold.
Bill Robertson asked whether the budget on the website is the same as the one the
Council is reviewing. (It is not, but the correct document was posted during this meeting
and copies provided to those who wanted one.)
Council Member Muller wondered how many City employees would buy insurance if
they were given a choice of receiving as additional salary an equal share of the money
the City is paying for family insurance benefits.
City Manager Strope adamantly expressed his feeling that employees should not be
asked to fully cover the cost of dependent health insurance coverage, but that they are
being to help cover annual changes in the cost of coverage for dependents starting with
the coming budget year.
Council Member Eimers asked that the staff provide a more specific plan and
timeline to phase in employee contributions to cover the cost of family health
insurance benefits. In addition, he asked that staff provide the total cost of
providing family health insurance coverage rather than employee only coverage.
The Council agreed to continue the Public Hearing on Ordinance 782, Adoption of
the FY 2004 Budget Appropriation, until the August 28, 2003 Council meeting and
accept written comment until that time.
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At 8:34 p.m., Mayor Colton moved to go into executive session per Idaho Code
67-2345(1f) to consider pending litigation. Council Member Arp seconded the
motion. Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, Council Member Muller, and Council
Member Eimers voted aye. The motion carried.
The discussion concerned pending litigation.
At 8:52 p.m. the Executive session was recessed until the end of other business
during this meeting.
AB 03-95 VAC-03-3 Ordinance No. 780 Vacation of a Portion of Dawson Ave. and
Potential Property Exchange (Continued from July 24, 2003)
City Attorney Susan Buxton addressed the Council and reviewed the information
contained in AB 03-95. She explained that at the July 24 public hearing, Julie Fields
estimated the value of land in this area as $2.08/square foot. Based on that estimate,
the value of Parcel A (to be acquired by the City) is $1,803 and the value of Parcel B (to
be acquired by Schoonover) is $3,370, with the net due to the City of $1,567. Ms.
Buxton reviewed the process for completing the transfer of property.
Council Member Arp moved to continue the public hearing on a vacation of a
portion of Dawson Avenue until the September 11, 2003 Council meeting, to
establish that the value of the land identified for potential exchange between the
City and Mr. Schoonover be set at $2.08 per square foot, and to direct staff to
provide notice for a potential land transfer or exchange. Mayor Colton seconded
the motion. In a roll call vote, Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, Council
Member Muller, and Council Member Eimers voted aye. The motion carried.
AB 03-96 Adoption of Ordinance No. 783, Amendment of FY 02-03 Budget to
Reflect Unanticipated Revenue and Expense
Robert Strope reviewed information provided to the Council Members on Agenda Bill
03-96. These budget amendments are necessary:
To reflect carry-over revenue and expenses of $300,045 in the Airport Fund used for
completion of Airport Improvement Project #8, which was delayed past the end of Fiscal
Year 2002 due to the heavy fire season. The Airport has received $277,805 in grants
from the FAA and will receive an additional $6,807 before the end of the fiscal year. An
additional $15,433 in grants from the State of Idaho were not included in the FY 2003
budget; and
To account accurately for $60,000 in loans from appropriated fund balance in the
General Fund to the Golf Fund authorized by prior City Council action. The first loan of
$10,000 is to be used for marketing, and another $50,000 is for costs of greens
recovery and equipment purchases. Publication of Ordinance 783 included an
additional $100,000 in revenue and expense to preserve the option of handling
$100,000 of Golf Foundation funded improvements to the Golf Course through the City
bidding and purchasing process. After the publication deadline, the decision was made
by the Golf Foundation to make improvements without utilizing the City bidding process.
Ordinance 783 does not include that $100,000 in potential revenue and expense
included in the published Notice of Hearing.
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Council Member Arp moved to close the Public Hearing on Adoption of
Ordinance No. 783, Amendment of FY 02-03 Budget to Reflect Unanticipated
Revenue and Expense at 8:57 p.m. Council Member Eimers seconded the
motion. In a roll call vote, Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, Council Member
Muller, and Council Member Eimers voted aye. The motion carried.
Council Member Arp moved to suspend the rules, read by title only, one time
only, Ordinance No. 783. Council Member Muller seconded the motion. In a roll
call vote, Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, Council Member Muller, and
Council Member Eimers voted aye. The motion carried.
Council Member Arp moved to Adopt Ordinance No. 783. Council Member Muller
seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp,
Council Member Muller, and Council Member Eimers voted aye. The motion
carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Colton called for public comment.
Mike Maini, 160 Largo Drive and friends told the City Council that a group of youth who
attended the Governor's roundtable is proposing a Youth Advisory Council to provide
input to the City Council from a teen point of view and that the Council recognize this
group in that capacity.
Philip Davis, 1640 Warren Wagon Road, VP of McCall Donnelly High School ASB noted
that the many young people in McCall are interested in finding ways to get involved.
Jessica Moore, 1359 Easy Street, junior in high school noted that McCall is not a youth
friendly place and that her goal is to help to give youth more things to do in the city,
especially in the evening, and feels that more youth involvement could help the City
planning process.
Ben Verschoor, 605 Syringa stated that his goal is to contribute to City decision making
and get a new pier installed at Brown Park to replace one that is no longer there.
The group has begun to organize based on a model from Caldwell. They will work on a
contract with the City Council and will come to a future meeting when more group
structure is defined. Council Member Arp recommended that the group provide ideas
and work in partnership with the City to design a program. She suggested that the
Council appoint a youth advisory group to provide input to the City Council. City
Manager Strope volunteered to work with the group to assist them in creating a
productive structure and giving them information about how to interact with the City.
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of July 24, 2003
Invoice Approval List Dated August 8, 2003
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Payroll Report for Pay Period Ending July 18, 2003
Payroll Report for Pay Period Ending August 1, 2003
AB 03-107 Xerox Rental Agreement
AB 03-111 Alcohol Beverage Catering Permits
AB 03-114 Allocate Funds From Library Contingent Revenue And Expense
Mayor Council Member moved to approve the Consent Agenda and authorize the
Mayor to sign appropriate documents on behalf of the City. Council Member
Eimers seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, Mayor Colton, Council Member
Arp, Council Member Muller, and Council Member Eimers voted aye. The motion
carried.
BUSINESS
AB 03-108 WRICOPS Community Policing Survey
Chief of Police Ralph Appa noted that the Police Advisory Committee identified a
significant resource available to the community and invited and introduced Kelsey Gray
representing the Western Regional Institute for Community Oriented Public Safety from
Washington State University. This is a volunteer group made up of Post Directors from
five western states, including Barbara Monaco from Poison, Montana, John Martin,
Tacoma, Washington State Patrol, RoseAnn London, a Public Administration Professor
at Washington State University Jay Armstrong is a retired Public Works Director from
Green Valley, Arizona and Ryan Buzzini is Community Policing Officer with the Boise
Police Department. This group is interviewing over 100 people to get a snapshot of
McCall, typically this type of assessment costs between $6,000 and $15,000 in this
program because of volunteer uses, while small communities pay more than $50,000
for this service through independent consultants. Chief, I need help with these names
please.
AB 03-115 Sale of Lifetime Golf Passes, Approve Agreement between City and
Golf Foundation. (Attachments to be provided to Council Members at the
meeting)
Robert Strope reviewed information provided to the Council Members on Agenda Bill
03-115 asking the Council to approve allowing the Golf Foundation to resell two
additional lifetime golf passes (one pass was held by an individual who is deceased and
one is held by a member who is no longer able to golf) and to sell one additional new
pass for $8,000 each, with the agreement that 100% of the proceeds will be used to
fund projects at the Golf Course. This increases the total number of passes approved
this year from 12 to 15.
The City Attorney reviewed the current bonds and this would not violate the bonds. The
City has drafted an agreement between the Golf Foundation and the City to document
approval of the sale or resale of the passes approved by Council in 2003, and a
corporate resolution for the Foundation to authorize someone to sign this agreement on
behalf of the Foundation.
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Council Member Muller moved to approve the additional resale of two lifetime golf
passes and one new lifetime golf pass as described, approve the draft agreement
between the City and the Golf Foundation, subject to final revisions by the City
Attorney and the Foundation, and authorize the Mayor to sign all required
documents. Council Member Eimers seconded the motion. In a roll call vote,
Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, Council Member Muller, and Council Member
Eimers voted aye. The motion carried.
AB 03-118 Golf Course Alternatives Following Public Meeting
City Manager Robert Strope reviewed information provided to the Council Members on
Agenda Bill 03-118. The Council conducted a public meeting requesting comments
from the community regarding alternatives at the McCall Municipal Golf Course.
Council was provided with a copy of the comments received and summaries from the
three work groups. Based on the input received at the meeting, some options for to
consider include direct tax support; a Local Option Tax; an Override Levy; conducting
studies on the operation and economic impact of the course and continuing to review
rates on an annual basis. Mr. Strope is requesting that the Council provide guidance on
what City Staff should do next.
Council Member Muller would like to see a professional analysis to determine the
economic benefit to the community of the golf course and another survey to examine
the financial problems and provide suggestions on how to resolve them. He would also
like to look at the special tax options and all other alternatives that were raised at the
meeting. He also feels that we should provide the Golf Superintendent with more
equipment and whatever labor is needed to get the course into good shape early. He
specifically wants staff to explore details by having our own professionals assist in
creating specific details for every item on the list.
Council Member Eimers would like to have a $150,000 override tax on the ballot and
put out an RFP to get proposals for a management firm to run the Golf Course and if
neither works, then do an RFP to hire a consultant to provide specific suggestions for
improvement. He wants someone to help find the balance that needs to exist between
all of the constraints that the City Golf Course faces. He would like to have the Council
choose a specific type of tax proposal tonight to put on the ballot in November.
Council Member Arp noted that those attending the meeting did not feel that there has
been enough education to get an override or a local option tax passed.
Mayor Colton would also like to look at the local option tax and other options to raise
revenue. He would like to have staff provide specific ideas for use of a 3% increase,
including previous suggestions like paving and increased funding for MCPAWS or funds
for studying golf course problems. Using the strategy designed in the past for a mixed -
use local option tax should not be abandoned because it will provide very specific
feedback to the Council. He also hopes to receive more public comment before a final
decision is made on the budget at the August 28, 2003 Council meeting supporting or
opposing the use of the available 3% property tax for specific purposes.
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Council Member Eimers moved to concurrently put a $150,000 override tax on the
ballot in November, and put out an RFP to get proposals to privatize the course
and then do an RFP to hire a consultant to provide specific suggestions for
improvement. Motion dies for Zack of a second.
The discussion continued on the possibility of changing the current management
contract to include management of the entire course or putting out an RFP to outsource
the management. There are a number of complex contractual issues that must be
resolved in order to do this.
Council asked staff to provide the Council with a specific proposal for a tax
override on the November ballot; to ask the Foundation to fund a study of the
economic impact of the golf course on the City of McCall, and create a draft RFP
for privatizing the operations of the Golf Course.
REPORTS
City Attorney — Susan Buxton
If the Council believes that it is necessary and in the best interest of the City to transfer
City property to the Cemetery District that was donated to the City with the intent that it
would be maintained for cemetery use, then the first step needed is to establish a value
for the property, unless Council intends to make the transfer at no cost to another public
entity. Once that step has been completed, the Council must advertise and hold a
Public Hearing on the proposed exchange or transfer of real property Following
extended discussion, it was agreed that the City Manager will ask the Cemetery District
to make a presentation to the Council at the August 28, 2003 meeting concerning their
interest in the City transferring land at the corner of Deinhard and Mission streets.
Council Member — Marilyn Arp
The City has forwarded a comment about handicapped accessibility to the Chamber of
Commerce. She also raised some concern about the definition of a resident contained
in the Library fee proposal scheduled for August 28, 2003.
Council Member — Kirk Eimers
Mr. Eimers asked whether there was a possibility that the City could recover some or all
of the legal costs of a lawsuit if the City prevails in a case. The City Attorney said that
there is at least a fifty percent chance that this could occur.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 11:10 p.m., Council Member Arp moved to go into executive session per Idaho
Code 67-2345(1f) to consider pending litigation. Council Member seconded the
motion. Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, Council Member Muller, and Council
Member Eimers voted aye. The motion carried.
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The discussion concerned issues related to litigation.
At 11:25 p.m. Council Member Eimers moved to come out of executive session.
Mayor Colton seconded the motion. Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, Council
Member Muller, and Council Member Eimers voted aye. The motion carried.
BUSINESS
Council discussed the need for additional information regarding a bill from Floyd Ayers
for payment for services related to the Montgomery Watson case.
Council Member Arp moved to reconsider approval of the Consent Agenda.
Mayor Colton seconded the motion. Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, Council
Member Muller, and Council Member Eimers voted aye. The motion carried.
Council Member Eimers moved to reconsider approval of the Warrant Register.
Mayor Colton seconded the motion. Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, Council
Member Muller, and Council Member Eimers voted aye. The motion carried.
Council Member Eimers moved to withdraw approval of payment to Mr. Ayers and
have staff write Mr. Ayers requesting additional information regarding the details
-- of this billing, and direct Mr. Strope to work with Mr. Ayers on this request.
Seconded by Council Member Arp. Mayor Colton, Council Member Muller, and
Council Member Eimers voted aye. The motion carried.
Council Member Muller moved to approve the Amended Warrant Register. Mayor
Colton seconded the motion. Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, Council
Member Muller, and Council Member Eimers voted aye. The motion carried.
Council Member Eimers moved to approve the Amended Consent Agenda. Mayor
Arp seconded the motion. Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, Council Member
Muller, and Council Member Eimers voted aye. The motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
Without further business, Council Member Arp moved to adjourn. Council
Member Muller seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye. The
motion carried. The Council adjourned at 11:42 p.m.
Ralph Colton, Mayor
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ATTEST:
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Barbara Bauer, Finance Director & City Clerk
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