HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013.12.18 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
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December 18, 2013
Mayor Richard Woodland
Council Members:
Christopher Mann Jordan Busby
Donna Benfield Jerry Merrill
Bruce Sutherland Sally Smith
City Staff:
Stephen Zollinger – City Attorney
Richard Horner – Finance Officer
John Millar – Public Works Director
Val Christensen – Community Development Director
Scott Johnson – Economic Development Director
Blair Kay – City Clerk
5:00 P.M. City Hall – Pledge to the Flag
Mayor Woodland welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Richard Horner led the Pledge to the Flag.
Phil Packer said the prayer.
Roll Call of Council Members:
Attending: Council President Mann, Council Member Benfield, Council Member Smith, Council
Member Busby, Council Member Merrill, Council Member Sutherland, and Mayor Woodland.
Public Comment on non-controversial issues: not scheduled on the agenda (limit 3 minutes) – NONE
Presentations:
A. Linx Transportation is a cooperative: (Linx has almost 70 members from hospitals, to small
businesses to resorts and tourism operators to help enhance quality of life and economic
development in the region. Rexburg recently joined Linx. The Multi-Modal Transportation
Assessment and Development Plan being advanced by Linx is part of the HUD-supported
Regional Plan for Sustainable Development. Master’s student Katie Wilson will demonstrate
the interactive map application now available to the City that displays recreational trails systems
across the four-county region. The Plan includes recommendations for improving regional
mobility across the four-county area and two national parks, but our time with the Council will
focus on items most relevant to Rexburg and Madison County as they continue with the
Envision Madison process – Janice Brown
Jan Brown introduced the discussion to apply for a grant for a transportation study. She went over
the Rexburg Micropolitan Area being part of a larger regional transportation area. Fremont County
recently received a HUD Grant by including the whole regional area in the grant request. Jackson
has a Micropolitan Area which includes Teton County, Idaho and Teton County, Wyoming. (The
Jackson Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting
of two counties, one in Wyoming and one in Idaho, anchored by the town of Jackson.) The goal is to improve
transportation mobility in the associated counties. The Multi-Modal Transportation Assessment
and Development Plan was reviewed which would connect Rexburg to other public transportation
entities in the regional area. This current HUD Transportation Study would be for 2015.
35 North 1st East
Rexburg, ID 83440
Phone: 208.359.3020 x2313
Fax: 208.359.3022
blairk@rexburg.org
www.rexburg.org
City Council Meeting
December 18, 2013
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Council Member Merrill asked Ms. Brown to review why Fremont County was the grant
administrator for the HUD Grant instead of Rexburg. Ms. Brown indicated Fremont County was
the applicant for the grant; however, they had to include Rexburg because Rexburg is part of the
Micropolitan Statistical Area defined by the United States Census Bureau which includes Fremont
County.
Ms. Brown reviewed some inter-city connection routes that are needed for Rexburg. Also, the route
to Driggs is being suspended (5311 funds) due to lack of ridership. She has written a mini grant to
the Community Transportation Association of America to get an audience with Charles Dixon to
visit the Rexburg Micropolitan Statistical Area. After the tour of the area including BYU-I, Mr.
Dixon indicated this Micropolitan Area qualified for long term technical transportation assistance
which means an 80% cost sharing formula with HUD. The study would include a fixed route study
for Rexburg in 2015.
Ms. Brown provided an example study from Portland, Maine to show how the Rexburg study
would look. The (CTAA) Community Transportation Association of America is a very legitimate
national group focused on rural transportation systems. The study would cost about $50,000 with
matching funds from Rexburg for about $5,000. HUD would pay for 80% of the study. Salt Lake
Express covers the north-south corridor for Rexburg from Salt Lake City to Bozeman, Montana. In
the meantime other entities can continue to do demand response services for Rexburg. Everyone
would need to make a small contribution to make the regional model happen which could include
monthly passes for riders.
Ms. Brown indicated Linx has been encouraged to apply for the 5311 funds to start in April, 2015
to service a transportation route going east to Driggs and Victor for a connection to the Jackson
transportation system. If the pre-application for the grant is accepted, Ms. Brown will be seeking
matching funds from Victor, Driggs, Jackson, Rexburg, associated counties, and BYU-I. This would
leverage the application by getting support from as many entities in the Micropolitan Area as
possible. The 5311 funding will provide 50% for operations (hiring) for the transportation vendor
for the route. Ms. Brown recommended targeting evening and weekend traffic to Jackson in the
target ridership. She reviewed the Bozeman system and their connection routes to Yellowstone Park,
Big Sky Ski Resort, Jackson, etc.
Ms. Brown said the other target market is in the east routes is the Teton and Yellowstone National
Parks. Linx has serviced Yellowstone National Park for the last three years. She reviewed the Start
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Bus system in Jackson which is offering transportation in downtown Jackson, Teton Village,
Teton Valley, and Star Valley. (Note that all buses have bike racks.) Please contact Start Bus
directly at (307) 733-4521 for information regarding accessibility. The Start Bus runs four
scheduled routes: Town Shuttle; Jackson to Teton Village; Jackson to Teton Valley; Jackson to
Star Valley. Note that the Star Valley and Teton Valley routes are designed for the commuter
with routes scheduled only in the mornings and evenings. You can find the most current
schedules online: Start Bus Schedules.
The Jackson system has over 1,000,000 in ridership each year. She reviewed the possibilities to
connect to the Yellowstone National Park system and eliminate the service gaps in the region.
Ms. Brown reviewed transportation maps on the internet and Linx ridership numbers. She reviewed
five initiatives:
Initiative 1 is regional transportation connectivity.
Initiative 2 is an integrated regional trails system.
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Initiative 3 is broadening online transportation ticketing.
Initiative 4 is alternative fuel vehicles.
Katie Wilson (Student and Idaho State University) reviewed a Scenario Planning tool on the
internet. It is an interactive map showing region trails systems. & the next steps:
Ms. Wilson reviewed the trails map on the internet for Rexburg. It shows what is currently available
and also it shows the disparities. She said the City’s GIS Technician could use the map to show
Rexburg’s trail systems. She indicated the Madison Trails System needs to broaden their map
distribution to the public.
Council Member Busby asked about the costs associated with this transportation plan. Ms. Brown
said the costs are unknown now until a transportation study can be completed.
Council Member Benfield said tourism is the third largest business in the state. It is huge for
Rexburg due to the location of Yellowstone Park. Council Member Merrill said the tourism and
recreational riders should be the target market now until fixed routes in Rexburg are viable.
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Discussion:
Ms. Brown said the study area is a four county area. The Rexburg to Jackson route is the next step.
Council Member Benfield said the Chamber of Commerce has travel shows in February to
encourage travel to the area. The transportation loops (including trail systems) are presented in the
travel shows. These items are what sell the area to get people to Rexburg. It is a regional approach to
attract people.
Council President Mann asked about the location of BYU-I students in proximity to the
University including students in Burley, etc… The data is available upon request from BYU-I.
Council Member Sutherland said the student body is in Rexburg year around.
Ms. Brown encouraged the City of Rexburg to be involved with the proposed transportation study.
Rod from ISU explained the concept of the trails map. He encouraged the use of the interactive
map and sketching tool. It is a design tool. www.sustainableyellowstone.org (The consortium represents a
wide diversity of small cities and rural towns – from Jackson WY, with one of the nation’s highest per capita incomes
to Rexburg, ID, with one of the lowest. These diverse communities will all benefit from having more accurate data and
trend information on their economies.)
Committee Liaison Assignments for 2013:
A. Council Member Christopher Mann: Golf Board · Emergency Services Board · MYAB
Council President Mann did not have a report.
B. Council Member Busby: GIS Oversight · Airport Board.
Council Member Busby reviewed the closure of parking on City Streets after December 15th to
March 1st. Eighty five tickets were issued with a $5.00 to $10.00 write down amount due to the
first time offense. City Attorney Zollinger reviewed the hook and drop policy to move cars out
of the way of the snow plows for a $40.00 fee.
Discussion on parking repeat offenders.
C. Council Member Donna Benfield: Trails of Madison County · IBC · Teton Flood Museum Committee
· M.E.P.I.
Council Member Benfield did not have a report.
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D. Council Member Sally Smith: Legacy Flight Museum · Rexburg Arts Council (Romance Theatre &
Tabernacle Civic Center, Orchestra)
Council Member Smith did not have a report.
E. Council Member Jerry Merrill: Beautification Committee · Parks & Recreation · Traffic & Safety ·
Urban Renewal Agency
Council Member Merrill did not have a report.
F. Council Member Bruce Sutherland: Planning & Zoning · School Board · Police
Council Member Sutherland did not have a report.
Mayor’s Report:
Public Hearings: – NONE
Items for Consideration: – NONE
Council Member Smith was excused from the meeting.
Staff Reports:
A. Public Works: – John Millar
1. Approve bid for a new sewer vacuum truck
Public Works Director Millar reviewed the low bid for a new sewer vacuum (wet vac) truck.
The used truck should be sold for around $65,000; the new truck was bid at $377,000. A flooded
basement could cost $30,000 to refurbish; so, the truck pays for its self over time.
Discussion:
The truck is used to clear sewer line blockages to avoid sewer backups in basements.
Council Member Sutherland moved to approve the low bid for a new sewer vacuum truck;
Council Member Merrill seconded the motion; Mayor Woodland asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council President Mann None
Council Member Benfield
Council Member Sutherland
Council Member Merrill
Council Member Busby
The motion carried
B. Finance Department – Richard Horner was excused.
Calendared Bills and Tabled Items:
A. “LAND USE ACTION” – BILLS RECOMMENDED/APPROVED IN A LAND USE
PUBLIC HEARING PROCEDURE: – NONE
B. BILL Introduction: – NONE
C. First Reading: Those items which are being introduced for first reading: : – NONE
D. Second Reading: Those items which have been first read:
1. BILL 1110 LID43 Final Assessment Role
Discussion:
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Council Member Sutherland moved to second read BILL 1110 LID43 for the Final Assessment
Role; Council President Mann seconded the motion; Mayor Woodland asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council President Mann None
Council Member Benfield
Council Member Sutherland
Council Member Merrill
Council Member Busby
The motion carried
Discussion:
2. BILL 1108 International Building Code 2012
Council Member Sutherland moved to second read BILL 1108 adopting the International
Building Code 2012 as presented; Council President Mann seconded the motion; Mayor Woodland
asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council President Mann None
Council Member Benfield
Council Member Sutherland
Council Member Merrill
Council Member Busby
The motion carried
E. Third Reading: Those items which have been second read: – NONE
Consent Calendar: The consent calendar includes items which require formal City Council action,
however they are typically routine or not of great controversy. Individual City Council members may
ask if any specific item should be removed from the consent calendar for discussion in greater detail.
Explanatory information is included in the City Council’s agenda packet regarding these items.
A. Minutes from December 04, 2013 meetings
Approve the City of Rexburg Bills
Discussion on a sewer credit to North Point for 15 homes removed from the sewer system.
These homes were credited against the fees for the new development for over 1,000 beds.
Discussion on city expenses to incentivize the trailers to be removed from city property on North
2nd East. (The city recently purchased the property to clean up a problem with trailers on railroad right-of-way.)
Council President Mann moved to approve the Consent Calendar and pay the bills; Council
Member Benfield seconded the motion; Mayor Woodland asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council President Mann None
Council Member Benfield
Council Member Sutherland
Council Member Merrill
Council Member Busby
The motion carried
Council Member Sutherland expressed his gratitude for serving 24 years in City Government
since 1985. He served with other city organizations, committees and city staff. It requires dedication
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with very little thanks or reward to make our community a better place. He has always had such a
wonderful experience serving in the community. It is an opportunity and a blessing to serve the City
of Rexburg.
Adjourned at 6:05 P.M.
APPROVED:
_______________________________
Richard S. Woodland, Mayor
Attest:
_______________________________
Blair D. Kay, City Clerk