HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015.11.18 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
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November 18, 2015
Mayor Richard Woodland
Council Members:
President Sally Smith Jordan Busby
Donna Benfield Jerry Merrill
Christopher Mann Brad Wolfe City Staff:
Stephen Zollinger – City Attorney
Matt Nielson – Finance Officer
Blair D. Kay – City Clerk
John Millar – Public Works Director
Val Christensen – Community Development Director
Scott Johnson – Economic Development Director
7:00 P.M. City Hall – Pledge to the Flag
Troop 309 led the pledge.
Jan Glasscock said the prayer.
Roll Call of Council Members:
Attending: Council Member Mann, Council Member Wolfe, and Mayor Woodland.
Council Member Merrill and Council Member Benfield joined the meeting via
telephone.
Council Member Busby and Council Member Smith asked to be excused.
Public Comment on non-controversial issues: not scheduled on the agenda (limit 3 minutes):
Presentations:
Committee Liaison Assignments for 2015:
A. Council Member Christopher Mann: Golf Board · Emergency Services Board · MYAB
Council Member Mann reported the Golf Board and Emergency Services have not met.
Mayors Youth Advisory Board met today. They are working on Shop with a Cop. They
watched a video from last year’s Shop with a Cop and then finished the angel ornaments for
the gift giving trees that go up in area businesses. This program provides Christmas for
those in need. Council Member Mann also reported that he attended an Association of
Idaho Cities meeting in Idaho Falls today and it was a great presentation. Matt Nielsen, Blair
Kay, Tisha Flora and three Deputy City Clerks also attended from Rexburg. He mentioned
that they were reminded at the meeting that the minutes from all committee meetings should
be presented to City Council. He said that the meeting was a good opportunity to review
procedures and learn how we can do better.
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
November 18, 2015
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B. Council Member Jordan Busby: GIS Oversight · Airport Board · Traffic & Safety
Council Member Busby was excused.
C. Council Member Donna Benfield: Police · Trails of Madison County · IBC · Teton Flood
Museum Committee
Council Member Benfield reported she has not met with her committees.
D. Council Member Smith: Legacy Flight Museum · Rexburg Arts Council (Romance Theatre &
Tabernacle Civic Center, Orchestra) · M.E.P.I.
Council President Smith was excused.
E. Council Member Jerry Merrill: School Board · Parks & Recreation · Urban Renewal Agency
Council Member Merrill reported that Winter Recreation will be starting with sign ups
soon.
F. Council Member Brad Wolfe: Planning & Zoning · Beautification Committee
Council Member Wolfe reported that Planning & Zoning was cancelled last week, they will meet
tomorrow.
Mayor’s Report:
Public Hearings: - NONE
Items for Consideration:
A. Record the Election Results canvased by the Madison County Commissioners on November 9th,
2015 for the 2015 City Election.
Mayor Woodland reviewed the November 03, 2015 election results as canvased by the Madison
County Commission on November 09, 2015.
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Council Member Wolfe moved to accept the vote results as recorded; Council Member Mann
seconded the motion; Mayor Woodland asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Benfield None
Council Member Mann
Council Member Merrill
Council Member Wolfe
The motion carried
A. Public Works: - Keith Davidson
1. 2016 Street Projects
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City Engineer Keith Davidson reviewed the 2016 Street Maintenance Projects: He is looking at
revising the original plans for the storm drain line that was going to go down 5th West to 4th South.
They would now like to switch the alignment and take it down 4th West instead of 5th West. It
would then go down 4th South to the roundabout to pick up a storm drain line coming off the hill.
This would complete the line and have it operational to help alleviate the flooding that occurs at the
roundabout during regular rain events. They will also run a line down 3rd West to pick up a line
coming off of 5th South. They will also reconstruct the road from the roundabout to 4th West. This
route would be less expensive because there would be less utilities and bridges to cross. They will
still have to cross the railroad tracks.
Council Member Merrill agreed it would be a good idea because he doesn’t want to tear up the
new road on 5th West.
Council Member Wolfe asked if the reason for redoing 5th West was primarily for the storm drain.
City Engineer Davidson said it was for the street and they will probably look at redoing 5th West
next year.
Mayor Woodland asked for a motion.
Council Member Wolfe moved to accept staffs decision to move the route for the storm drain
from 5th West to 4th West; Council Member Mann seconded the motion; Mayor Woodland asked for
a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Benfield None
Council Member Mann
Council Member Merrill
Council Member Wolfe
The motion carried
2. Approve Lease Agreement for BYU-I well and water rights for the next 5 years.
City Engineer Davidson reviewed the Lease Agreement with BYU-I to lease existing water well and
associated water rights.
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Council Member Merrill moved to approve the Lease Agreement with BYU-I for the well
and water rights lease; Council Member Benfield seconded the motion; Mayor Woodland
asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Benfield None
Council Member Mann
Council Member Merrill
Council Member Wolfe
The motion carried
3. Wastewater Plant bid results discussion.
City Engineer Keith Davidson explained that the engineers estimate for the Wastewater Project was 4
million. The lowest bid came in at 5.3 million, so 1.3 million over their estimate. He reviewed the options.
#1 - We can accept the bid as it currently stands and move forward with it. #2 - Reward the bid and then
make modifications with the contractor to lower the costs. #3 - Reject all the bids and rebid it and take out
the items that drove the price up. #4 - Put the pasteurization project on hold and look at other options like
land application and increasing capacity at the digester. His recommendation is to stay with the
pasteurization but rebid the project as soon as possible with modifications.
Council Member Mann asked if there was a way to fund the rest of the 1.3 million. He doesn’t
want to cut out things that are needed. If there are things in the project that we need we still need
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those. If there was fluff in there that we can cut out then it shouldn’t have been there to begin with.
City Engineer Davidson said that there are some things that can be reworked. For example, the
painting and the bio-solids building are some things that are driving the price up.
Council Member Wolfe said that we were at 9 million for the entire project in the beginning and
that we had 11 million available. Engineer Davidson said that just this project with equipment and
everything, we are looking at 8 million if we were to go with the current bid. We have already
contracted with G.E. for the equipment but they haven’t started manufacturing that equipment yet,
so we haven’t let them move to the next phase.
Council Member Wolfe asked if 8 million would be for the whole project with equipment and
everything. Engineer Davidson replied yes, that is correct and the funds are available but it’s really
tight. Chief Financial Officer Nielson said if we go with the current bid it would use up all the
reserves.
Council Member Wolfe asked if we accept this bid and renegotiated would it be enough? Does it
make sense to rebid or will prices go up? Engineer Davidson said it is best to rebid. Generally
when you negotiate out, it doesn’t go well.
Council Member Mann stated he doesn’t see a problem with rebidding it, but is concerned with
taking things out of the project and not having what we wanted. Engineer Davidson said they could
put the sludge storage shed on its own line item and then it’s easy to delete that off if needed.
Council Member Wolf asked about the time frame for rebidding the project. Engineer Davidson
said probably sometime early next year they could bid it out and then have it ready to go first thing
when weather permits. Council Member Wolfe commented that we’re not really hurting anything
timewise.
Discussion:
Mayor Woodland reviewed what has been said for Council Member Benfield and Council Member
Merrill because they couldn’t hear everything. Council Member Merrill agreed with Council
Member Mann that we don’t want to take things out that are important and believes it would be a
good idea to rebid. Council Member Benfield also agrees to rebid.
Mayor Woodland asked for a motion to rebid the Waste Water Treatment project.
Council Member Wolfe moved to rebid the Waste Water Treatment project; Council Member
Merrill seconded the motion; Mayor Woodland asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Benfield None
Council Member Mann
Council Member Merrill
Council Member Wolfe
The motion carried
B. Finance Department: – Finance Officer Nielson
1. Review and seek approval from City Council to make the recommended budget
adjustments for savings on health and dental between the actual increase and budgeted
increase for health and dental.
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Finance Officer Nielson reviewed the 2016 proposed budget adjustments for savings on health
and dental between the actual increase and budgeted increase. A 10 % increase for health and dental
insurance has been budgeted for fiscal year 2016. We ended up having a 4.59 percent increase. This
resulted in a savings of $65,700 in the general fund and about $97,800 city wide. He said they would
like to reduce the expenses in the departments, reduce the transfers to those funds that are
subsidized and increase contingency. The Police Department savings came to $23,000 and they
would like to use $20,000 for shooting software. CFO Nielson then turned the time over to Chief
Turman to explain the software.
Police Chief Turman showed a power point about FATS (Fire Arms Training Simulator). It’s
training software for law enforcement. They found a place locally that is selling one for $20,000.
He said every day there is a shooting and he believes training for the officers is important. FATS is
a dynamic and realistic computer, laser, training system.
“F.A.T.S stands for Firearm’s Training Simulator.”
“It is an entirely interactive system that uses a computer program, a large screen and very realistic firearms that
are loaded with computer chips instead of ammunition. It looks somewhat like a big video game, but it is definitely
not a game.”
“The F.A.T.S system is used in police and military training. It costs upwards of $150,000 and was designed to
be used with many types of firearms – however, each type of firearm added to the system costs several thousand
dollars. The software on this F.A.T.S system was designed to simulate police calls and stops and the firearms
were all corded (i.e. attached) to the computer. There are systems where the firearms are not corded, and the guns
have magazines filled with nitrogen gas to simulate recoil. With certain software, it is also possible to create
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scenarios where the suspects will not only be shooting back at you from the video screen, but the instructor can
launch soft foam projectiles at you from a device called the Hostile Fire Simulator. In this case you would need to
make use of available cover in the room to avoid being hit.”
“The instructor personalizes each scenario for the individual shooter and can increase or decrease the intensity of
the situation to match the shooters ability level even as the situation progresses. For example, if the shooter is
handling the scenario well, the instructor can increase the stress level by adding threats to the scene or having the
shooter run out of ammunition.”
Police Chief Turman indicated there are 500 scenarios that are very realistic and have multiple
outcomes depending on how the officer reacts. It’s a theater style system with new scenarios
coming out quarterly for free. He showed a video of one scenario. It teaches officers critical
thinking. Mayor Woodland added that he looked at it with Chief Turman and they tried it. It is very
realistic.
Council Member Merrill asked why the seller is getting rid of it. Mayor Woodland said that they
thought they could make money on it by charging customers to use it but are not getting their
overhead out of it. He said if it can save lives it’s worth it. Chief Turman said they can also bring
teachers and school district members in for training as well as other community members.
Council Member Wolfe asked who had it. Chief Turman said it was a private gun shop that
owned it. It wasn’t what they thought it was. This is designed for law enforcement. Council
Member Wolfe asked if they are trying to get rid of it because there is something newer, better,
greater. Chief Turman said this system is the cream of the crop. It’s a $65,000 system.
Council Member Mann wants to make sure it is available to the county and other agencies as well.
It should be used by anyone who needs it and not just sitting on the shelf. Chief Turman said they
will have a room set up and they will invite other agencies to use it. They will probably charge a fee
to cover maintenance.
Discussion:
Council Member Mann moved to approve the 2016 proposed budget adjustments for
savings on health and dental between the actual increase and budgeted increase for health
and dental as presented and allow the Police Department to use $20,000 to purchase a Fire
Arms Training Simulator; Council Member Merrill seconded the motion; Mayor Woodland
asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Benfield None
Council Member Mann
Council Member Merrill
Council Member Wolfe
The motion carried
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: - NONE
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D. Second Reading: Those items which have been first read: Those items which are being
introduced for second reading:
1. Ordinance 1134 – Urban Renewal Plan for the North Interchange Urban
Renewal Project.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REXBURG, IDAHO, APPROVING THE URBAN RENEWAL
PLAN FOR THE NORTH INTERCHANGE URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT, WHICH PLAN INCLUDES REVENUE
ALLOCATION FINANCING PROVISIONS; AUTHORIZING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS
ORDINANCE AND OTHER REQUIRED INFORMATION TO COUNTY AND STATE OFFICIALS; APPROVING THE
SUMMARY OF THE ORDINANCE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Discussion:
Council Member Mann explained this Ordinance to the scouts and people in attendance.
Council Member Mann moved to consider Ordinance 1134 for the Urban Renewal Plan
for the North Interchange Urban Renewal Project 2nd read; Council Member Benfield
seconded the motion; Mayor Woodland asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Benfield None
Council Member Mann
Council Member Merrill
Council Member Wolfe
The motion carried
2. Ordinance 1138 – LID45 Final Assessment Roll.
AN ORDINANCE CONFIRMING THE ASSESSMENT ROLL, FOR LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 45 IN REXBURG,
IDAHO, FOR THE PURPOSE OF INSTALLING CERTAIN STREETS, CURBS, GUTTERS, SIDEWALKS, AND OTHER
PUBLIC FACILITIES AND PARTS THEREOF WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF SAID CITY, TO BE GRADED, RE-
GRADED, GRAVELED, PAVED, RE-PAVED AND OTHERWISE IMPROVE THE HEREINAFTER DESCRIBED STREETS
WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND TO CONSTRUCT AND RECONSTRUCT SIDEWALKS, CURBS, GUTTERS, DRIVEWAYS,
DRAINAGE FACILITIES, OFFSITE STORM SEWER, WATER AND SANITARY SEWER FACILITIES, STREET LIGHTS AND
OTHER PUBLIC FACILITIES AND OTHER WORK INCIDENTAL TO ALL OF THE FOREGOING IMPROVEMENTS;
ORDERING ASSESSMENTS TO BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ASSESSMENT ROLL AND PRESCRIBING
DETAILS CONCERNING SAID ASSESSMENTS; AND REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN
CONFLICT HEREWITH, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Discussion:
Council Member Mann had Chief Finance Officer Nielson explain to the scouts a
description of an LID.
Council Member Wolfe moved to consider Ordinance 1138 2nd read for the LID45 Final
Assessment Roll; Council Member Merrill seconded the motion; Mayor Woodland asked for
a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Benfield None
Council Member Mann
Council Member Merrill
Council Member Wolfe
The motion carried
E. Third Reading: Those items which have been second read: - NONE
Mayor’s Business:
Consent Calendar: The consent calendar includes items which require formal City Council
Action; however they are typically routine or not of great controversy. Individual Council
members may ask that any specific item be removed from the consent calendar for
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discussion in greater detail. Explanatory information is included in the City Council’s agenda
packet regarding these items.
A. Minutes from November 04, 2015 meeting
B. Approve the City of Rexburg Bills
Council Member Wolfe moved to approve the Consent Calendar and pay the bills; Council
Member Mann seconded the motion; Mayor Woodland asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Wolfe None
Council Member Benfield
Council Member Mann
Council Member Merrill
The motion carried
Adjourned at 7:41 P.M.
APPROVED:
____________________________
Richard S. Woodland, Mayor
Attest:
_______________________________
Mary Flanary, Deputy City Clerk