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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil Minutes -December 21, 2016.pdf 1 December 21, 2016 Mayor Jerry Merrill Council Members: Christopher Mann Jordan Busby Donna Benfield Tisha Flora Brad Wolfe Sally Smith City Staff: Stephen Zollinger – City Attorney Matt Nielson – Finance Officer John Millar – Public Works Director Val Christensen – Community Development Director Scott Johnson – Economic Development Director Blair Kay – City Clerk 7:00 A.M. City Hall Council Meeting Council Member Mann said the prayer. Council President Smith led the pledge. Roll Call of Council Members: Attending: Council President Smith, Council Member Flora, Council Member Benfield, Council Member Mann, Council Member Wolfe, Council Member Busby, and Mayor Merrill. Public Comment: not scheduled on the agenda (limit 3 minutes); issues may be considered for discussion on a future agenda. Please keep comments on point and respectful. Presentations: Committee Liaison Assignments for 2016: A. Council Member Mann: Golf Board · Emergency Services Board · GIS Oversight · Development Workshop Council Member Mann reported the committees have not met. B. Council Member Busby: · Airport Board · Traffic & Safety · Trails of Madison County Council Member Busby reported the committees have not met. C. Council Member Benfield: Police · MYAB· Parks & Recreation Council Member Benfield reported the committees have not met. D. Council Member Smith: Legacy Flight Museum · Beautification Committee · M.E.P.I. Council President Smith reported the committees have not met. E. Council Member Flora: School Board · Rexburg Arts Council/ Museum of Rexburg Council Member Flora reported the new sand table was delivered to the Museum of Rexburg. Council President Smith asked if the museum was going to be opened during the Holidays. Council Member Flora replied the boiler at the museum isn’t working and she is not sure when the repairs will be completed. She suggested checking with Jackie Rawlins to see what days the museum will be opened. 35 North 1st East Rexburg, ID 83440 Phone: 208.359.3020 x2313 Fax: 208.359.3022 blairk@rexburg.org www.rexburg.org City Council Minutes December 21, 2016 2 Council Member Busby asked when the Romance Theater marquee would be repaired. The sign was damaged due to a power outage. Mayor Merrill asked if a claim could be filed against the power company. F. Council Member Wolfe: Planning & Zoning · Urban Renewal Agency · IBC Council Member Wolfe reported the committees have not met. Staff Reports: A. Finance: - Matt Nielson 1. Financial Reports Finance Officer Nielson reviewed the Budget Summary Report. The City is two months into the fiscal year. He mentioned anything above 17% would be an irregularity for example; the Legacy Fight Museum is at 71% that is due to a purchase of a Beech Airplane. The airplane was partially donated. Council Member Busby asked about the owner of the airplane. Finance Officer Nielson replied the airplane is owned by the City and Madison County. Finance Officer Nielson said the City has spent about three million more dollars than what has been received. This is typical for this time of the year. He explained the City is waiting to receive two more property tax checks in January. 3 4 Finance Officer Nielson said the only change in the Cash and Investment Report is that the City now has two and a half million dollars invested with Zions Bank Capital Advisors. There have been some declines in the City’s savings and cash due to the new wastewater plant project. Finance Officer Nielson explained they have not officially closed the books for fiscal year 2016. They are waiting for a few more things with the auditors to get the books closed and then the balances will be correct. 2. Surplus for Auction a John Deere Flex Mower and Ryan Aerifier Equipment Finance Officer Nielson reviewed the recommendations to surplus for auction a John Deere Flex Mower and Ryan Aerifier Equipment. The Golf Course Manger said they don’t have use for the equipment. The most amount of money they will receive for the equipment is about two to three thousand dollars. Discussion: Council Member Busby moved to surplus for auction a John Deere Flex Mower and Ryan Aerifier Equipment; Council President Smith seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Council President Smith None Council Member Flora Council Member Benfield Council Member Mann Council Member Wolfe Council Member Busby The motion carried B. Engineering: John Millar 1. Recommendation to increase the speed limit on 4th South between 2nd West and 5th West from 25 mph to 35 mph. Public Works Director Millar reviewed the recommendation to increase the speed limit on 4th South between 2nd West and 5th West from 25 mph to 35 mph. The engineers conducted a speed study at this location. The speed study indicated an 85th percentile of vehicles traveling at an average speed of 36.8 mph. This percentile is typically used to set the speed limit. This street is heavily monitored. He has visited with the Rexburg Police Department regarding the speed limit change. They are in favor of the speed limit change. Public Works Director Millar explained the speed limit was lowered at this location years ago because of a pedestrian accident. Since the accident they have changed the crosswalk and installed the latest revision of the rapid flash pedestrian crossing system. Smith Council President asked if there will be a difference in pedestrian traffic with the new apartments being built close by. Public Works Director Millar replied the majority of traffic will flow east to west towards the university, with minimal crossing. Council Member Mann asked about the speed limit in front of Les Schwab Tires. The speed limit will be 35 mph. Discussion: 5 Council Member Benfield moved to increase the speed limit on 4th South between 2nd West and 5th West from 25 mph to 35 mph; Discussion Council Member Mann said he is concerned with the increase of the speed limit. He believes the speed limit should be lowed; Council Member Flora seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Council President Smith None Council Member Flora Council Member Benfield Council Member Mann Council Member Wolfe Council Member Busby The motion carried 2. Recommendation to increase the speed limit on 7th South between 5th West and South Yellowstone Hwy to 35 mph “except” when the yellow flashing light at 5th West is on the speed limit would be reduced to 20 mph. Public Works Director Millar reviewed the recommendation to increase the speed limit on 7th South between 5th West and South Yellowstone Hwy to 35 mph “except” when the yellow flashing light at 5th West is on the speed limit would be reduced to 20 mph. Council Member Benfield questioned if the speed limit near the schools are always set at 20 mph because the schools are used for other functions that go past regular school hours. She asked if they are making an exception by changing the speed limit at that location. City Attorney Zollinger explained the state statutes allows cities to choose one of two options post the speed limit not higher than 35 mph. or create school zones where the speed limit is set at 20 mph. He said school zones are regulated from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. when the students are in session. 49-658. SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LI MIT — PENALTY. (1) No person shall operate a vehicle in excess of the posted maximum speed limit established for a posted school zone. If a posted school zone speed limit sign includes the words "when children are present," the term shall mean one (1) or more children. The definition applies to children present on the same side of the street as the school building or across the street from the school building in any direction within the marked school zone. Mayor Merrill asked City Engineer Davidson to coordinate with the school officials regarding the scheduling of when the yellow flashing lights need to be turned on or off. Council Member Flora asked if the children walking to school where taken into consideration. She said there are a lot of children cross that intersection. City Attorney Zollinger explained there are several speed limits ranging from 25 mph to 35 mph. The speed limit on Pioneer Road is at 35 mph. Discussion: Council President Smith moved to increase the speed limit on 7th South between 5th West and South Yellowstone Hwy to 35 mph “except” when the yellow flashing light at 5th West is on the speed limit would be reduced to 20 mph; Council Member Wolfe seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Council President Smith None Council Member Flora Council Member Benfield Council Member Mann Council Member Wolfe Council Member Busby 6 The motion carried Public Works Director Millar said this is his last City Council Meeting he will be reporting at because he will be working part-time starting in January. He expressed his gratitude to have worked for the City for 18 years. He said he has enjoyed working with the City Council Members and Mayor. Council Member Mann commended City Engineer Keith Davidson. He said he called Keith on Saturday because a manhole cover was missing and the pipes were frozen. Keith immediately called the Water Department crew to come out and replace the cover and help with the frozen pipes. City Engineer Keith Davidson explained there is an old fire truck that is taking up space. He asked City Council if the old fire truck could be surplussed. Council Member Benfield asked that research be done to see if the fire truck has any monetary value. Council President Smith questioned if there is any obligation to the person that donated the fire truck. Council Member Busby asked the name of the person that donated the fire truck. Council President Smith said Val Dietrich donated it and has expressed concerns with the fire truck not being displayed. Discussion regarding the old fire truck. Council Member Flora asked if the fire truck could be displayed at one of the City parks. The fire truck would need to be displayed in an enclosed area to keep the moving parts from rusting. Council Member Busby questioned if the City is enforcing snow removable on sidewalks. He asked if the property owner could be held liable if a person suffers an accident while walking on the street because the sidewalk is not cleared of snow. Mayor’s Report: Discussion regarding a joint meeting with the Madison School District. The City Council Meeting on January 4th will begin at five o’clock. Public Hearings: – NONE Items for Consideration: Calendared Bills and Tabled Items: A. “LAND USE ACTION” – Bills Recommended/Approved in a Land Use Public Hearing Procedure (Recommend Suspension of the Rules): – NONE BILL Introduction: – NONE B. First Reading: Those items which are being introduced for first reading: – NONE C. Second Reading: Those items which have been first read: - NONE D. 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 discussion in greater detail. Explanatory information is included in the City Council’s agenda packet regarding these items. A. Minutes from December 7th, 2016 meeting; B. Approve the City of Rexburg Bills Council Member Flora moved to approve the Consent Calendar containing the minutes and city bills; Council Member Wolfe seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote: 7 Those voting aye Those voting nay Council President Smith None Council Member Flora Council Member Benfield Council Member Mann Council Member Wolfe Council Member Busby The motion carried Adjourned at 7:50 A.M. APPROVED: ____________________________ Jerry Merrill, Mayor Attest: _______________________________ Marianna Gonzalez, Deputy City Clerk