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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - October 15, 2014 October 15, 2014 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 John Millar – Public Works Director Val Christensen – Community Development Director Scott Johnson – Economic Development Director Blair Kay – City Clerk 7:00 P.M City Hall – Pledge to the Flag Troop 309 led the pledge. Natasha Diaz said the prayer. Roll Call of Council Members: Attending: Council President Smith, Council Member Mann, Council Member Benfield, Council Member Merrill, Council Member Wolfe and Mayor Woodland. Council Member Busby asked to be excused. Public Comment on non-controversial issues: not scheduled on the agenda (limit 3 minutes): Presentations: Committee Liaison Assignments for 2014: A. Council Member Christopher Mann: Golf Board · Emergency Services Board · MYAB Council Member Mann reported the Golf Board met last week they are working on installing a chain link fence coated in green vinyl at the Municipal Golf Course. ESB has not met. MYAB met today a presentation was given by Mayor Woodland, CFO Nielson and Council Member Mann. All three presented a summary of their job responsibilities. Council Member Jordan Busby: GIS Oversight · Airport Board · Traffic & Safety C. Council Member Donna Benfield: Police · Trails of Madison County · IBC · Teton Flood Museum Committee Council Member Benfield reported the Police Department, has an Officer Jordan Freed attending the training program in Boise. He will graduate in November. Lieutenant Foster requested permission from City Council to purchase two new vehicles this fall, one from administrative budget and the other from the detective budget. He said he also needs permission to place the order for the three new patrol vehicles, this fall and not wait until February. Lieutenant Foster said the patrol vehicles were bid through the state. Goody Motors was awarded the state bid. The vehicles have already been budgeted. Mayor Woodland asked if there would be a cost savings in ordering the patrol vehicles now. Lieutenant Foster said there wouldn’t be a cost savings, however by ordering them now the vehicles would be ready to use in February instead of waiting until for mid-summer for them to be ready. It takes about three months to build the patrol vehicles. Council Member Merrill moved to approve the request to purchase new vehicles on the state bid this fall; Council Member Benfield seconded the motion; Mayor Woodland asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Council President Smith None Council Member Mann Council Member Benfield Council Member Busby Council Member Merrill Council Member Wolfe The motion carried. Council Member Benfield reported Trails of Madison County will meet tomorrow. IBC did not meet. Teton Flood Museum has not met. Council Member Benfield said she was approached by the Family Crisis Center; they have obtained a film, Private Violence. She said the Family Crisis Center would like to show the film at the Romance Theater. Council Member Benfield requested the fee to reserve the Romance Theater be waived. Mayor Woodland agreed the showing of the film would be a service to the community. Council Member Mann moved to approve the request to waive the Romance Theater rental fee for the showing of the film Private Violence; Council Member Wolfe seconded the motion; Mayor Woodland asked for a vote: Those voting aye Those voting nay Council President Smith None Council Member Mann Council Member Benfield Council Member Busby Council Member Merrill Council Member Wolfe The motion carried. D. Council Member Smith: Legacy Flight Museum · Rexburg Arts Council (Romance Theatre & Tabernacle Civic Center, Orchestra) · M.E.P.I. Council President Smith reported Legacy Flight Museum has not met, however they planned to have a fly over on Veterans Day, November 11th 2014. Rexburg Arts Council has not met, however they sent out an email advertising their upcoming show “Oh What a Night”. The show will be performed, October 17, 18 and 20th at the Romance Theater. MEPI has met they had a guest speakers Mark Jaster and three other Rexburg residents. Mr. Jaster spoke about three D printing. E. Council Member Jerry Merrill: School Board · Parks & Recreation · Urban Renewal Agency Council Member Merrill reported the School Board met. The Madison School District has implemented an energy savings program. The schools installed new energy saving light bulbs. They were also conscious of shutting off computers and all lights not being used. Since implementing the program they have saved about 15 % of their total energy cost. Council Member Merrill requested the same program be implemented here at City Hall. Council Member Merrill said there was researched done on how Idaho’s education is ranking. There has been advertising stating; Idaho’s public education system is 50th in the nation. The statement is true if the spending per pupil is the criteria measured. Idaho does spend less than any other state except for Utah which spends less. However, when other measurement criteria are used, Idaho compares favorably with other states. The Report Card on American Education: ranking state k-12 performance, progress, and reform, 18th Edition (2013) prepared by ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council): Idaho ranks 29th overall and outperform neighboring states of Oregon, Utah, California, and Arizona Idaho receives a B-in Education Policy with only 6 states receiving a higher grade Idaho ranks 28th in 4th grade reading proficiency Idaho Ranks 19th in 8th grade reading proficiency In 8th grade math, Idaho only has 32% of students below basic which ranks Idaho in 11th place Legislative services researched Idaho’s rank on the ACT test and our rank is 16th. Massachusetts is ranked number 1 in the nation. The percent of students in Massachusetts that rank proficient or higher in reading in the 8th grade is 43% while Idaho’s students with proficient or