HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - May 02, 2018
Mayor Jerry Merrill
Council Members:
Christopher Mann Jordan Busby
Mikel Walker Tisha Flora
Brad Wolfe Sally Smith
City Staff:
Stephen Zollinger – City Attorney
Matt Nielson – Finance Officer
Keith Davidson – Public Works Director
Val Christensen – Community Development Director
Scott Johnson – Economic Development Director
Deborah Lovejoy – City Clerk
6:30 P.M. City Hall
Samuel Nybarger said the prayer
Malachi Kugath led the pledge
Mayor Merrill informed the audience that he and the City Council had their Drive Around today. They were able to drive around town and see what roads need worked on and see other various
projects that have been done this past year.
Roll Call of Council Members:
Attending: Council Member Flora, Council Member Mann, Council Member Wolfe, Council Member Walker, Council Member Busby, Council President Smith 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.
A gentleman from the audience came forward and said that he would like the lights replaced at the baseball fields so they can use the fields for 8:00 p.m. games. He said a lot of
games have been cancelled due to no lighting. Mayor Merrill said he was not aware of that problem but he will talk to the school district and his staff and see if they can get those
lights taken care of.
Mayor Merrill acknowledged former Mayor Woodland in the audience.
Presentations:
Jaymon Birch & Holly Allen – Upper Valley Soccer Foundation & Yellowstone Cup - Expressed appreciation to City for their support of their program and to inform them on the combination
of recreational and competitive leagues under one organization.
Jaymon Birch showed his presentation on the projector. He thanked the Mayor, City Council and City Staff for all the nice fields that have been provided for soccer. He explained who
the Upper Valley Soccer Foundation is and the various groups within that foundation.
Mr. Birch is pleased to share that they are able to offer scholarships based on enrollment to those who may be struggling to cover the costs. AYSO will become a part of the Upper Valley
Soccer Foundation. They have also added Tiny ‘Burg Soccer for players 3 to 5 years old.
There is a total of about 650 players overall on the Upper Valley Soccer Foundation. Many players receive college offers.
Mr. Birch explained some of the challenges of having enough fields for practices. With construction at Burton and Kennedy Elementary schools and at the High School, it has cut some of
their practice fields.
Holly Allen wanted to say thank you to the city council. She loves soccer. She started the Yellowstone Cup Soccer Tournament several years ago. She is thankful for all the parks
staff and city staff. She showed on the overhead screen the growth in the number of teams that come to the tournament each year. All the teams say Rexburg has the best fields.
This tournament is the first to have ‘no play Sundays’. Most teams appreciate that. Everyone gets free shirts and a pool party at Rexburg Rapids. They recognize kids that show good
sportsmanship with a pin.
She reviewed the economic impact for the city of Rexburg. Hotels fill up so people have to stay in Idaho Falls. They estimate that the tournament brings in almost 10 million dollars.
The tournament is June 7-9 this year.
Council Member Mann asked why they are limited for practicing on the fields at Riverside Park.
Mr. Birch explained that it is hard on the grass, especially in the spring when the grass is just coming in.
Students from Madison High School – Project Citizen – Nature Park project
Mallery Bailey, Kaylie Kirk, Katie Angell, Kourtney Elliott, and Sariah Owens
Mallory Bailey started the presentation explaining the overgrowth and the litter. The park is in need of updating, garbage cans, working drinking fountains, etc. When they talked to
the parks director and asked him how much money is available for the park, he said there really isn’t any. The quality of water is also a problem. Bacteria has been found there and
the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has stopped stocking the ponds with fish.
Mallory reviewed the surveys that they took.
Sariah Owens talked about solutions. They could burn the overgrowth and have prison inmates help clean it up. Wind, fumes and potential prisoner escapes could be a problem; however.
They could remodel the whole park which would be nicer and cleaner but that would cost over 1 ½ million dollars.
Kaylie Kirk presented the third solution; to have the city pay for all of the clean-up. This could be more effective and efficient; however, there is not enough funds and finding enough
workers and equipment is a problem.
Katie Angell presented the four steps to their final solution. One is to replace and add signs that have the rules listed on them.
For the pollution they could organize a day where elementary kids come and help clean each year. They already had kids from one school come and help clean up. They gathered a lot of
trash. They have set up a system where one school will come clean each year.
For the overgrowth, they would have local businesses volunteer to clean out dead trees, weeds, and brush.
For the water they would like to install a water fall that will oxygenate the water. Public Works Waste Water Foreman, Jared Gunderson, offered to provide the extra pipe and rocks to
make the water fall. Adding fish back into the ponds would also help clean the water.
In conclusion, the group believes that this is a good plan and would require very little from the City. If the City could just pay for the new signs with a cost of about $1,500.00, everything
else will be taken care of through the community and volunteers. Revitalizing the Nature Park would be a benefit to the whole community.
Mayor Merrill was impressed with their presentation and that’s why he had them come to City Council to present. With the City Council’s approval, he will work with the City Staff to
appropriate the money needed to follow through with these plans.
Staff Reports:
Finance – Matt Nielson
Chief Financial Officer Nielson doesn’t have anything at this time.
Public Works: - Keith Davidson
Public Works Director Davidson doesn’t have anything at this time.
Community Development – Bret Stoddard
Building Official Stoddard reviewed the Building Valuation Report for April.
Planning & Zoning – Craig Rindlisbacher
City Planner Rindlisbacher reported on an upcoming hearing – June 7, 2018 Annexation of 793 Barney Dairy Rd. (Moses Barney Property) with a zone change. The parcel is about 90 acres.
Mayor’s Report: Mayor Merrill thanked the Standard Journal for the invite to the Upper Valley Sports Stars Awards Banquet in Ashton. He will not be able to attend but Council Member
Wolfe will be there to represent the City.
There is a group called Plogging, which stands for picking up trash and jogging, that will be picking up trash along the trails this weekend.
Mayor Merrill indicated that he will be gone for two weeks so Council President Smith will be covering for him.
Everyone is invited to Rexburg Days on May 16th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. where we will be planting flowers on Main Street and Center Street. It will be grubby night at City Council.
Council Member Busby said it is also the ground breaking at the High school on May 16th at 1:00 p.m.
There is a Cinco de Mayo event on Center Street this Saturday and on Friday, May 4th there is a Lego Star Wars event at the Tabernacle.
The June 20th City Council Meeting falls during the AIC Conference so they will need to change City Council to the morning of June 19th or have Council Member Busby sign all the bills.
There needs to be two people to sign the bills so they will arrange for that on June 19th and have regular City Council on June 27th. There will not be a meeting on July 4; that meeting
will be moved to July 11th.
Public Hearings:
Ordinance 1185 – Annexation of 1130 & 1138 University Boulevard in a Community Business Center (CBC) zone into the City of Rexburg – Craig Rindlisbacher
Planner Rindlisbacher presented Ordinance 1185 – Annexation of 1130 & 1138 University Blvd. The staff recommends this annexation as they do not like having islands within the city limits.
Mayor Merrill opened the public hearing.
Testimony of those in favor – None
Testimony of those neutral – None
Testimony of those opposed – None
Mayor Merrill closed the public hearing.
Discussion
Council Member Busby asked if the City has visited with the land owner. Mayor Merrill replied that they have visited with the land owner several times and they are okay with the annexation.
Council Member Mann asked if this is really a way to get a sidewalk installed going to the High School and make it a safer access. Mayor Merrill indicated that getting a sidewalk is
one of the benefits but not the main reason for the annexation.
Council Member Busby asked if a Local Improvement District will be created or if the City will install the sidewalk. Attorney Zollinger explained there is a joint project scheduled
for this area that will provide for the sidewalks.
Mayor Merrill asked for a motion.
Council Member Walker moved to approve Ordinance 1185 – Annexation of 1130 & 1138 University Boulevard in a Community Business Center (CBC) zone into the City of Rexburg and consider
it first read; Council President Smith seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora
Council Member Mann
Council Member Wolfe
Council President Smith
Council Member Walker
Council Member Busby
The motion carried
Items for Consideration:
Resolution 2018 – 05 – Amending the Comprehensive Plan Map – (18-00140) 300 East 7th North from Commercial to Low to Moderate Density Residential – Craig Rindlisbacher.
City Planner Rindlisbacher presented Resolution 2018-05 Amending the Comp Plan Map at 300 East 7th North from Commercial to Low to Moderate Density Residential. Planning and Zoning
recommends changing the zone from commercial to Moderate to High Density Residential. This is a request of the land owner.
Discussion about the location of the property.
Mayor Merrill asked for a motion.
Council President Smith moved to approve Resolution 2018-05 – Amending the Comprehensive Plan Map – (18-00140) 300 East 7th North from Commercial to Low to Moderate Density Residential;
Council Member Busby seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora
Council Member Mann
Council Member Wolfe
Council President Smith
Council Member Walker
Council Member Busby
The motion carried
Approve Thomson Farms Preliminary Plat (#18-00080) Approx. 472 N. Yellowstone Highway.
Paul Bringhurst with Still Water Equity Partners out of Alpine, Utah presented the plat. He is concerned with the Planning Commission’s recommendations. There were four recommendations
presented and he is concerned that if they get too technical that he will have to come back for approval again when it may just be something simple such as them using a different engineering
technique, for example. He would like to work with staff to reconcile any issues.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Commission deliberate on any issues that they determine have not been
identified by staff and recommend to City Council to approve the Preliminary Plat with the following
staff recommendations:
Proposed Conditions of Approval
General
1. The plat shall include all required submittal standards and incorporate all conditions of approval as
outlined previously in this document by staff.
2. Language shall be clear in the CC&Rs that no approval granted by the HOA or Architectural
Committee shall violate City Code (e.g. accessory structures, building heights, fencing, location of
building on lot, etc.).
3. The final CC&Rs shall be reviewed and approved by the Community Development Director prior the
recordation of a plat.
4. Requirement of the underlying zoning prevails where no specific requested variation has been
considered and granted in this PUD request.
Attorney Zollinger suggested that City Council change the language on the first condition so that it states the applicant must work with city staff to reach a mutual agreement prior
to final development approval.
Discussion
Council Member Wolfe moved to approve (18-00080) Thomson Farms Preliminary Plat at approximately 472 N. Yellowstone Highway with the four conditions as stated by Planning and Zoning
with a change to the wording for condition number one that states the applicant must work with city staff to reach a mutual agreement prior to final development approval; Council Member
Flora seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora
Council Member Mann
Council Member Wolfe
Council President Smith
Council Member Walker
Council Member Busby
The motion carried
Calendared Bills and Tabled Items:
“LAND USE ACTION” – Bills Recommended/Approved in a Land Use Public Hearing Procedure (Recommend Suspension of the Rules): NONE
Second Reading: Those items which have been first read: NONE
Third Reading: Those items which have been second read: NONE
Tabled Items: Those items which have been the subject of an affirmative vote to a motion to table:
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.
Minutes from April 18, 2018 meeting
Approve the City of Rexburg Bills
Council Member Busby moved to approve the Consent Calendar containing the minutes and city bills; Council Member Walker seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora
Council Member Mann
Council Member Wolfe
Council President Smith
Council Member Walker
Council Member Busby
The motion carried
Adjournment 7:49 P.M.
APPROVED:
____________________________
Jerry Merrill, Mayor
Attest:
_______________________________ _____
Mary Flanary, Deputy City Clerk