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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - May 02, 2018 1 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: A. 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. 35 North 1st East Rexburg, ID 83440 Phone: 208.359.3020 x2101 Fax: 208.359.3022 deborahl@rexburg.org www.rexburg.org City Council Minutes May 2, 2018 2 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. 3 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. B. 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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: A. Finance – Matt Nielson Chief Financial Officer Nielson doesn’t have anything at this time. B. Public Works: - Keith Davidson Public Works Director Davidson doesn’t have anything at this time. C. Community Development – Bret Stoddard Building Official Stoddard reviewed the Building Valuation Report for April. D. 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. 8 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: A. 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. 9 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 B. 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. 10 11 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: A. “LAND USE ACTION” – Bills Recommended/Approved in a Land Use Public Hearing Procedure (Recommend Suspension of the Rules): NONE B. Second Reading: Those items which have been first read: NONE C. 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. A. Minutes from April 18, 2018 meeting B. 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: 12 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