HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - October 2 , 2019
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October 2, 2019
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
Alan Parkinson – Planning & Zoning Administrator
Scott Johnson – Economic Development Director
Deborah Lovejoy – City Clerk
6:30 P.M. City Hall
Travis Brown said the prayer
Jason Flora led the pledge
Mayor Merrill had Travis Brown introduce himself. Travis is running for Mayor in the November
election. He has lived in Rexburg eight years. He introduced his wife and little girl. He is running
for Mayor because he thinks that he can really make a difference in Rexburg.
Mayor Merrill also had Bryanna Johnson introduce herself. She is running for City Council in the
November election. She has lived in Rexburg ten years. Her husband works on campus. They have
three boys. She believes she can offer a mom perspective to the council. She would like to see
increased trails. She is excited about the parks plan and the 100 year anniversary. She would like to
add more parks and see more recreation come to the city. She would also like to see more
businesses.
Roll Call of Council Members:
Attending: Council Member Flora, Council Member Mann, Council Member Walker, Council
Member Wolfe, and Mayor Merrill.
Council Member Busby and Council President Smith asked to be excused.
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.
New Employee: Braden Hartle – Street Department
Mayor Merrill had Braden Hartle introduce himself. He is a new employee in the Streets
Department. Braden has lived in the area for 5 years. He came from Vernal, UT. His goal is to be
a Certified Nurse Anesthesis.
Motion to Amend Agenda: Remove HR Report and add Executive Session
Mayor Merrill explained that there needed to be some changes to the agenda so he asked for a
motion to amend the agenda.
35 North 1st East
Rexburg, ID 83440
Phone: 208.359.3020 x 2101
Fax: 208.359.3022
deborahl@rexburg.org
www.rexburg.org
City Council Minutes
October 2, 2019
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Council Member Flora moved to amend the agenda; Council Member Walker seconded the
motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a roll call vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora None
Council Member Mann
Council Member Wolfe
Council Member Walker
The motion carried
Presentations: NONE
Staff Reports:
A. Finance: Matt Nielson
Officer Nielson reported that he doesn’t have anything tonight.
B. Public Works: Keith Davidson
1. Surplus 2005 Buick LaCrosse – minimum disposal price $3,200
Public Works Director Davidson explained the need to sell the City car. He asked City
Councils approval to surplus the car.
Council Member Walker moved to approve the surplus of the 2005 Buick LaCrosse; Council
Member Wolfe seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora None
Council Member Mann
Council Member Wolfe
Council Member Walker
The motion carried
2. Grader Bid Acceptance
Public Works Director Davidson presented the bids for the grader. Honnen Equipment was
the only one that met the requirements needed. There will also be a warranty with it. He asked
for council’s approval to award the bid to Honnen Equipment for $236,675. The new grader
will be all wheel drive with appropriate tires and proper snow equipment with a wide scraper.
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Council Member Flora moved to award the bid for $236,675 to Honnen Equipment for the
grader; Council Member Mann seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora None
Council Member Mann
Council Member Wolfe
Council Member Walker
The motion carried
Director Davidson explained that he wasn’t able to get the grader into last year’s budget so he
needs to do a budget adjustment for this year. They had budgeted $350,000 for the grader so
basically, they just need to move that money from last year’s budget into this year’s budget. He
asked council for approval.
Council Member Wolfe moved to approve a budget adjustment of $237,000 for fiscal year 2020;
Council Member Flora seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora None
Council Member Mann
Council Member Wolfe
Council Member Walker
The motion carried
Council Member Wolfe asked Director Davidson about the Sure Water Technology bill for
$100,000. Is that for repairs or for the new tank? Director Davidson believes it’s for the Waste
Water Treatment Plant to replace some compressors that failed.
Council Member Flora asked for a street update. Director Davidson reported that Terra Vista just
got paved and they are cleaning up concrete work. The water reservoir passed a five day test. It
only lost one quarter of an inch off the top. They will drain it and then start on well houses.
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C. Community Development: Bret Stoddard
New Construction Report – Bret Stoddard
Building Department Manager, Bret Stoddard reviewed the building valuation report for
September. It shows permits for more 4-plexes at Kenneth Square which is on the way to Sugar
City. There is also a home and some other items. Things are a little slower right now in the
Building Department but they are still doing the County’s inspections. Planning and Zoning has
been receiving some new items so things will pick up again. It will taper off for winter which is
normal.
Council Member Mann asked what new developments and buildings are expected for spring.
Bret said Cenntenial Town Homes on 7th North is coming soon and that has 96 townhomes.
Thompson farms, on the way to Sugar, will move forward by spring. Plus some other housing
and commercial projects.
Mayor’s Report: Mayor Merrill reported that Eagle View Imagery met with the City, Madison
County and Jefferson County to show a new maping program. They can do overhead views and
side views as well. If we work together with Madison and Jefferson county, we can get a better
price. He attended Eden Apartments Ribbon cutting last Thursday. Kartchner has done a good job
on the apartments. Their project manager will work with the city to plant trees along University
Blvd.
Mayor Merrill traveled with Economic Development Director, Scott Johnson and Assistant
Economic Development Director, Daniel Torres to Coeur d‘Alene last Friday to tour the North
Idaho College Entrepreneurship Center. They have put together an entrepreneurial ecosystem
where they are bringing entrepreneurial functions, mentors and space for people to work all together
in one spot. They use an empty college building for the center.
Mayor Merrill had a meeting with the mobile food vendors yesterday. There was good dialogue
about what will work for everyone. He talked with A.J. Argile this morning regarding insurance and
then met with the employee committee to discuss the insurance. He is working with the architecture
firm, MGB&A out of Salt Lake on the downtown area.
Council Member Walker asked about feedback on the e-scooters. Council Member Mann said he
has noticed the scooters lined up every morning at Porter Park. Mayor Merrill indicated that we
have not received any negative feed back.
Public Hearings: – NONE
Items for Consideration:
Calendared Bills and Tabled Items:
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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:
1. Ordinance No. 1218 Vacating Princeton Ct – Keith Davidson
ORDINANCE NO. 1218
Vacation of Street Named Princeton Ct in the City of Rexburg, Madison County, Idaho
AN ORDINANCE VACATING AND ABANDONING THE RIGHT-OF-WAY
ON PRINCETON CT BETWEEN SOUTH 1ST EAST AND SOUTH 2ND EAST IN
THE CITY OF REXBURG, IDAHO, AND DIRECTING THAT THE VACATED
PROPERTY BE CONVEYED TO THE ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS
Council Member Wolfe moved to approve Ordinance No. 1218 Vacating Princeton Ct and
consider it third read; Council Member Flora seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora None
Council Member Mann
Council Member Wolfe
Council Member Walker
The motion carried
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. Approve Minutes from September 25, 2019 meeting
B. Approve the City of Rexburg Bills
Council Member Mann announced that there will be a legislative conference tomorrow in
Idaho Falls at the College of Eastern Idaho. There will be a meet the candidate forum next
Wednesday at 12:00 at the Romance Theater to meet the candidates running for office in
Rexburg this year. Pie will be served.
Council Member Flora moved to approve the Consent Calendar containing the September 25th
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 None
Council Member Mann
Council Member Wolfe
Council Member Walker
The motion carried
Executive Session - Idaho State Statute 74-206(j) To consider labor contract matters authorized
under section 74-206A (1)(a) & (b), Idaho Code.
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Council Member Wolfe moved to go into Executive Session per Idaho State Statute 74-206(j)
To consider labor contract matters authorized under section 74-206A(a) & (b), Idaho Code; Council
Member Mann seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a roll call vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora
Council Member Mann
Council Member Wolfe
Council Member Walker
The motion carried
Executive Session started 7:03 P.M.
Executive Session ended 7:43 P.M.
Adjournment 7:43 P.M.
APPROVED:
____________________________
Jerry Merrill, Mayor
Attest:
_______________________________
Mary Flanary, Grant Writer