HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - January 19, 2022
Mayor Jerry Merrill
Council Members:
Christopher Mann Jordan Busby
Mikel Walker Tisha Flora
Brad Wolfe Bryanna Johnson
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
Council Member Chambers said the prayer
Council Member Walker led the pledge
Roll Call of Council Members:
Attending: Council Member Flora, Council Member Johnson, Council Member Chambers, Council Member Erickson, Council Member Walker and Council President Busby.
Mayor Merrill 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.
Ayden Rennaker said he has been a resident of Rexburg for about three years. He currently owns two businesses; they are Life Ice Staking Rink and Blue Light Lobby. He manages student
housing for several properties. As a previous student and currently as a community member he has noticed several items needing improvement in the city. One of those items is Rexburg’s
Downtown area. The city has had goals and objectives for the area for over ten years. There are community members willing to assist the city in reaching its goals for the downtown area.
His company has assisted several entrepreneurs to start their businesses in Rexburg which is part of the vision document and layout of the downtown.
Mr. Rennaker said he has also noticed the parking issues in the city. He proposed a car sharing business; however, to get started this year there is a six-month lead time to obtain a
fleet of vehicles. He asked for support from the city administrators and approval from City Council regarding the share a ride project, community center and entrepreneurship.
Committee Liaison Assignments for 2022:
A. Council Member Chambers: M.E.P.I. · Cultural Arts Events · Grants
Council Member Chambers reported the committees have not met. He will be meeting with Cultural Arts Director Platt tomorrow to discuss the upcoming programs and events.
B. Council President Busby: School Board · M.U.S.I.C.
Council President Busby reported Sgt. Shawn Scott was nominated as “Police Officer of the Year” and Dianne Bullock was nominated as ‘Civilian Support Staff Member of the Year”. The School
Board will be meeting tomorrow to discuss a bond for a new Hibbard Elementry School and some remodeling at the Jr. High School.
Council President Busby reported on the WinterFest Event coming up this Saturday at Teton Lakes Winter Park from 10 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. One of the events is the Polar Bear Plunge. He encouraged
everyone to attend the event.
C. Council Member Walker: MYAB · Traffic & Safety · Emergency Services Board
Council Member Walker reported the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Board met yesterday and assisted at the Mobile Food Pantry. They will meet again in February to make valentine cards to deliver
to the residents of the Homestead Assisted Living Center. The Traffic and Safety Committee members met, and their recommendations were discussed at the previous City Council meeting.
The Emergency Services Board has not met.
D. Council Member Johnson: Trails · Beautification · Grants
Council Member Johnson reported she spoke with city employee Robert Yeatman, he has been grooming the fat bike trail at the Legacy Municipal Golf Course. She asked for input from residents
on how to improve the grooming of the fat bike trail. The Beautification Committee will not meet until spring.
E. Council Member Flora: Parks Committee · Recreation Committee · Urban Renewal Agency
Council Member Flora reported the Parks Committee has not met; however, she has met with city employees Daniel Torres and Mary Flanary at a grant meeting. They discussed some potential
projects for the city parks. The Recreation Committee met with Pros Consulting regarding the Recreation Feasibility Study. The Urban Renewal Agency did not meet.
F. Council Member Erickson: Airport Board · Golf Board · Legacy Flight Museum
Council Member Erickson reported the committees have not met; however, they will meet in February.
Staff Reports:
Public Works: - Justin Beard
City Engineer Beard reported on several of the projects the Engineering Department is currently working on:
Adding a left turn lane on University Boulevard onto Mikan Dr.
12 West and University Traffic Signal
Upgrade to the signal on Yellowstone Hwy and 7th South.
LID 51 if approved will go out to bid in February.
The roundabout on Pioneer Road and 7th South.
Well #10 is being drilled.
Council Member Walker asked for an update on the lights being installed at the roundabout on 4th West. Engineer Beard replied, the lights have been installed on the south and west sides
of the roundabout.
Council Member Flora said she has been contacted about areas in the city needing streetlights by several student groups from the Madison High School working on their Project Citizen.
Engineer Beard said the students can report street lighting issues to the Traffic and Safety Committee. Public Works Administrative Assistant Brandy Davis is the city liaison for that
committee, she has a list of streetlights needing repaired and a list of areas needing streetlights. Council Member Flora said the students also mentioned the traffic issues at the
intersection of 12th West and University Boulevard. Engineer Beard said there is a traffic signal being designed for that intersection.
Finance: - Matt Nielson
Financial Reports
Finance Officer Nielson mentioned the second payroll batch was processed through the new Tyler Software System. There were less errors in the second batch. He also mentioned City Clerk
Lovejoy will be the project manager for the Tyler system conversion of Utility Billing and Business Registrations. Staff Account Phethean and Utility Clerk Rawson will also assist in
the conversion project. The project will take about nine months to complete.
Finance Officer Nielson said the 2021 audit will be presented to City Council at the second City Council Meeting in February. The closing year entries have been processed and will be
compiled
Finance Officer Nielson reviewed the Cash and Investments Balance Report. There are over 70 funds in the cash and investment city wide.
Finance Officer Nielson reviewed the Budget Report – Expenditures by Fund in the new Tyler Software System. This report will continue to change over the budgeting process. The report
is for the first quarter of the fiscal year and includes purchase orders that have been encumbered.
Council President Busby asked if there have been glitches with the new payroll software system. Finance Officer Nielson said there weren’t any major issues with the second payroll batch.
There are processes that still need to be put into place in the new system.
Items for Consideration:
Calendared Bills:
A. Second Reading: Those items which have been first read: NONE
Third Reading: Those items which have been second read:
1. Ordinance No 1274 Creation of Local Improvement District 51 (LID 51) – Keith Davidson
ORDINANCE NO. 1274
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF REXBURG, IDAHO, CREATING LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 51; DESCRIBING AND SETTING FORTH THE BOUNDARIES OF SAID LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT; PROVIDING FOR
THE IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE THEREIN; APPOINTING AN ENGINEER TO PREPARE THE NECESSARY PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE WORK; AUTHORIZING THE ADVERTISING FOR BIDS FOR SAID WORK AS AUTHORIZED
BY LAW; PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES OF SAID IMPROVEMENTS TO BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE PROPERTY WITHIN THE DISTRICT BENEFITTED THEREBY AND THE METHOD OF ASSESSMENTS;
PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BONDS AND WARRANTS; PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Council Member Walker moved to approve Ordinance No 1274 Creation of Local Improvement District 51 (LID 51) and consider third read; Discussion: Council Member Johnson said she is voting
nay for consistency and desires change not because she is opposed to LIDs. She would prefer to provide LID assistance to residents. Council Member Flora asked for a City Council Work
meeting to discuss LID funding; Council Member Erickson seconded the motion; Council President Busby asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora Council Member Johnson
Council Member Busby
Council Member Chambers
Council Member Erickson
Council Member Walker
The motion carried.
Mayor’s Business: Ratify new Planning & Zoning Commissioners – Eric Erickson and Brad Wolfe
Council Member Flora moved to ratify the appointments of Eric Erickson and Brad Wolfe to the Planning and Zoning Commission; Council Member Chambers seconded the motion; Council President
Busby asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora None
Council Member Johnson
Council Member Chambers
Council Member Erickson
Council Member Walker
Council President Busby
The motion carried
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 January 5, 2022, Meeting
Approve the City of Rexburg Bills
Council Member Johnson moved to approve the Consent Calendar containing the minutes and city bills; Council Member Flora seconded the motion; Council President Busby asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora None
Council Member Johnson
Council Member Chambers
Council Member Erickson
Council Member Walker
Council President Busby
The motion carried
Adjournment 6:57 P.M.
APPROVED:
________________________________
Jerry Merrill, Mayor
Attest:
_______________________________
Deputy City Clerk, Marianna Gonzalez