HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Minutes - May 03, 2023
1
Mayor Jerry Merrill
Council Members:
Robert Chambers Jordan Busby
Mikel Walker Tisha Flora
Colin Erickson 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 (video index 0:02:03)
Council Member Erickson said the prayer
Council Member Johnson led the pledge
Roll Call of Council Members:
Attending: Council Member Flora, Council Member Johnson, Council Member Erickson,
Council President Busby, and Mayor Merrill.
Council Member Chambers and Council Member Walker did not attend the meeting.
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.
Tina Brower asked if the fence ordinance could be revamped. She said she lives on the corner of a street
and to install a six-foot fence, the fence needs to be 15 feet in from the sidewalk. The fence code allows a
three-foot fence closer to the sidewalk. In her opinion a three-foot fence doesn’t allow for much privacy.
Ms. Brower asked if the city has considered providing a compost bin for residents. She wondered how the
compost is going to be taken care of in the future with all the building taking place in the city. Currently, the
residents in the neighborhood are dumping their grass clippings and other organic matter into the open
field. Council Member Flora mentioned the Madison County Transfer Station has a green waste section and
the fee is minimal.
Council Member Flora mentioned safety is one of the purposes the city has a fence ordinance. Sometimes
a fence could cause an obstruction of vision. She said the city has made some exceptions to the fence code
regarding the height and distance the fence is from the sidewalk when there is not a safety issue. She asked
Ms. Brower to schedule a meeting with the Planning and Zoning Administrator to determine if an exception
could be made on her behalf.
Katie Watson expressed her concerns with the Comprehensive Plan Update not going out to the public for
input. The public has only seen the seven highlighted slides presented during the City Council Work
Meeting, which are difficult to understand. There were about 61 pages of the Comprehensive Plan Update
in total in the Interactive City Council Agenda. Planning and Zoning Administrator Parkinson explained
there are changes to the three maps in the Comprehensive Plan Update before submitting the updates to the
public for input. Once the input from councilmembers, city staff and the public are received the consultant
will create a Comprehensive Plan Draft from all the information collected.
Council Member Johnson asked if the whole time frame of when the completion of the Comprehensive
Plan Draft is going to be shifted back. Planning and Zoning Administrator Parkinson replied, they will try
their best to meet the set contracted date; however, if that deadline is not met, they will shift back the
deadline even though not meeting the date of the contract will cost additional funds. Council Member
Erickson said if city staff needed to shift back the date to allow sufficient time for public input, then they
will need to extend the date of contract.
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
May 3, 2023
2
Staff Reports: (0:14:14)
A. Public Works: - Keith Davidson
1. Surplus of city owned items at Kidsburg and The Zone
Public Works Director Davidson reviewed the list of surplus items that were used at Kidsburg and The
Zone.
Council Member Flora asked if the School District was interested in using some of the items on the
surplus list. Public Works Director Davidson said he will contact the Madison School District to ask if they
need any of the surplus items.
Finance Officer Nielson said the toy cars are not on the surplus list. The wooden structures are on the list
with a note to be determined (TBD) because Recreation Director Crowther is still trying to decide if the
department has use for those items. He said if the department doesn’t have use for those items, they are
meeting with an auctioneer to auction off the items. Council Member Flora asked who an interested party
could contact for the time and date of the auction. Finance Officer Nielson replied, the interested party
could contact Recreation Director Crowther for the time and date of the auction.
Mayor Merrill said he is opposed to the surplus of the wooden bleachers. He said they could refurbish the
bleachers and use them at another location. Finance Officer Nielson said he would contact the Parks
Department to ask if they have any use for the bleachers. Council Member Flora noticed the volleyball nets
are on the surplus list. She was under the impression that the School District was going to take the volleyball
nets to use. Mayor Merrill asked that the bleachers and volleyball nets not be auctioned off.
Council President Busby moved to approve the Surplus item used at Kidsburg and The Zone
except for the bleachers and volleyball nets; Council Member Flora seconded the motion; Mayor
Merrill asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora None
Council Member Johnson
Council Member Erickson
Council President Busby
The motion carried.
2. Agreement acceptance with Forsgren Associates for design of bridge section of East Parkway
between Barney Dairy Road and 7th N
Public Works Director Davidson reviewed the agreement with Forsgren Associates for the design of the
bridge on the section of East Parkway between Barney Dairy Road and 7th North. He also reviewed the
basis of payment for the project; it is being funded by a grant the city received.
3
Council Member Flora moved to approve the Agreement Acceptance with Forsgren Associates
for design of bridge section of East Parkway between Barney Dairy Road and 7th N; Council
President Busby seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora None
Council Member Johnson
Council Member Erickson
Council President Busby
The motion carried.
3. LHTAC Grant Agreement Acceptance for 1st N 4th W Canal Bridge Replacement
Public Works Director Davidson reviewed the agreement with the Local Highway Technical Assistance
Council (LHTAC) for the 1st North 4th West Canal Bridge replacement. He said LHTAC is fully funding this
project. Council President Busby asked when LHTAC will begin the construction of the bridge. Public
Works Director Davidson replied, the construction of the bridge would possibly begin in the fall of next
year.
Council President Busby moved to approve the LHTAC Grant Agreement for 1st N 4th W Canal
Bridge Replacement; Council Member Erickson seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a
vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora None
Council Member Johnson
Council Member Erickson
Council President Busby
The motion carried.
Council President Busby asked if the street crew has been out sweeping the streets every day. Public
Works Director Davidson explained the street crew has been out sweeping the streets. They start sweeping
the center of the road and then the sides of the road. When sweeping the sides of the street they run into
issues with parked cars. They must go around the parked cars, so the entire street doesn’t get swept. The
street crew started sweeping the high trafficked areas first.
4
Mayor’s Report: (0:25:14)
Mayor Merrill reported volunteers are needed for the Flow-Bor Day Event on May 17th, 2023, from 4-6
P.M. to help plant flowers along Main Street. He will not be able to attend the event; however, he asked
Council Member Johnson to attend the event in his place since she is the liaison of the Beautification
Committee.
Mayor Merrill reported the Arbor Day Celebration on May 20th at Porter Park at 10 A.M. to unveil the new
monument in honor of those who have donated funds for the new trees. Then they will plant trees in the
park, followed by a showing of The Lorax movie at the Romance Theater at noon. Mayor Merrill also
mentioned volunteers are needed to help clean up Eagle Park on May 23, at 5:00 P.M. He asked volunteers
to bring their own gloves, rake and family or a friend.
Mayor Merrill reported on the Readers Becoming Leaders of the League of Idaho Cities program. The
program connects students to cities through reading and resources. The mission is to promote STEM
learning, literacy, creative problem solving, leadership skills, and civic awareness in Idaho youth through city
officials and children in an interactive storytelling environment. The students provided their names for a
statewide drawing. He said the names of students from Kennedy and Adams Elementary Schools were
selected and he is presenting a check of $200 to both schools.
Mayor Merrill mentioned he attended the Farmers Merchant Banquet. The banquet was well attended.
Council President Busby was the auctioneer at the banquet and Former Police Chief Turman received the
Life Achievement Award. Mayor Merrill reported city staff met with representatives from Hemming Village
regarding their Christmas Festival and possibly combining efforts to have a larger event.
Items for Consideration: (0:32:26)
A. Developers for Pebble Creek Plat at 2332 W 2000 S, Case #20-00303, Requesting Approval
for a 6 Month Extension to Record Plat – Alan Parkinson
Planning and Zoning Administrator Parkinson recommended the six-month extension to record the
Pebble Creek Plat at 2332 West 2000 South.
5
Council Member Johnson moved to approve A Six-Month Extension for Pebble Creek Plat at
2332 W 2000 S; Council Member Erickson seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked for a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora None
Council Member Johnson
Council Member Erickson
Council President Busby
The motion carried.
Calendared Bills:
A. Second Reading: Those items which have been first read: NONE
B. Third Reading: Those items which have been second read: NONE
Mayor’s Business: (0:34:01)
A. Email for the record regarding Development Code Ordinance changes sent on April 25, 2023
Mayor Merrill said he and city staff met with a local development group regarding the building of a parking
structure. The Light Bridge Fiber project continues to move forward.
Mayor Merrill explained he and the councilmembers received an email on April 25th that needs to be
entered into the public record.
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 19th and 26th , 2023
B. Approve the City of Rexburg Bills
Council Member Erickson moved to approve the Consent Calendar containing the minutes and
city bills; Council President Busby seconded the motion; Mayor Merrill asked a vote:
Those voting aye Those voting nay
Council Member Flora None
Council Member Johnson
Council Member Erickson
Council President Busby
The motion carried.
Adjournment 7:07 P.M.
APPROVED:
________________________________
Jerry Merrill, Mayor
Attest:
_____________________________
Marianna Gonzalez, Deputy Clerk