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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000.01.05 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES DATE: 01//05/00 MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 5, 2000 7:30 p.m. STATE OF IDAHO, ) County of Madison, ) SS. City of Rexburg, ) Present were the following: Mayor:Bruce Sutherland Council members:Kay Beck Marsha Bjornn Paul Pugmire Nyle Fullmer Farrell Young Finance Officer:Richard Horner Attorney:Stephen Zollinger P.F.C.:John Millar City Clerk:Marilyn Hansen Also present were Lynn Archibald, Police Chief. Pledge to the flag. It was mentioned by Kay Beck that the minutes dated December 15, 1999, show a motion made by Nyle Fullmer with no second. Marilyn will check the tape and correct the minutes accordingly. A motion was then made by Kay Beck and seconded by Farrell Young to approve the minutes with that correction. All Aye. The Mayor welcomed Commissioner Gerald Jeppesen to the meeting and invited him to speak. Gerry made the announcement to the group that he is running for the position of Idaho State Legislator that was just vacated by Golden Linford. He believes that he understands the County Government and a little about City Government and feels the Legislature needs someone who understands how those two entities work to function in the Legislature. He has been involved with Planning & Zoning for both City and County for the last 10 years and played some important parts in some of those planning issues and believes he understands Madison County pretty well. Mayor thanked Nyle Fullmer for his excellent work as City Council member for the last 12 years. Nyle has been an excellent City Council member, one who has served on many many different committees, always thinking about the best for the City and the citizens of our community. He has also been a great friend, we will miss him, and we have appreciated the work he has done and hope he will be back before long one way or another. Thanks and good luck. A plaque was given for Nyle’s service at another meeting. The time was turned to Stephen Zollinger for swearing-in the newly elected officials. Councilmen Glen Pond, Marsha Bjornn, Paul Pugmire and Donna Benfield were sworn into office by Stephen Zollinger, City Attorney. Each member signed their respective Oath of Office. Mayor Bruce Sutherland was then sworn into office by Stephen Zollinger, City Attorney after which the Oath of Office was signed. Mayor Bruce Sutherland made the following department appointments: Marilyn Hansen - City Clerk Richard Horner - City Treasurer and Finance Officer Lynn Archibald -Chief of Police John Millar -Public Facilities Coordinator Spencer Larsen -Fire Chief Stephen Zollinger -City Attorney A motion was made by Glen Pond to approve the Mayor’s appointments, seconded by Marsha Bjornn. Those voting aye:Marsha Bjornn Farrell Young Glen Pond Donna Benfield Kay Beck Paul Pugmire Those voting nay:None Mayor welcomed Marilyn and Donna aboard. Committee Assignments for the fiscal year 2000 were read as follows: Personnel and Finance: Farrell Young, Chairman Marsha Bjornn Glen Pond Fire and Ambulance: Kay Beck, Chairman Glen Pond Donna Benfield Police: Glen Pond, Chairman Paul Pugmire Kay Beck Parks and Recreation: Donna Benfield, Chairman Paul Pugmire Marsha Bjornn Water, Sewer and Irrigations Marsha Bjornn, Chairman Farrell Young Donna Benfield Streets and Sanitation Paul Pugmire, Chairman Farrell Young Kay Beck Planning and Zoning: Donna Benfield Golf: Paul Pugmire Airport:Glen Pond Traffic and Safety:Kay Beck Tabernacle and Fine Arts:Farrell Young Museum:Marsha Bjorrn Marsha Bjornn made the motion to approve the Mayor’s appointments, motion was seconded by Paul Pugmire. Those voting aye:Marsha Bjornn Farrell Young Glen Pond Donna Benfield Kay Beck Paul Pugmire Those voting nay:None John Millar reported on City projects: The projects are a little slower than they have been with the winter shutdown. The traffic signal th on 7 South has been activated and has been in operation for a couple of weeks. There has been a little problem with that method of operation. With snow on the ground, there have been some problems with people not hitting the detector loops activating all phases of that light. Once the snow gets off the ground that will clear up. We are scheduled to reseal coat and completely restripe that highway as soon as the weather will allow. The First West and Main Street signal is ready to be activated. They were going to activate it yesterday but with the change in the style of left turn signal used on that light the Highway Department wanted to get an article in today’s paper trying to explain the operation of the 5-head signal and that the light is scheduled to go into operation yet this week. Kay Beck asked the question if the article was suppose to help. John explained that actually the Highway Department put it in the paper and John thinks once the light is turned on it will be self- explanatory. The light is pretty standard and on the light poles there is a small camera there and this signal is totally controlled by cameras which feed the signal into the computers which signals the movement and priority and activates the lights. The advantage of that is if we want to change lanes or any change in the operation of the signal the company in Oregon can sit at their terminal and make those changes. The Mayor ask what happens if there is a bad snow storm with a lot of wind and it blows snow into the cameras. John explained that he had been concerned with that early on but the research that has been done says that has not been a problem, that they detect through the snow. He believes that this will be the standard with all new signals. th Farrell Young ask John if there was more railroad crossing to go in at the 7 South signal. All of the railroad crossing is in. Farrell ask if there was any danger of people stopping on that railroad track waiting for the red light. John explained there is always that danger but it is up to the driver, there is no signal arm. The treatment plant project was worked on until mid-December and that has been shut down for the winter. There was a bid opening today on three bid items for that project. It was felt some of the work could be done by the City, which includes the installation of the hand railing around the clarifier and around the oxidation ditch. There were 4 bids on furnishing those materials. Low bidder on that was Goble Sampson at $16,521. We also have what is called the current baffles which go inside the clarifiers, we bid those for all three clarifiers, the new one and the two existing ones, materials on that came in at $19,900 by a local firm, Manufab. We also have the mixers with large propellor mechanisms that propel water around the ditch, we bid those at $47,350. The crew will do the installation on this equipment. By way of information the Mayor questioned how this compared to the Engineer’s bid. John explained it was quite a bit lower and that right now the project is substantially lower than the budget and this will be the last major equipment for that project. All the other projects are shut down and will be completed in the spring. The Mayor asked how we were doing on the water line and sewer line across the Teton River. John met with DEQ on that yesterday and it was decided to do minimal work now and secure the two lines in place at this time. We will be installing a water valve on both sides of the river so that if something did happen to that line we can isolate immediately and we will be placing enough riff raff in the river to secure those lines in place. In the summer we will have to be looking at a long term cure for that, if the snow pack stays the way it is going to be in all likelihood that river will be dry this summer and we will be able to do a very thorough job on it. If not, we will look at three alternatives. One is to lower the water line in place, another option is to take the water line and secure it from the bottom of the bridge which is what DEQ would like us to do, actually raise it across and underneath the bridge. The sewer line is where it will be at and the only thing we will be able to do is place additional riff raff over that and try to secure it in place. If the river does drop low enough this year what we would like to do is bury some old footings from the bridge prior to 1961 which need to be partially removed and then the channels on both the north and south side of the bridge need to be widened to deal with fast flows. The Highway Department does not feel that the underwash is a concern. The bridge is totally supported on H- piles which are about 50 feet in the ground so that is a not a problem. th Marsha had a couple of citizens ask her about the light on 7 South. When school is not in session can it not be red for so long on Yellowstone Highway. John explained that that can be modified, we are doing some reprogramming on the signals and that one will be done this week. The concern is that it stays green on the east-west too long? (John) They are stopping on Yellowstone Highway too long. (Marsha) John will look at that. (Discussion). The default mode on that light is to be green on the old highway so if there is no activity or tripping of the signals it should default to the old highway. Kay commented that after the Safety and Traffic Committee met in November there was a discussion on raising that speed limit on south highway. The idea was to wait until it was striped and then the striping went haywire and there wasn’t much could be done about that. We talked about not having three speed limits going up the hill, 20 mph past the school, then 25 mph and then 35 mph, and this came as a recommendation from Randy Lewis that sits on that committee. John commented that that had been changed as of late yesterday. Glen requested of Kay that the next time the Safety and Traffic Committee meets would they review the stop sign on Birch. People say that no one really stops coming down Birch so maybe just take a look and see if something could be done. Kay mentioned that at one time they were all yield signs and they worked really good, then one day they all changed to stop signs. (Discussion). It was decided this project should be revisited, Kay ask that the Council be willing to act on the decision, he hates to have the Safety and Traffic Committee look at it then have to bring it back to the Council. The Mayor stated he feels strongly enough about the Safety and Traffic Committee that they should have similar authority like Planning & Zoning, certain things they decide and then if there are some very serious things it can be appealed back to the Council. The Council should not decide every single decision that is made. Kay stated that the Committee has good people and it is especially nice to have Randy Lewis from the Police Department, he knows how the police feel about certain items. (Discussion on stop signs in Powell Addition Streets and having a police car there in the mornings). John mentioned that in the Ricks-Palmer Addition yield signs were used and worked well. The Mayor had an issue that needed to be discussed in Executive Session. Glen Pond made a motion to go into Executive Session, with a second from Farrell Young. All Aye. Reconvened Glen Pond questioned Paul Pugmire as to the plans for a telephone at the Skate Park. There is a phone plan, it has been arranged with U. S. West to be done in the Spring. The plans for this next summer are to finish up the parking, finish up the landscaping, the water fountain and phone booth will go in on the southwest corner of the Skate Park, when the soccer field is all done it will be time to do a better bathroom structure, not sure that will be done next year. When the landscaping is complete a trials bike path will be put in which will be at no marginal cost. The Recreation Committee is having a meeting tomorrow night (Thursday) at 7:00 p.m.. Marsha requested that the Council Members on the Recreation Committee be notified of those meetings. The Mayor explained that Johnny Watson came in last week, he has been working with the library and the School District. The library wants to build a new building and the School District is looking at their next big project which is a Fine Arts Center, with an auditorium and place for the symphony and other clubs to perform. Wade Anderson’s committee (Recreation Committee) is excited, his committee is up and running. The idea is to create a campus with the library, recreation building and fine arts center. Any other council member is welcome to come. It is an exciting idea, it is a grand project that could be combined and make an appealing project for everyone. This will be done on the land that is currently west of the softball diamonds. The land west of this which the School District also owns is landfill and can be used for parking, ball diamonds or whatever. This meeting will be only a brainstorming session and everyone is invited. Marsha asked the Council for any information or direction from anyone serving on the United Way Committee. She ask what is the commitment for the council member serving on this board? The Mayor said the commitment is representing the City so they can give information, such as help by putting messages on our water bill. (Discussion of the United Way assignment) Kay asked John about the asphalt pile at the Louisiana Pacific property and what the plans were. He discussed how much use the Community Park gets in Idaho Falls from the hills and also the little hill at Smith Park and hoped that the planning for the Louisiana Pacific property would include those hills. John commented this is in the master plan for the LP project. The master plan for the LP property was given to the Council to review. John mentioned the thing that was looked at was all the bark and junk that could be hauled off or cap it with dirt and plant it, you are rid of it and have something to use. Paul raised another question about what is to be done with the land under the asphalt. John mentioned that the plan now was to retain that for use for the street shop area, to stockpile gravel, top soil and other materials. Paul asked if there was room to do that and a BMX bike path? (Discussion of a BMX bike path) Donna questioned the location of the ice skating pond that is maintained by the City or if there is one. John stated it was plowed yesterday, it is located east of the city buildings, there is no lighting for night skating. (Discussion of advertising the ice skating pond) Donna needs to be excused on the next Council meeting, she will be in Arizona. Glen made a motion to pay the bills, seconded by Kay Beck. All Aye. Marsha asked about the Trails of Madison County Committee. The Mayor stated this committee had been disbanded. He had spoken with several of the committee members that no longer want to serve so he tried to incorporate this committee into the Recreation Committee. (Discussion of jogging paths in Rexburg and surrounding communities). Glen made a motion for the meeting to be adjourned, seconded by Kay Beck. All Aye. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. _______________________________________________ Bruce Sutherland, Mayor ________________________________ Marilyn Hansen, City Clerk