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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000.04.05 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES DATE: (040500) MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING April 5, 2000 7:30 p.m. STATE OF IDAHO) County of Madison) SS City of Rexburg) Present were the following: Presiding:Glen Pond Council members:Kay Beck Paul Pugmire Farrell Young Marsha Bjornn Donna Benfield City Clerk:Marilyn Hansen Finance Officer:Richard Horner P.F.C.:John Millar Excused:Bruce Sutherland, Mayor - arrived later Pledge to the flag. Farrell made a motion to approve the minutes of March 15 and the minutes from the Joint Meeting with the Sugar City Council on March 23. Motion was seconded by Donna, all voted aye, none opposed. RE: ARTCO EXPANSION PROJECT TOPIC: (23,247,,,ARTCO,E.C.I.P.D.A.) The ARTCO Expansion Project was discussed at the last City Council meeting and each member has received a copy of the proposal form from ECIPDA as a consultant on that project. ECIPDA was the only entity submitting a bid for the contract and the ranking was in favor of awarding the contract to ECIPDA. Kay Beck declared a possible conflict of interest. Marsha made a motion to accept the contract from ECIPDA for the ARTCO Expansion Project, Farrell seconded. All voted aye, none opposed. RE: FIRE DEPARTMENT SURPLUS EQUIPMENT TOPIC: (23,247,,,FIRE DEPARTMENT,SURPLUS,EQUIPMENT) Spence Larsen explained the Fire Department is desirous of selling a piece of surplus equipment “Rescue Randy”, a rescue mannequin which was donated by Ricks College. If this could be sold the department would be able to purchase another one weighing 120 lb. which is standard for training. This dummy was approximately $700 new, they would like to sell for $500 and the excess can come from the budget. When the department runs their physicals they have to rent a mannequin from Idaho Falls and it would be more convenient to own their own. Kay made a motion to approve the sale of this equipment, Donna seconded the motion, all voted aye, none opposed. Introduction of scouts and welcomed Commissioner Brooke Passey. 1 RE: HEALTH INSURANCE TOPIC: (23,248,,,HEALTH INSURANCE,EMPLOYEE COMMITTEE,INSURANCE, EMPLOYEES) Richard reviewed the health insurance renewal program and options. He explained that it was usual in the past to change insurance companies every two years but we have been fortunate not to have had to do this in the last 4 years. This year we received a 17.9% increase on premiums so other options are being reviewed. The employee committee has met and reviewed each of the listed options. The Committee feels they would like to change the insurance and add some additional benefits. Discussion of each of the options and requesting that each employee is informed of any change. It was concluded that Richard would proceed with the paperwork and recommendations from the employee committee. Richard invited the Finance Committee to sit in on the discussions. RE: LIQUOR LICENSE TOPIC: (23,248,RES,00-02,LIQUOR LICENSE,MADISON COUNTY,ELECTIONS, ALCOHOL) In reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding the election in 1947, concerning liquor by the drink it became apparent that the City has for the past 53 years believed that the election was validly fulfilled and all obligations provided under the law were carried out. In an effort to find the election results and verify them in Boise there is no record of the results at the archives in the State House. The tendency of a request for a liquor license drives the need for a resolution ratifying what the Council believes was the result of the 1947 election. The resolution puts the City in a position that they believe the election in 1947 was official, as a result of that election liquor by the drink was disallowed in Rexburg and that accordingly any request for a liquor license by the drink would have to be denied pursuant to that election in 1947. Mr. Parkinson will then be put in a position to either start the ball rolling with an election, seeking the 20% of electorate signatures to put on the ballot or the option of challenging the validity of this resolution. At this point there is no issue that is challengeable before the Courts. A declaratory judgment could not be sought because there is no issue yet and there is no defendant. If this resolution is adopted and any citizen chooses to challenge the validity of that election then there would be an issue that can be placed before the Court. Glen read the proposed Resolution No. 2000-02 declaring the 1947 local option liquor by the drink election valid and in force and the intention of the City Council of the City of Rexburg, Idaho, to disallow any and all requests for liquor by the drink licenses within the corporate limits of the City of Rexburg. This resolution was intentionally written to say the position of the City of Rexburg would be to deny liquor by the drink until there was a clear conclusion that the City is required to do otherwise. Kay made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2000-02, motion was seconded by Farrell. Voting was a follows: Voting in favor of approving Resolution No. 2000-02: Marsha BjornnDonna Benfield Farrell YoungKay Beck Glen PondPaul Pugmire None opposing. RE: WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT TOPIC: (23,248,,,WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT) The construction on the addition to the Wastewater Treatment Plant restarted approximately two weeks ago. The reinforcing steel is being placed in the base of the clarifier and the concrete will be poured next week. 2 RE: STREET RECONSTRUCTION TOPIC: (23,249,,,MAIN STREET,1ST WEST,1ST SOUTH,STREETS) The reconstruction on First West from Main Street to First South has started. They are doing concrete work, they will be pouring sidewalks either later this week or the first part of next week, then the street will be excavated to begin total reconstruction. RE: ASPHALT CRUSHING TOPIC: (23,249,,,ASPHALT,ROADS,SIEPERT CRUSHING INC) The crusher is being moved in to begin the crushing of the City asphalt pile which will begin either Friday or Monday of next week. RE: AIRPORT RUNWAY PROTECTION ZONE TOPIC: (23,249,,,FAA,AIRPORT) FAA has given permission to go ahead on the acquisition of the Airport Runway Protection Zone. This project has been placed on the grant priority list and the City has been advised to initiate the process to acquire those properties. A formal application will be filed with FAA and proceed with the acquisition. RE: ARTCO EXPANSION PROJECT TOPIC: (23,249,,,ARTCO,E.C.I.P.D.A,GRANTS,NORTH HIGHWAY) The City was directed to go to Boise next week for a presentation on a grant for the reconstruction on North Highway which looks very positive. John, the Mayor and Stephen will be going to Boise with representations from ECIPDA and ARTCO next week, the results should be known either next week or the week after concerning the grant. RE: WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EQUIPMENT TOPIC: (23,249,,,WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, EQUIPMENT,BIDS) The City has budgeted for acquisition of the Bobcat Skid Steer Loader for the Wastewater Treatment Plant. In January the City of Salmon bid one and the City of Rexburg wanted to piggyback on that bid. We selected different options than Salmon, their low bid on the same unit was $23,489, our specifications bid at $21,847. Paul made a motion to purchase the Bobcat Skid Steer Loader, motion was seconded by Kay. All voted aye, none opposed. RE: SOUTH HIGHWAY PROJECT TOPIC: (23,249,,,SOUTH LHIGHWAY,YELLOWSTONE HIGHWAY,LES SCHWAB) Another item is the little island by Les Schwab Tire left after the realignment of the street. There are sororities at the college that want to work on this, they will be doing most of the labor, the City will be buying the shrubs and plantings for a cost of $7-800. There is a water service at that location for watering of the landscape. RE: SIDEWALK REPAIRS TOPIC: (23,249,,,L.I.D.,SIDEWALKS,SIDEWALK ORDINANCE) There was a request that the Council begin looking at the possibility of a city wide Local Improvement District to replace a number of sidewalks and displacements that have been struggled with over the past 11 years. These areas need to be identified and the property owners notified. The City is currently in negotiations with a similar situation with an insurance company that prompts that some action be taken. It was concluded to proceed with a survey to locate the sidewalk problem areas. Under a Village ordinance there is a requirement that adjacent property owners be provided a safe way, a sidewalk 3 or boardwalk, upon which pedestrian traffic can travel unimpeded. It is the determination of the industry that anything more than a quarter or half inch displacement is considered to pose a trip risk. We are not responsible for that until such time we receive knowledge of it, then the responsibility is in the enforcement of the ordinance. An LID should give good quality work for a reasonable price by bidding in bulk. Each individual property owner will be given notice that the LID is about to occur which gives them an opportunity to remedy the problem if they so desire. Richard mentioned the City is working on a computerized map that would identify those blocks that have missing pieces of sidewalk or none at all. This map should be completed around May 15. The intention is to show the Council where they may want to force a sidewalk. RE: STREET SEAL COATING TOPIC: (23,250,,,STREETS,SEAL COATING,H-K) Kay questioned if a satisfactory arrangement had been received from H-K concerning the chip sealing. John stated H-K is willing to take care of the problem, now that the sweeping is nearly done the problems areas can be documented and proceed from there. Paul complimented the Street Department on their clean-up. RE: LORIN KAUER DITCH TOPIC: (23,250,,,KAUER*LORIN,SOUTH HIGHWAY,DITCHES,MADISON COUNTY) John discussed the problem with the Lorin Kauer ditch south of the Hideaway Bar south of town. This ditch irrigates land that Kauers own. It goes underneath South Highway which originally had two 18" culverts under that road. When the State put in the interchange they widened the road and extended both culverts to the west, the County did some widening in 1991 and they extended the culverts to the east. Because of the alignment of the culverts and the property line there is approximately a 20 degree shift in the culverts. It has been brought to our attention now, just after finishing repaving the road, that these two extensions have caused the Kauers extensive problems in getting adequate water through those culverts. When that property next to the road was annexed the responsibility reverted to the City. Even though we were not involved with anything to do with those culverts the Kauers came to the City and asked for the problem to be rectified. The best solution would be to pull out the culvert and put a single 30-36" culvert in replacement. The last extension was done in 1991 so it has been this way for 8 or 9 years. Lorin Kauer explained the history of the culvert and the history of the loss of his crops because of st the lack of water. He stated that they need to turn their water in by the 1 of May so that only leaves a couple of weeks to solve the problem. Kay made a motion to give authority to the Mayor to work with the County Commissioners and get this project taken care of, motion was seconded by Paul. All voted aye, none opposed. RE: MAIN STREET PARKING TOPIC: (23,250,,,PARKING,MAIN STREET,CHAMBER OF COMMERCE) The Shop Rexburg Committee with the Chamber of Commerce is working on the parking problem and would like to attend the next City Council meeting so this item will be tabled until that time. RE: BUDGET TOPIC: (23,250,,,BUDGET,DEPARTMENT HEADS,PUBLIC HEARINGS) Richard presented and reviewed the budget calender for the year 2000. May 15-19 is set for a meeting with the Mayor, each of the Department Heads and John where applicable. April 26, is set for the Council retreat to discuss long range goals and general directions, special budget 4 review meeting set for June 21, tentative budget will be set on August 16 and a public hearing on the budget September 6. RE: ECIPDA TOPIC: (23,251,,,E.C.I.P.D.A.) Ted Hendricks from ECIPDA has approached a federal agency about a potential project in the community. He was unable to go into alot of detail because of the different properties and easements involved. ECIPDA is looking for a general partner, they would have to come up with approximately $200,000 to make it work. The push on this project is that the application needs to be submitted next week even though it would be 8-12 months away to need the funding. Kay made a motion to go into Executive Session, seconded by Marsha. All voted aye, none opposed. Reconvene RE: ARTCO EXPANSION PROJECT TOPIC: (23,251,,,ARTCO,E.C.I.P.D.A.) Ted explained that on Tuesday, April 11, at 2:30 p.m. there is a hearing in Boise pertaining to the grant for the ARTCO project. The Governor’s Advisory Council had some concerns, particularly about the match and how it was going into the project, they do not feel that the water/sewer component should be eligible for their funds but as long as local money pays for that they are comfortable. If the Governor’s Advisory Council feels good about this presentation they will fund the project. ECIPDA has been successful in acquiring $170,00 from the State of Idaho for the state training fund and the $190,000 from Bechtel looks very solid. Kay and Glen declared a possible conflict of interest. Ted proposed that the Contract for the ARTCO Expansion Project be approved so it could be part of the presentation in Boise. The contract is a standard contract, proposing $50,000 which represents about 5.8% of the money ECIPDA has helped to bring into the project. This contract is a contingent contract to protect the City, if the grant money does not become available then there is no contract. Farrell made a motion to accept the contract, seconded by Marsha. All voted aye, none opposed. RE: ANNEXATION AND CITY SERVICES TOPIC: (23,251,RES,00-03,ANNEXATIONS,SERVICE,SEWERS,WATER) Discussion of Resolution No. 2000-03 stating that the City of Rexburg will no longer allow connection to the city water and/or wastewater infrastructure systems to properties that are not within the corporate limits of the City of Rexburg. Paul made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2000-03, motion was seconded by Glen. The aye votes were as follows, no nay votes: Glen Pond Donna Benfield Paul Pugmire Marsha Bjornn Kay Beck Farrell Young RE: ANNEXATION AND CITY SERVICES TOPIC: (23,251,RES,00-04,ANNEXATIONS,SERVICE,SEWERS,WATER)’ Discussion of Resolution No. 2000-04 declaring the intention of the City Council of the City of Rexburg, Idaho, to seek to annex properties currently being served by city water or wastewater services, and to offer incentives to those that agree to the annexation within a limited time period. 5 Discussion ranged from the properties the City would really like to annex, to those that do not want to be annexed and their reasons why; whether this resolution should refer to only residential and not commercial properties; whether or not the incentive offer is too great; whether the residents should be forced to be annexed rather than have an incentive offered and whether annexation should take place against the will of the property owners. Paul feels this resolution is targeting only properties receiving city services outside the city limits. This resolution is not trying to go after anyone in the County receiving no city services. Stephen anticipates that he and John could sit down with some of the property owners not on any city services and discuss what the City is prepared to offer them. John feels that those specific property owners will at sometime in the future request annexation because the resolution just passed says they cannot receive city services except through annexation. Paul made a motion to approve Resolution 2000-04 with changes in Section I to change date to November 1, 2000, and Section II, strike the “calling 359-3020" and insert “by notifying in writing”. Motion was seconded by Glen. Voting was as follows: AyeNay Glen PondMarsha Bjornn Donna BenfieldFarrell Young Paul PugmireKay Beck Mayor Sutherland Glen made a motion to pay the bills, seconded by Farrell. All voted aye. Farrell made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Marsha. All voted aye. 6