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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000.12.20 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING December 20, 2000 7:00 p.m. STATE OF IDAHO) County of Madison) SS City of Rexburg) Present were the following: Mayor:Bruce Sutherland Council members:Kay Beck Paul Pugmire Nyle Fullmer Marsha Bjornn Glen Pond Donna Benfield City Clerk:Marilyn Hansen Finance Officer:Richard Horner P.F.C.:John Millar City Attorney:Stephen Zollinger Pledge to the flag. Public Hearing for MEDCO/ARTCO project nd Rick Miller representing MEDCO updated the ARTCO project which consisted of widening 2 East Street past the railroad tracks and the installation of the stop light at the ARTCO intersection. The City received a block grant in the amount of $500,000 in cooperation with ARTCO which created an equivalent of 120 full time jobs. Public Hearing was open, there were a couple of questions concerning the completion date and where the stop light is to be located. John Millar stated that the primary portion of the paving has been completed and all of the underground work has been completed for the traffic signal. The poles are scheduled to arrive the first week of January and it is anticipated the signal will be operational sometime in February. The left turn lane is in the plan, it could not be built until the power line was relocated which was just recently completed. The widening will be done as soon as the weather permits in the spring. The public hearing was closed. The Mayor expressed his appreciation to these businesses and to MEDCO for their help in funding projects with the City. Kay Beck declared a possible conflict of interest. Nyle made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Kay. All voted aye, none opposed. Approval of Beer Licenses The 2001 Beer Licenses were approved for: Albertsons, Broulims, Horkleys at 1021 N. Salem nd Rd., Horkleys on So. 2 East and Chevron Convenience Store at the South entrance. Kay made a motion to approve the Beer Licenses, seconded by Donna. All voted aye, none opposed. nd Animal Control Ordinance No. 581 2 Reading 1 nd Paul made a motion to approve the 2 reading of the Animal Control Ordinance No. 581. Nyle seconded the motion, all voted aye, none opposed. Dama Wirries brought in a puppy that had been abandoned and discussed the abandonment of animals and the necessity for the higher fines for abandonment. Pat Burton Snow Removal in driveways Pat Burton - 416 W. main Pat discussed the snow removal in the driveways of those residents living on West Main Street. Because of the 4 lane highway they get double the amount of snow plowed into their driveway and because of the travel it is not always snow but sometimes big chunks of ice. Most of the residents along this street are elderly and concerned. Pat expressed how difficult it is to clear the driveways and discussed possible solutions to help these residents. Discussion of possible solutions including plowing into the center of the street, hiring someone to go along behind the plows to clean the driveways, all residents paying a sum for the removal, discussion of the accounting and putting the charge on the water bills. Paul suggested looking into a solution by involving residents. John suggested sending a mailing nd to the property owners on West Main from 2 West to the City Limits and see how much interest there is to sign up for the snow removal. Discussion on a pilot program for the snow removal. The Mayor assigned Paul, as Council Member over the Street Department, to work with John toward a solution to this problem. Fred Calder snow removal damage to streets Fred Calder - 244 Steiner Fred distributed pictures of streets for the purpose of spotlighting the damage on the street surface and concrete curbs. He then read a history of Steiner Avenue and stated what he feels is causing the damage to the streets, not only on Steiner Avenue but other streets in the City. He described a curb that the City had required to be put in by a single mother, then it immediately snowed and by spring it was damaged, evidenced by the pictures he presented. Fred’s solution was to discontinue use of chains on the equipment, equipment be operated in a manner to prevent damage to streets, specifically prohibit front end loader operators from digging their buckets into the digging mode, prohibit road graders from lowering their blades to a position to gouge the street surface and to educate road equipment operators as to the damage they are inflicting. John explained that most of the damage in the pictures is not caused by chains but by the ice breaker that has been used improperly a couple of times. The patrol does have chains which are used extensively, without the chains snow cannot be plowed with the patrol, the loader does not have chains but the tires are studded for more traction. The operators are back on the streets year around and they know exactly what is happening, they are cautioned about the damage and it is being watched more all the time. Kay complimented the Street Department on the work they do, sometimes under tough conditions, and often while the City is asleep. Discussion about what can be done and looking for ways to improve. Kathleen Parkinson - 276 Steiner Kathleen questioned if the City was going to repair the damage done to the curb in front of her house which they had required that she put in. It had been her understanding that the City would pay for a handicap ramp and the curb and gutter and her obligation was only the sidewalk. She put in a handicap curb in the fall of 1998, and after everything was paid for she came to the office for a City Council meeting and was told the City would not reimburse her for the handicap ramp. 2 It was suggested by Nyle that this issue be researched and taken care of by the City. Upper Valley Free Clinic Corey Barnard representative for Upper Valley Free Clinic made a presentation on the value of a free clinic in the area. He reviewed the Mission Statement and purpose of the clinic which will be operated from the District 7 Health Department free of charge. The purpose of his presentation is the need for donations to open the clinic. He has visited with the Madison County Commissioners and they responded with a $3,000 donation if it can be matched with other funds. Discussion on the purpose of the clinic, the screening for services that will take place and who is qualified for the free services, other free clinics around the country and volunteer services from doctors and nurses The clinic needs an immediate $500.00 to make application for a 501C3 non-profit corporation, $300.00 for insurance and $200.00 for office supplies. The request to the City is a one time request and not an annual request. There is a commitment from the hospital to donate $1,000 a month in radiology and laboratory work to the clinic on a voucher basis for the first six months. The free clinic will lessen the impact on the community, the hospital and the county for indigent th expenditures. The doors will be opened on the 10 of January, one night a week, on Wednesday evenings, need and pressure on the clinic will dictate more open hours. There was discussion concerning the legality of the City to be able to donate to a charity cause. The contribution from the County also comes from the City residents and perhaps a better place to start for donations would be the counties. Paul also suggested that the Council be cognizant of the fact that other community services would also like donations. Wastewater Treatment Rates By way of information the Mayor discussed that he, John and Richard had visited with Winston Dyer and Clinton Arnold of the Sugar City Council and discussed some changes to the wastewater rates. It was agreed to come to the Council with a proposal to adjust the Sugar City rate based on the line item on Police/Fire, and Richard explained the changes that were suggested. There was a lengthy discussion on how these changes came about and why. The amount of the change is approximately $2800, and the rates will be reviewed annually. Discussion of the KMart Lift Station. Paul made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2000-08 relating to the wastewater rates for Teton and Sugar City. Kay seconded the motion, all voted aye, none opposed. Update on projects John reported on the progress on the cooperative agreement between the State and the City for nd the 2 North/2nd East traffic signal. The typical state local agreement does have to have an attached Resolution to be acted upon. The estimated cost for the traffic signal is $139,000, 92.66% is paid by Federal funds and the remaining portion is paid 60% by the State and 40% is the responsibility of the City. nd Nyle moved to pass Resolution 2000-09 approving the traffic signal for 2 North/2nd East. Motion was seconded by Kay, all voted aye, none opposed. The State is planning reconstruction of Highway 33 through Rexburg. They have asked for a letter from the City of Rexburg stating how involved and what limits the City would like to see on the reconstruction. They will take it as far as can be justified and are looking at a total reconstruction if that is the direction the City would like to go. The State is interested in the input but it does not have to come to a decision tonight. 3 The City is now trying some Mag Chloride on the roads for evaluation on snow removal. Discussion of the process for the appropriate use of this product. For a sample it has been used on the Police Department parking lot and it did take the ice off. Personnel Department Richard has met with the Personnel Department and the Mayor and there are three proposals to be presented to the Council tonight, copies of which were distributed. 1. The first is to convert a part time accounts payable position to a full time position. City Hall is busier and busier and the part time person who was doing accounts payable left for marriage and because of our backlog of work it would be advantageous to expand that position to a full time. Richard reviewed the cost and benefits and the source of payment. In reviewing the personnel issue Richard had visited with Marilyn and John and received a request at that time that at least by summer it would be necessary to have a part time person to help in the Planning & Zoning Department. It would be an obvious thing to turn the part time cashier into a full time position to help in that area. This would not have to be the route, we could do with part time until October, but he suggested we do full time now and then at budget time in April or May re-evaluate the position. Discussion on adding personnel, that as the City grows it will also add more pressure onto the Street and Parks and other departments in the City. Paul made a motion to proceed with the recommendation of the Personnel Committee for the addition of a full time position. Motion was seconded by Donna, all voted aye, none opposed. 2. The next item is a change in per diem that has not been changed for nearly 15 years. Rather than changing the Personnel Manual each time Richard is requesting a change that we coincide with the IRS rate schedule and the rate will adjust with inflation. Kay made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Personnel Committee and make the change in travel per diem. Motion was seconded by Paul, all voted aye, none opposed. 3. The third item concerns a problem in getting to the end of the year and maybe 5-10 employees have saved their vacation up for the end of the year, then we run into problems with the employee being requested to work for snow removal or on the garbage truck and they lose some vacation. This recommendation is to give the employee and departments some flexibility. Richard suggested we expand the 40 hours of carry over for some cash out. There was lengthy discussion with the Council, if we allow them vacation they should take vacation and Glen did not feel we should be buying them out of vacation, that vacation is set up for the employee to get away, come back refreshed and do his work and it is not a thing to be paying cash for. Supervisors should be alert enough to know they cannot have everyday off between Christmas and New Years. The policy now allows for the Supervisor to adjust the carry over on an emergency basis. Also discussed was that if Stephen cannot take vacation because of the Wednesday night commitments to Council and Planning & Zoning, then this is a problem. Paul suggested that in the absence of consensus of the Council that this discussion be tabled for the time being. Richard requested that the Council review the items under the PERSI matter. He feels it is a benefit to the City to have the employees train on the computer at home. It is suggested the City buy $500.00 worth of the employee’s computer for this purpose should they purchase a new one or upgrade. One more item from Richard was setting up a VEBA plan for employees as a lifetime cafeteria plan with the $37,000. Whatever money goes into the 401K comes out taxable, when it goes into a VEBA if it comes out and pays for health insurance costs or drugs, it comes out non-taxable. 4 Nyle made a motion to approve the bills, seconded by Marsha. All voted aye, none opposed. Donna made a motion to go into Executive Session concerning a real estate matter, seconded by Nyle. All voted aye, none opposed. Reconvene th Paul made a motion to take the necessary steps to sell the City owned property located on 7 South near the armory. Glen seconded the motion, all voted aye, none opposed. Committee Reports Marsha discussed that Doug Smith plows the Golf Course for cross country skiers and she questioned if the City could pay for the gas for this plowing. He grooms the trails sometimes 3 times a week with his own equipment. It was recommended that Doug submit a bill for the gasoline used in plowing for payment from the City. Marsha also requested permission to visit with Nampa City officials concerning the Nampa Fiesta 2000 for the Hispanic community to see how they funded this event. Paul recognizes the vote for cinders on the streets, but he is far from done in trying to find a better solution to this problem so the City can get out from under the dirty look of the cinders. It is not only an economic issue but is becoming an environmental issue. Glen made a motion to adjourned, seconded by Marsha. All voted aye, none opposed. 5