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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001.11.07 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL November 7, 2001 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 Paul Pugmire Nyle Fullmer Donna Benfield Glen Pond City Clerk:Marilyn Hansen Finance Officer:Richard Horner PFC:John Millar City Attorney:Stephen Zollinger Excused:Marsha Bjornn Public Hearing - ECIPDA, Block Grant for Removal of Slum and Blight Public Hearing was conducted by Kurt Hibbert, representative of ECIPDA. Minutes are attached. There was no public comment. The Mayor commended Glen Muir, who was in attendance, on his positive campaign for City Council. Marsha was excused due to a death in the family. Pledge to the flag. Update on Projects John reported on completing the sand shed which is now full of sand and ready for winter. Discussion on magnesium chloride and any possible damage to asphalt, the City will be restrictive on the use this year to see how it works. nd The street project is completed with the exception of two streets, 2 South and Bare Street, but these should still be completed this fall. Discussion on laying the asphalt. John reported they were pleased with the overlays on all streets. The proposals are being reviewed on the Recreation Center, a spread sheet will be compiled to narrow the proposals down from 14 to 6. There will then be an interview with the six from which a final decision will be made. He stated there were some amazing proposals. Introduction of scouts and BYU-Idaho students from a government class. Nyle made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Kay. Request to Vacate Portion of Valley View Estates No. 3 Bart Stevens distributed a map of Valley View Estates and requested certain lots be developed so other larger lots could be developed at a later time. There are no plans to develop the lots on Fairview now so he would like to vacate the 16 lots as they were platted in 1993. Discussion and review of the map. Kaymade a motion to send this request to public hearing, seconded by Glen. 1 Resolution 2001-____ - Canvassing Election Results A resolution of the City Council of the City of Rexburg, Idaho, canvassing and declaring the results of the general municipal election held in said City on Tuesday, November 6, 2001. The Mayor read the resolution canvassing election results from the November 6, 2001, City Election. The voting went as follows: Corey D. Barnard580 Nyle C. Fullmer795 Kenneth W. Hart484 Shawn Larsen733 Glen B. Muir577 Kendell Lee Nielsen584 Paul Pugmire588 Troy Thurgood170 Paul thanked the other candidates for the great campaign they ran. He had met with four of the other candidates, discussed the closeness of the votes, the possibility of a recount and reported the candidates had determined to let the count be canvassed as they presently are. He thanked all of them for their consideration and support. Donna made a motion to accept the canvassing of votes and pass the Resolution, seconded by Kay. All voted aye, none opposed. Resolution is number 2001-10. Olympic Torch Relay Announcement Donna Benfield announced that the Olympic Committee has chosen Rexburg as a City to have the Olympic Torch go through on its way to Salt Lake for the 2002 Olympics. The torch will go through Rexburg on January 27, at 7:20 a.m. and be completed at 7:40 a.m. She introduced two of the runners in attendance, Mack Shirley and Bryce Rydalch. Others running will be Mitch Shirley and Pat Burton. On Saturday, January 26, a Winter Festival will be held all day celebrating and honoring runners culminating with the Torch Relay on Sunday. Jack and Kari Bowman will be in charge of activities for the day which will include many games and winter races and activities. There are other committees working on various educational events which will include schools and children in the community. The torch comes through Rexburg from Idaho Falls on its way to Bozeman. CART - 53.09 FTA Capital Grant Denise Mylar, representing CART introduced the Federal Transit Administration grant program. She reviewed Section 53.09 and the packet which had been distributed to the Council members relating to the FTA eligibility requirements and the need for public sponsors. Denise also discussed various transportation needs for the City of Rexburg and projects from around the State. She suggested this be scheduled for a work meeting to work out the details. Mayor Sutherland suggested she meet with John Millar, Public Facilities Coordinator and Richard Horner, Financial Officers, to review engineering details and grant matches and possibly with Roger Muir, Madison County Commissioner. Paul questioned what is being done in surrounding communities. Denise stated they would like to make this a Rexburg and Madison County project. CART has also reviewed transportation needs with BYU-Idaho. Time line requirements would be to have something prepared during the next year for the year 2004. Glen suggested a meeting with Madison County to coordinate efforts. Recreation Passes 2 Jack Bowman presented his mission statement to conduct a healthy recreation program. He distributed a Community Care Card which his department would like to spend a little money on. Council Members could hand out the cards to anyone, child or adult, that they see doing something good for the community. He feels this would help the citizens to buy into the community. The City gives passes to employees for the slide and carousel during the summer and he would like to extend this program to the community. Donna supports the program but suggested a different name be used since there is a business on Main Street called Community Care. Paul suggested this program be expanded to also let the Police Department distribute when they see someone doing something positive. Temporary Use for LP Property Stephen explained there were a group of 10 using the property as a motor cross track. They had been requested not to use this without City Council permission, those requesting the permission were not in attendance. Discussion that a motor cross track is not an appropriate use of the property, the insurance company would likely not deem this appropriate without it being done right and it was suggested this track be removed immediately. John was instructed to take what steps are necessary to remove this track. John reported it has been scheduled for dozer work in the Spring to be removed. Name of Nature Park This matter of naming the Nature Park had been discussed and tabled two weeks ago for further review. The Mayor read and commented on letters and responses both positive and negative he had received. Kay reviewed his discussion with past Mayor Boyle and a newspaper article supporting the naming of the park after Farrell Davidson. Kay made a motion to name the nature park, Davidson Nature Park. Glen did not disagree with Kay but discussed the time worked on the park had been City paid time, it was not all contribution. Nyle reported he had received comments in agreement with Glen and felt there was time for further discussion before naming the park. Donna suggested a large plaque be displayed at the park listing the names of all those that contributed in many ways to the park. Paul felt there should be some way to recognize Farrell for his work but felt the Council should be slow and careful before naming the Nature Park and give more consideration to naming the parks. Discussion. Motion did not pass for lack of second. Mitch Neibaur commented there are opportunities to acknowledge employees for doing their job, this may not be the right one but others should be considered. Mayor suggested this be given until December 19 for further discussion. Idaho Housing Richard Smith reported on his visits with BYU-Idaho concerning married student housing. They want to clearly set the record straight BYU-Idaho is not in the business of building married housing, they would like to see the private sector build affordable housing for the married students. Expectations for married student enrollment has been exceeded this year. Land has been purchased for the purpose of married student housing but it has also been noticed that no dirt has been turned. The college has received approval to build 1000 housing units. BYU-Idaho has gone forward with feasibility studies, the building will be done in phases only to fill the gap that the private sector is unwilling to fill. BYU-Idaho housing will not be subsidized, it will be handled as other matters and will have to carry its own way. Some of the dorms have been renovated to 36 units which will be priced at $475-$500 per month. The College wants to provide accurate information to everyone interested, they do not want to provide information that is only projections and estimates. 3 Discussion concerning whether the college will be building on their own property or purchasing private owned land. Richard reported they were not sure, they own 200 acres which may be used. Discussion concerning this being or not being subsidized. Donna reported on the projects already in progress for married housing. Paul would like to see the college stay involved so that the information be first hand rather than rumored. Mayor’s Business Generally the City has not been closed on Veteran’s Day. He proposes that because of recent events in the country it be appropriate, correct and right that the office be closed on Veterans’ Day and it be recommended to the Employee Committee that this day be observed annually in place of another holiday. Kay made a motion that the City observe Veterans’ Day and close the office on the observed day of November 12. Motion was seconded by Nyle. Donna questioned why they would close for this holiday and gave her thinking. Discussion on changing the number of holidays for this year and that this would be only for this year until the Committee can review the observed holidays. Paul felt it be entirely appropriate to close but felt it would be changing the compensation package for employees and this should be done through the Employee Committee or Personnel Committee. The Mayor felt this one time compensation was appropriate. Richard felt this request was more to honor the veterans than to give the employees a day off. Discussion. All voted aye on Kay’s motion to observe Veterans’ Day, none opposed. Committee Report Glen reported that Officer Bowler resigned as DARE Officer, the department has made the necessary adjustments to cover his position. The reason he left was his feelings for lack of job security because of lack of DARE funding. Glen reported this is something that the City will be facing and there needs to be coordination with the School District to discuss funding. The Department is reluctant to hire another officer without more secure funding. Sidewalks Glen had received inquiries as to why some sidewalks had to be replaced and not others. A directive was issued to John to pursue the issue of replacing sidewalks as property has been transferred. John reported that this information is presently being accumulated and will be reported on an LID in the spring. As a point of information the November 21 meeting will be held at 7:30 A.M. The meeting scheduled for December 5 will not be held because of a conflict in scheduling. Richard discussed dividing the proposed annexed properties be divided into a fast track and a slow track for further annexation. Glen made a motion to approve the bills, seconded by Nyle. The meeting was adjourned. ___________________________________ Bruce Sutherland, Mayor _______________________________ Marilyn Wasden, City Clerk 4 5