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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003.01.22 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF REXBURG City Hall Mission Statement: At Rexburg City Hall our goal is to improve the Community. We serve the citizens by striving to understand their needs and by responding with quality work. January 22, 2003 7:30 P.M. Pledge to the Flag The State of the City Address: - Mayor Bruce Sutherland State of the City Report 2003 Dear Friends, Well I am sure that I dont need to remind anyone in our good Community of all the changes = and challenges that we have faced this last year! However, I feel that its good to pause and review what = our City has been doing in 2002. I hope that this information will provide you with a good overview of the various City Departments. Before I get started I want to visit a moment with you a bit before I make my official report. I mentioned last year that I learned quite a bit. Well, this year I came to the realization that I have a great deal more to learn. The City is growing like never before. We had a twelve fold increase in building permits in 2002 over an average year. That alone is a staggering statistic. Along with all this growth, there have been many changes that our community has faced. There have been many difficult zoning issues that the City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission have had to on the City agenda. It has not been easy and my hat is off to both the City Council Members and the hard working folks on the Planning and Zoning Commission. I have come to understand even more clearly than in any of the 17 years I have been serving in City Government, that the decisions we make today must consider more than the moment or what seems to be a good idea to solve the present problems. Our vision must be such that in the years ahead we can look back with satisfaction and not regret. This is not an easy challenge for sure. However, I believe that our good City is up to the challenge. That is just one of the many reasons that I feel our community is second to none. I feel so privileged to serve you. Rexburg is the greatest!! I love our Town with all my heart and am so glad I live here. Now on with the 2002 City report: 1. STREETS : rd A major street project during 2002 was the reconstruction of one block of 3 North, one block $ ndnd of North 2 West, and two blocks of West 2 North adjacent to the railroad tracks. These road were completely reconstructed to replace roads that had reached the end of there useful life. th Rolling Hills Drive was also reconstructed from Shoshone to 4 East. $ City wide LIDs replaced areas of curb, gutter, and sidewalk along with the addition of new $= 1 sidewalks throughout the City. A major accomplishment was the installation of an electrical and watering system along Main $ Street to provide power for new street lights, power for the overhead lighting, and empty conduit for possible future fiber optic lines. This project included the installation of a water line to irrigate the trees and planters along Main Street. The City with the help of numerous business and residents within the community, were able to $ purchase new Christmas decorations and lighting. During 2002 numerous roads were added to the City. Roads on the Southwest side of the City $ in the Westates development include Trejo Street and Mariah Avenue; Also, an extension and th re-alignment of Pioneer Road. There is a new subdivision being constructed on 7 North. It is known as Stone Bridge Subdivision which constructed two new streets. The Henderson th subdivision West of South 5 West has added several blocks of new streets. The City has had significant growth in subdivisions and developments throughout the City. In $ recent years there generally was a new subdivision every two to three years. During 2002, seven new subdivisions were either started or under construction. 2. POLICE : Two officers completed the Post Academy in 2002 fully certifying the department. $ One lieutenant was able to train at the FBI National Academy, receiving excellent instruction $ This past year the computer system was completely upgraded; linking it with the campus $ division of the Rexburg Police Department, tying the system in with all four Resource officers in our schools within the city. An officer from our campus division was trained in Voice Stress Analysis, adding efficiency in $ investigating various crimes. The Drug Task Force was extremely effective in 2002, not only in working drug cases, but also $ in uniting several agencies and helping them work together to be more effective in our fight against illegal drugs in our community. There have also been great advances as far as citizen’s involvement with the police department, increasing Police effectiveness. Areas of concern do exist. The City is increasing in size both by population and geographic $ area. In the first three quarters of 2002, there was a 22% increase in arrests over 2001. The number $ of offenses increased by 4.3%. One statistic that is a real positive however is the 43.8% solvable rate in 2002, compared to the $ national average of 22% and a State wide average of 35%. 3. RECREATION : 2002 was a year of new activities and events beginning with the first annual winter festival held $ in January. The turnout was overwhelming with four to five thousand people supporting the festivities. Unfortunately the 2003 festival has been cancelled because of lack of snow. The old standby activities such as basketball, soccer, t-ball continued to be popular and fun. $A@ New classes in 2002 included: pitch, hit and run, sign language, puppy kindergarten and more. $ Rexburgs first annual Triathlon The Rush brought participants form Idaho, Utah, Montana, $=A@ and California. Much work and discussion was done in 2002 on the proposed Community Center, with many, $ many meetings of the citizen committee and the community in general. No decision was made, however funds are being raised for the Center. The future is encouraging for the growth of the City. 2002 saw the creation of a Recreation Advisory Board. This 9 member board will be an asset to $ the recreation department to help and support the direction of Recreation in our Community. As always, many thanks to all the volunteers that make so many of the recreation programs $ work. Without their help, much of what was accomplished could not have happened. 4.WATER: 2 During 2002, the Water Department extended lines in the Southwest corner of the City to $ th Pioneer Road and 7 South. Lines were constructed on the North side of the City alone Cemetery Road and in other $ subdivisions in and adjacent to the community. nd Existing service lines on Mains Street and 2 East were replaced in preparation of the re-paving $ of those Streets in 2003. th A new water line was extended under U.S. 20 at 7 South enabling the expansion of City $ utilities to the West of U.S. 20. 5. Wastewater: A three acre asphalt storage pad for Bio-solids was constructed in 2002. $ The City replaced the existing gas chlorination system with an on site hypo-chloride generation $ system which makes sodium hypo-chloride or Clorox out of water softener salt. This was done as a safety and cost saving measure. Not having one ton cylinders of Chlorine gas is a substantial safe guard for the community. 6.PARKS : A new $30,000.00 play area was installed at Porter Park to replace aging and unsafe equipment. $ The North restrooms at Porter Park were re-modeled and will be on line this spring. $ Several trees where trimmed and new trees planted in Porter park. $ The soccer Field in the nature park was re-seeded and will be ready for play this spring. $ An addition to the bike and jogging path around the nature park was also completed. This $ wraps around the soccer field and north to the Teton river. 7.PLANNING AND ZONING: In 2002 we added Kurt Hibbert, a new planning and zoning administrator to help deal with $ the increased challenges facing this department. Total building permits issued 2002: $58,279,261.00. $ 8EMERGENCY SERVICES . : 2002 was an eventful year for the Emergency Services Department with just under 1500 runs for $ both EMS and fire runs. Rexburg/ Madison Count Emergency services are one of only 6 in the State of Idaho that has $ everyone skilled at the Paramedic level. Because of this, several other ambulance services request their help. In 2002 our Emergency services received a grant for $70,000.00 for training of the public and fire prevention. The Archer fire station was completed and is on line providing better fire protection for the South County area. WHATS AHEAD : ’ For 2003 we have a whole plethora of projects that the City of Rexburg will be addressing. Working with the State, we will be reconstructing 13 blocks of Main Street and 2nd East. The work is scheduled to start in early July and will take about 2 months. Other street projects include seal coating rd several streets this summer when the conditions are most favorable. Also, we will be adding a 3 truck for garbage collection to keep up with the demand. th We are reviewing the feasibility of installing a pump in the geothermal well of 7 South. Water quality testing is complete and looks good. We are also looking to expand to an additional well, tank and booster station in the Southwest corner of the City. 3 One of the items that I need to mention is the ongoing cooperation with the various City, County, School District, and related services. We are working together with these entities as well as Police/Sheriff and the complete combining of the Fire/Ambulance. The reason I mention this is that normally this is not the case. However, I firmly believe that each of these entities serve most if not all the same people. When we can work together locally, it is to the benefit of all. As I have said many times before, all of us in public service owe our paychecks to our constituents and therefore need to cooperate for the good of all. It just makes sense. We can make your tax dollars go farther by working together and helping one another. We are continuing work on raising money for the proposed Recreation Center. We will be looking at any and all options to enhance our Recreation opportunities for our Community. We all have an investment in Rexburg. It can be what we want to make it. I have great faith that as we face the many challenges of 2003, we can work together; Succeeding in making Rexburg the Community we will all be proud of. I love this City. I am honored to serve you as your Mayor. I feel privileged to work with your City Council. They are great people that love Rexburg as much as I and work tirelessly to make our Community a better place. It is my wish that your year may be filled with joy and success. Thank you for granting me the privilege of serving you as your mayor. Most truly yours, Bruce L. Sutherland Mayor 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 the January 08, 2003 meeting b. Approve City of Rexburg bills Nyle Fullmer moved to approve the Consent Calendar; Shawn Larsen seconded; all voted aye, The motion carried. none opposed. Non Controversial Items Added to the Agenda: Smile Campaign – Megan Leatham Megan Leatham – Reviewed a smile campaign sponsored by AmeriCorps. Madison School District and the Madison Memorial Hospital are participating in the campaign. The th st campaign will begin February 15to the 1 of March. Megan reviewed a student survey thth from 7 to 12 graders that indicated 70% of the students felt the adults in our Community did not value them as youth. It is their perception that counts. Megan encouraged the adults to smile more at the youth. Also, she asked the adults to learn the names of the youth in City, Church or Community. It takes fewer muscles to smile than it takes to frown. Stickers, buttons, and magnets of smiling faces will be passed out to the Community. Megan asked the Council to approve a Smile Campaign 4 banner across Main Street. Mayor Sutherland mentioned that there were two places that would work for the banner. One location is West Main by Pizza Hut. The other location is by the County Court House. Megan indicated that that Madison County has been designated as a “Community of Promise” by fulfilling five promises to the youth of the Community. The Community of Promise program was started in 1997 by General Collin Powell. Paul Pugmire – Inquired on the source of the designation of Madison County as a Community of Promise. Megan indicated that it was done by National initiative by an Emeritus Promise Organization. Megan thanked the Community for supporting the youth. New Business: th Continental Park Condominium – Final Plat (648 South 5 West) Kartchner Homes Kurt Hibbert – Reviewed the final plat for converting apartments to condos. They are located by thth the Don Rydalch home near 7 South and 5 West. The units were part of one large apartment complex. Lyle Cook – Idaho Division Manager representing Kartchner Homes – Reviewed the proposal with the City Staff. They plan to change the plat from apartments to condominiums. There is a water detention area that will utilized for a playground area with playground equipment. Donna Benfield – Inquired for information on the changes made to parking. Lyle Cook – Indicated that the parking is basically the same with two parking stalls per unit. Six more parking stalls could be installed if the Council required additional parking stalls. Shawn Larsen moved to accept the Continental Park Condominium final plat; Donna seconded The motion carried. the motion; all voted aye, none opposed. thrd Spring (Mountain) Creek – Division #1 – Final Plat (6 South & 3 West) Mountain River Engineering John Millar – Reviewed the re-plat of the area to realign some of the previous plats and City right of way. It is a re-plat to align the street. Planning and Zoning recommended approval of the plat. The plat shows a 70 foot right of way on the area that is part of the Parker Addition. John indicated that this is an error; the actual right of way is 99 feet instead of 70 feet. The developer will seek abandonment of about 14 feet of right of way at a latter date for a development proposal. Nyle Fullmer moved to approve the final plat with the correction; Marsha Bjornn seconded The motion carried. the motion; all voted aye, none opposed. Hidden Valley Phase 6 - Final Plat (Hidden Valley) The Dyer Group 5 Winston Dyer – Manager of the Dyer Group represented the developers – Winston reviewed the plat on the overhead screen. They plan to have 9 phases in this development. The reason larger subdivisions are developed in phases is a tax issue. Phased development brings property into the tax rolls as they are developed. He reviewed Phase 5 with 16 lots that has sold out. Phase 6 is just South of phase 5. The whole development will have a 3.8 acre park that connects to a green way for the Community that will be turned over to the City of Rexburg for maintenance. They plan a total of 9 Phases in this development. Planning and Zoning recommended approval of the plat. Shawn Larsen moved to accept Hidden Valley Phase Six as a final plat; Paul Pugmire seconded The motion carried. the motion; all voted aye, none opposed. Public Hearing: 7:40 p.m. - City of Rexburg - request a zone change of City of Rexburg property from Light Industrial (LI) to Open Space (OS). The property is located between the Rail stst Road Tracks on the West and 1 East near 295 North 1 East. Kurt Hibbert – Reviewed the proposal on the overhead screen. It is an area planned for a future Recreational Center. Public Hearing was opened - No testimony was given Public Testimony was closed Kurt continued to discuss the boundaries of the property. There is a proposed development across the river in this area. Kurt indicated that there is a pedestrian bridge to cross the Teton River planned in this proposal. The Idaho State Parks and Recreation is helping fund the greenway project in this area. Paul Pugmire moved to approve the zone change from Light Industrial to Open Space; Nyle The motion carried. Fullmer seconded the motion; all voted aye, none opposed. Old Business: rd Zoning Ordinance 725 Amendments – Rural Residential Two (RR2) – 3 Reading Paul Pugmire - Requested more time to review the proposed RR2 Zone before the third reading. rd Stephen Zollinger – Recommended to post pone the 3 reading. This will allow time to review RR1 and make sure the City is comfortable with RR2. Annexation and a zone change from Madison County zoning to Rexburg zoning for nd ten properties. – 2 Reading Area One: Annexation of Properties between US Highway 20 and 2000 West in Section 25 with some properties located on the East side of US Highway 20. 6 Area Two: Annexation of Property at 1647 West 1000 South Area Three: Annexation of Properties on both sides of South Millhollow Road from 350 – 700 South Millhollow Road nd Area Four: Annexation of Properties at 1050 North 2 East nd Discussion on approving the 2 reading now or suspending the rules at the next meeting if the Council chooses to approve the Annexation proposal at that time. nd Nyle Fullmer moved to approve the 2 reading of the Annexation proposal for the annexation of four areas; Marsha seconded the motion; all voted aye, none opposed. The motion carried. nd Mayor Sutherland – Indicated that the 2 reading does not speed up the annexation proposal. It is a formality to have the second reading now instead of suspending the rules in a latter meeting for a final vote. Update on Projects: Barney Dairy Road John Millar – Discussed addressing : There were three choices offered in ]the survey. The residents were split on the vote to select a different name for Barney Dairy Road. The road name will be extended to the Sugar City Cemetery. 1000 North is the County address after the Cemetery. City Staff recommend leaving the name as Barney Dairy Road because the residents did not have majority vote on a new name. The Council recommended that John proceed with the name of Barney Dairy Road. Stationery PlaceStationary Road Artco has requested that be changed to to better fit the Addressing Committees’ guidelines. The Council recommended that John proceed with the proposal to use Stationary Road . John Millar – Requested that the Council allow the Staff to move forward to initiate Local Improvement District 33 for 2003. John indicated that LIDs should be done every other year to allow larger projects that would be less costly to the City and the residents. nd Marsha Bjornn - Reviewed the sidewalks near the Cal Store on 2 East. John indicated that the Cal Store does have either sidewalk or hard surface in place. Discussion on other locations in the City that may need sidewalks. Shawn Larsen - Asked where the LID for sidewalks would end on West Main Street. John Millar – Mentioned that the new Highway 33 Project will end on the East side of the old golf course. Stephen Zollinger – Indicated that a sidewalk could not be in a golf course due to a liability issue. 7 Discussion on having a sidewalk to cross the canal on the South side of Highway 33 on West Main Street. Discussion on weeds across from Erickson Pontiac. Also, there is an abandoned house on West Main that needs cleaned up. Stephen Zollinger – Indicated that the City would have a Resolution for LID 33 prepared for the next meeting. John Millar – Reviewed the West side water and sewer projects and the timing for bidding the projects. John would like to dig the sewer trench in the spring when the sub water is lower than the proposed trench. John indicated that the current ground water is at 17 feet. It is cheaper to do the work in a dry trench on the sewer system extension. th The City is looking at a lift station on the 12 West line with a pressure line back to the East section of sewer lines. The Widdison Addition line would be bid as an alternate schedule on the bid subject to the annexation proposal being approved. If the annexation proposal is not approved, that part of the bid would not be contractually committed. John Millar – Proposed to get all of utilities cleaned up under highway 33 before the Highway 33 project is started in July of 2003. The City has been replacing all of the service lines on Main Street for water. Those will be completed prior to the Highway construction ndnd project. The City needs to replace water lines on 2 East from 2 North to Sonic Burgers with an 8 inch water line. One of those water lines will be abandoned with nd two service water lines crossing 2 East. Kurt Hibbert – Presented Resolution 2003-01 to create Planning and Zoning Fees which include plat fees, rezone fees, and Conditional Use fees. The follow list of fees and language that is included in the Resolution 2003-01: Application Fees Zoning Ordinance Amendment$500 Comprehensive Plan$500 Conditional Use Permit$250 Conditional Use Permit (Communication Tower)$500 Annexation$250 Variance$300 Zoning Fees Rezone (less than 1 acre)$500 Rezone (more than 1 acre, less than 5)$850 Rezone (5 to 10 acres)$900 Rezone (over 10 acres but less than 20 acres)$1,500 Rezone (20 acres and over)$2,500 Zoning Verification Letter (Financial Institutions)$25 Public Hearing Fees Special Meeting$300 Publication Fees 8 Annexation, Zone change$250 Conditional Use Permit$200 Approved Plat Fees Madison County survey fees applySee Madison County Resolution 249 Preliminary Plat$100 plus $4/lot or $8/acre, (greater of) Final Plat$15/lot or $30/acre, (greater of) Plat Amendment$300 Site Plan Fees Design Review/Hourly Rates$160/hr Street & Utility Improvement Drawings$15/lot or $30/acre, (greater of) Construction Inspection* $150/lot or $300/acre, (greater of) - ($400 Min.) Lot Line Adjustment$200 Unauthorized Changes to an Approved Site Plan$500* (Minimum: actual cost to correct charged) Sign Permits Sign Permit$100 ($75 refundable if sign approved) Appeals P&Z Decision$100 (Refundable if appeal is successful) Construction Inspections * – The City will refund 75% of this fee upon receipt of Subdivision “Record Drawings” and Certification by Developers Engineer that the subdivision improvements were constructed in accordance with the City’s Standard Drawings and Specifications. Neighborhood Associations ** may petition the City Council for waiver of fees. Also that in addition to the minimum fees hereby established, the City Clerk may also charge to the applicant the actual costs of the publication fees, filing fees and/or postage fees. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Pugmire – Reviewed cost for different acreages proposed in the Resolution. Paul requested Council approval for waiving neighborhood fees for neighborhood applications. Shawn Larsen – Requested adding the words (Neighborhood Associations have the right to appeal to the City Council to waive fees). Paul Pugmire moved to amend the draft Resolution to include the statement that the Neighborhood Associations have a right to request a waiver of fees from the City Council; Nyle Fullmer seconded the motion carried; all voted aye, The motion carried. none opposed. Paul Pugmire moved to adopt Resolution 2003-01 as amended; Nyle Fullmer seconded The motion carried. the motion; all voted aye, none opposed. Committee Reports: None given Mayors Business: = National League of Cities – Basic Principles of Policy Governance Discussion on the information that the Council Members received in the mail concerning the subject. 9 Paul Pugmire – Requested that the Council consider additional information on the subject of the “Simplified Rules” package. This information came from the AIC Convention in Nampa. These items will be discussed in another meeting. Marsha Bjornn – Reviewed a pamphlet called “State of the City” from a City similar in size to Rexburg. Marsha would like to produce a similar pamphlet for Rexburg. Nyle moved to go into executive session; Shawn Larsen seconded the motion; all vote aye, The motion carried. none opposed. Executive Session Property Acquisition was discussed Executive Session ended Adjourned ___________________________ Bruce Sutherland, Mayor _____________________________________ Blair D. Kay, City Clerk 10