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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003.02.05 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CITY OF REXBURG February 05, 2003 7:30 P.M. STATE OF IDAHO, ) County of Madison ) SS. City of Rexburg ) Present were the following: Mayor: Mayor Bruce Sutherland Council Members: Glen Pond Shawn Larsen Marsha Bjornn Paul Pugmire Donna Benfield Nyle Fullmer P&Z Administrator: Kurt Hibbert City Clerk: Blair D. Kay PFC: John Millar City Attorney: Stephen Zollinger Mayor Sutherland requested David Peck sing The Star Spangled Banner to open the meeting. Mayor thanked David for his beautiful rendition of the song. Pledge to the Flag 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 22, 2003 meeting b.Approve City of Rexburg bills Marsha Bjornn moved to approve the Consent Calendar items; Nyle Fullmer seconded the The motion carried. motion; all voted aye, None opposed. Mayor Sutherland welcomed the Boy Scouts from Troop 404. Non Controversial Items Added to the Agenda Rexburg Police Department – Shane Turman thanked Council Member Glen Pond and Utah Power for a computer system and office furniture that was donated to the Police Department. Fiber Optics Information – David Taylor thanked City Council for their efforts on behalf of the City. David reviewed the need to connect Rexburg to the fiber optics system of the outside World. He would like to have the infrastructure in place for fiber optics in Rexburg. David indicated that the School District has laid a fiber optic loop that has covered a large part of the Community. He encouraged the Council to take advantage of the School District’s fiber optics system. There are companies that are interested in linking into the fiber optics system to provide services in this community. David reviewed the need to have a good communication system in place for the community. The airport’s needed improvements were reviewed by David. He indicated that there are times when the airport is too short. Pilots can not have insurance with the Rexburg Airport. David reviewed life flight restrictions for landing at the Rexburg Airport. They can not land at the airport when the weather is too hot. He mentioned extending the runway by diverting the river back to its original location before the flood. David would like the City to plan for necessary airport improvements. 1 Mayor Sutherland mentioned that the City is working towards having fiber optics on the entire length of Main Street. Kurt Hibbert has worked on a fiber optics plan that would loop the City. A Department of Commerce and EDA grant did not materialize for this fiber optics loop. David Taylor mentioned that there are companies willing to put fiber optics services into the community. Paul Pugmire – Inquired on relocating the airport to another location. David would prefer to keep the airport where it is currently located. It is close to the City business district. The airport would loose tenants if they were required to relocate. David mentioned the convenience of having the airport close to the business district. Workers Compensation and Safety Programs – Richard Horner reviewed the proposed changes in the Safety Program. He indicated that claims have risen in the year 2002. Reportable accidents include a spider bite and a police officer that was hit by a out of control vehicle. Richard recommended allowing one more year to help the safety program take effect with City employees. The safety program cost about $12,000 with an additional $10,000 in increased costs for claims. Discussion on the requirements for safety meetings in the program. Shawn Larsen – Inquired on options available to the City for changing or canceling the program. Nyle Fullmer – Asked Richard for a 6 month update on the progress of the safety program in 2003. New Business: Approval of Resolution 2003-02 to create LID 33 for Street Infrastructure Improvements Richard Horner reviewed the LID proposal. Discussion on the location of the LID. Most locations ndth are on Main Street and 2 East. The Public Hearing is planned for the 19 of February, 2003. Glen Pond moved to approve the resolution to create LID 33; Nyle Fullmer seconded the motion; Discussion on the locations that are affected by the LID. John mentioned that this project is nd tied into the State’s Main Street and 2 East project scheduled for this summer. The State project will start after the first week in July. John announced that HK Contractors won the bid for the project. The project will run from the golf course on West Main Street to the nd railroad tracks on 2 East. The proposed LID will be finished before the State project begins. The proposed LID is for sidewalk, curb, and gutter. Discussion on the project and the uniformity of the pavers. Richard Horner recommended that a Public Notice of the project to let the public know when the street will be torn up. Businesses will be affected with some disruption of traffic. Donna asked John to coordinate with the Chamber of Commerce on the timing of the project. Donna requested John to notify the Chamber in the morning to meet the March publication deadline. The Mayor called for a vote on Glen’s motion: All voted aye, none opposed. The motion carried Discussion on adding locations to the LID 33 if the Council waives the hearing notice. The project will start at one end of Main Street and go to the other end before turning North nd on 2 East. Public Hearing: 7:35 p.m. Rezone a neighborhood from LDR1 to LDR which includes properties South rd th of 3South to properties facing North on 5 South. The West properties are on the East side of Harvard Avenue, going to the East properties on the West thrd side of 4 East. Properties adjoining 3 East, Yale Avenue and the West side thth of 4 East going South to 4 South are affected. See map for details. 2 up zone Mayor Sutherland reviewed the proposal to the neighborhood to a more restrictive zone. Shawn Larsen – Commented on the Planning and Zoning Public Hearing for this request. He mentioned that the neighborhood was well represented in support of this request. The Public Hearing was opened on the rezone request. rd David Peck – 323 South 3 East - The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted to rd approve this request to rezone the neighborhood. They organized into the 3 East Neighborhood Association in May of 2002. They are consistent with the City’s neighborhood organizations. Many homeowners have come into compliance with the zoning laws before this proposal was concluded. David reviewed the petition and meetings that led up to the neighborhood making this request to rezone their neighborhood to an LDR zone. This will send a message to comply with the Comprehensive Plan. He recommended passage of the proposal. Public Hearing was closed rd Donna Benfield – Reviewed the number of participants in the 3 East Neighborhood Association. rd David Peck mentioned that 19 homes are part of the actual 3 East Neighborhood Association. They have all voiced agreement for this request. Property owners living outside of the area were not contacted by the Association. Marsha Bjornn – Inquired of David why some of the lots were not on the list to be changed th to LDR. David indicated that existing apartments on 4 South were not part of the rezone request. Paul Pugmire - Asked David if there were any in opposition to the proposal when they canvassed the neighborhood. David mentioned one family was opposed to the request. Paul commented that he was in favor of the rezone request. Paul gave positive comments on Neighborhood Associations being used as a vehicle to effect zoning changes. Nyle Fullmer – Questioned the number of residents who are not members of the Association but support this proposal. David mentioned that most of those residents are in favor of the proposal. Discussion on the rest of the homes that are not in the Neighborhood Association. rd Shawn Larsen – Applauded the 3 East Neighborhood Homeowners Association for their work. Shawn mentioned that several neighbors gave up apartments in their homes or they were willing to give up apartments in support of this rezone proposal. Marsha Bjornn – Reviewed the position of the Historical Committee being in favor of the rezone request to protect the historical aspects of the neighborhood. The existing apartments that have complied with Conditional Use Permit requirement will be grandfathered. Nyle Fullmer – Concerned with future respondents not being aware of the rezone. Nyle discussed the issue of rezoning which would prevent others from having an apartment because they were not grandfathered. Shawn Larsen moved to approve the rezone request from LDR1 to LDR; Paul Pugmire seconded The motion carried. the motion; all voted aye, none opposed. Discussion on the City adopting zoning similar to zoning that is applied in Logan and Orem. Old Business: None presented 3 Mayors Business: = Sugar City’s request to increase their capacity in the Wastewater facility John Millar – Reviewed the request from Sugar City to purchase additional capacity in the sewer system. NORSUN OF IDAHO, INC. is purchasing capacity from Sugar City and Sugar City is proposing to purchase additional capacity from the Rexburg sewer system to Cover that increase. The proposal is to purchase capacity at $3.00 per gallon. The future capacity of NORSUN would be in the area of 80,000 gallons per day or $250,000 for future capacity at current prices. John commented on the time value of money for this proposal. This would give Rexburg the opportunity to invest in current sewer projects. Nyle Fullmer – Commented on the current capacity for Sugar City being 215,000 gallons per day. The addition of 100,000 gallons per day requested by Sugar City would increase their capacity to 315,000 gallons per day. Paul Pugmire – Discussed the proposal to invest the money from Sugar City into current Capital projects to add capacity to the Sewer System. The time value of money would be the advantage unless a project is needed immediately. This would only be approved for capital projects. Nyle Fullmer – Indicated that he did not want to subsidize them for a longer period of time than is necessary. John Millar – Reviewed the capitalized rate and the overhead rates for projects. Richard Horner – Indicated that the City will do a present value analysis of the proposal. Nyle Fullmer moved to accept the proposal for Sugar City to purchase sewer capacity with a recommendation from Staff after they have completed a present value analysis of the proposed purchase worth $250,000 in today’s prices; Discussion: John Millar recommended that the Council accept the rate but negotiate the gallons of capacity. Nyle withdrew his motion for lack of a second. Paul Pugmire moved to have the Mayor and City Staff analyze the proposal from Sugar City and construct an appropriate counter proposal; Nyle Fullmer seconded the motion; Discussion: Mayor Sutherland asked if the $250,000 offer to buy capacity should be analyzed to determine the number of gallons per day and included it in the motion. Discussion on agreeing to sell $250,000 worth of sewer capacity at the current rate and instruct Staff to determine if there is justification to lower that rate. Paul withdrew his motion with the approval of the second. Nyle gave his permission to withdraw the motion. Discussion on the current capacity of the sewer plant. The capacity of the sewer plant is running at about 70 percent of capacity at the current time. Paul Pugmire moved to instruct the Mayor and City Staff to offer to Sugar City to accept their offer for a buy-in at the current rate and to review and analyze the request to see if a rate adjustment is justified; Nyle Fullmer seconded the motion; all voted aye, none opposed. The motion carried. Nyle Fullmer - Commented on how this proposal may impact the system when it is completed. Update on Projects: John Millar – Reviewed the bid for the proposed Westside water and sewer projects. The City is ready to send them for bid. Vacation of property by the City rd John Millar – Requested a motion to have a public hearing to vacate some property on 3 West to correct the street width on a proposed street project. Mayor Sutherland mentioned that rd this was partially done by the City to straighten up the road on 3 West. 4 Shawn Larsen moved to have the issue presented at a public hearing; Nyle Fullmer seconded the The motion carried. motion; all voted aye, none opposed. Traffic Signal at the intersection of 2000 West and Hwy 33 John Millar – Commented on the State Transportation Department review of the intersection at 2000 West. He indicated that the State may be interested in putting a light at that intersection. The project would cost about $300,000. There will be a future meeting on the proposal with the City and the State Transportation Department. John Millar – Indicated that the City has not used their stock pile of sand and salt for winter roads. John Millar – Updated the Council on the Tri-County project near the Teton River. It is th scheduled to go before Planning and Zoning on the 6 of February, 2003. The plan is to quit claim deed some property from the City to the developer and other property from the developer to the City to clean up property descriptions for the parcel. Discussion on the Teton River commercial project. Nyle Fullmer – Commented on the City’s $1,500 donation to the Cart buses. The City matches the County donation. Committee Reports: Donna Benfield – Discussed a Beautification Award Project for the City of Rexburg this summer. Mayor Sutherland indicated that the new Recreation Committee could propose the project to the Council. th Marsha Bjornn – Announced a Recreation Committee meeting on Friday the 14 of February stth at 7:00 p.m.; Also, the Smithsonian display will be from May 1 to June 12 of 2004. Glen Pond moved to go into Executive Session; Nyle Fullmer seconded the motion; The motion carried. all voted aye, none opposed. Executive Session Possible litigation matter Executive Session ended Adjourned __________________________________ Bruce Sutherland, Mayor _____________________________________ Blair D. Kay, City Clerk 5