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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004.07.14 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CITY OF REXBURG July 14, 2004 7:30 P.M. “Draft” STATE OF IDAHO ) : ss. County of Madison ) Present were the following: Mayor: Mayor Shawn Larsen Council Members: Paul Pugmire - Excused Donna Benfield Nyle Fullmer Rex Erickson G. Farrell Young Garth R. Oakey Financial Officer Richard Horner P&Z Administrator: Kurt Hibbert - Excused City Clerk: Blair D. Kay - Excused PFC: John Millar - City Attorney: Stephen ZollingerExcused 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 July 07, 2004 meeting – Deferred Approval to a future meeting B.Approve the City of Rexburg Bills Council Member Young moved to approve the Consent Calendar; Council Member The motion carried. Benfield seconded the motion; all voted aye, none opposed. 1 New Business: A. Set the Tentative Budget for FY2005 for Public Hearing already set on August 4, 2004. st Richard Horner stated that on August 4, 2004 was that date set for the 1 out of 3 th hearings on the 2005 budget. The August 4 council meeting is at 7:00 a.m.; the hearing will begin at 7:30 a.m. The budget is the same since that last meeting. He had to estimate property taxes which caused an increase of 1.8 million dollars. There can be an increase in property tax estimates, but there can’t be a decrease. The difference on the budget is the city’s cost on the bike path to Sugar City. Also the city needs to credit the County on sand to cover the overhead on the Ambulance/Fire. Council Member Young asked if Richard would have more concrete tax estimates by the next council meeting. Richard Horner stated that he hoped that he would be able to know for sure by next council. He also said that there will be no utility increase for this budget. Council Member Fullmer moved to accept the tentative budget; Council Member The motion carried. Erickson seconded the motion; all voted aye, none opposed. Richard Horner explained some questions on expenses and revenues that Council Member Erickson had. He said that the projected revenue budget has to balance, for example, if we are going to spend 21 million, we need to bring in 21 million dollars. This year we will have an excess of 4 million dollars. An excess of funds has to be used for specific projects. B. Employee Vacation/Sick-day sharing Richard Horner proposed an Employee Sick day sharing that the Employee Committee wanted to have put in place. The purpose is for situations where employees are on long term sick leave, and employees want to help out their co-worker by donating excess sick leave they have accumulated. Because of HIPPA laws, sick leave pools that other cities have may not be implemented. The donor will already know of a situation and offers to donate so many hours to a sick employee. The department head will make sure a person qualifies for the program. Richard outlined requirements that need to be met to qualify as a donor and a receiver, and had a handout listing them. Council Member Erickson questioned what the cost to the city would be, and if the plan would sufficiently protect the employee who is donating sick leave. Richard Horner stated that the cost would be 65% of what sick leave would have been lost. He also explained that an employee would have to have 480 hours of sick leave 2 already banked before they can participate as a donor. Also, he thinks that after 6 months when long term disability kicks in, the employee will no longer be able to participate in sick day sharing. Council Member Fullmer moved to approve the sick day sharing policy, Council The motion carried. Member Young seconded the motion; all voted aye, none opposed. Old Business: A. Trails of Madison County Committee – Articles of Organization – Joseph West. Joseph West, 125 Crestview Rexburg, ID; approached the council for approval on articles already explained for the Trails of Madison County. Council Member Erickson moved to accept articles already explained by Joseph West, The Council Member Benfield seconded the motion; all voted aye, none opposed. motion carried. B. Madison County, City of Rexburg, and City of Sugar City Transportation Study. Courtney Ferguson , 4364 S 1500 W Rexburg, ID; representative of Bear World approached the council concerned about the lack of tourism in the comprehensive plan as a viable economic plan in the future. He discussed the start of Bear World and its continuing growth each year in conjunction with future plans for expansion and the dollars that will bring to Rexburg and Madison County. He voiced his opinion that not having tourism apart of the 20 year transportation plan is irresponsible. He wanted the City and County to recommend to the IDT to have an interchange put in on Hwy 20 for easy access to Bear World. Ferguson also stated that he discussed this with the IDT, and that they are not saying much about it except that they are relying on studies and the county’s and city’s plans for the future. Mayor Larsen stated that they could go to Keller Associates and recommend a plan. IDT would probably go with what the city and county are going to do, or at least be more open to possibilities. Commissioner Muir took the stand and stated that he has had several calls from people also concerned with the Transportation Plan. He spoke for himself and not for the commission. He felt that Keller completed the plan according to the instructions they were given. However, it doesn’t address tourism and farm roads. He called Keller and asked them to address tourism, farmer market roads, and truck routes. We need a plan to guide the state. Muir thinks that everyone will be better served by having two overpasses to serve South of Rexburg and Madison County. He would like to put pressure on the State to fund this in the future. Keller felt that they did their job and anything else would be extra. However, the contract was up in January, and we gave them an extension so that should be some leverage. Also, the city has them working on a project as well. There are 3 details that they can brush up on as well. Overall, Muir thought the plan was good, but it needs to be expanded. Mayor Larsen stated that this is the city and county’s plan not Keller’s. It needs to be stated so IDT cannot claim ignorance to what we are looking for. Council Member Erickson expressed concern for those who live north of the Lorenzo bridge. An overpass at Thornton is needed for the farming community. Further South makes sense also. He agreed that we should put this in the plan. Council Member Oakey stated that at Thornton it is hard for the trucks to get around the corner; also Jenkins’s store may go out of business without it. He agreed that two overpasses should be put in. Council Member Benfield stated that Roger Brooks thought that Bear World was the biggest attraction in this area, and that we needed to support them by having Keller put an th overpass access to them. She thought to have Keller come to a meeting August 11 to revisit the plan and have written ideas. th Commissioner Muir said that we need to have written support by August 4 to the state in favor of 2 overpasses. He doesn’t know if he has full support from the commission. He has not signed the ordinance as of yet; Keller and Associates cannot be paid until he does. Mayor Larsen is going to put together a plan for support of two overpasses and get that to the council. Council Member Young said that we have paid them a lot of money to cover any addendums. City Council Report: Council Member Benfield had a call from the fireworks people. The Chamber of Commerce pays for the display, but the city was added on to the insurance policy at a cost of $250.00 because they were lighting them off on city property. The gentleman didn’t want to absorb that cost and would like the city to pay for it. Mayor Larsen suggested that we discuss this with Stephen Zollinger when he gets back. Mayors Report: Mayor Larsen stated that he got a letter from Don Sparhawk concerning mixed use on nd East Main and South 2 E. Council Member Erickson said that if the Hospital gets the ten homes they are wanting, 4 he thinks that it would be a good idea to have Planning and Zoning look at that and make suggestions and maybe modify the Comprehensive Plan. Mayor Larsen thought that the Planning and Zoning could get some direction from the council on mixed use in the area of the Professional Plaza and the area around the hospital. He would like a motion for a recommendation to be sent to Planning and Zoning concerning mixed use in that area. Council Member Young moved to send a recommendation to the Planning and Zoning to review the Comprehensive Plan and review suggested mixed use in the area of East nd Main and South 2 East, Council Member Erickson seconded the motion; all voted aye, The motion carried. none opposed. stth Mayor Larsen asked who was attending NLC Conference December 1 -4. The cost is $345.00 if all attend or register as needed. Contact Pam if you can attend. She can reserve hotel rooms now. If you can’t attend then tell Pam soon enough so she can cancel and get the deposit back. Quick Wins and Reports on Projects: Façade of Community Development Building – They are working with Brent Eames on getting an awning – color, sized, etc. City Web Site – The council members need to get their info/bio and a photo to Steve Christensen; the site is still a work in progress. Department Reviews – The recreation department and EMS has been done, next will be public works and customer service. Council Member Fullmer is going to give an overview on the EMS review. Park on West Main – Proposal with Kiwanis Club to name the City Park. Council Member Oakey is going to meet with Mr. Walker on the Park. Water will be hooked up next week. Welcome to Rexburg Sign – is going to be place along the West Main Park with landscaping. Striping Bike Lanes on City Streets – New bike path is going to be connected before week is out. Tri-folded Utility Bill – Should be in place in October, will be able to include a news letter to inform community. Aquatic Center - The Bond Election for the Center is moving forward with a vote on 5 August 3, 2004. Council Member Benfield reported that beautification signs are up. She has a Sunbird deadheading (removing old flower blossoms) from flowers around town. She works about 2 hours a day. John Millar said that Keola is working on a drip irrigation system. Council Member Benfield said that the beautification committee wants another project. Mayor Larsen said that the welcome sign going up over by the West Main Park would be a good project for the beautification committee. Council Member Benfield asked if lights on main street trees could be on for the Dance Festival. Council Member Benfield wanted to know if the new cell phone plan has been worked out yet. Mayor Larsen said that they are ready for proposals. Council Member Erickson stated that the council cannot promote the aquatic center as a council; however, as citizens they can promote it. Rich Ballou is going to have open letters in the paper. John Millar had a bid opening on the Sanitation Shop today. He had two bidders; one from Teton West at $202,650 the other from Steel Vision at $200,002. He recommended that the council accept the low bid. $175,000 was the estimated amount that was budgeted for the building last year, but with steel and building prices going up, the price is inflated. Council Member Fullmer moved to accept the low bid from Steel Vision at $200,002, The Council Member Erickson seconded the motion; all voted aye, none opposed. motion carried. John Millar mentioned other projects that were going to be opening up for bid. The nd street 2 South project estimated at $750,000.00 will go out to bid next week. There are 2 airport projects one for modification on the lighting is out for bid now, and work on the tarmac and tie downs will go out for bid tomorrow. The SCADA system is under construction now with about 35% complete. The Business Park is having water lines put in now by the city’s crews. John would also like input on the color of the water tower. They are having a 10 ft logo and 6 ft letters – generally they are painted on. Council Member Erickson suggested silver or off white to go with the temple. 6 Mayor Larsen talked about a meeting he had with IDT. John Larry and Tom Hudson were present at the meeting. They discussed future development on Main Street. They were looking at a median down Main for 3 blocks keeping the diagonal parking. That st would leave one lane of traffic and they would route the main traffic on to 1 North. These changes will deter the state on some of their criteria of what we can do on Main Street. To initiate that process the Transportation Board needs a request in writing. It is a board decision, there would need to be a public hearing. Due to Sugar City, the county, and Rexburg all being involved it would have to be a state wide or tri-entity hearing. We need to move forward on this. The state will still be responsible for paving, striping, etc. Mayor Larsen mentioned the state has STIP – State Transportation Improvement Plan – they have a comment period. John Millar would like the County, City, and School Districts reply to this Plan. Council Member Oakey made a motion to authorize writing a letter to IDT to move the time schedule for signalizing and synchronization of traffic lights on Hwy 33 from the year 2007 to 2006, Council Member Benfield seconded the motion; Council Member Fullmer wanted to think about it. st John Millar discussed the cost estimates for construction on 1 North at about $1.5 - $2 st million. The intersection at 1 North and Center may have to be signalized. Grants would be applied for to provide as much money as possible for this undertaking. The motion carried. The motion was repeated, all voted aye, none opposed. th The council and John Millar then discussed 7 South. The University is funding the ndndnd widening from 2 E to 2 W. From 2 W to Hwy 191 needs to be widened – a good project for impact fees. The building department is putting Certificates of Occupancy on th hold until the mess is cleaned up on W 7 South. Officer Chuck Kunsaitis commented that he thought diagonal parking on Main Street was a safety hazard in that it limits visibility and can cause accidents. He was in favor of parallel parking on Main street if/when the median is put in down Main. Mayor Larsen requested that Officer Kunsaitis attend the next meeting with Tom Hudson on Downtown Development. Mayor Larsen moved on and discussed the final Pride Days on July 31, 2004. He was encouraging neighborhoods to clean up their individual areas with the city’s support. He rd would like to hear about projects that were done. August 3 is the date for the bond election for the Aquatic Center, the Mayor’s Reception, and The Great Spud Race. thst August 4 is the next council meeting at 7:00 – 9:00 a.m. it is also the 1 hearing on the thndst 2005 budget. August 18 is the 2 hearing. September 1 is the final hearing on the 2005 7 thth budget. On September 7 – 10 Tom Hudson is coming for the Downtown Development thth meeting – the 8 and 9 there will be community review work with council and staff professionals throughout the state. They will be on hand and present 3 priority areas sponsored by the AIC. This will involve signage, workshops on lighting, sidewalk furniture, and façade improvement. th Council Member Oakey wants to work on resolutions for snow removal from 5 West to the Municipal Golf Course. Snow piled on the sidewalks creates a safety hazard for children, and it looks better when it is cleaned off. Mayor Larsen wants a work meeting scheduled to address snow removal and parking stst concerns/parking restrictions from November 1 through March 1. He would like it on the agenda in September. Adjournment 8