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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993.06.02 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES I~ City Council Minute 6/2/93 7:00 A. M. State of Idaho) County of Madison( as City of Rexburg) Present were the following: Mayor: Councilman: City Attorney: City Clerk: Nile Boyle Jim Flamm Bruce Sutherland Glen Pond Farrell Young Nyle Fullmer Brad Liljenquist J. D. Hancock Rose Bagley Pledge to the Flag. A motion was made by Bruce Sutherland and seconded by Farrell Young to approve the minutes. All Aye RE: DISCUSSION OF ZONE CHANGE - JACK COVINGTON George Quarez was at the meeting he had a concern about the report from Planning Zoning about the Covington property Zone change. He had testified at a previous hearing.. Jim Flamm gave a report from Planning Zoning. The Planning & Zoning had recommended that the Zone for that property be changed to MDR. This will have to go to Public Hearing before the City Council. RE: BEER LICENSE TRANSFER FROM CIRCLE K TO CAMPUS CORNER SUPER STOP Mayor Boyle read a transfer for a Beer License from the Circle K Store to the new owners Campus Corner Super Stop. A motion was made by Glen Pond to approve the transfer of the Beer License contingent upon the receiving a copy of the County and State Beer License. All Aye RE: FIREWORKS PERMITS APPROVED Mayor Boyle read the Fireworks Permits for approval. They have to be approved by the Fire Department and the Chief of Police. Kings, Albertsons, Broulims, Walmart, Jim Landis at South 5th West and Main, David Allen at 176 South 2nd West, and Kelly Ballard at the Beehive Book Store parking lot. A motion was made by Glen Pond and seconded by Nyle Fullmer to approve the Fireworks Permits. All Aye RE: BIDS FOR THE SALE OF THE FIRE TRUCK Fire Chief, Rex Larson was at the meeting to discuss the. bids for the sale of the Fire Truck. They advertised the Fire Truck for sale about two and half months ago with a minimum of $50,000. At that time we did not get a bid back and felt we might be a little high. We advertised it again three weeks ago with no minimum bid, with the right to accept or reject any or all bids. They received a bid from the Shelley Firth Fire Department for $35,000 and a bid from Driggs for $40,105.10 with $22,978.38 down and the balance of $17,126.72 @ 6~ interest to be paid October 15, 1993. He had checked around about fire trucks for sale and the minimum bid on theirs is $25,000. A motion was made by Bruce Sutherland and seconded by Glen Pond to accept the bid from Driggs. All Aye RE: SWIMMING POOL (OPEN ON SUNDAYS?) The mayor told the council we had a call from a lady that thought we should open the swimming pool on Sundays because of the short season. Farrell felt we should sit on it and look at it. RE: NEW GARBAGE TRUCK t~ We are scheduled for the purchase of anew garbage truck. It is scheduled for next October 1. We need to start getting bids and specs. This will put it that we get rid of the trucks in four years instead of six. Discussion on the type of arm for the truck. RE: DISCUSSION OF TRANSFER STATION Dave Rasmussen called about getting together for a meeting about the transfer station. Fremont County have already purchased drop off bins. If the County Commissioners go that way, it will mean driving clear to Mud Lake and cost us an additional $110,000 per year. The City of Idaho Falls Transfer Station is almost finished. We need to get the facts out that a Transfer Station is not a garbage dump and everything is inside. When the one in Idaho Falls is done we all need to go down and look at it. RE: COMMUNITY SURVEY Discussion on the Community Survey. The mayor felt we should put R.V. Parking on it and also opening the pool on Sunday. RE: LAGOON SYSTEM We had a request signed by several people asking that the Lagoon System that will not be in use in about one and half years be kept with water in, for the birds and ducks that fly in and land on them. A discussion that might be a good spot for a Transfer Station. RE: WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT Jim Flamm discussed the Wastewater Treatment plant. There had been some problems that have been resolved, one being the gravel situation. Another was a water problem, the sub is up and the decision was made to put in a bunch of pipes with holes in them to drain that off. There will be an additional $34,000 in a de-watering system to allow us to build that Wastewater Treatment Plant in that same location without raising it. The water will drain over into the Nature Park. We had a bid on the big propeller that move the water in the oxidation ditchs for about $300,000 and we decided that was a little high so John Millar went to an alternative source with a little different spec that would run two bigger fans instead of the three smaller ones. The bids stated dropping and saved about $85,000. We did not go back to the original bidder. RE: PROBLEMS IN THE PARKS - VANDALISM Clair Boyle was at the meeting to discuss problems in the parks. They are getting a lot of vandalism. We have had the park benches set on fire, we had graffiti on one of buildings that had been an Eagle project and the school took care of it. The building will be painted again by the Eagle Scouts. We recently spent several hundred dollars on signs at the ballparks making that look nice and about one week later someone painted over that. We need some help in controlling these parks. Bruce stated that he had noticed for two months that the east side of Smith Park has become a gathering place of questionable people. This weekend we opened up a Coed Tournament and we lost off the wall a sink and toilet. He asked about using a Ports Potty. We clean up the rest rooms and the kids go in and tear them apart. Argue said we should at least lock the rest rooms at 10:00 P. M. because after that is when the vandalism occurs. Jim asked if there was a curfew and if there is we should enforce it and lock the rest rooms at 11:00 P. M. Glen stated that the South end of Smith Park is really dark with all the trees and even though the police go through and spot it, they can't see who is in there or what is going on. Bruce suggested putting in more lights. Clair felt additional lights would help. Bruce asked Clair to look at the parks and see where additional lights should be put. The mayor stated that Argue has to come down and check the water at night and early in the morning and wanted to use the City Pickup and take it home. The council felt that there was no problem with that. RE: GARBAGE BINS IN THE PARKS Clair told the council that we need some garbage containers in the parks. The asked if the 300 gallon plastic containers would work. Clair asked about putting a bin in and locking the bin. The council felt that would be a good idea. If the locks don't work we will try the 300 gallon plastic containers. RE: MEDCO OFFER FOR THE INDUSTRIAL PARK The MEDCO offer for the Industrial Park did not go through. RE: DISCUSSION OF GUIDELINES FOR CLOSURE OF VIKING DRIVE The council discussed going to the hearing to close Viking Drive. They felt we should set up some guide lines. Width of the street - we will have a 99 foot right-a-way. It was discussed to have it 50 feet wide with no parking on either side. Jim felt that would be adequate with three lanes including a turning lane. A discussion on the payment for building 7th South. Jim stated that he was willing to pay $50,000 that it would cost to repair Viking Drive and that was all. It was decided to go with a 50 foot street. Discussion on Curb & Gutter. Jim felt that there was no need for it. If you put Curb & Gutter in you will cause a need for storm drains. The mayor said Curb & Gutter is an LID item. Brad stated we would need to deal with storm drainage for that part of town. Jim asked what is the purpose of Curb & Gutter. Gutters collect water and make it run someplace you don't want it. Farrell asked about sidewalks. The mayor felt we need either a sidewalk or a jogging path and it should be over to the side. Brad stated that there has been a question about some of the streets such as Millhollow that don't have curb and gutter now. It seems to me that if we are going to build a street in the city we need to do it right up to what our requirements are. Bruce felt if we don't require Curb and Gutter we would need to require a variance.It was decided not to require Curb & Gutter at this oint in time, and if it is not put in now, when it is put in it would be the responsibility of the college to pay for it. Jim felt they should have interconnection through the parking lots if we close Viking Drive. Another thing that should be done is make some turn lanes on 2nd South and 1st West to handle the traffic. Bruce suggested that we take out the diagonal parking and put in parallel parking. (discussion) Jim said we need to do something with the traffic pattern to keep people in the city. The mayor felt that should be studied. Jim said we need to study coming in 11th and coming down 7th. Discussion on the payment of 7th South. Brad also felt we could only put in the amount of money we would put into repairing Viking Drive. (discussion) The mayor felt we need 7th South in because of the Middle School. (discussion on responsibility of payment on LID paving) The mayor told the council we will have the Public Hearing tonight and you can either close the hearing tonight or give one week for public comment and vote on it in one week. He also told the council they need to go into the Public Hearing open minded. Jim felt we need to set up requirements and what the college needs to do. We need to tell them we are willing to close Viking Drive if you are willing to put the street in at this cost and we will allow you to no curb and gutter no sidewalk and put in a jogging path and if you are willing to do that we are willing to close the road. Jim said we need to plan for traffic on 7th South. It was decided to qo with 7 days for testimony until closing on Tuesday June 8 and meet at 7:00 A. M. on June 9 at 7:00 AM. RE: R.V. PARKING Jim discussed R.V. Parking. We need to send another letter to those in violation to let them know we are serious. Send a reminding letter. He also said we need a formal way of reporting back on issues. The mayor told him. he and Rose would check it out. A motion was made by Bruce Sutherland and seconded by Brad Liljenquist to pay the bills. All Aye Bruce told the council we need to replace Judy Walker on the Traffic Safety Committee. A discussion on the Planning Board. They are appointed for three year terms and can be reappointed. He would check with the members that need to be reappointed to see if they want to continue serving. The mayor told the council that we need to have a format for the meeting and limit it to two hours and 5 minutes for testimony except President Bennion and Randy Porter. President Bennion will give a presentation, Randy Porter will give a presentation and the mayor would give a presentation. Brad said we need to get any agreements with the college in writing. 1 Farrell said we need to be careful not to destroy the asset we have with the College and the city. Brad stated if we look at it at an Economic Development point of view it is different. If another Business was going to come in with that much building what would we do to encourage it and what kind of money would we do to build a street. Meeting adjourned. ,,, Mayor, 'le L. Boyl City Clerk, Ro ' B ley Public Hearing Closure of Viking Drive 6/2/93 State of Idaho) County of Madison( ss City of Rexburg] Present were: Mayor: Nile Boyle, Councilman: Farrell Young, Brad Liljenquist, Glen Pond, Jim Flamm, Nyle Fullmer, Bruce Sutherland; City Attorney: J. D. Hancock; City Clerk: Rose Bagley Committee: Randy Porter, Mary Ann Mounts, Clayter Forsgren, Superintendent. Orr, Brent Kinghorn, Mack Shirley and also President Bennion. Pledge to the flag. A Public Hearing, to close Viking Drive at 4th South between Center Street and 1st East Street. Any Public Easements shown in the right-a-way of said street shall remain as Public Easements and shall not be vacated. The mayor stated that this meeting will close at 9:00 P. M. and everyone that speaks will be limited to five minutes except President Bennion who will be giving information at first. The mayor explained a few things that had been discussed as a council. (1) 4th South will not be closed until 7th South is built and open. (2) The college will be asked 99 foot right-a-way from 2nd East to 2nd West and also for future development of the south arterial, down 2nd West and eventually swing into 11th South, which is right at the interchange. (3) The city would also insist on some cross campus connection, so if someone is working on the West side of the Manwaring center they can go to the East side without going clear around 2nd South or 7th South to get there. (4j Access and parking be improved. Parking is a real problem especially on the north side of the campus. (5) We are not sure on storm drainage and curb and gutter needs, if they are needed it would be the expense of the college. President Steve Bennion - Speaking on behalf of Ricks College. He appreciated the opportunity to formally make a request on be half of the college for the closure of one block of Viking Drive from Center Street to First East on Viking Drive. There has been extensive discussion about this and especially in the last three months, when the mayor appointed a committee to study it. They are making the request basically to ensure the safety if over 7500 students, nearly 900 full time and part time employees and many patrons who come to the college for a variety of different services from this community and far beyond. One of the things generating the issue from the standpoint of the college, is our own space needs. We have had a critical need to add somemore new buildings at Ricks. In January they received approval for the construction of one new building, a Religion Building, and approved in concept a new Administration Building which would follow perhaps a year after. The master plan is for these buildings to be constructed on the South side of the campus. The construction of these two buildings would increase the daily pedestrian traffic crossing Viking Drive from about 11,900 a day to nearly 23,000 when those two buildings are finished. With the current traffic conditions it is already very risky for pedestrians and motorists. Doubling the foot traffic on Viking Drive would create a safety hazard that they did not feel comfortable with, therefore they are making a request for the one block closure. It is obvious that everyone in the community thinks that Ricks is a Residential Campus. The majority of students come from outside of the immediate area even though we have a sizable amount of students from the local area. These students come and walk around the campus, and we feel a strong need to have a pedestrian friendly campus where students can make it from building to building in 10 minutes. A survey was conducted by the committee with the vehicles using Viking ~J Drive. The results of that survey indicated that nearly 90~ of the people driving on Viking Drive, that were surveyed that day, were there on College related business going or coming. We think it is safe to say that Viking Drive is no longer a major through street for most people. Less than three months from now the new Middle School will open at the west side of 7th South on the old highway. This is a Major Community development and affects the whole community. When you combine the Community needs, the College needs, they overlap. There is a vital need for a alternate east-west by-pass. The city council approved it over a year ago and 7th South was part of that plan for arterial street development. Ricks is a private college but they do serve many community functions. It is a complement to the community and the college as well. He summarized the functions that are held at the college: high school graduation, International Folk Dance Festival, the Messiah, special events for the Sunbirds, Church Conferences, special events and entertainment concerts are all held at Ricks College. They hold a number of educations functions at the college. He hoped that Ricks College is doing something to contribute to the quality of life in the community. They take a lot of pride in the physical campus. They have approval to develope a low maintenance arboretum on the south side of the campus south of 7th south. They anticipate that project will serve not just our campus but the community as well. They would hope that the existence of the college here blesses the community economically as well. There are many things the city does that are a benefit to Ricks College. The citizens and the city of Rexburg do much. The majority of the housing for our students is provided by business people in this community. The city has given them good street service and police and fire safety. The committee chaired by Randy Porter has really enhanced the discussion and the college is grateful for this committee. It has helped a lot to enhance the understanding to understand the perspectives of different organizations and individuals. As the college has developed their master plan they have tried to listen and make modifications to that plan; to put more focus on providing parking as the mayor suggested both visitor parking and overall parking. They have provided for a pickup and drop off spot in front of the Manwaring Center and improve the entire parking access on the east and west sides of the Manwaring. They have also modified their plan so there would be more ways to get in and through the campus. The request assumes that Viking Drive will not be closed until 7th South is developed. At the same time the the college has the green light to build major buildings, and it will be an economic boost to the community as well as a blessing to the college. They would hope for timely and expeditious action. To put it on a holding pattern for a couple of years could seriously hurt their opportunities to build these facilities and it would lead to higher costs plus safety concerns. They recognize that during the construction phase, they might have to close the South lane of Viking drive during part of that in order to let construction vehicles use the south land, leaving the north lane open but alleviating the parking. You would have a two lane going through there but no parking. Funding for the buildings is a major concern. President Bennion hoped the State of Idaho would recognize the importance of this project and the urgency of it in the next couple of years. There are a large number of Idaho students educated at Ricks, over 2800. That saves the State of Idaho millions of dollars. Safety issues for both the community and the college are vital. The college is in anxious within the authorization they have to help. The property for the South Arterial has already been approved for a donation by the board, 11 blocks. They have volunteered to assume maintenance cost of Viking Drive for the blocks that go through the college if the city desire. L.I.D.'s that are appropriate and other things within the precedent of the board and the direction that have given Ricks they could consider. He asked the City Council to take positive and timely action on this request and hoped that the council share the college's concerns for the safety and the esthetic development of the campus and the recognition of the city and college's mutual destiny and welfare of the college and City of Rexburg are closely intertwine. I Randy Porter, Chairman of South Arterial Committee then gave testimony. (copy attached) John Watson-1345 South 2nd East- He had lived in Rexburg since 1972. Every morning he used to drive down in front of the Manwaring Center and had run that stop sign many times. He noticed over the years a change of his habits, he does not go down in front of the Manwaring Center, even at that time of day because there is a stop sign there and never goes down Viking Drive during the day. He wanted to talk about the issue of accessibility and site planning. He went to I.S.U. in 1970 and a handicapped girl was going to school and had to get to the third floor. She road the freight elevator every day and it upset her. In 1972 a document called American Standard for Buildings and Facilities providing accessibility and usability for physical handicapped people. Then the ADA was passed, showing a 1993 version. It is required to have handicapped accessibility for new buildings. There has been a lot of change. It has been an attitude change, thinking the building is assessable because we have a wide toilet stall and blue marked parking spots. He had measured the one in front of this building and it isn't even close to being in compliance. There is a lot more to making buildings and parking lots assessable. No new buildings can be built anywhere, without being in compliance with the ADA. On a campus or school campus, you have to provide accessibility from parking everywhere, building to building. The law is very complex for the inside of buildings. Exterior you need significant more parking places identified for handicapped vans, sidewalks with certain slope and exterior lighting. It is considerable more than just one parking place painted blue and the larger toilet stall. He is in favor of closing Viking Drive even though he had used it for many years. The buildings and parking plans need to be assessable to wheelchair bound people, which make it more accessible to elderly people, to mothers with children and to everyone. He felt it was the responsibility of the city and the college to close Viking Drive to make the entire area safer and more accessible. He was in support of closing Viking Drive for those reasons. Cliff Jaussi-South Second East- He hoped the people Randy was talking about, don't come up 2nd East that want a faster way across town. There are also big trucks dragging trailers and gasoline tankers that go on 2nd East daily. He was concerned about safety. He isn't as fast of a walker as he used to be and he wants to be safe and go over and enjoy many of the things he attends at Ricks College. Where are we going to run all the cars, when we keep closing everything down? What good are the outside blocks, when you take the middle one out? He wondered if the police or fire truck was called up and they went on the wrong side, how would they get to the other side? We need to have better control of 2nd East, there are a lot of students that cross that street everyday several times, plus people and employees. 7th South will be used by a lot of them coming into the campus that way. We need to look at other safety factors and make sure we are protecting all people. He didn't care what they do with that street but would not like to see it given away, just let the college use it the way they want to use it but not accept the ownership for it. We need to look at the traffic on the North end of Ricks College, because people will use that instead of 7th South. We need to take that into consideration and arrange so we can drive down the street without so many cars. John Porter - 228 East Main - Testimony attached. Senator Mark Ricks- He remembered when President Manwaring presided over the campus for 27 years and he made a statement to Mark and his wife about the property that Ricks College purchased up on the hill. It use to be the old airport. The college bought 200 acres for about $250 total sum. He said the brethren will thank me some day for acquiring that piece of property. He expressed appreciation to those who keep the grounds on Campus. He was asked early in May to get an appointment with the State Transportation Committee. They happened to be on tour through this area, so former Mayor John Porter and Mayor Boyle got in touch with Mark and asked him to set up an appointment. Several were in attendance, John Porter, Mayor Boyle, Randy Porter, some City Council Members and Brent Kinghorn were in attendance at the meeting. They had an opportunity to talk to that committee and see about the availability of funding. They wanted to know if it would be possible to get this local share which John Porter referred to that the City of Rexburg is entitled to. We are in the red and have over extended on that in order to complete that project on Second East. The purpose was to see if they would still let us borrow ahead our rightful share of those funds. He did contact Mr Combell today to see if they had made any decision. He said he had talked to his staff and the people over in Boise yesterday and he said he could not promise that any immediate funding would be available, but said to tell your people to go ahead and get their consultant going and get those plans made. He said he thought it would be a year or two until Rexburg could go ahead on that project, but he was quite certain that they would be able to help us. At the present time we are in the arrears but by October 1993 we will be down to $55,000 that we owe in arrears. By October 1994 we would be in the black $129,000 and by October 1995 we would have $300,000. The state has about two and half million dollars available for this kinds of projects. They get requests from local governments throughout the state for their share and what they can use. He did tell Mark to tell Rexburg to go ahead and get their plans in and if there is excess money available there and if some of the others entities can't use or be ready for, certainly we would be happy to extend it to Rexburg's project. If that is the intent of the City Council to go ahead with this project, then start designing these streets and do what is needed on our end and submit to the state and tell them this project is ready to go and we have our plans and are ready to go as soon as the money is available from them. We would need to consult with John Warneger 334-8271. He stated that people, rural people, are slow to make changes. It is essential that we have some plans and can plan down the road and make the decisions that will benefit us down the road. The mayor stated that anyone who does not want to testify at this meeting, we will accept written testimony in City Hall until June 8 at 4:00 P. M. On June 9, the council will meet and made a decision. David Allen - 370 South 5th East- The collector street on 5th South is not fully paved. For some of us we would use that street if it were that street. Superintendent Orr of School District 321 - Impact of Middle school. 7th South is going to be developed one way or the other at some point in the future. What has happened is circumstances has brought it quicker. In consideration of that fact, the school has made some adjustments. They have made plans to provide adequate off street loading and unloading and all the buses will be taken care of off street with access to the street without too much problem. The school district have made adjustments to make it as safe as possible. They feel that the plans they are making for busing are so there will not be pedestrian traffic across the main arteries will make it safer. The bus routes to the Middle School will be at 9:00 A. M. and 3:40 P. M. Dave Pincock - 510 Taurus- He wanted to speak in favor of closure of Viking Drive. He goes to the campus often, but takes precautions to stay off of Viking Drive as much as possible. He parks in front of the dorms when he has to go to the Manwaring Center to make it easier to go across and go down 2nd East to work and not have to go down Viking Drive. We have a beautiful campus and need to make it safe for the students crossing that street, by keeping the traffic off that street. Mack Shirley- He and Randy Porter had conferred as a point of clarification on the third page of the handout, it is the college's intent to have a usage street through the parking lot where the new buildings will be built. Following over to the right on the map over to 2nd East, they have planned to make an access street from that parking lot to 2nd East, so at 450 South people could access the campus at that point by going through the parking lots. The college will also maintain the part of Viking Drive that is not closed but goes through the campus. Robert Pederson - 29 South 3rd West- He serves on the campus. Some years ago when he was in the Junior High they put in an elevator for the handicapped. At that time it seemed like a lot of money, $30,000. Someone said that is a lot of money to spend but not if it is my kid. It is the same thing with the safety issue on Viking Drive, if the student is mine it makes a lot of difference. Even thought he goes up there a lot, he tries not to go down Viking Drive, especially when classes change. He would hope that Viking Drive would be closed. The mayor stated that we would adjourn and reconvene on June 9th at 7:00 A. M. for the decision. ~~ ~ ~~ Mayor, Ni a L. Boyle City Clerk, Rose gle 1 l /"°l TESTIMONY FROM RANDY FORTER SOUTH ARTERIAL /VIKING DRIVE COMMITTEE Report to Community June 2, 1993 Last February, Mayor Boyle asked me to chair a committee of local residents. Our assignment was to study Ricks College's request to close one block of Viking Drive, the opening of a southern arterial, and what impact these events would have on the community. The college made the request, but given the problems drivers have using this street, the request could easily have come from a citizen's group, a highway traffic engineer, the city government, or some other entity. Committee members were Dick Davis, Clayter Forsgren, Jim Morris, Jim Flamm, Bruce Sutherland, Glen Pond, Mary Ann Mounts, Judy Walker, Brent Kinghorn, Mack Shirley, and Gary Summers. The issues we looked at included funding, safety, public sentiment, traffic conditions, the effects on the new middle school and other items . { Everything was on the table. There were no "sacred cow" issues. The meetings were always open, forthright, and constructive. I didn't try to get a consensus on recommendations from this group because of the organizations they represented. But each committee member submitted an opinion which was included in the final report to the mayor . We found there are some who oppose closing Viking Drive no matter what. Others favor it no matter what. But most people are somewhere between these two points. Some are concerned about the costs of opening a southern arterial. Some are worried about reduced access to the Manwaring Center. And some are worried about the effects Seventh South may have on the middle school. Everyone we talked to, however, was concerned with safety. We studied several funding sources for a southern arterial. These include the city's street fund, land gifted to the city by Ricks College, and as yet to be determined assessment to the college, and possibly an unscheduled amount from the state highway urban fund. Additionally, the college has agreed to maintain four blocks of Viking Drive thus freeing money from the city's street fund. This money can be budgeted towards Seventh South. The primary reason the college has for making this request is safety. There are nearly 12,000 pedestrian crossings daily along Viking Drive while school is in session. This number will increase to approximately 23, 000 when two new buildings are completed south of Viking Drive. In making this request, the college obviously feels a great deal of responsibility for the safety of its students, employees, and visitors . A traffic study revealed that of 4641 drivers using Viking Drive, approximately 87~ were on college related business . This seems to ~f9 T ~ indicate that most cross town drivers prefer to use other east-west roads. There was general agreement within our committee that the city and Madison School District should work closely to mitigate any anticipated safety problems arising along Seventh South near the middle school . The committee agreed nearly unanimously on six other key issues 1. The safety of Ricks College and middle school students. Z. Opening the Seventh South arterial before closing Viking Drive. 3. Completing the Seventh South arterial to the highway interchange as quickly as possible. 4. Keeping the Manwaring Center within easy access to local residents . 5 . Minimizing the construction costs for Seventh South. 6. Reducing the traffic congestion along Second South. Viking Drive is unique because it's a public road bisecting a private institution. In many ways, Ricks College is a victim of its own success. It keeps growing. But its success isn't always universally appreciated. Further, in its willingness to share its facilities and services with the community, some have come to think of Ricks as a public entity without private property rights . Locals are somewhat dismayed when Ricks, exercising its right of private ownership, seeks to remedy unsafe conditions in front of its buildings. Concern for safety isn't unusual. But because of the magnitude of the college's influence in the community, some in the community tend to overlook the magnitude of the safety problem. The college, of course, isn't demanding Viking Drive be closed. But if the situation were somehow reversed eg. the college owned a private road which bisected public property, the voters would have a right to demand it s closure. Looking at it in this light suggests the college, like everyone else, is subject to city government decisions . Not the other way around as some believe. My overall sense from listening to the pros and cons of the request leads me to believe Viking Drive should be closed. I realize this is distasteful to some. But I think a majority of people will support the proposal if it can be done without creating an additional hardship on themselves as taxpayers and college patrons . Drivers simply want a quicker and safer way to get across the city and they see Seventh South as the answer. If this means having to close Viking Drive, that's okay with them. The .most compelling argument for closure, though, has to be concern for the safety of people's sons and daughters who attend Ricks. Knowing there may be up to 23,000 pedestrian crossings daily along this street, with nearly 5000 cars and perhaps school buses interspersed among them, makes it incumbent upon the city administration to open Seventh South and close Viking Drive. The city may have a fiduciary responsibility to take this action now rather than risking some future event which may lead to a legal action against. it. /s TESTIMONY FROM JOHN PORTER I hesitate testifying at this hearing --- not because I do not have definite views on what should be done, I do. But because I feel the mayor and council are doing a good job running the city and need no advice from me. however I have hear some disturbing rumors and I would like to set the record straight on a number of things regarding Ricks College and the City of Rexburg. I've been involved in city government for over 25 years. I was on the council when the campus expansion started . During the expansion period and continuing until now Ricks College has contributed to the growth and well being of the City of Rexburg, paying a full share for all city services . When I was elected mayor 20 years ago the voters also approved a water system improvement bond for $400, 000. Ricks College contributed another $300,000 so that the total project amounted to $700,000. With this money the city built the large concrete reservoir at the top of the hill. We also enlarged water mains throughout the city, increasing pressure and providing improved fire safety. We are still benefiting from this project. Rexburg has an agreement with the college that they maintain all water and sewer lines that serve the college campus . They still do this and they also pay a fair price for water delivered to the campus . Whenever there is an increase in city water or sewer rates the rate increase is also given to Ricks College. They get no free rides. Rexburg has a policy that all new streets are improved and paid for by the developer or the people who are served along the street . This is usually done by a special Improvement District with costs being assessed to property owners . This was done during the campus expansion and Rieks College paid the Improvement District assessment levied on Fourth South construction within the campus. This, along with other street improvements, amounted to over $200, 000. When the city constructed a storm drain system following the Teton Dam break we received a direst grant to do this work. Ricks College paid for the costs to have the system serve the campus . This helped the college and it also helped the city by stopping a lot of the runoff from the campus flowing to the downtown streets . There have been other projects over the years as both Rexburg and Ricks College has grown and expanded . The college has always paid a fair share to those projects that would benefit the campus and in all cases the city also benefited. Let me touch now on street closings, a subject we all are interested in tonight. Every platted city, because of growth or changing traffic patterns, is confronted with the problem of closing or abandoning streets . That's why there is a state statue that provides /3 rules and regulations for closing streets and abandoning right-of-ways. I recall hearing the request from the college to abandon 3rd South right-of-way through the campus . I was on the council when Pres . John L . Clarke, Dan Hess, and Sam Brewester, a campus planner hired by the LDS Church, showed us the campus master plan that called for several new buildings including the Hart Building. They pointed out that the Hart would extend over the 3rd South right-of-way and asked that it be abandoned. We granted the request and as a ,result we have this useful and beautiful sports complex in Rexburg. It is used by the college and also the community. You can visit this building every morning and find many Rexburg citizens walking or jogging the outside or inside track; using the swimming pool or the exercise equipment. We'd not have the International Folk Dance Festival if the Hart Building was not in our community . I was mayor when the request to close Center Street was made . The space was needed for the construction of the Snow Building. We granted the request. The college had already purchased all property on the west side of Center . I think we made the right decision . Imagine what a problem there would be if Center St . went through the campus separating Snow Building and Hart Building, eliminating the landscaping and parking lots. The closing of First East also had controversy but it has greatly improved the campus and pedestrian traffic is safer moving from the dorms to classrooms. It has also improved the beauty of the campus, something every person in Rexburg is very proud of --- Ricks's beautiful and well kept campus . For the past two years I've spent the winter months in St. George, ZJtah. They have a 2 year community college with a student population of 3200. They have road closure problems and have closed two streets even though their campus is much smaller than the Ricks Campus . They made accommodation for the construction of the Dixie Center, a complex that is used for sports and cultural events. It is a combination of Rick's Snow and Hart Buildings . To build the Dixie Center permission had to be given by the state. The college budget provided some funding. The balance was raised by private donations and by tax money given by the city of St. George and the county of Washington. There was also a Revenue Bond issue voted on by the people of St. George and Washington Co. It is a fine building and many great events are held in it including athletic events of the college. The problem they have is that the revenue brought in is not enough to pay off the bonds . As a result the city and county has to pay the short fall from tax revenues. In Rexburg we abandoned two streets and we have the Snow and the Hart . We enjoy many special events in these buildings but we do not have to maintain them or do we have to pay off the bonds . I think we are getting a great deal for the two blocks we closed. ~+{ ~~ I'm for closing a block of Viking Drive. I urge the council to agree! It will provide pedestrian safety. There will be over $20 million in new construction. It should not be closed until 7th South can be constructed from 2nd East to 2nd West but the college should know it will be closed so that the planning for the new buildings and campus landscaping can begin. The college will pay its share for the special improvements such as curb, gutter and drainage that is within the campus . They will also donate the ground . Thanks for giving me time to express my views . Rexburg's a great place to live . TESTIMONY FROM GERALD TAYLOR HEARING ON VIKING DRIVE I am grateful for the forward thinking of the present administration at Ricks College. They have planned for the future of Ricks College. It has been ten years since any building has been planned for the needed use of the present students and teachers . I commend the administration for their desires to expand the campus . The committee that represented the college and the community has given a recommendation. The community should support the committee's decision. We should all be in concert together to go forward with the expansion of the campus. This will not only help the students and teachers but will be a. great boost for the city of Rexburg. The committee{s decision to use seventh south as the main artery to the campus is a good one . I would hope that the city and Ricks College be united in making this street a four lane street. This should be a four lane street from 2nd east all the way to Anderson lumber. It would also be safer for the students at then middle school. I have been by many schools in larger communities where the traffic is heavy. Officials would roll out their signs of 15 miles per hour during the day when the students were coming to school and going home. This has worked well for them. We have a great opportunity to help Ricks College and the City of Rexburg. Let's work together and make this happen. Gerald Taylor