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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997.11.19 CITY COUNCIL MINUTESDATE: (111997) City Council 11/19/97 7.30 P.M. State of Idaho) County of Madison( City of Rexburg) Present were the following: Mayor: Councilman: Excused: City Clerk: Finance Officer: Engineer: Attorney: Pledge to the flag. Nile Boyle Kay Beck Marsha Bjornn Nyle Fullmer Farrell Young Bruce Sutherland Glen Pond Rose Bagley Richard Horner Joe Laird Stephen Zollinger A motion was made by Nyle Fullmer and seconded by Kay Beck to approve the minutes with one correction. All Aye Recognition of scouts and college students. RE: CART BUS REQUEST FOR DONATION TOPIC: (21,117,,, CART BUS,BUDGET) Don Thorp, Brad Brady, and Cory Bonard with a group of people were at the meeting representing the Cart Bus. Brad Brady acted as spokesman. (he gave a handout to council, on file) Brad explained the handout and gave the council a petition. (on file) He explained for a lot of years they have had the ability to transfer money from a capital fund to an operating fund. They operate on a calendar fiscal year budget and the grants come in a number of budget cycles so the grants don't correlate with their actual operating year. Looking on the first page of the handout. That grant included money they transferred from a capitol fund to operate. The federal government closed the policy of letting us do that so this year 1997 is the last year we have any funds to allow us to do that. The inability to do that transfer takes away about $40,500 from their fiscal year budget. When we break it down in the three rural areas that the budget is operated, it increases the deficit in the Madison, Rexburg and Fremont County budget by a little over $10,000. On the second page it shows the total deficit for this year comes out at $13,657 and in the upper valley area $4,522.33. With the loss of those funds they are predicting their short fall next year to be close to $15,000. With all the other budget cuts they have taken, they just don't have any other place to go. What they are asking for is a total of $10,000 between the three different entities they serve. It will still leave them approximately $5000 short fall but they do have some other programs that are making them profit. They offer a Greyhound Service in Idaho Falls, Trailways is part of it and some freight services and they actually make a profit in that area. They also offer the inter -city program where they take people from one city to another and that program looks like it will make a profit this year and next year. They have enough profit from these places that we can make up $5000 but that is why they are asking the entities that they serve to make up the other $10,000 so they can keep operating the system as it currently is. The mayor discussed the Rural and Urban grants and the amount that was in the minutes from Cart. The mayor explained that he had a letter from a lady in Lyman. She asked rather than lose Cart, why not charge $1.00 rather than 50* a ride. Mr Brady said it is a federal law for handicapped and elderly on what can be charged. If you bump the fair up too much people won't ride and most of the time they can't afford to ride. For seniors it is a suggested 50$ and if they can't pay they don't have to pay. The mayor said he was a real believer of the Cart system. The only problem is the city budget is really tight. Kay stated that he supported the Cart bus program. His question is the method of funding. He questioned where they served and the method of funding how much for Fremont County, how much for the County and the amount for the city of Rexburg. The city residents when it was all added up we would be paying 88.36% of the total. Those living out of the city limits would pick up 11.638. The problem he has with that is the method of funding. He felt that everyone comes to the city for money first. He asked why they were not here at budget time? The mayor stated they had talked to us prior to the budget but we did not think we had the money to fund it. The mayor said the only way we could fund it was out of the contingency fund. Marsha agreed with Kay, she did not think it was fair for the city to have double taxation. She did not think it was a fair way to distribute the money. Kay asked if it was a fair way to figure the percentage of riders, when some riders come from Sunnydale and some riders only ride a couple of blocks in the city. Mr Brady stated 57% of the riders come from Rexburg. Nyle stated that Kay's point is you are picking them up in Rexburg and carrying them three or four blocks, you pick someone up in Thornton and carrying them three or four miles. The cost to carry those people outside of the city is far greater than to carry those in the city. Mr Brady stated that the charge per rider isn't even close to the cost per rider. Nyle stated the point is even though it does not cost as much to carry the city residents they are asking the city to pick up more of the cost because more of them are riding on the percentage basis when in actuality it is costing more to provide the service to those outside the city limits but yet we are asked to pick up the bulk of that share. Kay stated we just don't have the money. Our roads are going to pot and there isn't anything we can do about it because we don't have the money. (discussion) Corey Barnard stated when we first started Cart, in the Upper Valley they had an advisory board to establish fares. They went to the United Way to get some funding. He asked if a suggestion might not be to reform that committee. That committee was made up by the mayor, himself and some other key players. Perhaps if that advisory board would start meeting again they could come up with some solutions on how to come up with the short fall and talk to the city and the county and other city entities to come up with some solutions. Mr Brady stated that the State is working hard to get some state funding. As it stands right now there is no funding from the state. Nyle stated he would be curious to know what kind of numbers are utilizing the system in the city and what kind of rides are generated on a daily basis. He asked what kind of fare are charged? They explained. (Discussion on fares and funding and if fares are increased if the riders will decreased.) (Discussion on fairness of property taxes.) Richard stated that we had to cut $150,000 out of the budget to make it balance. Kay stated what was cut was justified by Department Heads. One of the big things is the roads are in great need of repair. Nyle stated he would not be in a position tonight to vote. He stated he would like to have a work meeting where we can sit down with Richard and see what we have available in the contingency fund. It is obvious that there are a lot of people that feel we need to keep the Cart Bus and he felt it is a good thing. Mr Brady stated anything the city could do would be greatly appreciated. The mayor told them we would schedule a work meeting and would invite Mr Brady, Mr Thorp and members of that committee. Mr Brady suggested that they get together with both entities. Discussion from the people attending the meeting of the need for the bus and what the people using the bus put back into the community. RE: AMENDED PLAT OF WALKER ADDITION DIVISION TOPIC: (21,119,,, WALKER ADDITION,4TH N.,BARNEY DAIRY ROAD) Joe presented the 1st Amended Plat of Walker Addition Division No 1. He explained the plat which would make it possible for 4th North to be extended between the Amdale Building and the Photo Gallery. This plat has been approved by the Planning Zoning. A motion was made by Kay Beck and seconded by Bruce Sutherland to approve the plat as recommended by Planning & Zoning. Sheila Barney questioned where the road would come in on the Barney Dairy Road. Joe explained where it was proposed to come into the Barney Dairy Road. Stephen explained at this time they are not asking for any tie into the Barney Dairy Road. The plat they have requested does not extend all the way to Barney Dairy Road. It would just be speculation at this point as to where they want it to tie into the Barney Dairy Road. This plat does not tie into Barney Dairy Road. The mayor called for a vote on the motion. All Aye to the motion. RE: PURCHASE CARD PROGRAM TOPIC: (21,119,,, PURCHASE CARD,DEPARTMENT HEADS,BANK) Purchase Card Program. Richard gave a handout. (on file) He explained the program. This program would cut back on the number of purchase orders, especially for small items. This would be good for items under $200. The purchase card basically works like a credit card. The employee would have to sign off on the invoice and return the invoice to the city hall. It would save him a call for a purchase order. To process a purchase order it normally costs from $5 to $7. At first we would start out with a limited number of employees using the cards to see how it goes. It would probably be department heads or someone in their department they designate. A motion was made by Nyle Fullmer to authorize the mayor or Richard to sign with First Security Bank to authorize use of these cards for city purchases. Marsha stated that this makes her nervous. She wondered if people would be as conservative with the public's money. (discussion and Richard explained) Seconded by Bruce. The mayor asked for a vote. All voting aye to the motion. RE: SMITHS STORAGE SHEDS BEHIND RENT -A -VIDEO TOPIC: (21,119,,, WATER,SEWER,UTILITY BILL) The mayor told the council there is a building owned by Smiths behind Rent -a -Video. It is used as a storage shed and they have never had any services to that building. They are not hooked to the water and sewer. According to our ordinance if the building is within 300 feet of the sewer they have to be billed for sewer. They have never paid a bill and it is up to $700 or $800. They have never used the service. There is no restroom, no water or sewer. Dave Thibault told the council they had talked to him about hooking onto the city sewer. He told them where the city sewer line was. They would have to get an easement from Don Ard to run their sewer line through his property. They are only working there in the winter one or two days a week on machinery because they are farmers. They asked Dave what he would require and he told them. If they were hooked on they would probably only discharge 1000 gallons a month. They are on their own well but do not have a restroom. They are refusing to pay the bill because they haven't used water, sewer or garbage and we have charged them the minimum. A motion was made by Farrell Young and seconded by Kay Beck to forgive and write off that bill and not bill them until which time they do hook onto city services. All Aye RE: AWARD OF WATER AND SEWER BIDS FOR SOUTH INTERCHANGE TOPIC: (21,119,,, WILCOX FRESH PACK,TAYLOR CHEV,WATER,SEWER,7TH S.) Award of water and sewer bids. (handout on file with a spread sheet) Joe explained. This is for bids we received for the water and sewer work that is going in at the South Interchange. We are extending down the old south highway from Taylor Chevrolet south to the road that goes over to the South Interchange. They are putting in a 12" Water Line 0� taking the existing 6" and 12" down to the Interchange road and then coming west under the railroad and under the unnamed road at Wilcox property with a 16" line on the west side of that road with the thought that eventually the 16' line will be extended across the freeway and serve that area. This fits into our overall water plan. It would also extend south down the road that extends proposed to the Wilcox Plant and around that plant with an 8" loop to give fire protection. There is a potential that it could be extended to the area business that will be built there. That is the water line portion of the bid. The sewer line portion is in two different phases. one would start where the plant is being built with an 8" pressure sewer line that would come up along the west side of the tracks across the Interchange Road and north to a manhole behind the dome building that would hook into the existing sewer system. The existing sewer system extends to the north along the east side of the state center to a lift station that is on the south side of 7th south and east of the stake center and at that point this project would also increase the pumping capacity of this lift station and at that point there is a pressure pump that takes the sewage up to 5th West. (discussion) A motion was made by Kay Beck to award the low bid to Zollinger construction as recommended. Seconded by Marsha Bjornn. All Aye RE: FIRE/AMBULANCE ADDITION GRANT TOPIC: (21,120,,, FIRE DEPT,E.C.I.P.D.A.,WATER DEPT.) Fire/Ambulance Addition Grant- Terry Butikofer representing E.C.I.P.D.A. was at the meeting to explain. He is preparing a Grant Application to go in Friday about noon in behalf of Madison County and the Rexburg/Madison County Fire Department. Part of the grant will need some match to go into the grant to make it more competitive. Part of the match could be the building now used by the Water Department to eventually be used for the Fire and Emergency Medical Services. They are asking the council to consider that tonight. The county assessor evaluated that property. He has valued the building and the land under the building for a total of $94,913 minus $11,620 which is the value on the north side which we will need to construct the new addition to the fire station that we are proposing in the grant. Kay asked about the ground in front of the building. Terry stated that the ground is valued at $1.66 per square foot. Spence stated that is jointly owned by the Fire and Water Department. They have put in for a a $300,000 grant. It would help to use the additional land. We should have a strong match. A motion was made by Kay Beck to authorize the mayor to sign the letter of agreement. Seconded by Farrell Young. Nyle Fullmer declared a conflict of interest. Nyle abstained from voting. All other council members present voting aye to the motion. Motion carried. RE: TETON SEWER HOOKUP TOPIC: (21,120,,, WASTEWATER DEPT.,TETON) Teton Sewer Hookup- The mayor reported on the meeting with Teton and Sugar City Mayor and Councilmembers regarding Teton hooking onto our sewer. He didn't think there was anything there that is not doable. They are still just working for figures. If the whole City of Teton came onto the system they would use a little less than 48 of our capacity. We would either charge them enough to build up a fund to do some expansion later or we could do it like we did with Sugar City and sell them 4% of the plant. That way they would have to put the money up front. He was not sure how it would work out. There is plenty of capacity. If we took the money and put it in another ditch and another clarifier it would increase our capacity almost 40%. We will work with Teton. Most of us would like to do anything we can to protect the aquafer. Dave explained. The mayor asked if there was any other comments? (discussion) No other comments at that time. RE: ORDINANCE 800 ADOPTING A NEW WASTEWATER ORDINANCE TOPIC: (21,120,ORD,800,WASTEWATER DEPT.) The mayor reviewed Ordinance 800 AN ORDINANCE CREATING AND ADOPTING A NEW REXBURG CITY ORDINANCE ENTITLED "WASTEWATER ORDINANCE"; DEFINING TERMS; CREATING OFFENSES AND PENALTIES FOR INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS, OR ANY OTHER ENTITIES PROVIDING DEFENSES; PROVIDING FOR REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT THEREWITH; AND PROVIDING WHEN THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE. A motion was made by councilman Bruce Sutherland and seconded by Nyle Fullmer that the rules requiring an ordinance of a general and permanent nature to be read on three occasions be dispensed with and that said ordinance be numbered 800. Those voting aye: Bruce Sutherland Nyle Fullmer Marsha Bjornn Farrell Young --- Kay Beck Those voting nay: none Absent: Glen Pond Ordinance 800 was then placed before the council. The mayor then called for the voting for final passage of the ordinance, and the motion was made by Nyle Fullmer and seconded by Bruce Sutherland that Ordinance 800 be passed. Those voting aye: Kay Beck Farrell Young Bruce Sutherland Nyle Fullmer Marsha Bjornn Those voting nay: none Absent: Glen Pond The roll showed all councilmen present voting "Aye" carried, the Mayor declared that the majority of all the members of the City Council had voted for the passage of said ordinance was duly and regularly passed. Mayor Boyle declared the motion carried. Stephen told the council at the next meeting we would amend the curfew ordinance to make some wording modifications only. RE: THANK YOU FROM DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY TO POLICE DEPT. TOPIC: (21,121,,, POLICE DEPT.) The mayor told the council he got a letter from the Department of the Treasury (copy on file) thanking the Rexburg Police Department and Chief Lynn Archibald for the support in the form of personnel and offices used as the central command post during the week of October 10, 1997 pursuant to a Federal search warrant, where approximately 2500 pounds of explosive material was recovered from the residence of David Hannah, 125 North lst East. RE: POLICE DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR OFFICE FURNITURE TOPIC: (21,121,,, POLICE DEPARTMENT,SUPPLIES) The Mayor read a letter from Chief Lynn Archibald (on file). In moving from their building they started to remove the shelving that could be used in their new building, but it was at least partially built in and they recommend that it be left with the building. They did remove one section of shelving from the back storage area allowing them to move the front office. They will need to buy some new shelving for the new building. If he uses his officers to build the shelving, it will cost about $1,680. Chief Archibald would like to buy four new desks at $319 each from Porters. There is still money in that fund. (discussion) Marsha suggested that you can buy surplus desks at the college, possibly they could check up there first. RE: NORTHEAST WATERMAIN BID APPROVAL TOPIC: (21,121,,, CITY ENG.,BID,WATER DEPT.) The mayor told the council we have a bid on the River Crossing on the water project on Friday. We need to get the project started to be done by December 31 or we will loose our permit and we don't have a council meeting for two weeks and the mayor asked the council to give the mayor and the city engineer authority to award the low bid. A motion was made by Bruce Sutherland and seconded by Marsha Bjornn to allow the mayor and city engineer to award the low bid on the River Crossing. All Aye RE: ALLEY BEHIND CITY HALL CHANGED TO A TWO-WAY ALLEY TOPIC: (21,122,,, ALLEY,U.P&L.,POLICE DEPT.,CENTER ST.,1ST E The mayor stated that he had the Police Chief look at changing the alley behind the City Hall back to a two way alley instead of a one way alley. This was changed about 15 years ago to a one way alley. We '.. haven't had many big trucks down the alley. With the Police in the Utah Power & Light building, the mayor felt it would be a disaster to have it a one way alley. The mayor asked the council if they would change it back to a two way alley from 1st East to Center Street. A motion was made by Kay Beck and seconded by Marsha Bjornn to change the alley between Center and 1st East back to a two way alley. All Aye Mayor Boyle read a Beer License application for 1998 for Rexburg Food Center. A motion was made by Nyle Fullmer and seconded by Bruce Sutherland to approve the Beer License. All Aye A motion was made by Nyle Fullmer and seconded by Kay Beck to approve the bills. All Aye A motion was made by Nyle Fullmer and seconded by Bruce Sutherland to go into executive session for a personnel matter regarding the Golf Pro Contract. All Aye RE: TETON SEWER PROJECT TOPIC: (21,122,,,DALLEY*DOUG,TETON,SEWER,WASTEWATER DEPT.) Doug Dalley was at the meeting. He stated he was at the meeting to discuss the Teton Sewer Line. He lives out North of Sugar City. His experience with E.C.I.P.D.A. has not been good. There are a lot of problems that should be resolved before Rexburg lets Teton hook onto the sewer. The mayor told him this is just in the work stage. Nothing has been decided yet. Meeting reconvened. A motion was made by Bruce Sutherland and seconded by Nyle Fullmer to adjourn. All Aye Mayor, ;ti e L. Boyle City Clerk, Rose Bagley