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Home My Public Portal About2019.08.07 Regular Council Meeting MINUTES McCall City Council Regular Meeting Banyans on the Green Reception Pavilion 925 Fairway Drive August 7, 2019 Call to Order and Roll Call Work Session Adjournment CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Aymon called the special meeting of the McCall City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Aymon, Council Member Giles, Council Member Holmes, Council Member Nielsen, and Council Member Sowers all answered roll call. City staff members present were Anette Spickard, City Manager; BessieJo Wagner, City Clerk; Erin Greaves, Communications Manager; Linda Stokes, City Treasurer; Michelle Groenevelt, Community Development Director; Eric McCormick, Golf Course Superintendent; Kurt Wolf, Parks and Recreation Director; Nathan Stewart, Public Works Director WORK SESSION: Meet with the Business and Property Owners of the Central Business District Regarding Sidewalk Maintenance Anette Spickard City Manager covered the following outline: Tonight's Format  Introductions and Goals for tonight's discussion  Staff presentation o Sidewalk maintenance today o Design benefits of new sidewalks in downtown o What's working well and not so well now o Proposed solutions  Let's hear from you - table talk  Wrap up and next steps Goals for tonight Brainstorm preferred approach to ensure sidewalks and streetscapes are:  Properly maintained in summer conditions  Properly maintained in winter conditions  In good repair  Provide a safe, accessible, pedestrian friendly environment MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 1 of 4 August 7, 2019 Special Meeting  Collect feedback from businesses and property owners to develop best possible maintenance program. Provide input to City Council on ideas, solutions and collaboration opportunities STAFF PRESENTATION Sidewalk Maintenance Today  Sidewalks are responsibility of fronting property owner per City Code (Reference current city code & national standards) o New construction, maintenance, and repair o Snow removal required but not allowed to place snow in the Right of Way o Parks staff does clear snow from some areas based on operational efficiencies as they clear pathways but not all properties o Injury and ADA claims  Currently there is a wide range of compliance o inconsistent winter sidewalk conditions o some are cleared regularly after snow events, some are never cleared  2019 Revised Code Enforcement approach o Owner gets one notice at beginning of winter season via letter o If complaint received, Parks removes snow /ice or trash nuisance and assessment is billed to owner o If snow is pushed into right-of-way, owner subject to citation o If sidewalk is damaged and non-ADA compliant, city can require repair/replacement through notice process o Costly for both parties and inefficient use of resources o Reactive instead of proactive approach Design Benefits of New Sidewalks in Downtown Core  ADA Compliance o Intersection ramps o Walkway widths and slopes  Furnishing zone allows for temporary snow storage  Furnishing zone allows for seating and other business functions to expand outside without obstructing walkway  Water and electrical access for simplified maintenance  Presents opportunity to rethink how we partner with businesses to maintain sidewalks and handle snow removal During the educational portion of the presentation staff fielded questions: Q – Does the City send code compliance issues to the tenant or the property owner? A – The City sends correspondence to the property owner. Kurt Wolf Parks and Recreation Director clarified that this was a stop gap as solutions to the issues were sought. Q - Why is it that the Parks Department is responsible as opposed to streets? Answer to come later in the presentation All Attendees divided into Breakout Session #1 with the Council to discuss the following items:  What is working well under the current approach?  What are the current challenges under the current approach? MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 2 of 4 August 7, 2019 Special Meeting  Report to entire group STAFF PRESENTATION Continued What if the Parks Department maintained sidewalks? Staff was recently approached by numerous business/property owners and City Council to look into this and identify what it might look like, cost and how is it funded. In Summary:  A service provision model instead of code enforcement-only approach  Parks offers a summer and winter sidewalk maintenance program to property owners (what is the cost & how is it funded) o Would you be willing to pay an annual fee? o What would you be willing to pay annually?  Develop a program that outlines what City will provide and what property owner is still responsible for (e.g. storm event snow removal vs. repairs)  Is this an opt in or opt out program where those that do not opt in acknowledge that they will do their own? What a Parks Maintenance Program Could Include  Winter o Early morning snow removal from sidewalks prior to the start of business hours o Coordination with Public Works for storage and hauling o Property/Business owner keeps sidewalk clear during business hours. Allowed to use furnishing zone for temporary snow storage  Non-Winter Maintenance o Cleaning of sidewalks on a regular schedule o Weed control and removal o Removal of rubbish and litter from public trash receptacles, sidewalks, landscape areas o Maintain public trees, landscape areas, irrigation systems, flower baskets, leaf litter o Installation and removal of seasonal decorations and light pole banners What if the Parks Department maintained sidewalks?  Benefits o One entity efficiently communicating and removing snow after storm events creating a consistent & safe environment o Business & user friendly, recognizes those that have invested in keeping their portion clear o Scalable, can start in downtown and expand to other areas if successful  Considerations o If very few businesses sign up for the program it will be inefficient and may not recoup the costs of setting up the program.  Operationally difficult to only service small chunks and stop and go. o If there is no fee or reduced fee for the service, City will have to shift tax dollars from other programs or increase taxes to pay for it. o There will be startup costs and lead time for equipment purchase and staff-up MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 3 of 4 August 7, 2019 Special Meeting All Attendees divided into Breakout Session#2 with the Council to discuss the following items: • Does it make sense to offer this service? • What would you be willing to pay? • Do you have other ideas the Council should consider? • Report to entire group Wrap Up and Next Steps • Tonight's feedback will be compiled and included on our website • We will continue to take feedback via our website, emails, and phone calls • Council will debrief and discuss this issue at their August 23rd special council work session • Recap the Information discussed During each recap of discussion much information was shared. Here are some highlights from the discussions: There was concern about how to make sidewalk maintenance fair and equitable. It was identified that there was much to consider and the approach as to how to maintain consistently.These are the questions that were discussed: Q -Would businesses be willing to pay and if so,how much? A—The proposed program is fluid as it may change as we go and figure out the best practice. Q -Is it an opt in or an opt out??? Staff explained what a Parks Department run program could look like. Q—Are Business owners in charge of the flowers garbage receptacle trees water system? How can you make the property owner responsible?? The City is trying to address the issues Q -How much does it currently cost? The estimate is $200,000 to run the program at$17 per linear foot, if 100%by business owner Q -Do we need to plow all of the pathways that are currently being plowed? All information will be compiled and distributed to Council for their August 23`d Special Work Session. ADJOURNMENT Without further business, Mayor Aymon adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m. �•``'`,O� b.4 • I.0 4--, ATTEST: ATTEST: = v I SEAL o Jar ie J. A ion, M. or * 4111,01111. Ae. 414 °41frit'l 0 BessieJo Wagn- ,F ity Cler. MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 4 of 4 August 7, 2019 Special Meeting