HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes_CCWorkMeeting_06262018CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK MEETING
IONA COMMUNITY CENTER
JUNE 26, 2018 6:00 P.M.
PRESENT: Mayor Dan Gubler, Council President Rob Geray, Council Member John Price,
Council Member Michael Thompson, Council Member Kathy McNamara, City Attorney
Andrew Rawlings, Public Works Director Zech Prouse, and City Clerk Shara Roberts.
ABSENT: Chief of Police Karl Bowcutt.
VISITORS: Ted Hendricks.
ITEMS OF BUSINESS:
Mayor Gubler announced Clerk Roberts will be leaving the City of Iona due to relocation to
Boise, ID for her husband's job. They are beginning the process to hire for the position.
Mayor Gubler provided a brief update on the City's Water System Improvement Project. He
announced the Army Corps of Engineers will not be funding the project this year. However, he
has been working with Ted Hendricks with East-Central Idaho Planning & Development
Association (ECIPDA) to draft a letter requesting funding for next fiscal year. Additionally, they
have received the temporary right-of-way to begin digging test holes at the tank site. The
Environmental Review was approved by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and
has been published for public comment. The Council will also need to approve the document as
an action item during the regularly scheduled city council meeting.
Discussion of School Safety: Council Member Price expressed he would like to see a
cooperative uniform policy established by the City and the school district which help educate
children on how to safely and independently navigate and cross streets.
Mayor Gubler recommended Council Member Price go to the school board to discuss facilitating
education in the community. Additionally, he expressed there are plans with next year's budget
to purchase permanent radar signs for the purpose of showing individuals their speed as they
approach a school zone. Typically when an officer is on duty they try to be as present as possible
during the morning and afternoon.
Council Member Price discussed utilizing the maximum right-of-way for locating sidewalks so
individuals walking on the sidewalk are as far away from the traffic as they possibly can be.
Mayor Gubler discussed the maintenance issues in relation to that suggestion, and would actually
like to address in the future reducing all of the right-of-ways throughout the City to 70 feet as
opposed to 90 or 100 in some areas, and turn it back over to the homeowners.
In closing, Mayor Gubler expressed since the Council made changes to the school zone they
have received numerous compliments and only one complaint so the goal needs to be blending
all feedback.
Fiscal Year 2019 Preliminary Budget Discussion: Mayor Gubler explained Treasurer Sullivan
sent out a draft copy of the preliminary budget for the Council's review and feedback. He further
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expressed this will be the largest budget the City has ever passed as a result of the water system
improvement project. Additionally, they need to discuss how much to take on property taxes and
if they are going to take any forgone amounts.
Treasurer Sullivan reported the overall increase from last year's budget is only $26,740 and there
was a cushion of $109,000 which wasn't spent last year.
Mayor Gubler expressed at some point he would like the Council to discuss establishing metrics
for hiring new police officers.
Treasurer Sullivan reported concerns of an invoice which came from the City of Idaho Falls for
animal control services in addition to what has already been paid to Bonneville County to
provide those services. It is her understanding the City does not have a contract with the City of
Idaho Falls only with Bonneville County. After further discussion, Mayor Gubler recommended
not paying the invoice since there isn't a contract which currently exists and refer the invoice to
the City Attorney for further direction.
In regards to water revenue, Treasurer Sullivan planned for an anticipated utility bill increase to
at least $39 due to the water system improvement project. Council President Geray expressed the
number should be $49 instead of $39 based on the worst case scenario calculations provided by
the City Engineer. After further discussion, the Council determined they didn't want to raise the
utility bill until the loan was completely finalized for the appropriate amount instead of doing it
incrementally.
Council President Geray expressed opinions regarding the budget which need to be addressed.
According to Title 8, Chapter 2, Section 15, the budget should separately break out water
connection fees so it clearly indicates it is being used for capital improvements only instead of
lump summing monthly water collections and water connection fees together. The expenses need
to be outlined exclusively.
Treasurer Sullivan explained she could provide a detail ledger each month which outlines the
exclusive expenses he is referring to and is used for the end of year audit.
Mayor Gubler requested Treasurer Sullivan to bring to next month's meeting the current forgone
amount.
Meeting Adjourned: 7:01 pm
COUNCIL APPROVED: July 17th, 2018
ATTEST:
Shara Roberts, City Clerk
Dan Gubler, Mayor
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