HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes_City Council Work Meeting_11202018CITY COUNCIL WORK MEETING
IONA COMMUNITY CENTER
NOVEMBER 20, 2018 6:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Mayor Dan Gubler, Council President Rob Geray, Council Member Michael
Thompson, Council Member Kathy McNamara, City Attorney Andrew Rawlings, Public Works
Director Zech Prouse, Chief of Police Karl Bowcutt and City Clerk Keri West.
ABSENT: Treasurer Amy Sullivan.
VISITORS: Peter Wadsworth.
ADD TO THE AGENDA:
Internal City Mitigation Allocation Agreement Discussion — Mayor Gubler explained he
received a letter today at 4:00 p.m. with a deadline of December 3, 2018. There will be no other
City Council meetings prior to that date. For this reason, he is requesting to add this item to the
agenda for discussion.
Mayor Gubler entertained a motion. Council Member McNamara made a motion to add to the
agenda the discussion of the Water Mitigation Agreement on the basis of recent notification.
Motion seconded by Council President Geray. All in favor, motion carried.
Mayor Gubler stated he received the Internal City Mitigation Allocation Agreement involving 16
other cities today. The main settlement agreement describes that the total mitigation for all of the
involved cities is 7,650 acre-feet per year of aquifer enhancement. The agreement shows the
formula for how the 7,650 will be divided up among the participating cities. As more cities get
involved, the amount owed per city will be reduced. He further explained that we don't know an
actual total of what we would owe until the total number of cities involved is finalized. If the
City chooses to participate, we are required to pay three years in advance, by the agreement. He
continued by saying, it could be $10,000 up front. Director Prouse stated that amount would be
worth the guarantee relief from any future curtailments of water rights. Mayor Gubler also stated
this agreement is good for 35 years. Peter Wadsworth questioned whether this agreement is
necessary in addition to our pending purchase of water rights. Mayor Gubler explained the
allocation of water rights was done incorrectly in the past, so now there are too many water
rights in the state of Idaho. Idaho Ground Water Association (IGWA) and the surface water
groups have been arguing over the water rights for years. When they don't get the water down
south, they put an order in upstream that stops water rights from pumping that water, which
greatly affects the cities. This agreement is the mitigation designed for the Upper Snake River
cities to pull from the Snake River aquifer. This agreement assures that the City will never be
curtailed on our current water rights. He continued by stating the water right we are in the
process of purchasing fixes the problems we currently have with our water system. This
mitigation deals with the water rights we already obtain. Mayor Gubler stated we will add this
item to the Regular Meeting agenda to make a decision.
ITEMS OF BUSINESS:
General Water System Discussion — Mayor Gubler stated he and Director Prouse have told
Forsgren Engineering to move forward with the water project on the north side of the road. He
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also stated that he has communicated with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
regarding the money from the bond and whether the City can use any of that money towards the
purchase of the new water right. The answer has still not been determined. Mayor Gubler also
stated the water project itself is moving forward. Once we receive approval from DEQ regarding
the transmission lines, we will begin to bid the project.
Christmas Party — Mayor Gubler stated we have postponed the Christmas Party until January.
We will be eating dinner at the Copper Rill Restaurant. Clerk West said she has communicated
with the manager and the dates available to choose from are January 14-19, 2019. Mayor Gubler
suggested Thursday, January 17th at 6:00 p.m. All agreed. Clerk West stated she would reserve
with the restaurant and would communicate the date and time with other City officials and
commissions.
Discussion of 2019 City Council Meeting Dates — Clerk West stated the need to discuss
potential dates for 2019 City Council Meetings to approve in December. Mayor Gubler
mentioned usually the Mayor would present the dates to Council in December to be approved for
the upcoming year. Council Member Thompson stated Tuesday nights are difficult for him with
church obligations also on Tuesday evenings. Mayor Gubler said Wednesday night is difficult
for him and other nights might be difficult for others. Council Meetings have been held on
Tuesday nights for many years. All agreed to keep Council Meetings on the third Tuesday of
each month, unless a special occasion requires a change.
Meeting Adjourned: 6:58 p.m.
COUNCIL APPROVED: December 18th, 2018
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ATTEST:
eri West, City Clerk
Dan Gubler, Mayor
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