HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes_City Council Work Meeting_02192019CITY COUNCIL WORK MEETING
IONA COMMUNITY CENTER
FEBRUARY 19, 2019 6:00 P.M.
PRESENT: Mayor Dan Gubler, Council President Rob Geray, Council Member Michael
Thompson, Council Member Kathy McNamara, Council Member Peter Wadsworth, City
Attorney Andrew Rawlings, Public Works Director Zech Prouse, Chief of Police Karl Bowcutt,
Treasurer Amy Sullivan and City Clerk Keri West.
ABSENT: None.
VISITORS: Dave Noel, Ted Hendricks, Emily Downey, Nate Downey.
ITEMS OF BUSINESS:
Sister City Discussion (Nate Downey) — Nate Downey explained while he grew up in
California, their city participated in a "Sister City" partnership with a city in Australia. His
family hosted an exchange student from that city during his youth. Mr. Downey continued saying
his whole family has developed a relationship with this other family in Australia and both
families have traveled to each other to get to know the culture and heritage of the different areas.
Mr. Downey expressed his desire for the City Council to research this opportunity. There is an
established organization called "Sister Cities International" that does charge a membership fee,
but can help facilitate an agreement between the City of Iona and another city abroad. Mr.
Downey stated it is not required to participate through that organization, but it may be something
to look into. The City Council agreed it was a good idea to have Clerk West do some research
and learn more about the opportunity.
Discussion of Police K9 — Mayor Gubler stated there is an opportunity to obtain a Police K9 for
the purpose of locating drugs. Chief Bowcutt stated Bonneville County has offered to give Iona
Police Department a K9 that is currently being trained, for free. Chief Bowcutt continued saying
normally this type of dog, along with the training involved, costs thousands of dollars. Chief
Bowcutt also stated Officer Hinton has found another dog in Utah, that is younger and a better
breed, for $300, which Officer Hinton has offered to pay himself if the City will not pay it.
Officer Hinton is currently housing the dog on a temporary basis to see how he interacts with
children and others. Bonneville County has offered to do the training for free for this dog as well.
Chief Bowcutt also stated other cities and counties can pay us for this service if Officer Hinton
and the K9 are available. Chief Bowcutt stated the only costs involved would be the food and
any vet care necessary. Chief Bowcutt further explained this dog would only be trained to find
and identify drugs. This dog would not be a bite dog, so it would not bring any danger to the
public. Director Prouse questioned whether the dog would increase the cost of insurance. Chief
Bowcutt stated the dog will not affect insurance at all. Mayor Gubler questioned whether the dog
could be trained to find explosives. Chief Bowcutt said we could get additional training for
explosives, but as of right now, the dog would only be trained for locating drugs. Chief Bowcutt
continued by informing the Council, there have been times when our officers have needed a K9,
but did not have access to one, or have had to pay to use Bonneville County's K9. Mayor Gubler
stated if the City is going to use this K9, or bill other cities to use it with Officer Hinton, it needs
to be the property of the City and the City needs to pay all bills associated with the K9. Council
President Geray requested a total cost of ownership including routine shots, food, updated
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training, vet bills, etc. Chief Bowcutt agreed to research the costs involved and would report
back next month. Chief Bowcutt asked the Council if they would approve for him to go forward
with the purchase & training of the dog, if his calculations fit within his current & future
budgets. Council President Geray stated it depends on the cost. Chief Bowcutt stated no changes
are required for the vehicles to accommodate the K9.
Discussion of Placement of New Radar Signs — Mayor Gubler stated we have received the two
new radar signs for the Police Department. At this time, the City needs to decide where we
would like to place them. Mayor Gubler suggested placing the two signs on both ends of the
school zone. Chief Bowcutt stated he believes there are already a lot of signs around the school
zone. Instead, he suggested having one on Iona Road by the church. Director Prouse suggested
having the second sign on the other end of the City limits. There is a line of sight requirement
(100 feet) with radar signs. Mayor Gubler stated there does not need to be a decision tonight. He
recommends the Council research it themselves and contacts Chief Bowcutt directly with their
recommendations.
Discussion of the City's Personnel Policy as to Employee Vacation Time Accrual,
Carryover, and Payout — Attorney Rawlings stated he has been advised to edit the Personnel
Policy, but while he was going over it, he realized there were policy decisions that needed to be
brought before the Council for approval prior to editing the Personnel Policy. Attorney Rawlings
added that full-time employees get 80 hours of personal leave on January 1st of each year, plus an
additional 8 hours for each year of service, but can currently carryover 80 hours each year.
Attorney Rawlings mentioned he is looking for guidance on how the employees accrue their
personal leave and how much they should be allowed to carryover. He continued with the option
to have employees accrue their personal leave throughout the year, rather than all on January 1st
Director Prouse clarified that prior to this version of the Personnel Policy, employees were able
to carryover or cash out up to 40 hours at the end of each year. Mayor Gubler stated his concern
for allowing employees to carryover 80 hours and be able to take work off for multiple weeks or
months. Council Member Thompson suggested giving the option to employees to roll over their
personal leave and put it in a short term leave bank for sickness or emergencies. Council
Member Wadsworth said he likes the idea of a short term leave bank. Council President Geray
said he thinks that convolutes the situation and makes it more difficult to track. Treasurer
Sullivan stated she currently keeps track of all the employee's personal leave balances with
payroll. She continued by saying the only time employees earn comp time is when they choose
to not get paid for their overtime hours and turn it into comp time instead. Director Prouse and
Clerk West both stated their opinion that 80 hours to carryover is excessive when the City has a
small workforce. Mayor Gubler suggested limiting the carryover hours to 40. Director Prouse
agreed and stated the employees should be allowed to carryover 40 hours and cash out anything
over 40 at the end of the year. Mayor Gubler, Clerk West and Chief Bowcutt agreed.
Discussion of Commercial Zone — Director Prouse stated there is a lot for sale on Main Street
that is zoned commercial. We have received a lot of phone calls with questions, including
whether someone can build a residence on a lot in a commercial zone. He stated the way the
code is written states the commercial zone does not permit a residence, but we have received
pushback because there are many commercial lots in the city with single homes. Mayor Gubler
stated those houses were grandfathered in when the code and zones were written. Council
President Geray stated the only way for someone to build an R-1 structure on a commercial lot is
to go through the process of trying to change the zone. Council President Geray also stated he
would be hesitant to allow the zone to be changed because the City only has a small amount of
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lots zoned commercial. Clerk West stated she would contact the realtor listing the property
tomorrow and clarify the situation with the zoning.
General Water System Discussion — Mayor Gubler stated he has been asked by DN Tanks
multiple times if the City would allow them to bid a Type III Tank for the water project. He also
stated it may be hard for the Council to understand the difference in the types of tanks. Mayor
Gubler invited Engineer Dave Noel to educate the City Council on the difference in the type of
tanks. Engineer Dave Noel distributed documentation that highlights the main differences
between 4 styles of tanks. Mayor Gubler stated thickness of the concrete for a D1 Tank is 8",
whereas the Type III Tank is only 4". He also stated the Type III Tank is pre -cast and raised up
where it is needed and the joints are sealed together. The D1 Tank is cast in place, so there are no
joints to seal. Engineer Dave Noel confirmed the differences and recommended the City Council
look at the design specs he has distributed and decides which type of tanks they want to be
allowed in the bidding process. Mayor Gubler reiterated it would be difficult to have multiple
types of tank being bid. They have different processes and would be hard to compare. Mayor
Gubler continued by saying there are 2 comparable companies that are able to bid the Type I
Tank, avoiding sole sourcing. Engineer Dave Noel clarified there are 3 manufacturers that can
bid this product if we do a Type I D 110 and a cast in place D 115 Tank. Engineer Noel continued
saying he has recommended from the beginning to allow both types of tanks to be bid, as they
are very similar products and what he believes the City needs for this project.
Meeting Adjourned: 7:05 p.m.
COUNCIL APPROVED: March 12th, 2019
ATTEST:
Dan Gubler, Mayor
Keri West, City Clerk
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