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HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes_City Council Work Meeting_10152019CITV COUNCIL WORK MEETING IONA CITY BUILDING OCTOBER 15, 2019 6:011 P.M. PRESENT: Mayor Dan Gubler, Council President Rob Gemy. Council Member Michael Thompson. Council Member Peter Wadsworth Council Member Kathy McNamara, Public Works Director Zech Proum, City Attorney Andrew Rawlings and City Cleric Kai West. ABSENT: Treasurer Amy Sullivan. VISITORS: Josh Williams, Kevin Casper, Susan Moon, Den Moon and Marilyn Diehl. ITEMS OF BUSINESS: Discussion of Josh Williams Property on Iona Road — Josh Williams stated he owns the property on Iona Raod to the east of a development currently being discussed Mr. Williams said he does not want his propeny to be landlocked by the new subdivision. Mr. Williams continued and said his understanding is that the subdivision is supposed to leave a stub out to adjoining properties. Mayor Gubler stated the developer recognizes Mr. Williams' property, but does not consider it to be landlocked because Mr. Williams has a narrow strip of land that is wide enough for a future road. Mayor Gubler continued saying he is hesitant to approve a subdivision that would require two roads so close together. Mayor Gubler also stated the City has advised the developer to contact Mr. Williams directly and come to an agreement regarding the two parcels of land. Mr. Williams stated there have been discussions in the past when he has tried to purchase the land and the owner would not sell. There have been no recent discussions between the two parties to come to an agreement. Mayor Gubler stated the City would be happy to help facilitate an agreement between the two land owners, but that is not the responsibility of the City. Mr. Williams stated the only option he has heard from the other land owner is for him to purchase a lot and build a stub out to his adjoining property. Mr. Williams continued and said he does not see that as a reasonable option. Council President Garay asked Mr. Williams what his original plan was for this lot, as it is an undeniably odd shape with a narrow strip of land. Mr. Williams stated his intent for this land was for his children to have a place to farm and take care of caws. Ile realized the odd shape and assumed one party would purchase the other at some point and develop all 25 acres as one development. Council President Geray admitted he is tom on this situation. He understands the dilemma that Mr. Williams is now in with the shape of his land. However, he doesn't believe the other land owner should be punished because his neighbor has a narrow strip of land and understood the risk when he purchased it. Mayor Gubler advised Mr. Williams to contact the other owner directly and come to an agreement. If they do not come to an agreement before the Final Plat is submitted, the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council will ultimately need to do what they believe is best for the City. Discussion of Idaho Falls Animal Shelter —Clerk West introduced Irene Brown with the Idaho Palls Animal Shelter and stated the City Council had requested to meet with her regarding the annual contract amounts. Ms. Brown stated the contract amount for this year reduced by about 50°/. Clerk West stated the City has not received that statement yet. Council Member Wadsworth stated the City has discussed utilizing another shelter and asked Ms. Brown why the City should continue using the Idaho Palls Animal Shelter with such a high contract amount. Ms. Brown said the only other option is the Snake River Animal Shelter and they only accept dogs. Ms. Brown continued saying the City of Iona had 20 cats taken to their shelter in 2018 and 16 cats in 2017. Ms. Brown also stated their shelter panicipates in a national program called Trap/Neuter/Retum which requires them to neuter trapped cats then return them to the area they were found. She explained this program as being beneficial to reduce the number of homeless cats, rather than trapping and killing cats. Council President Gerdy asked Ms. Brown if the contract amount is based on the number of animals from Iona they receive compared to the total costs to con the shelter. Ms. Brown confirmed the contract amounts are based on the percentage of the Iona animals brought in ompared to the total animals. That percentage is applied to the animal shelter's cost and is then charged as the contract amount for that year. Ms. Brown stated the Idaho Falls Animal Shelter was issuing and tracking dog licenses for the City of Iona and doesn't understand why the City discontinued the licensing requirement. Council President Geray stated the City Clerk from Iona was the one issuing the licenses. Ms. Brown stated most of the licenses issued for the City or Iona were done by the shelter when someone picked up or adopted a dog from the shelter. She continued and said there is a state law that requires them to issue something to identify each dog. so now that Iona does not have a dog license program, all Iona residents that adopt a dog from the shelter have to purchase a Bonneville County license instead. Council President Geray reviewed the contract and stated the City was charged $135 per animal that was taken to the shelter in 2018. Council Member Wadsworth stated when he paid to remove his dog from the shelter he paid less than 830. Council Member Wadsworth asked why the animal owners are not required to pay more when they pick up their animal from the shelter. Mayor Gubler stated the City is subsidizing the cost for the animal owmers. Ms. Brown agreed. Council President Gorey expressed his frustration for requiring the City to pay for animals that belong to irresponsible owners. Ms. Brown said they are not authorized to collect fines at the shelter. Those are citations issued by the officers. She continued and said they are only authorized to collect impound fees. She also stated they are only allowed to charge the owners what they can show it costs then to house that animal. which they have estimated as $19/day. Council President Geray referred to the contract and argued the cost to house the animal is S135 carding to the total cost to operate the shelter on the contract. Ms. Brown stated only 30% of the animals that are taken to the shelter are actually picked up by their owner. She also stated the shelter used to put down 50%of the animals that came in, but the public complained. Attorney Rawlings asked if the City gave the shelter authority to collect fees when an owner picks up their animal from the shelter, would the shelter be willing to do that'. Ms Brawn confirmed they can collect City fees. Council President Geray stated they will need to do more research with Bonneville County and on the City Code to move forward with this situation. Ms. Brawn recommended to reinstate the dog license requirement for the City. Discussion of Water Connections outside City Limits — Mayor Gubler stated he was approached by a resident that is interested in building a dry campground outside City limits and asked if the City would provide water if it was in the impact area, but not within City limits. Mayor Gubler continued and stated there are pmvislons in the City Code that would allow them to provide water outside City limits, but wants to know if the City Council would approve this request. Ben Moon introduced himself and stated he is the one seeking this information. He stated if Bonneville County provides the water, they would require him to add a fire suppression system and fire hydrant on the property, which would increase their cost significantly. Mayor 2 Gubler stated the County would require them to have a Dre sprinkler system if they do not have access to a fire hydrant. Director Prouse stated he doesn't think the Council can approve or consider this subject without improvement drawings reviewed by the City Engineer. Mayor Gubler stated Mr. Moon does not want to move forward with the design costs without knowing if he could potentially hook up to the City water system. Council Member Wadsworth cautioned Mr. Moon that with the implementation of the City's Equivalent Domenic Unit (EDU) Chart, they need to understand it would cost more than $49/month. Mayor Gubler explained costs relating to hook-up Ices and monthly billing scenarios depending on the design of the campground. Mrs. Diehl asked who Bonneville County can contact at the City relating to current zoning and zoning changes. Mayor Gubler stated he is familiar with the Planning & Zoning Director for Bonneville County. He continued and said Bonneville County can contact him directly with zoning questions. General Water System Discussion — Mayor Gubler stated this item will be discussed during the Regular Meeting immediately following this meeting. Muting Adjoumed:6:59 p.m. COUNCIL APPROVED: November 19'" 2019 ATTEST: / 1.(M (A Keri West, City Clerk