HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes_City Council Work Meeting_09272022 CITY COUNCIL WORK MEETING
IONA CITY HALL
SEPTEMBER 27,2022 6:00 P.M.
PRESENT: Mayor Dan Gubler, Council President Rob Geray, Council Member Michael
Thompson, Council Member Peter Wadsworth, Council Member Evan Mann, City Attorney
Andrew Rawlings, Public Works Director Zech Prouse and City Clerk/Treasurer Keri West.
ABSENT: None.
VISITORS: Kevin Harris and Heather Marley.
ITEMS OF BUSINESS:
Approval of Smoke-Free Parks Proposal presented by Mayor's Youth Advisory Council —
Mayor Gubler stated the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) proposed to the Council
earlier this year to designate the City Parks as Smoke-Free. At that time, the Council requested
MYAC to contact nearby cities to determine if any of them had a zone in their parks where
smoking is permitted. Heather Marley, MYAC Advisor, stated they have contacted other cities
and none of them have a designated smoking area in their parks. Council President Geray voiced
his concern regarding the predominant religion in the area and the appearance that the City is not
considering others when determining whether to prohibit smoking in the City Parks. Advisor
Marley stated there are members of MYAC that are not religious and their main concern is the
health factor for all children and youth while enjoying the parks. Discussion continued regarding
the option of having a designated area within a smoke-free park to allow visitors to smoke.
Council Member Wadsworth asked if the City has a way to enforce this in the parks, if passed.
Deputy Randall stated there needs to be something in the City Code that prohibits smoking in the
parks for him to be able to enforce it. Mayor Gubler stated this can be done by drafting and
passing an Ordinance. Advisor Marley stated the MYAC would like to take this beyond the parks
and include parking lots, etc. Mayor Gubler stated they can include all City property, excluding
the right-of-way. Council President Geray suggested including in the Ordinance an option to
have a designated area for smoking. He continued and stated this would allow the City to
designate the entire park as "smoke free" and gauge the response from the public to determine if
they need to add a designated area where smoking is permitted, at a later date, without amending
the City Code. Council Member Wadsworth agreed with this suggestion. Attorney Rawlings
asked the Council if they would like to make this violation an infraction with penalties as already
specified in the Code. All Council Members agreed. Advisor Marley stated District 7 of Eastern
Idaho Public Health will provide the signs and will coordinate with the City to determine the
wording and amount of signs requested. Clerk West asked Attorney Rawlings if this will be
ready for next month's meeting. Attorney Rawlings confirmed.
Discussion of Surplus of Personal Property — Clerk West stated she attended the Idaho City
Clerks, Treasurers and Finance Officers Association (ICCTFOA) conference last week and
learned the process on how to surplus the City's Personal Property. Attorney Rawlings clarified
that the City owns "real property" which is considered land and buildings, and "personal
property"which is anything that is tangible and moveable. Clerk West stated the City has a lot of
personal property that we are unable to donate or get rid of without going through the legal,
surplus process. She continued and explained the process, which consists of creating a
spreadsheet with all items the City Council deems as "surplus", then advertising a Public Notice,
IONA CITY COUNCIL WORK MEETING—SEPTEMBER 27,2022
then holding a live or online auction. She continued and stated the City would then be able to
donate items that were not sold during the auction. Clerk West clarified the City is able to donate
items to other government entities without including them in an auction, but they must still be
advertised as surplus first. She continued and stated the reason for this necessary process to
dispose of City owned items is because they were paid for by City taxpayers. Therefore, all items
need to be handled in a legal manner prior to being sold or donated. Council Member Wadsworth
asked if the City is able to throw items away without going through this process. Clerk West
stated the only way to dispose of an item is if it is broken and can no longer be used or fixed.
Clerk West then suggested using the website PublicSurplus.com for the online auction because it
is free and is designed for government use. Clerk West then stated she would like the Council's
approval to move forward with this process. All Council Members agreed. Council Member
Thompson suggested compiling a list each quarter, if necessary. Council President Geray asked
Director Prouse if the Public Works Department had items to add. Director Prouse confirmed
there are quite a few items they could include in this process. Clerk West stated the income
generated from the auction would go back into the General Fund or Water fund, depending on
the items sold.
Discussion regarding Road Width and Cross Section Requirements for Future
Developments—Mayor Gubler stated he has driven through the Freedom Field Subdivision and
has had to wait for cars to drive through narrow passages when cars are parked on both sides of
the street. He continued and stated this made him realize the City cannot continue to allow
developments to take place without proper road widths for functionality. Mayor Gubler stated he
has researched other developments outside of the City and would like to consider changing the
City Code to adopt a requirement for wider roads. He continued and stated he has requested
Forsgren Associates to provide the City with various options for road widths and cross sections.
Mayor Gubler stated he would suggest the City adopts a requirement that includes wider roads,
along with curb and gutter, for all new developments. Kevin Hams from Forsgren Associates
distributed paper packets for everyone and explained they are examples of different designs the
City can adopt. Mayor Gubler stated he thinks getting rid of the swales and having a different
drainage system would eliminate many problems the City currently encounters with
homeowners. Council President Geray stated the current City Code already has a requirement for
a minimum road width of 70'. Mayor Gubler stated the 70' requirement is for the total right-of-
way, which includes the road, swales, and sidewalks on both sides. He continued and stated the
total right-of-way could still be 70' but he would like to require the actual asphalt section of the
road itself to be wider than the existing roads throughout the City. Mayor Gubler then stated his
preference for curb and gutter, specifically the "roll back curb" style. Council President Geray
stated if the sidewalks on each side are 5 feet wide and the swales on each side are 10 feet wide,
there should still be 40 feet of asphalt for the road to adhere to the 70' wide right-of-way
requirement. Director Prouse stated the swales are typically wider than 10'. Mayor Gubler stated
he would prefer to get rid of the swales altogether because of the problems they cause and they
don't look as nice as curb and gutter. He continued and stated many years ago the Council
adopted a Code to require curb and gutter. Director Prouse agreed and stated there used to be a
60' cross section design with curb and gutter. Mayor Gubler stated that option was later dropped.
Council President Geray stated it was most likely dropped because of the upfront cost and
maintenance of curb and gutter. Mayor Gubler stated the biggest maintenance concern is the
snow removal,but the City Code already prohibits parking on the road during the winter months.
Council discussed the pros and cons of the sidewalk being closer to the road, specifically relating
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IONA CITY COUNCIL WORK MEETING—SEPTEMBER 27,2022
to snow removal. Mayor Gubler then reiterated his desire to require curb and gutter as part of the
70' wide right-of-way. He continued and explained it would have 5' of curb and gutter, a thin
mow strip and 5' sidewalks on each side, then whatever is left of the 70' would be asphalt.
Mayor Gubler then stated he is not opposed to increasing the 70' right-of-way. Council President
Geray asked if there would be sewer drains if curb and gutter is installed. Director Prouse stated
there would be storm drains that would need to meet state requirements. Mayor Gubler stated the
City would require developments to dedicate a green space that is lower than street level to
collect the storm water through pipes. Discussion then continued regarding infiltrator or water
collector options for developers. Council Member Wadsworth asked Director Prouse his
preferred design of the options discussed tonight. Director Prouse stated he would like to
research more before giving his opinion. Council President Geray expressed concern about
standing water issues on the grass and the potential that this change could create new problems.
Discussion then took place regarding mosquitos and other problems that arise from standing
water. Mayor Gubler suggested all Council Members drive through neighboring subdivisions
that have executed the design he is proposing. He then stated he feels the City is under a time
crunch on this topic because of developments he believes will be coming soon. He continued and
encouraged the Council to research and choose the design they prefer.
General Discussion of Fiber Internet Project — Mayor Gubler stated there is not much to
report. He continued and stated he has met with Direct Communications and they are drafting the
contract for the City to review and sign. He continued and stated they have not sent the contract
yet. Clerk West stated she spoke with Daniel from Direct Communications last week and he
informed her their attorney is still working on the contract and he will send it to her as soon as
possible. Council President Geray asked Attorney Rawlings if he has spoken with their attorney.
Attorney Rawlings stated he has not heard from their attorney. Council President Geray stated he
was contacted by Brook with Direct Communications and was asked for the City Attomey's
contact information. Mayor Gubler then stated Fybercom has pulled a Right-of-Way Permit to
install fiber throughout the City. Director Prouse confirmed he has met with Fybercom and has
received their construction schedule and process.
Meeting Adjourned: 6:52 p.m.
COUNCIL APPROVED: October 18. 2022
�f p 1� Dan Gubler, tayor
ATTEST: J /w�
en West,City Clerk/Treasurer
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