Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes_City Council Work Meeting_05232023 CITY COUNCIL WORK MEETING IONA CITY HALL MAY 23, 2023 6:00 P.M. PRESENT: Mayor Dan Gubler, Council President Rob Geray, Council Member Michael Thompson, Council Member Peter Wadsworth, Council Member Evan Mann, Public Works Director Zech Prouse and City Clerk/Treasurer Keri West. ABSENT: City Attorney Andrew Rawlings. VISITORS: James West. ITEMS OF BUSINESS: Discussion of Annexation Plans — Clerk West stated at the last meeting Attorney Rawlings went through all the steps for annexation, beginning with the need for a written "Annexation Plan". She continued and stated it was suggested for everyone to bring their written plans to tonight's Council Meeting to discuss and compare. Council Member Thompson agreed and clarified this directive was mostly for the Council to bring ideas to discuss and determine what everyone feels should be included in the plan. Mayor Gubler and all Council Members discussed various neighborhoods surrounding the City limits of Iona and annexation processes. Council Member Wadsworth reiterated the rule of a Category B Annexation that requires approval of 50% or more if there are over 100 parcels. He continued and stated he would prefer to attempt annexation of the Nu'R and Green Valley Subdivisions together because the City has been approached by residents of Green Valley requesting annexation. He believes if the City can obtain over 50% approval, it shows that the majority of those residents approve of the annexation, and it would not be considered a "force annexation" for either subdivision. Council Member Thompson understood and stated one of the main benefits he sees in this annexation would be the continuity of the City and the uniformity it would create. Council Member Wadsworth agreed and stated many of the residents that live in the surrounding subdivisions are already benefiting from the City and are using our facilities, including the parks, roads, recreation programs, etc. Council President Geray suggested all Council Members need to take a moment and ask themselves if they are ready to go down this road and deal with the backlashing and verbal abuse they will receive once the annexation process begins. He also stated he is skeptical the City will be able to obtain 50% approval, but he is willing to try. Council Member Mann stated he has already been receiving many questions and confrontations regarding this topic. He continued and stated he has also been researching tax rates and Green Valley's HOA fees that could be reduced if the City starts taking care of their park maintenance. Council Member Mann stated the City has aging facilities that need to be upgraded in the near future and that burden will fall on the residents of Iona, even though the surrounding neighborhoods are also benefiting from those facilities. Discussion continued regarding data to be collected regarding estimated taxes, etc. Council Member Thompson encouraged the Council to determine a firm path tonight on which subdivisions will be included in this annexation and what the next steps are in the process. He then suggested gathering additional data and holding a Town Hall Meeting for residents of the Green Valley and Nu'R Subdivisions to attend. Resident James West suggested the Council hold a Work Meeting with the HOA President of Green Valley and a representative of the Nu'R Subdivision, prior to holding a Town Hall Meeting. He continued and stated this will allow more of a one-on-one, less formal meeting, for IONA CITY COUNCIL WORK MEETING—MAY 23, 2023 those representatives to gather information to take back to their constituents. Council Member Wadsworth agreed and stated that does show the City is doing their due diligence. Council President Geray stated he believes the consensus is to move forward with the combined Category B annexation of the Green Valley and Nu'R Subdivisions. He continued and stated he thinks the next step is to continue gathering data and to meet with representatives from those neighborhoods. Clerk West asked if the Council would like her to invite those representatives to next month's Work Meeting to discuss this topic. Mayor Gubler suggested holding a separate meeting because there will not be enough time to discuss it at the monthly Work Meeting. All agreed. Clerk West stated she will reach out to Attorney Rawlings to discuss this plan and to the representatives of the neighborhoods to discuss the Council's desire to meet. Discussion of FY2024 Property Taxes—Clerk West informed the Council it is time to decide if the City will be taking the full 3% increase in property taxes that is allowed by the state for the 2024 Fiscal Year. She continued and stated the Council can choose to increase property taxes by 0-3% to help stabilize the levy rate. Council President Geray stated he would prefer to take a 1% increase, rather than the full 3% that is allowed. He continued and stated while thinking about annexations, this is an important step for the City to show how it demonstrates fiscal responsibility. Clerk West stated the City is in a healthy financial position and she personally does not feel the full 3% increase is necessary. All Council Members agreed to increase property taxes only by 1%, rather than the full 3% increase they are entitled. Discussion of Water System Capitalization Report and Water Connection Fee — Council President Geray expressed concern regarding the grammar and terminology errors found in the report. He continued and stated there were terms used interchangeably in different applications and many misspellings throughout the report. He stated he expects more from the City Engineer. Director Prouse stated this should be discussed with Engineer Noel present to give a brief explanation of the report. Clerk West stated she did send the packet to him but did not receive a response. Council President Geray stated he does not have a problem increasing the water connection fee, as long as it is defensible. He continued and stated the cover letter should also reference the City Code, which it does not. Discussion of Green Space/Park Space Requirements in New Developments — Clerk West stated this topic has been brought up multiple times during other discussions, but there have never been any code amendments to address it. Council Member Mann expressed his desire to have requirements in the City Code that stipulate how much green space is required in each new development. He continued and stated if the Council makes suggestions to developers, he does not believe they will be followed unless they are codified requirements. Council President Geray stated Attorney Rawlings should be able to draft something quickly for the Council to consider. Clerk West stated the last time this topic was discussed, Attorney Rawlings was interested in more feedback from the Council. She continued and stated she can reach out to nearby cities to learn what requirements they have for green space. Council Member Mann suggested basing the requirement off total acres to be developed or total lots to be created. He continued and explained something like "10 acres or 30 homes being developed". Director Prouse stated it would then need to define the size of the green space. Council President Geray agreed and suggested that number be a percentage of the total development. For example, 5% of a 5-acre development, etc. Council Member Wadsworth asked who would be responsible for maintaining the green space. He continued and stated if the City is maintaining it, how much of a burden is 2 IONA CITY COUNCIL WORK MEETING—MAY 23, 2023 that on the City? Director Prouse stated it is just more work for the Public Works Department. Mayor Gubler stated the development, and their property taxes should be paying most of that cost. Council President Geray advised Clerk West to give this information to Attorney Rawlings and have him draft something to discuss at the next meeting. Meeting Adjourned: 6:54 p.m. COUNCIL APPROVED: June 27, 2023 Dan Gubler, Mayor ATTEST: it0 Keri West, City Clerk/Treasurer 3