HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes_City Council Work Meeting_06272023 CITY COUNCIL WORK MEETING
IONA CITY HALL
JUNE 27, 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, City Attorney Andrew Rawlings and City Clerk/Treasurer Keri West.
ABSENT: None.
VISITORS: None.
ITEMS OF BUSINESS:
Tour of City Facilities — Mayor Gubler, all City Council Members, City Engineer Noel,
Director Prouse and City Clerk/Treasurer West met at the City Building to begin a tour of City
facilities to discuss future budgetary needs. Facilities visited included the Public Works
Department Shop, various well sites throughout the City and both water tanks.
While visiting the Public Works Department Shop on Rockwood Avenue, Director Prouse
mentioned the only need he can identify at this location is the need for more land for storage and
materials. He does not feel there is an immediate need for equipment. Council Member
Thompson asked if the land would need to be next to the existing shop. Director Prouse stated
more land anywhere would be helpful, but next to the current shop would be the most
convenient. Director Prouse also mentioned his desire to eventually have asphalt around the shop
instead of gravel.
The tour then included Well #3, which was rehabbed in 2010. Director Prouse stated this well
does not run often, just enough to meet the required testing by Department of Environmental
Quality(DEQ). He explained that Wells#2 and#5 are the only wells run during the winter.
The group then visited the older water tank, which is known as Well#2. Mayor Gubler explained
the City had an engineer inspect the tank 10 years ago and they suggested putting a cover over
the top of the roof to extend the life of the tank. Council Member Mann asked what the
remaining life expectancy of this tank is and Director Prouse stated the City was told it would
last another 50-60 years when it was rehabbed 10 years ago. Director Prouse identified future
needs for this tank as adding a redundant power source and upgrading the electrical controls.
The final stop on the tour was the new tank on 49th North, knows as Well #5. Engineer Noel
stated during the testing of this tank, it was pumping 1,000 gallons per minute. Director Prouse
then showed the group where they are currently working to install a fuel tank for the new tank.
The estimated cost was originally $90,000 and they are now estimating it will come in under
budget at approximately$65,000 for all the prep work, concrete, and the fuel tank.
Discussion of Annexation Plans for Green Valley and Nu'R Subdivisions — Mayor Gubler
stated his opinion is to table this discussion until the Area of Impact Agreement is finalized with
Bonneville County. He continued and stated it is on the agenda for the Bonneville County
Planning & Zoning Meeting tomorrow. Clerk West stated the Bonneville County Commissioners
will have it on their agenda in August. Mayor Gubler suggested the City Council hold their
IONA CITY COUNCIL WORK MEETING—JUNE 27, 2023
Public Hearing for approval of the Area of Impact Agreement at the July meeting. Council
President Geray stated he feels it is appropriate to move forward with the discussion of
annexation whether the Area of Impact Agreement has been finalized or not. He continued and
stated these neighborhoods are still hot topics amongst those residents and recommended the
Council continues working on the actual plan to specify the benefits and reasons for annexation.
Mayor Gubler stated he feels the easier path to create contiguity with Green Valley would be the
lots on Iona Road, instead of the Nu'R Subdivision on Crowley Road. Council President Geray
stated regardless of what direction the City decides to attempt annexation, he recommended
moving forward in developing a written Annexation Plan.
Attorney Rawlings stated he has started drafting an Annexation Plan, but he will need some input
from the Council on specifics. Council Member Mann stated he began working on a spreadsheet
to show the tax differences between the various nearby cities and Bonneville County. He
continued and stated he will continue working on it and creating a scenario based on the median
house value in the area. Attorney Rawlings stated there are 5 requirements that need to be
included in the Annexation Plan. He continued and stated one of those requirements is to include
the cost difference between taxes and services in Bonneville County and the City of Iona.
Discussion of Green Space/Park Space Requirements in New Developments —Mayor Gubler
stated the Council has discussed this many times in the past and is currently working on
quantifying green space requirements in new developments. Clerk West had gathered
information from surrounding cities to compare and the Council discussed a few of those
requirements. Attorney Rawlings stated some cities use percentage of total acreage as the matrix
and others use total number of dwelling units. Council Member Thompson stated they could use
similar language as the water system chapter and use the Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU) as the
matrix to determine when and how much green space is required in a new development. Mayor
Gubler agreed with this idea and stated an apartment complex with more residents has a higher
need for green space than a small neighborhood with single family homes. Discussion continued
regarding the benefits and drawbacks of this type of matrix and using a matrix based on number
of lots, total acreage, etc. Clerk West asked if there could be different matrixes used in different
zones. Attorney Rawlings stated that is a possibility also. Clerk West then read aloud the
recommendations from the Planning &Zoning Commission.
Director Prouse pointed out in the drafted ordinance that the green space must be dedicated to the
City upon development. He continued and stated he feels that should be optional if the
neighborhood has an active Homeowners Association (HOA). Attorney Rawlings stated the
difficult part with an HOA park is that they do not have to give public access. Engineer Noel
stated watering the parks can become a difficult topic in HOA parks. Clerk West stated Sunrise
Acres has a park and the residents' HOA fees pay for the watering and all maintenance of the
park. Council Member Wadsworth asked how this would affect a gated community with a park
for their patrons. Attorney Rawlings stated they can do that, but it would not satisfy the
requirement for public green space, as currently written in the draft. Council Member
Wadsworth stated he feels if a gated community has a park that is being paid for and only used
by its own patrons, it should satisfy the requirement for green space.
Council President Geray stated the objective is to require green space and the Code should not
blur lines between public parks that are owned and maintained by the City and private parks that
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IONA CITY COUNCIL WORK MEETING—JUNE 27, 2023
are owned and maintained by an active HOA. He continued and stated those differences and
responsibilities should be defined in the Code. Council Member Wadsworth agreed and stated if
a subdivision has an active HOA that pays to develop, maintain, and retain ownership of their
park, they should be able to keep it private. He continued and stated if the objective is to require
green spaces in subdivisions, a private park should meet that requirement. Council President
Geray agreed and recommended Attorney Rawlings draft those changes to review and discuss at
next month's meeting.
Discussion of Manufactured Home Requirements — Clerk West stated this was discussed at
last month's meeting, but Attorney Rawlings was not present, and the Council had questions for
him. She continued and stated this is regarding the garage/carport requirement in the R-2 Zone.
Council President Geray stated he feels the R-2 Zoning chapter is a "catch all" where anything is
allowed, which makes it difficult to manage requirements for all residential types. He continued
and stated he does not feel it is appropriate to mandate a garage or carport for multi-family
dwellings. However, if a single-family dwelling is built in the R-2 Zone, it should be required to
have a garage or carport, whether it is stick built or a manufactured home. Council Member
Mann suggested restricting manufactured homes from the R-2 Zone. Council President Geray
stated that is an option, but he feels because of the smaller lot size requirements, manufactured
homes are more suitable in the R-2 Zone.
Meeting Adjourned: 6:59 p.m.
COUNCIL APPROVED: July 18, 2023
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Dan Gubler, Mayor
ATTEST:
Keri West, City C erk/Treasu)(31t)—rer
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