HomeMy Public PortalAboutMIN-CC-2018-10-09MOAB CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OCTOBER 9, 2018
Call to Order and Attendance: The Moab City Council held its Regular Meeting on the
above date in the Council Chambers at the Moab City Center, located at 217 East Center Street,
Moab, Utah. A recording of the meeting is archived at http://www.utah.gov/pmn/index.html. In
attendance were Mayor Emily Niehaus, Councilmembers Kalen Jones, Rani Derasary, Mike
Duncan, Tawny Knuteson-Boyd and Karen Guzman -Newton. Also in attendance were City
Manager David Everitt, Recorder/Assistant City Manager Rachel Stenta, City Attorney Chris
McAnany, Deputy Treasurer Chantel Lindsay, Public Works Director Pat Dean, Assistant City
Manager Joel Linares, City Engineer Chuck Williams and Sustainability Director Rosemarie
Russo.
Workshop: Mayor Niehaus called the workshop to order at 6:02 PM. The workshop consisted
of a review of the Agreements and Understandings between the City and Utah State University —
Moab (USU) and the State and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA). Lianna
Etchberger from USU and Troy Herold from SITLA were in attendance. Topics discussed
included the USU campus construction timeline and scope, Millcreek West road construction,
the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City, USU and Grand County, approval
of the project area plan for the Community Reinvestment Agency (CRA) and the SITLA pre -
annexation agreement. Herold mentioned that the development Request for Qualifications
(RFQ) did not have the anticipated response from developers.
The workshop continued with a Water Conservation and Drought Management Advisory Board
Update. Water Board members in attendance included chair Arne Hultquist, Kara Dohrenwend,
Denver Perkins, Kyle Bailey and Jeremy Lynch. Councilmember Duncan also serves on the
board. The Board presented a written report and a handout detailing facts about Moab's water
supply, water rights and demand. Hultquist presented his impressions of Moab's water supply
situation. Discussion included mention of green infrastructure for stormwater management.
Councilmembers asked questions regarding development in view of water supply challenges.
Councilmember Duncan suggested a meeting with Dana Van Horn of the Grand Water and
Sewer Services Agency (GWSSA). Mayor Niehaus suggested that water may be a top priority in
the 2019 administrative work plan.
Regular Meeting: (:59 on recording)
Mayor Niehaus called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:o1 PM and led the Pledge
of Allegiance. Twenty-six members of the public and media were present.
Mayor and Council Reports: Councilmember Derasary reported on a TrailMix meeting she
attended and noted the Travel Council seeks input from the public regarding recent bike events.
Derasary said the recent snow in the mountains will likely diminish further bike activities for the
season and she mentioned the new Courthouse horse camp and the new bathrooms at the BMX
park. Derasary noted the recent joint City and County council meeting she attended and brought
up Transient Room Tax (TRT) funds and the budgets for the City and County. She mentioned
the recent League of Women Voters event which comprised a City update. She said the main
concerns voiced by residents there were RZR (off -road vehicle) noise and the Downtown Plan.
Derasary also noted the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence meeting and
she concluded with a mention that the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) call volume was the
highest for the year.
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October 9, 2018
Councilmember Duncan reported on the joint City and County Council meeting and commented
on the growing local interest in requesting greater latitude for local governments regarding the
disbursement and uses of TRT funds from the state legislature.
Councilmember Knuteson-Boyd mentioned the Faith -Based Coalition meeting she attended and
stated the sewer rates are still a concern. She said she observed local vendors and shoppers
being appreciative of the plastic bag ban.
Councilmember Guzman -Newton reported that the airport would be receiving a $5 million grant
for a taxi way. She noted the Chamber of Commerce would relocate in November. She
mentioned a possible presentation which could be scheduled at a December meeting with
representatives of the Salt Lake Chamber regarding growth expectations for Utah. She said she
attended a workshop to make reusable shopping bags and she expressed interest in presenting
the workshop to schools. She reported her attendance at the state's water conservation open
house and mentioned the local survey. She concluded with a question about a water storage tank
proposed by the consulting engineer.
Councilmember Jones mentioned his work with the Dark Skies committee and noted the
outdoor lighting code was near completion.
Mayor Niehaus mentioned she attended the Pride Festival along with Councilmembers Duncan
and Derasary. She reported on the Indigenous Celebration Day event with the High School's
Native American Club which featured a hoop dancer, and she mentioned her participation with
Councilmember Guzman -Newton in Finance Director interviews. She also brought up the Joint
City and County meeting about the upcoming legislative session and added she spoke to a class
at the middle school. She finished with a mention of a meeting she attended regarding 9-1-1
communications.
Administrative Report: Project Specialist Tallman made a brief report about the ongoing
Manti-La Sal National Forest Planning Process and noted a public input period which began
October 8. She also mentioned the open application period for the Community Contributions
program. City Manager Everitt mentioned progress on nuisance abatement efforts in the City.
Citizens to Be Heard: There were no citizens to be heard. Christy Calvin submitted written
remarks: "I'm concerned about the beginning and ending hours for amplified music and PA
systems which show up in the current draft of the park use policy. I recommend these
guidelines: because of their proximity to residential neighborhoods, any amplification (music or
PA systems) will only be permitted between the hours of 9AM and 7PM at both Swanny and
Rotary Parks; all other parks may have sound permitted between the hours of 7AM and 9PM, at
the discretion of City staff.
"Also, I would like to reiterate that no new or expanded events should be permitted at Swanny
Park until Council and Staff take the time to study and evaluate cumulative impacts on the
surrounding neighborhood. The Swanny Park neighborhood is inundated with too much noise
and too much congestion. Please do something now to preserve our quality of life —don't keep
putting it off! Thank you!"
Presentation:
Students of the Month: Mayor Niehaus awarded the Mayor's Student of the Month Awards
for October 2018 to Eighth Grade Grand County Middle School Student Willow Nichols and
Seventh Grade Grand County Middle School Student Rachael Harrison.
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October 9, 2018
Public Hearings: (1:23 on recording)
Budget Amendment: City Manager Everitt presented an outline of the scope of the proposed
budget amendment. At 7:41 PM, Mayor Niehaus opened a hearing to solicit Public Input on
Proposed Resolution #46-2018 — Amending the Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019.
There were no citizens to be heard. Councilmember Jones moved to close the hearing.
Councilmember Guzman -Newton seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-o aye with
Councilmembers Jones, Derasary, Knuteson-Boyd, Guzman -Newton and Duncan voting aye.
The hearing was closed at 7:43 PM.
Conditional Uses Amendments: City Planner Reinhart, Development Services Manager
Johnson, and City Attorney McAnany presented an overview of the changes made to eliminate
conditional uses in all zones due to new state requirements. At 7:5o PM, Mayor Niehaus opened
a hearing to solicit Public Input on Proposed Ordinance #2018-01 — An Ordinance Amending
Various Sections of Moab Municipal Code Chapter 17 Pertaining to Conditional Uses in All
Zones.
Bob Greenberg stated the City's efforts were fabulous, and he supports removing Bed and
Breakfast establishments from R-1 and R-2. He said he takes issue with some shifts in
definitions because he lives adjacent to high rise buildings and he is concerned with the shift
from families to households primarily because household is not defined. He requested that a
redlined version be made available to the public during the next two weeks.
Jim Englebright stated he lives on Hillside Drive, in a neighborhood with eleven homes
including four bunkhouses which are, in his opinion, employer -owned homes provided for
employee housing. He did not see in the document the proposed definition of households. He
said he had been living with the bunkhouse situation for some time and has observed that the
bunkhouses have six to eight cars at a time. He noted the conditions of the properties have gone
downhill and there are weeds in the yard, tenants are parking on the lawn and the yards have
problems with spilled garbage. He stated there is a need for long-term housing and in his
opinion these residences are different and there is no limit to the number of tenants. He
mentioned that the complaint -driven process for enforcement puts neighbor against neighbor.
He concluded that it would be well for all involved to better define this.
Councilmember Derasary suggested that the definition be read. She clarified that the definition
of households is for all zones. City Attorney McAnany clarified that several definitions were
added to be applied throughout the code. He recited the definition of household as one or more
persons related or unrelated who live in the same dwelling and share meals or living
accommodations and may consist of a single family or some other grouping of people.
Vicki Webster stated she also lives on Hillside Drive. She referred to several letters she had sent
to Council. She expressed her dismay that the properties in her neighborhood that caused
negative impacts were company bunkhouses. She emphasized they are not the same as other
long-term rentals and they constitute a commercial intrusion into the neighborhood; they are an
extension of a business's commercial campus, including storage of company vehicles and
equipment. She said the business bottom line was more important than abiding by the
ordinances that required them to maintain the properties. She noted she had documented that
the landscaping was allowed to die, the garbage piled up and there were excessive vehicles due
to so many occupants. She stated her interest in restricting the number of bunkhouses in the
neighborhood zone. She stated her concern that garbage and landscaping enforcement requires
neighbors to sign formal complaints. She stated we are in a small town which is quite
interdependent with our neighbors and requiring residents to sign a formal complaint in order
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October 9, 2018
for the City to enforce its code is poor public policy. She said it is unacceptable to her that the
City refuses to enforce code violations of which it is well aware. She said a violation is a violation
no matter how it is reported. She suggested a middle ground that would regulate bunkhouses
would be a win -win situation and would prevent them from negatively impacting the otherwise
lovely neighborhood. She concluded by stating the owners have already proven that they won't
do that on their own.
Judy Powers mentioned the work on the code looked good, yet she expressed her concern that
the City is losing its neighborhoods. She expressed support for moving bed and breakfast
establishments out of neighborhoods. She agreed with other comments about man camps and
bunk houses. She stated she understood the change to households because people don't need to
be related to each other. She stated that in these instances there was nobody in charge and
occupants come and go and tenants are not there long-term, making it just as bad as a bed and
breakfast and may be worse since owners of nightly rentals want them to look good and they are
less crowded. She supported protecting the R-2 zone but not R-3 or R-4. She stated the R-2 zone
is already dealing with the impact of bed and breakfasts and out -of -control Airbnb rentals. She
mentioned RZR noise on the streets as well. She mentioned the importance of knowing your
neighbors and she said the bunkhouses were not conducive to knowing the neighbors and would
be worse than nightly rentals. She concluded that there was no one taking responsibility.
Verl Packard stated the proposed definition of household means nothing.
Ann Northrup commented it was her fifth year of concern. She stated R-2 neighborhoods need
to protect the people who live in them. She stated her R-2 home should be a single-family home
unless she wanted to rent her basement. She brought up her concern about individuals who
were parking in one area and mentioned a neighborhood home with so many cars that the
occupants park down the street. She said the current code enforcement was not doing an
adequate -enough job and stressed the impact on her of putting her name on a complaint. She
said she did not believe code enforcement was happening quickly enough or responsibly enough.
She referred to an upcoming GGBY event which would not be fair to anyone in the
neighborhood and stated there was support from her neighbors and asked if she needed to sign
a petition to move forward. She noted there were people walking by her home at all hours of the
night, with lights going on and cars coming in and out and she said it was horrible. She
concluded that the condition of the subject house was unjust to the people of the community
who have been paying taxes for years.
With no further citizens wishing to be heard, Councilmember Jones moved to close the public
hearing. Councilmember Knuteson-Boyd seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-o aye with
Councilmembers Jones, Derasary, Knuteson-Boyd, Guzman -Newton and Duncan voting aye.
Mayor Niehaus closed the hearing at 8:07 PM.
Special Events/Vendors/Beer Licenses:
Electric Light Parade Approved
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Derasary moved to approve Fee Waivers not to exceed
$io,o59.8o for the Electric Light Parade to be held on Saturday, December 1, 2018.
Councilmember Guzman -Newton seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-o aye, with
Councilmembers Derasary, Jones, Knuteson-Boyd, Duncan and Guzman -Newton voting aye.
Old Business: (2:09 on recording)
Revision of City Parks Policies —Discussion
The Mayor, Council and City Manager continued deliberation of revisions to the Parks Policies.
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October 9, 2018
Dogs, sound amplification, special events implications and hours were discussed.
New Business:
City Treasurer Appointment Approved
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Duncan moved to approve Proposed Resolution #48-
2018 - Confirmation of Mayoral Appointment of Statutory Appointee and Authorization to
Execute an Employment Agreement for City Treasurer — Chantel Lindsay. Councilmember
Knuteson-Boyd seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-o aye with Councilmembers Jones,
Derasary, Knuteson-Boyd, Guzman -Newton and Duncan voting aye.
Power House Boundary Line Adjustment Approved
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Derasary moved to approve Proposed Resolution #47-
2018 — A Boundary Line Adjustment for Power House Subdivision Amendment #3 for Property
Located at 110o Sand Flats Road in the RA-1 Zone. Councilmember Guzman -Newton seconded
the motion. The motion passed 5-o aye with Councilmembers Jones, Derasary, Knuteson-Boyd,
Guzman -Newton and Duncan voting aye.
Mill Creek Drive West Extension Contract Approved
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Guzman -Newton moved to approve and award a
construction contract for the Mill Creek Drive West Extension Project to Harrison Field Services
in the amount of $1,935,078.44, subject to bonding. Councilmember Knuteson-Boyd seconded
the motion. The motion passed 5-o aye with Councilmembers Jones, Derasary, Knuteson-Boyd,
Guzman -Newton and Duncan voting aye.
Geologic Hazards Report and Map Adopted
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Duncan moved to approve Proposed Resolution #44-
2018 — Adopting Utah Geological Survey Special Study 162 and the Geologic Hazards of the
Moab Quadrangle Set of 13 Hazard Specific Maps. Councilmember Knuteson-Boyd seconded the
motion. The motion passed 5-o aye with Councilmembers Jones, Derasary, Knuteson-Boyd,
Guzman -Newton and Duncan voting aye.
Community Reinvestment Agency Area Plan —Tabled (2:57 on recording)
Motion and Vote: Councilmember Guzman -Newton moved to table Proposed Ordinance
#2018-21— Adopting the Community Reinvestment Project Area Plan for the South Moab
Community Reinvestment Project Area. Councilmember Derasary seconded the motion. The
motion to table passed 4-1 aye with Councilmembers Derasary, Knuteson-Boyd, Guzman -
Newton and Duncan voting aye and Councilmember Jones voting nay.
Approval of Bills: Councilmember Guzman -Newton moved to approve payment of bills
against the City of Moab in the amount of $772,441.45. Councilmember Knuteson-Boyd
seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-o aye with Councilmembers Jones, Derasary,
Knuteson-Boyd, Guzman -Newton and Duncan voting aye.
Adjournment: Councilmember Derasary moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember
Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-o aye with Councilmembers Jones, Derasary,
Knuteson-Boyd, Guzman -Newton and Duncan voting aye. Mayor Niehaus adjourned the
meeting at 9:06 PM.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
Emily S. Niehaus, Mayor Rachel E. Stenta, City Recorder
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