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HomeMy Public PortalAboutCouncil Minutes 1999 09/23CITY OF MC CALL MINUTES Regular Meeting City of McCall Thursday - September 23 , 1999 Table Of Contents Call To Order And Roll Call Public Hearing — Sewer Rates Public Comment Consent Agenda Business AB 99-89 J-Ditch AB 99-84 Out Of Town Representation AB 99-85 Legal Service Contract AB 99-86 1998-1999 Budget AB 99-87 Appointment of City Clerk and Deputy City Clerk AB 99-88 Cost of Living Adjustment Reports Adjournment Minutes Sept 23.doc Page 1 of 7 MINUTES `Call To Order I The regular meeting of the McCall City Council was called to order by Mayor Eimers at 7:00 p.m. Ms. Arp, Mr. Colton, Mr. Eimers, Mr. Muller, and Mr. Venable answered roll call. A quorum was present. City staffs present were City Manager Bill Robertson, City Attorney Dave Bieter, and Assistant to the City Manager, Consuelo Blake. Public Hearing AB 99-81 Sewer Rates Mr. Robertson outlined past and projected revenues, discussing net operating expenses, fund revenues, and capital expenditures. The proposed increase would be $6.00 per user, increasing the current monthly rate of $18.50 per user to $24.50 per user. Connection fees would also increase by 10%. January to February of 2001 was the targeted time to start the payback for the J-Ditch loan from DEQ, another rate increase would be required to pay the loan. Michael Anderson wanted to clarify that interest was NOT accruing on the DEQ loan. Mr. Robertson reported that it was not accruing. Covey Ruyle inquired about the terms of the loan. Mr. Robertson informed that it was approximately 20 years, which is estimated to be $4.00 per million on loan per household. Mr. Eimers asked when the rates would go into effect? Bill Robertson stated that the rates would be effective October 1, 1999 for bills due November 1, 1999. Ms. Arp moved to increase sewer rates $6.00 per month per household and to set new connection charges at $2,915 effective October 1, 1999. Mr. Muller seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Public Comment No Comments Minutes Sept 23.doc Page 2 of 7 !Consent Agenda o Minutes of September 9, 1999 — Regular Meeting were approved as amended. All other consent agenda items approved as submitted IBusiness I AB 99-89 J-Ditch Mr. Robertson reported on the progress of the J-Ditch issue since last presentation by the Citizens Committee to the council. He asked council to approve the plan, negotiation agreements, a voluntary temporary suspension of sewer connections in lieu of outside agencies imposing a mandatory moratorium on the city with recommendation to PLWSD to do the same, and authorization of Mayor Eimers to sign all necessary agreements. Mr. Robertson recommended continuing negotiations with JUB on the conditions that: • JUB agree to accept a payment of $124,500 from the city in settlement of prior disputes and JUB drops lawsuit against the city • JUB agree to drop their lawsuits and/or issues against DEQ and BOR • City to work closely with PLWSD and the subgroup of the Citizens Committee . JUB will cooperate in good faith with any agency request for independent geotech work Steve Milkman, M Resorts, wanted to go on record as being a team player. He gave public thanks to the Council and to Ted Whiteman, Mike Anderson, Scott Findlay, and Don Green. Additional thanks went to Bill Robertson on this plan and his openness for input to the plan. He also wanted to go on record that JUB's conditions are reasonable and that M Resorts supports the plan vocally and will do all to support its implementation. He believes it is the right plan for the City and recommended the Council endorse it. Mike Anderson, McCall resident, offered his unreserved support for the plan on behalf of himself and the others members of the Citizen's Committee. Ted Whiteman, McCall resident and Manager of Payette Lakes Water & Sewer District, stated that he was ready to roll up his sleeves and help the City accomplish the goals for this project. Don Green, McCall resident, stated that he was at the meeting to show his support, work with all involved, and cooperate. Dottie Moore, McCall resident, stated that she hopes the plan goes. Minutes Sept 23.doc Page 3 of 7 Discussion: Mayor Eimers moved to separate the issues: plan approval versus the voluntary suspension of sewer hookups. Council member Colton disagreed and believed it is all one issue. Discussion continued but prevailing opinion was in favor of non -separation. At this time Steve Milliman wished to go on record stating that the voluntary suspension is a good faith statement and believed this is the right course. However, be forewarned, he stated, that if improvements continue, then cooperation from the council would be expected for the hookup suspension to be lifted. Council member Venable was in the negative and believed the hookup suspension should be a separate issue. Council member Muller reinforced the issues for acceptance and compliance verifying that all would be looked at (i.e.: EA's, FONSI's BOR funds, HazMat, geotech work, etc.) and wanted to be sure that all these issues are well covered with involvement of our own legal staff. Bill Robertson affirmed. Eimers believed the geotech decisions were to be left to JUB to deal with fairhandedly. Robertson confirmed. Colton put forth the motion to support the plan as proposed by Bill Robertson and the committee, to support steps to negotiate to bring the J-Ditch matter to a conclusion and to authorize Mayor Eimers to sign all agreements. Eimers seconds. Arp wanted to maintain that the steering committee's involvement be continued and asked who would speak as to guarantees. Bill Robertson affirmed the steering committee's continued involvement. Mr. Robertson went on to clarify the guarantee issue re: x amount of gallons. The bottom line was that the city will need to wait until closer to the bid deadlines for more accurate estimates, that there is no set volume commitment at this time, and that all previous numbers were estimates, not guarantees. Mike Anderson spoke to confirm that there is no guarantee of volume at this time, and that the concept we need to grasp is that once the engineers have reviewed all, that they could then project volume and bring the project in at budget at that number. Gallonage was never their intention at this stage. The council then voted. Venable voted nay. Arp, Colton, Eimers, Muller all vote aye. The motion carried. AB 99-84 Out Of Town Representation Dave Eaton, President of Brundage Mountain Air and McCall resident wished to present his new organization, Out of Town Owners Organization (OOTO), to the City Council. This is an organization developed to inform non-resident property holders of the "goings-on" in the town of McCall and to better inform these people of rate increases and other city government issues. The purpose of OOTO is to keep these "part-time residents" involved and informed and to provide an open channel of goodwill when it comes time to seek their support. Minutes Sept 23.doc Page 4of7 Council wished to affirm Chamber of Commerce involvement and supported the new organization. AB 99-85 Legal Service Contract Bill Robertson presented AB99-85, which was the renewal of the current City Prosecutor, Richard Roats, contract and called for Acting Police Chief Chris Moore to speak. Mr. Moore spoke in support of contract renewal stating Mr. Roats countywide service and that he considered the contract a positive situation. City Attorney, Dave Bieter questions the liability/benefit carrier for Mr. Roats and sought approval of the contract pending further investigation and negotiation of where liability stands. Council member Colton moved to approve agreement with fiat to liability and authorize Mayor Eimers to sign all agreements. Muller seconded. All council members vote aye. The motion carried. AB 99-86 1998-1999 Budget Ashley Royal, City Treasurer, presented the 1998-1999 budget. The attachment was presented and reviewed for the council highlighting changes such as the increased sewer fund appropriation and major impact zones. Bill Robertson stated that there were no surprises in this budget. Council member Arp moved to accept/approve Ordinance Number 734 and to suspend the rules to read by title only, one reading only. Colton seconded the motion. All council members vote aye. The motion carried. Ashley Royal read the Ordinance by title only. AB 99-87 Appointment of City Clerk and Deputy City Clerk Bill Robertson, City Manager, defined the need for dual roles within the city management system; it is legal for the title of City Clerk to be bestowed upon another. With the resignation of former City Clerk, Cherry Woodbury, McCall was left without a City Clerk. Cathleen Koch, has accepted the position as Deputy City Clerk, but will not be able to assume her duties until Oct. 8t. Mr. Robertson then proposed to appoint himself to the role of City Clerk until another department head is available to take on the responsibility. He reaffirmed that there would be no pay raise associated with this move and that it was definitely a temporary situation Minutes Sept 23.doc Page 5 of 7 Council member Eimers motioned to adopt/approve the proposal to appoint City Manager Bill Robertson temporarily as City Clerk and Cathleen Koch as Deputy City Clerk. Muller seconds the motion. All council members voted aye. The motion carried. AB 99-88 Cost of Living Adjustment Bill Robertson made a presentation to the council to adopt a 2.1 % cost of living increase for this upcoming fiscal year. This number is based on the national Consumer Price Index and had been budgeted for. It is not based on merit and equates to an annual $32,600 increase in funds dispersal across the board and would go into effect Oct. 2, 1999 for all city employees. Council member Colton motioned to adopt the cost of living increase. Muller seconded the motion. All council members voted aye. The motion carried. IReports o Bill Robertson reported on the City Manager's Office. He presented Lindley Kirkpatrick, City Planner, and Consuelo Blake, Assistant to the City Manager, as new hires in his department. Also, he stated that the new Deputy City Clerk, Cathleen Koch, would be at the Oct. 14th City Council Meeting as official minute taker. Weekly meetings concerning the McCall Beautification Project would continue under Mr. Kirkpatrick's supervision. Mr. Robertson also stated that Chris Moore was doing a fine job as Acting Police Chief and the city would be accepting applications for the position of Police Chief until Sept. 30, 1999. Advertisements for this position appeared in the local press as well as the Idaho Statesman. Dave Bieter presented the City's Legal Report. He stated that there were no lawsuits against the City from former City Manager, Brian Olsen. A status conference via telephone involving M Resorts and concerning the J-Ditch issue has been scheduled for Oct. 10th via telephone. Mr. Bieter will also follow up on the "Torte" claim reference and the Udell easement situation. Ashley Royal presented the City's Treasury Report focusing on late fees on water and sewer collections; delinquencies are decreasing. Chris Moore presented a report on the Police Department. The 3`d Citizens Academy has been quite a success. Minutes Sept 23.doc Page 6 of 7 Council member Marilyn Arp stated that she would not be available for the next Council meeting and has left her calendar with Bill Robertson's office. She also presented the 1999 Annual Ida -Ore Report to be copied and distributed to the rest of the council. Kirk Eimers had concerns regarding possible Y2K problems in the Public Works sector. Mr. Robertson stated that our lift stations should be fine since they are not date based processing chips but analog based chips. Adjournment 9:25 all move to adjourn....all agree! Kirk Eimers, Mayor ATTEST: Bill Robertson, City Cler Minutes Sept 23.doc Page 7 of 7