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HomeMy Public PortalAboutCouncil Minutes 2001 02/22MINUTES McCall City Council Regular Meeting Thursday, February 22, 2001 Table of Contents Call To Order and Roll Call Public Hearing Public Comment Consent Agenda Business Reports Adjournment Page 1 of 8 February 22, 2001 City Council Minutes CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Muller called the regular meeting of the McCall City Council to order at 7:05 pm. Ms. Arp, Mr. Muller, Mr. Colton, and Mr. Eimers answered roll call. A quorum was present. City staff members present were Attorney Dave Bieter, City Manager Robert Strope and Finance Director/City Clerk Cathleen Koch. Mr. Strope requested Council to pull agenda bills 01-23 and 01-30. He also requested the check for $90 on page 4, account number 10-50-430 be pulled from the warrant register. Council agreed to pull the agenda bills and check. PUBLIC HEARING AB 01-33 Golf Course Fee Increase Mr. Pillard presented the proposed greens fee increase. The committee has estimated that revenues will increase $11,000 to $15,000. Ms. Arp asked why the locker rental fees did not increase. Mr. Pillard explained that lockers are already vacant. The public hearing was opened at 7:08 pm. David Eaton, resident, congratulated the City on deciding to spend money on marketing. Mr. Eaton questioned whether or not people could reserve tee times prior to the date of an event. Mr. Pillard explained that reservations were allowed except during tournaments. Ms. Arp asked if the Golf Course has clear policies for advanced reservations. Mr. Pillard confirmed that the golf course has policies concerning advanced reservations. Council discussed other options, such as a weeklong pass, to generate additional revenues. The public hearing was closed at 7:25 pm. Mr. Colton pointed out that the auditors have suggested a more family friendly golf course. He pointed out that children must rent clubs and pay a fee to ride in golf carts. Mr. Pillard will look into some other program possibilities. Mr. Eimers moved to adopt the recommended rate increase for the 2001 Golf Season. Mr. Colton seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye. The motion carried. Page 2 of 8 February 22, 2001 City Council Minutes PUBLIC COMMENT The Mayor called for public comment. Rick Fereday, resident, spoke in reference to the $8 million funding for the Water Treatment Plant. He pointed out that if the City rolls 2 bonds into 1 and stretches the payments out over 30 to 40 years, the City would pay a lot of money in interest. Mr. Fereday believes the City needs to look into the Golf Course operations more since they were in the "red" $200,000. Mr. Fereday also pointed out that the City is losing revenue from people building in McCall because the hookup rates are so high. The public comment section was closed. CONSENT AGENDA The following items were listed on the consent agenda: • Invoice Approval List Dated February 14, 2001 • Payroll Report for Pay Period Ending February 2, 2001 Mr. Eimers moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Mr. Colton seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye. The motion carried. BUSINESS AB 01-29 Presentation by Spencer Lawley for the Building of a Whitewater Park Mr. Lawley presented his senior project to the Council. He requested Council to consider building the Whitewater Park. Mr. Lawley explained that research grants are available to help pay for the park. Mr. Strope stated that the next step would be to present the information to the Parks Committee to consider any type of action. AB 01-24 VAR-01-1 Requested by May Hardware, Inc. Mr. Kirkpatrick presented the variance application for the May Glass building. The Planning and Zoning Commission found that the variance satisfied the requirements of the code. They recommended granting the variance. Page 3 of 8 February 22, 2001 City Council Minutes Mr. Eimers moved to adopt the draft Findings and Conclusions and approve application VAR-01-1. Ms. Arp seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye. The motion carried. AB 01-25 Resolution 01-03 Supporting an Application to LHTAC for funding of Boydstun Street Improvements Mr. Kirkpatrick presented a request to submit an application for road improvements to the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC). The City of McCall has only a few roads that are eligible for improvements. Boydstun Street is the street that is most in need of improvements. The road will be fully reconstructed. The resolution needs to reflect the total cost of $1,856,048, which will require a local match of $136,234 in fiscal year 2005 or 2006. Once the East/West Loop is complete, Boydstun Street will be a high priority. Ms. Arp moved to adopt Resolution 01-03 and authorize the Mayor to sign the application. Mr. Colton seconded the motion. At a roll call vote, Ms. Arp, Mr. Muller, Mr. Colton and Mr. Eimers voted aye. The motion carried. AB 01-26 VAR-00-7 Requested by Jerry Holowitz Mr. Kirkpatrick presented a variance requested by Mr. Holowitz to construct a detached garage. The Planning and Zoning Commission found that the variance did not satisfy the code requirements and recommended denying the request. No appeal was filed. Mr. Colton moved to adopt the Findings and Conclusions as their own and deny variance application VAR-00-7. Mr. Eimers seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye. The motion carried. AB 01-27 Award of Construction Contract for the Park Street Turnbay Project to Masco, Inc. Mr. Kirkpatrick explained that the City has a cooperative agreement with ITD, which provided $212,000 for improvements between Park Street and Railroad Avenue. $160,000 was appropriated for water and sewer lines. One bid was received in the fall for the project. The City re -advertised and received four bids this time. The low bid was from Masco, Inc. for $288,049.50. There was an irregularity in Masco's bid that did not acknowledge an addendum requiring a specific kind of pipe. However, their bid did include the correct kind of pipe. The City has the right to waive irregularities in the bid. Ms. Arp moved to waive any irregularities in the bid from Masco, Inc. Mr. Eimers seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye. The motion carried. Page 4 of 8 February 22, 2001 City Council Minutes Mr. Colton moved to authorize the Mayor to sign a contract, Notice to Proceed and any other necessary documents with Masco, Inc. for the construction of the Park Street Turnbay Project, in the amount of $288,049.50. Mr. Eimers seconded the motion. At a roll call vote, Mr. Colton, Ms. Arp, Mr. Eimers and Mr. Muller voted aye. The motion carried. AB 01-28 Staffing Options in the Community Development Department Mr. Kirkpatrick presented 3 options to Council for a revised position in the Community Development Department. He pointed out the Assistant Planner/Grant Coordinator seems to make the most sense. The position would be responsible for seeking grant funding opportunities, preparing and administering grants, coordinating with community development activities, and helping to formulate and develop projects. Council pointed out that the position needed to focus on grants versus planning. Mr. Eimers moved to direct staff to change the staffing structure in the Community Development Department to eliminate the part-time grant position and create a full-time assistant planner/grant coordinator position. Mr. Colton seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye. The motion carried. AB 01-20 VAR-00-8 Requested by the Rich Sabala Memorial Foundation Mr. Kirkpatrick presented the variance request that was tabled at the last Council meeting. He explained that the life safety issues appear to be resolvable. The cupolas can probably be permitted at the staff level if the life safety issues are resolved. Mr. Colton moved to adopt the draft Findings and Conclusions and deny variance application VAR-00-8. Mr. Eimers seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye. The motion carried, Mr. Millemann spoke to Council stating that a variance is not required for the cupolas because it is an architectural feature and it is not inhabited. AB 01-32 Tree Ordinance No. 749 Mr. Pillard explained that the tree ordinance would aid the City in acquiring grants. He noted some minor changes that need to be made to the ordinance. The standard appeal process needs to be added to the ordinance and the City Clerk needs to issues any permits. Mr. Muller moved to suspend the rules, read by title only, the first reading only Ordinance No. 749. Ms. Arp seconded the motion. At a roll call vote, Mr. Colton, Ms. Arp, Mr. Muller and Mr. Eimers voted aye. The motion carried. Page 5 of 8 February 22, 2001 City Council Minutes AB 01-31 J-Ditch Completion Mr. Strope explained that the City has terminated the contractor on the J-Ditch Project. He requested the Council to empower him to negotiate an agreement with the Surety for the completion of the J-Ditch Project in order to be proactive. The Surety still has not made any decision on the completion of the project, but the City has provided them with an acceptable list of contractors and a scope of work to complete. They have also been provided a list of funds available less the liquidated funds. Mr. Strope stated that he is operating under the assumption that the Surety will step up to the project. Mr. Bieter explained that the Surety has 14 days once the time limit has been triggered in order to step up to their obligation. Ms. Arp moved to direct the City Manager, in consultation with legal staff and JUB, to negotiate an agreement for the completion of the J-Ditch Project that does not include the use of St. Clair Contractors or any entity with significant ties to St. Clair Contractors other than selective use of sub -contractors that have already been used on the project. Mr. Eimers seconded the motion. At a roll call vote, Mr. Muller, Mr. Eimers, Mr. Colton and Ms. Arp voted aye. The motion carried. REPORTS City Manager — Robert Strope The City should have a resolution in 30 days on the judicial confirmation. The process for obtaining an engineer for the water treatment plant has already begun. Mr. Eimers asked when the City would begin putting together a financial package. Mr. Strope explained that when the judicial confirmation is complete, the financial package would begin to be processed. City Attorney — Dave Bieter None. Finance Director/City Clerk — Cathleen Koch Caselle will be sending an independent consultant, at their expense, to try and determine why the City is having difficulties with their software. She explained that the consultant has researched problems for other cities and found that it was a software issue in many cases. Page 6 of 8 February 22, 2001 City Council Minutes Director of Golf & Parks Operation — Dan Pillard The Golf Course Pro Shop Contractors feel they have been singled out because of the newspaper articles. Mr. Pillard will be drafting a response to explain the issues at the golf course. Mr. Strope explained that a committee would be formed to evaluate the golf course operations. Ms. Koch will be staff on the committee and Mr. Colton may want to be on the committee. Police Chief — Steve Wolf Mr. Wolf addressed the overtime issue due to the statement at the last Council meeting that overtime must be controlled, not just explained. He explained that overtime was addressed in 1994 and 1998 in a Field Force Deployment Plan. Mr. Wolf also noted that the police department could control shift coverage and training overtime, but they cannot control officers being called out or court appearances that cause overtime. Mr. Eimers stated that the current rate of overtime is about 1 patrol car per year. City Councilor — Marilyn Arp Ms. Arp asked about the letter from the Pancake House. It is tentatively scheduled for the March 8th agenda. City Councilor — Ralph Colton Mr. Colton asked for an update on the fire department building. Mr. Strope explained the original agreement included a provision that the City would either buy or sell the building, which was supposed to allow them to move forward. Now they would like an agreement so they can secure the lowest possible financing rate immediately. City Councilor — Kirk Eimers None. City Councilor — Mayor Muller None. Ms. Arp asked if the City should enter into executive session for a contract employee. Mr. Bieter stated that the category is broad enough for the issue to be heard as a personnel session. Richard Roats stated that he did not care and the public may want to know the information that is discussed. Mr. Roats presented an RFP to Council. He explained that his current contract is month to month. He pointed out that he is a member, taxpayer and homeowner in the community. He could have increased his fees, but chooses to provide a tax break to Page 7 of 8 February 22, 2001 City Council Minutes the community because it helps him as well as everybody else. Mr. Roats is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Mr. Muller said that Valley County does not want Mr. Roats working as the City Prosecutor. Mr. Roats explained that state statute allows a part-time prosecutor to have a civil practice. Mr. Muller also addressed a letter sent from Judge Williamson concerning Mr. Roats' contract with the City because it may pose a conflict in certain cases. He pointed out that since she is no longer the judge, it might not be an issue. Mr. Roats felt that his being local was an asset. Mr. Muller went on to address the problems with Mr. Roats and the police department. Mr. Roats stated that there have been recent "ripples", but he thought they were resolved. Mr. Wolf stated that he is fully prepared to work with Richard in any fashion. Mr. Roats discussed 2 concerns since the RFP was published. The first issue concerned a letter from another attorney raising a false allegation. Mr. Roats spoke to the attorney who wrote the letter and said that he was surprised Mr. Roats was still speaking to him. The other issue concerned training of the officers. Mr. Roats said that he would be holding training meetings during the officer's patrol meetings. ADJOURNMENT Without further business, Mr. Eimers moved to adjourn. Mr. Colton seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye. The motion carried. The Council adjourned at 9:55 pm. Ilan Muller, Mayor ATTEST: l aL Ca hleen A. Koch, Finance Director/City Clerk Page 8 of 8 February 22, 2001 City Council Minutes