HomeMy Public PortalAboutCouncil Minutes 2003 09/25MINUTES
McCall City Council
Regular Meeting
Thursday, September 25, 2003
Table of Contents
Call to Order and Roll Call
Public Hearing
Public Comment
Consent Agenda
Business
Reports
Executive Session
Adjournment
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Colton called the regular meeting of the McCall City Council to order at
7:00 p.m. Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, Council Member Muller, and
Council Member Eimers answered roll call. A quorum was present. City staff
members present were City Attorney Susan Buxton, City Manager Robert Strope,
Community Development Director Lindley Kirkpatrick, Golf Course Director Dan
Pillard, and Treasurer & City Clerk Barbara Bauer.
Mayor Colton announced that AB 03-150 Ord. No. 780 (changed to Ord. No. 778)
draft implementing '98 decision re: vacation of Dawson Avenue (VAC-97-1) has
been removed from the Consent Agenda and that there will be no executive
session.
PUBLIC HEARING
At 7:02 p.m., Mayor Colton opened the Public Hearing on Transfer of
Cemetery Deed Ordinance 787
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Mayor Colton asked for public comment on Ordinance 787. There was no public
comment.
At 7:04 p.m., Mayor Colton closed the Public Hearing on Ordinance 787 relating to
the transfer of Cemetery Deed
Mayor Colton moved to suspend the rules, read by title only, one time only,
Ordinance No. 787. Council Member Arp seconded the motion. In a roll call vote,
Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, Council Member Muller, and Council Member
Eimers voted aye. The motion carried.
Ordinance read by title only by City Manager Robert Strope.
Mayor Colton moved to adopt Ordinance 787, authorize the Mayor to sign on
behalf of the Council and direct the City Clerk to publish and record all
documents necessary to complete the transfer of this property. Council Member
Arp seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp,
Council Member Muller, and Council Member Eimers voted aye. The motion
carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Colton called for public comment.
Charles Waters, 613 Floyde Street, requested that after the November 4, 2003
election, the City Council immediately seat the individual with the highest vote
total in the race for the two year Council seat. Mayor Colton stated that the
Council had decided to immediately appoint the non -incumbent candidate with
the highest vote total in the election to the vacant Council seat to serve until the
winning candidates are sworn in January 2004. Staff will research to be sure that
there are no specific reasons to be more specific.
Bill Robertson, 1037 Bitterroot Drive, supports seating the high vote getter
regardless of whether it is for the two or four year term.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council Member Arp requested that the third paragraph on page seven of the
September 11, 2003 minutes be corrected to show that she was expressing an opinion
rather than requesting the economic impact of the grocery exemption.
Mayor Colton moved to approve the Consent Agenda and authorize the Mayor to
sign all necessary documents. Mayor Colton Eimers seconded the motion. In a
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roll call vote, Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, Council Member Muller, and
Council Member Eimers voted aye. The motion carried.
BUSINESS
AB 03-154 : Golf Course RFP
City Manager Robert Strope noted that Council Members had reviewed a draft version
of this RFP and that the changes they provided have been incorporated into this
version, as have actual dates. He noted that there are some links between this item
and Agenda bill 03-152 related to timing and costs. This version of the RFP
incorporates two separate requests from Council to obtain consulting services to review
golf course operations and the economic impact of the golf course on the City of
McCall. The McCall Golf Foundation has committed to provide partial funding for an
economic review. Details of this cost sharing will be determined after proposals are
received. He also suggests that the title of this document be changed to "Request for
Qualifications".
Council Member Eimers feels that an RFP is needed regardless of action that may
occur on proposals for management of the golf course.
Council Member Arp asked if the language regarding the City's right to use any ideas
submitted is common. City Attorney Susan Buxton stated that the language probably
should be revised to note that the information contained in all proposals will become
public record unless it is of proprietary information protected by Idaho law.
Council Member Muller asked whether linking the two diverse areas of study and
expertise would negatively impact the number of responses since the necessary skills
may be very different for an economic benefit study than a golf operations review.
Director of Golf Operations Dan Pillard feels that there are an adequate number of
consultants who can do both.
After providing the council with a document, Director of Golf Operations Pillard stated
his commitment to maintaining City operations of the golf course and asked that he be
allowed to work with other golf industry professionals to prepare and present a review
and five year plan based on the RFP at the November 13 Council meeting. He has
contacted several respected golf industry professionals who would assist with this
process on a volunteer basis and that he and Alan Morrison have begun discussing the
possibility of joining this effort. The process would not delay other Council action but
will provide Council with important new information and that the action he suggests is
very different from his normal Department Head role.
Council Member Muller sees no downside to the process recommended by Dan Pillard.
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Council Member Eimers stated his concern about the problems that need to be solved
at the golf course and expressed appreciation for the creativity this proposal represents.
Council Member Eimers asked whether the changes he proposed in the RFP relating to
a variety of management styles have been incorporated into the RFP language.
Mayor Colton, the more information the city has, the better future decisions will be.
Council Member Eimers would like to be sure that the RFP goes ahead regardless of
any action that may occur on specific proposals.
Mayor Colton moved to approve the RFP subject to legal review and direct staff to
advertise the RFP. Council Member Muller seconded the motion. In a roll call
vote, Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, Council Member Muller, and Council
Member Eimers voted aye. The motion carried.
AB 03-152 Golf Professional Proposal
Robert Strope reviewed the catalyst and timing of this proposal from Allan Morrison. He
noted that he, Dan Pillard and Allan Morrison have not yet been able to schedule time
for a joint discussion of any of the proposals being discussed. He also told the Council
that Dan Pillard would like to submit a competing private proposal. After a cursory
review, City Attorney Susan Buxton believes this type of proposal could be a viable
option for the City, and that further study is needed concerning the current bond
requirements and all other legal ramifications of a long term lease. Staff also needs to
be certain that any agreement includes adequate safeguards to assure the Course is
maintained properly and returned to the City as an improved asset when any contract
ends. Council Members and staff identified a large number of significant issues and
questions that this proposal raises. City Manager Strope clarified that he sees the
recommended action on this item as a request for staff to do a lot of additional and
necessary work to explore the idea of a long term management lease, but none of the
individuals involved should spend time on addressing questions if the Council is not
interested in considering proposals for complete management of the McCall golf
operation.
Allan Morrison, 904 Evergreen says that he will work with staff on any reviews or
information gathering needed, but he made this proposal because he feels it would turn
around a cost drain on the City. He stated that the only way any turn around can work
is if there is an increase in income and the number of rounds played.
Council Member Muller noted that the Council will never consider selling the golf
course. He also stated that this proposal does not have enough information to begin
making any decision, but he is not unwilling to look at the idea of a full management
contract.
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Mayor Colton stated that none of the Council Members were ready to make a decision
on the future of the golf course without a lot of additional information even if a strong
detailed proposal was before them now.
Council Member Eimers raised additional concerns about the tax dollars that have
already been used to support the golf course. He does not feel it is possible to forgive
those dollars and noted that this issue must be addressed in a proposal that the City
looks at seriously.
City Attorney Susan Buxton believes that the review of the process related to the bond
restrictions will be covered by our current retainer. Council Members continued to
discuss the need for more details from Allan before anything can be reviewed.
Mayor Colton feels there needs to be a very specific analysis of how that support has
gone to the golf course and where the money came from.
City Manager Strope feels that it may be necessary to treat review and analysis of a
long-term management proposal as if the City were preparing for a sale of the golf
course in order to identify financial issues raised by the Council, even though there is
no intent to sell the golf course.
City Manager Strope noted that Dan Pillard would also like to submit a competing
proposal. Dan Pillard clarified that he is not involved with Allan's proposal, confirmed
that if it is appropriate, he may submit a personal proposal and pointed out that as
Director of Golf Operations he would take multiple roles in the process.
Mayor Colton stated that the Council will welcome and consider all proposals from any
interested party, not just Dan and Allan. Before the Council will be ready to consider
any specific proposal such as this, they want to get back the information from Dan
Pillard's review, look at the responses to the RFP to determine if any response should
be accepted and review the completed information from any contract.
Jim Staup, 1624 N. Davis Road, asked the Council what the Golf Course is worth and
noted that amounts that were supplied in the past are not accurate. Without setting a
true value on this asset in comparison to the actual amounts that were paid by the City
it is hard to find a workable solution.
Ed Catlett, 1942 Pilgrim Cove Road, noted that the additional values for property being
taxed around the golf course compared to other properties is also part of the value of
the golf course.
In response to a question from Council Member Eimers, City Manager Strope stated
that it is his understanding that if the Council adopts the recommended action as
written, it will give him the direction necessary to cover the range of information
gathering, discussion and evaluation of the City's ability to look at the feasibility of
alternatives as they are identified, including long-term contracts covering all golf
operations with Dan or Allan.
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Council Member Muller moved to direct the staff to work with Mr. Morrison and
Mr. Pillard on draft agreements, direct the City Attorney to evaluate the proposals,
and return with recommendations to Council within 30 days. Mayor Colton
seconded the motion. All members voted aye. Motion passed.
AB 03-144 Nov. 2003 Local Option Tax Ballot Language
Robert Strope reviewed information provided to the Council Members on the ballot
language. Council approved the November 4, 2003 Special Election on the Local
Option Tax at the September 11, 2003 meeting with the exception of the language for
the ballot. Staff incorporated the changes discussed at the meeting and prepared the
attached ballot for approval. There still may be formatting changes needed as the
ballot goes to print, but this request is for approval of the content.
Council Member Eimers wants to include a specific dollar amount of $50,000 per year
for the golf course in item 5 of the ballot language and will not support adoption without
that.
Council Member Arp believes that it is important to let the committee make the
recommendations after appropriate research and community input is obtained. She will
support an advisory ballot only after learning the economic value of the golf course to
the city of McCall.
Council Member Muller stated that he would vote for the local option tax regardless of
tying an amount to the golf course because he believes it is important, but he would be
supportive of the dollar amount for golf.
City Manager Strope requested that if any dollar designation is made for the golf
course, it include modifying language to assure that the first dollars received will be
used for tax and water rate relief rather than golf course support.
Council Member Arp moved to approve the ballot language. Mayor Colton
seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, Mayor Colton, Council Member Arp, and
Council Member Muller voted aye, Council Member Eimers voted no. The motion
carried.
REPORTS
City Manager — Robert Strope
City Manager Strope is making arrangements with Charter Communications to have a
regional management representative at the next council meeting.
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Council Member — Marilyn Arp
Will not be at the next meeting, so other members need to be present for a quorum.
Council Member — Allan Muller
Still waiting for the Recreation department job description requested by Council at a
July budget meeting.
Council Member — Kirk Eimers
August financial statements show more than $200,000 in positive cash position across
all City funds and expressed appreciation of the hard work by Robert and his staff to
keep a positive cash position.
Mayor - Ralph Colton
Volunteers are still encouraged to work in the concession stand
ADJOURNMENT
Without further business, Council Member Eimers moved to adjourn. Council
Member Muller seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye. The
motion carried. The Council adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Ra ph Co on, ayor
ATTEST:
Barbara Bauer, City Clerk & Treasurer
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