HomeMy Public PortalAboutCouncil Minutes 2003 12/11MINUTES
McCall City Council
Regular Meeting
Thursday, December 11, 2003
Table of Contents
Call to Order and Roll Call
Public Comment
Consent Agenda
• Minutes of November 13, 2003
• Payment Approval List for Warrant Registers printed on December 5, 2003 and
December 8, 2003
• Payroll Report for Pay Period Ending November 21, 2003 (Payroll Report for Pay
Period Ending December 5, 2003 was added at the meeting.)
• AB 03-179 Alcohol Beverage Catering Permits
• AB 03-181 Holladay Engineering Pay App. No. 8 Four Corners Project
• AB 03-182 Fund Transfer for Library gifts
Business
• AB 03-176 Syringa Drive Reconstruction Project
• AB 03-177 Charter Communications Presentation
• AB 03-186 Snowmobile Law Enforcement Issues
• AB 03-180 Mutual Aid Agreement — Valley County
• AB 03-173 Mutual Aid Agreement — City of Cascade
• AB 03-172 Police Chaplain Program
• AB 03-184 Potential Annexation Areas
• AB 03-183 Golf RFQ Responses
• AB 03-175 City Ordinance on Pool and Billiards
• AB 03-174 Council Confirmation of City Manager's appointment of Department
Head
• AB 03-178 Alcohol Beverage License Renewals
Reports
• Department Head Reports as of December 8, 2003
• Police Department Summary of November 1-30, 2003
• Airport Advisory Committee Minutes of October 1 and 28, 2003
• McCall Public Library Board of Trustees Minutes of September 18, 2003
• Police Advisory Committee Minutes of October 14, 2003
Page 1 of 8
December 11, 2003
City Council Minutes
" T r a n s p o r t a t i o n A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e M i n u t e s o f N o v e m b e r 5 , 2 0 0 3
A d j o u r n m e n t
C A L L T O O R D E R A N D R O L L C A L L
M a y o r C o l t o n c a l l e d t h e r e g u l a r m e e t i n g o f t h e M c C a l l C i t y C o u n c i l t o o r d e r a t
7 : 0 5 p . m . M a y o r C o l t o n , C o u n c i l M e m b e r A r p , C o u n c i l M e m b e r B e r t r a m , C o u n c i l
M e m b e r E i m e r s , a n d C o u n c i l M e m b e r M u l l e r a n s w e r e d r o l l c a l l . A q u o r u m w a s
p r e s e n t . C i t y s t a f f m e m b e r s p r e s e n t w e r e C i t y A t t o r n e y S u s a n B u x t o n , C i t y
M a n a g e r / C i t y C l e r k R o b e r t S t r o p e , C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t D i r e c t o r L i n d l e y
K i r k p a t r i c k , P o l i c e C h i e f R a l p h A p p a , D i r e c t o r o f G o l f O p e r a t i o n s D a n P i l l a r d , a n d
A c t i n g T r e a s u r e r A m a n d a T o w n s e n d .
D u r i n g t h e m e e t i n g , t w o b r e a k s w e r e t a k e n . O n e f r o m 8 : 2 5 p m t o 8 : 3 5 p m a n d o n e
f r o m 1 0 : 2 0 p m t o 1 0 : 2 5 p m .
P U B L I C C O M M E N T
M a y o r C o l t o n a n n o u n c e d t h a t t h e r e w o u l d b e a n e x e c u t i v e s e s s i o n a t t h e e n d o f
t h e m e e t i n g , t h a t c o n s e n t i t e m A B 0 3 - 1 7 8 A l c o h o l B e v e r a g e L i c e n s e R e n e w a l s
w o u l d b e m o v e d t o t h e e n d o f t h e B u s i n e s s A g e n d a , a n d t h a t B u s i n e s s i t e m A B
0 3 - 1 7 7 C h a r t e r C o m m u n i c a t i o n s P r e s e n t a t i o n w o u l d b e i n s e r t e d i n t o t h e
B u s i n e s s A g e n d a u p o n t h e i r a r r i v a l .
M a y o r C o l t o n c a l l e d f o r p u b l i c c o m m e n t .
B i l l R o b e r t s o n o f M c C a l l c o m m e n t e d t h a t M c C a l l s h o u l d b e m o r e f e s t i v e d u r i n g t h e
h o l i d a y s e a s o n w i t h m o r e l i g h t s a n d d e c o r a t i o n s .
W i t h n o f u r t h e r c o m m e n t , M a y o r C o l t o n c l o s e d t h e P u b l i c C o m m e n t s e c t i o n o f
t h e A g e n d a .
C O N S E N T A G E N D A
C o u n c i l M e m b e r B e r t r a m r e q u e s t e d t h a t t h e w o r d i n g o f h e r c o m m e n t s o n p a g e f o u r o f
t h e N o v e m b e r 1 3 , 2 0 0 3 m i n u t e s b e c h a n g e d t o b e t t e r r e f l e c t h e r c o m m e n t s . C i t y
M a n a g e r S t r o p e s t a t e d h e w o u l d m a k e t h e a d j u s t m e n t .
P a g e 2 o f 8
D e c e m b e r 1 1 , 2 0 0 3
C i t y C o u n c i l M i n u t e s
Council Member Arp asked for confirmation that the two checks written to McCall
Optimist Club on page eight of the Warrant Register by Department were not
duplicates.
City Manager Strope confirmed that they were separate items.
Council Member Eimers moved to approve the Consent Agenda as amended.
Mayor Colton seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye. The motion
carried.
BUSINESS
AB 03-176 Syringa Drive Reconstruction Project
City Engineer Vern Brewer summarized information concerning the Syringa Project,
referring to the October Public meeting, the fact that construction was done according
to City Codes, and that after looking at costs his recommendation is to retain the work
done as is.
Shirley Potter of Syringa Drive, McCall, presented several points in reference to Vern
Brewer's letter to the City dated November 6, 2003. Points included the belief that the
residents should have been included in the planning stages to address their concerns
before the construction plans were finalized; that swales would be a better option as
they allow people to get out of harm's way; that ditches in some areas are too deep and
that side walls in some areas are too steep; that the borrow sidewalls should be
reseeded; and that drainage was not a problem in the past, so residents had the
expectation that the road would stay the same as it was.
Vern Brewer presented the Council with pictures taken in the spring of 2001 showing
the road coming apart, and with standing water. He pointed out that the former sewer
lines were not up to code, and that the street did not accurately follow the right of way,
and that these concerns were part of the considerations in planning.
Council Member Bertram noted that the City has changed the look of the neighborhood,
that borrow ditches are not conducive to the neighborhood, and asked if there were
other alternatives.
Mr. Brewer said that in the future he would recommend that residents be notified and
included in the planning stage. He also said that changes would be costly and would
change the longevity of the road, but that the Council has the prerogative to revisit the
design.
Mr. Strope asked Mr. Brewer about the cost of doing studies about drainage and life
expectancy of roads, and stated possible sources of funding.
Page 3 of 8
December 11, 2003
City Council Minutes
Council Member Bertram suggested doing a study and taking the funds out of the
Council Contingency Fund.
Council Member Bertram moved to direct the City Engineer to conduct the study,
not to exceed eight thousand dollars, to be funded from the Council Contingency
Fund as discussed. Council Member Eimers seconded the motion. Council
Members Arp, Bertram, Eimers, and Muller voted aye. Mayor Colton abstained.
The motion carried.
AB 03-177 Charter Communications Presentation
City Manager Robert Strope introduced Carla Roberts and Randy Rice from Charter
Communications to address the issue of poor cable reception in McCall.
Concerns expressed from Council included Charter Communications seeming lack of
help with problems, and access to cable only within city limits.
Ms. Roberts presented the City Manager with letters from the stations in Boise and said
that KIVI is working to provide a better signal.
Mr. Rice explained that the quality of signals delivered to him determine the quality
delivered to consumers. They are working with channels from Boise to try to improve
incoming signals. He suggested that receiving signals from more distant providers or
by different means would be cost prohibitive and would not provide local channels to
McCall. Charter is looking for other solutions within their ability to pay.
As this was simply a presentation, there was no recommended action.
AB 03-186 Snowmobile Law Enforcement Issues
Police Chief Appa referred to the memo and supporting documents attached to AB 03-
186 Snowmobile Law Enforcement Issues. He pointed out that there was not any issue
until complaints started coming in about trespassing and vandalism.
Jim Hinson of McCall said that the new enforcement of the ordinance has prevented
residents access to trails unless they trailer their snowmobiles, and it is unclear where
they are allowed to go.
Mr. Mayfield of McCall pointed out that circumstances have changed in the seven years
since the ordinance went into effect. Previous access roads are unusable with
increased traffic and plowing, that the wording of the ordinance is unclear, and that
enforcing the five access points listed are not in tune with the original intent of the
ordinance.
Page 4 of 8
December 11, 2003
City Council Minutes
City Attorney Buxton stated that the City could not implement a moratorium on the
ordinance and stated that the enforcement action to prohibit travel on Bear Basin Road
was not a new closure and that the police department's interpretation of the ordinance
was reasonable.
Extensive discussion of the subject followed, to include a statement by Randy Swick of
the Forest Service that the Forest Service would be closing Bear Basin Road to
snowmobile traffic.
City Manager Strope recommended that he work with the Snowmobile Club in
conjunction with the Forest Service to develop a specific recommendation regarding the
ordinance and then present the Council with their recommendations.
AB 03-180 Mutual Aid Agreement — Valley County
AB 03-173 Mutual Aid Agreement — City of Cascade
Police Chief Ralph Appa stated that these agreements are just formalizing and defining
a practice that is already in place.
Council Member Eimers moved to approve the Mutual Aid agreements and
authorize the Mayor and the Chief of Police to sign all necessary documents.
Council Member Muller seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye.
The motion carried.
AB 03-172 Police Chaplain Program
Dave Fields stated that he is offering his services to the McCall Police Department as
Police Chaplain to provide spiritual services to the department and to the community,
and that he will be attending ISP Chaplain training.
Council Member Arp expressed concern about overstepping the separation of church
and state, and about a chaplain imposing his beliefs on the community without being
asked.
Attorney Susan Buxton requested a copy of the ISP training information so she could
determine whether a Police Chaplain position in McCall would in fact honor the
separation of church and state
Council Member Eimers moved to endorse the Chaplain Program as presented
contingent to Attorney Buxton's approval. Council Members Bertram and Muller
seconded the motion. Council Members Bertram, Eimers and Muller voted aye.
Mayor Colton and Council Member Arp voted nay. The motion carried.
Page 5 of 8
December 11, 2003
City Council Minutes
AB 03-184 Potential Annexation Areas
Community Development Director Lindley Kirkpatrick said that the staff has completed
a preliminary review of annexation potential. It appears that some annexation may be
appropriate — providing a benefit to the newly annexed areas and a benefit to the City.
Because of the complexities of the issues and the recent election of new City Council
Members, a special Council work session in January would be the most effective way to
gather information, give a framework for annexation, and present recommendations.
He suggests meeting at 6:00 pm prior to the McCall City Council Meeting on either
January 8 or January 22, 2004. It was agreed to schedule the work session on January
22, 2004 at 6:00 pm.
AB 03-183 Golf RFQ Responses
City Manager Robert Strope stated that the golf issue was a complex issue, and that
time would be needed to present the RFQ's and to discuss the golf situation. The debt
can be re -funded in October of 2004, and the city has two options. One is to keep the
same term and with higher interest rates the debt service would increase. The second
option is to extend the term to ten years from seven years which would reduce the debt
service payment. He recommends that a workshop be set up for January 2004.
AB 03-175 City Ordinance on Pool and Billiards
City Manager Robert Strope stated that in 1981 the City Council adopted an ordinance
requiring an annual license for pool tables, to include a $10.00 fee. Staff cannot find
any evidence of recent enforcement of the ordinance. There are several businesses in
McCall that currently have pool tables in use that should be licensed and are not.
There are two options: begin enforcing the ordinance and collecting the fees or rescind
the ordinance. It would not create a significant additional workload to begin issuing the
licenses and collecting the fees, as it can be done in conjunction with the annual
business license renewals, however the staff does not feel there is any significant public
benefit to requiring a license for pool tables.
Council Member Arp moved to direct staff to take steps to repeal the ordinance
on pool and billiard tables. Council Member Eimers seconded the motion. All
Council Members voted aye. The motion carried.
AB 03-174 Council Confirmation of City Manager's appointment of Department
Head
City Manager Robert Strope stated that Amanda Townsend has accepted a conditional
offer of promotion to Treasurer, contingent on Council confirmation
Page 6 of 8
December 11, 2003
City Council Minutes
Council Member Eimers moved to confirm the City Manager's appointment of
Amanda Townsend as Treasurer. Mayor Colton seconded the motion. All
Council Members voted aye. The motion carried.
AB 03-178 Alcohol Beverage License Renewals
Council Member Muller moved to approve the issuance of all Alcohol Beverage
Licenses listed contingent of all approvals being obtained from the State, County,
and Police Department. Council Member Eimers seconded the motion. Council
Members Arp, Colton, Eimers, and Muller voted aye. Council Member Bertram
abstained. The motion carried.
REPORTS
City Manager/City Clerk — Robert Strope
City Manager Robert Strope referenced a letter about the City drinking water.
Mr. Strope announced that there would be a work session on Zoning Code Changes on
Thursday January 15, 2004 with the City Council, McCall Planning and Zoning, the
County Commissioners, and the County P & Z.
Mr. Strope also suggested that the Council have work sessions every Thursday in
January since there are so many topics to be addressed prior to the J-Ditch trial in
February.
Council Member — Bonnie Bertram
Council Member Bertram stated that she would not be present at the January 8, 2004
City Council meeting to be sworn in for her four year term. It was decided that she
could take part in the meeting by phone.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 11:OOp.m., Council Member Eimers moved to go into executive session per
Idaho Code 67-2345(1f) to consider threatened and pending litigation. Mayor
Colton seconded the motion. The staff recommended Mr. Greer and Mr.
Robertson join the Council in the executive session given their status as Council
Page 7 of 8
December 11, 2003
City Council Minutes
Members -Elect. The Council concurred. In a roll call vote, Council Member
Bertram, Council Member Arp, Mayor Colton, Council Member Muller, and Council
Member Eimers voted aye. The motion carried.
The discussion concerned pending litigation.
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 11:20 p.m.
Ralph Colton-, Mayor
�yte.., b
ATTEST:
Robert Strode. City Jerk
Robert Strope, City Jerk
Page 8 of 8
December 11, 2003
City Council Minutes