HomeMy Public PortalAboutCouncil Minutes 2004 02/12MINUTES
McCall City Council
Regular Meeting
Thursday, February 12, 2004
Table of Contents
Call to Order and Roll Call
Public Comment
Consent Agenda
• Minutes of January 15, 2004, January 22, 2004, February 5, 2004
• Payment Approval List for Warrant Registers printed on February 5, 2004
• Payroll Report for Pay Period Ending January 16, 2004 and January 30, 2004
• AB 04-12 Alcohol Beverage Catering Permits
• AB 04-20 Holladay Engineering Pay Application No. 10, Preliminary Engineering, Four
Corners Project
Business
• AB 04-22 Remodel of office space for McCall Parks & Recreation and Airport
• AB 04-23 Council Contingency Loan to Golf Fund
• AB 04-18 McCall City Council Committee Assignments
• AB 04-21 Resolution 04-01, Public Hearing Notice, Judicial Confirmation of Ordinary &
Necessary Notice
Executive Session
Reports
Adjournment
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Eimers called the regular meeting of the McCall City Council to order at
7:03 p.m. Mayor Eimers, Council Member Bertram, Council Member Greer,
Council Member Muller, and Council Member Robertson answered roll call. A
quorum was present. City staff members present were City Attorney Susan
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Buxton, City Manager/City Clerk Robert Strope, Police Chief Ralph Appa, and
Parks and Recreation Director Brock Heasley
City Manager Strope requested the addition of an executive session for pending
litigation be added to the agenda, without objection the Council added the
executive session.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Eimers called for public comment.
Chief Appa thanked the City Council for their support and leadership regarding the
Foresters Club situation.
Jerry McCauley, representing the Airport Advisory Committee, provided the City Council
a letter in opposition to using airport budget funds for improving office space to be used
by the Parks and Recreation Department and Airport Manager as contained in AB 04-
22. The AAC expressed in the letter concern about the security of federal funding. Mr.
McCauley stated the AAC wanted to make sure that the airport receives income in the
form of rent from the Parks and Recreation Department and that the situation is
temporary, not permanent. He also stated the AAC would prefer the airport department
funds be used for other airport related expenses.
The Council requested the staff consult with the FAA regarding the potential impacts on
grant assurances if the request were to be approved.
The Council expressed interest in the history of the situation, the Parks and Recreation
Department requirements, and the long range plan for relocating the Parks and
Recreation Department.
Mr. Strope gave the Council an overview of the history of the co -location of the two
departments and recommended removing the agenda item from the consent agenda.
Council agreed to move it to the first business item.
CONSENT AGENDA
Members of the Council provided editorial corrections to the draft minutes which Mr.
Strope will make prior to the Mayor signing them.
Members of the Council inquired about Cobra payments, the purpose of a training
expense for Mr. Keating, and Franchise Fee payments to the Sabala Foundation in the
payment approvals. Mr. Strope provided satisfactory explanations for all inquiries.
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Council Member Robertson asked about the fuel purchases at Chevron and Council
discussed the merits of seeking competitive bids or purchasing storage tanks.
City Attorney Susan Buxton stated she would like to confirm that the current practice is
in compliance with bidding requirements, something she had done in the past but
wanted to revisit based on the inquiry.
Council Member Muller moved to approve the Consent Agenda as amended.
Mayor Eimers seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, Mayor Eimers, Council
Member Greer, Council Member Muller, and Council Member Robertson voted
aye, Council Member Bertram abstained. The motion carried.
BUSINESS
AB 04-22 Remodel of office space for McCall Parks & Recreation and Airport
Councilmember Robertson moved to approve the award of the job to Winston
Yeast Construction and authorize the City Manager to sign the agreement when
finalized. Councilmember Greer seconded the motion.
The Council continued the discussion regarding the remodel of the space. Mr. Strope
explained that the project would be jointly funded by the two departments and that
when the Parks and Recreation Department moved out, the airport would retain the
improvements at no cost. He stated that they planned to begin paying funds from the
Parks and Recreation Department to the Airport Department to help pay for utilities as
well as to help pay for the space being used. He stated there currently is not another
location that can support the office requirements for the Parks and Recreation
Department. He explained that the two department heads requested the project and
felt it was an appropriate expenditure.
The Council expressed a desire to have the Airport Advisory Committee support the
improvements before making a decision.
Mr. Strope requested the Council allow the staff to prepare additional information
regarding the project when the Airport Manager returned from vacation.
Council Member Robertson called for a vote on his motion, all Council Members
voted no, the motion failed.
In conjunction with the discussion of the airport agenda bill, the Council and staff
discussed the snow removal situation at the airport. Council Member Robertson stated
that he had attended the most recent Airport Advisory Committee meeting and the
subject of snow removal was discussed.
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Mr. Strope, who also attended the AAC meeting, stated that Mr. Dan Scott had
expressed concerns regarding the condition of the airport and the loss of revenues
related to jets not being willing to land. Mr. Strope provided Council with an overview of
the situation, including a discussion of the difficulty in hiring snow plow operators and
the fact that the new Airport Manager was experiencing his first McCall winter. Mr.
Strope stated that the short term solution was to ask Public Works to help get the
airport caught up —something they did the day after the AAC meeting and committed to
continuing to have Public Works provide assistance this year if needed. He went on to
discuss a more long-term solution to the joint problem of hiring qualified operators for
both the Airport and Public Works, which would be to transform current part-time
positions doing multiple functions in three departments over the course of a year into
two full-time positions that would do those functions, but would receive benefits,
allowing for more continuity.
The potential for contracting out the snow removal was also discussed and will be
evaluated by staff as a possible option.
The desire to change the snow removal standards as advocated by Mr. Scott would be
a matter for the AAC to review and make recommendations to the Council. An increase
in the standard requiring removal at more frequent intervals or to a higher (less snow on
the ground) standard would require additional funding.
AB 04-23 Council Contingency Loan to Golf Fund
Mr. Strope summarized the discussion held by the City Council at their previous
meeting on the golf course and stated that he had discussed with Council Member
Robertson the idea of a Golf Action Team comprised of two Council Members, the City
Manager, Director of Golf Operations, and contract Golf Professional to work on a plan
to resolve the concerns regarding the golf operation. Subsequent to that discussion,
Mr. Strope revised the agenda bill to include the Golf Action Team.
The Council discussed the merits of an action team as a temporary measure that would
be useful in working on the situation, particularly determining the use of the $25,000 in
funds from the General Fund. Given the City Manager will be attending a trial for a
crucial six weeks beginning in March, this was seen as a good way to help resolve the
concerns.
Council Member Bertram expressed a desire to use surplus General Fund dollars as
opposed to the Council contingency to fund the recommended $25,000 loan to the
course. After discussion, the Council concurred.
Mr. Strope stated that it would be important to have the City Attorney meet with the Golf
Action Team to discuss boundaries relating to actions involving personnel, contract, or
other issues based on the form of government and existing relationships. The Council
concurred.
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Council Member Muller moved to transfer $25,000 from the General Fund Surplus
as a loan to the Golf Fund to be used as determined by the Golf Management
Team and to endorse the Golf Management Team concept and designate Council
Members Bertram and Robertson as members of the team. Council Member
Robertson seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye, the motion
carried.
AB 04-18 McCall City Council Committee Assignments
The City Council reviewed the current assignments and selected the following
individuals to serve as liaisons between the Council and the Council Advisory
Committees and/or boards: Council Member Bertram: Urban Renewal Agency and
Upper Payette River Economic Development; Council Member Eimers: Big Payette
Lake Water Quality Council; Council Member Greer: Parks and Recreation, and Urban
Renewal Agency; Council Member Muller: McCall Improvement and Transportation;
Council Member Robertson: Airport, Golf, Sage Board of Directors. The Council did
not designate liaisons for the Tree or Police Advisory Committees, nor for Historic
Preservation. The Council retained Mr. Strope and Mr. Spaulding as the VALUED
representatives and Mr. Strope as the liaison for the newly formed Youth Action
Council. Council had designated Mr. Strope as the Sage representative if it did not
require an elected official, Council Member Robertson if it did. (following the meeting it
was discovered it must be an elected official)
Mr. Strope stated that a concurrent action would be for staff to develop a standard
charter for the committees outlining the duties of advisory committees as primarily one
of providing the City Council with policy recommendations. The committees are also
available to provide assistance to the related City departments, assist in budget
recommendations, and provide input to the department head.
Council Member Eimers moved to assign the Council liaisons as determined.
Council Member Robertson seconded the motion. All Council Members voted
aye, the motion carried.
AB 04-21 Resolution 04-01, Public Hearing Notice, Judicial Confirmation of
Ordinary & Necessary Notice
Mr. Strope explained that the only action request of Council was to set the public
hearing and that at that time there would be more detailed information regarding the
project.
Council Member Muller moved to pass Resolution 04-01 and authorize the Mayor
to sign. Mayor Eimers seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, Mayor Eimers,
Council Member Bertram, Council Member Greer, Council Member Muller, and
Council Member Robertson voted aye. The motion carried.
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EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 8:50, Council Member Muller moved to go into Executive Session per Idaho
Code Sections 67-2345 if and c to consider pending litigation and a personnel
matter. Mayor Eimers seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, Mayor Eimers,
Council Member Bertram, Council Member Greer, Council Member Muller, and
Council Member Robertson voted aye. The motion carried.
At 9:45, Mayor Eimers moved to come out of executive session. Council Member
Muller seconded the motion. Mayor Eimers, Council Member Bertram, Council
Member Greer, Council member Muller, and Council Member Robertson voted
aye. The motion carried.
The discussion concerned pending litigation and a personnel matter.
REPORTS
City Manager/City Clerk — Robert Strope
Mr. Strope stated the City was one of five in Idaho to be recognized by DEQ for
excellence in drinking water treatment and he would draft a letter for the Mayor to sign
commending the treatment personnel.
Mr. Strope discussed the newly formed Youth Advisory Council and stated that he
would be working with the group until they are better organized. They met with a similar
group from the City of Caldwell that came up under a grant through AIC to provide
training for your youth. He is going to take our YAC to Caldwell in March for additional
training and ultimately would like to have a member of the Council work with them.
Council Member Greer expressed an interest in doing so.
Mayor — Kirk Eimers
Mayor Eimers stated that he was not sure what, if any, promises were made when the
City annexed Rio Vista, but felt it was important to use some of the existing surplus to
make improvements at this time. He stated that he often hears about things that were
promised and never happened.
Mr. Strope mentioned that he had heard similar statements regarding Carico
Subdivision in regard to paving of streets.
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The Council discussed the importance of making good on any promises that might be
made for future annexation.
Mr. Strope recommended that any annexation include a Council Resolution stating the
specific actions Council would intend to take so that there would be a clear record of
those promises.
Mayor Eimers stated that the Pilgrim Cove water service extension is an example of a
service that would be promised as part of annexation as presented by staff during the
recent workshop.
Mr. Strope stated that while paving is what is most often cited in Rio Vista, sewer was
also frequently cited and that he was meeting with staff on a potential sewer system
improvement that might be a good candidate for the funds being discussed.
Mayor Eimers moved to direct the Staff to develop a plan to do approximately
$150,000 of high priority projects such as paving or sewer in Rio Vista. Council
Member Muller seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye. The
motion carried.
Council Member — Allan Muller
Council Member Muller asked to see a time line for the drain fill lines for the water
storage tank to make sure the roads are not paved in Aspen Ridge before they are
installed. Mr. Strope stated that the design was being completed by the City Engineer
and they would provide the information to the Council.
Council Member Muller stated he wanted to see the job description for the Parks and
Recreation Director so he could compare what the Recreation Supervisor did in relation
to the Recreation Director. He stated he had asked for that before. Mr. Strope stated
that he believed the request had been for the Recreation Supervisor job description and
stated he would get the Parks and Recreation Director descriptions to Council Member
Muller.
Council Member — Bonnie Bertram
Council Member Bertram asked for a list of City owned properties that could be used as
building lots. She stated a desire to find a way to provide additional affordable housing
in McCall.
Council Member Bertram asked if there was a way to require an impact fee or some
other mechanism to create affordable housing as part of a development approval.
Mr. Strope stated he would consult with the City Attorney and advise.
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The Council expressed an interest in a program to increase affordable housing in
McCall.
The Council discussed the status of the P&Z Commission's progress on higher density
designations. Mr. Salmon of the Star News stated that he had attended the last P&Z
meeting and that the higher density would be part of the larger discussion regarding
zoning changes —that the expedited items were the height requirement, churches, and
storage buildings. The Council expressed an interest in revising the higher density
designations.
Council Member — Bill Robertson
Council Member Robertson asked when it would be appropriate to revisit the existing
ordinances for alcoholic beverages in regard to providing for a wider range of options
for violations. Providing an appropriate mechanism so that both the city and the bar will
have an indication as to warnings leading up to how far away the bar is from not being
renewed by the city upon license renewal time.
Mr. Strope stated it could be done at this time.
Council Member Robertson asked to have the Recreation van dug out from the snow.
Council Member Robertson asked if Helen Spaulding could come to the City Council to
tell the Council about her project. All members of the Council indicated they would like
to have her attend. Mr. Strope indicated he would contact her to schedule a
presentation.
Mayor Eimers moved to direct the City Manager to draft a letter to the Police
Advisory Committee requesting the PAC review the existing ordinances on
alcoholic beverages and draft a recommended revision. Council Member Bertram
seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye. The motion carried.
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ADJOURNMENT
Without further business, Council Member Muller moved to adjourn. Mayor
Eimers seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye. The motion
carried. The Council adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
14AA4C4:,
Kirk L. Eimers, Mayor
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