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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 Printed 2/27/2004 Page 1 of 9 February 12, 2004 City Council Minutes 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. Printed 2/27/2004 Page 2 of 9 February 12, 2004 City Council Minutes 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. Printed 2/27/2004 Page 3 of 9 February 12, 2004 City Council Minutes 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. Printed 2/27/2004 Page 4 of 9 February 12, 2004 City Council Minutes 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. Printed 2/27/2004 Page 5 of 9 February 12, 2004 City Council Minutes 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. Printed 2/27/2004 Page 6 of 9 February 12, 2004 City Council Minutes 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. Printed 2/27/2004 Page 7 of 9 February 12, 2004 City Council Minutes 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. Printed 2/27/2004 Page 8 of 9 February 12, 2004 City Council Minutes 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 ATTEST: nion, K ./ry C,`)�� Printed 2/27/2004 Page 9 of 9 February 12, 2004 City Council Minutes