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HomeMy Public PortalAboutCouncil Minutes 2004 09/09MINUTES McCall City Council Regular Meeting Thursday, September 9, 2004 Table of Contents Call to Order and Roll Call Pledge of Allegiance Public Hearing Public Comment Consent Agenda • Payment Approval List for Warrant Registers for input dates between 8/20/04 and 9/3/04 • Payment Approval List for Warrant Registers for input dates between 9/9/04 and 9/9/04 • Payroll Report for Pay Period Ending August 27, 2004 • AB 04-144 Broken Ridge Subdivision Final Plat • AB 04-145 Alcohol Beverage License Change • AB 04-146 New Contract with Credit Data Idaho, Inc. • AB 04-147 Community Transportation Enhancement grant for Rotary Park • Contract with Metlife for Dental Insurance services • Contract with APS Healthcare Northwest for the Employee Assistance Program Reports Executive Session Adjournment CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Eimers called the regular meeting of the McCall City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Eimers, Council Member Bertram, Council Member Greer, and Council Member Muller answered roll call. Council Member Robertson was excused. A quorum was present. City staff members present were City Manager/Community Development Director Lindley Kirkpatrick, Police Chief Ralph Appa, and City Clerk Dan Irwin. Mayor Eimers led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. Printed 10/29/2004 Page 1 of 6 September 9, 2004 City Council Minutes PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Eimers called for public comment. Duane Smith, 321 Rio Vista, stated that the Police Department never allowed him to present his side of the case or apologized to him after he was arrested for a false accusation. He believes that no public official has the right to ask a volunteer committee member to resign. He would like to see the Police Department become more friendly towards business owners in the community. He stated that the business community supports the community through donations and contributions, and he doesn't like to see any business owner threatened or treated the way Louie Howard has been. He stated that the City Council is the boss and he wants to see something done. Council Member Bertram stated that of all the agenda items at City Council meetings she likes the public comment section the best. She likes to hear what people have to say about the community. She feels that she did a great disservice two weeks ago when she didn't step up and ask Mr. Hatcher to discontinue his comments. She apologized to Louie Howard for what happened at the meeting and not stopping it. She wanted to go on record that she wouldn't sit in her seat and allow such comments to occur again. She stated that she doesn't support Mr. Appa's comments and believes it meant something different than what he says it does. She stated that Department Heads don't have the right to ask volunteers to resign from committee positions. Mayor Eimers stated that the public shouldn't be allowed to attack other people during the public comment period, and he should have stopped Mr. Hatcher's comments in the prior meeting. Council Member Muller stated that anybody that makes accusations such as was heard at the last meeting needs to have some support and documentation. He doesn't think the public should be allowed to attack anyone, including Council, and that personalities should be left out of all discussions. He needs to hear all sides of the issues in order to make informed decision. He stated that everyone has the right to an open forum, but it needs to be done in a proper fashion. Louie Howard, 718 Chad Loop, stated that after leaving the City Council last week, he placed a for sale sign on his business because he was disgusted at the community. He stated that McCall is a tourist community and rolling up the sidewalks at 9:00 is bullshit. City Manager Kirkpatrick stated that Mr. Howard's comments and demeanor represent what the Council had just stated they didn't want happening in the Printed 10/29/2004 Page 2 of 6 September 9, 2004 City Council Minutes public comment period. Council Member Muller agreed that the comment was out of line and that people need to conduct themselves in a calm fashion. Hearing no further comments, Mayor Eimers closed the public comment at 7:15 p.m. CONSENT AGENDA City Manager Lindley Kirkpatrick brought to the attention of the City Council that an additional item to the warrant register was placed on the consent agenda. He explained that it was for the purchase of a used car that will serve as a replacement for a vehicle previously used by the Parks and Recreation department. Council Member Bertram inquired about the two payments in regards to the golf contract. City Manager Kirkpatrick stated that since the $150,000 revenue number had been reached, Allan had requested that the next payment be advanced two weeks early. Council Member Muller moved to approve the Consent Agenda and authorize the Mayor to sign all necessary documents. Mayor Eimers seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, Mayor Eimers, Council Member Bertram, Council Member Greer, and Council Member Muller voted aye. The motion carried. REPORTS City Manager Lindley Kirkpatrick invited Council to attend a meeting on affordable housing with himself and the City Clerk on Monday. He explained that the County Commissioners are looking at implementing a county wide affordable housing program. Council Member Bonnie Bertram stated that the WICAP director is going to give an update on September 15th regarding the affordable housing that will be established on the lots in the city. City Manager Kirkpatrick reported that four people had been interviewed for the new Community Development position. He had extended a conditional offer to one of the candidates who will make a decision by Monday. Mayor Eimers asked how the background check process worked. City Manager Kirkpatrick stated that after determining the right candidate, a private service is contracted to perform a civil and criminal check, a credit check, and a reference check that is independent of the one he does. He stated that all four candidates have resort Printed 10/29/2004 Page 3 of 6 September 9, 2004 City Council Minutes town experience in addition to supervising staff and managing a workload larger than McCall's. He explained that the candidates had dinner with Council Members, lunch with staff, and met with members of the community to get a feel for the working environment. City Manager Kirkpatrick stated that at the last Council meeting a BID award was given to complete the construction of the drain and fill lines for the water project. He stated that because of timing they can't pay for the project with money from the DEQ loan. He stated that the City now plans to re -bid the project next year rather than trying to fund the project alone. He hopes that in re -bidding the project, the City will get a better price and be able to utilize money from DEQ loan. Police Chief Ralph Appa gave an update regarding the Council's directive to explore the city's problem with downtown parking. He stated that volunteer members of the police auxiliary surveyed downtown business owners who overwhelmingly indicated they were opposed to parking meters. He stated that the auxiliary members are now surveying where signs should be placed. In order to enforce parking violations, additional signage needs to be placed to provide adequate notification of parking requirements. Council Member Bertram stated that she would prefer that decorative signs be purchased for the placement around the City. Mayor Eimers concurred that the department should spend money to make the signs look good and make them ascetically nice. Council Member Greer stated that it was important for the signs to be in place in order to make it legal for enforcement. Police Chief Appa stated that it is the department's goal to eventually have the auxiliary members trained to assist in enforcing parking requirements. They have attended hours of training and were utilized during the first week of school to keep traffic moving around the elementary school. He also reported that the department will host a town hall police meeting on September 21 st. Experts from the Idaho State Police Department will be there to present discussions on recent hot button issues such as DUI and drug enforcement tactics. The Chief stated that the meeting will also open up a public input forum to receive comments about how the department performs their jobs. Ray Alford recommended that 12 inch candles be placed in front of the Hotel McCall during the summer months to deter drivers from making an illegal left turn. He also recommended not placing parking signs on the corners, as many drivers may not see them. Council Member Muller stated that he continues to receive complaints about a business operating on Lick Creek Road. He also received concerns during the improvement committee about a business on Noll Street that presents an unsightly environment around the residential neighborhood. He stated that he Printed 10/29/2004 Page 4 of 6 September 9, 2004 City Council Minutes has no problems with somebody operating a business, but would hope that somebody could work with business owner to make it more presentable. Council Member Bertram inquired when Planning and Zoning was going to complete the process to put some teeth in the zoning ordinance. City Manager Kirkpatrick stated that Planning and Zoning had been working diligently to complete code revisions which include nuisance abatement and enforcement provisions. Council Member Bertram requested that the final plat approval recommendations in the consent agenda provide a brief synopsis about where the development is located and any challenges faced in the process. Council Member Greer asked if the City was clear from any liability from the abandoned sewer line that McCall Real Estate was hooked up to. City Manager Kirkpatrick stated that the contractor has been paid and the pipe has been capped on both ends. He stated that when such a problem arises, it is standard practice to abandon the pipe in place. The claim has been resubmitted to ICRMP, and we are waiting to hear back. Mayor Eimers stated that he received a letter from a member in the community complaining that the produce sold at the farmers market competes with items sold at Paul's and other businesses in the community. All Council Members agreed that the Farmer's Market was a benefit to the community. City Manager Kirkpatrick stated that the individual recanted his concerns in another letter sent a few weeks later. Mayor Eimers stated that he received a letter from Kooskia asking the City of McCall to join in a lawsuit regarding water rights. All Council Members agreed not to participate in the lawsuit. Mayor Eimers stated that he received a letter from an organization informing them of National Plant the Promise Week. The project entails planting red tulip bulbs in public places to represent a drug free community. City Manager Kirkpatrick stated that he would approach Brock Heasley and see if he could plant tulips somewhere in the community as a show of support for the project. EXECUTIVE SESSION At 8:07 p.m., Mayor Eimers moved to go into executive session per Idaho Code 67-2345(1f) and 67-2345(1b) to consider pending litigation and personnel matters. Council Member Muller seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, Council Member Printed 10/29/2004 Page 5 of 6 September 9, 2004 City Council Minutes Bertram, Council Member Greer, Council Member Muller, and Mayor Eimers voted aye. The motion carried. At 9:49 p.m., Mayor Eimers moved to come out of executive session. Council Member Greer seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, Council Member Bertram, Council Member Muller, Council Member Greer, and Mayor Eimers voted aye. The motion carried. ADJOURNMENT Without further business, Mayor Eimers adjourned the meeting at 9:50 p.m. Kirk L. Eimers, Mayor ATTEST: Dan Irwin, City Clerk Printed 10/29/2004 Page 6 of 6 September 9, 2004 City Council Minutes