HomeMy Public PortalAboutMIN-CC-2020-04-16
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April 16, 2020
MOAB CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
APRIL 16, 2020
The Moab City Council held its Special City Council Meeting on the above date. Per Executive
Order 2020-5 issued by Governor Gary R. Herbert on March 18, 2020, this meeting was
conducted electronically. An anchor location was not provided. An audio recording of the
meeting is archived at http://www.utah.gov/pmn/index.html. A video recording is archived at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L2Arc9rh0M.
Special Meeting—Call to Order and Attendance: Mayor Niehaus called the Special City
Council Meeting to order at 1:02 PM. Participating remotely were Councilmembers Tawny
Knuteson-Boyd, Kalen Jones, Karen Guzman-Newton, Mike Duncan, and Rani Derasary. City
staff participating remotely were City Manager Joel Linares, Assistant City Manager Carly
Castle, City Attorney Laurie Simonson, Finance Director Klint York, and City Recorder Sommar
Johnson.
Resolution 23 -2020: A Resolution Appointing Four (4) People to Serve as
Members of the Arches Hotspot Region Coordinating Committee—Approved with
modification
Discussion: Mayor Niehaus opened the discussion. Councilmember Guzman-Newton asked
how the Council will select the four candidates to be on the committee. Councilmember Jones
said it was suggested at the last regular Council meeting that three members could come from
the Council and one member could come from the public. He said one of the concerns regarding
the original process was the lack of public involvement; however, given the short time frame and
the goals of the committee, the responsibility will fall on City Councilmembers. He said that,
hopefully, by having the meetings broadcasted and minutes taken, the public will be more
involved in this process. He said he has been working on ideas for the fourth member of the
committee, but he would appreciate more time to find someone for Council to consider that is
qualified, thoughtful, and able to commit to the full time period.
Councilmember Derasary requested clarification regarding the timeline for the committee.
Assistant City Manager Castle said it is an ambitious, rigorous schedule. She said UDOT wants a
narrowed list of what the committee will be focusing on by the end of April. She said
Communications and Engagement Director Church is creating a website and will release a
survey tomorrow to receive input from the public about the eleven potential projects and allow
the public to offer new project ideas. She anticipated having the results of the survey available
for the first committee meeting. She said that some of the projects on the list will be eliminated
by the committee because they are not feasible. She said the West and East Parking Structures
will probably not be chosen as committee priorities. She said dispersed parking has been
discussed several times, but it has been difficult to accomplish. She said the bypass corridor is
not feasible given UDOT’s funding capacity. She believes the list can be narrowed quickly, and
the broader discussion will involve the proposed projects by the public or committee members.
She said the City will try to get as much public engagement as possible over the short time
period, and Communications and Engagement Director Church will present a public
engagement plan at the next meeting.
Councilmember Derasary asked if the survey will provide details regarding each project on the
list. She asked if the list should be shortened prior to the survey and committee meeting, since
certain items are clearly not feasible. Assistant City Manager Castle said the list should not be
edited so the public can participate in the entire process.
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April 16, 2020
Councilmember Guzman-Newton requested confirmation that the survey results will be ready
for the first committee meeting. Assistant City Manager Castle clarified that some of the
information will be available, but it will not be complete until the second meeting.
Councilmember Guzman-Newton asked if the survey should be released after the first meeting
when the list has been narrowed. City Manager Linares said the purpose is to expand public
engagement in this process.
Mayor Niehaus asked which councilmembers were interested in serving on this committee.
Councilmembers Jones, Duncan, and Guzman-Newton indicated interest. Councilmember
Derasary offered assistance to compile the information received from the survey.
Councilmember Duncan said there are some people being considered for the fourth position on
the committee, but none of them have been contacted yet. He volunteered to reach out to the
potential candidates to verify the level of interest and qualifications. Councilmember Guzman-
Newton said the fourth member needs to be decided by Monday or Tuesday. Councilmember
Jones said he supports both Councilmember Duncan’s and Guzman-Newton’s suggestions.
Councilmember Derasary said the fourth person needs to look at the timeline when they commit
to being part of the committee.
Motion: Councilmember Jones moved to approve Resolution 23-2020 confirming the
appointment of Mike Duncan, Karen Guzman-Newton, and Kalen Jones as members of the
committee for the Arches Hotspot Region Coordinating Committee to serve throughout the
committee’s duration as currently codified in Ordinance 2020-11 to expire on April 14, 2021,
and to appoint the fourth position at a meeting on Monday or Tuesday. Councilmember
Guzman-Newton seconded the motion.
Discussion: Councilmember Guzman-Newton asked if potential fourth members should be
discussed. Mayor Niehaus said it is Council’s decision if they want to discuss names now. She
said the people could be contacted and encouraged to email the Council if they want to be
considered as the fourth committee member. She said that will provide a list of people to choose
from at the meeting on Monday or Tuesday. Councilmember Knuteson-Boyd said it is unwise to
discuss names before the people have been contacted. Councilmember Guzman-Newton said
that she has contacted the people she would like to nominate. Mayor Niehaus asked
Councilmember Guzman-Newton about the email idea. Councilmember Guzman-Newton
agreed with the idea because it may generate more potential candidates. Councilmember
Derasary suggested that the names and the nature of their interest be included. Councilmember
Duncan said the list of candidates should include their level of interest and qualifications. Mayor
Niehaus suggested that Council reconvene on Monday so the four decided committee members
can be shared with the County prior to the County’s meeting on Tuesday.
Vote: The motion passed 5-0 with Councilmembers Guzman-Newton, Knuteson-Boyd,
Derasary, Jones, and Duncan voting aye in a roll call vote.
Resolution 24-2020: A Resolution Appointing Six (6) People to Serve as Members
of the Southeastern Utah Regional Transportation Plan Stakeholders Group—
Tabled
Discussion: City Manager Linares said this agenda item is not under the same time constraint
as the first agenda item, and it can be decided later. Councilmember Derasary asked if the
County will also appoint six members to this group. City Manager Linares said this group is
managed by UDOT, who gave the City six spots and the County six spots on the committee.
Councilmember Derasary inquired how often this group will meet. City Manager Linares said
the guidance he has received is the group will meet once every two months for a time period of
ten months. Councilmember Derasary asked if some of the same councilmembers elected to the
Arches Hotspot Committee can take part in this group as well. City Manager Linares said this is
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April 16, 2020
a different process which will lay out potential projects for UDOT over the next couple decades.
Mayor Niehaus inquired if the meetings for this group will be noticed. City Manager Linares said
these are internal group working meetings, not public ones. He said this is an information
providing group. Councilmember Guzman-Newton asked if City staff members could be part of
this group. City Manager Linares said it would be appropriate to have staff on this group.
Councilmember Guzman-Newton asked if staff members have been approached to join this
group yet. City Manager Linares said discussions have occurred and staff would be expected to
participate as part of their job descriptions.
Mayor Niehaus requested City Manager Linares submit via email the suggested staff members.
Mayor Niehaus then asked Council if any of them would like to be on this committee.
Councilmember Knuteson-Boyd said that it could create a conflict of interest with her job.
Councilmembers Jones and Guzman-Newton indicated interest. Mayor Niehaus said that she is
interested in being part of this committee. City Manager Linares said that Councilmember
Knuteson-Boyd could provide insight regarding what the City and County needs, and he does
not believe it would create a conflict of interest. He said that he could investigate that concern
and have answers by the next meeting. Councilmember Knuteson-Boyd said she would ask her
boss as well.
Councilmember Derasary asked if the region included Spanish Valley/San Juan County, because
they should have representation too. City Manager Linares said that he would clarify with UDOT
how far the region goes. Councilmember Derasary asked how the potential candidates’ names
will be gathered. Mayor Niehaus said that City Manager Linares will email the suggested staff
members and the rest of the group will probably consist of the councilmembers that expressed
interest today.
Mayor Niehaus asked Councilmembers Jones, Guzman-Newton, and Duncan if the survey for
the Arches Hotspot Committee should be released before the first committee meeting or after.
Councilmembers Jones and Guzman-Newton said the survey should be released after the first
meeting because the list needs to have the unfeasible options removed first. Councilmember
Duncan said they had a good point. Mayor Niehaus said the survey would be released after the
first committee meeting.
Motion: Councilmember Jones moved to table Resolution 24-2020 until our meeting next
Monday at 1 PM. Councilmember Guzman-Newton seconded the motion.
Vote: The motion passed 5-0 with Councilmembers Knuteson-Boyd, Guzman-Newton, Jones,
Duncan, and Derasary voting aye in a roll call vote.
Adjournment: Councilmember Duncan moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember
Guzman-Newton seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mayor Niehaus
adjourned the meeting at 1:38 PM.
APPROVED: __________________ ATTEST: ___________________
Emily S. Niehaus, Mayor Sommar Johnson, City Recorder