REGULAR MEETING – JUNE 7, 2010
Regular Meeting – Transact Routine Business
| Mayor Barnhart called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with roll call as follows:
PRESENT: Barnhart COUNCIL: Karper, Petersen, Plevel, Reikofski, Shepard. ABSENT: Bates
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ROLL CALL |
| Also present were City Manager Shaw, Deputy Clerk Ott, City Attorney Breck, Police Chief Perry and Fire Chief Hagen.
Pledge of Allegiance |
PLEDGE |
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
| Karper made motion to approve the agenda as presented, second by Plevel. Motion carried unanimously, with Bates absent.
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AGENDA
APPROVAL |
CONSENT AGENDA:
| Plevel made motion to approve the consent agenda as listed with Mayor Barnhart noting the finance committee reviewed claims and found no exceptions, and amendment of May 24, 2010 Workshop Minutes, second by Reikofski. Motion carried with Council voting as follows: AYES: Barnhart, Karper, Petersen, Plevel, Reikofski, Shepard NOES: None. ABSENT: Bates. |
CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL |
| A. Approval of Claims $295,564.55 6/7/10
B. Approval of Payroll Claims $69,233.05 5/28/10 C. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes May 17, 2010 Approval of Workshop Meeting Minutes May 24, 2010 D. Approval of Judge’s Absence per City Policy E. Approval of ITSD Agreement and authorize City Manager to sign. F. Approval of 2010 Swim Team Agreement and authorize City Manager to sign. G. Approval of American Electric, City Hall Electrical Project, Change Order #2 and authorize City Manager to sign. H. Adoption of Job Description – Police Department Office Assistant and authorize City Manager to advertise job opening.
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BID OPENINGS/NOTICES/AWARDS – None.
| VISITORS/PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Mayor Barnhart asked for comments from the audience on items not on the agenda. 1. Bill Kuka, 280 4th Ave. E.N. addressed the Council on recent crime in his neighborhood, including burglary and vandalism. His boat, parked in the alley, was vandalized as well as a four-wheeler. He has installed a motion light to deter further vandalism. 2. Stephanie Larkin, 270 4th Ave. E.N., neighbor to Bill Kuka, also addressed the Council on crime in the area. She expressed concern about an increase in insurance premiums due to the burglaries and vandalism. Councilman Shepard requested that Council discuss the issue during Mayor & Council comments. |
VISITORS/PUBLIC COMMENT |
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
| A. Mayor Barnhart read Notice of Hearing June 21, 2010 to rescind Ordinance #659 – Building Permit Fees and establish fees by Resolution.
Manager Shaw noted in Agenda Item 9 C. that Council may decide not to change fees but it made sense to leave the public notice to change the adoption of the fees from an Ordinance to a Resolution. Council concurred. |
RESOLUTIONS & ORDINANCES:
| Mayor Barnhart read the first paragraph of Resolution #1590 – Amending Certain Fees for the Use of the City’s Pool. Manager Shaw reported that the Finance Director reviewed the costs of holding parties and the current fees being charged resulted in a loss to the pool operations. Additionally, pool standards adopted by the State in March of this year require one lifeguard for every 2,000 sq ft of pool, thereby requiring 3 lifeguards on deck anytime the entire pool is open. Previously, depending on the size of the party, the Pool Manager scheduled parties with 2 lifeguards. The recommended fee of $125 covers just the cost of staffing a party and no other operational costs. Previously, the cost was $50 plus $1/participant for a two-hour party. Mayor Barnhart expressed concern over raising the fee, fearing that no one would use the facility. Councilman Shepard noted that other venues, such as Wave or Summit, cost more to use. Councilman Karper noted that the taxpayers should not subsidize staffing of private parties. Karper made motion to approve; second by Plevel. Motion carried with Council voting as follows: AYES: Karper, Petersen, Plevel, Reikofski, Shepard NOES: Barnhart ABSENT: Bates. Mayor Barnhart requested that the staffing regulation issue be raised at the Fall League conference. | RESOLUTION 1590 – POOL PARTY FEES
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None.
NEW BUSINESS:
| A. Approval of Revised Wildcat Estates Subdivision Improvement Agreement and Authorize City Manager to sign. Manager Shaw reported that the City approved allowing the developer to put in the sidewalk after the structures were being built. The east-side structures have not been built and the City requested a new SIA and bond to cover installing that portion. Building has not begun on the east-side of the street at this time. Councilman Plevel expressed concern over the delay of the sidewalk being built as residents within the development have a right to have sidewalks. Council discussed the traffic and delay in building the sidewalks. Manager Shaw noted that it is a slow traffic area and the City has not received any complaints about the sidewalks not being installed. Council discussed two additional years as being too long for residents to wait. Plevel recommended extending the date to September 30, 2011. Councilman Petersen asked for clarification on extending the date or allowing the sidewalk to be built when the construction is completed. Manager Shaw noted that those two options would be handled differently. Mayor Barnhart called for a motion. Councilman Plevel made a motion to approve the Revised Wildcat Estates Subdivision Improvement Agreement with a deadline of September 30, 2011, subject to receipt of bond letter; motion seconded by Shepard. Motion carried with voting as follows: AYES: Plevel, Reikofski, Shepard, Karper, Barnhart NOES: Petersen ABSENT: Bates
B. Accept Bee Hive Homes Infrastructure – Manager Shaw reported that the developer had completed Water and Sewer Mains and walk path to City standards. Shepard made motion to accept the Bee Hives Homes Infrastructure, second by Reikofski. Motion carried with all voting in favor of the motion, Bates absent. C. Building Code Permit Fees – Manager Shaw reported that the City last revised the fees in 2004. Over the past five years, the amount paid under contract to the City of Whitefish had declined due to the decrease in permits in quantity and revenue. The City pays 65% of the amount collected to the City of Whitefish based on the adopted rate of 80% of the fees in the Uniform Building Code (UBC). Manager Shaw recommended Council looking at raising the fees to 100% of the Table 1-A from the UBC ; noting that while it would not result in relieving Whitefish’s Building Department cash flow issues, it would provide a substantial gesture that the City of Columbia Falls is willing to help address the problem. Manager Shaw noted that Whitefish charges 100% of the 2004 Table 1-A. Manager Shaw anticipated only 5 -6 building permits in the next year. The City did not generate enough permit revenue, before the decline, to pay for our own inspector. Whitefish currently employs two inspectors. The contract automatically renews unless either party gives written notice 120 days in advance. Manager Shaw noted that the City may have to take over their own inspections if Whitefish decides to give notice to terminate. Mayor and Council not in favor of raising fees to 100% of the schedule at this time. No action taken by Council. Manager Shaw recommended leaving the June 21st hearing in place to change the fee adoption to Resolution and not by Ordinance. Council concurred. |
REPORTS/BUSINESS FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL:
| 1. Councilman Karper discussed the vandalism and burglary as he too had items taken out of vehicle in his driveway and his insurance premium was increased. Chief Perry reported that the City has two officers on duty most of the time but not from 3 am – 7 am as that is a quieter time. He noted that we’ve had about 200 thefts from vehicles, most of which were from unlocked vehicles and a few from illegal entry or break-ins. Currently working on the video from the Larkin break-in, with good photos, and cannot identify the suspects; noting that the time on the video was 12:05 a.m. Mayor and Council discussed the budgetary impacts, neighborhood watch programs, and not wanting to leave the City unprotected.
2. Mayor Barnhart noted that the City had received two letters concerning the Train Quiet Zone. Shepard noted that he discussed the issue with BNFS representatives who noted that significant number of people who trespass on the BNSF right-of-ways. It was noted that the cost would be conservatively $50,000 and take several years to complete the approval process. Shepard noted that tampering with the crossings could get people killed. Mayor would like to obtain public comment on the issue in the near future. Reikofski would like to see a greater community demand for quiet zones. Shepard will meet with BNSF representatives to obtain additional information. 3. Mayor Barnhart asked Chief Perry for direction for extra patrol. Barnhart recommended asking for a Public Safety Levy vote, requesting the costs and timeline for the June 21st meeting. |
REPORTS/BUSINESS FROM CITY ATTORNEY:
| Attorney Breck reported on the City Attorney conference held in Billings. The Public Works Interlocal Agreement was discussed at the conference. The short-comings of the agreement will be addressed and the agreement will be sent back out to Cities and Towns for adoption in the future. Medical Marijuana was a hot topic at the conference and the attorneys will be working with the Legislature to fix some of the problems. |
REPORTS/BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER:
| 1. Reported on the electrical upgrade project and other budgeted improvements. The wiring, painting and carpeting are almost completed in the Council chambers, hallway and office areas. In the next budget, the City will look at the upgrade necessary in the police department area. The police will have to be relocated while any work is being done.
2. Completed the Shay Engine Cab and will have to get assistance to have it transported to the engine site. 3. Committee consisting of City Manager, Director Public Works and Finance Director reviewed proposals for engineering services for the CTEP project and narrowed it down to two firms for further evaluation. Once selected, the contract negotiation process will begin. Council will see a contract after approved by the State. 4. Street Lighting District – As reported by Dir. Finance Nicosia, the cost of providing the 4 lights within the proposed Frontage Rd and Van’s Ave was $3,306, resulting in about a 12-year payback period for installation. Council looked at the options of creating a new district, with total costs paid by the 19 adjacent lot owners, or treated the improvements as an extension of the existing district, increasing the city-wide assessment to provide funding for the extension. Council discussed costs and decided to reduce the proposed project to one light at the intersection of Frontage and Van’s. City Staff will send letters of intent to the affected landowners based on the one light proposal. |
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| INFORMATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE is available for thirty days in the Finance Director’s office. | MISC
CORRESPON- DENCE
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ADJOURN:
| Upon motion duly made and seconded the meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. | ADJOURN
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____________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
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City Clerk
APPROVED BY COUNCIL ACTION: June 21, 2010