CITY COUNCIL
MAY 20, 2015
PAGE 5 OF 5
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SODA SPRINGS, CARIBOU COUNTY, IDAHO HELD MAY 20TH, 2015.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:00PM BY JAMES R. SMITH, MAYOR.
ROLL CALL SHOWED THE FOLLOWING PRESENT: JAMES R. SMITH, MAYOR
MITCHELL J. HART, PRES.
LYNDA LEE
JON D. GOODE
ROBERT M. LAU
EXCUSED:
ALSO PRESENT: Mark Steele Alan Skinner, Director
Tony Varilone Tausha Vorwaller, Clerk
Kathy Ray Clyde Nelson, Attorney
Carla Benson, CPA
The invocation was given by Kathy Ray, Mayor Smith then led everyone in the
‘Pledge of Allegiance’.
The Council reviewed the minutes from the last meeting. Councilmember Goode moved to dispense with the reading of the May 6th, 2015 minutes and approve them as written. Councilmember Hart seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried.
The pre-paid accounts payable for May were reviewed. Councilmember Hart moved to approve the pre-paid accounts payable for May, 2015, seconded by Councilmember Lee. All in favor, motion carried.
(SEE ATTACHED ACCOUNTS PAYABLE REGISTER FOR DETAIL)
Tony Varilone representing the Caribou Historical Society (CHS) addressed the Mayor and Council regarding the water gun (monitor) at the Geyser Park. The monitor was used to wash down the hillside at Caribou Mountain in search of gold. The CHS would like to update and refurbish the monitor, replacing the signage with an embedded fiberglass sign and include more information about the monitor. The CHS have long been the stewards of the Caribou Mountain Mining historic sites. The sign made by Taylor Planning at a cost of $1900 will be paid for by the CHS out of funds they currently have. The CHS will be looking for a Boy Scout to take on the rehabilitation of the water gun and re-mount and re-position the monitor for an Eagle Scout project. Members of the Council had questions concerning the content of the new sign. Mr. Varilone stated that the information on the current sign, which is correct, will be used and additional information will be added with pictures. The Mayor stated that all Eagle Scout projects must be reviewed and approved by the Mayor. Mr. Varilone will forward the plans to the City for review. Mayor Smith suggested also researching the historical significance of and fixing up the lamb display that is behind the monitor. Mr. Varilone stated he will have the CHS look into the project. It was mentioned that Ed Duren may have information and may have recently fixed up the lamb display as part of the Wool Growers Association. Councilmember Lau stated he has pictures of original buildings associated with the local sheep business. Councilmember Hart moved to approve and support Tony Varilone and the Caribou Historical Society to proceed with the water gun/monitor refurbish project in Geyser Park as outlined, seconded by Councilmember Lee. All in favor motion carried.
Kathy Ray of the Eastern Idaho Economic Development Partnership and Four County Alliance of Southeast Idaho (4CASI) gave an annual report and reviewed a six year history of the group. The report showed $18,000,000 in capital investments created in the region, this included business expansions, retentions and startups, resulting in the creation of 132 jobs for this region. They have also done a six year study for different aspects of this region. She explained that she is required to attend 2-3 trainings a year. She is currently working on the Executive Pulse a regional group that meets monthly to share info and work with all the local economic development groups. Mrs. Ray asked for the $3000 annual support for the 4CASI program. She stated Caribou County has agreed to also fund the program for $3000. Councilmember Lee asked if there has been any large developments to increase the economy in the state. Mrs. Ray explained there have mostly been expansions of existing companies and inquiries have increased for some very large sites. Councilmember Hart moved to approve the $3000 for the 4CASI program as has been done in the past, seconded by Councilmember Lee. All in favor motion carried.
Carla Benson, the City’s Auditor presented a draft of her audit as she is waiting for the second review to be completed before it is finalized. The second review should be done the week of June 6th, and she does not expect any changes. Mrs. Benson reviewed in detail the audit report for the 2014 fiscal year and expressed that the financial statements referred to and the respective financial positon of the governmental and business activities of the City of Soda Springs are presented fairly, in all material respects. The Mayor and Council thanked Mrs. Benson for her report.
There was no citizen input at the designated time.
The Council reviewed the request for education assistance from City employee Spencer Winzenried. Councilmember Lau moved to approve Mr. Winzenried’s request to provide education assistance as outlined in the City personnel manual, seconded by Councilmember Hart. All in favor motion carried.
Director Skinner gave a report on the City clean up. He stated there were three full bins of scrap metal, 20 batteries and numerous bins of trash hauled. The Mayor stated he spoke to someone at the landfill who reported the City had three loads of paint. Director Skinner reported they collected five full days and it took another day and a half to haul everything from the cleanup to the landfill. Mayor Smith commended the City Crew on their assistance removing freezers for two elderly ladies and pointed out that this is an example of what he is willing to have the City do to help with clean-up. He stressed that the City will move forward with enforcement of needed clean-up of the City.
Director Skinner reported on infrastructure projects. The City Crew is ready to put in the parking lot at Octagon Springs and is waiting for the weather to be favorable. The Kelly Park fencing repairs and replacements have been completed including the tennis courts and the backstop at the north diamond. Geyser Park surveying is currently being done to clarify property boundaries of the City, Union Pacific Railroad and the County. The curb in front of the dental office on 4th South is also being surveyed and the City Crew will be ready in a week to start laying the curb out. Director Skinner stated he had three quotes on asphalt and the price is $1.50–$1.90 per square foot. The street striper is in Pocatello and crew training will begin the following week. The Cedar View water meter has been replaced and is in service. Director Skinner plans to have a couple of videos with the new sewer camera for the next City Council meeting to show how useful the camera is. The City Crew is currently training on each of the aspects of the camera and as well as how to make DVDs and CDs of the recordings. Councilmember Lee mentioned she saw two really nice green benches at the ice skating park by Kelly Park and she suggested they could be used elsewhere. Councilmember Lee also asked if there are any plans to tear out the ice skating park as it has become unsightly. Mayor Smith stated he supported moving the benches elsewhere, but he would like to develop a plan for the ice skating park before tearing it out.
City Attorney Nelson reviewed with the Council a draft ordinance that was worked on by a committee comprised of himself, Director Skinner and Councilmember Lee. City Attorney Nelson stated the ordinance is clear and structured enough to be enforceable and people will know when they are not in compliance. The ordinance also needed to be something the courts can clearly use to identify violations. Attorney Nelson expressed that the Council needs to review and agree with the ordinance because the Council will have to back it up. He advised there may not be things in the ordinance that the City Council wants and he encourages them to make changes. Attorney Nelson recommended the City Council take one week to review the ordinance and then hold a special meeting to make revisions and changes in time for the regular scheduled City Council meeting where the Council could vote to adopt the ordinance. Mayor Smith asked if there were any legal requirements such as a public hearing. City Attorney Nelson stated a public hearing is not required; however he advised the Council to hold a public hearing and get input from the community and inform the community of what the Council is going to do. Attorney Nelson also suggested that the Council review City Code 8.12.070 which covers the storage of junk vehicles so the City can begin enforcement of that code as well. Attorney Nelson stated he had reviewed ordinances from Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Preston, and some of the City’s current fire code. He stated that what was primarily extracted from the fire code was just the ability to enter on property for the purpose of inspection and enforcement. Attorney Nelson stated the next step for the council after this would be to address dilapidated buildings. The Mayor agreed this should be a public process and proposed to follow Attorney Nelson’s recommendation to hold a public hearing. He stated he would also like to keep this on the fast track and suggested to hold a special meeting on May 27th for the Council to review and discuss changes to the proposed ordinance and then hold a Public Hearing at the next regular meeting on June 3rd. The Council agreed and the special meeting was scheduled for 5pm on May 27th at City Hall. Mayor Smith mentioned that the City has tried hard to nicely ask people to clean-up and now the City needs to start the enforcement. The Mayor will be absent for the public hearing and Councilmember Hart will preside. Mayor Smith expressed gratitude for efforts to expedite the ordinance.
Director Skinner explained that the Portneuf Health Trust is currently open for grant applications until May 31, 2015. Only a non-profit can apply for the grant so it was presented to the Carriboo Development Foundation (CDF) to send a grant request for the tennis court. Director Skinner stated the CDF agreed and mentioned that they would also like to submit one for the walking path. In order to qualify for the grant there is a 25% match which can include in-kind work. The tennis court project is estimated at $100,000 and would require a $25,000 match. The Council discussed what funding was available from the CDF and the Greater Soda Springs Community Development Committee (GSSCDC). The Committee is not willing to put funds toward the tennis court. The walking path project is estimated at $62,000. The match would be $15,500 with the Committee using $10,000 from GSSCDC funds and the remaining match needed would come from in-kind work. The Mayor and Council discussed at length the proposed projects and funding. Councilmember Hart expressed that he was opposed to spending $100,000 for a tennis court. Councilmember Lau commented that he would rather put the money into an indoor multipurpose floor. Director Skinner went over the schedule for the grant and the types of past grants awarded. Mayor Smith commented that there are a lot of things the City would love to have but can’t do all and don’t want to miss the opportunity to get grant funds. The Mayor suggested that Director Skinner put on his calendar for next year to apply again for another project. The Council all agreed to support pursuing the grant for just the pathway project this year which is a current project of the GSSCDC and CDF.
The Council reviewed a request from the Gem Valley Performing Arts Center (GVPAC) for the City to become a sponsor of their organization and events. Mayor Smith and Councilmember Lau expressed their strong support for the Performing Arts Organization. Councilmember Hart pointed out that the City supports a lot of county wide/ regional groups and activities expressing his feeling that the City does more than its fair share. Examples included the airport, recreation programs and economic development. Councilmember Hart requested that if the County and other Cities are not contributing that the Mayor send out a letter challenging all to help support the GVPAC also. The Mayor was supportive and also mentioned that a list of organizations supported by the City will be considered during the budget process. Councilmember Goode suggested a $250 sponsorship for the GVPAC.
Mayor Smith reported that he and Director Skinner took the employees out to lunch as a thank you for their hard work with clean-up and the heroic work of the treatment plant operators who handled the recent breakdown without violating the City’s discharge permit and also for all workers being safe with no recordable injuries.
Director Skinner explained the breakdown that occurred at the wastewater treatment plant. It appears that some bolts were not properly tightened during construction leading to the problem. The equipment had been inspected and signed off by the manufacturer, Westech. The repairs were made by Westech at no cost to the City.
Director Skinner reported that the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will be doing a sanitary survey on June 9th. Due to the new designation of ground water influenced for surface water the survey is required every three years instead of five. The recommendations from last survey were reviewed and there are still some things that need to be addressed but the springs at Ledge Creek and the chlorination upgrade have been completed.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) made an inspection of the City hydro plants on May 12th. Director Skinner presented an emergency contact list for the Council’s review and reported that it was mentioned during the inspection that there were a couple places along the canal that needed a tree and/or some brush removed.
Clerk Vorwaller gave a budget update. The Department worksheets are due by May 26th and presentations will be made after the Mayor reviews the requests and projects. Clerk Vorwaller mentioned that she is working on overtime history and estimates along with benefit estimates. The III-A notice of withdrawal has been drafted by Attorney Nelson and will be ready for next meeting. Clerk Vorwaller noted that there are only four regular meetings until the tentative budget must be adopted for publishing.