TREMONTON CITY CORPORATION
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
July 16, 2013
Members Present:
David Deakin
Diana Doutre
Lyle Holmgren
Jeff Reese
Byron Wood
Roger Fridal, Mayor
Shawn Warnke, City Manager
Darlene S. Hess, Recorder
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
Mayor Fridal called the July 16, 2013 City Council Workshop to order at 6:03 p.m. The meeting was held in the City Council Meeting Room at 102 South Tremont Street, Tremonton, Utah. Those in attendance were Mayor Fridal, Councilmembers Deakin, Doutre, Holmgren, Reese, and Wood, City Manager Shawn Warnke, Recorder Darlene S. Hess, Zoning Administrator Steve Bench, and Chief David Nance.
1. Review of agenda items on the 7:00 p.m. Council Meeting:
The Council reviewed the July 16, 2013 Agenda with the following items being discussed in more detail:
Resolution No. 13-45 the revised Compensation and Classification Plan – Manager Warnke explained that this Resolution formalizes the cost of living adjustment (COLA) the Council approved. It also reflects some changes in classification for a few positions based on the recent salary survey.
Mayor Fridal asked if the City’s Animal Control Officer could ever advance up a level. Chief Nance stated there are no other levels for the Animal Control Officer. Manager Warnke noted the salary survey didn’t have separate levels for this position just a pay range. Councilmember Reese asked if the Animal Control Officer could move up if he received more schooling. Chief Nance stated he would have to change positions to move up a level.
Councilmember Wood asked if the City was planning on a 3% COLA and no Merit. Manager Warnke stated there will also be a 1% Merit. The COLA will affect the pay ranges by increasing the minimum starting wage by 3%. The maximum amount in a pay range was adjusted based upon the salary survey.
Resolution No. 13-46 the Bear River Valley Senior Parking - Manager Warnke explained the City applied for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Housing and Urban Development. The grant is to benefit low to moderate income individuals and is a competitive grant. The seniors in the community are presumed to be low to moderate income individuals. The City received $94,000 in CDBG funds to expand the parking at the Senior Center. It is estimated the City’s contribution will be between $50K and $60K. The City will also use some in-house resources to help with the installation and construction.
Councilmember Deakin asked if the installation and construction were part of the City’s contribution. Manager Warnke explained they were necessary to finish the job but were not considered part of the City’s contribution. Mayor Fridal asked how many parking spaces would be available when the project is complete. Manager Warnke believed it to be around 80-100. Councilmember Reese stated the paperwork shows 105 parking spaces. Manager Warnke reminded the Council of the new City Codes that were recently adopted. The parking lot design will be in accordance with the new Codes.
Mayor Fridal asked when construction would begin. Manager Warnke thought it might be the beginning of next year. It was suggested to set up a meeting with Senior Center Director Layne and discuss the timeframe. Mayor Fridal asked if it would need to be this fall or next summer as it needs to be warm to lay asphalt. Councilmember Wood thought it would be best to lay the fill dirt in the fall and let it settle through the winter. Manager Warnke explained that funds were included for this project in the budget for the new fiscal year.
Award bid for Chip Seal – Manager Warnke stated the City received one bid after the deadline. Most of the contractors already had their schedules set and didn’t submit bids for the chip seal. Chip seal has a narrow window of time in which to complete the project. It must be very hot to do a chip seal. Councilmember Holmgren asked if the Council should discuss the chip seal or remove it from the agenda. Manager Warnke stated it should be removed from the City Council agenda. It is planned to bid out the chip seal project early in the spring of 2014 before contractor’s schedules are full. This way more contractors would be available to submit a bid.
Councilmember Deakin asked what the bid amount was that was submitted late. Manager Warnke thought it was 33% higher than the engineers estimate. Councilmember Holmgren thought the City would get lower bids if the bids were opened earlier in the year when the contractors don’t have as much work scheduled. Recorder Hess stated the bid was for $300,000.
Selling Patrol Car T35 – Chief Nance noted the bids for T35 ranged from $100 to $2,370. The high bid was from Asia Motors in Chicago, Illinois. Councilmember Wood asked if this was the same company that purchased the last patrol car. Chief Nance stated the last patrol car was sold to a company in Oklahoma. The company in Oklahoma has since closed. Councilmember Wood asked if Asia Motors will pay the freight to pick up the vehicle. Chief Nance called the high bidder and is awaiting a return call. The bid is conditional upon the high bidder picking up the vehicle. Councilmember Wood was pleased with the bid. Councilmember Deakin asked how these companies out East are aware of the bid openings. Chief Nance sent the information to them directly. Councilmember Deakin said to continue sending the information.
Mayor Fridal asked about the Genie man lift Public Works is sending out for bids. Mayor Fridal stated that Brett Rhode told him the Bear River Valley Hospital could use the man lift. Councilmember Doutre asked if the hospital would be willing to pay the scrap price. Mayor Fridal said the hospital was looking for a donation but they would probably be willing to pay scrap price for the man lift. The hospital has a need for the man lift and might need to purchase one. Councilmember Deakin asked how the man lift would be used. Councilmember Reese stated they have to reach up high to change things. The hospital has been using something else and was told by the State to get a lift for safety reasons. There is a filter system back in the new area of the hospital that requires a man lift. Councilmember Wood stated it would be nice to offer the man lift to the hospital. Councilmember Reese and Mayor Fridal felt that would be good idea as well.
Advice and consent – Manager Warnke suggested the creation of a working committee for a new web page for the City. Any councilmembers that would like to participate are welcome. Councilmembers Reese and Holmgren would like to be included. Mayor Fridal thought it would be good to include Eric Marble as well. Mr. Marble has experience and could be used as a resource. He helps with the Chamber of Commerce.
The City applied to The American Institute of Architects and received a grant for planning assistance to help revitalize Main Street. A group of architects, an economist, and several other professionals will come and hold several public meetings to gather public input. Manager Warnke stated there will be a list of specific people to invite, but the public will also be invited. Wednesday, August 14th, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. there will be round table discussions on three different topics. The topics are economic and downtown development, land use and transportation, and urban design and public space. The meeting on Wednesday would be for individuals with a vested interest and expertise and the public at large.
Later that evening, the City will have free hotdogs and ice cream at Shuman Park, hoping to draw in the public. The team of professionals will sit at tables and have conversations with individuals and groups about their thoughts and observations for Main Street. Councilmember Deakin asked if there will be microphones and people taking turns speaking. Manager Warnke believes there will be several small discussions going on at each table. It is hard to get individuals and families to come to a town hall style meeting. Hopefully the City can get a better turn out by having the meeting at the park and providing food.
Councilmember Reese thinks it is important to use The Leader to advertise this event. It would be best to have as many people available to give input. Manager Warnke thinks it would be good to have The Leader do an advertisement on a sticky note and attach it to the front of the newspaper. Councilmember Deakin agrees. Manager Warnke stated the paper would come out on the day of the meeting and would be a good way to inform the public. Anything the City can do to remind the public is essential. Councilmember Reese noted it is only a couple of weeks away and now is time to advertise. Mayor Fridal believes it should run in the newspaper a couple of weeks before the meeting. Recorder Hess said it can be put on the City’s webpage as well.
Thursday and Friday, the 15th and 16th of August, will be a time when the team of professionals will sit down and work on a plan. Manager Warnke hopes to have some Utah based architects volunteer their time and be involved during these sessions. Councilmember Reese asked if it will be the same group from the initial visit. Manager Warnke explained that some of the team will be the same. The national team will also include an economist, who specializes in downtown development and Main Streets, some urban designers, and land use and transportation experts.
Councilmember Doutre believes the merchants on Main Street will be interested in the free advice from the national team.
Manager Warnke stated the team will have another public meeting on Friday, August 16th, to present the findings and recommendations. There will be a written copy of the recommendations submitted to Tremonton City at a later date. Councilmember Deakin asked if the City has received any feedback from the initial visit, specifically in regard to suggestions of things that have worked in other cities. Manager Warnke does not expect any feedback at this time. During the initial visit, only one member of the team came to Tremonton. There were two additional staff members from The National American Institute of Architects. The staff members were very knowledgeable, but were not actual members of the team. Councilmember Deakin liked several of the ideas that were proposed at the initial visit. Manager Warnke believes the team will present ideas on Friday, August 16th and will then work on a documented plan to be submitted to the City.
Mayor Fridal asked if the initial visit included a tour of the City and if any pictures were taken. Councilmember Reese noted there was a lot of interest in the Malad River. Councilmember Deakin said the team spoke of the potential for the empty buildings on Main Street.
It is important to have public input. Manager Warnke explained the team will put together a plan, but to make it Tremonton City’s plan, the public needs to be involved and have a voice. Councilmember Doutre wondered if flyers should be distributed to the merchants on Main Street. Councilmember Wood thought the Chamber of Commerce could contact their members and notify them of the meetings. Councilmember Reese thought it would improve the City’s prospect at receiving the grant if there was a lot of public participation. Manager Warnke explained the City has already been awarded the grant. However, if the City can get a lot of excitement and participation from the public, it could be the start of a forward momentum and lead to being competitive for future grants.
John Kitch from the Chamber of Commerce is very involved and willing to help. The City will create a flyer that will go out with the utility bills. Manager Warnke stated that Mr. Kitch said about one third of the licensed businesses are members of the Chamber. Councilmember Deakin agrees with Councilmember Doutre’s suggestion to specifically invite all business owners on Main Street to the meeting on Wednesday. Councilmember Doutre volunteered to deliver the invitations.
Manager Warnke is open to any suggestions on how to increase public involvement. A spreadsheet will be sent to the City Councilmembers listing suggested individuals to be invited to the meeting on Wednesday. The Council was encouraged to add to the list.
Councilmember Deakin was surprised with the number of people who have opted out of the recycling cans. Mayor Fridal and Councilmember Reese were surprised as well. Councilmember Reese hopes that some who opted out will see the value and want to participate. Councilmember Wood was not surprised with the number that opted out. Several of the seniors were opposed to the recycling cans and people with rentals didn’t want to be stuck paying for the cans if their renters moved out. Mayor Fridal thought people would like to be involved with helping the environment. Councilmember Reese stated individuals have been asking for this kind of program for the past five years. Mayor Fridal has been asked numerous times when the program will start. Several people are anxious for the program to begin. The City has 60% of water users signed up to participate.
Councilmembers Reese and Doutre believe the splash pad is coming along well. The City has started laying cement. It is expected to be complete by the 26th of July. Councilmember Doutre expressed a concern about removing the trees by the splash pad. Manager Warnke spoke with Recreation Director Christensen about the need for shade. It was decided to leave the area as it is. If changes need to be made in the future it can be addressed at a later time. The Council agrees with the decision to leave the trees at this time. Councilmember Doutre remembers talk of being worried about leaves getting in the drains, but she is more worried about the sand. A sand trap will be installed.