CITY COUNCIL

AUGUST 3, 2016

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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SODA SPRINGS, CARIBOU COUNTY, IDAHO HELD AUGUST 3RD, 2016.

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:00PM BY JAMES R. SMITH, MAYOR.

ROLL CALL SHOWED THE FOLLOWING PRESENT: JAMES R. SMITH, MAYOR

MITCH HART, PRES. via telephone

JON D. GOODE

ROBERT M. LAU

SCOTT K. GAMBLES

EXCUSED:

ALSO PRESENT: Mark Steele Alan Skinner, Director

Tausha Vorwaller, Clerk

Clyde Nelson, Attorney

The invocation was given by Alan Skinner, Mayor Smith then led everyone in the

‘Pledge of Allegiance’.

The minutes from the last meeting were presented for approval. Councilmember Goode stated that he had reviewed the minutes of the July 20th, 2016 council meeting several times over and did not see anything that needed modified and moved to accept the draft minutes in the current form and dispense with the reading. Councilmember Gambles seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried.

Councilmember Goode then moved to approve the accounts payable for July 19th through July 29th, 2016 along with the payroll for the entire month of July 2016. Councilmember Lau seconded the motion. Councilmember Goode asked what the repairs were to a police car for $1500 paid to Hunzeker’s. Clerk Vorwaller located the invoice and reviewed reporting that is was a fan and cooling assembly for the 2009 Crown Victoria. A vote on the motion was called. All in favor, motion carried.

(SEE ATTACHED ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND PAYROLL REGISTERS FOR DETAIL)

The Mayor and Council reviewed a final draft of the Independent Cable franchise and pole agreements that were scheduled to be renewed January 1st, 2016. The draft agreements were re-submitted by Independent Cable incorporating several updates and changes as recommended by City Attorney Nelson. The Council and Staff discussed the maintenance of poles not owned by the City and the pole rental fee of $6.20 offered by Independent Cable. Councilmember Goode expressed his opinion that the rental fee was low based on some comparisons he had done. The Mayor and Council discussed at length and agreed they did not want to approve the agreements until the responsibility of pole maintenance, which is a public safety concern, was clarified. Councilmember Hart requested that Independent Cable supply a map of all the poles they are connected to within the City limits showing the ownership of the poles and also suggested the same be requested from CenturyLink. Director Skinner explained that CenturyLink had provided the location data for their poles. Attorney Nelson explained the franchise approval process which requires the proposed ordinance to be published 30 days prior to approval and then published again after adoption with Independent Cable being responsible for the publishing costs. Councilmember Lau introduced the proposed cable franchise agreement ordinance and moved to authorize the clerk to publish the proposed ordinance, seconded by Councilmember Gambles. All in favor, motion carried. Mayor Smith instructed the clerk to forward to Independent Cable the City’s request for pole mapping showing ownership and supporting information justifying the suggested rental amount.

Councilmember Hart reviewed the research he had done so far regarding net metering and solar panels. He explained that his analysis was optimistic figured on 300 days of sun and still it does not seem economically attractive. He also cautioned that the City’s power system may not be of sufficient size to make it feasible to set up and administer a program that would be subsidizing a few at the cost of all the other customers. He shared kilowatt size restrictions and requirements of other power companies and municipalities. The Mayor, Council and Staff discussed and determined there are two items that need to be clarified before proceeding which are; 1) is the City required to allow net metering and 2) does the City’s Bonneville Power contract regulate or prohibit net metering. Mayor Smith asked Attorney Nelson to assist Councilmember Hart and Director Skinner in researching these questions and report back at the next meeting.

There was no citizen input at the designated time.

Director Skinner reported on the Library expansion. The shingles are done on the new part of the building and have been stripped on the old section. The Contractors have an approved procedure for the ledgestone rock to be installed and placement of a beam inside the building. The windows should be in this week along with some backfill and Bear River electric is part way through the electrical upgrade. There is no change orders expected and things are going well. The Mayor mentioned that there is party interested in donating the cost of carpet for the addition.

The final walk through with A+ Construction on Rose Avenue is complete and they are just working on sod care instructions. Forsgren Engineers is talking with residents getting acceptance papers signed off that will start the one year warranties for sod, sprinkler and concrete. When the residents have signed off then the personal service installs will be billed. The contractor is mostly moved out and the project is almost wrapped up.

A brief update on other projects was given. Director Skinner mentioned that the Sorensen Grant for the tennis court was ready to be awarded but they have agreed to table the approval until there are matching funds. Mrs. Nyla Kress who has been working on the grant reported to Director Skinner that the grant may also be increased to $40,000 and feedback from the Portneuf grant group pointed out areas that need better details next time the grant application is submitted. The State Highway project is progressing and $38,000 was approved by the State for the ADA ramps in front of Broulims. When the ramps and asphalt is complete it will be followed up by chip and seal. The water tank inspection is scheduled for tomorrow, August 4th and will cost $3000 of the $20,000 budgeted. Director Skinner mentioned that some damage was seen last inspection and liner repairs may be recommended. The best time to draw the tank down for repairs was discussed. A video of the inspection should be available for the next meeting. A meeting with the engineers is scheduled to start the review and engineering for next year’s projects. The Ledge Creek pump was pulled and repaired and is back in and running well. The treatment plant aeration basin chain replacement is done and they are filling the basin and will need to rebuild the bacteria. The Mayor commended the WWTP staff on finding the safest way to make the chain repairs which required a scaffolding company to put in scaffolding. The Mayor reported on the Fire Department brush truck received through a government program. The truck had some transmission problems and the program provided a brand new engine, transfer case and transmission in crates delivered that can be kept as spares for the future repair needs of the truck. The Mayor also mentioned that the City residents’ water usage is extremely high and though the City has enough water it does not have enough to let it run down the gutters. He mentioned that the City would be working with the large users to adjust sprinkling. Director Skinner mentioned the City uses six million gallons a day in the summer and 2 ½ to 3 million gallons in the winter. The Mayor commended the City employees work on widening the path by the Kelly Park pond and expressed his appreciation for the outstanding job they did to address the issue there.

The proposed budget for fiscal year 2017 was briefly reviewed and discussed. Councilmember Lau mentioned that pursuant to conversations from last meeting he has been reviewing the budget and will share comments in the next few days to be considered at the next meeting. Councilmember Goode shared an accountant’s view point on fund balances that exist and grow over time when revenues exceed expenditures. He explained why a municipality may want to grow fund balances to offset larger capital expenditures for equipment or projects that are outside of the annual operating costs. Because of this method of building a fund balance and then making larger purchases the revenues and expenditures will never match perfectly. Councilmember Goode pointed out that the proposed budget includes capital items like a trash rake for the hydro canal, a turbine rebuild and water and sewer main replacements that equate to the $1 million draw down of the fund balances. He also mentioned that last year’s budget included a $4 million draw down of the fund balances $3 million of which was the wastewater treatment plant loan pay down but the other $1 million was for sizeable capital expenditures that he feels needed to be done. Councilmember Lau agreed but in his preliminary review of the proposed budget there is a least one fund that the annual operating costs are not being covered by the revenues and he hopes to point that out in the information he will be sending out. He also asked if the cost of the trash rake had been compared to the employee cost to do the cleaning manually. Councilmember Goode noted that the trash rake was discussed during the Budget Committee meetings and it was justified due to the safety and health of the employee. Mayor Smith wrapped up the discussion stating he feels the goal is to have the most realistic budget that can get as much done as possible.

Councilmember Lau moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:00pm, seconded by Councilmember Goode. All in favor, motion carried.

PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL THIS 17TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2016.

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James R. Smith, Mayor

ATTEST:

CITY COUNCIL

AUGUST 3, 2016

PAGE 4 OF 4

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Tausha Vorwaller, Clerk