TREMONTON CITY CORPORATION
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
April 18, 2017
Members Present:
Diana Doutre
Lyle Holmgren
Jeff Reese
Bret Rohde
Lyle Vance
Roger Fridal, Mayor (arrived at 6:31 p.m.)
Shawn Warnke, City Manager
Linsey Nessen, City Recorder (arrived at 6:04 p.m.)
Cynthia Nelson, Deputy Recorder (left at 6:04 p.m.)
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
Mayor Pro Tempore Reese called the April 18, 2017 City Council Workshop to order at 6:02 p.m. The meeting was held in the City Council Meeting Room at 102 South Tremont Street, Tremonton, Utah. Those in attendance were Mayor Pro Tempore Reese, Councilmembers Doutre, Holmgren, Rohde, and Vance, City Manager Warnke, City Recorder Nessen, and Deputy Recorder Nelson. The following Department Heads were also present: Zoning Administrator Steve Bench, Parks and Recreation Director Marc Christensen (arrived at 6:05 p.m.), Police Chief David Nance, and Treasurer Sharri Oyler (arrived at 6:04 p.m.).
1. Review of agenda items on the 7:00 p.m. Council Meeting:
The Council reviewed the April 18, 2017 Agenda with the following items being discussed in more detail:
Board of Equalization. Manager Warnke noted Ordinance No. 17-07 would amend Title 14 and allow the Mayor some discretion when handling decisions on utility bills for aggrieved individuals. The Council stated they would like to give the Mayor full discretion.
Recreation Trail Program Grant. The City received grant funds to help pay for the Holmgren Preserve and Nature Trail. Through the grants received, the park has been constructed thus far at a 1:1 match. It is time to apply for the 2017 Recreation Trail Program Grant. The City would have two years to make improvements. The City will use some of the funds for compliance of regulatory requirements in the next fiscal year. The majority of the funds will be used in fiscal year 2019 to continue the trail. The trail will be 10 feet wide with a sterile weed barrier and 6 inches of crushed stone.
2. Discussion and prioritization of Capital Projects for Fiscal Year 2018 Budget and beyond along with other items associated with the draft Tentative Budget for Fiscal Year 2018
The street bids came in and ranged from $1M to $750K. There is $300k in the General Fund with $200k funding from the Capital Projects Funds. The City must do a road repair every three years in the financials. The road surface life (RSL) in 2011 was 11.85 years and went down in 2014 to 10.90. The gas tax does not produce enough revenue to maintain the roads. The bid allows the Council to accept 50 percent of the work. The scope of the work can be increased at the end of the fiscal year if the funds are available.
Councilmember Vance would like infrastructure to come first before other things. Councilmember Reese noted he would like the City to stay up on maintenance of the roads.
Manager Warnke noted there was a meeting with Chris Hall from Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) regarding Main Street Drainage. UDOT offered to pay for the pipes. The first estimate was $750K for the total project with $150-160K in pipe. There must be a final design before the City can get another estimate. Manager Warnke thinks the total cost for the City will be closer to $350-450K because local engineers offer more competitive pricing. There will be some restoration costs as well. Piping will carry water from Richard Nicholas’s property (C & R Trailer and Auto Sales) at the storm drain pond to the other side of the road.
The City is working to acquire a right-of-way from the Standard Family for property located by the old La-Z-Boy plant for future pipes. This was another area that flooded. The property would also serve as a trail. The trail would go in after the pipes were installed. Once constructed, the pipes would bring the water east to the Malad River on 600 North.
The Council wanted to know if any projects could be delayed. Manager Warnke stated the trail project and parking lots can be delayed. It was noted that the Animal Control building was damaged in the flooding. The insurance has a $250K deductible. It is unclear how much it will cost to replace the building as they do not know which location to put the new building. Code Enforcement Officer Horspool has moved his office into the Police Station but it is inconvenient.
Manager Warnke noted the Council can reduce the street bid and accept at $500K. Before construction occurs in September, the Council can add the additional road projects back on depending on year end totals. Manager Warnke would like to take advantage of the partnership offered by UDOT at this time. Manager Warnke will bring several options to the Council regarding the Animal Control building. Councilmember Reese noted that other cities utilize our Animal Control building for holding animals but the costs they pay for services do not cover any capital costs.
The City is almost to the end of the project with West Liberty Foods. The taxable value will be coming out of the RDA and going into the General Fund. The amount will be upwards of $250K and should be sustainable year after year starting in fiscal year 2019.
The Council did not go into a closed session at this time.
3. CLOSED SESSIONS:
a. Strategy session to discuss the purchase of real property when public discussion of the transaction would disclose the appraisal or estimated value of the property under consideration or prevent the public body from completing the transaction on the best possible terms; and/or
b. Strategy session to discuss the character, professional competence or physical or mental health of an individual; and/or
c. Strategy sessions to discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation
The meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m. by consensus of the Council.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Mayor Fridal called the April 18, 2017 City Council Meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. The meeting was held in the Tremonton City Council Meeting Room at 102 South Tremont Street, Tremonton, Utah. Those in attendance were Mayor Fridal, Councilmembers Doutre, Holmgren, Reese, Rohde, and Vance, City Manager Warnke, and City Recorder Nessen. The following Department Heads were also present: Zoning Administrator Steve Bench, Parks and Recreation Director Marc Christensen, Police Chief David Nance, and Treasurer Sharri Oyler (arrived at 7:04 p.m.).
1. Opening Ceremony:
Mayor Fridal informed the audience that he had received no written or oral request to participate in the Opening Ceremony. He asked anyone who may be offended by listening to a prayer to step out into the lobby for this portion of the meeting. The prayer was offered by Kevin Christensen from the Bear River Health Department and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jessica Tanner from The Leader. Mayor Fridal thanked Mr. Christensen and Ms. Tanner for participating in the opening ceremony. Mayor Fridal said he spoke earlier with Manager Warnke about inviting others in the community to participate in the opening ceremony. He would also like to have scouts participate.
2. Introduction of guests:
Mayor Fridal welcomed Tom Peterson from the Utah Chapter of the International Code Council.
3. Approval of Agenda:
Motion by Councilmember Reese to approve the agenda of April 18, 2017. Motion seconded by Councilmember Doutre. Vote: Councilmember Doutre – aye, Councilmember Holmgren – aye, Councilmember Reese – aye, Councilmember Rohde – aye, Councilmember Vance – aye. Motion approved.
4. Approval of minutes – April 4, 2017
Motion by Councilmember Holmgren to approve the minutes of April 4, 2017. Motion seconded by Councilmember Vance. Vote: Councilmember Doutre – aye, Councilmember Holmgren – aye, Councilmember Reese – aye, Councilmember Rohde – aye, Councilmember Vance – aye. Motion approved.
5. Public comments: Comments limited to three minutes.
There were no public comments.
6. Presentations
a. International Code Council’s Service Award Presented to Steve Bench
Tom Peterson said he serves on the Board of Directors for the International Code Council (ICC) and is the current President for the Utah Chapter of ICC. Administrator Bench served as the President for the Utah Chapter of ICC the past year. Mr. Peterson noted the presentation is for Tremonton City for allowing Administrator Bench to participate and run the organization as President the past year and as a member of the Board of Directors for the previous six years. The award was presented to the City at the annual business meeting in February. Mr. Peterson formally presented it to the City. Administrator Bench has been a great resource to many building officials throughout the State and has helped grow the association.
7. New Council Business:
a. Discussion and consideration of adopting Ordinance No. 17-07 amending Title 14 Utilities of the Revised Ordinances of Tremonton City Corporation regarding the Board of Equalization for water, sewer collection, and wastewater treatment
Manager Warnke noted that issues brought up by citizens regarding water bills come to the Board of Equalization, which is comprised of the Treasurer, Public Works Director, and City Manager. The Board’s decision can be appealed to the Mayor. This Ordinance will change some factors the Mayor may use when making his decision.
Motion by Councilmember Rohde to approve Ordinance No. 17-07 and give the Mayor complete discretion when it comes to this. Motion seconded simultaneously by Councilmembers Holmgren and Doutre. Roll Call Vote: Councilmember Doutre – aye, Councilmember Holmgren – aye, Councilmember Reese – aye, Councilmember Rohde – aye, Councilmember Vance – aye. Motion approved.
b. Discussion and consideration of authorizing the submission of a 2017 Recreation Trail Program Grant to the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation for the development of a trail at Holmgren Preserve and Nature Trail
Manager Warnke noted this submission allows the City staff to submit a grant. The City received $15K from the Box Elder County Tourism Board. All projects relating to the trail so far have been on a 1:1 match. The deadline for the grant is May 1 and provides two years to do improvements. If the City receives the grant, the improvements would go in closer to 2019.
Motion by Councilmember Doutre to authorize the submission of the 2017 Recreation Trail Program Grant. Motion seconded by Councilmember Rohde. Vote: Councilmember Doutre – aye, Councilmember Holmgren – aye, Councilmember Reese – aye, Councilmember Rohde – aye, Councilmember Vance – aye. Motion approved.
c. Discussion on Awarding Bid for FY 2018 Street Reconstruction Projects to the most Qualified Low Bidder
Motion by Councilmember Reese to award the bid to Staker Parsons in the amount of $500K and will be reviewed in September to see whether the full amount can be done if the City has the budget. The projects will be done according to the priority list provided by Director Fulgham. Motion seconded by Councilmember Vance. Vote: Councilmember Doutre – aye, Councilmember Holmgren – aye, Councilmember Reese – aye, Councilmember Rohde – aye, Councilmember Vance – aye. Motion approved.
8. Reports and Comments
a. City Manager Reports and Comments
No reports or comments.
b. City Department Head Reports and Comments
Chief Nance gave some statistics for the past year. The City received 5,800 calls for service in 2016. The calls have been increasing by about 500 per year. Burglaries went down from 116 to 57 in 2016. The cases that require a lot of investigation such as child abuse and fraud seem to be climbing. There are a lot of different types of fraud and scams now. The City officers have more arrests than the County. The Police Department will be needing a new officer in the next few years.
Recorder Nessen noted the dates and times for Darlene Hess’s viewing and funeral.
c. Council Reports and Comments
Councilmember Doutre noted the Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT) provided good meetings in St. George.
Councilmember Vance stated all the classes he attended at the ULCT referenced online streaming. He noted the attorney for the ULCT noted that online streaming is great. After Councilmembers watch the first streamed meeting, they realize what they do and say at Council meetings that they need to change. Councilmember Vance noted the main speaker at lunch was the mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The theme was prioritization with assets and spending your resources for what you want to get. When everyone is focused on one thing, it starts happening. Tulsa, Oklahoma was able to reduce the number of fire calls by 95 percent.
Councilmember Vance thinks the spreadsheet Councilmember Rohde put together will help the Council with prioritizing where they want to go as a City.
Motion by Councilmember Holmgren to move into closed session. Motion seconded by Councilmember Doutre. Vote: Councilmember Doutre – aye, Councilmember Holmgren – aye, Councilmember Reese – aye, Councilmember Rohde – aye, Councilmember Vance – aye. Motion approved.
The Council moved into a closed session at 7:27 p.m.
9. CLOSED SESSION:
a. Strategy session to discuss the purchase of real property when public discussion of the transaction would disclose the appraisal or estimated value of the property under consideration or prevent the public body from completing the transaction on the best possible terms
b. Session to discuss the character, professional competence or physical mental health of an individual; and/or
c. Strategy sessions to discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation
Motion by Councilmember Reese to return to open session. Motion seconded by Councilmember Vance. Vote: Councilmember Doutre – aye, Councilmember Holmgren – aye, Councilmember Reese – aye, Councilmember Rohde – aye, Councilmember Vance – aye. Motion approved.
The Council returned to open session at 7:48 p.m.
10. Adjournment.
Motion by Councilmember Reese to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by Councilmember Holmgren. Vote: Councilmember Doutre – aye, Councilmember Holmgren – aye, Councilmember Reese – aye, Councilmember Rohde – aye, Councilmember Vance – aye. Motion approved.
The meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m.
The undersigned duly acting and appointed Recorder for Tremonton City Corporation hereby certifies that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes for the City Council Meeting held on the above referenced date. Minutes were prepared by Deputy Recorder Cynthia Nelson.
Dated this 2nd day of May, 2017.
Linsey Nessen, City Recorder