City Council

EVANSTON CITY COUNCIL First Regular Meeting February 6th, 2024 The official record of proceedings of the first regular meeting of the Evanston City Council for the month of February was held in the Council Chambers of City Hall on the above date. These proceedings were video recorded. Council member Perkes led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The roll was called and with a quorum being present, Mayor Williams called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and welcomed everyone present. Those present from the governing body at the start of the meeting were: Mayor Williams; Council members, Tim Lynch, Jesse Lind, Evan Perkes, Dave Welling, Mike Sellers and Jen Hegeman. Staff members present at the start of the meeting were: City Attorney/Prosecutor, Mark Harris; City Treasurer, Trudy Lym; City Clerk, Diane Harris; Director of Parks and Recreation, Kim Larson; Public Works Director, Gordon Robinson; City Engineer, Damon Newsome; Community Development Director, Rocco O’Neill and Police Chief, Mike Vranish. A group of interested citizens was also present. Approve Agenda Council member Welling moved, Council member Perkes seconded to approve the agenda. The motion passed unanimously with 7 yes votes: Williams, Lynch, Lind, Perkes, Welling, Sellers, Hegeman. Approve Minutes The official record of proceedings for the City Council Meeting held January 16th, 2024 and the Work Session held January 23rd, 2024 was approved as presented. Bills Council member Sellers moved, Council member Lynch seconded, to approve the following bills for payment: Jan 17, 2024 to Feb 06, 2024 VENDOR FOR AMOUNT AXA Equivest Payroll 188.00 Beneficial Life Insurance Payroll 150.00 Delta Dental Payroll 8,549.95 Evanston Peace Officers Payroll 232.00 Flexshare Payroll 2,536.65 IRS Tax Deposit Payroll 49,160.92 Mission Square Payroll 99.44 NCPERS Payroll 96.00 Orchard Trust Payroll 1,838.88 Parks & Recreation Payroll 281.25 Washington National Insurance Payroll 472.60 WEBT Payroll 192,257.31 Wyoming Child Support Payroll 264.92 Wyoming Dept of Workforce Services Payroll 8,054.88 Wyoming Retirement Payroll 75,314.20 Payroll 12/31/2023 – 01/13/2024 Payroll 155,097.89 DFA-Actuaries Contract 500.00 Dominion Energy Utilities 19,510.47 Evanston Rodeo Series Contract 4,500.00 Intermountain Golf Cars Services 2,114.36 Yamaha Contract 4,900.49 Alsco Laundry Services 487.53 American Electric Services 27,437.49 Artistic Custom Badges & Coins Supplies 286.50 AT&T Cell Phones/Internet 4,379.38 BBG Inc Services 3,400.00 Best Kind Embroidery Services 580.03 CARA Enterprises Contract 190.00 CD’s Electric Services 5,754.35 City Employees Awards 500.00 Conwest Contract 184,084.60 Court Bonds Refunds 750.00 Cummins Rocky Mountain Services 9,683.40 Dana Kepner of Wyoming Parts 5,651.99 Deposit Refund Refunds 500.00 Evanston Chamber of Commerce Contract 20,776.00 Evanston Parks & Recreation City Subsidy/Reimbursement 167,777.06 Fastenal Parts 456.44 Ferguson Waterworks Parts 9,292.17 First Bank Visa 7,879.60 Forsgren Associates Contract 14,136.84 Freeway Tire Tires 2,274.91 Gladiator Materials Road Salt 24,804.12 Glock Professional Registration 750.00 Hach Company Supplies 876.84 Hazen & Sawyer Services 300.00 Interwest Supply Parts 9,874.35 Jackson Group Peterbilt Parts 243.43 Kallas Automotive Parts 2,305.42 MJSA Contract 69,920.00 Morcon Industrial Supplies 1,210.03 Mountain West Business Solutions Service Agreement 644.66 Murdochs Supplies 1,499.37 Norco Parts 297.66 Personnel Screening Testing 300.00 Pro-Vision Solutions Support/Maintenance 825.00 Rhinehart Fuel 20,073.32 Rock Solid SST Supplies 623.96 Rocky Mountain Power Utilities 23,177.86 Safety Supply & Sign Signs 616.38 Shred-It USA Services 121.42 Skaggs Uniforms 239.69 Rachel Stahl Services 75.00 Thatcher Company Supplies 9,418.61 The Lumberyard Propane 18.00 Tom’s HVAC Services 862.79 Two Guys Flooring Services 8,220.00 Uinta County Peace Officers Association Dues 300.00 Uinta County Dispatch Fees/Jail Fees 118,240.99 Uinta County Human Services Contract 33,750.00 United States Geological Survey Contract 11,210.00 Valley Kubota Equipment 36,027.00 Verizon Wireless Cell Phones 281.01 VRC PROTX Parts 168.00 Westar Printing Supplies 152.85 Wheeler Machinery Parts 825.39 Wyoming Association Registration 260.00 XO Xtreme Marketing Group Contract 21,116.67 Yeti Parts 478.94 The motion passed unanimously with 7 yes votes: Williams, Lynch, Lind, Perkes, Welling, Sellers, Hegeman. Revenue & Expenditure Report Council member Welling moved, Council member Perkes seconded, to approve the Revenue and Expenditure Report for November 2023. The motion passed unanimously with 7 yes votes: Williams, Lynch, Lind, Perkes, Welling, Sellers, Hegeman. Council Comments Council member Lind and Council member Perkes commented that it was good to see people attending the meeting. Council member Sellers congratulated the EHS Classics and EHS Cheer Teams on their State Championships. He also reminded everyone that the Jumpstart Program is in full swing, but it is not too late to start. He reminded everyone to watch for people that are struggling and to remember that the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 988 or text “WYO” to 741-741 for the Crisis Text Line. Council member Hegeman read a statement she had prepared concerning Resolution 24-06, concerning not recusing herself despite City Attorney, Mark Harris suggesting she do so. Mayor Williams also congratulated the EHS Classics and EHS Cheer on their State Championships. Board Appointments Mayor Williams appointed the following to terms on the Evanston Planning Commission: Maryl Thompson (reappointment)…………………………………….January 2027 Tim Ridenour (reappointment)……………………………………… January 2027 Kim Begalla (reappointment)…………………………………………..January 2027 Josh Rasnake (reappointment)………………………………………..January 2027 Councilmember Perkes moved to confirm the appointments and Councilmember Lynch seconded the motion. After a brief discussion, Council member Welling requested the appointments be divided and voted on individually, whereupon Mayor Williams appointed Maryl Thompson to the Evanston Planning Commission for a three-year term expiring January of 2027. Council member Welling moved to confirm the appointment and Council member Lind seconded the motion. Maryl Thompson was appointed by a unanimous vote. Mayor Williams appointed Tim Ridenour to the Evanston Planning Commission for a three-year term expiring January of 2027. Council member Lynch moved to confirm the appointment and Council member Perkes seconded the motion. Tim Ridenour was appointed by a vote of 5 to 1, Council member Hegeman voting no. Mayor Williams appointed Kim Begalla to the Evanston Planning Commission for a three-year term expiring January of 2027. Councilmember Lynch moved to confirm the appointment and Council member Sellers seconded the motion. Kim Begalla was appointed by a vote of 5 to 1, Council member Welling voting no. Mayor Williams appointed Rasnake to the Evanston Planning Commission for a three-year term expiring January of 2027. Council member Welling moved to confirm the appointment and Council member Lynch seconded the motion. Josh Rasnake was appointed by a unanimous vote. Council member Perkes moved, Council member Sellers seconded to confirm the following appointments: Historic Preservation Commission: Joan Nixon (reappointment)………………………………………………January 2027 Debbie Liechty (reappointment)………………………………………….January 2027 Lodging Tax Board Rocco O’Neill (reappointment)……………………………………………..January 2027 Lisa Sanborn (reappointment)……………………………………………..January 2027 The motion passed unanimously with 6 yes votes: Lynch, Lind, Perkes, Welling, Sellers, Hegeman. Surplus Property Council member Welling moved, Council member Lynch seconded, to declare property as excess or surplus property and authorizing disposition by public auction. The motion passed unanimously with 7 yes votes: Williams, Lynch, Lind, Perkes, Welling, Sellers, Hegeman. Public Hearing Council member Lynch moved, Council member Sellers seconded, to set a Public Hearing for March 5, 2024 at 5:30 o’clock pm to consider the sale of property described as Lot 3, Block 1 of the Union Center 3rd Addition to Peak Ventures, LLC for $327,559.67 The motion passed unanimously with 7 yes votes: Williams, Lynch, Lind, Perkes, Welling, Sellers, Hegeman. Resolution 24-06 Council member Lind introduced Resolution 24-06. Council member Lind moved, Council member Lynch seconded, to adopt Resolution 24-06. A RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF EVANSTON, WYOMING TO ENGAGE THE STATE OF WYOMING IN OBTAINING A TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTY AND IMPROVEMENTS COMPRISING A PORTION OF THE WYOMING STATE HOSPITAL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WHEREAS, due to the reorganization of the Wyoming State Hospital (WSH), 21 existing buildings on the north area of the Hospital have been vacated and/or abandoned; and  WHEREAS, the 21 buildings occupy approximately 66 acres of land, that also contain other property improvements, including paved roadways, tunnels and public and private utility infrastructure; and WHEREAS, in 2021, the City of Evanston and Uinta County secured Myers Anderson to conduct an assessment of the existing campus, its condition, liabilities, assets and opportunities; and WHEREAS, the Myers Anderson report and analysis identified several economic development opportunities associated with demolition and/or adaptive reuse of the campus by private interests; and WHEREAS, the governing body for the City of Evanston has been committed to attracting needed employment and economic development opportunities for the citizens of its community; and WHEREAS, the WSH campus provides opportunities for use of the campus by the private sector and place the property back on the tax rolls; and WHEREAS, use of the campus for such purposes can contribute to the development of city infrastructure and create a major employment center in the City of Evanston and in Uinta County and potentially provide affordable and work force housing; and WHEREAS, such use of the campus can result in significant tax revenues to the City during periods of any construction on the campus and use of the campus; and WHEREAS, the potential exists for creation of construction and permanent employment opportunities; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF EVANSTON, WYOMING THAT: Section 1. The governing body of the City of Evanston supports the expression of interest to the State of Wyoming, including the office of the Governor, state agencies, boards and commissions to request conveyance of approximately 66 acres and 21 buildings and all other improvements located thereon to the City of Evanston for the express purpose of economic development by private sector entities through sale of the land and improvements to the private sector. Section 2. The expression of interest should address the need for the transfer to be made with the stated consideration of economic development. Section 3. The City of Evanston is authorized to issue letters of support for such request for transfer to the Office of the Governor, Department of Health, State Building Commission, Board of Land Commissioners and other agencies and commissions that may be involved in the transfer of the real property and improvements to the City of Evanston. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 6th day of February 2024. ____________________________________ Kent H. Williams, Mayor ATTEST: Diane Harris, City Clerk The motion passed with 5 yes votes: Lynch, Lind, Perkes, Sellers, Hegeman. 2 no votes: Williams, Welling. Department Comments Public Works Director, Gordon Robinson mentioned that is National Water and Wastewater Safety Week. He thanked and recognized those departments in the City. Public Comments Representative Conrad expressed his support for Suicide Prevention Awareness. Adjournment With no further business to be conducted at this time Mayor Williams adjourned the meeting at 6:19 p.m. Kent H. Williams, Mayor Diane Harris, City Clerk