City Council Meetings

CITY OF GREEN RIVER CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS February 4, 2014 The Governing Body of the City of Green River met in regular session at 7 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor Castillon called the meeting to order. The following Council Members were present: Gary Killpack, Mark Peterson, Adam Coppolo, Tom McCullough, Brett Stokes, and Lisa Maes. The following were present representing the City: City Administrator Marty Black, IT Specialist Russell Conley, Director of Public Works Mike Nelson, City Engineer/Utility Manager Mark Westenskow, Director of Finance Jeff Nieters, Director of Community Development Laura Leigh, URA/Main Street Administrator Jennie Melvin, Chief of Police Chris Steffen, Fire Chief/Emergency Services Mike Kennedy, Parks and Recreation Director Allan Wilson, Recreation Supervisor Sherry Schumacher, and City Attorney Galen West. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Council Member McCullough moved to move Consent Agenda Item A: Approve the Utility Review Committee’s recommendation to extend the sewer averaging calculation by one month for a credit of $828.27 to account no. 2141-001, to Council Action Item F. Council Member Coppolo seconded. Motion carried. (7-0) Council Member McCullough moved to approve the agenda as amended. Council Member Killpack seconded. Motion carried. (7-0) PRESENTATIONS Rebecca Briesmaster gave a brief update on the Green River Chamber of Commerce. Robert Berg from the URA/Main Street Board said the board has elected to place Ms. Melvin as the URA/Main Street Administrator. The board is currently working on the draft memorandum of understanding. The original MOU was only one page and had some grey areas on the duties of the board and the city. The drafted MOU has been forwarded to legal counsel and Mr. Black for review. The Mayor thanked him for the update and congratulated Ms. Melvin on her appointment. Council Member McCullough said the city will still fund the URA/Main Street so they will have a part in the decisions that are made. Mr. Berg said the council has the right to stop funding the URA/Main Street. As far as the administrator position, the board would like to have control of the supervision of the person in the position. Mr. Black said the board is acting as its own department. All reporting requirements will still have to come to council for approval. Council Member Coppolo said they should find their own funding in the future. Council Member Killpack asked if the board would have control of the hiring and firing of the URA/Main Street Administrator position. Mr. West said that is still to be decided in the MOU. Mr. Black said the URA board would like to serve as the department director and would have the same duties as one. BOARD AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS Green River Arts Council City Council Proceedings February 4, 2014 Page 1 of 6 Council Member McCullough moved to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Rudy Gunter to the Green River Arts Council for a two-year term. Council Member Killpack seconded. Council Member McCullough thanked Mr. Gunter for volunteering and congratulated him on being selected to do a statue in Laramie, Wyoming. Motion carried. (7-0) Joint Powers Telecommunications Board Council Member Peterson moved to confirm the appointments of Councilwoman Lisa Maes and IT Specialist Russell Conley to the Joint Powers Telecommunications Board for three-year terms. Council Member Stokes seconded. Motion carried. (7-0) City Council Assignments to Interagency Boards Council Member Coppolo moved to confirm the following city council liaison assignments: Councilman Peterson to the Urban Renewal/Main Street Agency Board; Councilman Stokes to the Rock Springs Sweetwater County Airport Board; and Councilman McCullough to the Green River Chamber of Commerce. Council Member Maes seconded. Council Member McCullough said he feels the mayor should have informed the members that he was going to move them to a different board. The Mayor said he asked Councilperson Maes if she would serve on the telecom board and she expressed interest. Council Member Killpack said he agrees with Council Member McCullough, members should have been asked to give input before the appointments were given. Motion carried (6-1) with Council Member Killpack voting no. CITIZEN REQUESTS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS Resident James Punches said he is in favor of the city developing the Airport however, there are residents with no interest in developing the airport since there could be layoffs in the city. There have been no monies expended on the airport and no construction plans have been made. He would like to have the opportunity to use the airport for personal use. The city could lease the airport land and let local enthusiasts build hangers. The airport would be used and could potentially benefit the city. Council Member McCullough said he has supported the airport in the past, but he has received many citizens reporting they do not want the airport. He will vote no for any city funds going towards the airport, but he does not have any problems with private money being put towards the airport. Council Member Peterson thanked the airport board for all of their hard work on the airport. He said the airport will be used if it is developed. Council Member Killpack said he is not going to vote for any city funding going towards the airport development. Mr. Punches said the state would like to see the airport developed. Mr. Black said the master plan is estimated to cost $150,000. The city has received grants from WYDOT ($90,000) and the Wyoming Business Council ($25,000) that will go towards the airport master plan. Council Member Coppolo said once the airport master plan is completed it will be up to the private individuals to move forward. City Council Proceedings February 4, 2014 Page 2 of 6 The Mayor said the master plan will show if developing the airport is even something that can be done. RESOLUTIONS Accept and Reallocate “Painting with a Twist” Revenues to the Art Development Program R14-09: A resolution of the governing body of the City of Green River, Wyoming, to approve the proceeds from the “Painting with a Twist” program to be used for the Arts Development Program in the amount of $3,150. Council Member Coppolo moved to approve the resolution for the proceeds from the “Painting with a Twist” programs to be used for the Arts Development Program in the amount of $3,150. Council Member Stokes seconded. Motion carried. (7-0) COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS Agreement for the Preparation of a Wastewater Treatment Plant Master Plan Council Member Stokes moved to enter into an agreement with Keller Associates for the preparation of a Wastewater Treatment Plant Master Plan in the amount of $79,000. Council Member Coppolo seconded. Council Member McCullough said the money for this will come out of the Enterprise Funds. Mr. Westenskow said they are planning for the next permit schedule and the limits that may come. This will be the first step to identify those limits and what will need to be done to meet them. Council Member Coppolo said the current permits will expire in 2016 and the city could be fined if the permits aren’t in place. Council Member Peterson thanked Mr. Westenskow for doing such a good job. Motion carried. (7-0) Agreement with the Joint Powers Water Board for the Exchange of Property Interests Council Member Maes moved to approve the agreement with the Joint Powers Water Board for the exchange of property interests for the construction of the Joint Powers Water Board Raw Water Reservoir in Telephone Canyon. Council Member Killpack seconded. Mr. Black said this agreement will include a wider access to the river, widening of the easement across the reservoir for future use, and the city will obtain easements by the lift stations. This will also benefit both cities because it reduces the city requirements of storage capacity in tanks. Mr. Seppie said the reservoir will serve as raw water storage prior to treatment. In the event there is a contamination event upstream the raw water can be used. It is less expensive to store raw water. Motion carried. (7-0) Annual Letter of Agreement with Wyoming Main Street Council Member Coppolo moved to authorize Mayor Castillon to sign the annual Letter of Agreement with the Wyoming Main Street Program on behalf of the City of Green River. Council Member Stokes seconded. Motion carried. (7-0) Bid Award for the Utility Bill Direct Mailing Services City Council Proceedings February 4, 2014 Page 3 of 6 Council Member Peterson moved to award the bid and enter into a contract for utility bill direct mailing services with Billing Document Specialists. Council Member Killpack seconded. Mr. Nieters said if someone pays for their bill online or by automatic payment they will not receive a return envelope. This was not available before, everyone received a return envelope. Council Member Coppolo asked if they could have the online account available by user name and password so people would not have to have their bill in front of them. Mr. Nieters said it is available if everyone in town would like to access it that way. The system will not allow them to assign it by user only; it would be everyone or no one. Motion carried. (7-0) Contract for the 2014 Crystal Classic Winter Festival Council Member Maes moved to approve the contract with TJ Foss for a live band and DJ service for the 2014 Crystal Classic Winter Festival events for the total amount of $2,500. Council Member McCullough seconded. Motion carried. (7-0) Utility Review Committee’s Recommendation Council Member McCullough moved to approve the Utility Review Committee’s recommendation to extend the sewer averaging calculation by one month for a credit of $828.27 to account no. 2141-001. Council Member Coppolo seconded. Council Member McCullough said he thought the water was billed as a flat fee. Mr. Nieters said it is a flat fee for residents but commercial users are billed by the amount of water they use. Motion carried. (7-0) CONSENT AGENDA Council Member Killpack moved to approve the following consent agenda items. Council Member McCullough seconded. Motion carried. (7-0)  Green River Liquor Association’s request for 24-hour bar openings for: Flaming Gorge Days: Friday, June 27, 2014 and Saturday, June 28, 2014; Halloween, Friday, October 31, 2014; New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31, 2014  Issuance of a catering permit to China Garden Inc. for the Mule Deer Foundation Banquet on Saturday, February 22, 2014 from 5 pm to midnight at the Island Pavilion  Issuance of a catering permit to the Ponderosa Bar, Inc. for the Crystal Classic Winter Festival for February 14, 2014, from 4 pm to 10 pm, and February 15, 2014, from 10 am to 4 pm, on Expedition Island  Ratification of the Mayor’s signature on the Laramie Consortium State Small Business Credit Initiative By-Laws  Sponsorship agreement with the Memorial Hospital Foundation for the Red Tie Gala in the amount of $1,500  Issuance of a catering permit to Brazels, Inc., doing business as, the Embassy Tavern to cater alcoholic beverages for the Snow Boot Softball Tournament, Saturday, February 15, 2014, from 9 am to 6 pm at Evers Ball Field  Minutes for: January 14, 2014 Workshop and January 21, 2014 Council  Financial Reports and Payment of Bills: Prepaid Invoices = $131,478.57 Outstanding Invoices = $377,422.23 Payroll Expenditures = $327,109.24 Pre-authorization Payments = $1,065,000.00 Cash & Investment Balances Report CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT City Council Proceedings February 4, 2014 Page 4 of 6 Mr. Black said, to follow up with the meeting with the City of Rock Springs on their proposed transmission line, they are drafting a memorandum of understanding for the project and will send it to the city for review. At the February 11th workshop, Mr. Nieters will be going over the five-year plan and the Community Development Department will be presenting the updates on the aerial GIS mapping of the city. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT Mr. West had nothing to report. MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS Council Member Peterson thanked Mr. West, Mr. Black, and the Community Development Department for running the three contractors out of the city because their work was not up to standards. Council Member McCullough said he went and talked to the Finance Department. The city’s budget is around $32 million, with $16 million going towards capital projects, and $16 million to the General Fund. It is being estimated that, at the end of the fiscal year, the city will have $200,000 and that is on the conservative side. He feels the city has overreacted and never should have brought up layoffs. He is recommending that they delay the depot project until this time next year. Council Member Coppolo said once they find out how much it is going to cost for curb side recycling, they need to inform the public and see what they would like to do. It is going to be up to the citizens, if they want to pay for it or not. Council Member Maes said she agrees with Council Member McCullough. The government shut down hurt small governments by affecting the sales tax revenues. She agrees that the city should delay the depot. They need to keep an eye on the sales tax revenues to get a better idea of where the city stands before they commit to the project. When you mention layoffs it affects people and it is the last option. She reminded everyone about the Crystal Classic Winter Festival on February 14th and 15th, 2014. Council Member Killpack said the depot needs to be delayed. He asked Mr. Black if he has had a chance to speak with the Wyoming Business Council to see if they would allow the project to be delayed. Mr. Black said the existing contract provides six months without the need of a written amendment, but if they would like to go longer, than they will have to ask for the extension. As of right now, they have $500,000 set aside for the depot; out of that, there has only been $25,000 committed on the clean-up grant match. What is important to know is the revenues are not there for the special projects. When they add in all of the capital projects the city will end up being $3 million short, and that is what Mr. Nieters will be going over during the next workshop. Council Member Killpack said the depot is a long term project. He does not want to get into a contract that will later cause layoffs. He will not vote for any layoffs. Council Member Stokes agreed. The city employees are first, projects are least important. He will not agree to any layoffs. The Mayor said he and Mr. Black will be having a discussion about the budget on Thursday, February 6, 2014, at the Golden Hour Senior Citizen Center, at 10:30 am. Mr. Black said to clarify; the city has not revoked any contractor licenses at this point. There were some issues with property owners not keeping up with maintenance on their properties. City Council Proceedings February 4, 2014 Page 5 of 6 ADJOURNMENT Council Member Coppolo moved to adjourn at 8:42 pm. Council Member McCullough seconded. Motion carried. (7-0) ______________________________ H. Castillon, Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ Jeffrey V. Nieters, City Clerk City Council Proceedings February 4, 2014 Page 6 of 6