City Council Meetings

CITY OF GREEN RIVER CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS March 18, 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, Brett Stokes, and Lisa Maes. The following were present representing the City: City Administrator Marty Black, Director of Public Works Mike Nelson, City Engineer/Utility Manager Mark Westenskow, City Engineer Holden Wright, Director of Finance Jeff Nieters, Director of Community Development Laura Leigh, Chief of Police Chris Steffen, Fire Chief/Emergency Services Mike Kennedy, Parks and Recreation Director Allan Wilson, Parks, Facilities, and Project Manager Erek Roosa, URA/Main Street Administrator Jennie Melvin, and City Attorney Galen West. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Council Member Killpack moved to move Consent Agenda Item E: Establishment of Employee Health Insurance Rates for FY2015 and Item H: Approval of Financial Reports and Payment of Bills to Council Action Items: D and E. Council Member Stokes seconded. Motion carried. (6- 0) Council Member Coppolo moved to approve the amended agenda. Council Member Stokes seconded. Motion carried. (6-0) PRESENTATIONS Muley Fanatic Foundation of Wyoming Josh Coursey from the Muley Fanatic Foundation of Wyoming presented the Mayor with a framed picture as a trophy for winning the Mayor’s Duel that took place at their fundraiser. Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism Jenissa Bartlett gave a brief update on the Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism annual report. SW-WRAP Programs Cathie Hughes gave a brief update on SW-WRAP programs. BOARD AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS Green River Arts Council Council Member Killpack moved to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Bryce Castillon to the Green River Arts Council for a two-year term. Motion carried (5-0-1) with the Mayor abstaining. CITIZEN REQUESTS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS Resident Patsy Sorenson said she is concerned that the city council is not listening to their constituents on the airport. It is more of a want instead of a need, and no one is in support of the airport, but the council is still moving forward with the project. Steve Core, from School District #2, said the legislature awarded $400 million for schools in Wyoming and they will receive $18 million. Expedition Academy will be moving to a building on Upland. The new swimming pool is on schedule. Wilson Elementary will be opening again with additional classrooms, and improvements will be done to Monroe School in two phases. The first is to improve security by changing the front offices, and then they will fill in the pool, and add classrooms. The money will not be available until July so it will delay some of the projects. Mr. Core said he could set up a tour of the new swimming facility if any council members would like to see it to let him know. City Council Proceedings March 18, 2014 Page 1 of 7 The Mayor said he would like to take him up on the tour of the swimming facility. Mr. Core asked the Mayor to give him a call and he would set a tour up. Resident Jim Punches said he supports the airport. Green River is the only large city in Wyoming that does not have an airport. Having an airport could bring in a lot of money to the local economy. RESOLUTIONS WYDOT Aeronautics Grant R14-13: A resolution of the governing body of the City of Green River, Wyoming, to accept and sign a grant agreement with WYDOT Aeronautics Division for the City’s Airport Project in the amount of $90,000 and to approve an increase in the Capital Projects Fund in the amount of $115,000. Council Member Coppolo moved to approve the resolution. Council Member Peterson seconded. Council Member Coppolo said it is a common misconception that the city is going to build an airport, we are just moving forward with a master plan. The master plan will give us the information that we need to see if it is a possibility or not. Council Member Peterson said the city is stagnant and it needs to grow. This airport could help a lot. The Mayor said this is a study of the feasibility of an airport. The first public forum meeting on the airport was not very well attended. If citizens have concerns they should come and voice their opinion at the meetings so council will know what people think. Council Member Peterson said it costs $1 million a month to run the city. The revenue from the airport would help. Mr. Punches said the airport in Evanston makes $12 million a year. If the city could do anything close to that return rate it could make around $1 million a month. Council Member Killpack said the city does not qualify for federal funding on the airport so we need to make sure facts and rates are accurate. Evanston does not have another airport 30 miles away so comparing to them is not accurate. Barry Tippy from the Airport Taskforce said the numbers are not known at all. We are the seventh largest city in Wyoming and we don’t have an airport. He is not saying the city will have a commercial airport. The master plan will give the board, the city, and the residents more information. He encouraged residents to attend one of the public information meetings so they can discuss their concerns and get the information out to the public. Motion carried (5-1) with Council Member Killpack voting no. Budget Modification for the Municipal Court R14-14: A resolution for the governing body of the City of Green River, Wyoming, to approve a modification in the General Fund for the Court’s budget for increased costs in the court appointed lawyers in the amount of $2,000. Council Member Stokes moved to approve the resolution for a modification in the General Fund for the Court’s increased costs in the court appointed lawyers in the amount of $2,000. Council Member Maes seconded. Judge Jason Petri said this amendment to the budget is necessary not because there is an increase in costs but how the funding works. When there is an attorney appointed to a case they are paid City Council Proceedings March 18, 2014 Page 2 of 7 directly out of the court’s budget. He orders the people who receive a court appointed attorney to pay back the court for those services. The funds that are collected for those services are put into the General Fund instead of going directly back into the court’s budget, and that is why they are short. Motion carried. (6-0) Budget Modification for the Pavilion R14-15: A resolution of the governing body of the City of Green River, Wyoming, to approve a modification in the General Fund for the Parks and Recreation Department to increase the Pavilion utility budget in the amount of $8,000. Council Member Peterson moved to approve the resolution for a budget modification in the General Fund for the Parks and Recreation Department to increase the Pavilion utility budget in the amount of $8,000. Council Member Maes seconded. Motion carried. (6-0) COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS Request to Waive Business License Fees Council Member Coppolo moved to approve the request to waive the business license fees for the 2014 Farmers’ Market vendors. Council Member Killpack seconded. Council Member Killpack asked how local businesses feel about having to pay for their business license but the people coming in to compete against them do not have to. URA/Main Street Board Member Robert Berg said as a local business owner, it doesn’t even faze him. Council Member Coppolo said $10.00 is not much money. Do they think it will really make a difference if they waive it? Ms. Melvin said yes. The reason they are asking for the fees to be waived is more for local people who have some things they might want to sell. She said the fees are also waived for the Flaming Gorge Days vendors for the same reasons. Local businesses have already paid their fees for a business license so it does not affect them. She said due to poor attendance the board has recommended waiving the fees to see if it helps encourage vendors to come. Mr. Berg said the first time a vendor goes to an event they have to decide if it will be worth it or not. They have to put the money up front right away. If they know they will make some extra money, to make it worth their time, they will come back. Council Member Peterson thanked them for doing a good job and organizing the event. Council Member Killpack asked if the council needed to approve waiving the fees or if the board could decide for themselves. Mr. Black said the council has to approve it because it is a city fee. Council Member Killpack asked if they are doing business in the City of Green River, don’t they have to have a business license? Ms. Melvin said they do have to have a Traveling Merchant License. Council Member Coppolo asked if the vendors were collecting sales tax. Ms. Melvin said they do not keep track but the vendors are provided with the information on the requirements of collecting and paying sales tax. Council Member Killpack asked if the fees are waived, could it cause a legal problem down the road. City Council Proceedings March 18, 2014 Page 3 of 7 Mr. West said no; it is up to council to waive fees or impose fees. Motion carried. (6-0) Materials Testing Contract Amendment Council Member Maes moved to approve a Contract Amendment with Indo American Engineering to provide Quality Control and Materials Testing Services for the 2014 Street Improvement Project. Council Member Stokes seconded. Mr. Wright said this is to cover the costs of material testing for the 2014 Street Improvement Project and is less than the amount normally charged. Council Member Peterson asked how long the city has been doing business with the company. Mr. Wright said since 2012. Motion carried. (6-0) Bid Withdrawal for Lincoln Tracts A & B Council Member Coppolo moved to accept AT & B, LLC’s withdrawal of their bid for the Lincoln Tracts A and B and to refund their $9,000 deposit. Council Member Peterson seconded. Council Member Killpack asked why they are withdrawing their bid and why the city should refund their money. Mr. Black said after looking at the market conditions, and the cost to develop the property itself, the company decided not to move forward at this point because it wasn’t feasible for them. Staff reviewed the request, and since the city is not under any contract they feel it is fair to return the deposit. Council Member Killpack asked if they are required to pay a deposit, why isn’t there a contract? Mr. Black said when they place a bid they have to give a deposit along with it. Mr. Nieters said when you go out for bid you have to have a bid bond to protect the city. It is a bond saying the company will honor their bid. Council Member Killpack asked if the company doesn’t get the bid, is their bond returned. Mr. Nieters said yes. Council Member Coppolo said if a bond is put up to buy property, isn’t that the purpose of the bond. Why is the city giving the deposit back if AT & B, LLC are backing out? Mr. West said yes. Legally, it is a policy decision. It is the city’s legal right to return or keep the bid bond. Council Member Killpack asked how long the property was taken off the market to honor their bid. Ms. Leigh said the delay was partly the city’s fault because the city was working with the federal government to release the grant associated with the property. They were the only bidder on the property. If it goes out for bid again, there won’t be any restrictions since the federal government has released any grant obligations associated with the property. Motion carried (5-1) with Council Member Coppolo voting no. Establishment of Employee Health Insurance Rates for FY2015 City Council Proceedings March 18, 2014 Page 4 of 7 Council Member Killpack moved to establish the employee health insurance rates for FY2015. Council Member Stokes seconded. Council Member Killpack said the employees need to be recognized for keeping the health insurance rates low. He asked how much the 2% increase is going to cost. Mr. Black said it will depend on what level of coverage the employee picks. Each full-time employee has the opportunity to pick what best suits them and their family. Council Member Killpack asked if there are any benefit changes. Mr. Black said the only changes are the ones that come with the health care reform. They are getting more of a benefit for less. The employees need to be recognized because this is the lowest rate increase in the region. Motion carried. (6-0) Approval of Financial Reports and Payment of Bills Council Member Killpack moved to approve the financial reports and payment and bills. Council Member Coppolo seconded. Council Member Killpack asked why the Radio Network invoices that were approved by council at the last meeting were not included in the outstanding invoices. Mr. Black said there is $900 worth of invoices that are being paid to the Radio Network but he is not sure if those invoices are included. Council Member Killpack said the four invoices are not included. Mr. Nieters said Council Member Killpack is correct. The Radio Network agenda ads are not included in the outstanding invoices. The invoices that are being paid are for the Crystal Classic advertising and the Recreation Center advertising. Council Member Killpack asked if the invoices were submitted to Finance. Mr. Nieters said no. Council Member Killpack asked Mr. Black when the invoices will be submitted and paid. Mr. Black said he presumed the invoices would be paid by Finance. He did not think the invoices would have to be resubmitted. Council Member Killpack asked if the Radio Network had been contacted to reestablish the ads. Mr. Black said the city had not received any invoices from the Radio Network, and Council Member McCullough had told him the Radio Network was going to continue the ads as a courtesy. It is up to the Radio Network to invoice the city for those services. Council Member Killpack said the city should have contacted them to reinstate the services. Mr. Black said the motion was to reinstate the payment of the invoices and to continue the service going forward. The city does not approve an ad, the Radio Network just reads the council meeting tentative agenda. Mr. Core said the Radio Network did not receive a call or anything to let them know. Council Member Killpack asked if they would need to be called to reinstate the services. Mr. Core said yes. When a contract is cancelled and then reinstated, they need to be contacted. City Council Proceedings March 18, 2014 Page 5 of 7 Council Member Stokes said that is exactly what is going to happen this week. He apologized and said it will be taken care of because it is what council approved. Mr. Black said he understood the Radio Network was aware of what council had approved since their representative was in attendance. Mr. Pauley said he was answering questions as a member of the press. Council Member Killpack said the city needs to contact the Radio Network to reinstate the services. Mr. Core said someone from the Finance Department contacted them and asked if the invoices were paid, and they were told no. Mr. Black said the city will call them and make sure the services are reinstated. Mr. Core said he will bring in an agreement tomorrow. Motion carried. (6-0) CONSENT AGENDA Council Member Coppolo moved to approve the following consent agenda items. Council Member Peterson seconded. Motion carried. (6-0)  Issuance of a catering permit to the Ponderosa Bar, Inc. to cater alcoholic beverages for the Meeks wedding on April 4, 2014, at the Pavilion, from 4 pm to midnight  Request from Jessica Morrison to remove a dirt bike from the landfill  Request from the Chamber of Commerce to provide a certified timer for the Run with Horses Marathon in the amount of $1,000  WYDOT Aeronautics Division Grant submission for $5,000 for Spaceport Day 2014; authorization to receive grant funds, and for the Mayor to sign all grant documents  Glatfelter Insurance Group response to implementation of risk control recommendations  Minutes for: March 4, 2014 Council and March 11, 2014 Workshop CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT Mr. Black said staff is seeking direction on whether or not council would be interested in contacting the county in regards to Tracts A, B & C to see if they have any need for the property. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT Mr. West had nothing to report. MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS Council Member Stokes said the county coroner extended his thanks to the Green River Fire Department for helping him. He thanked everyone involved with cleaning up the house on Iowa Street. He would like to have any travel and training that council members are planning to attend come before council for approval. Council Member Killpack asked if there was going to be a sidewalk on East Teton Blvd. that is being redone. Mr. Westenskow said yes, on one side. Council Member Coppolo asked who would be responsible to repair the sidewalk since there are no homeowners by it. City Council Proceedings March 18, 2014 Page 6 of 7 Mr. Westenskow said the adjacent homeowners and the city. Council Member Killpack said a rumor has started that he does not support the Police Department, but he does, and he thanked them for all they do. Council Member Maes thanked everyone who spoke tonight. It was great to see the schools need to be reopened, that means more jobs for our area. She is not in favor of the county getting the Lincoln Tracts land. It is a prime development area and she would like to go out for bid to see if someone is interested in developing that area. Council Member Coppolo had nothing to report. Council Member Peterson said he was curious where Council Member Stokes was going with the council travel. Traveling is a great opportunity for a council member to visit other communities in Wyoming to see what is happening. Yes, money is tight, but it is important to keep up with what is happening in Wyoming. Council Member Coppolo said the mineral royalties the city receives are going down. It isn’t just sales tax that is affecting the revenues. The Mayor encouraged the citizens to come to the public meeting on the airport to voice their concerns. ADJOURNMENT Council Member Coppolo moved to adjourn at 8:41 pm. Council Member Stokes seconded. Motion carried. (6-0) ______________________________ H. Castillon, Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ Jeffrey V. Nieters, City Clerk City Council Proceedings March 18, 2014 Page 7 of 7