City Council Meetings

CITY OF GREEN RIVER CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP PROCEEDINGS February 10, 2015 The Governing Body of the City of Green River met in workshop session at 6:30 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor Rust called the meeting to order. The following Council Members were present: Mark Peterson, Allan Wilson, Ted Barney, Brett Stokes, Gary Killpack, and Lisa Maes. The following were present representing the City: Director of Public Works Mike Nelson, Director of Human Resource Cari Kragovich, and City Engineer/Utility Manager Mark Westenskow Council Member Barney asked that an executive session for personnel issues be added to the agenda at the end of the meeting. Council Member Peterson seconded. Motion carried (7-0) Airport Final Master Plan and Drawings Rick Patton with GDA Engineers talked about the Airport Final Master Plan and their findings. Council Member Peterson asked for an estimate on how much it would cost to make the airport functional. Mr. Patton stated a paved runway is the first thing that needs to be looked at and removing the hump in the middle of it. He stated it would all depend on how much the city did in house and what they would contract out. Council Member Peterson stated the state has been very generous with the grants received for the airport. Council Member Killpack asked with the hump on the runway is it usable? Mr. Patton stated it is. It is defined by a NOTAM (Notice to Airman) that means the hump is listed so pilots would know it’s there. Mr. Patton stated in its current condition, the runway needs to be compacted making sure there is no loose dirt and no gopher holes. He stated the fence project and the security that has been put up, has helped keep the garbage and cattle off the runway. Council Member Killpack stated there is cameras, but doesn’t think they are working and the sign says it’s under surveillance. Mr. Wilson stated there are two cameras up there with sim cards in them that staff can pull. Mr. Patton stated they don’t use the cameras for security. They are used to see what kind of traffic is coming and going at the airport. Council Member Killpack asked how they would know. Mr. Patton stated the airport task force will pull the sim cards and look at them. He stated it is the best way to track the traffic. Council Member Wilson asked if the city paves the runway does the city have to carry liability insurance. Mr. West stated the city would have to carry liability insurance. Council Member Wilson asked if we had a heavy snowfall and the city can’t get up there right away to plow and a plane crashes and the fire department has to go outside city limits, would the city be liable. City Council Workshop Proceedings February 10, 2015 Page 1 of 5 Mr. Patton stated a snowplow is an eligible cost if you want to go to the state and ask for one. He stated this would be another NOTAM so pilots would know the runway is not plowed for a couple hours after a snow storm. Council Member Wilson asked if the city has private hangers with fuel, would the city have to comply with DEQ and EPA to keep fuel at the airport. Mr. Patton stated you would have to follow those standards. He stated there are only a handful of airports that have fuel available. Council Member Wilson stated if we are going to pave the runway and do snow removal will the city be required to have fire protection. Mr. Patton stated there is no requirement to have fire protection for the type of airport the city would operate. Council Member Peterson asked if the Airport Task Force was just asking for a paved runway and not a big airport. Mr. Patton stated the Airport Master Plans are showing plans for runways, five tie downs and parking. Council Member Peterson asked how many towns smaller than Green River have an airstrip. Mr. Patton stated almost every other community the same size has a strip. Council Member Killpack asked with the Rock Springs Airport being established and so close, would Green River get any revenue. Mr. Patton stated general aviation airports very seldom make any revenue. Council Member Killpack stated the Evanston and Fort Bridger Airports claim to provide local jobs and bring in revenue. Mr. Patton stated what Council Member Killpack is looking at is an Economic Development Study the state reports on. Patsy Sorenson asked if the fencing at the airport was to keep wildlife off the runway. Mr. Patton stated it was more for keeping cattle off the runway. He stated they haven’t noticed an issue with wildlife yet. Council Member Wilson asked if the master plan was good for five years. Mr. Patton stated it is typically good for five to seven years but the City of Green River is not required to comply because they are not under any federal insurance. He stated this master plan would suit the city very well until we have a paved runway. Council Member Killpack stated we are not eligible for Federal Funds but there are State Funds available. He also noted there are 45 airports vying for that money. Mr. Patton stated that is correct. He stated there is a priority list and you compete on safety level issues that need done. He stated it is one safety issue against another. Council Member Killpack stated now that the master plan is done, what does the task force want the council to do. Mr. Patton stated the first thing that needs to be done is the hump removed and the runway paved. Council Member Killpack stated the feedback he is getting is the citizens do not want an airport. City Council Workshop Proceedings February 10, 2015 Page 2 of 5 Council Member Barney asked if projects like this qualify for economic development tax credits. Mr. Patton stated those tax credits are typically funds related to jobs. Holden Wright gave a brief description on the funds related to building the airport and the state funds that are available. Ed Decastro with the airport task force stated they just want approval to move forward on getting the runway paved. He stated there is a viable aviation community in this county and the airport will be used. Council Member Killpack asked Mr. Decastro why not use Rock Springs Airport. Mr. Decastro stated he does use Rock Springs. He stated that his classes are at the Green River Campus and the Rock Springs Airport is out of space to do maintenance work on planes. Council Member Maes asked, as the airport is currently, are we bound to maintain it. Mr. Decastro stated he thinks they can make progress without spending any more money than is currently being spent. Mr. Holden stated it is two guys with a blade for about a week on a yearly basis. Council Member Wilson stated he thinks they do it twice a year. Mayor Rust asked the task force what they want the city to do. Mr. Decastro stated the airport task force would like to become an airport board and attempt to make the airport viable. Council Member Stokes stated he thinks there needs to be a board formed. Council Member Wilson stated he is in favor of forming a board. He stated he would like them to put together options on what they would like to do and the funds that are needed. Mr. McPherson with the Airport Task Force stated all they wanted was the city’s support and sponsorship. Mayor Rust stated he thinks it’s a good idea to form an airport board. Charter Ordinance Council Member Wilson stated in Section 2 he would like the comma after city removed and in paragraph two he would like (subject to the daily supervision and control of the Mayor) removed and change Mayor to Governing Body. Council Member Killpack stated he agrees with Council Member Wilson and would also like to see additional changes. He stated in Section 2 (b) he has concerns with the sentence (In no event shall an incumbent member of the Governing Body serve as both a member thereof and as permanent City Administrator) he would like (or) added after permanent. In Section 2 (e) he stated the city does not have a personnel board so he would like that sentence removed or a board formed. In Section 2 (g) he would like the words City Council changed to Governing Body. Mr. West stated if he is directed to change the charter ordinance he will do that, if it is what two thirds of the Governing Body wants him to do. He stated it is all in how you read it. Council Member Killpack stated the reason he has brought this forward is because in the past it has been an issue. Mr. West stated it is a philosophical issue on how the Governing Body wants to run the City. City Council Workshop Proceedings February 10, 2015 Page 3 of 5 Council Member Killpack stated he thinks the Governing Body needs to know what their boundaries are. He stated he does not have a problem with the day to day supervision but with the wording the way it is one individual can decide what is important or what is not important without the Governing Body’s approval. Mr. West stated he agrees that the Governing Body should decide what the priorities are for the city but if the Governing Body sets those priorities and the Mayor acts contrary to those priorities the Mayor is out of line. Mayor Rust stated it’s his job to implement through the City Administrator, what the council’s priorities are. Mr. West stated he can change whatever wording they want as long as they have two thirds of a vote. He stated you get to a charter ordinance by looking at state statues for first class cities and you go from there on how you want your city to run and what type of government you want to run the city. Council Member Killpack stated he would just like some clarification on some of the wording. Mr. West stated it is all on how you read it. No one reads it the same and the wording has not stopped the Governing Body in the past from doing what they want. Mayor Rust asked for the council members to write down the changes they would like to see made. Council Member Barney asked how they could go about discussing the issues without stepping out of their boundaries. Mr. West stated as long as you talk in groups of three or less it is fine to discuss it. He stated if it gets to a point that five are in favor of amending the Charter of Ordinance it can be brought before the Governing Body for a vote. Council Member Barney stated he would like to look at it and have everything in black and white so they know how to address the issues. Council Member Stokes, Maes and Wilson would also like to look into the changes. City Administrator’s Report Nothing to report City Attorney’s Report Nothing to report Mayor and Council Reports Council Member Stokes and Killpack had nothing to report. Council Member Maes reminded everyone this weekend is the Crystal Classic at the Island. Council Member Barney stated he put on Facebook what qualities you are looking for in the new City Administrator. He stated he has had several responses. Council Member Peterson had nothing to report. Council Member Wilson stated citizens would like to see the Banners and Way Finding Project sign put up around the city. He asked if it could be considered in the budget. Mayor Rust stated he met with Pat Robbins and they do have grant money for Banner and Way Finding Project. He stated as soon as they get a City Administrator hired, he would like to move forward with the goal setting session. City Council Workshop Proceedings February 10, 2015 Page 4 of 5 ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION Council Member Barney moved to adjourn to executive session to discuss personnel issues at 8:33 pm. Council Member Stokes seconded. Motion carried (7-0) RECONVENE Council Member Killpack moved to reconvene at 9:20 pm. Council Member Peterson seconded. Motion carried (7-0) ADJOURNMENT Council Member Maes moved to adjourn at 9:21 pm. Council Member Stokes seconded. Motion carried (7-0) ________________________________ Pete Rust, Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ Jeffrey V. Nieters, City Clerk City Council Workshop Proceedings February 10, 2015 Page 5 of 5