City Council Meetings

CITY OF GREEN RIVER CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP PROCEEDINGS March 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. Vice President Lisa Maes called the meeting to order. The following Council Members were present: Mark Peterson, Allan Wilson, Ted Barney, and Gary Killpack. The following were present representing the City: Acting City Administrator Chris Steffen, Director of Public Works Mike Nelson, City Engineer/Utility Manager Mark Westenskow and Director of Community Development Laura Profaizer. Community Development Department Staffing Needs Ms. Profaizer gave a brief update on the staffing needs in the Community Development Department and how it has changed over the last couple of years. She listed the job description of the Department Head and what is under each department. She listed the budgeted employees for the past four years. FYE 2011 they had 7 full time; 2 part time; 1 seasonal and 1 contract FYE 2012-2014 they had 6 full time, 1 part time, and 1 contact FYE 2015 – present; 4 full time, 1 part time and 1 contract She stated they would like to add two new full time employees: Inspector and a Planner, in this budget session. Council Member Killpack asked what the budget, was for the contract employee under the building division. Ms. Profaizer stated the current amount budgeted is $20,000. Council Member Killpack asked if they’ve had any complaints with any employees or from citizens because we are paying a contract employee. Ms. Profaizer stated there has not been but doesn’t feel it is right to pay a contract employee when there is probably a citizen that could fill this job. Council Member Killpack stated he would like to see URA/Main Street back under Community Development. Ms. Profaizer stated she thinks it should be under the umbrella of Community Development. Council Member Peterson stated they signed a contract with the URA/Main Street Board for them to be over that department. Ms. Profaizer stated someone still has to sign off on the invoices but the board would be over the day to day activities. Council Member Maes stated the URA/Main Street works closely with Community Development and thinks they should be put back under Community Development. Council Member Wilson stated he thinks they should be put back under Community Development because the two departments should be working closely together. He stated he thinks Community Development does need a Junior Building Inspector and Planner. Council Member Peterson asked what the qualifications would be for the Junior Building Inspector. Ms. Profaizer stated it will require a bachelor’s degree and three years’ experience. Council Member Peterson asked if the city has ever come off the hiring freeze. City Council Workshop Proceedings March 10, 2015 Page 1 of 5 Council Member Wilson stated there was never an official hiring freeze. It was left up to the discretion of the City Administrator. Council Member Killpack asked if the URA/Main Street was put back under Community Development would Ms. Profaizer be okay with that. Ms. Profaizer stated with the current employees in her department she would not be able to do them justice being there department head. Council Member Maes stated if they hire the two new positions would she be able too. Ms. Profaizer stated she would. Council Member Killpack and Wilson stated they would like the two positions be considered in this budget session. Police Department Staffing Needs Chris Steffen gave a historical update on the Police Department staffing needs. Tom Jarvie gave a brief update on the unique staffing issues for patrol and why they need another patrol officer. He stated their primary duties are: • Patrol - Respond to calls for service 24/7/365 - Report writing, evidence collection, etc. - Self-Initiated enforcement Traffic Ordinance Violations - Preventive Patrol Visibility Property checks - Other duties as assigned He stated in: FYE 1982 – 19 officers FYE 1991 – 18 officers FYE 2004 – present -17 officers Council Member Peterson asked if they have ever looked at a twelve hour shift. Mr. Jarvie stated there have been a lot of studies on twelve hour shifts and they are all negative. Council Member Wilson asked now they are moved into the new facility is there any issues with security. He stated he thinks that they should also add a part time security/court officer to their budget request. Mr. Jarvie stated they would like an officer in the building at all times but with the current staff it is hard to have a police officer there. Council Member Killpack asked what the overtime hours are and if the council approved another officer would that reduce the number of overtime hours. Mr. Jarvie stated it would reduce the number of overtime hours considerably. Council Member Killpack asked if the City Administrator gave direction there would be no overtime, how would affect them. Mr. Jarvie stated that would definitely effect how they do business. Two of their biggest overtime issues is flaming Gorge Days and doing reports at the end of a shift. Council Member Barney asked when an officer has to testify in court who pays the overtime. Mr. Jarvie stated the city does. City Council Workshop Proceedings March 10, 2015 Page 2 of 5 Council Member Wilson stated he thinks they should also add a security/court officer in their current budget request. Mr. Steffen stated in the future they will ask for a security/court officer but their current priority is a patrol officer. He stated it will still take years to fill just the patrol shifts. Council Member Killpack stated he thinks the Police Department does need another Patrol Officer and should ask for the position in their budget request. He also stated he would like to see the employees get a raise this budget session. Council Member Maes stated she would like to see the issues with the Court Building fixed in this budget session and asked who would request that. Mr. Steffen stated Judge Petri and Ms. Gardea would be in charge of that request. He stated the audio for the court room has been fixed. Wastewater Planning Projects Update Mr. Westenskow gave a brief update on two studies they initiated in 2014. The Northside Lift Station Phase I with Sunshine Engineering and the Wastewater Treatment Plant with Keller and Associates. Kia Kreusel and Bryan Phinney with Keller and Associates gave updates on the Wastewater Treatment Plant and recommendations on the project. Council Member Peterson asked when they would be committed into a price range. Mr. Phinney stated he thinks they are there now. He stated the 25 million was from a study level and they have received quotes from manufactures but the prices are not locked in. Mr. Westenskow stated they don’t need to be done until 2020 so it gives them a little more breathing room. Council Member Peterson stated he thought this was based on at 4800 customers paying but the study states 5300 customers. Mr. Kreusel stated the 5300 customers include commercial connections too. Council Member Peterson asked if we were looking at a $3 dollar a month rate increase this budget session. Mr. Westenskow stated it’s in that range but it would depend on what kind of finance package they secured. He stated the more success they have with grants the more that will bring the number down. He stated he thinks we do need to start increasing the waste water rate. Council Member Peterson asked for a ball park on what the increase would be. Mr. Westenskow stated wastewater is an Enterprise Fund it’s not run like the General Fund. He stated it is run like a business and is strictly rate based. He stated they need to be on a timeline with rate increases. He stated if they are not successful with grant funding the rate will need to go up substantially. He doesn’t know how much. Council Member Killpack asked if anyone would give us the loan amount we would be asking for. Mr. Westenskow stated the revolving fund balance loans are set up for a situation like this. He stated when this project is finished it will be a long term asset. Council Member Killpack stated we need to start increasing the rate now so we are closer to the amount when we need it. Mr. Westenskow stated we do need to start increasing rates by dollars not pennies. City Council Workshop Proceedings March 10, 2015 Page 3 of 5 Council Member Wilson stated we need to start doing small jumps rather than one big jump when we are desperate. He stated he would like to see it brought before the City Administrator for a rate increase and would also like to see the citizens made aware of the rate increase and the reason why. Mr. Westenskow stated he thinks the citizens do need to be made aware of the rate increases also. Council Member Killpack asked if it is an Enterprise Fund can we use other money to back it. Mr. Westenskow stated we can use other money to back it. We just can’t use enterprise money for anything else. Council Member Maes stated they have discussed the rate increase multiple times before and have always decided not to increase the rates. She stated we would be in a better position if they had started the increase years ago. Mr. Westenskow stated the increased rates are not uncommon for this type of facility. He asked the council to come down and tour the wastewater plant. Mr. Phinney asked the council to call with any questions they might have and invited them to take a tour of one of these types of facilities. City Administrator’s Report Mr. Steffen asked the council if they would like him to put the Flaming Gorge Days Committee’s request on the next council meeting agenda. Mr. Wilson stated he is only willing to help with $25,000 as a onetime thing. Council Member Killpack stated he looked at their checking account and thinks the council should only give them $25,000 now or wait until after their event and then decide. Council Member Wilson stated he thinks the council needs to add a city liaison to their board. Council Member Killpack stated he thinks the City Administrator should be the city liaison. Council Member Peterson stated he is in support of giving them the $100,000 they are asking for. It is a once a year city event and the council needs to support it. Council Member Wilson stated this is a want and he feels they need to prioritize and worry about the needs first. Council Member Killpack stated we need to be careful with the wants and the needs. Council Member Maes stated the report they brought in is not accurate and you can’t compare it to what the books are saying now. She stated she thinks it needs to be put on the next council agenda for discussion. Mr. Steffen stated he thinks the council should look at it during the budget session and see what they would be willing to give them; he doesn’t feel like it needs to be rushed. Council Member Killpack stated he also thinks they should wait and make a decision later. Council Member Wilson stated after they have the draft budget would be a better time to decide. Council Member Killpack asked Council Member Wilson if he knows how much it costs to put on their event. Council Member Wilson stated it costs around $120,000. It was decided it will be discussed during the budget process. City Council Workshop Proceedings March 10, 2015 Page 4 of 5 Mayor and Council Reports Council Member Wilson stated he thinks the elderly and veterans need to get into the Recreation Center for free. Council Members Barney and Killpack agreed. Council Member Barney wanted to let the citizens know that the American Legion Magazine will be here next month. Council Member Killpack asked the City Administrator and the Department Heads to find some way to give the employees a raise this budget session. Council Member Wilson stated it is time to give the employees a raise and no stipend. Council Member Maes agreed it is time to give the employees some type of raise. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9 pm. ____________________________________ Pete Rust, Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ Jeffrey V. Nieters, City Clerk City Council Workshop Proceedings March 10, 2015 Page 5 of 5