City Council Meetings

CITY OF GREEN RIVER CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP PROCEEDINGS September 22, 2015 The Governing Body of the City of Green River met in workshop session at 6:30 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers. Council President Stokes called the meeting to order. The following Council Members were present: Mark Peterson, Ted Barney, Allan Wilson, Gary Killpack, and Lisa Maes. The following were present representing the City: City Administrator Reed Clevenger, Human Resource Director Cari Kragovich, Director of Public Works Mike Nelson, City Engineer/ Utility Manager Mark Westenskow, Director of Finance Chris Meats, Director of Community Development Laura Profazier, Chief of Police Chris Steffen, Assistance Fire Chief Mike Liberty, and Parks and Recreation Director Brad Raney. Goal Setting and Future Planning Mr. Clevenger said first the discussion will be on the UP Depot. Mrs. Profazier will be giving an update on the available land/properties in the city. Mr. Westenskow will give an update on the 2nd South Street Project. Ms. Springer said the UP Depot has been on the table for a while and she would like to discuss development options and future plans for the building since there are declining revenues. The EPA awarded $200,000 grant in 2014 which carried obligations and restrictions in terms of implementation and period. The clean-up grant is allocated for the removal of asbestos, lead paint, and PCB’s existing in the building. The city’s financial obligation is $49,869 in matching funds of which $27,742 is composed of in-kind services. Clean-up at the site has not begun due to complications regarding the description of the property. In order to comply with the abatement of the project the city became involved in a program that is administered by the DEQ and is called the Voluntary Remediation Project. The reason the city became involved was for the expertise that will make sure the clean-up is done properly. There are standards that have to be met in order to be part of the agreement. This agreement has to be registered with the county and that was not done because the legal description of the building did not qualify. Staff had a survey completed for $3,000 and it has to go to the UPRR for approval and then it will go to the county. If the city decides to move forward with the abatement, the next step is to record the document with DEQ and record it with the county and then go out for bid. The city has not contributed to the release of any hazardous substances from the site and the site had been sealed since 2012. The project was unattainable at the time due to declining revenues so a letter was sent to the Wyoming Business Council asking them to de-obligate the funds awarded to the city in 2013. The cost of the project so far:  Grant writer $40,000 for the Wyoming Business Council Grant  $500,000 budget line that was allocated to the grant  Advertisements $1,000  Volunteer Remediation Program $2,000 projected cost is around $5,000  IHI (a firm that will verify the abatement is completed) $4,000  Cash match if abatement is done $22,000  Survey $3,000  Removal of interior debris cost is unknown  Basic renovation, engineering fees, ect. $275,000 (estimated) Actual spent $69,000 Funds received so far:  Wyoming Business Council $14,000  Brownsfield grant $200,000 Council Member Wilson said there was more spent when the grants were written. It was around $77,000 for the $1 million grant and for the Wyoming Business Council Grant. Council Member Killpack asked if the $275,000 projection is for the abatement of the Depot. City Council Workshop Proceedings September 22, 2015 Page 1 of 4 Ms. Springer said no. The $275,000 would be for sealing the building and has nothing to do with the abatement. Council Member Peterson asked if there has been any discussion on how to generate revenue from the building. Ms. Springer said the way the Wyoming Business Council grant was written the building would never generate revenue. Council Member Maes said the Feasibility Study was completed and it gave the idea for a restaurant area and then some area for art, so it would have generated revenue. Council Member Barney said one thing that needs to be remembered is the funds from tax credits. Ms. Springer said if the building is left unsealed people will assume no one cares about it. Sealing the building could help prevent any vandalism and if decided to move forward now, could keep costs down. The city has a project that is historic and is in line with a lot of initiatives that could be used. It is well positioned for funding that might not be available for other buildings. There are some questions that need to be addressed:  Can the footprint be reduced or does it have to be completed in one phase.  Can some of the work be completed for less by city staff  Should the city look at private investment for the site  Loan components  Could the city create an enterprise zone with special tax benefits  Are there state funds available and does the city want to pursue  How to leverage private investor funds and grant funds  If the city chooses not to move forward will the UPRR take the building back  The building has to be abated so who will be responsible  How much will the building cost to tear down and dispose of Ms. Springer said she does find that this project has merit and she knows it will cost money and time. Council Member Peterson asked if anyone has talked with a realtor to see what the value of the building is. Ms. Springer said no. Council Member Wilson said the city can’t sell it since we don’t own the land. Council Member Killpack asked how much it is going to cost to fix the building. Mr. Clevenger said the funds that are available are $500,000 and that can be used to seal the building and for the abatement. There are many grants available with small matches for private investors. The building was not looked at as an asset that could bring more people in. There are options; the city has to decide what they want to do. Council Member Killpack asked for a copy of the presentation. He asked if the city should be competing with private business. Ms. Springer said if you have something that you have created it will bring more people to the area and would benefit the downtown area. Council Member Barney asked for a copy of the lease agreement from the UPRR. City Council Workshop Proceedings September 22, 2015 Page 2 of 4 Council Member Wilson said the city has invested a lot of money and time on this project. The longer the building sits vacant the more problems will occur. He is in favor of sealing the building, clean it out and then decide later what the city wants to do. Council Member Killpack said in the lease agreement the UPRR maintains the tower. The city will never own the land, so the city cannot ever completely have the building since the UPRR is only leasing the land with 30 year terms. Mr. Clevenger said if the city was to bring something in to the building, business wise, there would be something written in the lease to protect it. He agrees that the building needs to be closed up and cleaned up. Ms. Springer said the UPRR cannot sell their land but they will negotiate lease options. Council Member Maes said the city has many leases with parks, viaducts, and land so she does not think the UPRR will turn around and take it back. She does like the idea of cleaning it up if there is money in the budget. Council President Stokes agrees with Council Member Wilson on sealing and cleaning the building up. City Owned Property Ms. Profaizer said there are parcels available:  The Towers Subdivision - commercial  The Wild Horse Canyon Subdivision - commercial  Lincoln School Addition Tract B – residential  Riverfront Properties – residential  Wastewater Treatment Plant Property – light industrial  River Parcel – adjacent to Road and Bridge – Heavy Industrial Council Member Wilson suggested putting the Wild Horse Canyon Subdivision and Lincoln School Addition parcels out for bid to see if anyone is interested. Council Member Peterson asked if she could break the Wild Horse Canyon parcel that is 4 acres up into 1 acre parcels. Ms. Profazier said it would have to go through a zoning change but she would recommend keeping it as one. Council Member Killpack said the city should discuss the park requirement on Lincoln School Tract B and C. The city has a lot of parks in the town. 2nd South Street Rehabilitation Project Mr. Westenskow said this project was funded through the special purpose tax in 2012 and scheduled to be started in 2016. The scope of the work includes streets surface from the underpass to the concrete on Uinta Drive. Everything that is there will be replaced including water line, curbs, pavement, and asphalt. Currently, they are tying up the plans and making sure they are following the plans. This street does have a lot of traffic and will be considered when the project starts. They are planning to include alternates such as decorative lighting, trees, and retaining wall extensions. Knowing these items cost extra they have been looking at grants that might be able to be used to cover these beautification enhancements. Council Member Peterson said he has plans of extending the pavilion. Council Member Maes thanked Mr. Westenskow for looking in to beautifying that area. She said the Joint Powers Telecom Board is interested in putting more fiber in the street while they have the street tore up. Mr. Westenskow said they have planned conduit for that. City Council Workshop Proceedings September 22, 2015 Page 3 of 4 City Administrator’s Report Mr. Clevenger said they will move forward with the UP Depot project costs and put it on another council. He will also move forward with putting the land out for bid to see what interests there is. Mayor and Council Reports Council Member Wilson said the presentations were very good. He asked when the budget books would be available. He asked for a copy of the lease with the UPRR. Mr. Meats said they are working on a new format so they will be available as soon as possible. Council Member Peterson had nothing to report. Council Member Barney said the trees are still a concern with the residents. He received a copy of an email about repairing some graves at the cemetery and he would like them fixed. Council Member Maes said a constituent called her and said he could not hear some council members during meetings. She asked council to speak into their microphones. Council Member Killpack thanked everyone for their presentations. The Depot needs to be abated and sealed. He asked if the sales tax revenues come in around $900,000 yet and how far behind budget wise is the city. Mr. Clevenger said there is a down turn but right now we are ok. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:01 pm. _______________________ Pete Rust, Mayor ATTEST: _____________________ Chris Meats, City Clerk City Council Workshop Proceedings September 22, 2015 Page 4 of 4