City Council Meetings

CITY OF GREEN RIVER CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS December 1, 2015 The Governing Body of the City of Green River met in regular session at 7 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor Pete Rust called the meeting to order. The following Council Members were present: Gary Killpack, Mark Peterson, Ted Barney, Allan Wilson, Brett Stokes, and Lisa Maes. The following were present representing the City: City Administrator Reed Clevenger, Director of Public Works Mike Nelson, City Engineer/Utility Manager Mark Westenskow, Director of Finance Chris Meats, Director of Community Development Laura Profaizer, Chief of Police Chris Steffen, Fire Chief/Emergency Services Mike Kennedy, Parks and Recreation Director Brad Raney, City Prosecutor Bobby Pineda, and City Attorney Galen West. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Council Member Killpack moved to amend the agenda and move Consent Agenda Item B: Approval of the City Administrator’s Contract Amendment No. 1 to Council Action Item C. Council Member Stokes seconded. Motion carried. (7-0) Council Member Wilson moved to approve the agenda as amended. Council Member Killpack seconded. Motion carried. (7-0) PRESENTATIONS The Mayor presented a plaque to Larry Paine in honor of his 15 years of service with the City. The Mayor presented a plaque to Norrissa I. Chitica’s parents in recognition of her service in the United States Air Force. Tom Arnold gave a brief update on the Green River Chamber of Commerce. ORDINANCES Addition to the Disorderly Conduct Ordinance 1st Reading: An ordinance adding a new division to Article IV, of Chapter 18, of the Green River Code of Ordinance, City of Green River, State of Wyoming, to establish and regulate disorderly conduct Council Member Peterson moved to approve the ordinance on 1st reading. Council Member Stokes seconded. Council Member Barney asked what the fines and punishment would be. Mr. Pineda said under general misdemeanor the standard fine would be a maximum $750 or 180 days in jail. Council Member Maes asked if there is any travelers assistance available to people that come through the city. Mr. Pineda said he is not aware of any local help. Members of the Press said there is traveler’s assistance available through a local church. The Mayor asked Mr. Clevenger to research this and then put the information on the city’s website. Mr. Clevenger said there are places that will help and have a list of numbers they can call so he will he get the information and post it to the website. City Council Proceedings December 1, 2015 Page 1 of 5 Council Member Stokes said there is a soup kitchen that functions five days a week in Rock Springs and they serve an average of 50 people every day. Motion carried. (7-0) Amendment to Ordinance 12-3, Burning Prohibited in City Limits 1st Reading: An ordinance amending Article 1 of Chapter 12, of the Green River Code of Ordinance, State of Wyoming, to establish and regulate Burning Prohibited; Bonfire Permits Council Member Maes moved to approve on first reading an Ordinance amending Article 1 of Chapter 12, of the Green River Code of Ordinance, State of Wyoming, to establish and regulate burning prohibited; bonfire permits. Council Member Peterson seconded. Chief Kennedy said they do not have a problem with fire pits in people’s yards. The intent was to make sure people weren’t breaking the law when they have a fire pit in their backyard. It would clarify the ordinance. Chief Steffen said it is a bit of an enforcement nightmare from the PD standpoint but there aren’t any problems with the fire pits now. When these things are investigated it is typically for something that is blatantly for burning garbage in a 55 gallon drum or flames being as high as a house. There are complaints of smoke but that is covered under the nuisance ordinance so they are able to deal with it. Clarifying the ordinance will help with the enforcement. Council Member Wilson said he would like to see some changes made in the ordinance for setting time limits, requiring screens over the fire pits, and the size of the fire pits. Some people are leaving the fire pits unattended while it is still burning. Chief Steffen said the ordinance as it is currently states, fires have to be attended and some other complaints can be covered under the nuisance ordinances; such as the smoke issues. Council Member Wilson asked Chief Kennedy if ten foot is an adequate amount of space. Chief Kennedy said the size of the fire is written in the ordinance which is 2 foot by 3 foot. Most of the commercial fire pits have screens so that should not be a problem. Council Member Wilson said there is nothing in the ordinance that says they can’t use a 55 gallon drum and build a huge fire. It needs to be in writing that it is required to be covered by a screen. He is not sure if 10 feet from the fire pit is enough. Chief Kennedy said he feels if the size is any larger than 10 feet most people won’t be able to have a fire pit in their backyards. Mr. Clevenger said they pulled ordinances and rules from other agencies and everything was set at 8 to 10 foot so that is why they decided on ten feet. Council Member Maes asked if someone is leaving a fire in a fire pit smoldering unattended what will be done to stop them. Chief Steffen said with any ordinance it is a finable offense if they are found to ignore the ordinance over and over again it will be taken care of. Most people are responsible with their fire pits and should be able to enjoy them responsibly. Council Member Killpack said the complainant said there is a problem with fire pits, so what is going to be done and will it be enforced if passed. Chief Steffen said they will enforce the ordinance when the situation arises. Council Member Killpack said he has had a citizen call that is happy with the ordinance changes because it will clarify the laws. City Council Proceedings December 1, 2015 Page 2 of 5 A current resident said he wants the council to be informed that passing the changes to the ordinance will cause problems and he is not in favor of it. The Mayor said it is going around on Facebook that the city will require permits now and that is not the case. The changes to the ordinance will allow people to have commercial fire pits in their backyard within the requirements listed. He asked staff to come up with the changes that were mentioned for the next reading. Motion carried (6-1) with Council Member Wilson voting no. RESOLUTIONS 2016 Highway Safety Grant R15-65: A resolution of the governing body of the City of Green River, Wyoming, to approve an increase in the General and Capital Funds for the Police Department for the 2016 Highway Safety Grant in the amount of $12,750. Council Member Wilson moved to approve the resolution to increase the General and Capital Funds in the Police Department for the 2016 Highway Safety Grant, in the amount of $12,750. Council Member Maes seconded. Motion carried. (7-0) Increase in the General Fund for the Amendment to the City Administrator’s Contract R15-66: A resolution of the governing body of the City of Green River, Wyoming, to approve an increase in the General Fund in the Administration Department for an amendment in the City Administrator contract, in the amount of $20,863. Council Member Killpack moved to approve the resolution to increase the General Fund in the Administration Department for an amendment to the City Administrator Contract, in the amount of $20,863. Council Member Peterson seconded. Motion carried. (7-0) Amending the FY 2016 Schedule of Fees R15-67: A resolution amending the Schedule of Fees charges for services, products, licenses, rentals, etc. for the City of Green River, Wyoming, for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2016. Council Member Barney moved to approve the resolution to amend the FY 2016 Schedule of Fees for volume based pricing at the landfill. Council Member Maes seconded. Mr. Meats said there will be no changes for the residents. The volume based pricing will only be for the commercial users of the landfill. They should not see a huge increase or decrease. Motion carried. (7-0) Enhanced Air Service Subsidy R15-68: A resolution of the governing body of the City of Green River, Wyoming, to approve an increase in the Capital Projects Fund and reduce the General Fund Balance for the Rock Springs/County Airport Subsidy in the amount of $8,550 and to enter in to an agreement with Sweetwater County Commissioners for the amount of $130,447.46 Council Member Stokes moved to approve the resolution and contracts authorizing the City to subsidize the Rock Springs/Sweetwater County Airport, to enhance air service, in the amount of $130,447.46. Council Member Peterson seconded. Council Member Killpack asked if the funds were already in the budget. Mr. Clevenger said yes. Motion carried. (7-0) City Council Proceedings December 1, 2015 Page 3 of 5 COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS Sewage Treatment Facilities Permit Renewal Council Member Wilson moved to approve the Sewage Treatment Facilities Permit Renewal to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality and authorize the Mayor to sign the required permit application. Council Member Stokes seconded. Motion carried. (7-0) 2016 Highway Safety Grant Council Member Barney moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the 2016 Highway Safety Grant in the amount of $12,750. Council Member Maes seconded. Motion carried. (7-0) City Administrator Contract Amendment No. 1 Council Member Killpack moved to approve the City Administrator Contract Amendment No. 1 and authorize the Mayor to sign said contract amendment. Council Member Stokes seconded. Council Member Killpack said he brought this forward so people can know what is going on. When the city advertised the City Administrator position the salary started at $140,000. When Mr. Clevenger was hired he was not given the $140,000 annual income and now the council finds it important to bring the salary up to what it should be since he has done a great job. Motion carried. (7-0) CONSENT AGENDA Council Member Wilson moved to approve the following consent agenda items. Council Member Stokes seconded. Motion carried. (7-0)  Minutes for November 10, 2015 Workshop  Payment of Bills: Prepaid Invoices = $111,047.52 Outstanding Invoices = $216,020.86 Payroll Expenditures = $313,466.53 Pre-authorization Payments = $1,065,500.00 CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT Mr. Clevenger thanked council for their support. He thanked city staff for all of their hard work and Kristy Lessard and Debbie Hansen for all of the great Christmas decorations. He will be speaking at the Leadership Class tomorrow morning. On Saturday, December 5, 2015, starting at 1 pm, at the Green River High School Swimming Pool, the University of Wyoming will be competing against University of Utah. He encouraged everyone to attend if they can. The Recreation Center Promotion started today and will run for two weeks. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT Mr. West had nothing to report. MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS Council Member Wilson said the decorations around City Hall look great. There will not be a workshop next week. Council Member Peterson said he will be ringing the Salvation Army bell at Smith’s on the 20th and the 24th. Council Member Barney said he would like to see better internet service being brought to city customers. Council Member Maes asked if the Streets Department would remove the snow from the parking area on Flaming Gorge Way. City Council Proceedings December 1, 2015 Page 4 of 5 Mr. Clevenger said he will address the issue. Council Member Killpack thanked the City Administrator and City staff for doing a great job. Council Member Stokes had nothing to report. The Mayor said on Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 5:30 pm, the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting will take place at the Clock Tower Plaza and there will be refreshments and the Green River High School choir will be singing. On Saturday, December 5, 2015, council has been invited to ride in the Fire Truck to greet Santa around 11:30 am, at the Harley Davidson Shop. We have partnered with the City of Rock Springs and created a Beautification Committee and they are working really hard and have interesting and exciting plans for the east entrance of Green River. ADJOURNMENT Council Member Wilson moved to adjourn at 8:16 pm. Council Member Stokes seconded. Motion carried. (7-0) ____________________________ Pete Rust, Mayor ATTEST: ______________________ Chris Meats, City Clerk City Council Proceedings December 1, 2015 Page 5 of 5