City Council

JUNE 6, 2016 The City Council of the City of Idaho Falls met in Special Council Meeting (Council Work Session), Monday, June 6, 2016, at the City Council Chambers in the City Annex Building located at 680 Park Avenue in Idaho Falls, Idaho at 3:00 p.m. There were present: Mayor Rebecca L. Noah Casper Councilmember Michelle Ziel-Dingman Councilmember Ed Marohn Councilmember Barbara Ehardt Councilmember Thomas Hally Councilmember John B. Radford Absent: Councilmember David M. Smith Also present: Kerry McCullough, Public Information Officer Bear Prairie, Idaho Falls Power Assistant Director Craig Davis, Idaho Falls Airport Director Dave Hanneman, Fire Chief Randy Fife, City Attorney Michael Kirkham, Assistant City Attorney Greg Weitzel, Parks and Recreation Director Brent Martin, Parks Superintendent Ronnie Campbell, Parks Foreman Chris Fredericksen, Public Works Director Kent Fugal, City Engineer Chris Canfield, Public Works Assistant Director Kathy Hampton, City Clerk Mayor Casper called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m. with the following: Mayor’s Report and Action Items: Mayor Casper stated the Councilmembers will now be receiving minutes from various committees/boards for information purposes. The budget process has begun with all departments, it is anticipated to have a draft budget for Council review on June 29. The American Public Power Association (APPA) meetings will be held the week of June 13, 2016, Idaho Falls Power Director Jackie Flowers and Mayor Casper will be attending. The two (2) current Citizen Review Committees (CRC), Legal Department and Fire Department, have concluded their regular meetings and will be presenting their reports later in the year. Fluor has nominated the Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park as a potential STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) project which would include a $10,000 grant. First-year report data regarding SAUSA (Special Assistant United States Attorney) will be distributed to Councilmembers. The Human Resources (HR) position has closed, interviews will be scheduled in the near future. Other Announcements and Calendar Items: Idaho Falls Fire Department open house for new recruits, June 10; Fire Ops, June 11 Clean & Green Volunteer Day, June 13 Council Work Session 3:00pm and Council Meeting 7:30pm, June 20 – Council President Hally will be conducting Association of Idaho (AIC) Conference, June 22-24 in Boise, including an Economic Development track Parks Master Planning Meeting, June 29, Ice Arena Idaho Falls Power (IFP) Board Meeting, June 30 1  JUNE 6, 2016 City Council Reports: Councilmember Hally stated the recent stock car races at Idaho Falls Raceway at Noise Park were completely sold out, discussion is occurring for additional bleachers. The Home Owners Association of St. Clair estates is installing a fence surrounding the retention pond in their area. The Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park as well as Movies in the Park have been well attended. Council Marohn stated he, along with Brad Cramer, Community Development Services Director, will be conducting an Economic Seminar at the upcoming AIC Annual Conference. Councilmember Ehardt expressed her appreciation to those in attendance at the Memorial Day Field of Honor events. She stated she and Director Fredericksen are following up with citizen concerns regarding the Hitt Road/17th Street intersection. Councilmember Dingman stated applications are currently being accepted for the 42nd session of the Citizens Police Academy (CPA), which will begin in August, 2016. Councilmember Radford stated the Idaho Falls Fire Department is currently accepting applications. He encouraged the Councilmembers to attend the Fire Ops. Idaho Falls Power (IFP) presented the following item: Ratification of Power Supply Notification to Bonneville Power Administration (BPA): Assistant Director Prairie stated per previous discussion at the May 26, 2016, IFP Board Meeting, the current bulb turbine contract is a ten (10) year contract with a five (5) year break in price for renegotiation of new price. If there is no action on behalf of IFP, the contract terminates by default September 30, 2016. Notice was given to BPA concerning the price negotiation on the sale of the output of the bulb turbines for an additional five (5) years. IFP has been engaged in good faith negotiations with BPA for the past three (3) months to continue the power sale. IFP finds it economically beneficial and of lower economic risk to no longer sell the output to BPA. Under any market price and hydrological scenario analyzed it was cost effective to use this generation to serve our community directly. Assistant Director Prairie stated BPA appreciated the notification from IFP. The majority of the power supply will continue with BPA and as load growth and economic expansion continues, there will be opportunity to purchase additional power supply from BPA. After brief discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Marohn, seconded by Councilmember Hally, to ratify the power supply notification to Bonneville Power Administration. Roll call as follows: Aye – Councilmembers Marohn, Dingman, Ehardt, Hally, Radford. Nay – none. Motion carried. Idaho Falls Airport presented the following item: Air Show Funding Discussion: Mayor Casper stated per Airshow discussion on April 25, 2016, an array of costs was discussed to assist with the Blue Thunder Airshow. Director Davis was requested to collaborate with department directors as well as the Airshow committee for any possible reduction in costs. Director Davis presented the following amounts: Department Original Amount Reduced Amount Police $82,264 $49,367 – Meets the staffing requested by Air Show board Fire $31,000 $15,500 – In addition, the Airport will have 24/7 ARFF coverage in 2017 Public Works $21,012 $21,012 – Remained the same as the level was deemed appropriate Airport $40,250 $0 – The Air Show board has absorbed most of the Airport’s anticipated costs, any operational costs will be absorbed by Enterprise Funds Total Request $174,526 $85,879 Chief Hanneman stated although the Airshow committee is willing to pay $15,500, the Fire Department cost will remain the same in order to provide adequate services for any potential incidents and public safety. Councilmember Hally stated the previous airshow, held in 2010, was one of the most significant events held by the City that 2  JUNE 6, 2016 benefited the entire region. Mayor Casper indicated any money allocated for the Airshow would require preapproval and then included in the FY2016/2017 budget. She stated the budgeted line item for all community donations/grants amounts to approximately $100,000 and the $85,879 (net amount) requested for the Airshow could cause a severe impact to other entities requesting donations/grants as there is not a specific line item for this particular event. Russell Johnson, Airshow Committee Chairman, appeared and stated according to the Airshow Committee by-laws, any profit received from the Airshow could be donated to any 501(C)3 entity that participates in an educational program. Director Davis distributed a draft sponsorship agreement for possible reimbursement by the Airshow committee. Brief discussion followed regarding other City-assisted events, including the 4th of July activities. Councilmember Marohn indicated these events are economic drivers with community benefits. He believes the requested amount for the Airshow should be taken from the fund balance/reserves. Councilmembers Hally and Radford concurred. Councilmember Ehardt expressed her concern for the possibility of the Airshow committee not reimbursing the City for associated costs. Mr. Fife stated, due to City Ordinance, any monetary commitment to the airshow could not be allocated from the current budget expenditures. Mr. Johnson indicated at this time only a participation commitment from the City is required, any services/costs would be provided in the following year. It was moved by Councilmember Marohn, seconded by Councilmember Hally, to set aside a line item for the Airshow in the amount of $101,379 to be included in the FY2016/2017 budget. Roll call as follows: Aye – Councilmembers Marohn, Dingman, Hally, Radford. Nay – Councilmember Ehardt. Motion carried. After brief discussion, it was decided a sponsorship agreement should be drafted for the Airshow as well as other community donations/grants. Legal Department presented the following items: Training: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) for Elected Officials: Mr. Kirkham stated HIPPA’s privacy rules cover any information that could be used to personally identify an individual by an entity. Elected officials are not entitled to receive any personal information from City staff, such as the Fire or Police Departments. Mr. Kirkham recommended the elected officials avoid putting any staff in a difficult or awkward position regarding potential violation of the HIPPA Rule. He indicated health information received by any media source or a family member is not considered a HIPPA violation. Public Records Resolution Discussion: Mr. Kirkham stated a resolution has been drafted regarding a records retention schedule to coincide with the recent changes to Idaho Code. This resolution allows for the classification, retention, preservation, and destruction of certain records as “historical”, “permanent”, “semipermanent”, and “temporary” records. Mr. Fife stated two (2) main changes to Idaho Code include: 1-the allowance of non-paper copies, and 2-emphemera, records that only exist for a moment, such as “post-it” notes or “to do” lists. Brief discussion followed. This resolution will be placed on the June 9, 2016, Council Meeting agenda for approval to be effective July 1, 2016. Parks and Recreation presented the following items: Weed Enforcement Presentation: Director Weitzel indicated the presentation is for educational purposes for the Councilmembers as the Parks and Recreation (P&R) Department receives multiple citizen complaints regarding weed enforcement. He stated one of the Parks Division operational activities is Weed and Environmental Control which manages and enforces the City’s weed control program as well as responding to resident’s complaints. Weed control provides fire safety, pleasing neighborhood aesthetics, street cleanliness, and the reduction of related health issues. Weed Control is also responsible for herbicide treatment on public properties including right-of-ways and City property, and operating and maintaining Sandy Downs and the Idaho Falls Raceway at Noise Park. 3  JUNE 6, 2016 Mr. Campbell stated the most common complaint regarding weeds is the fire hazard and being unsightly. He reviewed the hazards associated with noxious weeks, indicating noxious weeds are located on vacant lots, houses, City property such as undeveloped ground, right-of-ways, sidewalks, storm water retention ponds, and other properties maintained by the City such as Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) property, Union Pacific property, snow dumps, and City parks. The solution to controlling weeds includes public awareness, herbicide applications, mechanical means, and Code Enforcement. Director Weitzel reviewed the Weed Control Value Stream process as well as City Code 5-8-12 & 5-8-13 and related fees for enforcement. Mr. Campbell stated due to the limitations of staff, it is not physically possible to maintain weed control on City property. Director Weitzel indicated weed maintenance will be determined by levels of high-area service uses. Brief discussion followed. Citizen complaints regarding weeds are as follows: FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 Complaints: 441 545 120 Notices Sent: 240 417 80 Enforcements: 20 39 Ongoing Director Weitzel stated the three (3) full-time weed control employees and 13 seasonal employees, who also assist with other Parks Division activities, are responsible to maintain 2,115 acres. He indicated it takes approximately 40 hours to spray 57 acres and on average it takes two (2) hours per acre for herbicide applications although any spray treatment cannot occur with wind speed greater than ten (10) miles per hour. Action plan includes request for the FY2016/2017 budget to include one (1) full-time Weed and Environmental Control Maintenance Operator and additional one (1) ton pickup truck to be used for snow removal as well. Cemetery Plots Resolution Discussion: Director Weitzel stated a resolution has been drafted to coincide with recent protocol changes made by the State Legislature to provide for a more efficient distribution of unused cemetery plots. This resolution would establish policies and procedures regarding inactivity of such plots for more than fifty (50) years. A provision would be included in the resolution upon presentation of a certificate to ownership of plots which may have been reverted to the City. Brief discussion followed regarding a reversionary clause. This resolution will be placed on the June 9, 2016, Council Meeting agenda for approval to be effective July 1, 2016. Agency Reports: School District 91 Board of Trustees Discussion and Presentation: Mayor Casper stated she believes in the importance of dialogue between the elected officials and the school officials. She then turned the meeting to the School District 91 Board of Trustees and Administration consisting of: Lisa Burtenshaw – Board Chair, Bryan Zollinger – Clerk, Deidre Warden – Vice Chair, Larry Haws – Treasurer, Margaret Wimborne – Communications & Community Engagement Coordinator, and George Boland – Superintendent. It was noted David Lent, Trustee, was absent. Mr. Boland stated community conversation took place in January of 2015 with topics addressed as follows: -What are knowledge, skills, and attributes that graduates should have? -What does learning look like to help acquire knowledge, skills, and attributes? -What kind of structures are needed to support that type of learning? (facility structures and schedules) Mr. Boland reviewed possible options for redesign/remodeling of Skyline and Idaho Falls High Schools, including the athletic fields, with general discussion and comments throughout. He stated formal plans and cost scenarios are being assembled for future School Board meeting discussion. Further general discussion followed regarding 4  JUNE 6, 2016 bonding options, a super high school, current land owned by School District 91, parking, utilities, storm pond space, and power pole(s) relocation. Ms. Wimborne stated the School District 91 website includes information regarding this topic and all public comments are welcome for future discussion. There being no further business, it was moved by Councilmember Marohn, seconded by Councilmember Hally, to adjourn at 6:10 p.m. which motion passed followed a unanimous vote. s/ Kathy Hampton s/ Rebecca L. Noah Casper CITY CLERK MAYOR 5