City Council

REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 20, 2015: The regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Morgantown was held in the Council Chambers of City Hall on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. PRESENT: City Manager Jeff Mikorski, Assistant City Manager Glen Kelly, City Clerk Linda Tucker, Mayor Selin, Deputy Mayor Marti Shamberger and Council Members: Ron Bane, Bill Kawecki, Wes Nugent, Mike Fike, Nancy Ganz and City Attorney Ryan Simonton. The Meeting was called to order by Mayor Selin. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes from 12-2, 12-9 and 12-16 were approved by acclamation. CORRESPONDENCE: Presenters, Doug Smith, and Greg Shellito from the Morgantown Utility Board and Evan Hanson, President of Downstream Strategies, provided a presentation on the Source Water and Protection Plan Program. Mr. Smith explained that the purpose of this program is to minimize the potential for source water contamination although, if one were to occur, what would be the course of action. PUBLIC HEARING-AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR LEASING TO RSA FLIGHT TRAINING, LLC, LESSEE, BY THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN, LESSOR, A CERTAIN AREA AT THE MORGANTOWN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AND DECLARING THE LEASE AND MEMORANDUM OF LEASE HERETO ATTACHED AS PART THEREOF. There being no appearances, Mayor Selin declared the Public Hearing closed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT: The below entitled Ordinance was presented for second reading. AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR LEASING TO RSA FLIGHT TRAINING, LLC, LESSEE, BY THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN, LESSOR, A CERTAIN AREA AT THE MORGANTOWN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AND DECLARING THE LEASE AND MEMORANDUM OF LEASE HERETO ATTACHED AS PART THEREOF. After City Manager explanation and Council discussion, motion by Shamberger, second by Ganz, to adopt the above entitled Ordinance. Motion carried 7-0. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: City Clerk, Linda Tucker, updated Council on vacancies of Boards and Commissions. After discussion by Council on appointments, motion by Nugent second by Bane, to appoint Kevin Clark to fill the vacant position on the Police Civil Service Commission PUBLIC PORTION: Nicole Panaccione, 876, Riverview Drive, stated that she and the Evansdale neighborhood would like improvements made to their streets. She noted there are seven streets that consist of a high volume of traffic on a daily basis that are in need of repair. She stated due to the water and gas lines being replaced under the streets that multiple repairs have been done to the streets and these repairs have deteriorated leaving potholes throughout the streets. Ms. Panaccione concluded that the Evansdale neighborhood would like to be placed on the paving list for 2015. 1  Bill Petro, 901 Riverview Drive, presented the council members with pictures of the deteriorating streets in the Evansdale neighborhood that were taken December 2014 and a petition consisting of 62 signatures from homeowners to have their streets put on the paving list for 2015. Mr. Petro noted that the Evansdale Neighborhood was placed on the paving list approximately 5 years ago, but was postponed due to construction and repair to the water line. Mathew Cross, 524 Milford Street, stated pedestrian corridors are dangerous along Willey Street. He noted that the sidewalks along Willey Street are steep, narrow and winding. He stated Price Street needs repair and cleanup of the overgrowth. He stated that West Virginia University Student Administration put together a cleanup program to get involved with the neighborhoods. Mr. Cross stated he joined the students in cleaning up Price Street. He presented the council members with pictures of Price Street and the dangerous conditions. He noted the poor sidewalk conditions and the overgrowth not being trimmed by property owners. SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS: No Reports NEW BUSINESS: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 105.42: The below entitled Ordinance was presented for first reading. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 105.42 OF THE MORGANTOWN CITY CODE, AS THE SAME APPLIES TO COMPENSATION OF ELECTION OFFICIALS AND OTHER EXPENSES. Motion by Nugent, second by Ganz, to pass the above entitled Ordinance to second reading. Question was called, motion carried 7-0. CITY MANAGERS REPORT: Information: 1. 2014 Urban Archery Hunt Results Mr. Mikorski stated that the attached memo from Rick Bebout, Archery Hunt Coordinator, highlighted the 2014 Archery Hunt and once again, the Hunt was a great success with no injuries to hunters or residents. Mr. Mikorski reported one hundred and five deer were harvested with 853 pounds of venison provided to local food shelters. Mr. Mikorski publically acknowledged Mr. Bebout for his excellent volunteer service to the City as Hunt Coordinator. He noted that planning will begin shortly for the 2015 Urban Archery Hunt with the registration of hunters through the City’s Web Page in March. 2. Performance Measures Mr. Mikorski stated that during the Conference Session on January 13, 2015, City Council was provided the most recent results of the each department’s performance measures. He noted that we will begin providing information on performance Measures to the public in a consistent and concise format on the City’s Web Page in the coming weeks, then updated on a regular basis. Mr. Mikorski stated that also identified to City Council were the needs of each department to sustain and enhance City services to the expectations of the City Administration and Council. He noted, as requested at the meeting by Council, 2 City Administration will now provide an opportunity for residents to provide feedback on what services need to be enhanced in order to help prioritize available resources. Mr. Mikorski reported that the City administration is presently assembling a survey tool to receive feedback from residents through an online and paper survey and should be available in February. REPORT FROM CITY CLERK: Mrs. Tucker announced that applications are available for voters in clerk’s office or on the city’s website. REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY: No Report REPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS: Councilor Bane: Councilor Bane thanked the City Clerk for the assistance with the issue that was directed to code enforcement. He thanked Mr. Mikorski for respectfully answering all phone calls. He stated that certain departments within the city should assist or enhance their efforts toward public services. He noted that these efforts then need to be documented to record the accomplishments within the community. Councilor Bane announced the first ward meeting on February 2, 2015 would be held to discuss concerns of crime in the area. Councilor Kawecki: Councilor Kawecki complimented the city administrative staff and the metrix. He noted the metrix showed how hardworking the staff is within the city. He then addressed the Fire Marshalls reports of the excessive fires within the city. He expressed that reinforcement be done to discourage this behavior and involve West Virginia University. Councilor Nugent: Councilor Nugent complimented on the insightful work session. He commented about the enhanced services in the public and steps to take toward funding. He then thanked the City Manager office for the presentation. He noted the potholes on Beechurst Avenue and asked it be reported to the Department of Transportation. Councilor Nugent then thanked the Chamber of Commerce and partners for Mon County Day at the legislature. He stated that he conversed with the President of the County 3  Commission about reducing the speed limit at the intersection of route 119 and 73. He asked if this issue could be brought up at next the Committee Of The Whole Meeting. He announced the Wiles Hill Highland Park Neighborhood Association meeting is on January 21, 2015 with social beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the start of the meeting at 7:00pm. Councilor Shamberger Councilor Shamberger thanked the volunteers over the past four years for the success with the Urban Hunting. She also thanked Community Coalition Social Justice for the program on voting held at the Met Theatre. She mentioned the Safe Communities are meeting Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. She thanked the West Virginia University students for the cleanup on Price Street. She addressed the safety concerns on both Willey Street and Price Street. She reported the pothole located on Willey Street around Oak Street. She then thanked the city staff for being proactive with the weather cleanup on the streets. Councilor Fike: Councilor Fike thanked city administrative for work done on Metrix. He noted this shows professionalism and expertise among staff within the city. He congratulated Don Spencer on his Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award. He announced the town hall meeting February 18, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss citizen input regarding policies and solutions to help establish priorities toward human rights in Morgantown. He thanked Matthew Cross for organizing the cleanup and making the sidewalks safer on Price Street. He then stated how he was looking forward to the upcoming West Virginia Municipal League Mid Conference and Municipal Day on January 31 to February 1. Councilor Ganz: Councilor Ganz thanked Morgantown Utility Board for the protection and planning of clean water. Suncrest Neighborhood Association will be 4  meeting on the last Thursday of the month to discuss police reports and crime in the area. She stated this meeting will also inform homeowners of the boundary changes. Councilor Ganz requested to possibly try to meet once a year with West Virginia University about the consequences toward the students participating in the fires and parties in the city. She thanked the city staff for all their hard work. Mayor Selin: Mayor Selin appreciated Evansdale Neighborhood Association making their needs known to the council. She stated the sidewalks are subject to being repaired by the property owners and they will look into how to enforce this responsibility. She stated the Mon County Day is working on ways to improve the road conditions ADJOURNMENT: There being no further items of business or discussion, the meeting adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:30 p.m. _____________________________ __________________________________ City Clerk Mayor *A FULL TRANSCRIPT OF ALL COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON DVD AT THE MORGANTOWN CITY LIBRARY. 5