City Council

Minutes of Joint Session of Redevelopment Agency of Ogden City, Utah, February 9, 2016 Page Minutes of the Joint Study Session of the Ogden City Redevelopment Agency, also acting as the City Council, held on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Work Room on the third floor of the Municipal Building, 2549 Washington Boulevard, Ogden City, Weber County, Utah. Present: Chair Marcia L. White Board members Neil K. Garner Richard A. Hyer Luis Lopez Ben Nadolski Doug Stephens Board Deputy Administrator Janene Eller-Smith Board Policy Analyst Glenn Symes Communications Manager Amy Sue Mabey Excused: Vice Chair Bart E. Blair Also present: Chief Administrative Officer Mark Johnson Community and Economic Development Director Tom Christopulos Community and Economic Development Deputy Manager Brandon Cooper Planning Manager Greg Montgomery Public Services Director Jay Lowder Management Services Director David G. Buxton Comptroller Lisa Stout Senior Accountant Korahle Jensen Urban Forester Monte Stuart Deputy City Recorder Julia LaSeure The purpose of the Joint Study Session was to review agenda items for the Special City Council meeting, which begins at 6:00 p.m., receive information regarding the Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Grants Report and discuss Board and Council business. Agenda Review Board Deputy Administrator Eller-Smith and other members of Board staff briefly reviewed the items listed on the agenda for the Special City Council meeting scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. Board member Stephens asked about the amendment to the Landfill Closure Plan and asked if the City has any responsibility, fiscal or otherwise, for the former landfill property. Board Policy Analyst Symes answered no. Planning Manager Montgomery stated the only involvement the City may have in the improvement of the property is applying for Recreation, Arts, Museum, and Parks (RAMP) grant funding to facilitate the installation of a boardwalk across the wetland area. Management Services Director Buxton noted Weber County is preparing that grant application. Mr. Montgomery clarified the Ogden Trails Network Advisory Committee is applying $5,000 of matching funds for the grant funding. He emphasized the County will have responsibility for all other improvements and maintenance at the former landfill site. Board member Nadolski reported he will be recusing himself from the discussion and action on the amendment to the Landfill Closure Plan due to the involvement of his private employer in the project. Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Grants Report Comptroller Stout stated the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Annual Grant Report includes financial analysis of all State and Federal grants managed through her office. She indicated the information is current as of June 30, 2015 and all financial data has been audited. She briefly reviewed some of the major grants managed by her office during 2015, including a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Grant of $1.7 million for the Serge Simmons Field and Weber River Restoration Project. This grant will be completed in the spring of 2016. Additional grants were received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the majority of those grant funds were spent on the Trackline Project and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) eligible projects and neighborhood redevelopment projects. She mentioned a $218,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which was used to purchase snow removal equipment for the Ogden Airport. The City also received a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant in the amount of $265,000, which was used to purchase and install vegetation for the Grant Avenue Promenade Project. Several U.S. Department of Justice grants were awarded to the City and the majority of those were grants used to purchase law enforcement equipment and pay wages for police officers dedicated to specific programs. Board member Garner asked about the purpose of the $78,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Ms. Stout replied that is a pass through grant from the Ogden School District and is used to fund a recreation program for disadvantaged youth. She mentioned several State grants listed and stated the majority of those grants are used as matching funds for Federal airport grants and monies. She concluded the last page of the report includes all RAMP grants and noted a work session will be held soon to discuss Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) projects and commented there will be heavy focus on RAMP grant funded projects. Board member Lopez asked Ms. Stout to provide additional information about the education. Ms. Stout answered the City participates in a joint program with the Ogden School District to provide recreational opportunities for youth in the District boundaries. Board member Lopez asked if the programs are being provided in schools. Ms. Stout answered that some programming is provided in schools, but other programming is provided at Ogden City facilities. Board member Lopez stated he would like additional information in the future to ensure that the students being served by the program are actually low-income students. Senior Accountant Jensen explained that the School District directs youth to the programs and they must prove that the students live within the District boundaries. There was general discussion about the types of programs offered, the facilities at which the programs are offered, and the number of students served by the programs. Chair White asked if the balances of each of the grants listed in the report will be spent by the conclusion of the current fiscal year. Ms. Stout replied that depends upon the grant because many of them have different grant periods. She explained that any grant funding not expended by the end of the fiscal year will be included in the carryover budget opening considered by the Council next November or December. Board Business RDA Bond Refunding: Ms. Eller-Smith stated that Chair White and Board member Stephens participated in the bond call on pricing day. The City received an AA bond rating, which helped secure great rates. She reviewed a chart detailing the sources and uses of bond funds, concluding the total bond amount when series 2016A and 2016B were combined was $24,062,860.80. The true interest costs are 2.7 percent and 1.75 percent for the 2016A and 2016B bonds, respectively. The final closing date is Thursday, February 11, 2016 and all bonds were sold. Chair White mentioned it was a great opportunity to participate in the bond pricing call as it helped her learn a lot. She offered kudos to Council staff and City Administration for their great work on the bond reissuance. Board member Stephens added the City’s financial advisor, Laura Lewis, also did a great job. Chief Administrative Officer Johnson agreed and added that the refunding action shortened the bond debt service term by four years. The meeting adjourned at 5:56 p.m. /s/ Julia M. LaSeure JULIA M. LASEURE, MMC DEPUTY CITY RECORDER /s/ Marcia L. White MARCIA L. WHITE, CHAIR APPROVED: March 22, 2016