City Council

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF PAOLA, KANSAS 5:30 O’CLOCK P.M. August 5, 2008 HELD AT THE PAOLA PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING 29370 Old KC Road in Paola The Governing Body of the City of Paola, Kansas, met with Mayor Stuteville presiding. Councilmembers present: Mayor Stuteville, Council Members Pritchard, Dial, Rowlett, and Bell. Council Members absent: None Also present: Manager Wieland, Clerk Droste, Police Chief Smail, Planner Givens, Public Works Director Bieker, Human Resources Director Belt, Chamber of Commerce Director Carol Everhart, Brian McCauley with the Miami County Republic, Richard Lentz, Pat Hewitt, and Ray Minden. CALL TO ORDER: The regular council meeting was called to order by Mayor Stuteville. ROLL CALL: Mayor Stuteville and Council Members Pritchard, Dial, Rowlett, and Bell were all present. Mayor Stuteville read the following Proclamation declaring August 4th through August 8th, 2009 as Paola City Employee Appreciation Week: To the citizens of the City of Paola and the residents of Miami County, Kansas: It is my duty and privilege as Mayor of the City of Paola, Kansas, to issue proclamations on occasions that recognize events of civic importance or acknowledge individuals or groups that have achieved extraordinary success. WHEREAS: The City of Paola has a dedicated group of employees who strive hard to make Paola a better place to live; and WHEREAS: The employees of the City of Paola provide a number of services for the citizens of the community; and WHEREAS: The City of Paola is fortunate to have such hard working, loyal, and knowledgeable employees who provide for the safety and well being of the City. THEREFORE, I, Artie Stuteville, Mayor of the City of Paola, on behalf of the Paola City Council, do hereby declare the week of August 4, 2008 thru August 10, 2008 as Paola City Employee Appreciation Week and do hereby ask all the citizens Paola City Council Minutes – August 5, 2008 Page 1  of this community to join the City Council in thanking them for their dedicated service to our community. NOW THEREFORE, I place a signature of my hand on this proclamation this 5th day of August, 2008. Agenda Item 1 - Public Hearing for and adoption of the proposed 2009 Paola City Budget. Councilmember Dial made a motion to open the public hearing on the proposed 2009 Paola City Budget. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Pritchard and all voted aye. The motion passed 4 to 0. Manager Wieland reported that after several budget workshop meetings, a proposed operating budget of $12,932,587 for 2009 was presented for consideration. This proposed budget would result in a mil levy of 41.350 for 2009, an increase of 0.979 mils. The higher mil levy would be equal to $0.94 per month increase in the tax bill of a residential property with a market value of $100,000.00. At the conclusion on the budget workshop meetings, the Council directed City staff to re-examine the budget to see if there were any revisions that could be considered to leave the mil levy unchanged from the 2008 level of 40.371. Manager Wieland reported that staff was able to reduce the General Fund expenditures by $48,000 to accomplish that directive. Councilmember Pritchard noted that $28,000 of the total reduction came from the Street Department and he asked how the street program might be impacted. Manager Wieland indicated that the street program would certainly be impacted and that the projects scheduled for next year would need to be prioritized and alternatives considered. Mayor Stuteville stated to the audience that the proposed expenditure reductions included in the alternate budget proposal were as follows: $10,000 from Administration, $3,000 from Municipal Court, $28,000 from Streets, $5,000 from Cemetery, and $2,000 from Community Development. She asked if there was anyone in attendance that would like to address the Council regarding the 2009 Budget. Mr. Richard Lentz stated that City services are pretty good and that the attitudes of City employees is very good and Emergency Services are extraordinary. He went on to say that the streets are improving and our trash service is better than in any other community that he has lived. He thanked the Council and the City Council for their work on the budget and for making Paola such a nice place to live. Mayor Stuteville thanked Mr. Lentz for his kind words. Mayor Stuteville asked the audience if there was anyone else in attendance that would like to address the Council in regard to the 2009 Budget. No one addressed the Council. Councilmember Pritchard made a motion to close the public hearing. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Dial and all voted aye. The motion passed 4 to 0. Agenda Item 2 - Adoption of the 2009 Paola City Budget. Mayor Stuteville asked the Council if there were any comments or questions regarding the proposed 2009 Budget and the additional reductions that the City Manager presented pursuant to the Council’s request. Paola City Council Minutes – August 5, 2008 Page 2 Councilmember Pritchard thanked the City Manager for re-evaluating the budget to get the mil levy back down to the same level as 2008. Councilmember Bell stated that to be consistent with what the people of Paola want, he was in favor of adding back the $28,000 to the Street budget. He stated that he was against raising taxes, but if taxes are raised for something that the people can see and it makes the community better and more livable, he did not have a problem with a small increase. Councilmember Rowlett stated that he would like to include all of the proposed cuts and leave the mil levy unchanged from 2008. Councilmember Dial stated that she too, with reservations, was in favor of approving all of the proposed cuts and keeping the mil levy unchanged. Councilmember Pritchard stated that if the cuts cause us to work a little smarter to save some money, he did not feel that any services would be jeopardized. Councilmember Rowlett made a motion to approve the 2009 Budget for the City of Paola in the amount of $12,884,587. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Dial and all voted aye. The motion passed 4 to 0. Agenda Item 3 - Consider bids and approve renovations to the Park Square Gazebo. Manager Wieland reported that bids were solicited for renovations to the Park Square Gazebo. The only bid received was presented by Triangle Builders in the amount of $36,339.00. It was noted that the bid from Triangle Builders did not include any electrical improvements to the structure. Public Works Director stated that it would be desirable to make any electrical repairs while the ceiling and roof are being repaired, however the extent of any repairs cannot be determined until the ceiling or roof are opened. Councilmember Rowlett questioned replacing the bead-board ceiling with a composite material. He recommended that consideration be given to keeping the bead-board ceiling to make the structure as historically original as possible. Councilmember Pritchard made a motion to approve the bid from Triangle Builders, LLC in the amount of $36,339.00 for improvements to the Park Square Gazebo as presented. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bell and all voted aye. The motion passed 4 to 0. Agenda Item 4 - Consider approval for KLM Marketing Solutions to host the Midwest Meltdown Triathlon & Duathlon at Lake Miola. Manager Wieland presented a request from KLM Marketing Solutions to host a triathlon at Lake Miola on September 13, 2009. He reported that originally KLM desired to host the event on September 6, 2008, however planning the event with such short lead time created challenges. Additionally, there is a Cub Scout District Camporee scheduled at the lake on the same date that also created safety concerns for the scouts and the athletes. The promoter has also requested that the City consider committing to the event for a three year period. Paola City Council Minutes – August 5, 2008 Page 3 Manager Wieland stated that delaying the event until next year would allow for better planning and promoting of the event as he had concerns about hosting the event this year with so little time to plan. Councilmember Bell stated that given the number people that would be drawn to Paola for the event that he was in favor of committing for three years as long as any fees charged for using City resources could be evaluated after the first year. Councilmember Rowlett agreed that the event would be a good thing for the community. After discussing the request, Councilmember Bell made a motion to approve the request of KLM Marketing Solutions to host the Midwest Meltdown Triathlon & Duathlon at Lake Miola on September 13th, 2009, and provide a three year commitment with an option to allow the City to evaluate the event after the first year. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Dial and all voted aye. The motion passed 4 to 0. Agenda Item 5 - Consider approval of the renewal of the City’s group health insurance with United Health Care. Clerk Droste presented information regarding the renewal of the City’s group health insurance through United Health Care. The renewal premiums for the new policy year were increasing 14% over the previous policy year. He reported that details of the renewal along with options from other insurers were discussed in detail at previous Council work study meeting. After discussing the renewal terms, Councilmember Dial made a motion to approve the renewal of the City’s group health insurance with United Health Care as presented. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Pritchard and all voted aye. The motion passed 4 to 0. Agenda Item 6 – ADJOURNMENT. With no additional business to come before the Council, Councilmember Pritchard made a motion to adjourn the special meeting. Councilmember Bell seconded the motion and all voted aye. The motion passed 4 to 0. _________________________________ Artie Stuteville, Mayor ATTEST: (seal) ______________________________ Daniel G. Droste, City Clerk Paola City Council Minutes – August 5, 2008 Page 4