City Council

MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF PAOLA, KANSAS 6:00 O’CLOCK P.M. January 25, 2011 HELD AT THE PAOLA JUSTICE CENTER 805 North Pearl Street in Paola The Governing Body of the City of Paola, Kansas, met with Council President Pritchard presiding. Councilmembers present: Council Members Pritchard, Wilhoite, Rowlett, and Minden. Council Members absent: Mayor Stuteville Also present: City Manager Wieland, City Clerk Droste, City Attorney Tetwiler, City Planner Gotfredson, Public Works Director Browning, Police Chief Smail, Leigh House, Richard Lentz, Alan Hire, Carol Everhart Director of the Paola Chamber of Commerce, and Jesse Kratz from the Miami County Republic. Agenda Item 1 - CALL TO ORDER: The regular council meeting was called to order by Council President Pritchard. Agenda Item 2 - ROLL CALL: Council Members Pritchard, Wilhoite, Rowlett, and Minden were all present. Mayor Stuteville was absent. Agenda Item 3 - PETITIONS, REMONSTRANCES, AND COMMUNICATIONS Council President Pritchard asked the audience if anyone desired to address the Council about any issue that is not an agenda item. No one addressed the Council. Agenda Item 4 - CONSENT AGENDA a. Approval of minutes of the meeting of January 11, 2011. b. Approval of Salary Ordinance 11-01. c. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance No 694. d. Approval of the renewal of a Caterers License for Evergreen Events, LLC. Councilmember Wilhoite made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented and authorize the Mayor to sign. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rowlett and all voted aye. The motion passed 4 to 0. Paola City Council Minutes – January 25, 2011 Page 1 Agenda Item 5 - REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES Agenda Item 5a - Discussion regarding the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Federal Funds Allotment and Federal Fund Exchange. Manager Wieland reported that the Kansas Department of Transportation is replacing the current 5 year Capital Improvement Project program with a Federal Fund Exchange Program. The new Federal Fund Exchange Program would make available an annual allotment to participating cities for use on qualified projects rather than requiring cities to wait to participate in a larger project every 5 years. Manager Wieland went on to explain that the downside to the new program was that the city would receive 90% of its allotment share of funds, but the city could manage their own projects without KDOT oversight and engineering requirements. Funds could be used annually or “banked” for up to three years for a larger project. The funds could also be used to service debt for larger projects that require bond financing. Projects would need to be approved by KDOT before funds would be allotted. The allotment for the City for 2011 would be $55,642.80. Manager Wieland stated that he and Public Works Director Browning recommend that the funds for 2011 be used to supplement the City’s sidewalk improvement project. He proposed that sidewalks on the south side of Peoria Street from Agate Street to Hospital Drive be repaired or replaced as necessary and that new a sidewalk be installed on the south side of Peoria from Hospital Drive to Angela Drive. Councilmember Rowlett commented that the City has struggled for years to find the funds for the Osage Street reconstruction project. Public Works Director Browning stated that the latest estimate for the Osage Street Project was $1.8 million. Councilmember Rowlett expressed concerns that the funds should be dedicated for the Osage Street Project. He did not want to spend the funds on any other project until the Osage Street project was addressed. Manager Wieland stated that he would prefer to wait a couple of years before addressing the Osage Street Project as the City would be in a better position to service the debt for the project. He also noted that there is no guarantee that there will be future allocations of Federal funds for any transportation projects. Options were discussed concerning “banking” the allocation for future years. Councilmember Pritchard commented that he agreed with Councilmember Rowlett that the Osage Street Project needed to be addressed, but he also agreed that sidewalks were a present need. Councilmember Minden agreed that the sidewalks were a priority given the numbers of children walking to school. Other details and options of the program were discussed. Paola City Council Minutes – January 25, 2011 Page 2 Agenda Item 5b – Consider approval of a Resolution authorizing participation in the KDOT Federal Fund Exchange Program. At the conclusion of the discussion Kansas Department of Transportation Federal Funds Allotment and Federal Fund Exchange Program, Councilmember Rowlett made a motion to approve A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL FUNDS ALLOTMENT AND FEDERAL FUND EXCHANGE PROGRAM, and to “bank” the funds for a future project. No one seconded the motion. Council President Pritchard declared that the motion died for lack of a second. Councilmember Minden made a motion to approve A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL FUNDS ALLOTMENT AND FEDERAL FUND EXCHANGE PROGRAM, and to allocate the funds for the sidewalk improvement project and to “bank” any remaining funds. After a brief discussion, Councilmember Minden withdrew his motion. Councilmember Minden made a motion to approve A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL FUNDS ALLOTMENT AND FEDERAL FUND EXCHANGE PROGRAM, and to allocate the funds for the sidewalk improvement project as presented. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Wilhoite. Councilmembers Pritchard, Wilhoite and Minden voted aye and Councilmember Rowlett voted nay. The motion passed 3 to 1 and the Resolution was assigned number 2011-001. Agenda Item 5c – Consider approval of the purchase of SCADA equipment for the water distribution system. Manager Wieland presented a proposal from Micro-Comm, Inc. in the amount of $18,184.00 for the installation of a SCADA node to regulate water pressures on the west side of Paola. He stated that this is the first phase for this project. Funding for this portion would be paid from the Water Fund and from the Osage Water Line Replacement CIP Fund. The improvements are anticipated to be completed by May 1st. Councilmember Rowlett made a motion to approve the purchase of SCADA equipment from Micro-Comm, Inc. in the amount of $18,184.00. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Minden and all voted aye. The motion passed 4 to 0. Agenda Item 5d – Report on Candidates who have filed for City Offices to be placed on the ballot on April 5, 2011. Clerk Droste reported that the deadline for filing as a candidate for City Office expired at noon today. The following candidates have filed the necessary paperwork to have their names placed on the April ballot: For Mayor – At Large: Artie Stuteville For City Council – Ward 1: Jim Pritchard For City Council – Ward 3: Leigh (Grandon) House and “Bo” Ryan Gerken Paola City Council Minutes – January 25, 2011 Page 3 Agenda Item 5e – Consider approval of an Ordinance extending the New Housing Purchase Assistance Program through December 31, 2011. Manager Wieland reported that at the last work study meeting, the Council discussed the possibility of extending the New Housing Purchase Assistance Program through December 31, 2011. He reminded the Council that the Program will expire on February 28, 2011 unless extended. An Ordinance extending the Program through the end of 2011 was presented to the Council for consideration. Councilmember Rowlett stated that he would abstain from voting on this matter as he is a home builder and real estate developer and voting on the Ordinance would create a conflict of interest. After additional discussion, Councilmember Minden then made a motion to approve AN ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE TERM OF THE NEW HOUSING PURCHASE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2011. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Wilhoite. Councilmembers Pritchard, Wilhoite and Minden voted aye and Councilmember Rowlett abstained. As an abstention is counted toward the majority, the motion passed 4 to 0 and the Ordinance was assigned number 3029. Agenda Item 6 – NEW BUSINESS Carol Everhart, Chamber of Commerce Director, reported that Saturday is Kansas Day and the State of Kansas is celebrating 150 years of Statehood. The celebration will be held at Cottonwood Elementary School. Manager Wieland reported that Carol Everhart sent out information on the Citizens Institute on Rural Design. He asked the Council to review the information and provide feedback about participating in the program. Clerk Droste presented a summary report of tax revenues for the month of January. He reported that Sales Tax revenues for January totaled $177,830.00. Planner Gotfredson reported that the Take Charge Challenge Committee met earlier today and the group will have an informational booth at the Kansas Day Celebration. Manager Wieland reported that he will have a preliminary report on railroad quiet zones at the February Work Study Session. Councilmember Minden asked about the new police cars. Chief Smail reported that the first of the new vehicles would be in service tomorrow. Councilmember Minden complimented the Public Works Department on the great job that they did on snow removal. Councilmember Minden reported that on June 3rd, Janet McRae was working to have a special stamp cancellation ceremony for the 150th anniversary of Miami County. Paola City Council Minutes – January 25, 2011 Page 4 Councilmember Rowlett introduced City Council candidate Leigh House to the City Council. Council President Pritchard also complimented the Public Works Department on the recent snow removal job. Agenda Item 7 – ADJOURNMENT. With no additional business to come before the Council, Councilmember Minden made a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Wilhoite 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 – January 25, 2011 Page 5