City Council

CITY OF POCATELLO, IDAHO CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION DECEMBER 13, 2012 AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Mayor Brian Blad called the City Council ROLL CALL Study Session to order at 9:03 a.m. Council members present were Steve Brown, Craig Cooper, Jim Johnston, Gary Moore and Eva Johnson Nye. Council member Roger Bray arrived at 9:10 a.m. Mayor Blad announced that he has a speaking engagement and will not be able to attend the full Study Session. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Peggy Johnson, Treasurer; Dana Olson, AFRICAN SISTER CITIES Chairperson; and Barbara Pancoast from SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATE the African Sister Cities Subcommittee discussed the Committee’s goals and projects, as well as Council’s policies and expectations. Ms. Johnson reviewed the Committee’s main project for 2012. She noted that thirty-seven elementary school and secondary school students, as well as, five college students advanced in their studies as a result of the Committee’s involvement in Burkina Faso. Ms. Johnson announced that these students are the first college graduates for Burkina Faso since 1981. She mentioned the Committee will continue to help girls and boys attend secondary school and college. Council President Bray arrived at 9:10 a.m. A video was shown outlining the Committee’s projects in Burkina Faso over the past year. Mayor Blad thanked the Committee for their efforts to reach the people in Kwaremenguel, Burkina Faso. In response to questions from Council, Ms. Pancoast explained that none of the residents of Burkina Faso have been able to travel to Pocatello because of travel costs. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Mary Rasmussen and Steve Heib, Code PROPERTY MAINTENANCE Enforcement Officers and staff liaisons APPEAL BOARD UPDATE for the Property Maintenance Appeal Board, discussed the Board’s goals and projects, as well as Council’s policies and expectations. Ms. Rasmussen explained that the Property Maintenance Appeal Board is not active at this time. She noted that only two appeals have come before the Board and this occurred when it was initially established. Discussion followed regarding the volume of property violation cases and the different types of cases currently open. It was CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION 2 DECEMBER 13, 2012 noted that approximately 2.5% of these cases are settled in court. In response to questions from Council, Ms. Rasmussen stated similar weed issue cases are seen each year. She mentioned that two Code Enforcement officers serve the city with an average of 800 cases per officer. As a result, officers respond to property complaints only and are not able to make additional contacts to prevent problems. Ms. Rasmussen also noted that vacant and/or abandoned properties are an issue and officers are working with the Legal Department to develop a process to access these properties in order to clean them up through an abatement program. Council discussion followed regarding nuisance properties and the lengthy abatement process currently in place. Ideas were shared to make the process faster and more effective. It was noted that issues in the public right-of-way are addressed by the Street Department and sidewalk snow removal concerns are addressed by Code Enforcement. Ms. Rasmussen explained the current volume of complaints keep both officers busy. In closing, she feels they could be more pro-active with an additional officer. Mayor Blad thanked the officers for their hard work to help resolve property violations in the City. AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Debbie Brady, Recycling Coordinator; and CURBSIDE COMPOST Randy Allen, Sanitation Superintendent; PILOT PROJECT UPDATE were present to discuss a curbside pilot compost project. The City’s Sanitation Department and Science and Environment Division received a Department of Environmental Quality grant to implement the proposed program. A representative from the Bannock County Landfill was also in attendance to discuss implementation of the new project. Ms. Brady explained, as a result of being awarded the grant, a committee has been formed to help determine implementation of the pilot program. She noted the Committee is currently targeting School District No. 25 to evaluate the amount and type of waste the district produces that will qualify for the pilot compost program. In response to questions from Council, Ms. Brady explained the Compost Curbside project will be similar to the pilot project for the City’s current recycle program. The cost per compost cart will be $5.00 and guidelines for using the cart were reviewed. She noted due to landfill constraints, only 500 homes CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION 3 DECEMBER 13, 2012 will be able to participate at this time and the pilot project dates are April 1, 2013 through November 30, 2013. Information is on the City’s website and individuals can pre-register for the pilot program. She mentioned that the City does not need to purchase additional green carts for the project. However, brown lids for the carts were purchased to help identify the recycle material contents. Mr. Bray shared his concerns of limiting 500 customers to start the program. He feels starting with such a minimal amount of customers may not be cost effective. Ms. Brady explained choosing certain areas to provide services in the community may give the impression that some areas are better than others. That is why the pilot program will be available to the first 500 customers that sign-up. In response to questions from Council, Mr. Allen stated the Sanitation Department is not considering a drop-off area for yard compostable materials. He explained that drop-off sites are difficult to monitor. Mayor Blad excused himself from the meeting at 9:44 a.m., at which time he turned the chair of the meeting over to Council President Bray. Mr. Allen noted that the pilot program will provide staff with information such as the volume and potential marketing of the municipal compost in order to move forward with the program. He added that landfill space, marketing to find a purchaser for the end product, and advertising are critical points of the project’s success. In response to questions from Council, Mr. Allen explained local garden nurseries have a person who picks up materials in the area to produce compost. He noted that issues regarding sanitation and recycle containers that are being left out and not stored properly are monitored by his drivers. If a problem is found, the owner is contacted to correct the problem. Ms. Brady mentioned many citizens order a second cart during the summer months. She has spoken with these customers about trying the compost cart. In response to questions from Council, Mr. Allen stated staff will consider the idea of a central location within City limits to store municipal compost and make it more readily available for citizens to utilize. CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION 4 DECEMBER 13, 2012 AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Jon Herrick, Water Pollution Control WATER POLLUTION Superintendent, was present to update the CONTROL NPDES PERMIT Council on the status and schedule of compliance for the phosphorus effluent limitations regarding the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Mr. Herrick explained NPDES permits usually run for five years and the City received a new permit for the Water Pollution Control Plant on September 1, 2012. He explained the permit significantly impacts the following: 1) phosphorus; 2) stricter limits on chlorine in effluent; 3) reduced limits on ammonia in effluent; 4) reduced testing for several constituents; and 5) increased testing on the Portneuf River. He noted that phosphorus is the main change for the new permit. The previous permit had no limits on phosphorus and the current discharge is 42 pounds per day. In addition, Mr. Herrick reported the new permit limit of 25.1 pounds of discharge per day must be met in 2017 and the plan to accomplish the decreased limit was reviewed. In response to questions from Council, Mr. Herrick estimates it may cost approximately $1 million to meet the new limit requirements. He noted that technology has changed a lot in the past 20 years and systems for this purpose are more cost efficient. Mr. Herrick reviewed the compliance schedule to meet the new guidelines by December 31, 2017. David Swindell, Chief Financial Officer, shared that the City recently refinanced the existing debt for WPC and will save approximately $1,800,000.00 over the life of the loan. He noted that the savings will not resolve all of the funding issues, but should help cover some the additional costs related to the new permit requirements. AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: Tamara Code, Executive Director, and Dan PORTNEUF GREENWAY Harelson, Planning Committee Chair, 2012 CAPITAL Portneuf Greenway Foundation and Trails IMIPROVEMENT PLAN Working Group, were present to discuss a draft of the Portneuf Greenway Capital Improvement Plan. The Plan subdivides the eight greenway corridors, identified in the 2008 Trail System Master Plan, into 76 reasonable projects (short, medium, and long-term priorities) and details the steps and costs necessary to construct the projects. Mr. Harelson reviewed the Greenway’s Capital Improvement Plan which included a background of the plan and future expansions. Recommendation of a 1 and 5 year master plan was also reviewed. He identified and prioritized the reasonable projects in the CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION 5 DECEMBER 13, 2012 plan identifying the meaning of short term (1 to 2 years) and long term (more than 2 years) for each project. The projects suggested for future consideration by the Council were: 1) widening the concrete sidewalk leading to and from Sacajawea Park; 2) construction a new trail across Raymond Park to Irving Middle School; and 3) include a pedestrian overpass on Center Street Bridge when the renovations for the bridge are developed. In response to questions from Council, Mr. Harelson stated trail construction over the last ten years has been approximately one-half mile per year. The five year plan, as presented, would almost double what has been done in the last 20 years. He feels funding and access are the biggest issues. Ms. Code feels the Greenway has accomplished more in the last 5 years than in previous years. She would like to keep the momentum going so it will not take as long to achieve their goal. Mr. Bray expressed the Council’s appreciation for the Greenway’s work and dedication to the community. AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: Josh Baird, Project Engineer, was present LOCAL HIGHWAY SAFETY to discuss the Local Highway Safety IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM Improvement Program’s allocation of over FUNDS $500,000.00 in federal funding for Idaho Transportation Department District 5 safety improvements of Local Highway Jurisdictions. The funds are to be used only at locations where either a fatal or a Type “A” Injury crash has occurred. Engineering staff has analyzed the crash data within the City of Pocatello and believes the Benton Street and Second Avenue intersection is the best candidate location for these funds. Mr. Baird reviewed the process to determine the most needed intersection modification identified within the City based upon the type of accident. He noted that modification and improvement of safety measures at the intersection was also a main factor. Mr. Baird reviewed two options for the Benton Street/Second Avenue intersection that would correct the hazard. He stated staff is looking for a recommendation from the Council as to whether they should apply for funds to correct the intersection. It was the consensus of the Council to apply for funding as outlined in Option One as proposed by Engineering Department staff. In response to questions from Council, Mr. Baird explained modifying the intersection would enhance pedestrian safety since CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION 6 DECEMBER 13, 2012 individuals will not cross all traffic lanes at once. Option One outlines a middle island where a pedestrian can stand before moving forward as traffic allows. Council President Bray adjourned the meeting at 10:44 a.m. APPROVED: BRIAN C. BLAD, MAYOR ATTEST: RUTH E. WHITWORTH, CMC, CITY CLERK