City Council

1 River Heights City Council 2 Minutes of the Meeting 3 January 28, 2014 4 5 6 Present were: Mayor James Brackner 7 Council members: Doug Clausen 8 Richard Okelberry 9 Geoff Smith 10 Dixie Wilson 11 Blake Wright 12 13 Recorder Sheila Lind 14 Public Works Director Clayten Nelson 15 Finance Director Clifford Grover 16 17 Others Present: Gayle Brackner, Engineer Craig Rasmussen 18 19 The following motions were made during the meeting: 20 21 Motion #1 22 Councilmember Clausen moved to “adopt the minutes of the January 14, 2014 Council meeting 23 and the evening’s agenda.” Council member Okelberry seconded the motion, which passed with 24 Clausen, Okelberry, Smith, Wilson and Wright in favor. No one opposed. 25 26 Motion #2 27 Councilmember Clausen moved to “pay the bills as listed.” Councilmember Wilson seconded 28 the motion, which passed with Clausen, Okelberry, Smith, Wilson and Wright in favor. No one 29 opposed. 30 31 Motion #3 32 Councilmember Okelberry “moved to adopt Resolution 1-2014, Municipal Wastewater 33 Planning Program Resolution.” Councilmember Clausen seconded the motion which carried with 34 Clausen, Okelberry, Smith, Wilson and Wright in favor. No one opposed. 35 36 Motion #4 37 Councilmember Clausen moved that “for now, we allow Council Members Smith and 38 Okelberry to recommend a computer for public works, not to exceed $1,200 and then install it. In 39 addition, Council Members Smith and Okelberry will investigate the rest of the equipment that is most 40 needed.” Councilmember Okelberry seconded. Mayor Brackner asked PWD Nelson his opinion. Mr. 41 Nelson stated both Randy and Jeff have highly recommended purchasing computers through them, 42 based on quality. Mayor Brackner feels an obligation to Jeff. The motion passed with Clausen, 43 Okelberry, Smith, Wilson and Wright in favor. No one opposed. 44 45 46 River Heights City Council Meeting, 01/28/14 1 47 Proceedings of the Meeting: 48 49 The River Heights City Council met at 6:30 p.m. in the Ervin R. Crosbie Council Chambers in 50 the River Heights City Building on Tuesday, January 28, 2014. 51 Opening Remarks and Pledge of Allegiance: Councilmember Smith opened the meeting with a 52 few comments about his gratitude for the privilege to be able to serve the citizens of River Heights on 53 the city council. Councilmember Okelberry led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. 54 Adoption of Previous Minutes and Agenda: Minutes of the January 14, 2014 Council meeting 55 were reviewed. 56 Councilmember Clausen moved to “adopt the minutes of the January 14, 2014 Council 57 meeting and the evening’s agenda.” Council member Okelberry seconded the motion, which 58 passed with Clausen, Okelberry, Smith, Wilson and Wright in favor. No one opposed. 59 Pay Bills: The bills were presented and discussed. 60 Councilmember Clausen moved to “pay the bills as listed.” Councilmember Wilson 61 seconded the motion, which passed with Clausen, Okelberry, Smith, Wilson and Wright in favor. 62 No one opposed. 63 Finance Director Report: Finance Director Clifford Grover handed out a Combined Cash 64 Investment Report. There were no questions. Mr. Grover took leave of the meeting. 65 Purchase Requisition Requests: Mayor Brackner stated PWD Nelson has submitted a purchase 66 request in the amount of $996.00 to Beazer Lock & Key for rekeying all the city locks. This has been 67 talked about for a number of years since there are currently many city keys that can’t be accounted for. 68 After the locks are redone, the city will have six master keys and eight administrative keys. The 69 Council each gave their consent. 70 Public Works Report and Discussion: PWD Nelson was excused due to a water freeze up he 71 was working on. 72 Administrative Report: Recorder Lind asked the Council to reconsider their decision to require 73 a credit card to reserve the City Building and Park Pavilion. She explained this has been causing a few 74 problems for those who want to rent, but don’t have a credit card. This past week, she asked Mayor 75 Brackner to allow a rental with a debit card, which he approved. Ms. Lind informed, she is unaware of 76 a time when the city needed to charge a renter’s deposit more than $100. Mayor Brackner suggested 77 requiring a larger deposit if they use a debit card. The Council would like to discuss this further at the 78 next meeting. 79 Public Comment: Engineer Craig Rasmussen informed, he was in attendance to introduce 80 himself and hang out. 81 Clarification of Council Assignments: Mayor Brackner handed out a list of council duties and 82 liaison assignments. A few changes were made. Councilmember Smith said he is glad to chair Apple 83 Days, but he won’t be here on that date. Councilmember Wilson recommended he find a person to 84 chair the event. She would like to meet with Mr. Smith later. Mayor Brackner would like to see the 85 city have an active youth council and asked Mr. Smith to be over it. Councilmember Clausen 86 suggested ‘emergency preparedness’ be added under public safety. Councilmember Okelberry will 87 help Mayor Brackner get going on it. Councilmember Wilson felt the city building and old 88 church/school should probably fall under Parks, as well as the DUP, Hillside and Cemetery Parks. 89 Councilmember Wright would like added, ‘according to state law’ at the end of the Planning and 90 Zoning duties. Mayor Brackner will make changes to the document and get copies to the Council. 91 Adoption of the Municipal Wastewater Planning Program Resolution: Mayor Brackner 92 discussed his satisfaction with the report. The Council agreed. River Heights City Council Meeting, 01/28/14 2  93 Councilmember Okelberry “moved to adopt Resolution 1-2014, Municipal Wastewater 94 Planning Program Resolution.” Councilmember Clausen seconded the motion which carried 95 with Clausen, Okelberry, Smith, Wilson and Wright in favor. No one opposed. 96 Discuss Office Electronics Bids: Mayor Brackner stated, after the last council meeting Council 97 Members Okelberry and Smith got together and put out a bid request to three vendors. Mayor 98 Brackner read a response from Randy Grover of ITworks, who didn’t have time to submit a bid, but 99 cautioned the Council on the quality of hardware they purchase. Mayor Brackner asked that the 100 Council keep in mind Mr. Grover’s comments when reviewing the other bid. Mayor Brackner 101 observed, Jeff Young’s hardware might be overpriced, but he feels he’s done a lot of work on his bids 102 and recommended the council go with him. Councilmember Okelberry feels the Council doesn’t need 103 all the wiring for the digital video. He could set up airplay himself, which would save the city a lot of 104 money. Mr. Okelberry reported his findings when he went online to compare hardware, for less 105 money. He is concerned that if the city hires Jeff and then has Randy Grover do maintenance it might 106 not work very well. He recommends continuing with Randy Grover as the city’s IT guy. He said 107 Randy and he may be working together on a website so there may be a conflict, but probably not. 108 Mayor Brackner informed that Finance Director Grover desires that the city go paperless on the 109 financial end. 110 Councilmember Okelberry reminded, the city already has a scanner and doesn’t think the city 111 should spend more for another one. Mayor Brackner feels it is time consuming for Recorder Lind to 112 get up and down to access the scanner. Councilmember Wright suggested having Randy Grover give a 113 bid and then compare. Mayor Brackner wants to get moving on the public works system. 114 PWD Nelson showed up at the meeting. 115 Councilmember Wilson doesn’t understand all the technical stuff. But, she likes the idea that 116 all she needs would be on her ipad. Mayor Brackner feels the new system is worth the cost but doesn’t 117 feel confident to decide this. He asked Councilmember Okelberry if he is willing to take over this 118 decision. Mr. Okelberry was willing to do more investigating. Engineer Rasmussen pointed out that 119 Hyrum City has a small digital recorder with a few microphones, which works fine for them. 120 Councilmember Clausen feels this needs more investigation. He agrees with Councilmember 121 Okelberry that if the city goes with Jeff Young, it means Randy Grover will have to go away. Mr. 122 Clausen feels Randy deserves to continue to be the city’s IT guy. He suggested Commissioners 123 Okelberry and Smith order a public works computer system. Mr. Okelberry was excited to do this, as 124 well as get it set up. He suggested the city satisfy their electronic needs piecemeal, for a less price. 125 Councilmember Clausen moved that “for now, we allow Council Members Smith and 126 Okelberry to recommend a computer for public works, not to exceed $1,200 and then install it. 127 In addition, Council Members Smith and Okelberry will investigate the rest of the equipment 128 that is most needed.” Councilmember Okelberry seconded. Mayor Brackner asked PWD 129 Nelson his opinion. Mr. Nelson stated both Randy and Jeff have highly recommended 130 purchasing computers through them, based on quality. Mayor Brackner feels an obligation to 131 Jeff. The motion passed with Clausen, Okelberry, Smith, Wilson and Wright in favor. No one 132 opposed. 133 Councilmember Clausen asked for this to be on the agenda in a month. Council members 134 Okelberry and Smith will have recommendations to give at this time. 135 Discuss Consideration of Lowering Property Taxes: Mayor Brackner handed out a comparison 136 on tax rates in the valley (included with these minutes). The city would lose $9,000/year if they 137 lowered rates by 10%. Mayor Brackner figured it would save an average property owner $150. He 138 feels it would be easier to leave the rate how it is to prevent having to raise it later. Mayor Brackner River Heights City Council Meeting, 01/28/14 3 139 discussed the city’s current cash balances. The city has ample money for what needs to be done. The 140 water fund is struggling and needs to be built up. The sewer reserves are good but need to be left to 141 build up until we find out what is going to happen with Logan’s new waste water system. 142 Councilmember Clausen explained the reason for his desire to lower taxes. Property owners 143 have upcoming tax increases (for schools, Logan City treatment facilities, etc). He’d like people to 144 feel that River Heights isn’t in the business to raise taxes when we need more money. He realizes it’s 145 just a token (to lower property taxes). 146 Councilmember Okelberry would like the city to have the money needed to upgrade sidewalks, 147 in the near future. He suggested the idea of paying people back by lowering their utility bill. 148 Councilmember Clausen would like to approach this idea later in the year. Depending on the amount 149 of snowfall we get, the city may be forced by the state to regulate water conservation. He’s not 150 recommending to lower taxes right away, but would like it to be on their minds when they work out the 151 upcoming budget. 152 Discuss Business Licensing Regulation: Councilmember Okelberry read a section of the 153 legislative bill he is concerned about (included with these minutes). He does not want to see non-profit 154 groups be exempt from being licensed through the city. The reason for business licensing is so the city 155 can regulate businesses. He has drafted a statement to send to our state representative which says we 156 want to reserve the right to license non-profit organizations. It was suggested the city contact the 157 ULCT to find out more about the bill and their stand on it. Councilmember Wright cautioned about 158 basing our opinion on the Leagues, but it would be good to see what their opinion is. Councilmember 159 Wilson feels non-profit organizations already need to come to the city for approval, with or without a 160 fee for a license. Mr. Wright suggested Councilmember Okelberry email his opinion and the number 161 of the bill and they’ll research it on their own. He also recommended following the timing of the bill. 162 Mayor Brackner will contact the League with Councilmember Okelberry’s statement of concern. 163 Mayor and Council Reports: Councilmember Wright discussed the Commission’s public 164 hearing at their last meeting, to receive comments about the city’s Stewart Hill Property. It turns out 165 the public was split on their feelings about what to do with the property, in about the same split as the 166 Commissioners, themselves. They will have more discussion at their next meeting. 167 Councilmember Wilson showed an educational flyer she is putting together, for those who own 168 dogs, which will remind them of the city’s laws concerning dogs. 169 Councilmember Clausen brought up the idea of the city hiring a part-time employee that would 170 devote time to looking for grants for the city (as he learned Brigham City has). He would like to 171 discuss this further at another meeting. PWD Nelson has found that most grants are based on the 172 average income of the city’s residents. He reminded that River Heights has a high average income 173 level. Mr. Clausen said he gets asked a lot why River Heights doesn’t get grants so he recommended 174 hiring someone for a year or so, to see if they could get any money. Engineer Rasmussen said 175 Foresgren would be glad to do this, but it will cost the city a lot of money to find quality grants. He 176 agrees with Mr. Nelson, because the city has high end incomes and utility bills it will be hard to get 177 money. He mentioned possible grants from UDOT. They require a lot in specifications which raise 178 the cost of the project. There are more grants coming out in the social sciences. Mr. Clausen will meet 179 with Mr. Rasmussen and Mr. Nelson to discuss it. Mayor Brackner suggested they visit with Logan to 180 see how they look for grants. 181 Councilmember Okelberry reminded the RAPZ grant is coming up soon. Councilmember 182 Wilson said they won’t be applying for anything this year. She isn’t aware the parks need anything. 183 Mr. Okelberry heard a suggestion about a skate park in the area of the old playground. River Heights City Council Meeting, 01/28/14 4 184 Councilmember Okelberry reported he had a good time at the Planning Commission’s public 185 hearing. 186 Councilmember Smith reported that the royalty committee has met and things are underway. 187 He will get started on the float. He regrets he won’t be able to attend the next two council meetings. 188 The budget workshop was moved to Wednesday the 19th at 6:00 p.m. 189 Mayor Brackner said the sale of the 800 South property to Nyman Mortuary is waiting for a 190 deed from the attorney. He had asked Mandy Petersen (webmaster) to attend the meeting to assist 191 them with their emails, but she didn’t come. Councilmember Okelberry said their emails would work 192 with WordPress. Mayor Brackner wants their city correspondence to be available to the public, via the 193 city’s website. Mayor Brackner will meet with Ms. Petersen to discuss their email needs. 194 Mayor Brackner said Treasurer Wilker is quite often using her cell phone for city business. He 195 recommended paying her $30/month to go towards her phone bill. The Council agreed. 196 The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. 197 198 ______________________________ 199 Sheila Lind, Recorder 200 ________________________________ 201 James Brackner, Mayor River Heights City Council Meeting, 01/28/14 5