City Council

1 River Heights City Council 2 Minutes of the Meeting 3 March 11, 2014 4 5 6 Present were: Mayor James Brackner 7 Council members: Richard Okelberry 8 Geoff Smith 9 Blake Wright 10 11 Recorder Sheila Lind 12 Public Works Director Clayten Nelson 13 Treasurer Wendy Wilker 14 15 Excused: Council members: Doug Clausen 16 Dixie Wilson 17 Finance Director Cliff Grover 18 19 Others Present: Gayle Brackner 20 21 22 The following motions were made during the meeting: 23 24 Motion #1 25 Councilmember Okelberry moved to “adopt the minutes of the February 25, 2014 Council 26 meeting and the evening’s agenda.” Council member Wright seconded the motion, which passed with 27 Okelberry, Smith, and Wright in favor. No one opposed. Clausen and Wilson were absent. 28 29 Motion #2 30 Councilmember Wright moved to “pay the bills as listed except the orthodontics bill.” 31 Councilmember Okelberry seconded the motion, which passed with Okelberry, Smith, and Wright in 32 favor. No one opposed. Clausen and Wilson were absent. 33 34 Motion #3 35 Councilmember Okelberry moved to “adopt Resolution 2-2014, A Resolution Amending the 36 2013-2014 General Budget, dated March 11, 2014.” Councilmember Smith seconded the motion, 37 which carried with Okelberry, Smith and Wright in favor. No one opposed. Clausen and Wilson were 38 absent. 39 40 Motion #4 41 Councilmember Okelberry moved to “allow Public Works to lease a new skid steer for no more 42 than $4,500/year and purchase a box grader for no more than $5,000.” Councilmember Smith 43 seconded the motion which carried with Okelberry, Smith and Wright in favor. No one opposed. 44 Clausen and Wilson were absent. 45 46 River Heights City Council Meeting, 03/11/14 1 47 Motion #5 48 Councilmember Wright moved to “approve basement office construction, that meets code and 49 includes windows in the new office and in Mr. Nelson’s office, as well as a window well to 50 accommodate window construction. Also included, will be a desk and copier/printer.” 51 Councilmember Okelberry seconded the motion which carried with Okelberry, Smith and Wright in 52 favor. No one opposed. Clausen and Wilson were absent. 53 54 55 Proceedings of the Meeting: 56 57 The River Heights City Council met at 6:30 p.m. in the Ervin R. Crosbie Council Chambers in 58 the River Heights City Building on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. 59 Opening Remarks and Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Brackner opened the meeting with a 60 thought that we’re all connected and all children of God. Councilmember Wright led the group in the 61 Pledge of Allegiance. 62 Adoption of Previous Minutes and Agenda: Minutes of the February 25, 2014 Council meeting 63 were reviewed. 64 Councilmember Okelberry moved to “adopt the minutes of the February 25, 2014 65 Council meeting and the evening’s agenda.” Council member Wright seconded the motion, 66 which passed with Okelberry, Smith, and Wright in favor. No one opposed. Clausen and Wilson 67 were absent. 68 Pay Bills: Treasurer Wilker presented and answered questions regarding the bills. The 69 orthodontics bill will be held in abeyance until later in the meeting. Treasurer Wilker explained the 70 bill for IT Works. 71 Councilmember Wright moved to “pay the bills as listed except the orthodontics bill.” 72 Councilmember Okelberry seconded the motion, which passed with Okelberry, Smith, and 73 Wright in favor. No one opposed. Clausen and Wilson were absent. 74 Finance Director Report: FD Grover was absent. 75 Purchase Requisition Requests: There were none. 76 Public Works Report and Discussion: PWD Nelson reported on the following: 77  Cameron has been working on sewer manhole inspections. He’s found a couple problems with 78 water infiltration. Mr. Nelson would like to have a contractor come look at sealing these off. 79 They have inspected all that they are able to. Some lids are covered in asphalt. He’d like to 80 purchase a jack-hammer to raise these up to the surface. Councilmember Wright asked about 81 renting one. Mr. Nelson feels they would be better off to purchase because of the amount of 82 work they have to do. Once they uncover the lids they’ll check the holes and then he’d like to 83 have the contractor come fix all the leaks at the same time. He thinks he can find a good jack- 84 hammer in the $1,000 range. The Council gave their consent. Mr. Nelson will probably call 85 Val Kotter to do the sealing job. 86  Last fall an individual wanted to install a trail along 800 South as an eagle project. The city 87 gave approval, but it got too late in the year. Now that the weather is warming, they can work 88 on it again. He asked if he could get some slag from Nucor, as talked about before. The 89 Council gave their consent. He’ll check on contractors to bring the slag. 90  Mr. Nelson reminded of a section of 600 South with no sidewalk (along the Weston property). 91 He got bids last year but then it got too late to do the work. He wondered if this is something 92 the Council still would like to see done. Councilmember Okelberry pointed out some streets River Heights City Council Meeting, 03/11/14 2  93 don’t have sidewalks on either side. He’d rather see 700 South get a sidewalk. Mr. Okelberry 94 has generated a list of sidewalk needs in the city and will get it to Mayor Brackner and PWD 95 Nelson to discuss this week. They will bring a recommendation to the next meeting. 96  They will be doing tree trimming next Monday. If property owners would like to do their own, 97 they need to do it before they come. 98  Councilmember Okelberry asked about the blue staking he’s seen on Mountain View Drive. 99 Mr. Nelson informed Rocky Mountain Power will be redoing the underground wiring in this 100 area. 101 Administrative Report: Recorder Lind didn’t have anything. 102 Public Comment: There was none. 103 Public Hearing to Adopt Adjustments to the 2013-14 Budget: Mayor Brackner pointed out an 104 item that was left off his first draft of adjustments that he sent out. An updated copy was given out. 105 Mayor Brackner reported: The General Fund revenue decreased by $7,300. General Fund expenses 106 were increased by $17,477. Capital Fund revenue increased by $450. Water Fund revenue increased 107 by $41,000. Water Fund expenses increased by $6,600. Sewer Fund revenue increased by $13,400 108 and Sewer Fund expenses increased by $11,825. Mr. Brackner reported there is a net positive of more 109 funds coming in than going out. 110 Councilmember Okelberry moved to “adopt Resolution 2-2014, A Resolution Amending 111 the 2013-2014 General Budget, dated March 11, 2014.” Councilmember Smith seconded the 112 motion, which carried with Okelberry, Smith and Wright in favor. No one opposed. Clausen 113 and Wilson were absent. 114 Discuss the Possibility of Leasing a Skid Steer: PWD Nelson said the cost of leasing a new 115 skid steer would be about $4,000/year. The lease would be similar to the one the city has on the 116 backhoe. The main reason the city could use a skid steer would be to help with maintenance on 117 Riverdale Road. It could also be used on trail projects. There are several attachments that can be 118 purchased which would allow it to remove snow, etc. A suggestion was made to rent it for a year and 119 then decide if it’s still needed. Perhaps it could be leased every three years, as needed. Mr. Nelson 120 explained that a grader attachment would be needed to grade Riverdale, which would cost $3,000- 121 $5,000. The blades are replaceable. 122 Councilmember Okelberry moved to “allow Public Works to lease a new skid steer for no 123 more than $4,500/year and purchase a box grader for no more than $5,000.” Councilmember 124 Smith seconded the motion which carried with Okelberry, Smith and Wright in favor. No one 125 opposed. Clausen and Wilson were absent. 126 Discuss the Addition of Office Space for City Treasurer: Mayor Brackner discussed the idea of 127 converting the storage closet downstairs into an office for the treasurer. It would need a window, 128 which has been priced at $1,000. The Council agreed there would need to be a window, as well as one 129 in Mr. Nelson’s office. Mayor Brackner has concerns about the information that would be stored 130 downstairs if the basement continued to be rented. Councilmember Wright feels the building rental 131 service should be discontinued, but suggested the decision should be made when Council members 132 Clausen and Wilson are in attendance. Mr. Wright suggested a printer/copier in the kitchen that both 133 offices could use, which would be another reason not to rent the basement. Discussion was held on the 134 type of printer that would be needed. Gayle Brackner suggested that Finance Director Grover would 135 know what type would be best. Mr. Wright asked Treasurer Wilker how she feels about having her 136 office in the basement. Ms. Wilker said she is fine with it; she would like a window. Mayor Brackner 137 asked Mr. Nelson what he estimated the cost to be. Mr. Nelson said a few more electrical outlets will River Heights City Council Meeting, 03/11/14 3 138 need to be added, a heat vent to connect to the kitchen vent, sheetrock, etc. He guessed the job could 139 be done for less than $5,000. 140 Councilmember Wright moved to “approve basement office construction, that meets code 141 and includes windows in the new office and in Mr. Nelson’s office, as well as a window well to 142 accommodate window construction. Also included, will be a desk and copier/printer.” 143 Councilmember Okelberry seconded the motion which carried with Okelberry, Smith and 144 Wright in favor. No one opposed. Clausen and Wilson were absent. 145 Discuss Orthodontics Bill: Mayor Brackner sent an email (included) explaining his 146 understanding of the history of PWD Nelson’s daughter’s orthodontist situation. Besides the issue of 147 whether or not to cover $1,500 of her bill is the question of whether the city should cover Mr. Nelson’s 148 other two children in orthodontics for the same amount. Councilmember Wright is fine with paying 149 the current bill. Councilmember Okelberry agreed. Mr. Wright said he was annoyed that another 150 administration made unilateral commitments. He’s fine with upholding the promise at this point. He 151 suggested the city agree to it for PWD Nelson and not for others since they were not given this 152 promise. The Council agreed to pay $1,500 for each of Mr. Nelson’s three children, towards 153 orthodontics. 154 Mayor and Council Reports: Councilmember Wright informed that the next council meeting 155 they may be asked to consider a minor subdivision and rezone request from Mark Watterson for a lot 156 on Windsor Drive. He explained the property is currently zoned R-1-12, but Mr. Watterson is 157 requesting R-1-8 to allow a 25’ front setback, which will match up with his neighbors. Mr. Wright 158 also reported the cemetery/park master plan is progressing slowly. 159 Councilmember Wright explained there is an irrigation issue with the mortuary property. 160 Recorder Lind stated Boyd Humpherys (Pioneer Irrigation president) has talked to Danny McFarlane, 161 the engineer for the mortuary. 162 Councilmember Okelberry reported the city now has Office 365 for commercial businesses. 163 They bought it as a subscription, which will offer all the upgrades, as they come out. The city can add 164 up to five computers at the cost of $100 each. Councilmember Okelberry said city employees may be 165 eligible for the discount, as well. This package will give online storage that all employees can access. 166 It will be installed on the new main office computer after it has been set up. 167 Councilmember Okelberry discussed his daughter’s girl’s scout troop is looking for a building 168 to meet in. He asked what the Council thought about allowing them to meet downstairs three 169 Wednesday’s/month in exchange for service to the city. The Council will think about it. 170 Councilmember Smith is working with the royalty committee. The chairman is Tamber 171 Weston. At the next council meeting the past and present royalty girls will be presented. He has asked 172 Todd Rasmussen to head up a youth council. Currently he is working on finding members. Mr. Smith 173 has also started a Beautification Committee with Kerry Coleman as chairman. He’ll meet with him 174 after council meeting. Mr. Smith asked what has been done in the past for city clean-up days. He 175 asked if the city wanted volunteers to help or not. PWD Nelson said Hillside Park can always use 176 volunteers. He mentioned that the first Saturday in May is the ditch clean-up. Treasurer Wilker 177 informed that “Earth Day” is on April 22. In the past, Logan Landfill has allowed free dumping on 178 this day. Metal recyclers are more lenient on Earth Day for accepting cars without titles. Also, the 179 State Road Department has given out free garbage bags on this day. Also discussed was the Ryan’s 180 Park clean-up day in June. 181 Mayor Brackner informed that Mandy Peterson, the city’s current webmaster has accepted a 182 job in Ogden. Since she will no longer be available to help out at the office during the day, he has River Heights City Council Meeting, 03/11/14 4 183 asked Councilmember Okelberry to help with the website. Mr. Okelberry accepted the assignment, in 184 which the Council agreed. 185 Mayor Brackner discussed an emergency alert system that is being installed in Richmond. He 186 is interested in this for River Heights as a way to communicate with our citizens. Councilmember 187 Okelberry said the County has reverse 911 set up for those who are signed up. Mayor Brackner asked 188 Mr. Okelberry to look into it. He agreed and will report back. 189 Mayor Brackner informed, the city has hired Aleena Astle as a back-up crossing guard. She 190 will start this Thursday. PWD Nelson said Cameron Reed had to fill in today since one of the crossing 191 guards didn’t show up. Councilmember Okelberry suggested sharing alternate crossing guards with 192 Providence. 193 Mayor Brackner discussed the wastewater circumstance. He has attended five meetings in the 194 last two weeks regarding this. At the last meeting each city put everything they need on the table for 195 discussion. Logan City is trying their best to work with all the cities. Walt Baker told them the State 196 had some money to hire a consultant for this area. Mr. Baker was asked to go forward with a study. 197 Tomorrow Mayor Brackner will attend a meeting where they will discuss a proposal for a system on 198 the south end of the valley. He feels this will cost more than going with Logan. PWD Nelson feels 199 Hyrum wants other cities to join them since they recycle and could use the additional flow. Mayor 200 Brackner feels it’s in River Heights’ best interest to go with Logan. Councilmember Smith thanked 201 Mayor Brackner for putting so much time into these meetings. 202 The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. 203 204 ______________________________ 205 Sheila Lind, Recorder 206 ________________________________ 207 James Brackner, Mayor River Heights City Council Meeting, 03/11/14 5