City Council

River Heights City COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA Tuesday, October 6,2020 Notice is hereby given that the River Heights City Council will hold their regular council meeting, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the River Heights City Office Building at 520 S 500 E. Opening Remarks(Milbank) and Pledge of Allegiance (Thatcher) Adoption of Previous Minutes and Agenda Public Hearing to Discuss the Transfer of$300,000 from the Sewer Enterprise Fund to the General Fund Reports and Approval of Payments(Mayor, Council, Staff) Public Comment Discuss Safety at the Intersection of Stewart Hill Drive Mountain View Drive and Temple View Drive Discuss Future Use of the Stewart Hill Park Area Adjourn Posted this day of October 2020 "•U/l UlkyplM. Sheila Lind, Recorder Attachments for this meeting and previous meeting minutes can be found on the State's Public Notice Website (pran.utah.gov ). In compliance with the American Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliar> communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify Sheila Lind.(435)770-2061 at least 24 hours before the meeting. 520 South 500 East River Heights, Utah 84321 Phone & Fax (435)752-2646  River Heights City 3 Council Meeting 4 5 October 6, 2020 6 7 8 Present: Mayor Todd Rasmussen, electronic 9 Mayor Pro-tem Doug Clausen, pro-tem 10 Councilmembers: Sharlie Gallup 11 Chris Milbank 12 Elaine Thatcher 13 Blake Wright 14 15 Recorder Sheila Lind 16 Public Works Director Clayten Nelson 17 Finance Director Cliff Grover, electronic 18 19 Excused Treasurer Wendy Wilker 20 21 Others Present: Steve Thunell, Jerry Penee,Zakk Rhodes, Heather 22 Lehnig, Cindy Schaub, Rebecca Paulsen, Noel Cooley ^4 25 26 The following motions were made during the meeting: 27 28 Motion #1 29 Councilmember Thatcher moved to "adopt the minutes of the September 9, 2020 Workshop, 30 September 15, 2020 Town Hall and Council Meetings with corrections and the evening's agenda." 31 Councilmember Milbank seconded the motion, which passed with Clausen, Gallup, Milbank, Thatcher, 32 and Wright in favor. No one opposed. 33 34 Motion #2 35 Councilmember Thatcher moved to "transfer up to $300,000 from the Sewer Enterprise Fund to 36 theGgeneral Fund." Councilmember Milbank seconded the motion, which passed with Clausen, 37 Gallup, Milbank, Thateher and Wright in favor. No one opposed. 38 39 Motion #3 40 Councilmember Milbank moved to "pay the bills as listed." Councilmember Thatcher 41 seconded the motion, which passed with Clausen, Gallup, Milbank, Thatcher and Wright in favor. No 42 one opposed. 43 44 ft iiiMi HMi{j1il> Piiji rnimril 520 South 500 East River Heights, Utah 84321 Phone & Fax(435)752-2646 47 Proceedings ofthe 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, October 6,2020 for their regular council meeting. In the 51 physical absence of Mayor Rasmussen, Councilmember Clausen served as mayor pro-tem. 52 Opening Remarks and Pledge of Allegiance: Councilmember Milbank opened the meeting 53 with a thought and Councilmember Thatcher led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. 54 Adoption ofPrevious Minutes and Agenda: Minutes for the September 9,2020 Workshop, 55 September 15,2020 Town Hall and Council Meetings were reviewed. Councilmember Wright 56 explained some changes to the Town Hall meeting minutes. 57 Councilmember Thatcher moved to "adopt the minutes of the September 9,2020 58 Workshop,September 15,2020 Town Hall and Council Meetings with corrections and the 59 evening's agenda." Councilmember Milbank seconded the motion, which passed with Clausen, 60 Gallup, Milbank, Thatcher, and Wright in favor. No one opposed. 61 Public Hearing to Discuss the Transfer of$300.000 from the Sewer Enterprise Fund to the 62 General Fund: Coimcilmember Clausen opened the public hearing after giving a briefsummary of the 63 transfer. FD Grover explained the big expense was 400 South, which came to about $500,000. The 64 city needs to maintain a balance of about $250,000 in the General Fund. The transfer will cover the 65 budget for the coming year. He projects the city's revenue may go up and down this year. The 66 General Fimd has been dropping over the years due to capital projects. 67 Cindy Schaub asked if the transfer was a loan that would be paid back. Councilmember 68 Clausen stated it wasn't a loan. 69 Jerry Pence asked for verification of the amount in the sewer fund and if it was excess money. 70 FD Grover said the sewer fund is projected to bring in revenue of$377,900 for the current fiscal year 71 and the expected expenses are $468,000. Mr. Pence pointed out this exceeds the revenue. 72 Councilmember Wright explained $953,000 is in the sewer fund as of August. He pointed out a recent 73 sewer rate increase. Mr. Pence asked what the additional money would be used for. He would rather 74 have property taxes raised, than have his sewer rates continue to go up. 75 Steve Thunell explained sewer rates are spread over a bigger base of people, including renters. 76 If property taxes are increased then only property owners are paying for the increase. Mr. Pence would 77 like the council to raise the rates for the fund it will be spent from. FD Grover said if property taxes 78 are raised it is more permanent than this one time transfer. Councilmember Clausen asked Mr. Pence 79 what the difference would be to him between the two. Mr.Pence said the state legislature probably 80 puts a limit on how high property taxes could be raised. Mr. Clausen didn't believe this was state 81 regulated. 82 Jerry Pence brought up the water fund and expressed frustration with how much his bill is. He 83 didn't think it was fair he paid the same base rate for using much less than someone else who used 84 close to the base amoimt of 10,000 gallons/mo. He was also upset because he doesn't fill his garbage 85 can very full and still gets charged the same as someone who fills theirs all the way. He felt the city 86 was unfairly charging him on all of his utilities. He asked whose council seats were up next because 87 he planned to run for office. 88 Steve Thunell remembered FD Grover said at the budget hearing that the sewer fund didn't 89 have too much and to leave the excess there. He asked why the change in plans. Mr. Grover said he is 90 looking at the reserves. The council makes the decisions on which projects to do. The main reason for 91 the transfer is to cover the 400 South road project. Mr. Thunell asked about the water fund, which he 92 and Mr. Grover discussed. Mr. Thunell understands the sewer fund amount is based on saving up over River Heights City Council Meeting, 10/6/20  the years. He was convinced the amount transferred should cover the replacement ofthe sidewalk on 400 South because it will cost more"in the future. 95 FD Grover anticipates a decrease in sales tax revenue due to COVID. 96 Councilmember Thatcher said they are trying to be responsible with the city's funds by having 97 a cushion and spending wisely. All council members are doing their best. 98 FD Grover said sales taxes are the most substantial and will likely decrease this year. Property . 99 taxes could go down if people default on paying. 100 Councilmember Clausen said they are careful about trying to have a certain amount kept in 101 reserved for emergencies. He explained what they have done from the sewer fund this past year. They 102 are in line with other cities. 103 Jerry Pence pointed out that many residents are on fixed incomes and are paying proportionally 104 more. He felt he was subsidizing other utility users when he is using much less. Councilmember 105 Thatcher said the council could discuss this later. 106 Councilmember Wright reminded they wanted to keep $250,000-300,000 in the General Fund. 107 RD Grover explained they will only use as much as they need from the sewer fund. It may only be 108 $100,000. 109 Councilmember Thatcher moved to "transfer up to $300,000 from the Sewer Enterprise 110 Fund to the General Fund." .Councilmember Milbank seconded the motion, which passed with 111 Clausen, Gallup, Milbank, Thatcher and Wright in favor. No one opposed. 112 Reports and Approval ofPavments(Mavor. Council. Staff): 113 Public Works Director Nelson 114 • The last couple weeks they have had several water leaks on 400 East on the lower portion. The service lines and the main is in very rough shape. Mr. Nelson advised they add 400 East as a high priority water project. Councilmember Clausen suggested he and Mr. Nelson talk to 117 Engineer Rasmussen to find out what it might cost. Mr. Nelson said it could wait until the next 118 budget. Mr. Clausen reminded when they do water projects they always need to budget for 119 road repair, as well. Mr. Nelson thought they could do most of their work outside ofthe oil and 120 pull the service lines under the road. 121 • The sewer repair on River Heights Boulevard should be started next week. After it's finished 122 they will do the needed asphalt repairs on the Boulevard, as well as the driveway to the city 123 shop. 124 • A sidewalk needs to be fixed where there was a water line replacement. At that time they will 125 do some other areas in town. There are a lot ofrepairs needed because of tree roots, planted by 126 homeowners. Ifthey replace sidewalks and don't remove the trees they will be replacing 127 side,walk again. The city code says if the damage is the fault of the property bwner they will 128 pay. He suggested this be a future agenda item to talk through how to handle these situations. 129 In the meantime, he will move forward on sidewalk repairs that are not caused by trees. , 130 •He reminded that last year the council discussed snow removal on city sidewalks around parks, 131 etc. Councilmember Thatcher felt it important that they city keep their sidewalks cleaned. Mr. 132 Nelson pointed out the additional sidewalk that's been added to the city, which means they will 133 probably need equipment better suited to,do the job. Ms. Thatcher reminded they looked into 134 hiring a contractor last year but it was going to be very expensive. They talked about getting 135 equipment that can handle the narrowness ofthe sidewalks. Mr. Nelson suggested, after 136 looking at options last year, a four-wheeler would be the least expensive. They don't need ''''' something fancy. Councilmember Wright asked what the cost would be to hire someone. Mr. Nelson remembered it was about $600 per storm. Discussion was held on if they could hire River Heights City Council Meeting, 10/6/20 139 • someone local for less. The city's insurance would not cover them without adding them to the, 140 policy. Ms. Thatcher and Mr. Nelson will get some more bids and bring it up at another 141 meeting. Mr. Nelson guessed a vehicle would be $6,000-8,000. 142 Finance Director Grover 4idn't have anything./ • . . , • 143 144 Treasurer Wilker was absent. The council reviewed the list of bills to be paid. 145 Councilmember Milbank moved to ^^pay the bills as listed." Councilmember Thatcher . 146 seconded the motion, which passed with Clausen, Gallup, Milbank,Thatcher and Wright in 147 favor. No one opposed. 148 149 Councilmember Thatcher didn't have anything. 150 • Councilmember Milbank informed that the irrigation water has been turned off, but the 151 intersection at 600 E RH Boulevard is leaking down the road. He said PWD Nelson 152 recommended they could seal the pipe like they do with sewer leaks. Mr. Nelson and Ms. 153 Thatcher will discuss it later. 154 155 Councilmember Milbank 156 • He and PWD Nelson have looked at the tennis courts. They found minor flaws and gaps 157 around the tennis net stanchions. The tennis court installer said he will be out this fall to look at 158 the courts. 159 • David Thunell will take out some trees on Hillside Park in an effort to clean up the area. 160 161 Councilmember Clausen didn't have anything. 162 ' ■ 163 Councilmember Gallup 164 • Ambassadors are still meeting and planning activities. 165 166 Councilmember Wright didn't have anything. 167 168 Recorder Lind didn't have anything. 169 170 Mayor Rasmussen didn't have anything. 171 172 Public Comment: There was none. 173 Discuss Safety at the Intersection of Stewart Hill Drive. Mountain View Drive and Temple 174 View Drive: Mayor Rasmussen reminded they had agreed to discuss adding a stop sign coming up the 175 hill or additional stop signs at the intersection. Councilmember Wright said he had talked to a few 176 residents in the area ofthe intersection who said they don't think there's much traffic and it doesn't 177 make sense to stop traffic going north and south. PWD Nelson said if speed is the issue, they should 178 get an officer to give tickets. He didn't like the idea of a stop sign at the top of the hill while driving a 179 snowplow. Councilmember Milbank suggested placing 'caution pedestrians' signs and painting stripes 180 on the road. Mayor Rasmussen said he had heard other comments from residents about the safety. He 181 suggested the discussion be about a stop sign at the top of Stewart Hill or leave it as is.' Mr. Nelson 182 and Councilmember Thatcher agreed to take a look at it. Mr. Nelson suggested it might require a 183 traffic engineer. > . - River Heights City Council Meeting, 10/6/20  Discuss Future Use of the Stewart Hill Park Area: Councilmember Wright felt the town hall meeting was well attended. He and Councilmember Milbank requested a consensus from the council 186 to move forward on whatever is decided. Concept 4 was the most liked by the citizens at the town hall 187 meeting. A number of people suggested moving the path further north. Councilmember Thatcher 188 wondered about a possible cemetery on the property east of the church on 600 East. Mayor Rasmussen 189 informed he has inquired of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to see ifthey would 190 consider donating the property to the city. He was told their policy is to sell property for the going 191 rate. 192 Councilmember Wright said he wouldn't mind getting rid ofthe wide walkway or realigning it. 193 PWD Nelson suggested a waterline is better under a hard surface. 194 PWD Nelson informed, as he was going through the general plan updates, he noted the required 195 amount of open space in the city doesn't add up. His calculations show the city is short. 196 Councilmember Wright said the full city build out includes open space in the Riverdale area. There is 197 property for sale now, but it is too expensive. Councilmember Milbank questioned whether the 198 budgeted $80,000 this year would be better spent on property for additional open space. 199 Councilmember Gallup was curious how much it would cost to install the basic utilities in the 200 Stewart Hill property. 201 Councilmember Clausen asked if Councilmembers Milbank and Wright could work on this 202 together and come back with some details. The council agreed. 203 Councilmember Gallup took leave ofthe meeting at 8:00 pm. 204 Mayor Rasmussen gave a follow up on the Old School. He is working with 3 groups \vho will 205 be renting space: The strings group is using it to store some equipment they received from the Tabernacle Choir, a homeschool group will use it on Wednesdays and another one is interested in Thursdays. He doesn't plan to spend any money on the building until the council decides what they 208 want to do. He is charging $12/hour per room. One group needs -wifi. He is inclined to allow them to 209 install a router that can be transferred to the city when they leave. The council was fine with what he 210 was doing. 211 Mayor Rasmussen discussed council assignments on the Old Church. He hoped to have some 212 projects or a direction, narrowed down by the end ofthe year. 213 Further discussion was held on the Old School. City Attorney Jon Jenkins has written up a 214 contract for the renters. There is currently only one key to the building. He doesn't plan on letting 215 anyone else rent it. Contracts will not go past March in case the council wants to let the Ballet 216 Company use the whole building at that time. 217 The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. 218 219 220 221 Sheila Lind. Recorder 222 223 224 225 Todd A. Rasmussen, Mayor River Heights City Council Meeting, 10/6/20  River Heights City Bills To Be Paid October 6, 2020 Payee Description Admin. P&Z Parks/Rec Pub. Safety Com. Aff. Roads Water Sewer Total 1 Ames, Joe Minutes of Meeting $90.00 $90:00 2 Blue Stakes of Utah 811 Billable E-mail Notifications $26.87 $26.87 $27.67 $81.41 3 Cache Valley Publishers News Ad Public Hearing Fund Transfer $86.87 $86.87 4 City of Logan Sewer, Garbage, 911 $13,937.99 $2,025.00 $12,434.00 $28,396.99 5 Comcast Business Internet $31.57 $31.56 $31.56 $94.69 6 Daines & Jenkins Legal Fees $551.00 $551.00 7 Dominion Energy Gas $9.93 $17.61 $3.45 $63.05 $3.45 $97.49 8 Facer Excavation, Inc. Sewer Hook-up /Winstead Reimburse $2,650.00 $2,650.00 9 Gabriel Rasraussen October Newsletter $130.00 $130.00 10 Hunt, Tanner Utility Deposit Refund $8.91 $8.91 11 JP Make LLC City Portion Extension of Sewer Line $9,657.50 $9,657.50 12 LAF Graphics Apple Days Signs $216.00 $216.00 13 Logan City Water Consumption $1,431.01 ' $1,431.01 14 Nekter Juice Bar Apple Days Tennis Tournament $50.00 $50.00 15 Peterson Plumbing Supply Water Leak Repair $1,191.82 $1,191.82 16 Secure Instant Payments Monthly Billing $14.32 $14.32 $14.31 $42.95 17 Specialized Pest Control Fertilizer Application $294.50 $294.50 18 The Clean Spot Cleaning Supplies Office & Park Restroor $39.05 $159.59 $198.64 19 Thomas Petroleum Fuel for City Vehicles $24.79 $24.78 $24.78 $24.78 ' $99.13 20 Thurcon, Inc., 385 E. 600 S. New Water Service $1,600.00 $1,600.00 21 Utah Local Government Trust Add of School to Ins. $13.43 $20.64 $63.01 $79.82 $84.02 $260.92 22 Verizon Wireless Monthly Billing Cell Phones $54.96 $54.96 $54.98 $164.90 23 Watkins Printing Apple Days/Public Hearing Mailing $132.00 $596.48 $728.48 24 25 26 JUNES 27 Whitaker Construction Water Leak Repair - $256.45 $256.45 28 29 30 LATE ADDS-BUT STANDARD MONTHLY BILLINGS 31 Caselle Monthly Billing $91.69 $91.66 $91.65 $275.00 32 Freedom Mailing Monthly Billing $144.63 $48.21 $48.21 $241.05 33 Rocky Mountain Power Monthly Billing Power $89.77 $70.33 $25.63 $1,290.99 $4,659.43 $30.68 $6,166.83 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Page 1 SubTotals $15,417.21 $587.46 $2,050.63 $266.00 $1,409.10 $9,582.85 $25,749.29 $55,062.54 Page 1 Total Amount to b I $55,062.54  PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE RIVER HEIGHTS CilY UTILITY CUSTOMERS Transfer of funds from the Sewer Fund to the General Fund A public hearing will be held oh Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. at River Heights City Offices located at 520 South 500 East, River Heights. The public hearing will be to discuss the proposed transfer from the Sewer Fund to the General Fund and amending the fiscal year 2021 budget for the proposed transfer. All interested parties are invited to attend. State law requires that the City provide an annual disclosure on amounts transferred from utility enterprise funds to the General Fund. This transfer represents 39.05% of total budgeted Sewer Fund expenditures($768,290)for fiscal year 2021^ Dollar Amount % of Expenditures Transfer from the Sewer Fund to the General Fund $300^000 39.05% These transferred funds are used to help cover the costs of important services like police, street maintenance and snow removal,fire and emergency medical services, parks, and similar City services. The utility transfer helps keep property taxes In River Heights low. The transfers provide a means for reimbursement of the General Fund for services provided to non-property tax paying groups such as non-profit organizations, churches, and governmental entities. Viewed in another way,these transfers are a "dividend" to River Heights taxpayers as the result of the taxpayers' original investment iri the City's sewer infrastructure. If City sewer services were provided by private entities, these dividends would Jnstead be paid to investor-owners; because River Heights taxpayers are the investor-owners, these dividends are used to offset what otherwise would be a significant increase in property tax rates.  Alternative Four, developed In April 2020: Developed with more emphasis on park use, there is no through road. A 10-stall parking lot accessed from Stewart Hill Drive East provides a turnaround and location for snow storage. A five-stall parking lot accessed from Stewart Hill Drive West provides a hammer-head turnaround and snow storage. A widened walk connecting the two parking areas would provide service and emergency vehicle access but would be closed to through traffic. A pavilion with six picnic tables, a two-room restroom building, walking paths and benches are provided. Gates through the existing south fence could expand walking from the park into the cemetery, where many people currently walk in the shade. The large space on the south side remains open for cemetery plots should the need arise, however, for the time being it is designated to be open-space park. CfiY OF River Heights  Sell or Retain Assigned "Type of Project Ownership Responsible Party Blake Tear Down and New Build Retain City/Contractor Blake " Tear Down and New Build Historic •Retain 5 IGlty/CQntractor . Blake Full Renovation Retain City/Contractor Chris. •\» F,ull Renovation . T.' ''Retain^ "City/Contractbr. ; -y Elaine Full Renovation Retain City/Contractor Doug ; "Full Renovation Retain .Gity/Contractor Doug Full Renovation Retain City/Contractor thris. Full Renovation ' . >-Retaln .f,City/Cpntractor ;J Blake Full Renovation Historical Retain City/Contractor Chris ' Full Renovation Historical Retain ; City/Contractor' 1 Elaine Full Renovation Historical Retain CIty/Coritractor [Doug ' V; Full Renovation historical Retain Gity/Cpntractpr " Doug Full Renovation Historical Retain City/Contractor [Chris Full Renovation Historical , " Retain li City/Gbntractor.; - Doug Partial Renovation Retain City iSharlie'', Tear-Down ' 1^ ■ T Retaiin Sharlie Tear Down Sell Buyer frodd iPaftial Renovation/Tear Down. . Retairi . .j3ity/Cdntractpr -' ^ Todd Partial Renovation/Tear Down Sell City/Buyer jlodd- ^ Partial Reridvation/Tear Down . Retain 'City/Contractor > " - Todd Partial Renovation/Tear Down Sell City/Buyer  Potential Potential Expenditure Revenue (For Project Future Use Description (Annual) Completion) Evant Center Rental Evaht Center- Rental Event Center Rental jHousing Single Famijy Library [Services (ligHt cbmmerci^l): v Housing Multi Family [Parks/Recreatibn Event Center Rental Housing Single. Family> Library Services (light cornmerclal) Housing Multi Family jpariS/RecrSatjop Minimum repairs to rent/lease as is. rani 4-6 Building Lots (Active Adult, Single Family, City Building) North.end razed and deyel6ped,;Sbuth end.rendyated for-housing. North end razed and developed. South end renovated for housing. South end irazed ahd^developed,'Nprth end reribvated for housing. South end razed and developed. North end renovated for housing. Maintenance Costs(Annual) Net Revenue 0.00 :o.oo: 0.00 ,0-00' 0.00 0.00 o.bo ^0.00 0.00 jQ.oo 0.00 o.og 0.00 q,o¥ 0.00 o:oo Q.OO ■o'.bO" 0.00 'o:oo 0.00