City Council

River Heights City River Heights City Council Agenda Tuesday, July 16, 2024 Notice is hereby given that the River Heights City Council will hold their regular meeting at 6:30 p.m., anchored from the River Heights City Office Building at 520 S 500 E. Attendance can be in person or through Zoom. Pledge of Allegiance Opening Thought (Thompson) Adoption of Previous Minutes and Agenda Reports and Approval of Payments and Purchase Orders (Mayor, Council, Staff) Public Comment Property Tax Discussion Discuss CMPO Safety Action Plan ■Budget Workshop Continued Discussion on Plans for the Old School Building Adjourn Posted this 12'^ day of July 2024 Sheila Lind, Recoifder Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/i/84444509496 Attachments for this meeting and previous meeting minutes can be found on the State's Public Notice Website (pmn.utah.gov) and at riverheights.org. In compliance with the American Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify Sheila Lind, (435) 770-2061 at least 24 hours before the ■aaangi 520 South 500 East River Heights, Utah 84321 Phone & Fax (435) 752-2646  River Heights City 1 3 Council Meeting 4 July 16, 2024 5 6 7 Present: Mayor Jason Thompson 8 Council members: Lana Hanover 9 Chris Milbank 10 Lance Pitcher 11 Blake Wright 12 Public Works Director Clayten Nelson 13 Recorder Sheila Lind 14 Treasurer Michelle Jensen 15 16 Excused Councilmember Janet Mathews 17 18 Others Present: Bryan and Brittany Cascio 19 20 21 The following motions were made during the meeting: 22 Motion #1 Councilmember Milbank moved to "adopt the minutes of the regular council meeting and 25 executive minutes, with one correction, of July 2, 2024, and the evening's revised agenda. 26 Councilmember Wright seconded the motion, which passed with Hanover, Milbank, Pitcher, and Wright in 27 favor. No one opposed. Mathews was absent. 28 29 Motion #2 30 Councilmember Milbank moved to "pay the bills as listed." Councilmember Hanover seconded 31 the motion, which carried with Hanover, Milbank, Pitcher, and Wright in favor. No one opposed. 32 Mathews was absent. 33 34 Proceedings of the Meeting: 35 36 The River Heights City Council met at 6:30 p.m. in the Ervin R. Crosbie Council Chambers in the 37 River Heights City Building on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, for their regular council meeting. 38 Pledge of Allegiance and Opening Thought: Mayor Thompson opened the meeting with a 39 thought. 40 Adoption of Previous Minutes and Agenda: Minutes for the July 2, 2024, meeting were reviewed. 41 Mayor Thompson announced that the Budget Workshop item on the agenda would be postponed until 42 next meeting since Councilmember Mathews wasn't able to attend the evening's meeting. 43 Councilmember Milbank moved to "adopt the minutes of the regular council meeting and executive minutes, with one correction, of July 2,2024, and the evening's revised agenda. It 44 'Hium iieigiiij Ciiy cuuiiui mLLiiiig, ¥ 520 South 500 East River Heights, Utah 84321 Phone & Fax (435) 752-2646 45 Councilmember Wright seconded the motion, which passed with Hanover, Milbank, Pitcher, and Wright 46 in favor. No one opposed. Mathews was absent. 47 Reports and Approval of Payments (Mayor. Council. Staff): 48 Mayor Thompson 49 • He expressed concern that CRS Engineers had merged with another firm, who contracted with 50 UDOT. He had requested a meeting with Jacob (from CRS) and the city engineer. They were still a 51 few months out on the River Heights transportation study. 52 • He had met with a group tasked with a master safety plan to increase safety in municipalities. The 53 plan would aid cities in applying for funding. He explained some of the ideas the group had come 54 up with to decrease traffic speeds, such as narrow roads and roundabouts. Funding could go 55 towards experimental remedies or permanent projects. He asked the council to ponder where in 56 River Heights they see safety problems and then email him their ideas so he could pass their 57 concerns to the CMPO. 58 Recorder Lind 59 • She encouraged everyone to do their KnowBe4 training for July and gave kudos to 60 Councilmembers Wright and Hanover and Treasurer Jensen for having already done their training. 61 Councilmembers Wright and Hanover didn't have anything to report. 62 Councilmember Pitcher 63 • He brought up an email report sent by Recorder Lind on the database provided by TextMyGov. 64 Ms. Lind discussed her disappointment with the database only providing one phone number per 65 household, which may or may not be a person living in the home. Mayor Thompson discussed the 66 possibility of having a teen go door to door, to help citizens sign up. He asked Ms. Lind to 67 schedule a representative to come discuss it with the council. He wanted to talk through the back 68 end of their database. 69 • He talked to Cache County about firework restrictions and had the city's name added to their list. 70 • Sometime between August and September the county would start the process of redoing 600 71 South and 700 South, starting with chip seal. PWD Nelson said seal coating on specific roads 72 would start in a couple weeks. 73 • Mayor Thompson asked where things were at with resurfacing the road in Riverdale. Mr. Pitcher 74 said there were issues with low hanging trees and some other things. There was a question on 75 road width. PWD Nelson said in the past they brought in road base and graded It. Mr. Pitcher 76 stated the county can do some other things that would help with dust control. The mayor said he 77 had received multiple complaints on the road's condition. Mr. Pitcher said it could be due to the 78 mayor's snow plowing efforts. The mayor responded that was probably partly true. 79 Milbank 80 • He gave an update on Hillside Park. Due to the heat the vegetation was dying. 81 • He asked where things were with the Zoning Clearance Permit for the city's pavilion. 82 Councilmember Wright said he and PWD Nelson had signed it. 83 PWD Nelson and Treasurer Jensen didn't have anything to report. 84 Approval of Payments 85 • Treasurer Jensen presented the list of bills to be paid. She pointed out the payment to Raymond 86 Construction for the new park. 87 Councilmember Milbank moved to "pay the bills as listed." Councilmember Hanover 88 seconded the motion, which carried with Hanover, Milbank, Pitcher, and Wright in favor. No 89 one opposed. Mathews was absent. River Heights City Council Meeting, 7/16/24 2  ' Public Comment: There was none. 92 Property Tax Discussion: Mayor Thompson drew attention to and explained the property tax rate 93 analysis he had generated. He pointed out that Trenton was the only Cache Valley entity with a lower tax 94 rate than River Heights. He then discussed the cit/s revenues, which included property taxes, sales taxes, 95 franchise taxes, licenses and permits, charges for services, fines, and other revenue. The total in the 96 General fund was $674,320, which ebbs and flows. Expenses were estimated at $600,165. If there ended 97 up being $75,000 remaining at the end of the year it would carry over to the next year. He discussed the 98 roads fund revenues from mass transit taxes and Class C Roads. The difference between revenue and 99 expenses was projected at $93,000. In the water fund revenue minus expenses showed an increase of 100 $150,423, and the sewer fund Increase was $78,223. He wanted the council to see that in each fund they 101 stay in the black where they can grow funds. He acknowledged that it had been several years since they 102 discussed property tax rate increases and felt it would be appropriate to discuss it now. 103 He asked for council input on the pros and cons of raising property taxes. Councilmember 104 Milbank asked for clarification on some of the numbers in the report. It was determined that there were 105 some rounding errors. Mr. Milbank pointed out that the committee Mayor Thompson put together to 106 review property taxes was going to work through it last fall, but the mayor didn't show up. Mayor 107 Thompson admitted it had been a scheduling difficulty. They discussed when a decision would need to be 108 made. Treasurer Jensen said the county starts asking in October if there are plans to raise taxes. The 109 mayor said the committee needed to get back together. Mr. Milbank didn't agree that the committee no needed to meet again and asked if the council could have the discussion now. The mayor had a desire to 111 follow through with what he said he was going to do, or they could do it now. Councilmember Hanover asked about a presentation Treasurer Jensen put together that had been in the Drive. Ms. Jensen said she took it out, because she hadn't realized that the mayor was going to 114 present. Ms. Hanover asked her opinion on raising property taxes. She said she didn't have an opinion 115 except that she strongly believed that the funds should be kept separate. Ms. Hanover felt a good reason 116 to raise taxes was to build up the general fund, which would lead to better transparency with residents. 117 Commissioner Milbank noted that River Heights was a higher income city, whose residents enjoy 118 the benefits of living in River Heights. He suggested raising taxes to cover these benefits. Councilmember 119 Hanover noted that taxes were a burden for people. Mr. Milbank questioned whether they were actually 120 a burden because there were benefits that citizens enjoyed, paid for by taxes. 121 Mayor Thompson felt neutral and could see both sides. He wanted to make the point that they 122 weren't looting the water and sewer funds to make improvements in the city. He explained how he had 123 laid out all the capital projects and showed exactly where the money would come from. Many of the 124 projects were actual water projects. He pointed out that they had followed every transparency rule. He 125 was leaning in favor of incrementally raising property tax rates. 126 Councilmember Hanover reminded that Finance Director Sanderson said to their group that it 127 wasn't illegal to move money out of enterprise funds for capital projects, but it was not good practice. 128 Councilmember Wright pointed out that Logan City does it all the time. 129 Councilmember Wright agreed they should look at an increase in property tax rates. He felt they 130 would find that the water and sewer funds would build up quickly and that it wouldn't look good to 131 residents that the money was just sitting there. He thought they would need to transfer funds a little. 132 Councilmember Milbank said the list of water and sewer projects Engineer Rasmussen put 133 together would cost a lot of money over the years. The old school was also going to cost a lot. s River Heights City Council Meeting, 7/16/24 3 134 Mayor Thompson reminded them they accomplished many projects over the last couple years and 135 this year they would take a break. He agreed that water and sewer would be spent based on the 136 engineer's project list over time. He didn't guess there would be extra money building up In those funds. 137 The mayor suggested getting a plan together before going into Truth in Taxation so they could 138 show intended purposes. Treasurer Jensen supported having a plan which would show the projects and 139 work backwards to determine the rate. 140 Councilmember Pitcher pointed out that nine cities in the valley had already reported their plan to 141 raise property taxes in the coming year. 142 Mayor Thompson felt there had been people (not the council) pushing to raise property taxes, 143 which he didn't understand because the city hadn't mismanaged the use of their funds. 144 Councilmember Pitcher reminded they are trying to figure out how to get heat into an old school 145 right now. He wanted to see enough money in the budget to get the old school up and going. The mayor 146 said with the limited Income they had; they may never have money saved up to follow a plan for the old 147 school. 148 Councilmember Mllbank said they could easily come up with a list to justify raising taxes. The 149 mayor said they had time to plan. 150 Councilmember Mllbank asked if they could look at the form they need to submit to the county to 151 raise taxes. 152 Councilmember Hanover felt they should raise it a decent amount to be able to get a rate that will 153 make sense for five years or so. 154 Councilmember Pitcher asked when the last time was that property taxes were raised. It was 155 pointed out that several years ago they were lowered. Mr. Pitcher asked PWD Nelson when the last time 156 was that the cost of materials went down. 157 It was explained that as property values go up, the rate goes down, to provide the same income to 158 cities from year to year. Treasurer Jensen said that Nibley City does Truth In Taxation every year to adopt 159 the same rate. Then as values go up, income can go up. 160 Mayor Thompson suggested they discuss the list of projects they wanted to fund. Then they could 161 discuss the costs and then look toward a rate. 162 Councilmember Mllbank wanted to look at Treasurer Jensen's presentation on Truth in Taxation. 163 She said she would put it back in the Drive. 164 The mayor suggested revisiting this topic multiple times before the end of the year. 165 Councilmember Hanover clarified that the reason for raising rates would be to run the city. There 166 would always be projects that came up. She felt naming specific projects was less important to present to 167 the citizens. 168 The mayor said he would send the council the correct fund balances In the report he discussed 169 earlier in the meeting. 170 Councilmember Wright wanted to make sure they had accurate numbers. The mayor said he 171 pulled his numbers from last year. Treasurer Jensen received her numbers from the county auditor 172 earlier in the day. 173 Discuss CMPO Safety Action Plan: Mayor Thompson said there would be a 20% match if they got 174 funding for safety improvements. There was a chance they could apply to the COG for the 20%. The city 175 would have to make a case on what the safety issue was and the recommended remedy. He asked if the 176 council had safety concerns to let him know. 177 Budget Workshop: This item was postponed. 178 Continued Discussion on Plans for the Old School Building: Councilmember Milbank talked to 179 Margie Rycewicz, who explained that grant decisions are partially based on the benefit to the most River Heights City Council Meeting, 7/16/24 4 isn amount of people. He brought up the ideas of selling the bullding,.going to the public to see If they could come up with funding, or tearing it down and building something the city wants. 182 Mayor Thompson said he and Councilmember Wright had not come up with a proforma. He 183 recommended they get short term renters In the building as soon as possible. He realized the heat 184 situation needed to be figured out. He wanted the council to have a conversation about their concerns 185 with renters. One concern was management of the building. 186 Councilmember Wright said he was aware of a tenant who would move In right now and take the 187 building 'as is.' They were also willing to sign a short-term lease. He supported this idea to help offset 188 utility costs. 189 Mayor Thompson agreed and asked if any of the council members were against this. 190 Councilmember Milbank was supportive if they had the staff to handle the collection of rents and other 191 Issues that might come up with the building. The mayor suggested short term leases to renters who 192 would accept the building 'as is.' 193 The mayor asked Councilmember Hanover to replace Past Councilmember Gallup on the Cache 194 County Library Committee. They will discuss the building again as a possible library. 195 In the next two weeks the mayor and Councilmember Wright will have a map of the old school 196 rooms available and rent amounts for each. He would have the city attorney write up a rental contract. 197 Councilmember Hanover asked who would do maintenance on the building. The mayor said they 198 could hire a property management company to take care of things. There would be a cost associated with 199 this. He wanted to get renters In and then shift their focus to what the Immediate needs were, followed 200 by their long-term vision for the school. 201 Councilmember Hanover noted that the Emergency Preparedness Committee and Ambassadors had their things stored in the building and meet there, as well. She hoped these things could still take place. The mayor said the city would maintain the rooms they were using for storage and city groups 204 would still have access to use the building. They would need to make a schedule. 205 Mayor Thompson suggested the council tour Mendon Station and see how they generate funds to 206 run the building. 207 The meeting adjourned at 8:30pm. 208 209 210 211 212 213 Sheila Lind, Record' 214 215 216 Jason Thompson, Mayor River Heights City Council Meeting, 7/16/24 5 River Heights City Payment Approval Report - City Council AP ^proval Report Page; 1 Report dates: 10/1/2022-7/16/2024 Jul 16. 2024 04:42PM Report Criteria: Invoices wi^ totals above $0 included. Only paid invoices included. [Report].Date Paid = 07/16/2024 GL Account Number Vendor Vendor Name Invoice Number Description Invoice Date Net Invoice Amount 5136 51-36-10 1131 Fawcett, Jenny 202407 Utility Overpayment 07/09/2024 44.88 Total 5136: 44.88 Sewer Department ' 5240 5240-20 66 Caselle 133924 Monthly Support Charges 07/01/2024 98.33 52-40-26 633 Freedom Mailing Services 202407 Utility Bill Processing 07/05/2024 70.86 5240-45 417 Blue Stakes of Utah Utility UT202401797 Professional Fees 06/30/2024 34.75 5240-50 366 Zions Bank 202407 Chevron - 60.00 07/08/2024 20.00 5240-50 366 Zions Bank 202407 Chevron - $76.00 07/08/2024 25.34 5240-50 366 Zions Bank 202407 Chevron - $76.00 07/08/2024 25.33 5240-50 366 Zions Bank 202407 Maverik - $97.65 07/08/2024 32.55 5240-50 366 Zions Bank 202407 Maverik - $97.65 07/08/2024 32.55 5240-65 366 Zions Bank 202407 WM Supercenter - Shop Supplies 07/08/2024 16.25 5240-65 366 Zions Bank 202407 Tractor Supply - Shop Supplies 07/08/2024 43.59 5240-78 995 AskAIITech LLC A7336 Sewer Phones 07/15/2024 24.32 Total 5240: 423.87 Water Department ) 0-20 66 Caselle 133924 Monthly Support Charges 07/01/2024 98.32 51-40-26 633 Freedom Mailing Services 202407 Utility Bill Processing 07/05/2024 70.86 5M0-41 417 Blue Stakes of Utah Utility UT202401797 •Professional Fees 06/30/2024 33.73 51-40-50 366 Zions Bank 202407 Chevron - 60.00 07/08/2024 20.00 51-40-65 366 Zions Bank 202407 WM Supercenter • Shop Supplies 07/08/2024 16.25 51-40-65 366 Zions Bank 202407 Tractor Supply - Shop Supplies 07/08/2024 43.59 51-40-78 995 AskAIITech LLC A7336 Water Phones 07/15/2024 24.32 Total 5140; 307.07 Administration 1041 10^1-43 65 Daines and Jenkins, LLP 5656 City Legal Business 07/05/2024 200.00 10^1-65 366 Zions Bank 202407 WM Supercenter - Shop Supplies 07/08/2024 16.24 1041-65 366 Zions Bank 202407 Tracer Supply - Shop Supplies 07/08/2024 43.58 Total 1041: 259.82 Office Expenses 1044 1044-10 633 Freedom Mailing Services 202407 Utility Bill Processing 07/05/2024 70.88 1044-35 66 Caselle 133924 Monthly Support Charges 07/01/2024 98.35 104445 844 Wasatch Document Solutions, Inc. 67538 Copies July 2024 07/09/2024 23.00 104445 844 Wasatch Document Solutions, Inc. 67538 Copies June 2024 Overage 07/09/2024 81.98 1044-50 1016 Rasmussen, Spencer 202407 Newsletter July 06/28/2024 200.00 10-44-55 633 Freedom Mailing Services 202407 Utility Bill Processing 07/05/2024 70.86 1044-65 366 Zions Bank 202407 Adobe - Michelle 07/08/2024 21.39 M-es 366 Zions Bank 202407 Google Suite 07/08/2024 96.00 4-78 995 AskAIITech LLC A7336 Admin Phones 07/15/2024 24.32 River Heights City Payment Approval Report - City Council AP Approval Report Page; 2 Report dates: 10/1/2022-7/16/2024 Julie, 2024 04:42PM GL Account Number Vendor Vendor Name Invoice Number Description Invoice Date Net Invoice Amount Total 1044: 686.78 Community Affairs 1048 10^8-50 366 Zions Bank 202407 Amazon - Reading Program Prize 07/08/2024 21.39 10-48-70 366 Zions Bank 202407 /\mazon - Ambassadors Parade C 07/08/2024 258.50 10-48-70 366 Zions Bank 202407 Amazon - Ambassadors 07/08/2024 97.80 10^8-70 366 Zions Bank 202407 Amazon - Feather Banner Flag 07/08/2024 63.48 10-48-70 366 Zions Bank 202407 Amazon - Ambassadors 07/08/2024 114.18 10-48-70 366 Zions Bank 202407 Amazon - Latex Gloves 07/08/2024 25.72 Total 1048: 581.07 Capital Projects 4060 40-60-03 1129 Raymond Construction 241102 Park - Phase #2 Request #2 06/30/2024 38,550.85 Total 4060: 38,550.85 Roads 1060 10-60-41 417 Blue Stakes of Utah Utility UT202401797 Professional Fees 06/30/2024 33.73 Total 1060: 33.73 Parks & Recreation 1070 10-70-75 366 Zions Bank 202407 Chevron - 60.00 07/08/2024 20.00 10-70-75 366 Zions Bank 202407 Chevron - $76.00 07/08/2024 25.33 10-70-75 366 Zions Bank 202407 Maverik - $97.65 07/08/2024 32.55 10-70-80 366 Zions Bank 202407 Logan Landscape - Top Soil 07/08/2024 129.57 10-70-80 366 Zions Bank 202407 Lowes - Mulch 07/08/2024 34.07 Total 1070: 241.52 Sanitation 5490 54-90-10 633 Freedom Mailing Services 202407 Utility Bill Processing 07/05/2024 70.86 Total 5490: 70.86 Grand Totals: 41,200.45 Mayor: Second Signayure: Dated:  Entity Tax Rates for 2023 River Heights Crty Property Tax Analysis RH Median Home Vaiua (2022): $479,460.00 Current Median Property Tax Amount: $24117 River Heights City Rate (from Report Amount in Category: Revenue: Rate (from Cache County Treasurer): Amount: Reai: 0.000564 $203.8S9,S7S.OO $114,976.80 0.0005030 $102,541.37 Central. 0 000564 $2,379,740.00 $1342.17 00009030 $1,197.01 Personal: 0.000706 $$,303,162.00 $3,744.03 0.000706 $3,744.03 Total Property Tax Revenue: $120,063.01 Total: $107,482 41 tntitv Uzx $100,000.00 # Median Value: Median Home Property Tax Increase: TRENTON TOWN 00004630 $46.30 $22199 RIVER HEIGHTS OTY 0.0005030 $50.30 $24117 AMALGATOWN 0 0005220 $52.20 $250.28 mmmmmmmrmm mi MigViaE CITY I.UUUSSBU $55.80 $267.»4 EXAMPtE (River Heights Raisa by 201*] 0 0006036 $60.36 $28940 $48.23 EXAMPLE (River Heights Ruse by .22SX) 0000616175 $61.62 $295 43 $54 26 EX^MP^g iRaisel ■46 PARADISE TOWN 0.0006480 $64.80 $310.69 HYRUMCrrV 0.0007320 $73.20 $350.96 NEWTON TOWN 00007390 $73.90 $354 32 mmsmm vmrn mm mm CLAhlolUN luWN 0.0008030 56u.. $303 1 WEaSWUXCiTY 0.0008100 $81.00 $388.36 mm mm UnaAN CJi T lisebytOOX) 0001006 $100 60 $482 34 $241 17 PROVIDENCE Ciry u.uuiuoeu aiue.: a33X.34 HYDE PARK CiTY 0.0011000 $110.00 $527.41 RICHMOND CITY 0 0011100 $111.00 $532.20 NORTH LOGAN CITY 0.0011360 $113.60 $544 67 SMITHFIELO CITY 0.0013$20 $13S.20 $648.23 MENI30N CITY 0.0014190 $14190 $680.35 NIBLEY CITY 0.0014640 $146.40 $701.93 CORNISH TOWN 0.001$640 $lS6.4a $749.88 LEWISTON CITY 0.0018470 $184.70 $88$ $6 Analysis for Raising Property Taxes Total Real Property Assessed In River Heights: $203,859,S7S.00 CurremTax Rate: 0.0005030 Current Revenue. $102,541.37 New Rate: New Projected Revenue: Net InovAM w Itovenue: Ralsad by .10% 0 000SS33 $112,795.50 $10,254.14 Raised by .20% 0.0006036 $123,049.64 $20.508 27 Raised by .225% 0000616175 S12S,6U17 $23,071.81 Raised by .25% 0.00062875 $128,176.71 $25,63S.34 Raised by .50% 0.0007S4S $153,812.0$ $$ 1,270.68 Raised by .75% 000088025 $179,447.39 $76,906.02 Raised by 1.00% (Doubling Our Rate and Revenue) 0.001006 $20$,082.73 $102,$41.37