November 30 2011 City Council Minutes ST. GEORGE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES WORK MEETING NOVEMBER 30, 2011, 5:00 p.m. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Daniel McArthur Councilmember Gloria Shakespeare Councilmember Gil Almquist Councilmember Jon Pike Councilmember Ben Nickle Councilmember Gail Bunker City Attorney Shawn Guzman OPENING: Mayor McArthur called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance. The pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Gil Almquist and the invocation was offered by Gloria Shakespeare. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Joe Hagan requested an update on the airport. City Manager Gary Esplin replied that enough revenue is anticipated this year from all sources to run day-to-day operations. Mayor McArthur commented that all tenants from the old airport except one have moved to the new airport and there in continual interest in the airport. It was built for future expansion and the City is looking at a company to help market the airport. City Manager Gary Esplin advised that he has personally met with the major air carriers and presented our study showing potential uses for various markets across the country. ------- Archie Iverson commented he felt the City codes with regard to nuisance and zoning violations should be made more reasonable and fair for poor people. Complaints about a property should have to be made in writing and the property owner should have the right to see his accuser. City Attorney Shawn Guzman explained that all complaints are verified by the Code Enforcement Officers, and not all complaints are acted on as some are without merit. Mr. Iverson stated that a property owner should have the right to keep an unregistered vehicle on his or her property. Councilmember Shakespeare commented that the reason so many people want to live in St. George is because the City is so clean and orderly. The City will look at its ordinances and make them more user-friendly, but hopefully they won’t be cheapened or weakened as this would affect the safety of neighborhoods. Councilmember Almquist commented that being poor does not mean being trashy, and the code enforcement officers have a tough job. The City Council will look at revisions and changes to its ordinances, but they will not go away. St. George City Council Minutes November 30, 2011 Page Two Councilmember Bunker commented that everyone wants to live in a beautiful city, but the City is not requiring beautiful landscaping - it simply wants yards that are clean and maintained. Mr. Iverson advised that he would put his concerns in writing for the City Council’s review and response. ------- Steve Horner advised he was speaking out against hand-out programs and this growing mentality in Washington County. He requested the City Council make the right decision for the community with regard to handout programs. ------- Jim Flohr, Vice Chairman of the Washington County Citizens Council on Illegal Immigration, expressed appreciation to Councilmember Shakespeare for her service on the City Council, commenting she has accomplished her duties and responsibilities in a fine and focused manner. ------- Adam Whitney inquired about the demonstration garden currently under construction. Mayor McArthur explained this is a joint Washington County and City of St. George project to demonstrate endangered plants and fish in Washington County. Water pumped from the Virgin River will be used to make a stream for viewing endangered species of fish. Mayor McArthur then dismissed the meeting at 5:50 p.m. ________________________________ Gay Cragun, City Recorder