City Council

Tuesday, July 23,2002
Minutes



ST. GEORGE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
JULY 23, 2002, 12:00 NOON
ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE ROOM

PRESENT:
Mayor Daniel McArthur
Council Member Sharon Isom
Council Member Larry Gardner
Council Member Rod Orton
Council Member Suzanne Allen
Council Member Bob Whatcott
City Manager Gary Esplin
Deputy City Attorney Ron Read
City Recorder Gay Cragun

OPENING:
Mayor McArthur called the meeting to order and welcomed all present. The pledge of allegiance was led by Marc Mortensen and the invocation was offered by Council Member Whatcott.

REQUEST FOR OVERNIGHT USE OF TONAQUINT PARK:
Becky Cox, representing the Utah Federation for Youth, requested permission to use Tonaquint Park July 26 and 27, with overnight use on July 26, for 37 youth ages 8-12 for a W. O. W. program. There will be one counselor for every five to six children. The children will be separated by gender and will be well supervised.

Marc Mortensen advised that the Parks Department was aware of the request and had no problem with it.

A motion was made by Council Member Gardner and seconded by Council Member Orton to approve use of the park as requested. Mayor McArthur called for a vote, as follows:

Council Member Gardner - aye
Council Member Orton - aye
Council Member Allen - aye
Council Member Whatcott - aye
Council Member Isom - aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

DISCUSSION RE D.A.R.T.S.:
Public Works Director Larry Bulloch distributed a handout entitled "Public Transit System Assessment," attached hereto as Exhibit "A," and reviewed its contents with those present.

Council Member Isom arrived.

Council Member Orton questioned the percent of population the system serves. He was advised that it currently serves approximately 1% of St. George's population.

Council Member Gardner commented that even though the system reflects favorably on the quality of life in St. George, he had a hard time getting beyond the fact that each ride is subsidized by approximately $10.00.

Council Member Isom commented that Washington County Economic Development Director Scott Hirschi stated the system was needed to bring new businesses to town.



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July 23, 2002
Page Two

Council Member Whatcott stated that Mr. Hirschi said that as a general statement, but if he was asked directly, he would agree that D.A.R.T.S. had no bearing on Blue Bunny location in St. George.

Council Member Allen stated that the City's MPO status mandates that public transportation be planned for.

Council Member Whatcott commented that the original proposal for D.A.R.T.S was an incremental approach, and he inquired about the difference between this original proposal and the current system.

Public Works Director Larry Bulloch responded that the original plan proposed a paratransit system with route deviations if within 3/4 mile, but this plan was never implemented.

Council Member Gardner suggested that a public transit system not try to be all things to all people, and perhaps two buses could be utilized instead.

Beth Cottam, Five County Association of Governments, responded that the buses must be ADA accessible to assure the disabled are able to ride.

Council Member Gardner inquired if one bus specifically designated for the disabled would serve their purposes.

Ms. Cottam replied that one bus would not suffice.

Chuck Hunter, Five County Association of Governments, advised that the current program services 10 passengers a day in wheelchairs.

A discussion then took place concerning route plans, dial-a-ride, and funding.

Council Member Allen inquired if the City would be able to recover the same funding for D.A.R.T.S. that Five County Association of Governments currently receives. She was advised that it could.

Mayor McArthur commented that compared to personnel costs for the program, operational costs are minor.

City Manager Gary Esplin inquired if there were other transit programs besides D.A.R.T.S. available to transport the handicapped. He inquired who transported the handicapped before D.A.R.T.S. was implemented.

Ms. Cottam replied that 5310 programs to transport the handicapped are available.

Council Member Gardner inquired if federal funds made available to the state for these programs were not used, would the state receive less or be able to reapportion them.

Mr. Bulloch replied that the funds would be reapportioned and would not impact the tax burden.

City Manager Gary Esplin commented that federal funds are not the total funding package, and the most critical is the City's match, as once federal dollars are used, there are many strings attached.

Council Member Orton commented that from a business standpoint, D.A.R.T.S. did not make sense, and to chase dollars with dollars is


St. George City Council Minutes
July 23, 2002
Page Three

frightening. He expressed concern that D.A.R.T.S. only serves 50% of St. George, and the program is currently 93% subsidized.

Mayor McArthur commented that until the City has control of the situation and has more say in how it will be administered, perhaps it should be made smaller in order to be more successful and it could then be expanded into different areas of the City.

Council Member Whatcott commented that perhaps the matter should be taken to the voters to determine if they want to continue putting $350,000 a year into the system or would rather use the funds somewhere else. He stated that a key criteria of the MOU plan is that public transit must be planned for, not implemented. He inquired if it would be best to create a plan now while saving funds needed to implement the plan in five to ten years. He questioned whether the area has the geography for a bus system, as there are many pockets of living areas and not one centrally located commercial area. He stated the current system provides a social benefit to those without cars.

Council Member Isom replied she did not think the matter should be taken to the voters, as the City Council is elected to make decisions such as this.

Council Member Gardner commented that while he did not necessarily support the suggestion of a referendum, most of the citizens in St. George would probably agree with Council Member Whatcott. He expressed concern about the high cost to subsidize the current system.

Mr. Bulloch stated that if ridership increases, the subsidy will decrease.

City Manager Gary Esplin stated that if ridership doubled, which was doubtful, the deficit would not be cut, as service would have to be expanded throughout the entire community. He inquired if the system was not needed for eight years, was it prudent to spend that subsidy for eight more years, and could the City afford to subsidize the system before it was needed.

A discussion then took place on use of a portion of the 1/4? sales tax to fund the system, and the need to bump other things from the City's priority list if this was done.

Mayor McArthur commented there was a possibility the City may lose Class B and C road funds.

City Manager Gary Esplin commented that ideally a public transit system should be a county-wide program, funded by all entities. He inquired if the City Council wanted to spend $10,000 a month until October to keep the system functioning.

Beth Cottam advised that John Williams will not authorize continuation of D.A.R.T.S. if the City does not take it over.

Marc Mortensen advised that the United Way raised $30,000 for D.A.R.T.S. and will have to be returned to the City as reimbursement for its expenses.

A motion was made by Council Member Isom to approve take-over of the D.A.R.T.S. system, but pursue the regional concept for a public transit system.

City Manager Gary Esplin replied that all entities which would be involved in a regional system said they would not participate.

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July 23, 2002
Page Four

The motion was seconded by Council Member Allen.

Council Member Gardner inquired if the City could do something less than the current system. He was advised that it could, using part-time drivers and maintenance.

Mr. Bulloch advised that if the system is shut down and out of the MPO process, it would be seven years before a demonstration project could be funded again.

Mr. Esplin replied that while this may be true for demonstration funds, the City could apply on a yearly basis for State funds for operating costs.

Mayor McArthur called for a vote, as follows:

Council Member Isom - aye
Council Member Allen - aye
Council Member Gardner - no
Council Member Orton - no
Council Member Whatcott - no

The motion failed.

Council Members Orton and Gardner inquired if a smaller system could be operated.

Council Member Whatcott advised that the City has donated $190,000 to D.A.R.T.S. in the last 18 months, and perhaps the City could look at creating a new D.A.R.T.S. in five years after research is done and options presented.

Mayor McArthur commented that the system must be kept going in some form or the current resources will be lost.

Beth Cottam advised that the buses are owned by Five County Association of Governments, and it was their intent to give the buses to the City if the City took over the system. However, they are not obligated to do this. Five County Association of Governments still has contracts for 5311 funding for non-urbanized areas, and they will keep the buses for this program.

City Manager Gary Esplin commented that if any of the buses became available, he hoped the City would have an opportunity to obtain them.

Council Member Whatcott advised that the City has already purchased at least two of the buses.

City Manager Gary Esplin commented that if the City owned two buses, it could give funds to the Volunteer Center and provide insurance to operate the system. This would provide transportation services for the 1% needing the service. The City is also willing to look at other alternatives.

Council Member Gardner suggested there was merit in keeping the service running on a month-to-month basis while the system is redesigned.

City Manager Gary Esplin replied there were two options: discontinue funding of the service entirely as of July 31 and let Five County Association of Governments decide if they will continue the service; or spend $10,000 to keep the service going one more month while options are explored for a reduced program.


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July 23, 2002
Page Five

Council Member Isom suggested the City continue its funding on a month-to-month basis until October.

A motion was made by Council Member Gardner to fund the system for one more month at a cost of $10,000 in order to give staff time to come up with options for a reduced service. The motion was seconded by Council Member Orton. Mayor McArthur called for a vote, as follows:

Council Member Gardner - aye
Council Member Orton - aye
Council Member Allen - aye
Council Member Isom - aye
Council Member Whatcott - aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

City Manager Gary Esplin clarified that the $10,000 needed to fund the system for one more month would come from the $30,000 raised by the United Way to reimburse the City its costs.

ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION:
A motion to adjourn to an executive session to discuss personnel issues was made by Council Member Orton and seconded by Council Member Isom. Mayor McArthur called for a roll call vote, as follows:

Council Member Orton - aye
Council Member Isom - aye
Council Member Allen - aye
Council Member Whatcott - aye
Council Member Gardner - aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

RECONVENE AND ADJOURN:
A motion to reconvene and adjourn was made by Council Member Whatcott and seconded by Council Member Isom. Mayor McArthur called for a vote, as follows:

Council Member Whatcott - aye
Council Member Isom - aye
Council Member Allen - aye
Council Member Gardner - aye
Council Member Orton -aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried. The meeting then adjourned.



_____________________________
Gay Cragun, City Recorder