City Council

Thursday, January 6,2000
Minutes



ST. GEORGE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 6, 2000, 4:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Daniel McArthur Councilmember Rod Orton Councilmember Suzanne Allen Councilmember Bob Whatcott Councilmember Larry Gardner City Manager Gary Esplin City Attorney Jonathan Wright City Recorder Gay Cragun EXCUSED: Councilmember Sharon Isom OPENING: City Councilmembers Larry Gardner, Bob Whatcott, and Rod Orton were sworn in by City Recorder Gay Cragun. A motion was made by Councilmember Whatcott to appoint Larry Gardner as Mayor Pro Tem until Mayor McArthur arrived. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Orton, and all voted aye. Mayor Pro Tem Gardner called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance. The flag salute was led by City Attorney Jonathan Wright, and the invocation was offered by City Manager Gary Esplin. Mayor Pro Tem Gardner and City Council members commented on the successful First Night activities and thanked all who helped to make the event a success. BID OPENING: Consider award of bid for SCADA repairs and service for City facilities. Purchasing Agent Sue Swensen recommended a blanket purchase order in the amount of $50,000 for the year be awarded to Lectrol for repairs to the City?s SCADA system. She advised this is a sole source item. Water and Power Director Wayne McArthur advised the SCADA system monitors the City?s water and power systems. It monitors loads at each substation and the amount of water in each water tank. He advised the City recently purchased a new SCADA system and this contract for repairs is very worthwhile to maintain the system. A motion was made by Councilmember Orton to award a blanket purchase order in the amount of $50,000 for the year to Lectrol for repairs to the City?s SCADA system. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Whatcott, and all voted aye. BID OPENING: Consider award of bid for an addition to the dock at the diesel plant. Purchasing Agent Sue Swensen presented three bids received: Wadman Construction $111,000; Triple B Construction - no bid; and Arnell-West Construction $93,300, for an addition to the loading and receiving dock at the diesel plant. She recommended award to the low bidder, Arnell-West, in the amount of $93,300. A motion was made by Councilmember Whatcott to award the bid to Arnell-West Construction in the amount of $93,300 for an addition to the dock at the diesel plant. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Orton, and all voted aye. City Council Minutes January 6, 2000 Page Two CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT: Consider a request for approval of a conditional use permit for a temporary gravel crushing operation at the former J&J concrete batch plant at the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Bluff Street. Quality Excavation, applicant. Associate Planner Jim McGuire advised Quality Excavation is in the process of removing the hill at the site and have encountered a lot of rock. They are requesting permission to crush it on site. The Planning Commission, at their meeting of December 28, 1999, recommended approval for a 90 day period, with the stipulations that operation to be between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., access be by way of U-18, and the site be kept watered down to minimize dust. In approving the 90 day limit, the Planning Commission recognized that the time it takes to set-up and tear-down the equipment, as well as any days missed due to inclement weather, will not be counted toward that time period. Mayor McArthur arrived. A motion was made by Councilmember Orton to approve the conditional use permit as recommended by the Planning Commission. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Allen, and all voted aye. SET PUBLIC HEARING: Associate Planner Jim McGuire advised the Planning Commission recommended that a public hearing be scheduled on February 3 at 5:00 p.m. to consider changes to the Zoning Ordinance on the number of large animals permitted in the A-1 zone. A motion was made by Councilmember Gardner to set the public hearing for February 3, 2000 at 5:00 p.m. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Whatcott, and all voted aye. LEASE AGREEMENT WITH SIMMONS MEDIA: Consider approval of a proposed lease agreement between the City and Simmons Media. City Manager Gary Esplin advised the proposed lease is for location of up to two radio antennas at the City?s water reclamation facility. The lease proposes annual payments of $6,000 for the first five year term, with renewable five year terms and an increase of 10% in the rental rate. The lease can be canceled by either party by giving 180 days advance notice, and the City retains the right to use the property for its own purposes. A motion was made by Councilmember Orton to approve the lease as presented. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gardner, and all voted aye. AGREEMENT WITH STOUT CONSTRUCTION: Consider approval of an agreement with Stout Construction for installation of a new water tank. City Manager Gary Esplin advised the City previously purchased a 10,000,000 gallon used water tank in California, disassembled it, and brought it here. This contract would allow the City to use the parts to reconstruct the tank to use for watering the west side of town. It is anticipated it will be placed in the Green Valley area. The recommendation from the Water and Power Board is that the City go with either Option E ($305,000) or F ($320,000) under Exhibit B. Option F contains thicker, new steel. City Council Minutes January 6, 2000 Page Three Water and Power Director Wayne McArthur advised staff would prefer approval of Option F. He advised the tank had previously been erected, but never used. City Manager Gary Esplin requested approval of Option F, but advised it would not use the new, thicker steel unless necessary. A motion was made by Councilmember Gardner to approve either option, depending on which steel would provide the longest life. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Orton, and all voted aye. AIRPORT LEASES: Consider a request for approval of an airport lease with Mr. Hal Hillburn. Consider a request for approval of an airport lease with Mr. Kent Christopherson. City Manager Gary Esplin advised the Airport Board recommends approval transfer of a lease previously held by Mr. Kent Christopherson to Mr. Hal Hillburn, as well as a new lease to Mr. Christopherson. A motion was made by Councilmember Allen to approve the leases as recommended by the Airport Board. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Whatcott, and all voted aye. LEASE FOR AIRPORT COUNTER SPACE: Consider approval of a lease for counter space at the terminal building with National Car Rental. City Manager Gary Esplin advised the Airport Board recommends approval of a lease for 4' of counter space at the airport terminal to National Car Rental. A motion was made by Councilmember Whatcott to approve the lease as recommended by the Airport Board. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Orton, and all voted aye. MISCELLANEOUS: Mayor McArthur expressed appreciation to Councilmembers Whatcott, Gardner, and Orton for their years of service to the City. Mayor McArthur advised he and representatives of the School District just returned from a meeting in Salt Lake City to ask for a grant of $500,000 for renovation of the Woodward Building. The request was put on a pending list and the City will find out in March if some or all of the request is granted. Bill Shaw from the Olympic Organizing Committee will be in St. George next Wednesday at the Economic Summit. Mitt Romney will also be speaking in the City Council Chambers on Tuesday, January 11 at 7:00 p.m. ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion to adjourn to an executive session to discuss property acquisition and/or sales and litigation issues was made by Councilmember Allen. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gardner, and all voted aye. RECONVENE: A motion to reconvene regular City Council meeting was made by Councilmember Allen. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Whatcott, and all voted aye. City Council Minutes January 6, 2000 Page Four PUBLIC HEARING/ORDINANCE Public hearing to consider a request to amend the PD Planned Development zone on 22.51 acres, Hidden Valley project, located southwest of Bloomington Hills school property in order to relocate the commercial area on the map. State School Trust Lands, Don Leavitt, applicant. Community Development Director Bob Nicholson advised the Planning Commission recommended approval of an amendment to the PD zone in the Hidden Valley project to flip flop certain areas of commercial and residential development. Don Leavitt representing Trust Lands Administration, advised the reason they are requesting the change is because of a large berm in the area and drainage issues could be better mitigated. Mayor McArthur opened the public hearing. There being no public comment, Mayor McArthur closed the public hearing. A motion was made by Councilmember Whatcott to approve, by ordinance, the amendment of the PD zone in the Hidden Valley project in order to relocate the commercial area on the map. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gardner. A roll call vote was taken and all voted aye. HERITAGE WEEK CHAIRMAN: Mayor McArthur introduced Cleo Atkin, Chairman of the Heritage Week Committee, who in turn introduced members of her board. Mrs. Atkin informed the Mayor and Council of the many activities planned for Heritage Week and encouraged their participation. PUBLIC HEARING/ORDINANCE: Public hearing to consider proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance: (a) amendments to Chapter 20, Manufacturing Zones M-1, M-2, to add certain permitted and conditional uses; (b) proposed amendments to Chapter 6, Parking Requirements, to add provisions for parking for disabled persons, and also requirements for landscaping of parking lots; (c) amendments to Chapter 17, Planned Development Zones, and the Sign Ordinance, to clarify sign requirements within a Planned Development zone. Community Development Director Bob Nicholson advised the proposed amendments are housekeeping in nature. The Planning Commission recommends approval of several uses to be added to the M-1 and M-2 zones in Chapter 20 of the Zoning Ordinance. Mayor McArthur opened the public hearing. There being no public comment, Mayor McArthur closed the public hearing. A motion was made by Councilmember Allen to approve, by ordinance, the amendments to Chapter 20 of the Zoning Ordinance as recommended by the Planning Commission. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gardner. A roll call vote was taken and all voted aye. Community Development Director Bob Nicholson advised that the Planning Commission recommended addition of two new provisions to Chapter 6 of the Zoning Ordinance pertaining to landscaping of large parking lots. Councilmember Orton questioned the expediency of placing landscaping strips in the middle of parking lots which would inhibit the free flow of traffic within the parking lots. He stated that while he did not disagree with the proposed requirement for a percentage of landscaping, he questioned the provision that would require its even distribution throughout the parking lot. City Council Minutes January 6, 2000 Page Five Councilmember Gardner proposed that the issue be tabled until it could be further examined. Mayor McArthur opened the public hearing. John Norenberg stated he disagreed with Councilmember Orton and thought all parking lots should be required to have trees in the middle of the lots to provide shade. Vardell Curtis stated that from a developer?s standpoint, interior landscaping is typically provided for delineation of traffic movement, and if landscaping is too aggressively required, it will be at the expense of parking. Parking is for service of customers and to take care of the needs of the businessmen. He urged caution in setting a ratio or percentage of required landscaping. Thomas Hall expressed concern about the number of changes being made to the Zoning Ordinance, which seem to be changes to the General Plan. He inquired where the water would come from to water all the trees which will be required in parking lots. He expressed concern at the City?s apparent lack of water conservation efforts. He stated he was opposed to the proposed ordinance amendment as it is not in line with the General Plan. Mayor McArthur replied that the City does promote and practice water conservation through automatic timing, drip irrigation systems, and piping of water. The City also encourages xeriscaping. Mr. Hall requested an annual report from the City which shows how water usage was reduced in St. George There being no further public comment, Mayor McArthur closed the public hearing. Councilmember Whatcott stated he wondered if the City were over-regulating. He stated he struggled with the regulation which mandated which kind of tree could be planted by a developer and suggested the approved tree list needed to be re-evaluated. He stated there is an economic breaking point for the developer that needed to be considered, and suggested the proposed amendment be tabled for further discussion. A motion to table was made by Councilmember Gardner. The motion died for lack of a second. City Manager Esplin advised that the proposed amendment to Chapter 6 of the Zoning Ordinance concerning parking for the disabled still needed to be considered. A motion was made by Councilmember Gardner to adopt, by ordinance, the proposed revisions to Chapter 6 of the Zoning Ordinance concerning handicapped parking. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Whatcott. A roll call vote was taken and all voted aye. Community Development Director Bob Nicholson advised that the Planning Commission recommended approval of a proposed amendment to Chapter 17 of the Zoning Ordinance, and the Sign Ordinance. The amendment states if free-standing pole signs are not included in the PD site plan, they are subject to the monument sign provisions of the Sign Ordinance. This would apply to PD Commercial zones only. The amendment also adds three roads to the list of roads where free-standing signs must comply with monument sign provisions. The three roads are: Brigham Road (the entire length), Mall Drive south of 350 North, and Pioneer Road (the entire length). City Council Minutes January 6, 2000 Page Six Mayor McArthur opened the public hearing. There being no public comment, Mayor McArthur closed the public hearing. A motion was made by Councilmember Gardner to approve the amendments to Chapter 20, 6, and 17 of Zoning Ordinance, by ordinance, and to the Sign Ordinance, as recommended by the Planning Commission. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Orton. A roll call vote was taken and all voted aye. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Consider approval of the minutes of the special City Council meeting held December 9, 1999. A motion to approve the minutes as presented was made by Councilmember Gardner. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Orton, and all voted aye. Consider approval of the minutes of the City Council work meeting held December 14, 1999. A motion to approve the minutes as presented was made by Councilmember Gardner. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Allen, and all voted aye. Consider approval of the minutes of the regular City Council meeting held December 16, 1999. A motion to approve the minutes as amended was made by Councilmember Gardner. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Whatcott, and all voted aye. ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion to adjourn to an executive session was made by Councilmember Allen. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gardner, and all voted aye. RECONVENE AND ADJOURN: A motion to reconvene and adjourn was made by Councilmember Gardner. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Allen, and all voted aye. The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. ___________________________________ Gay Cragun, City Recorder