City Council

Thursday, September 28,2000
Minutes



ST. GEORGE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 28, 2000, 4:00 P.M. ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE ROOM PRESENT: Mayor Daniel McArthur Councilmember Suzanne Allen Councilmember Larry Gardner Councilmember Bob Whatcott Councilmember Sharon Isom Councilmember Rod Orton City Manager Gary Esplin City Attorney Jonathan Wright City Recorder Gay Cragun OPENING: Mayor McArthur called the meeting to order and offered the invocation. HUNTSMAN WORLD SENIOR GAMES: Kathy Thayne and Mona Given, representatives of the Huntsman World Senior Games, advised over 5,500 registrations have been received for this year’s event, compared to 5,084 last year. 43 countries are being represented in 24 sports, and there are 2000 volunteers. Opening ceremonies for the 14th Annual Senior Games will be held at Hansen Stadium. Over $22,000,000 was spent in the community by last year’s participants. DOCTORS’ FREE CLINIC: Jay Ence and Blaine Weber advised that two possible locations have been identified for the Doctors’ Free Clinic - near the Dixie Care and Share or on City property located west of the horseshoe pits on 200 South. They advised the location on 200 South is the preferred site. City Attorney Jonathan Wright advised that the City could not donate its property without receiving fair market value for it. City Manager Gary Esplin advised not only would the City have to receive fair market value for the donation, the donation would have to be in connection with an authorized City function. The City does not provide health care services, but the County does, and perhaps the City could make a trade of property with the County who could then donate property for the project. City Attorney Jonathan Wright advised he would do more research on the subject, and not only would it be ill-advised for the City to make the donation, it would be illegal. City Manager Gary Esplin advised the City is faced with this issue each time it receives a request for a donation, including the Rotary Bowl, and it must receive a dollar-for-dollar benefit in exchange for its contribution. He advised a position paper will be provided to the City Council for its information and review. Mayor McArthur inquired if the location on 200 South was the best-suited location for the clinic. Councilmember Orton stated he felt a location on River Road near other hospital facilities would be best. Russ Gallian advised that lawful consideration could be had by constructing the building with donated funds with the City then receiving it after a period of amortization. St. George City Council Minutes September 28, 2000 Page Two City Manager Gary Esplin also questioned if the location on 200 South was the best possible location for the clinic, as in ten years the Sunbowl could be gone and the clinic would then be located right in the middle of development. He suggested a location on River Road. Blaine Weber advised the building could be constructed so that it could be moved. Jay Ence advised the purpose for the clinic is to prevent sickness and take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. He advised that most are single mothers with children. Mayor McArthur advised that an opinion was needed from the City Attorney on methods by which the City could legally transfer the property. Councilmember Gardner remarked that Mr. Gallian’s suggestion should be explored. City Manager Gary Esplin replied that an opinion and position paper would be provided to the City Council before the next City Council meeting. LAND DEVELOPMENT AROUND REPLACEMENT AIRPORT: Russ Gallian advised he represented Jeff Klein, a landowner in the area of the proposed replacement airport. He then distributed a concept picture of the Grand Circle International Center, a corporate campus approach with mixed uses, proposed for location adjacent to the replacement airport. He advised this concept would allow large corporations to live, work, and play on site. He advised it may be 5-7 years before the replacement airport is constructed, but this project could stand on its own in the meantime if the old airport runway strip could be activated for a private runway. He proposed that the City lend money to the developer to allow the sustaining of this project in exchange for a one year option to enter into a partnership. If the City decided to enter into the partnership, it would contribute land of equal value and a commitment for additional funding to market the project would have to be made. If the corporate concept is not accepted, the project would still be marketable as it is ultimately more important to the area than the airport because of the jobs it would provide and quality of the project. The look of the project would be similar to that of a project in Irvine, California, and would minimize use of automobiles. Through an economic development partnership with the City, the project could be differentiated from projects in other areas, and with development of the south block area, the project would be a job center. Profits would be shared with the development team. A new type of planned development zone would also be proposed, and any portion of property needed for the project would be annexed to the City of St. George. Mr. Gallian commented that Washington City should take a second look at the replacement airport issue as it should be negotiating for a piece of the action. Mr. Gallian advised that a significant benefit to the City of St. George would result from profits of the project, and participation by the City would be a wise use of public funds as the overall return would far exceed anything the City could otherwise receive. He advised it made sense for the City to combine its property with that of Mr. Klein and form a partnership, as the City’s property would also benefit. Mayor McArthur inquired about water. St. George City Council Minutes September 28, 2000 Page Three Mr. Gallian replied that part of Mr. Klein’s collateral would consist of 1,050 acre feet of irrigation-grade water on site. Councilmember Allen inquired if a corporate airport had to follow the same process for approval as a larger regional airport. Mr. Gallian responded that the rules for a private airport are much less stringent. However, in order to allow use of the old airport right-of-way, the FAA would require that it be refurbished. The project provides an open pallet be created for three large pieces of ground with utilities in place. Mr. Gallian advised that an executive session was needed to discuss specific land acquisition costs. ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion to adjourn to an executive session to discuss land acquisition was made by Councilmember Gardner. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Allen. Mayor McArthur called for a roll call vote as follows: Councilmember Gardner - aye Councilmember Allen - aye Councilmember Orton - aye Councilmember Isom - aye Councilmember Whatcott - aye The vote was unanimous and the motion carried. RECONVENE: A motion to reconvene was made by Councilmember Isom. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Orton. Mayor McArthur called for a vote as follows: Councilmember Isom - aye Councilmember Orton - aye Councilmember Whatcott - aye Councilmember Allen - aye Councilmember Gardner - aye The vote was unanimous and the motion carried. AUTHORIZE MAYOR TO SIGN AGREEMENT WITH UDOT: A motion was made by Councilmember Isom to authorize the Mayor to sign a Cooperative Agreement with UDOT for the Virgin River Bicycle Pedestrian Crossing. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gardner. Mayor McArthur called for a vote as follows: Councilmember Isom - aye Councilmember Gardner - aye Councilmember Whatcott - aye Councilmember Allen - aye Councilmember Orton - aye The vote was unanimous and the motion carried. STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION: Mayor McArthur advised that two Councilmembers asked to be excused from the meeting due to prior commitments. St. George City Council Minutes September 28, 2000 Page Four Carol Sapp, representing Southern Utah Homebuilders’ Association and a member of the Standard Specifications for Design and Construction Committee, requested that the matter be tabled until all Councilmembers could be present. This item will be scheduled as the only item on the City Council work meeting agenda for October 12, 2000 at 4:00 p.m. Ms. Sapp expressed a willingness to meet with staff before the meeting to try and resolve outstanding issues. A meeting between the Standard Specifications for Design and Construction Committee members and City staff was scheduled for Monday, October 2 at noon. Councilmember Orton was excused from the meeting. MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION ITEMS: Councilmember Allen advised that members of the Chamber of Commerce Community Action Committee requested that advertising signs for special events be allowed. She inquired about the status of a community event sign. City Manager Gary Esplin advised the State will not allow location of a community event sign on its property, so City property would have to be found for placement of the community event sign. Mayor McArthur remarked that he would speak with Grey Larkin about the possibility of placing a community event sign on State property. Councilmember Allen expressed concern that sign companies in St. George know that off-premise advertising signs are illegal, yet they still sell them. City Manager Gary Esplin advised that the new Enforcement Officer, Shanna Buhler will be sending a letter to the sign companies about this isse. Councilmembers Isom and Allen reported that they have received complaints about rude treatment and uncooperative behavior by staff members at the Dixie Center, and being billed for extra things that were not in the contracts. City Manager Gary Esplin advised he would investigate these allegations. Councilmember Gardner inquired about the possibility of taking action against an entity who is misusing St. George’s name. He explained that Harrisburg is using St. George’s name in its promotions and providing far less than what it guaranteed, resulting in a negative impression of St. George. Councilmember Isom was excused from the meeting. City Attorney Jonathan Wright explained that there is nothing the City can do about Harrisburg using the City’s name in its promotions. Councilmember Whatcott reported that the scoreboard at Sand Hollow Aquatic Center has been installed and is operational, and advised there is some friction between staff of DART and Parks and Recreation staff. ADJOURN: A motion to adjourn was made by Councilmember Whatcott. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Allen. Mayor McArthur called for a vote as follows: St. George City Council Minutes September 28, 2000 Page Five Councilmember Whatcott - aye Councilmember Allen - aye Councilmember Gardner - aye The vote was unanimous and the motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. ____________________________ Gay Cragun, City Recorder