City Council

Thursday, May 25,2006
Minutes



ST. GEORGE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
MAY 25, 2006, 4:00 P.M.
ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE ROOM
SPECIAL MEETING

PRESENT:
Mayor Daniel McArthur
Council Member Rod Orton
Council Member Bob Whatcott
Council Member Larry Gardner
Council Member Suzanne Allen
Council Member Gail Bunker
City Manager Gary Esplin
City Attorney Shawn Guzman
City Recorder Gay Cragun

OPENING:
Mayor McArthur called the meeting to order and welcomed all present. The pledge of allegiance was led by Mayor McArthur and the invocation was offered by Suzanne Allen.

Mayor McArthur reported on a meeting he recently attended in Salt Lake City with officials from Beijing, China.

PROPERTY DONATION:
Consider acceptance of a property donation:
Kent Garrett advised that Dean Duke would like to donate hillside property to the City. The property is located across the street and kitty corner from Arby?s on Bluff Street, to the top of the hillside.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Gardner to accept the donation.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Orton.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried.

CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT:
Consider approval of a conditional use permit to construct a four story hotel with a height up to 50'6" located in a C-3 zone at 2720 East Red Cliffs Drive. Dipak Patel, applicant.

Russ Gallian presented renderings of the site.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Orton to make a site visit on June 1 at 3:00 p.m. where the applicant will demonstrate the height of the building, with action taken by the City Council at its June 1 meeting.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Bunker.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried.

FINAL PLATS:
Consider approval of the final plats for Sun River St. George Phases 22, 23 and 24.

City Manager Gary Esplin explained that an appraisal has been received which was done on potential value, not existing value. SITLA offered to move the site to the west and indicated it would reduce the cost by 25%. However, Darcy Stewart has offered to donate $200,000 toward purchase of the site. The City is a few years away from building the fire station. The cost to purchase the site is $500,000 minus the $200,000 from Mr. Stewart.

Fire Chief Robert Stoker commented that this site is the best location looked at.

Council Member Whatcott commented that two years ago the land was worth $50,000 an acre, and the City will now have to pay $300,000 for the property. He stated he hoped staff has learned a valuable lesson that when a fire station site is put on a plat, it should remain there.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Orton to approve the plats.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Gardner.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried.


St. George City Council Minutes
May 25, 2006
Page Two

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Orton to pursue purchase of the property.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Allen.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried.

ORDINANCE:
Consider approval of an ordinance repealing creation of the Airport Advisory Board.

Council Member Allen commented that Brent Gardner, Chairman of the Airport Advisory Board, was contacted by Hal Hilburn who requested that the matter be tabled for a week so he could be present. Mr. Hilburn does not agree with the manner in which the board was disbanded.

City Attorney Shawn Guzman recommended that the City?s ordinance creating the Airport Advisory Board be repealed.

Mayor McArthur commented that there might be a need for the Board in the future.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Gardner to approve the ordinance.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Whatcott.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a roll call vote, as follows:

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

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

The meeting then adjourned to the City Council Chambers.

DISCUSSION CONCERNING IMPACT FEES:
Jason Burningham presented a power point presentation on impact fees, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit ?A?.

City Manager Gary Esplin advised that the matter would be scheduled for a public hearing and final adoption on June 15.

Mr. Burningham summarized by saying that the City has nearly $900 million of capital facilities, with $481 being growth related. He stated that if the maximum allowable impact fee is not charged current residents will have to subsidize growth through taxes or user fees, or both. He explained that most communities annually review their capital plans and impact fees so that they do not get behind. He recommended that this process be included in the budget process each year. He recommended that the maximum supportable impact fees be imposed, but the City can waive all of them, or adjust some of them if they have a rational basis for doing so. He agreed that the recommended transportation impact fee for commercial needed further review before the next meeting. He stated that a financial plan would be ready for review at the June 1 Council meeting, with a public hearing and final adoption on June 15. Written responses are also invited. He recommended that a public notice be published advising that impact fees in a not to exceed amount will be adopted by the City Council on June 15, at which time the City Council will determine the final amount of impact fees within the maximums.

The meeting then adjourned to the Administration Conference Room.

DISCUSSION CONCERNING THE PARKS MASTER PLAN:
Leisure Services Director Kent Perkins displayed three plans - existing and planned park lands, future growth areas, and existing and future trails. He reviewed the maps and explained that there will be many natural surface trails, and the completed trail system will consist of 100 miles of trails. He distributed a map of the proposed Temple Quarry Trailhead.


St. George City Council Minutes
May 25, 2006
Page Three

Joanne Barone, Parks Planning Manager, updated the City Council on FEMA projects.

Deanna Brklacich, Budget and Financial Planning Manager, explained that FEMA has granted the City over $1 million in addition to what it originally funded, but because the City must now deal with property owners, realignments, and environmental studies, the ball is in the City?s court.

ADJOURN:
MOTION: A motion to adjourn was made by Council Member Whatcott.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Orton.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried.



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Gay Cragun, City Recorder