City Council

Thursday, June 14,2007
Minutes



ST. GEORGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SPECIAL MEETING
JUNE 14, 2007, 4:00 P.M.
ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE ROOM

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

EXCUSED:
Council Member Suzanne Allen

OPENING:
Mayor McArthur called the meeting to order and welcomed all present at 4:08 p.m. The pledge of allegiance was led by Mayor McArthur and the invocation was offered by Pastor Jimmy Keston.

AWARD OF BID:
Consider approval of purchase of materials not previously approved at the June 7, 2007 City Council meeting for the 138 kV line to the Green Valley area.

City Manager Gary Esplin advised staff recommends award of the bid to Northern Supply in the amount of $160,524 for the insulators, and to HD Supply in the amount of $91,294 for the hardware.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Gardner to award the bid to Northern Supply in the amount of $160,524 for the insulators, and to HD Supply in the amount of $91.294 for the hardware.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Orton.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried.

Energy Services Director Phil Solomon gave a brief update on current generation and market prices for power.

DISCUSSION RE PLANS FOR PARK COMPLEX IN THE FIELDS AREA:
Leisure Services Director Kent Perkins introduced the design staff. He advised that Joe Peart with Stantec has been hired to do construction drawings and design for the second phase. The first phase consisted of the softball facilities, a small neighborhood park and the water system. The second phase will consist of a large neighborhood park, large multipurpose play area, soccer/flag football fields, etc. The goal is to try and have a soccer facility four times the size of the Bluff Street facility that meets the need of our own community. The intent is to do the park with an agricultural theme. $2.4 million has been budgeted for the second phase. The entire site has been masterplanned. A number of meetings were held with the residents and a lot of input was received which has been incorporated into the planning process.


St. George City Council Minutes
June 14, 2007
Page Two

Joe Peart reviewed opportunities, constraints and design considerations, and a diagram of the site. He advised that residents requested an organized run for dogs and a water play feature. He explained that water for the play features will be returned to the irrigation pond to be used for watering the lawns, etc. A buffer between the park and neighbors will be accomplished through use of native plant material. He suggested the name of the park be displayed on a silo. He reviewed the proposed water features. He stated that while $2.4 has been budgeted for the second phase, the cost is $2.8 million, which does not include the trail or plant material along the buffer. A decision has not been made on whether to light the facility.

Leisure Services Director Kent Perkins commented that he hoped the County would participate in the cost of Phase 3.

Council Member Bunker inquired about the location of the restrooms in relation to the awards area.

Mr. Peart replied that the restrooms are pre-fab to same money. A portico attached to the restrooms will provide shade for the mothers to watch their children play, and while this does not conjure up the best image, with the proximity and right kind of screening, there should not be a problem. The restroom is a unisex family restroom.

Council Member Gardner suggested the entrance be double loaded for parking at least on one side if not both sides.

City Manager Gary Esplin advised that this entrance would be completed in the next phase. The entrance for this phase is off Horseman?s Park Road, with a right turn into the parking area. The entrance could be moved to the west to provide an opportunity for double loaded parking.

Mr. Peart replied that this could be done.

Leisure Services Director Kent Perkins commented that the intent is to stay as close to the budget as possible with value engineering.

City Manager Gary Esplin stated he would like to see the trail around the top of the park and plants along the buffer.

Mr. Peart said he would do a cost estimate.

Leisure Services Director Kent Perkins advised that the City will be building five parks this budget year, and maybe there would be excess from one of the parks that could be put toward the trail and plants for this park.

Mr. Peart asked for direction with regard to starting the construction drawings so that another meeting can be scheduled with the neighborhood.

Millie Cockerill advised she would inform the public via the City?s internet page that the plan is ready for them to come in and look at.



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June 14, 2007
Page Three

Mr. Perkins commented the project will be out to bid in August with construction beginning right after that.

Mr. Peart advised that active turf area will be overseeded with hybrid bermuda, and the rest of the lawn area would be fescue.

Council Member Whatcott expressed concern that the project would be under construction during the Senior Games, one of the busiest times of year.

Mr. Peart advised that staff made a decision to go ahead and get the landscaping portion of the project completed at the front end while the contractor is working on the hardscape, play features, and water features. It is best to get all the landscaping done while the weather is good.

Council Member Gardner inquired how much dirt would have to be moved in order to make the play fields playable.

Mr. Perkins replied that the play fields are fairly close to grade now.

Mr. Esplin commented that the topsoil was good too.

Mr. Peart advised that the rough grade is about 32,000 cubic yards.

REVIEW OF MASTER PLANNING EFFORTS AT THE WASTEWATER RECLAMATION FACILITY:

Water Services Director Barry Barnum distributed maps of the site.

City Manager Gary Esplin suggested that issues to be discussed should include mixing uses, traffic, access, costs, and the City?s potential use of the facility.

Mr. Barnum advised that a paint ball course is already in use, but is slacking off. There is an area for linemen to practice climbing poles, a materials boneyard, an RV parking area, a City tree farm, a KDXU radio tower, an irrigation boneyard and a sweeper pit. The proposed use is for an RC flying field.

Council Member Whatcott inquired if there was potential for the tree farm to expand.

Mr. Barnum replied it could be expanded to the north.

Mayor McArthur advised he told the applicants that use of this area would be subject to availability.

City Manager Gary Esplin commented that once they located there and built their improvements, it would be difficult to ask them to move.

Various locations were discussed for use as the RC flying field.

Council Member Whatcott commented the City did not want to limit its ability for future expansion of its own uses in this area.

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June 14, 2007
Page Four

Council Member Gardner suggested that perhaps the City would want to raise some of its own turf there.

City Manager Gary Esplin replied that if would make sense to do just that.

Council Member Orton commented he wanted the applicants to know that the City would accommodate them.

Mayor McArthur advised that the applicants asked if the City could help them in any way, and he told them they could not expect help from the City except for perhaps some road base.

Mr. Barnum advised that it will cost the applicants a couple hundred thousand dollars to build their RC flying facility. He inquired if he should direct the applicants to the area west of the sweeper pit.

Mr. Esplin suggested locating the applicants as far west as possible to save area for the tree farm and future sod farm, if feasible.

Council Member Orton commented he would feel comfortable letting staff make the decision where to place the applicant.

City Manager Gary Esplin advised there is only one access to the site.

Council Member Orton commented that while true, it was a good entrance to the entire area.

Mayor McArthur commented that work is required where the road comes off the main road, as it is dusty and dirty. He suggested that a decision be made quickly as the applicants have to move from the old CAA airport in August.

DISCUSSION RE TEMPLE SPRINGS AND POSSIBLE USES OF IRRIGATION WATER:
City Manager Gary Esplin explained that the Temple Springs are located on private property. They are hard to develop because they are scattered around. They are located on property owned by Andy Leavitt where the new liquor store will be built.
He explained that the springs are collected and piped to the Temple for irrigation use.

Water Services Director Barry Barnum explained that the Temple Springs are producing 50 gallons per minute, but after Mr. Leavitt installed a trench on the property the flow dropped to half. The LDS Church would like to give the City its rights in the Temple Springs, its collection system, and easements on the property to the spring collection water tank and pipe through town in exchange for a connection to the City?s pressurized irrigation system from Snow Park. There is a place where they can easily make this connection to their existing system. According to a study performed by Sunrise Engineering, their irrigation requirement is half of what their water right is. They would like to use the pressurized irrigation system to irrigate the temple grounds, the Temple Apartments, parking lot, stake center to the east, and chapel on 400 East.


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June 14, 2007
Page Five

Council Member Gardner suggested the Temple Springs water could be used to water the Town Square.

Mr. Barnum advised that the LDS Church also owns two parcels of land.

City Manager Gary Esplin commented that the City could not upgrade the system without owning the land.

City Attorney Shawn Guzman advised there was a transient problem on the land.

Mr. Esplin commented the City would like to build a park on this property. He stated the City is always looking for water but needs to make sure it is getting value for value. He suggested that talks begin about securing the property, even if it has to be bought outside of the water rights. He suggested Mr. Barnum move forward after obtaining an independent value of the water and showing that the City is giving an equal value in return.

Mr. Barnum advised he would pursue the matter.

DISCUSSION ON THE REUSE CENTER AND PROPOSED USE FOR LANDSCAPE DEBRIS:
Public Works Director Larry Bulloch enumerated the uses provided at the Reuse Center: recycling of concrete, asphalt and chips, green waste, and selling compost. Over 200 landscapers regularly use the Reuse Center and deposit about 7,900 tons of green waste a year. Of that 7,900 tons 1,700 cannot be used because it consists of oleanders, palm fronds, etc. which cannot be chipped. This has become a problem. There are two solutions - don?t accept it, or accept it and charge them to dispose of the non-reusable material. The City would have to haul it to the landfill if it chose to accept the non-reusable material. Currently Allied Waste hauls all materials to the landfill for the City but they do not give good service, and the Reuse Center ends up having several days of material sitting around. Allied is contracted to haul it to the landfill for the District at $62.00 a load. It is not profitable for them so they don?t like to do it, and City staff has to complain to get them to come out and pick it up. If the City agrees to provide this additional service, it is recommended that the City do it by buying a truck and charging $25.00 a ton for residential non-compostable material, and $40.00 for commercial. This would give the City $68,000 in revenue each year, which is enough to buy the truck. Randy Halverson has also approached the District and asked them if the City can haul all of its green waste and have them pay the City instead of Allied. They agreed to approach the Board. If approved, the City would receive another $64,000 a year. It is estimated that the service would cost $35,000 annually to operate, plus buying a truck for $90,000 every five years or so, and the District will let the City use their containers.

Mayor McArthur commented it costs $23.00 a ton to dump at the landfill.

Randy Halverson advised that 80% of the landscapers have no problem with paying a fee to deposit their non-reusable material as this saves them a long trip to the landfill. There is a scale at the Reuse Center to weigh the material. The City will invoice them.


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June 14, 2007
Page Six

City Manager Gary Esplin commented that the figures did not include new personnel.

Mr. Halverson replied that it can be done with existing personnel.

Council Member Whatcott suggested that the Reuse Center be relandscaped.

Millie Cockerill advised that it is on her list to do.

City Manager Gary Esplin advised he asked Mr. Bulloch to include a landscaped median in the cost to redo Brigham Road, and the City will include new landscaping at the Reuse Center as part of this project. He stated that the median project on St. George Blvd. has been so successful, he would suggest doing a landscaped median project each year. With regard to the proposal suggested by Mr. Bulloch, the City would need to front the cost of the truck.

Mr. Bulloch replied that the City will receive enough revenue in the first year to purchase the truck.

Mr. Esplin advised he would put the item on the agenda for action.

Mr. Bulloch advised that on River Road the City is ready to add an additional left turn lane northbound to St. George Blvd. by modifying improvements to the Ruby River parking lot. They will lose one parking stall. A change order in the amount of $89,440 is needed to the Mall Drive median contract in order to add this improvement.

Council Member Bunker inquired about progress in connecting 450 North Street.

City Manager Gary Esplin explained that nothing can be done at this point until adjacent property develops, but they have no intention of giving any right-of-way for the through street. Ms. Kirkpatrick has created an illegal subdivision.

ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Gardner to adjourn to an executive session to discuss reasonably imminent litigation.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Orton.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a roll call vote, as follows:

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

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

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

St. George City Council Minutes
June 14, 2007
Page Five

MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSIONS:
A brief discussion was held with regard to dump stations.

City Manager Gary Esplin reported on a settlement with Washington County to settle outstanding financial issues. The County proposes giving the City $1.4 million to settle these outstanding issues.

Budget and Financial Planning Manager Deanna Brklacich advised that the fund the City is most concerned with is the Wells Dairy EDA fund. The City felt it was not getting the funds due it. After meeting with the new County Treasurer, the settlement was offered. The new County Treasurer is very sincere and concerned about making sure he administers all the EDA monies appropriately.

City Manager Gary Esplin commented staff feels it is now getting its fair share of what it should have gotten under the administration of the former County Treasurer. Phil Peterson and Deanna Brklacich met with the new County Treasurer and they both feel this is as good a deal as the City can get, other than doing its own audit.

Ms. Brklacich advised that the County has the funds in reserve and will not have to short anyone else?s tax payments.

A brief discussion was held on annexation of property around the new airport.

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



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Gay Cragun, City Recorder