City Council

Thursday, January 31,2008
Minutes



ST. GEORGE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
WORK MEETING
JANUARY 31, 2008, 4:00 P.M.
ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE ROOM

PRESENT:
Mayor Pro Tem Suzanne Allen
Council Member Jon Pike
Council Member Gil Almquist
Council Member Gloria Shakespeare
Council Member Gail Bunker
City Manager Gary Esplin
City Attorney Shawn Guzman
City Recorder Gay Cragun

EXCUSED:
Mayor Daniel McArthur

OPENING:
Mayor Pro Tem Allen called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance. The invocation was offered by Council Member Shakespeare and the pledge of allegiance was led by Myron Lee.

REPORT ON THE BLUFF STREET INTERCHANGE PROJECT:
H.G. Kunzler with Lochner Engineering distributed a handout and presented a power point presentation which reviewed the need for the project, project history, current project, project schedule, maintenance of traffic, and construction commitments.

Myron Lee, representing UDOT, advised they did not anticipate major impacts on the traveling public and businesses during construction. In 2010-2011 they will build another bridge over the I-15 at the bottom of Dixie Drive ending south of the Dixie Center. He advised that a flyer will be distributed to hotels and businesses in the area to help direct people to alternate routes.

Council Member Bunker suggested all construction information, updates and alternate routes be put on a website for the public.

Mr. Kunzler replied that they will do whatever they can to help.

Council Member Almquist inquired about projects 20 years out.

Kim Manwill, representing UDOT, replied that they are doing an I-15 corridor study to identify capacity needs, when and what interchanges will need improvement, capacity and deficiencies in the system and additional funding for the next 20 years. He advised that the southern I-15 is competing for funding with the northern I-15. A truck lane will be added from the Washington Interchange to the Hurricane exit, and there are several pavement replacement projects in the works.

Council Member Bunker inquired about nighttime construction.

Mr. Lee advised they met with hotel owners who told them to just get in and get out.




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January 31, 2008
Page Two

There will be some nighttime construction. He explained that the off-ramps will remain open most of the time and there may be temporary ramps. There should not be a lot of disruption to traffic.

Mr. Kunzler advised there would also be signage to direct I-15 travelers.

PRESENTATION FROM THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ALLIANCE:
Support Services Manager Marc Mortensen explained that the RAD group is no longer functioning and has morphed into the Downtown Business Alliance group. He requested an additional meeting be held so staff can explain how this request will impact them.

Ed Wallace, representing the Downtown Business Alliance, explained they are a business organization.

Jerry Christensen, President of the Downtown Business Alliance, presented a power point presentation on the mission statement.

Sandra Lenois explained neighbors are supportive of the events. She stated she would like to continue the Downtown Thursday Nights, but in the Town Square. She expressed concern that there would have to an area for food vendors to prepare their food.

Ed Wallace reviewed the calendar of events and future vision of downtown goals. He requested financial assistance from the City but would present the amount of funds needed at a future date.

Sandy Lenois advised that road closure is an important item and they would like the City to clean up the garbage afterwards.

Mr. Mortensen replied that the City has never provided clean-up service.

Council Member Bunker commented she was against closure of any street.

Council Member Shakespeare suggested that Main Street between Tabernacle and 100 South could be closed, as this would not generate near the amount of complaints.

Mr. Wallace expressed need for a community arts center.

PRESENTATION ON ACCESS MANAGEMENT:
Lee Cabell, Horrocks Engineering, presented a power point presentation on the proposed access management policy. He explained that access management helps to maximize capacity efficiency and safety of streets through good access design. He distributed the draft policy and explained that a policy must be approved in order for the City to be eligible for corridor preservation funds. The policy clarifies current standards and elaborates on how to design access management features. He reviewed principles of access management, transportation land use cycle, roadway functional classification, movement v. access, types of streets, a summary of what is contained in the policy, access spacing, landscaped medians, raised medians, corner

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January 31, 2008
Page Three

clearance, driveway throat length, shared access, sight distances, turning lanes, auxiliary lane length requirements, pedestrian and bicycle access, and access management techniques.

ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Bunker to adjourn to an executive session to discuss potential litigation and a property sale and purchase.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Pike.
VOTE: Mayor Pro Tem Allen called for a roll call vote, as follows:

Council Member Bunker - aye
Council Member Pike - aye
Council Member Almquist - aye
Council Member Shakespeare - aye
Mayor Pro Tem Allen - aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

RECONVENE AND ADJOURN:
MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Pike to reconvene and adjourn.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Bunker.
VOTE: Mayor Pro Tem Allen called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.



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Gay Cragun, City Recorder