City Council

Thursday, October 2,2008
Minutes



ST. GEORGE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 2, 2008, 4:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

PRESENT:
Mayor Daniel McArthur
Council Member Jon Pike
Council Member Gil Almquist
Council Member Gail Bunker
Council Member Gloria Shakespeare
Council Member Suzanne Allen
Budget and Financial Planning Manager Deanna Brklacich
City Attorney Shawn Guzman
City Recorder Gay Cragun

EXCUSED:
City Manager Gary Esplin

OPENING:
Mayor McArthur called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance. The pledge of allegiance was led by Ed Baca and the invocation was offered by James Grey Larkin.

Mayor McArthur read a proclamation proclaiming October 16 as Wear Pink Day to promote breast cancer awareness. He then presented the proclamation to Dr. Craig Donaldson, Director of the Huntsman Cancer Treatment Center. Dr. Donaldson accepted the proclamation and reminded the Mayor and Council to wear pink on October 16.

Steve Bingham, representing the Healthy Dixie Council, presented a proclamation to Mayor McArthur for his signature promoting healthy lifestyles. Mr. Bingham advised that the Save A Sister Race will be held October 25 to promote breast cancer awareness and last year the race raised over $3000 for breast cancer support. He advised that the City won an award for its healthy lifestyles program and a $300 prize. He suggested the prize money be used to install mile markers on City trails.

Mayor McArthur advised that Public Power Week will be celebrated October 11 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Town Square and he invited all residents to attend.

Mayor McArthur advised that the groundbreaking for the new airport will be held October 17 at noon on site and he invited all residents to attend.

Mayor McArthur invited all residents to walk with him in the Mayor?s Walk in coordination with the 32nd annual marathon this Saturday.

Mayor McArthur excused City Manager Gary Esplin as he had a death in the family.

AWARD OF BID:
Consider award of bid for stone seat walls for planters at the Town Square.

Budget and Financial Planning Manager Deanna Brklacich explained that as part of a plan presented at an earlier work meeting, in order to remediate a problem with dead grass, it is recommended that stone planters with seats be installed along the lazy river.

Mayor McArthur commented that the Town Square has been so successful that some of the grass has been worn out.

Purchasing Manager Connie Hood explained that this is a sole source award because of the need to match the stone work already in place at the Town Square. She recommended award to Lilywhite Stone in the amount of $27,611.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Allen to award the sole source bid to Lilywhite Stone in the amount of $27,611.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Bunker.

Ms. Hood advised that the bid is for labor and materials.

VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried.

St. George City Council Minutes
October 2, 2008
Page Two

AWARD OF BID:
Consider award of bid for backhoes for the Wastewater Treatment and Wastewater Collection Divisions.

Purchasing Manager Connie Hood advised that three bids were received. She recommended award of the bid to Wheeler Machinery, the CAT dealer, in the amount of $115,000 each for a total of $230,000.

Mayor McArthur advised that this purchase was included in the budget

Budget and Financial Planning Manager Deanna Brklacich explained that funds were budgeted in the enterprise fund for this purpose, and enterprise funds are run like a business. Revenue is received from user fees.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Bunker to award the bid to Wheeler Machinery in the amount of $230,000.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Pike.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried.

AWARD OF BID:
Consider award of bid for The Fields Phase 2 median and streetscaping.

Purchasing Manager Connie Hood advised that the supplier is Red Canyon Contractors and the bid is in the amount of $40,206.75. The project will also consist of installing sleeves under the road.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Pike to award the bid to Red Canyon Contractors in the amount of $40,206.75.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Shakespeare.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried.

AWARD OF BID:
Consider award of bid for crushing at the Reuse Center.

Purchasing Manager Connie Hood explained that three bids were received and JP Excavating was the low bidder at $5.50 per ton to crush either asphalt or concrete. She recommended that a blanket purchase order in an amount not to exceed $60,000 be set up for the year with JP Excavating. This amount covers testing, mobilization, fuel, etc.

Mayor McArthur commented that this is a private company bidding on something the City does not do and creates jobs in the community. The product is then used for roadbase and for trails. The City will recoup some of this cost by not having to buy this product.

Ms. Hood advised that the cost is the same as last year.

Council Member Almquist commented he appreciated the sensitivity the company crushing the material has shown to the nearby neighborhood as he has not heard any complaints.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Pike to award the blanket purchase order to JP Excavating in an amount not to exceed $60,000 for the year.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Almquist.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried.

RESOLUTION:
Consider approval of a resolution adopting rental fees for the third floor of the Art Center.

Leisure Services Director Kent Perkins explained that this matter was previously discussed in a work meeting.

Mayor McArthur then read the resolution.

St. George City Council Minutes
October 2, 2008
Page Three

Mr. Perkins explained that staff did a survey of rental rates throughout the community and the fees proposed are higher than the average. Staff wants to make the facility available but does not feel like it should be the cheapest place in town and impact the private sector in a negative way. He suggested the following rates: full day - $900; 4 hours - $600. For City sponsored events he suggested: full day - $225; 4 hours - $150.
He advised that City sponsored rates just cover the City?s hard costs.

Mayor McArthur inquired if the fees included use of the tables and chairs, personnel, set-up, sound system, and audio visual system.

Mr. Perkins replied that they did. He advised that staff?s goal is to dedicate the facility on October 23.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Allen to approve the rates by resolution as proposed.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Bunker.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a roll call vote, as follows:

Council Member Allen - aye
Council Member Bunker - aye
Council Member Shakespeare - aye
Council Member Almquist - aye
Council Member Pike - aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

AGREEMENT:
Consider acceptance of the Twin Lakes sewer system by agreement.

Budget and Financial Planning Manager Deanna Brklacich explained that the City has an agreement with HOAs that if they will upgrade their sewer systems to City standards, the City will pay half of the cost of the upgrade and then take over maintenance of that system. The City?s share of the cost to upgrade the Twin Lakes sewer system is $20,000.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Pike to approve the agreement.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Shakespeare.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried.
ASSET PURCHASE:
Consider approval of an asset purchase from Rocky Mountain Power.

Budget and Financial Planning Manager Deanna Brklacich explained that Rocky Mountain Power owns four meters in the Ledges area and the City proposes to purchase them at a cost of $35,896 as they are located within the City limits. The meters service the City?s wells and tanks and it is more appropriate for the City to own them.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Allen to approve the asset purchase as recommended.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Pike.

Council Member Almquist inquired about a guarantee or warranty.

Rick Hansen replied there is no guarantee.

City Attorney Shawn Guzman commented that the City, when annexing an area, is required to take that system from the private utility at an existing value with no guarantee as to the serviceability. This is all calculated in the cost.

VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried.

AIRPORT INSTRUMENT APPROACH FEASIBILITY STUDY:
Consider approval of a proposal from Jacobs Carter Burgess to perform an airport instrument approach feasibility study.

St. George City Council Minutes
October 2, 2008
Page Four

Budget and Financial Planning Manager Deanna Brklacich advised that the cost of this study has been included in the airport budget.

Airport Manager Rick Crosman explained that an airport instrument approach study is a crucial element to development of an airport. The study will determine the best all-weather approaches to the airport. After this is determined, the study will go to the FAA and the City will work with them for acceptance and approval and certification of the approaches. This process will be fast-tracked. The amount of the study is $195,810.64.

Mayor McArthur commented that the new airport will have a precision approach the current airport does not have.

Mr. Crosman stated it is hoped there will be a variety of approaches to service commercial and private needs.

Ms. Brklacich explained that once the study is done, additional funds will be needed to fund the navigational aids.

Council Member Pike inquired if this is within the scope of the budget.

Mr. Crosman replied that it is, and is reasonable. The FAA will help in funding the study but purchasing of the equipment is a separate issue. Staff is pursuing additional federal funding for the navigational aids.

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

AIRPORT STANDARDS, RULES AND REGULATIONS:
Consider approval of the replacement airport minimum commercial standards, building standards and rules and regulations.

Budget and Financial Planning Manager Deanna Brklacich advised that this item was discussed at the last work meeting.

Mayor McArthur suggested that the standards, rules and regulations not be adopted at this meeting but at the next regular City Council meeting.

Airport Manager Rick Crosman explained the standards, rules and regulations are for commercial activities at the new airport. These documents will guide the everyday operations and comprise the core of how the airport operation proceeds. They are user friendly and in the best interests of the City and public. They also meet compliance requirements of the FAA and TSA. They are not retroactive to the existing airport or operations and it is important to have them adopted as soon as possible.

Council Member Almquist inquired if the building standards for individual hangars still included the idea of uniformity.

Mr. Crosman replied in the affirmative, commenting that building design standards are an extension of existing building codes and standards and language has been added creating uniformity. Most of the hangars at the current airport are already pretty uniform. There are new fire code requirements requiring sprinkling of the hangars with water or foam and this needs to be incorporated into the codes. There are a lot of costs involved in moving structures, and in most cases it is not cost effective and some will suffer substantially. Standards must be maintained in order to have good looking buildings. He stated that tenants of the new airport need to know when they can move, and the City is looking at opening the site to developers as much as a year prior to opening so tenants can get some infrastructure in place. All owners and developers are in the process of making decisions and they need to know what kind of environment they are going into. The proposed documents will tell them.

Mayor McArthur commented he did not want to hurry adoption of the standards, rules and regulations so much so that something important is overlooked.


St. George City Council Minutes
October 2, 2008
Page Five

Pat Harrell, a member of the St. George Users Association, advised that they have been very happy with Mr. Crosman. He requested that a steering committee be formed to settle outstanding points. He requested more time for the Users Association to gather information and requested a better business plan.

APPOINTMENTS:
Appointments to various boards and commissions of the City.

Mayor McArthur recommended appointment of Council Members Almquist, Pike and Shakespeare to the Building Authority Board.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Almquist to appoint Council Members Pike, Almquist and Shakespeare as members of the Building Authority Board.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Pike.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried.

PUBLIC HEARING/AMENDED FINAL PLAT:
Public hearing to consider approval of an amended final plat for the Bloomington Courtyard Professional Office Condominiums at 2710 South Circle and Young Street. Brandon Anderson, applicant.

Todd Jacobsen advised the plat contains one building with six units, the site is located south of the Bloomington Walmart, and it is zoned PD Commercial. The purpose of the amendment is to adjust the party wall between units.

Mayor McArthur opened the public hearing. There being no public comment, he closed the public hearing.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Bunker to approve the amended final plat.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Almquist.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote and all voted aye. The motion carried.

PUBLIC HEARING/AMENDED FINAL PLAT:
Consider approval of an amended final plat for the Cliffs at Snow Canyon Plat C located at 3052 North Snow Canyon Parkway. Newt Andrus, applicant.

Todd Jacobsen explained the purpose for the amendment is to remove 14.65 acres of common area and donate it to the State as part of a land trade with the State, the HCP and Snow Canyon State Park. The land donated to the State Park is within the HCP. An agreement was worked out between the parties determining where to locate the tortoise fence.

Mayor McArthur opened the public hearing. There being no public comment, he closed the public hearing.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Almquist to approve the amended final plat, commenting that the land traded consists of a lot of hillside which is undevelopable and land is being added to the HCP, not being taken from it for potential development for school taxation purposes.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Shakespeare.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote and all voted aye. The motion carried.

PUBLIC HEARING/AMENDED PD ZONE/ORDINANCE:
Consider approval of an amended Planned Development Residential zone for the Beehiv Homes project located at 2041 South Mesa Palms Drive to increase the total number of dwelling units from 32 to 34. Dan Steurer, applicant.

City Planner Ray Snyder explained a zone change for this property was previously approved. The applicant is trying to put another duplex on the property to end up with 34 units total. The adjacent plat will have to be amended to provide a minimum eight foot side yard setback to the property line with the proposed Unit 10.


St. George City Council Minutes
October 2, 2008
Page Six

Council Member Almquist commented that all the units in this project have been built on piers as the applicant is aware of the soil condition in this area, and the integrity of the homes are enhanced by this building practice.

Council Member Pike commented that the applicant built a retaining wall all the way along the back for stabilization. Additionally, he landscaped the totally unuseable triangular piece at the end.

Mayor McArthur opened the public hearing. There being no public comment, he closed the public hearing.

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

Council Member Almquist - aye
Council Member Bunker - aye
Council Member Shakespeare - aye
Council Member Pike - aye
Council Member Allen - aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

Mayor McArthur then recited a poem.

Mayor McArthur invited a Scout in the audience to introduce himself.

Mayor McArthur invited a Dixie High School student in the audience to introduce himself.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Consider approval of the minutes of the regular City Council meeting held September 4, 2008.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Bunker to approve the minutes as presented.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Allen.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried.

Consider approval of the minutes of the regular City Council meeting held September 18, 2008

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Pike to approve the minutes as presented.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Bunker.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried.

Consider approval of the minutes of the City Council work meeting held September 26, 2008.

MOTION: A motion was made by Council Member Shakespeare to approve the minutes as presented.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Allen.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried.

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

Council Member Allen - aye
Council Member Bunker - aye
Council Member Shakespeare - aye

St. George City Council Minutes
October 2, 2008
Page Seven

Council Member Pike - aye
Council Member Almquist - aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

RECONVENE AND ADJOURN:
MOTION: A motion to reconvene and adjourn was made by Council Member Allen.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Bunker.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, and all voted aye. The motion carried and the meeting adjourned.



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Gay Cragun, City Recorder