City Council

Thursday, March 26,2009
Minutes



ST. GEORGE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
WORK MEETING
MARCH 26, 2009, 4:00 P.M.
ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE ROOM

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

OPENING:
Mayor McArthur called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance. The pledge of allegiance was led by Gay Cragun and the invocation was offered by Pastor Dean Heuring.

DISCUSSION REGARDING USER RATES AND FEES FOR THE REPLACEMENT AIRPORT:
Airport Manager Rick Crosman distributed the attached hand-outs: St. George Municipal Airport Survey of Rates, Charges and Fees, a spreadsheet, St. George Airport Rates and Charges, St. George Replacement Airport Projected Operating Budget 2011 and 2012, and St. George Replacement Airport Projected Revenues 2011 and 2012. He advised that lease agreements for the Replacement Airport are being developed and there is a need for new terms and conditions, rates and charges to create a level playing field for newcomers and tenants who want to transition to the new airport.

Mayor McArthur commented he has heard many concerns from tenants at the current airport that they will not be able to move their hangar to the Replacement Airport. He stated he felt the City should accommodate everyone if it can and give them options.

Mr. Crosman advised there will be building standards at the Replacement Airport, but they will not be overly stringent. Building codes must be met and aesthetics should be compatible.

Mayor McArthur commented that the City can have stricter building codes than the State but they cannot be less strict.

Mr. Crosman commented he was opposed to the requirement for a sprinkling system but the Fire Department advises there is no choice.

City Attorney Shawn Guzman commented that state standards must be adhered to. If a hangar is relocated, it must be brought up to Code. He advised he would look at the Code to see if any leeway is given.

City Manager Gary Esplin commented he wanted to be sure that varying from the sprinkler requirement will not affect a neighbor, such as causing an adjoining building to burn.

St. George City Council Minutes
March 26, 2009
Page Two

Mayor McArthur commented that perhaps a firewall with a certain rating could be used instead of a sprinkling system.

Mrs. Hansen commented that Above View was required to put in a fire wall and sprinklers.

City Manager Gary Esplin advised that the matter will be resolved before the new leases come out and will be applied according to state law.

Mr. Crosman advised that if a hangar is moved to the new site, it must be dismantled and re-engineered, moved to the new site and erected. The cost is about $60,000 to $100,000 to re-engineer and move a hangar.

Public Works Director Larry Bulloch advised that an engineer must stamp the drawing.

Council Member Pike commented that in an effort to be as fair as it can and also to make sure the regulations are adhered to, he wondered is there was anything the City could do help offset this expense, such as reducing the leases.

Public Works Director Larry Bulloch advised that impact fees have already been paid for existing hangars so they will not have to be paid again.

City Manager Gary Esplin advised he would like to discuss the issue with the Building Department and City Attorney before anything is finalized.

Mr. Crosman advised that 90% of the existing hangars are new enough and should be able to move to the new airport. However, the City does not have a formal program to move the hangars and this is not part of the scope of the Replacement Airport project. He then reviewed the hand-outs. He commented that most revenue will come from rental cars and parking fees.

Council Member Allen inquired if parking fees could be reduced.

Mr. Crosman replied that an airport has a relatively small amount of revenue sources, and revenue must be obtained wherever possible and parking is one of the largest revenue producers.

Council Member Pike inquired if the proposed charges for rental car concessions were reasonable.

Mr. Crosman replied that if they are charged any more than proposed, they will move off the airport.

City Manager Gary Esplin commented that at this point staff is not asking for action. It is difficult to project a budget for 2011.

Council Member Bunker inquired about tie down fees.



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March 26, 2009
Page Three

Mayor McArthur replied most airport users realize there will be tie down fees, and these fees will help get rid of the junkers.

Mr. Crosman advised that a majority of the tie downs and parking will be on FBOs? property.

Public Works Director Larry Bulloch explained that with regard to the Replacement
Airport, grading and drainage are being wrapped up, estimates will be finished the
end of April, a finish grading package will do what?s left, a water line bid will be let March 31st, Phase 2 of the earthwork will come in, the terminal is being bid April 28 with 58 plan holders, the sewer line is under construction, and staff is working with Dixie REA on alternate power designs to see which is cheapest. With regard to communications, Baja and Qwest are coming up the existing road, the airfield design is nearing completion, roads and parking will be bid in May or June, the ARFF building design will start mid-April, staff met with Anderson Development on refinements to the access road at the existing airport, and proposals for FBOs, commercial and gas station will be reviewed in late April or early May. A look-out site has been identified where the construction pond is located.

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

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

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

RECONVENE:
MOTION: A motion to reconvene was made by Council Member Almquist.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Council Member Bunker.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a 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.

SITE VISITS SCHEDULED:
City Manager Gary Esplin advised that the April 9 work meeting agenda will consist of dedication of the Fields complex and then site visits to the police building, pistol range, and fire station No. 7.

St. George City Council Minutes
March 26, 2009
Page Four

MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSIONS:
City Manager Gary Esplin explained that when the Fields complex was built, several people expressed concern over the lights and use of the facility, especially on Sundays. Staff agreed that it would not schedule any City sponsored activities at that facility on Sundays, but it is staff?s position that the Fields can still be used on Sundays by others who rent the facility. This is no different than people using the City?s parks on Sunday.

City Manager Gary Esplin advised there is a problem with vacation rentals by owners happening all over the City. The City does not have enough manpower to enforce the ordinance against it. He recommended that the issue be studied before enforcement action is taken.

City Manager Gary Esplin recommended that discussion on display of merchandise on public rights-of-way is needed, as well as the issue of yard sale signs, and he will schedule these items for a future work meeting.

City Attorney Shawn Guzman recommended that a Code Enforcement Officer work one or two Saturdays a month as many violations take place over the weekend.

It was suggested that the City see what other cities do with regard to regulating the number of yard sales which can be held each year.

City Manager Gary Esplin advised that under the COPS FAST program, there is a good chance the City can obtain more police officers. He explained the costs associated with this program. There is also a chance the City may be able to obtain more firefighters through a SAFER grant.

City Manager Gary Esplin explained that access to the Virgin River through City property in the Springs area has been blocked off to prevent further damage to the river area by ATVs.

City Manager Gary Esplin updated the City Council on a proposal to build an ice skating rink at the Dixie Center as part of an expansion project.

Mayor McArthur updated the City Council on a visit with the head of the FAA in Seattle about nav aids for the Replacement Airport.

Council Member Shakespeare expressed concern about the density, layout and aesthetics of the proposed workforce housing project in the Dixie Downs area.

Council Member Allen advised that Rick Talbot proposes to locate a drug recovery home within the City, but currently there is no applicable zoning. Mayor McArthur commented that the staff would look into it.

The meeting then adjourned.

_____________________________________
Gay Cragun, City Recorder