St. George


City Council

Thursday, April 7,2011
Minutes



ST. GEORGE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 7, 2011, 4:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

PRESENT:
Mayor Daniel McArthur
Councilmember Gail Bunker
Councilmember Gloria Shakespeare
Councilmember Ben Nickle
Councilmember Gil Almquist
City Manager Gary Esplin
City Attorney Shawn Guzman
City Recorder Gay Cragun

EXCUSED:
Councilmember Jon Pike

OPENING:
Mayor McArthur called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance. He then led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. The invocation was offered by Reverend Alex Wilkie. Mayor McArthur invited anyone wishing to offer an invocation at a City Council meeting to contact the City Recorder. He then invited several students and a Scout from the audience to introduce themselves.

Patricia Sheffield explained that April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The goal is to prevent abuse rather than have to intervene afterwards. She passed out pinwheels to the Mayor and Council to remind that childhood should be a special fun time.

Mayor McArthur then read a proclamation proclaiming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the City, after which he then presented the proclamation to Ms. Sheffield.

City Manager Gary Esplin advised there is one addendum item - to consider approval of a beer license and local consent for a full service restaurant liquor license for the Fish Rock Grille located at 1585 West Ledges Parkway.

CONSENT CALENDAR:
Consider approval of airport hangar leases with Metcalf Management, Turbo Pilots and HVMTLDRVR.

City Manager Gary Esplin explained that all the leases are standard and staff recommends approval subject to review by the legal department.

Mayor McArthur commented that the lease rate is 18¢ per sq. ft. per year.

MOTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Shakespeare to approve the leases subject to legal review.
SECOND The motion was seconded by Councilmember Almquist.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, as follows:

Councilmember Almquist - aye
Councilmember Bunker - aye
Councilmember Shakespeare - aye
Councilmember Nickle - aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

AWARD OF BID:
Consider award of bid for the City pool re-plastering project.

Purchasing Manager Connie Hood explained a request for bids was sent to four contractors in Washington County, but only one bid was received that met all requirements. She recommended award of the bid to that contractor, Pacific Pools, in the amount of $66,546. The project will take a maximum of 15 days.

MOTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Bunker to award the bid as recommended.
SECOND The motion was seconded by Councilmember Almquist.

Purchasing Manager Connie Hood explained the City’s process for reviewing employee work status through the e-verify program.

St. George City Council Minutes
April 7, 2011
Page Two

VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, as follows:

Councilmember Almquist - aye
Councilmember Bunker - aye
Councilmember Shakespeare - aye
Councilmember Nickle - aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT:
Consider approval of a special event permit, road closure, and waiver of fees for the Spring Tour De St. George road bike ride and the Spokes for Hope charity bike ride. Margaret Gibson, applicant.

Kendall Sullivan, representing Red Rock Bicycle, requested a waiver of fees.

City Manager Gary Esplin inquired if the Spring Tour De St. George is a non-profit 501C3 organization.

Mr. Sullivan replied that it is not.

City Manager Gary Esplin commented that the City in the past has not waived fees except for non-profit organizations.

Mr. Sullivan replied they are not asking for a waiver of fees for the Spring Tour De St. George event, only for the Spokes for Hope charity bike ride.

Business License Officer Laura Woolsey explained the applicant is requesting waiver of the encroachment fee, special event fee and any sign permit fees for the Spokes for Hope charity bike ride, and for special event approval for the Spring Tour De St. George bike ride.

MOTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Bunker to approve the special event permits and waive the fees for the Spokes for Hope charity bike ride.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Councilmember Shakespeare.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, as follows:

Councilmember Almquist - aye
Councilmember Bunker - aye
Councilmember Shakespeare - aye
Councilmember Nickle - aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

SET PUBLIC HEARINGS:
City Planner Ray Snyder advised that the Planning Commission, at its meeting held March 22, 2011, recommended that public hearings be scheduled for April 21, 2001 to consider: (1) an amendment to Title 10, Chapter 11, St. George City Code, to add recycling as a permitted use with standards in the M-1 zone; (2) an amendment to Title 10, Chapter 10, St. George City Code, to elaborate on the retail sale of goods with all operations conducted in an enclosed building such as antique stores, consignment stores, furniture sales (used), pawn shops, secondhand stores, and thrift shops in commercial zones; (3) an amendment to Chapter 18, Title 10, St. George City Code, and Title 11, Chapter 5, St. George City Code, to add an alternative fencing with access option for double frontage lots in subdivisions; and (4) a zone change request for 25.595 acres located south of Rancho Verde Estates from R-1-10 to RE-37.5 and RE-20.

MOTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Shakespeare to set the public hearings as recommended.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Councilmember Nickle.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, as follows:

Councilmember Almquist - aye
Councilmember Bunker - aye
Councilmember Shakespeare - aye
Councilmember Nickle - aye

St. George City Council Minutes
April 7, 2011
Page Three


The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT:
Consider approval of a request for a conditional use permit for a crematorium as part of the Spilsbury Mortuary at 110 So. Bluff Street in a C-3 zone. Spilsbury Mortuary, applicant.

City Planner Ray Snyder advised that the applicant would like to add a detached building behind their mortuary for a human crematorium. No written opposition has been received, but several residents attended the March 8 Planning Commission meeting and expressed concern about the impact this would have on their homes’ values. The Planning Commission tabled the matter to allow the applicant to provide more information. The residents expressed concern about the dioxins which would enter the atmosphere when the mercury in the teeth of the deceased is vaporized. The study they cited is from the UK and is 28 years old.

Mayor McArthur commented that the equipment to be used meets all air quality standards. There are two other crematoriums in the City; one just down the street from the City Office.

Mr. Snyder displayed site plans, floor plans, cross sections and elevations. The applicant will have more parking than required. There will not be any significant cut made to the hillside. The unit is in operation now in Hurricane and will be moved to this new location. The City has received an email from Utah Air Quality exempting the unit from the permitting process and expressing no concerns with the unit.

Mr. Snyder advised that a notice to nearby residents within a 300' radius was sent out. He then reviewed the findings. The Planning Commission recommended approval on a unanimous vote.

Lynn Olds, contractor, stated the permit in Hurricane was originally issued for 65 cremations a year. No limit has been put on the number of cremations at the new location. When the unit is moved to St. George, the manufacturer will send a team to make sure it is installed correctly and works properly. Mr. Olds advised that drainage is to the south and there is a concrete waterway behind the retaining wall.

Paul Iverson commented that he has installed one of these units and they are manufactured to California air quality standards which are much more stringent than the EPA’s. He supports the request.

MOTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Shakespeare to approve the conditional use permit.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Councilmember Nickle.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, as follows:

Councilmember Almquist - aye
Councilmember Bunker - aye
Councilmember Shakespeare - aye
Councilmember Nickle - aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

RIGHT-OF-WAY GRANT:
Consider approval of a right-of-way grant from the BLM for 3.121 acres to widen Red Hills Parkway.

City Manager Gary Esplin advised the right-of-way grant is to help with widening of the Red Hills Parkway. It is a straightforward agreement with the BLM at no cost to the City.

Project Engineer Cameron Cutler advised the project is on schedule and should be bid next month. It should be shovel-ready in June or July with completion expected to be before the Ironman next year. The widening project encompasses Red Hills Parkway from Hwy. 18 to Industrial Road.

City Manager Gary Esplin commented that the State has said there is not enough money to do the interchange at Red Hills Parkway and Hwy 18.



St. George City Council Minutes
April 7, 2011
Page Four

MOTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Almquist to approve the right-of-way grant.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bunker.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, as follows:

Councilmember Almquist - aye
Councilmember Bunker - aye
Councilmember Shakespeare - aye
Councilmember Nickle - aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

BEER LICENSE/LOCAL CONSENT:
Consider approval of a beer license and local consent for a full service restaurant liquor license for the Fish Rock Grille located at 1585 W. Ledges Parkway. Frank Padan, applicant.

City Manager Gary Esplin explained the application has been reviewed and staff recommends approval.

MOTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Shakespeare to approve the beer license and local consent.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bunker.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, as follows:

Councilmember Almquist - aye
Councilmember Bunker - aye
Councilmember Shakespeare - aye
Councilmember Nickle - aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

APPOINTMENTS:
Mayor McArthur advised that the County Commission asked for recommendations to serve on the Shooting Park board, and he recommended Kelly Larson.

City Attorney Shawn Guzman advised that no formal action was needed by the City Council.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Consider approval of the minutes of the March 24, 2011 City Council meeting.

MOTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Bunker to approve the minutes as presented.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Councilmember Almquist.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, as follows:

Councilmember Almquist - aye
Councilmember Bunker - aye
Councilmember Shakespeare - aye
Councilmember Nickle - aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.

Consider approval of the minutes of the March 30, 2011 City Council meeting.

MOTION: A motion was made by Councilmember Shakespeare to approve the minutes as presented.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Councilmember Nickle.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, as follows:

Councilmember Almquist - aye
Councilmember Bunker - aye
Councilmember Shakespeare - aye
Councilmember Nickle - aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.


St. George City Council Minutes
April 7, 2011
Page Five

MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSIONS:
Councilmember Bunker explained that the St. George Art Museum was contacted by the Thunderbird Foundation which has a collection of approximately 25 Minerva Teichert paintings which they would like to sell to the City for $125,000. Deborah Reeder, the Art Museum Curator, suggested the entire Art Museum budget of $70,000 could be used to purchase the paintings.

A brief discussion was held on the width of private streets vs. public streets and new subdivision requirements for street widths.

ADJOURN:
MOTION: A motion to adjourn was made by Councilmember Bunker.
SECOND: The motion was seconded by Councilmember Shakespeare.
VOTE: Mayor McArthur called for a vote, as follows:

Councilmember Almquist - aye
Councilmember Bunker - aye
Councilmember Shakespeare - aye
Councilmember Nickle - aye

The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.




________________________________
Gay Cragun, City Recorder