THE STATE OF UTAH

COUNTY OF SEVIER

CITY OF RICHFIELD

   At the City Council

   In and For Said City

   March 10, 2009

7:00:04 PM Minutes of the Richfield City Council meeting held on Tuesday, March 10,2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Richfield City office building located at 75 East Center, Richfield, Utah.  Mayor Brad Ramsay presiding.

1. OPENING REMARKS
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. MINUTES APPROVED
5. EXPENDITURES APPROVED
6. CDBG PUBLIC HEARING
7. SEWER CONNECTION REQUESTS DISCUSSED
8. BUDGET UPDATE
9. OTHER BUSINESS
10. MEETING ADJOURNED

1.  OPENING REMARKS were offered by Councilmember Chidester.

2.  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Scout Troop 1705.

3.  ROLL CALL was answered by Mayor Brad Ramsay, Councilmembers Dan Chidester, Mayo Jacobsen, Larry Lunnen, Nahna Rappleye, City Administrator Woody Farnsworth,City Finance Director Mike Langston and City Recorder Michele Jolley.  Mayor Ramsay excused Councilmember Richard Barnett.  7:02:45 PM

Others present:  Scout Troop 1705, Roene Shaw, Tanna Robertson, Craig Conder, Carson Demille, Jordan G. Shumway, Bruce Mehew,Lorraine Gregerson, Jaquel Christensen, McCall Nielsen, Kirstin Nay, Whitney Christensen, Carley Myers, Kammy Johnson, Emily Coleman, Shayla Ellingsford and David Anderson.

4.  MINUTES APPROVED.  The Council reviewed the minutes of the meeting held February 24, 2009 and made the following corrections.  7:02:53 PM On page 3 at line 1, the word “file” was changed to “filed.”  At line 21, the word “of” was changed to“or.”  Councilmember Chidester moved to approve the minutes of the meeting held February 24, 2009 as corrected.  Councilmember Jacobsen moved to second.  The motion carried with all in favor. 

5.  EXPENDITURES APPROVED.  The Council reviewed the February 2009 Warrant Register.  7:04:36 PM  Councilmember Lunnen moved to approve the February 2009 Warrant Register as presented. Councilmember Jacobsen moved to second. The motion carried with all in favor. 

6.  CDBG PUBLIC HEARING.  7:09:31 PM At 7:10p.m., a public hearing was held to receive comments on the project scope and implementation determined to be applied for in the CDBG Small Cities Program in Program Year2009 and its effects on residents as discussed by Central Utah Food Sharing.  Mayor Ramsay opened the hearing at 7:09 p.m. The following individuals were present:

Scout Troop 1705, Roene Shaw, Tanna Robertson, Craig Conder, Carson Demille, Jordan G. Shumway, Bruce Mehew, Lorraine Gregerson, Jaquel Christensen, McCall Nielsen, Kirstin Nam, Whitney Christensen, Carley Myers, Kammy Johnson, Emily Coleman, Shayla Ellingsford and David Anderson.

Roene Shaw addressed the Council and discussed the project as it is designed now.  The Central Utah Food Sharing has been granted the whole $250,000 grant to construct a new facility.  The parking lot is proposed to be cement instead of asphalt.  They are including a USDA kitchen in the facility so when they get produce, people would be able to come and can the produce and other items. She has visited with the extension agency and they would be willing to come and help people can items.  They are also proposing to include an area where square foot gardening could be done.  They have sold their existing building, so they have those funds to help build the facility.

Councilmember Chidester wondered about having only one overhead door.  Ms. Shaw indicated that the Board felt one door would be adequate.  There are doors for emergency exits in the warehouse area and three exits in the front where most of the people would be. 

Mayor Ramsay asked when construction would begin.  They received $88,000 from their existing building and they are using that to do some of the groundwork now.  Part of those funds also have to pay the rent on the building they are in until they can move.  The funds from CDBG would not be released until the end of June or the first of July.

There is a bid process required for the project before a contractor can be hired and the construction can begin.

7:23:38 PM Hearing no comments from the public, Mayor Ramsay closed the hearing at 7:23 p.m.

7.  SEWER CONNECTION REQUESTS DISCUSSED.  7:05:12 PM Mr. Farnsworth indicated that the sewer project is moving along.  There was one change order filed because the County does not want the manhole covers exposed in anyway, so this would require the contractor to include some 2-inch vents. 

Mr. Farnsworth reported that he received a request from H.R. Peterson to connect to the new sewer line that would be in the County. He indicated that they would be required to pay a connection fee and an impact fee.  He assumed that since we do not have a current policy on this, that it would be okay to allow a couple of connections.  Mayor Ramsay thought that it would probably be okay so long as those who connect to the sewer line would not oppose annexation.  Councilmember Chidester suggested having a written agreement to that affect.

7:07:11 PM Mr. Langston thought that the City already has a policy in place that requires County residents to pay double for services.  Mr. Farnsworth indicated this is only on water.  Any individual connecting to the sewer line would have to pay a connection fee, an impact fee and the current rate of $26 a month. 

Mayor Ramsay remembered discussing an increase to the connection fee. Mr. Farnsworth indicated that this cost needs to be addressed in the future, especially for subdivisions.

In addition, Mr.Farnsworth reported that the Notice to Proceed has been signed for the Main Street project. 

8.  BUDGET UPDATE.  7:24:13 PM Mike Langston discussed a memo he sent to the Council with regard to the current fiscal year budget, which by this reference is made a part hereof,  He estimated that sales tax collection would be down $100,000 for the year.  He also anticipated the highways tax collections to be down $33,000.  Both of the items he estimated to be down5.3% from last year.  He noted that the Highway Tax Funds are dedicated solely for the maintenance of the roads. 

Class C Road Funds are projected to be down at least $40,000, which is a decrease of 13% from last year.  Again, these funds are dedicated to road projects, road maintenance and the payments of bonds.  We have 3 bonds with payments from Class C road funds.  Those projects are College Avenue, the Main Street project and the bridge project, which was completed a few years ago.  These payments amount to $190,000 annually.  Mayor Ramsay wondered what would be left after payments for maintenance of the roads.  The City has been spending approximately $400,000 annually on road maintenance.  He estimates next years’ budget for road maintenance would be approximately $300,000. After the payments from the road funds, Mr. Langston estimated that the City would have approximately $200,000 to use for road maintenance.

Mr. Langston gave the Council a copy of the City’s sales tax collection history.  Year to date, the City’s sales tax collections are roughly 4% lower than one year ago. He did assume things might get worse, which is how he arrived at the5.33%.  His hope is that it would not get any worse than that.  Mayor Ramsay noted that this is actually better than many areas in the State. 

7:29:51 PM An area not discussed in Mr. Langston’s memo to the Council was interest earnings.  He has projected $110,000 in interest earnings for this fiscal year; however, interest earnings through February were at approximately $48,000. He felt it was obvious the City would be off $30,000 to $40,000 on interest earnings.  He explained that the City has not had as much money to invest this year and what we have invested is not even making 2%, compared to the 4% and 5% we made last year.

Mayor Ramsay commented that this has been anticipated for some months. He believed that the first 6 months of next year’s budget would be tough.  The City has enough of a cushion to get through June.  Mr. Langston is not far enough into the budget process that he has a real good number, but he estimated a $300,000 to $400,000 decrease in the overall budget next year.  He believed at least $100,000 of that would be on roads, and the rest would be in general fund items.  The City is currently bidding its insurance and the employees are aware that they would be looking at paying for some of their insurance this next year.  Over the past 10 years the City has done all it could to prevent employees from having to pay for their insurance.

We are trying to stay away from terminating fulltime employees. Mayor Ramsay felt that this next fiscal year would be challenging because we do not know how long the recession would last.

9.  OTHER BUSINESS.  7:34:45 PM The chip seal project for spring/summer 2009 was discussed.  The project would be funded from this year’s budget at an estimated cost of $161,238.  The project would not actually be done until after July 1. The engineer’s estimate includes the road on the south of Centennial Park. The estimate of $17,762 would complete a double chip on this road,instead of asphalt.    Then if the road continues to settle, we would only be out $17,000 and not $300,000 plus.  The City crew would remove the curb and gutter on the north side of this road, which would not be replaced now.  Mayor Ramsay asked about drainage on this road and Mr. Langston indicated that the water would continue to help the ground settle, but there would still be a crown on the road to help control the flow of the drainage.

As for the west road at the Centennial Park, the engineer has determined to pulverize what is there, level it out and bring in road base.  It would be left a dirt road at least for this year.  Next year, we could double chip this road, depending upon what happens during the year. 

Also, Mr. Langston discussed the cost to double chip the new bike path from Main Street to 300 West.  The cost to complete this section of the path would be $18,502 and is not included in the $161,000 estimate.  If the Council determines to go ahead with this project, it can be included in the same bid with the chip seal project,but as a separate schedule.    Mayor Ramsay noted on behalf of the public that the City had prepared this section of the path for completion before the downturn in the economy.  He would hate to see that work go for naught. The funds to cover the cost of the path would come from the recreation tax fund and the funds are already there.

Mayor Ramsay asked if the fence would have to be installed before or after the chip seal.  Mr. Langston indicated that it would need to be done after.  Councilmember Jacobsen asked how necessary the fence would be. In talking with Mr. Langston today, if we were to forego the fence, that money could be used to finish a double chip on the path all the way to the swimming pool.   Mayor Ramsay wondered about the safety issues with kids on bikes along the open canal. Mr. Farnsworth thought it would be okay for walking, but was not sure what the ASHTO standards would require for biking.

Councilmember Chidester pointed out that he knows of many bike trails that are not fenced.  Councilmember Rappleye noted that the ones in St. George are not fenced and run along waterways.  Councilmember Chidester also noted that the path in Glenwood Springs runs along the Colorado River and it is not fenced.  Mayor Ramsay suggested we do some research to see if it has to be fenced because he thought it did.  Councilmember Jacobsen wondered about using signage to help decrease the City’s liability.

Mr. Farnsworth stated that he met with the Canal Company on another matter and they asked him when the City wanted them to clean the canal. He told the Canal Company that the City would let them know when we needed the canal cleaned, but they were not given the impression it would be this year.  If this is the case, the City would need to notify the canal company right away.

Mayor Ramsay asked if there was an estimate to finish the bike path.  Using the engineer’s estimate, Mr. Langston estimated it would probably cost $30,000 to finish the path to the pool.   A fence along the path from Main Street to 300 West would cost approximately $25,000.  For about the same amount of money, the path could be finished all the way to the pool.  Mayor Ramsay pointed out that if we did this and the public wants the canal fenced, or if there is an accident, then we would have a major fencing project without the funds to complete it.  Mr. Langston indicated that the recreation tax money for next year could be used to fence the path if that becomes the case. 

Councilmember Jacobsen indicated the City would be installing bollards to prevent 4-wheelers from riding on the path.  Mayor Ramsay remembered that we discussed having Mr. Washburn design those bollards to be removable, in the event they needed to be removed to get equipment on the canal bank. 

The consensus of the Council was to move forward with the chip seal project as discussed including a double chip on the bike path from Main Street to the swimming pool and have this on the next agenda for a formal vote.

7:53:49 PM The Utah League of Cities and Towns’ Mid Year Conference in St. George is set for April 15 thru April 17.  Councilmember Lunnen, Councilmember Rappleye, Councilmember Chidester and Councilmember Jacobsen would be attending. 

7:55:35 PM Councilmember Chidester has a request to install a granite base instead of a cement base at the cemetery.  He did some research and found that the granite is more porous and it would turn brown.  Mr. Black at the cemetery had some concerns about damaging the granite base with the mowers and weed eaters.  Mayor Ramsay thought we should leave the policy as is and let anyone who wants to deviate from the policy come before the Council.  Councilmember Chidester was going to take the matter to the Cemetery Committee for its recommendation.

7:58:51 PM Councilmember Chidester also noted that the tires on the sidewalk at the corner of 200 South are too high and blocking the sight triangle.  The semi trailer located on Albertsons parking lot for the storage of tires was also discussed.  The doors are open on the trailer, which creates an attractive nuisance, not to mention all the tires stacked around and not in the trailer.  Mr. Farnsworth indicated that Big O Tires has a legal agreement with Albertsons for the parking of the trailer at that location.  Councilmember Chidester does not believe this meets our ordinance.  Mayor Ramsay felt the door should be closed and the tires should be inside the trailer.

8:01:16 PM Mr. Farnsworth reported on some comments he received about the recent sign ordinance being a little too stringent. Those comments are coming from very significant business owners that generate lots of sales tax revenue.

8:01:58 PM Councilmember Lunnen reported that the street sign on the southeast corner of 1300 South is falling down. 

10. MEETING ADJOURNED.  8:03:29 PM At 8:03p.m., Councilmember Lunnen moved to adjourn.   Councilmember Jacobsen moved to second.   The motion carried with all in favor.