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1 Star City Council Meeting Minutes April 3, 2012 The regular meeting of the Star City Council was held on April 3, 2012 at the Star City Hall. Mayor Nathan Mitchell called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm and all stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call: Council persons Tom Erlebach, Gary Smith, Tammy McDaniel and Chad Bell were all present. Approval of the Agenda: Bell moved to approve the Agenda, Erlebach seconded the motion. All aye: motion carried. Consent Agenda: Bell moved to approve the Consent Agenda consisting of: Claims Against the City for March 2012 and Regular Meeting Minutes of March 20, 2012, McDaniel seconded the motion. Bell amended his motion to included the bill addendum, McDaniel amended her second. All aye: motion carried. Presentations/Public Input: Feasibility Study Presentation – The Mayor stated that this would be discussed later in the meeting. Public Input: No public input was given. Old/New Business: Flower Basket Discussion – The Mayor explained the information that Alex Joye had presented to the Council regarding the City purchasing and maintaining 44 flower baskets. Erlebach asked if we were agreeing to do this for one year or two. The Mayor stated it was the Council’s decision. Two plants will hang with a banner on 22 poles. More brackets will be required and the cost is not included in the price of the baskets. There will be another cost of $500 for the cost of the extra brackets. Watering will cost about $4,000 and then there will be a cost of the machinery for the person to use to water the baskets. The baskets will cost roughly $6,000. Erlebach asked Mini Victory if they have asked any of the businesses if they would sponsor the flower baskets. Victory has been told it is better to have one dedicated person to water the baskets and they will do better. Bell is for beautifying downtown and would like to see the flower baskets, but believes it is very expensive. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 Smith suggested the City take the first year and then go to the businesses and ask them to sponsor them the second year. Bell asked if the cost included something that retains water in the baskets. Victory stated that there was. This flower basket plan is included in the master plan. Victory stated that the group figured since the City already had someone on staff that mowed lawns it would be cheaper for the City to do it. McDaniel has the same sentiments as Councilman Bell, but Star is worth it. McDaniel believes the City should do it and look to sponsorships next year. Erlebach asked why they didn’t get sponsorships this year. Victory stated that it is hard to get the businesses to sponsor something they haven’t seen. McDaniel asked if Victory has checked into silk flowers. Victory has not checked into it and feels real flowers are better. Smith agrees, live flowers are better. Smith wants the City to commit to this for one year and the businesses sponsor them the next year. Erlebach is leaning towards doing a year to year agreement. Smith moved to approve the flower baskets for one year with cost not to exceed a $1500 for 44 – 14” flowerpots and brackets, McDaniel seconded the motion. All aye: motion carried. Feasibility Study Presentation Discussion and Decision – The Mayor reviewed the discussion of funding the feasibility study for an ice hockey rink in the west end of Ada County. The Mayor stated the group has been meeting on the subject for a year now. There have been people volunteering for the past year to be part of this ice rink and they are not just hockey interests. An event center in the west end is a huge need in the valley. There is a lot of interest from donors with substantial amounts of money in this project. All involved in this believe that Star is a great location. The group is not asking for money; the project will go forward if we give money or not. The group has heard from other cities, but they feel that Star is a good location. The group wants to know if Star wants to be at the table and participate in putting this together. Smith asked about a business model or a business plan. Smith talked with several people in the valley and the ice rinks have not penciled out and some groups have backed away from them. The Mayor explained that it is what the feasibility study is going to do. It will provide everyone with the knowledge that the ice rink is feasible or it’s not. The Mayor introduced Tim Resler and Brian Herbert. Tim Wrestler owns fourteen acres in Eagle and believes the site would work for the ice rink. Smith stated that part of the study should say where the location should be. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 The Mayor stated that it is in our best interest for us to do the feasibility study. If we are not a part of the process, we will get our money back. Smith thinks it opens the city to a position that we float money. The Mayor stated that the group does not want the city as a partner. Bell stated that where the problem is, is in Smith’s perception – the group has not asked for money. To fund the feasibility study will be in our best interest, we will want to know that it the right thing. They have offered to pay us back for the feasibility study if they go somewhere else. Smith stated he has never seen a city pay for a feasibility study for a business coming to Star. We want businesses to come to Star. What is Star’s role? The Mayor stated that the City’s role will be the entitlement of the property. Smith believes it will open Pandora’s box, because it will open the door for everyone to come to the City. Erlebach asked if the College of Western Idaho came to us and said they would want to build the college would we do a feasibility study. What happens if this group goes bankrupt? The Mayor stated that we could do some bonding or contract. Smith stated if the feasibility study doesn’t need to be done right now, the City could get a Gem grant and have it pay for part of the study. Smith asked about Boise State doing the feasibility study. The Mayor stated that the feasibility study is moving forward with or without us. Bell stated that he has thought about this a lot and it is not something we have done before, but we’ve never had this kind of facility either and it will be the biggest thing to come to this City. We owe it to ourselves to find out if it is feasible. We would be crazy to walk away from this. It is an abnormal thing. Richard Tinsley is in favor of the process. If the citizens of Star pay for this would it be guaranteed to be in Star. Herbert stated that if it doesn’t go in Star, the City would get their money back. Smith asked about bonding. The group will bond for the $15,000. The Mayor has attended several meetings and believes RinkSports are the people that need to do the feasibility study. Smith stated that we as a City, want to fund this study for the scope of work in the contract; Smith asked if there was separate contract for the bonding. The Mayor stated that the City will have a more defensible document if the study is paid for by the City. Erlebach asked about the costs. It is on schedule A and it is $15,000. The Mayor stated that if the people doing the study find that the report shows that it is not feasible, they will stop work and payments will end. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 Bell is comfortable moving forward. Bell moved to approve the Consulting Agreement, not to exceed $15,000 and contingent upon a contract to bond with West Valley for the bonding of the $15,000. McDaniel stated that Schedule A refers to section 9 and it should be Section 6, McDaniel seconded the motion. Smith will drive the parallel study with Boise State and get information back to the Council. All aye: motion carried. Resler stated that they do the flower pots in Boise and they could amalgamated the flower pots and maybe match the city in the second year. The Mayor will talk with Resler at a later time. Reports: Council – Erlebach stated he has nothing to report. The River Walk is flooded and the Easter Egg hunt is on Saturday. Happy Birthday to Chad. Smith – Star Community Council has a lot going on. A lot of people in attendance. Fire Department working on program with Seniors to replace the batteries in smoke detectors and Fill the Boot. McDaniel stated that she received notice from Ada County City Emergency Management to let everyone know to stay out of the river. Bell stated that he is working on an Eagle Scout program; they will be recycling bicycles and then donating. We have another Eagle Scout that is looking to fix the river bank where it floods. Mayor – The Mayor stated that the Highway16 bid will be let on May 24th or 25h and they will hold a ground breaking ceremony. Dustin Christopherson is working on the web site. The Lions are in the process of selecting scholarship applicants, we received ten applications. Interviews will be the 5th. We will have the banquet on May 17th, a Thursday at Heron River catered by Sulley’s. The 18th is the golf tournament. Friday the 13th everyone is to wear purple in honor of the Military. The Mayor talked about the Elementary teachers; the Mayor attended a tech expo and it was amazing what they are doing with technology at the Elementary School. Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 pm Approved: Respectfully submitted: Nathan Mitchell, Mayor Cathy Ward, City Clerk ---PAGE BREAK--- 5