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1 Star City Council Meeting Minutes September 4, 2018 The regular meeting of the Star City Council was held on September 4, 2018 at Star City Hall, 10769 W. State Street, Star, Idaho at 7:00 pm. Mayor Chad Bell called the meeting to order and all stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call: Councilman David Hershey, Michael Keyes, Trevor Chadwick and Kevin Nielsen were all present. Approval of the Agenda: The Mayor stated that we need to remove 6A and 6E under Old/New Business and add an Executive Session. Chadwick moved to approve the agenda with the following changes: removal of 6A Mural Request from Steve Green and 6E removal of the Willowbrook Ordinance, adding an Executive Session under Idaho Code Statute 74-206 Pending Litigation, Nielsen seconded. Chris Yorgason, Legal Counsel stated that the reason for the Executive Session is because we received new information today. Keyes stated he sent a letter to the Council today and he would like to amend the agenda and discuss it. The Mayor stated that he would have to decline Keyes’ request as we don’t add items to the agenda at the last minute. The Mayor stated that he and Ward will be meeting with Mr. Jones from Canyon County Highway District. Keyes stated that Jones has asked to have the Council meet with the Highway Commission. The Mayor stated that they would. All ayes: motion carried. Consent Agenda: Chadwick moved to approve the Consent Agenda consisting of: Regular Meeting Minutes of August 7, 2018, Budget Workshop Notes of August 9, 2018, Claims Against the City for August 2018 and a Proclamation on Domestic Violence, Nielsen seconded the motion. All ayes: motion carried. Presentations/Public Input: Ada County Bike and Pathways – Brooke Green, with Ada County Highway District presented Council with information on the Star Bike and Pedestrian Plan. The questions can be referenced and there is a summary of the public outreach. The power point presentation was given. Green thanked Councilman Chadwick for his involvement with the plan. Boundaries of the study were shown. Demographic data was shown. Bike pathways per ACHD go along with roads. There were three major projects for design or construction. Floating Feather had a high capacity with the bridge. Green stated that this will be reviewed on September 7, and comments are due. The plan will be adopted in October. Keyes asked if the top plans are ranked by priority. Green stated they were not. Valley Regional Transit – Rhonda Jalbert, Valley Regional Transit talked about the inter-county route and they are requesting the contribution to be $10,568 and for Star to remit the 2018 payment of $10,221. Services include inter-county commuters, specialized transportation, metro community services, volunteer drivers, Canyon rides, Treasure Valley transit. The Highway 44 express, provides service to senior centers, metro community services, SHiP, volunteer drive, ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 and rides to wellness. Ridership is about 71,765 through this month, an average of 190 rides per month. Nielsen asked where the data came from. Jalbert stated that it is from fair boxes, they do a section 16 sampling – passenger miles traveled. Jalbert will forward info to the Clerk. Keyes asked if the counts are one-way trips. Jalbert stated that when you get on the bus it is one trip. Keyes asked what the cost breakdown is on the other transportation. Jalbert stated that Canyon County services are less. Services are varied. It cost a dollar to ride one way or inter- county is They have done a corridor 44 study and do have options. They have looked at taking people from Star into Eagle, so people are not waiting. Jalbert stated there is a funding short fall, a total operational shortfall of $199,115. There is an Admin shortfall as well. They figured that the Star’s portion for 2019 is $10,568 and $10,221for 2018. Jalbert stated they have been working on getting information and holding Highway 44 corridor meetings. They have been providing that information. Nielsen has not received the information that was requested. Nielsen is not sure that the amount of money for the riders is worth it, it is really a lot of money. Nielsen is concerned that VRT is coming to the cities for money for a program the State created, he feels the State should be paying for this. When you are operating in a shortfall, it doesn’t look like a good business operation. Jalbert stated that national information of car ownership cost about $8,000 a year for maintenance. Chadwick asked how do you plan to get more ridership. Jalbert stated that they have a new Facebook page and are getting more information out. The Mayor stated the meeting with Eagle and Middleton didn’t provide numbers, we talked about Boise. He asked for numbers telling him what the cost would be if we weren’t going all the way to Boise and instead just going from Star to Eagle. Jalbert will get those numbers. Jalbert suggested Council go look at the Middleton Skate park, VRT was the largest contributor. The parking lot was paid for with Federal funding. Federal funding from FTA can fund bike paths. They have done a lot of improvements with the funding. Keyes asked if the busses are full size. Jalbert will check. Buses are paid for with federal funding. It is the drivers that are being paid for with city monies. Hershey stated he was in that meeting with the Mayor and he talked about visibility. He knows that this transportation would fail without funding. Our bus isn’t visible. Hershey would like to see the numbers. The Mayor has been asking for these numbers for years, how can we market, how can we get new riders. That is our frustration. Committee Reports – Dave Hansen, Transportation Committee, stated that he will be brief, the Committee has not met recently due to summer schedules. They are waiting on upcoming workshops for discussion on items presented. Hansen stated they are trying to come up with a comprehensive proposal. Mike Olsen, Beautification Committee, stated projects include handing out certificates of appreciation, the military purple heart recognition, bike rack dedication, purple heart parking spaces and third quarter appreciation. The Star signs are in production and will be finished the end of September. Blake Trailer has been told repeatedly to have done by end of September. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 They are moving forward with the “Make Star Shine” program which will rake up leaves for our seniors. They have several teams of volunteers and cost will be minimal. Need approval from the Council to proclaim November 3rd as Make Star Shine day. For the fourth quarter recognition, they need clarification on the award. Olson would like to appoint two new members - Jennifer Weeks and Patricia Pounds. They are working on bike helmet station locations. Jamie is checking on the grant for the helmet stations. All their strategic plans will be met for 2018 with a couple of items being shifted to Councilman Chadwick. At the end of 2018 Olsen will prepare some feedback and doing things differently. Request guidance for 2019 plans, let him know by October. They are willing to help give direction to the EDC Plan and they look for approval. Yorgason stated that this was a no action item, so it cannot be approved tonight. Nielson stated that Olson needs to meet with the EDC Chair. Dana Partridge, Activities Committee, reviewed the budget numbers for the Hometown Celebration. The net cost to the city was almost $4,000 less than last year. Partridge does not anticipate any increase for next year. They will hold a follow up meeting on September 20th. Partridge is working on an outdoor concert venue at Blake Haven Park on the 14th. The group will be talking about the holidays and what they need to do. Public Input – Alex Fox, 720 Ramey Creek, wants to talk about the second item on the Bike and Pathway priority list. He wants a bridge at the end of the sidewalk, so kids don’t have to walk out in traffic. He also wants new subdivisions to incorporate bike paths. Addison Cushing, stated she was here as a follow up regarding the chicken ordinance. She came up with some wording – “Chickens, rabbits, doves or pigeons: one animals need a minimum lot size of 3,500 square feet. If lot size is less than 0.5 acre animals must be kept in an enclosed area. If you have less than 0.5 acres no roosters are allowed”. Council thanked Addison for the wording. Mike Olson, 12015 W. Hidden Drive, stated he started a new organization, he has created the SW Business Alliance and is currently working on tax exempt service. Olson is President, Shawn Nickel is VP, Alex Fox is VP, Sec. is Nate Pierce, Treasurer is Michael Traficante, and Melisa Rogers is media. All are volunteers. Olson offered assistance to EDC. Looking at doing a community concert next spring to pay for play equipment for special needs kids. Dave Jones, Canyon Highway District, stated he sent a letter to the Mayor. The Commissioners would like to meet with Council. All of their budget monies go to maintenance. They don’t have the same set up as ACHD. They would like to meet sooner rather than later. Denice VanDoren, 1107 W. Frost, stated that she called and spoke with Ward and she contacted someone with ARC regarding the situation in the Merc parking lot. The donation box is overflowing with people’s garbage. Nielsen is thinking about an ordinance, with a time frame to pick up, registration of a site and maybe a fee, with the landlord required to clean up the area on a daily basis. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 Old/New Business: Public Hearing for the Annual 2018-2019 Budget – The Mayor stated he will do a quick run through of changes that were made at the workshop. On the income side we did make a slight adjustment on the franchise line item, it was reduced to $199,654 and added $102,000 to the unrestricted line item for a total income line of $4,433,671. Yorgason stated that we have reopened the public hearing. On the expense side, salaries stayed the same, legal stayed the same as well, and on professional services line 419.42 we had in that line $195,000, we changed it to $90,000, the extra money was moved around to other items. Nielsen stated we found a duplicate in profession services. In professional dues we went from $50,104 to $42,606. Those fees are what we pay to belong to other organizations. On the recreation line item, we have added $7,000 for equipment. In park development we went from $81,000 to $185,000. The plans line item went from $25,000 to $195,000 with monies going towards Community Center plans, Star River Walk Master Plan, and grass/sprinkler and trees for Pavilion park. Chadwick stated there is $60,000 for Butler and $35,000 for Szplett to work on the Comp Plan. There was no change to the police budget. Capital expenditure – community went from $104,000 down to $23,000, and Capital expenditures - equipment went from $9,700 to an increase to $13,850. For a total expense budget of $4,433,671. Nielsen asked if the capital expense - community money was distributed. Yes, the money was moved to the 438.21 plans line item which includes monies for Yorgason, Ward and Butler to update the Unified Development Code. Keyes pointed out that in public testimony there was concern about the 3% property tax increase. The average home will see an eighty cent a month increase. Also, there was a concern about the ongoing $15,000 ice rink study. Council has asked that a demand letter be sent. The Mayor stated this was done under another leadership and the bond was never received. We have asked them to refund the money. Decision made in 2012 and supposed to be paid back in 2014. We are a few years down the road. Requested legal staff to send a letter stating the money is to be repaid. Nielsen stated that we need to make sure we have all our Microsoft licenses. Public Input – No public testified. The Mayor closed the public hearing. Hershey stated they have increased the police budget, he hopes they only chase chickens. Chadwick moved to approve the 2019 budget, Keyes seconded the motion. Keyes stated he hopes next year that they do a deeper dive into the budget. All ayes: motion carried. Ordinance No. 275 Amazon Falls Annexation – Hershey moved that pursuant to Idaho Code Section 50-902 the rule requiring an Ordinance to be read on three different days, with one reading to be in full, be dispensed with and that Ordinance No. 275 be considered after reading once by title only, Keyes seconded the motion. Roll Call: Hershey – aye, Keyes – aye, Chadwick – aye, Nielsen – aye: motion carried. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 Hershey moved to approve Ordinance 275, an Ordinance annexing into the City of Star certain real property owned by the Miller Family Trust, located at 7672 & 7884 W. State Street, in the unincorporated area of Ada County, Idaho and contiguous to the City of Star, establishing the zoning classification of the annexed property as Residential (R13) of approximately 15.2 acres; directing that certified copies of this Ordinance be filed as provided by law; providing for related matters; and providing for an effective date. Chadwick seconded the motion. All ayes: motion carried. Ordinance No. 276 Annual Appropriations for 2018-2019 Year - Hershey moved that pursuant to Idaho Code Section 50-902 the rule requiring an Ordinance to be read on three different days, with one reading to be in full be dispensed with and that Ordinance No. 276 be considered after reading once by title only, Keyes seconded the motion. Roll Call: Hershey – aye, Keyes – aye, Chadwick – aye, Nielsen – aye: motion carried. Chadwick moved to approve Ordinance No. 276, an Ordinance to be termed the Annual Appropriations Ordinance of the City of Star, Idaho, for the fiscal year commencing on October 1, 2018, and ending on September 30, 2019, appropriating sums of money in the aggregate amount of $4,433,671.00 to defray all necessary expenses and liabilities of the City of Star for said fiscal year; specifying the object and purposes for which such appropriations are made and the amount appropriated for each object and purpose; authorizing the certification to the County Commissioners of Ada and Canyon Counties, Idaho, the amount of $1,116,734.00 in property taxes to be levied and assessed upon the taxable property in the City; providing for the filing of a copy of this Ordinance with the Office of the Idaho Secretary of State as provided by law; and providing for an effective date, Keyes seconded the motion. All ayes: motion carried. Nielsen asked Chief Vogt when we would be getting our new officers. The Chief stated we will get them two weeks early without having to pay for them. On September 16 we will be fully staffed. Jake reviewed the process and stated that three deputies have put in for the two spots. Executive Session: Chadwick moved to go into Executive Session under Idaho Code Statute 74-206 Pending Litigation, Keyes seconded the motion. Roll Call: Hershey – aye, Keyes – aye, Chadwick – aye, Nielsen – aye: motion carried. Reports: Council – Hershey stated that he met with the Fire Department. The week of October 17th he will be gone. Discussion was held on moving the second meeting in October. Ward will find another date the Church is open. The Mayor stated we had to move some items off the agenda for September 18 so we do not have anything for the agenda. Nielsen suggested working on some housekeeping items. Hershey stated that this has been an active fire season this year. Keyes asked about parking ordinances and suggested that could be discussed. ---PAGE BREAK--- 6 Keyes stated he is back from vacation. He was at the meeting with Blake Trailers regarding the sign. Keyes is working on items with the Air Quality Board. Chadwick state we will incorporate the pathway to the Middle school in the bike and pedestrian plan. He and Ward have been working on getting all parts of the pathway donated. This will be a walking path from Floating Feather to the Middle School Ada County Highway District is interested in working on the pathway as well. Chadwick is gone from September 18 to the 30th. Nielsen stated he is having a hard time getting the EDC back together. He discussed his son making bat houses. He talked about the chicken thing and HOA’s have restriction. Yorgason stated HOA’s can be as restrictive as they want – people still need to live up to HOA’s and City code. Mayor – The Mayor stated he attended the TVP meeting and the topic is opioid crisis. He will be meeting with Attorney General and Mayor Evans regarding SAUSA program as they will be hiring a new prosecutor. Adjournment: The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 9:24 pm. Approved: Respectfully submitted: Charlten Bell, Mayor Cathy Ward, City Clerk