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Council Meeting June 3, 2014 Page 1 Star City Council Meeting Minutes June 3, 2014 The regular meeting of the Star City Council was held on June 3, 2014 at the Star City Hall, 10769 W. State Street, Star, Idaho. Mayor Nathan Mitchell called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm and all stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call: Council persons Tammy McDaniel, Richard Lockett, Tom Erlebach 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: McDaniel moved to approve the Consent Agenda consisting of: Claims Against the City for May 2014, Regular Meeting Minutes of May 6, 2014, Pavilion Commons (Pristine Meadows) Subdivision, Phase III Time Extension Request, Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law for Rockport Subdivision Preliminary Plat and Pinewood Lakes Annexation & Zoning Small Parcels and the Claims Addendum, Lockett seconded the motion. Discussion was held about deterrents from the vandalism happening to the park restrooms. All aye: motion carried. Presentations/Public Input: Ada County Assessor – Bob McQuade - McQuade reviewed market and assessed value of the City of Star. Market value is a price that is close to what you sell your property for. Taxable value is what you will pay taxes on. The total City market value is $499 million, it is up 28% over last year and it is the most increase McQuade has seen. Then you have $138 million in homeowner’s exemptions, $3 million in exemptions which ends up with approximately $5.5 million in operating property. The taxable value is $364 million which is an increase of 2.5%. The City’s residential parcel count is 3,500, which is an increase of 6% over last year; Meridian and Boise at 1% . The market value median increase is about 17%, county wide it is 14%. The median value is at 2006 levels. The Commercial market value increased to $33 million, a 16% increase. Personal property decreased Residential is 87% of value in Star. Overall new construction is up $36 million, a 460% increase. That is 194 new units. The change of Ag to other designations is $12 million. Residential at 87% is responsible for the main tax burden as commercial is only 13%. McDaniel asked if McQuade is seeing large growth in Treasure Valley. McQuade stated that he was. The Mayor stated that we need to remember that these numbers are from houses that were occupied in 2013, not 2014. Houses that are not lived in do not count until they are occupied. Audit Report – Jared Zwygart – The Mayor stated that Zwygart was here to review the 2012-2013 Audit. Zwygart reviewed the state taxes, they went up and there was growth. The excess in the tax line item is because delinquent taxes from previous years were received. Zwygart reviewed the balance sheet. Zwygart reviewed the revenue the City had and collected during the year. Zwygart stated that he wanted to bring a couple things to the Council’s attention – some of the revenue we have is being held in accounts that are not FDIC insured. The money in the Local Government Investment Pool is not insured. Zwygart reviewed the fixed assets and its historical value. Since the City is not part of PERSI, we do not have to worry about problems with the Deferred Comp Plan. Zwygart stated that there is ---PAGE BREAK--- Council Meeting June 3, 2014 Page 2 nothing out of line; the ACHD money goes in and goes out. There are no other issues. Zwygart stated they did not have any problems with the audit. The Mayor asked about liability for vacation and sick leave. Zwygart stated that on page 16 of the audit, it states that the City has a no accumulation policy for vacation or sick leave, so the City has no liability. Zwygart stated that it is important that people are looking at this. Ada County Highway District Strategic Update – Work Plan discussion. ACHD is looking at 20 year projects. ACHD has changed in the way they do projects. They are taking some major projects out of the works because there are other larger projects for funding. The Commission wanted staff to reach out to the City to find out the priorities and strategies. They want to be done prioritizing by May 2016, it will move fast. Values are going to be competing. They want some guiding principles; they are not all projects. Public Input – Richard Tinsley, 10459 Achillea wants the vacant lot next door to City Hall cleaned up. Public Hearings: The Mayor stated that the property for Witte Annexation, Zoning and Preliminary Plat Applications was not posted and cannot be heard. Bell moved to postpone the public hearing for the Witte applications to June 17 at 7:00 pm, Erlebach seconded the motion. All aye: motion carried. Old/New Business: Ordinance No. 235 Pinewood Parcels Annexation and Zoning: The Mayor stated that these were the small parcels that were annexed at the last meeting. McDaniel 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. 235 be considered after reading once by title only, Bell seconded the motion. Roll Call: McDaniel, Lockett, Erlebach and Bell – all aye: motion carried. McDaniel moved to approve Ordinance No. 235 an Ordinance annexing to the City of Star certain real property located 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 (R-2) of approximately .424 acres; directing that certified copies of this Ordinance be filed as provided by law; providing for related matters; and providing an effective date, Lockett seconded the motion. Roll Call: McDaniel, Lockett, Erlebach, and Bell – all aye: motion carried. Streetlight Discussion: The Mayor asked Council to look at Section 4 of the policy. Ward will email the ordinance to Council. Council should drive around and look at where the streetlights are and where they need to be. Look at development up and down the roads, and we will discuss it at a later time. Richard Tinsley asked if we could have outlets on the streetlights for Christmas decorations. Rental Properties Discussion: The Mayor stated that this is what we are charging and what we are proposing (suggestions). We will advertise to get groups to give input. This will have to go to a public hearing for adoption. ---PAGE BREAK--- Council Meeting June 3, 2014 Page 3 Bell asked about negotiating with Ada County DMV regarding rent. The Mayor does not believe we should charge them rent. Bell stated that maybe we don’t charge rent, but maybe charge for a percentage of the utilities by square foot. Reports: Staff – Police: Chief Laraway talked about the accident at the Star Merc parking lot. The little boy that was hit by the car was in first grade and he is now out of intensive care. The Police Department presented Ward with an appreciation award. Some men were shooting over near Firebird and their bullets were hitting cars. They were sighted for reckless shooting. No one was injured. They were shooting high powered rifles. The Mayor stated that he received some positive feedback regarding the Star Police. City Clerk: Cathy Ward reminded Council of the Audit approval and the bids for the parking lot. Bid Awards – The Mayor stated that the low bid for parking lot was Lurre Construction and the only bid on the restroom/concession stand was Wright Brothers and it was high. The Mayor stated that Council does not have to accept any of the bids or they can accept one or the other because that is the way the bids were let. Bell stated that he is comfortable awarding the bid to Lurre, but not comfortable with concession building, we may re-bid it. Bell moved to accept the Lurre Construction bid for dirt, asphalt and reject all bids on the building, Lockett seconded the motion. All aye: motion carried. 2012-2013 Audit - McDaniel moved to approve the audit, Lockett seconded the motion. All aye: motin carried. Legal: Cliff Brown had nothing to report. Council – McDaniel asked if the curbs by the fire hydrants could be painted. Everyone agreed that it was a Eagle Scout project. McDaniel asked where we are with entry signs. Lockett stated that he has talked with the Highway District, they will not build the signs but will install them at no cost. The signs will cost about $300. The signs are 30x36. There was no objection from the Council to buying the signs. Lockett is still working on the hole in the Idaho Department of Transportation right-of-way. Erlebach stated that he wanted to acknowledge Theresa Tinsley for organizing the Hometown Celebration. Erlebach stated that the new bleachers and gravel look good at Hunters Creek. Erlebach asked about bike paths on Main Street. The Mayor stated that the plan called for one. Erlebach stated that there are two. Bell had nothing to report. Mayor – The Mayor stated that he has had discussions about the acreage at the back of Heron River. Idaho Sand and Gravel will bring back some reclamation plans. The gravel operation will be finished next spring early summer. Where the levy broke, they are working to remove the levy on the south side so the river can come and go as it pleases. With the reclamation there will be an updated trail plan. ---PAGE BREAK--- Council Meeting June 3, 2014 Page 4 With the transfer of the property there will be a conservation easement with The Land Trust and a funding mechanism for improvements and maintenance; maybe a trust account. Mayor stated that he ordered another mower last week. He replaced it with an exact duplicate of what we had. Tractor is broken and down at Jerry’s now. The Mayor thanked staff and Council for their work with the public’s money. Adjourned: The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 9:00 pm. Approved: Nathan Mitchell, Mayor Respectfully submitted: Cathy Ward, City Clerk