LaVerkin City Council Meeting

Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 6:00 p.m.

Council Chambers, 111 S. Main, LaVerkin, Utah

Present: Mayor Karl Wilson;  Council-Members:  Randy Reeve, Richard Hirschi, Brandon Stephenson, Ray Justice;  Staff:  Kyle Gubler, Kevin Bennett, Chief Lloyd Watkins, Derek Imlay, Troylinn Benson, and Christy Ballard;  Public, Ann Wixom, Jake Bulkley, Rylan Arnold, Jaxon Sanders, Andrew Allen, Lincoln Johnson, Steve Arnold, and Toni Imlay

A. Meeting Called to Order - Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance by Richard Hirschi at 6:02pm

Phil Jensen was excused from the meeting.

B. Consent Agenda: (Items on the consent agenda may not require discussion.  These items will be a single motion unless removed at the request of the Mayor or City Council.)

1.      Declarations of conflict of interest

2.      Agenda

3.      Minutes February 1, 2012 regular meeting minutes

4.      Review Invoices and Checks:  $ 79,118.74

Motion was made by Council-Member Richard Hirschi to approve the consent agenda as it is written including the checks and invoices in the balance of $79,118.74, second by Council-Member Randy Reeve.  Roll Call Vote:  Justice-yes, Stephenson-yes, Hirschi-yes, Reeve-yes.  Motion carried unanimously.

C. Committee Reports:

1.       Planning Commission - Councilman Richard Hirschi reported the Planning Commission discussed allowing multiple dwellings on large parcels in R-A-1 and R-1-14 zones.  The Commissioners decided to not allow multiple dwellings on those parcels.

Kevin stated that he has passed that information on to Mr. Bezette's attorneys.

The Hillside Overlay Map was discussed and three changes were made to that map.  There will be a public hearing on April 11, 2012.

The March 14^th meeting was re-scheduled for March 28^th and there will be a special Planning Commission/Public Hearing meeting on February 22, 2012 to approve the preliminary plat on the hotel property.

2.      Water Board-Mayor reported the projects that have been approved should be completed by the end of next week.

3.      Sewer Board-Blair Gubler not present to report.

4.       Fire District-Chief Kuhlmann not present to report.

D. Citizen Comment & Request for Future Agenda Items:

None

Mayor Wilson recognized Scout Troop 1661.  They are working on their Communications Badge.

E. Business:

1.      Discussion and possible action to approve Resolution No. R-2012-___, appointing Councilman Jensen to the Washington County Solid Waste District board

Motion was made by Council-Member Brandon Stephenson to approve Resolution No. R-2012-02, appointing Councilman Jensen to the Washington County Solid Waste District Board, second by Council-Member Ray Justice.  Roll Call Vote:  Reeve-yes, Hirschi-yes, Stephenson-yes, Justice-yes.  Motion carried unanimously.

2.      Discussion and possible action to approve Resolution No.R-2012-___,waiving the assessment and collection of animal licensing late fee during "late fee amnesty" period (until June 29,2012)                                                                                                                                                                                      Chief Lloyd Watkins explained that based on Council Members recommendation, this being the first year La Verkin City has taken care of animal control licenses the City would waive the late fee from February 29, 2012 until June 29, 2012 which is the last business day of the fiscal year.  The late fee will be the only fee waived.

Motion was made by Council-Member Richard Hirschi to approve Resolution No. R-2012-03, waiving the assessment and collection of animal licensing late fee during "late fee amnesty" period (until June 29, 2012), second by Council-Member Brandon Stephenson.  Roll Call Vote:  Justice-yes, Stephenson-yes, Hirschi-yes, Reeve-yes.  Motion carried unanimously.

3.      Discussion and possible action to approve Resolution No. R-2012-___,authorizing and supporting a Bureau of Reclamation's WaterSMART Matching Grant for upgraded water meters in City

Kyle explained that items 3 and 4 are in regard to a grant that the City has applied for that requires a Resolution to be in place showing that the City is committed to the projects the grants are for.

Mayor Wilson commented that the numbers had been presented to the Council in a previous                                           meeting.   He went over the meter replacement program that the City has been doing and explained that the grant is a matching grant that will match labor and allow the city to double the amount of meters put in for less money.

Kyle noted that the two grants are for the same thing, the City is applying for them both to increase the chance of getting one.

Councilman Justice asked if there were any strings attached to the grants.  Mayor Wilson replied that the meters have to go in.  Kyle has given them the information as far as which meters will be replaced.

Councilman Hirschi asked if the City has received this grant before and what the chances were that the City would get it.  Kyle answered that the City has not recieved this grant before and that last year all of the grants that where applied for were funded.  If the City gets this grant, ¾ of the meters in La Verkin City will have been replaced at the end of the two years.

Kyle commented that this grant matches money, our labor and equipment.  Instead of paying $40,000 the City will pay $16,000 and get twice as many meters replaced.

Mayor Wilson commented that a lot of the La Verkin City residents' meters are overdue in being replaced.

Motion was made by Council-Member Ray Justice to approve Resolution No. R-2012-04, second by Council-Member Randy Reeve.  Roll Call Vote:  Reeve-yes, Hirschi-yes, Stephenson-yes, Justice-yes.  Motion carried unanimously.

4.      Discussion and possible action to approve Resolution No. R-2012___,authorizing and supporting a Bureau of Reclamation's WCFSP Matching Grant for upgraded water meters in City

This is the second grant that the City is applying for as Kyle previously mentioned.

Motion was made by Council-Member Brandon Stephenson to approve Resolution No. R-2012-05, second by Council-Member Ray Justice.  Roll Call Vote:  Justice-yes, Stephenson-yes, Hirschi-yes, Reeve-yes.  Motion carried unanimously.

5.      Discussion and possible action to authorize the City to go out to bid on the 2012 Road Construction Project, and to approve the language of the proposed bids, specifications, and contract therefor

Kevin handed out a copy of the bid book.

Derek has been working with Sunrise Engineering on specifications.  There have been drastic changes made from last year's contract.  Sunrise has gone over the contract and matched everything that they would be doing with our paperwork.  Kevin recommends approval.

Derek went over the map that was handed out explaining what each color on the map represents; the area in red was the 2010 and 2011 road projects, yellow and black checkered will be crack sealed and red and black checkered will be roto milled new road base put down and 3" of asphalt.  There is 2.3   million square feet of road that he would like to crack seal, not counting the slurry.

The Engineer's numbers for this project is higher than Derek expected, a few of which he doesn't agree with.  After the bids come in it can be decided whether to amend the budget or alleviate part of the project if needed.

The section that needs to be roto milled because of settling is not from a sewer line, it is a water line, sewer is not in that road.  One thing to keep in mind is that if that part of the project can be done,  when those properties are developed the road will be ripped up.

Derek explained that the cracks in the road are the widest in the winter, the rain gets into those cracks    and that's what creates pot holes and deterioration of the base.  If the roads get crack sealed now, then that will stop the deterioration process until the road can be slurry sealed.  The slurry seal is warrantied for 5 years but will last 7, which will be about the time we would be back to the beginning.

The staff has also talked about Derek's crew doing the crack seal and slurry to help preserve the streets and provide a better product.

The specifications are the same as the 2010- 2011 project.

Councilman Hirschi asked if this project will be contracted out.  Derek replied that it would.  If this project is approved, it will go out in the paper this weekend.  Derek hopes the project will have started by the 26^th of March.

Councilman Stephenson asked how long the project will take.  Derek answered that the crack seal will take about a week, the slurry will need to close the road down one side at a time and that will take 2-3 days.  The company will be closing the road down, the city won't need to.

Mayor Wilson commented that Derek approached him with 5 different possibilities for this project; it was narrowed down to this one which provides less slurry than planned but does allow the whole city to be crack sealed.

Motion was made by Council-Member Brandon Stephenson to approve the City to go out and bid on the 2012 Road Construction Project, and to approve the language of the proposed bid, specifications, and contract therefor, second by Council-Member Richard Hirschi.  Roll Call Vote:  Reeve-yes, Hirschi-yes, Stephenson-yes, Justice-yes.  Motion carried unanimously.

F. Staff. Mayor & Council Reports:

City Administrator - Kyle Gubler

1.       Discussed the letter that Ivin's City Veterans Nursing Home sent.  That letter is asking for communities or individual's to make a $4,000 donation to upgrade the furnishings in the rooms.  There will be a plaque placed outside of the room with the name/names of those that sponsored that room (in this case La Verkin City).  Bill Stay will come and give a presentation to the City Council if the Council would like.  Councilman Hirschi would like to have Mr. Stay give his presentation, commenting that even if the full $4,000 could not be raised any amount would help.

2.      Questar has a regulator station on the way to Toquerville.  The property cost $40,000 for just under ½ acre.  Questar would like to sell the remaining property, which is just over ¼ acre with highway frontage, back to the City for $10,000.  Kyle suggested making 4 equal payments of $2,500 over the next 4 years.  The advantage to this property is that at some point the City would like to put a Welcome to La Verkin sign on that side of town and owning the property would help avoid problems with that.  The other Welcome to La Verkin sign sits on someone else's property which is currently in bankruptcy.

Mayor Wilson stated that if the Council is favorable of this Kyle can negotiate the deal, and then bring it back to Council for approval.

Kyle stated that Questar would write up the agreement for the City.

Councilman Justice asked if the property had any park use.  Kevin answered that it could be a way station, or a picnic table could be put there.  Kyle explained where the property is and stated that Questar had promised the City the property for the sign and that would still be honored.  However, the staff's opinion is that it would be better if the City owned the property.

Councilman Justice asked if there was a UDOT approved exit from the highway onto that piece of property.  Mayor Wilson thought the access would be on the back of the property from Bringhurst Lane.  Councilman Justice commented that Bringhurst Lane is a private road and wondered if the City would need to get an easement from the owner to access the property.  Kyle wasn't sure.  Derek mentioned that Questar has access.  Kyle thought something could be written in the contract for shared access.

Councilman Hirschi asked if water was available to that property.  Mayor Wilson replied that the City's main water line goes right next to that property and Hurricane has a line on Bringhurst Lane.

Councilman Reeve asked if the only benefit would be the sign.

Mayor Wilson mentioned he would like to get the sign and possibly a picnic table if the access was there and the City felt like maintaining it.  Just for the sign purpose and owning the property, the Mayor is in favor of pursuing this.  Councilman Hirschi agreed.

Kyle will make the offer to Questar, have the contract drawn up and put it on the agenda for City Council.

3.       Animal Control Officer Kelly King will be presenting a quarterly report to the Council on April 4, 2012.

4.      Safety Town.  John Rosander attended the Director's Meeting and proposed bringing the Safety Town program to La Verkin.  Kyle explained the program.  It is a program for children, parents will be required to pay a fee and it lasts two weeks.  Some of the things the program covers are fire safety and crime prevention.  The City would sponsor the program, take the registration forms and let them use the gym.  The staff including Chief Watkins is in support of sponsoring this project.   The liability would be handled the same as the athletic program.

5.      Mayor Wilson gave an update on leasing the property down by Riverwood from the Sewer District.  Darwin Hall does not have any problems so far with the changes that were wanted.  Kevin will modify the contract and then put it on the agenda for City Council.

Kevin asked Kyle if Mr. Rosander needed approval from the Council for the Safety Town   Program.  Councilman Stephenson stated that he is in support of it.  Mayor Wilson is staying neutral; he would like to know more about it.  Council-members Hirschi and Reeve are in support of it.

Public Safety - Chief Lloyd Watkins

Chief explained the incident that Officer Darren Richmond was involved in with a vehicle that failed to stop which led to a 9 hour standoff.  The man had some mental health issues; it will be determined whether he should be contained in a mental unit or a regular criminal unit.   The children were in taken by DCFS to make a determination on where to put them.

The pursuit was handled well, the incident was called out well and policy was followed very well on the part of Officer Richmond.

The statistics are on the website now.  The numbers are up 6% from January 2011 due to animal control.  All other areas are low to average.

Mayor Wilson commented that all of the agencies involved with the vehicle standoff cooperated and communicated very professionally in keeping the community safe first, and the suspect and his children safe second.

Director of Operations - Derek Imlay

1.      The 2012 Capital Project has been started.  The clean-outs on 500 N 100 E and the Bible Church have been completed.  The pipe under the State Road will be pulled through on Tuesday, February 21^st.  A valve will be placed on each side of the road with a clean out being placed on the west side of the road.

2.      The Conservancy District will be getting the parts to do the irrigation tie in at the Filter Station.   This project will hopefully equalize the system out so that Zion View will have better pressure.  These projects will be done by March 1st; the irrigation water will be put in by March 5^th or 6^th to check for breaks so that on March 15^th, the scheduled date for the irrigation to be back in, the problems will have been taken care of.

3.      The road project will hopefully be started by the end of March.

4.      A Special Planning Commission Meeting will be on February 22^nd at 6:00pm for the division of the hotel property where Silver Springs used to be.  There are 6 parcels of property there now and it will be divided into 2 parcels.  This is going to be treated as a subdivision and will go through the subdivision process.  The entire infrastructure with the exception of the irrigation water is already on the property.  The irrigation will need to be brought in, which is part of the other cleanout project.  That project will be putting in a clean out ahead of where the property's line will tie in.   This meeting will be a Public Hearing for the preliminary plat, then construction, and then back to Planning Commission and City Council for final preliminary plat approval as well as approval of the mylar.

5.      Randy's new truck was picked up on Monday and taken to EVS to get the radio and lights installed.

Treasurer - Troylinn Benson

1.      Door hangers will be done Thursday Feb. 16^th.  156 notices were sent out, that was less than the month before.  Due to President's Day, shut offs will be on Wednesday Feb 22^nd.

2.       Troylinn handed out the budget report that goes through the end of January, and explained that the budget report is given the second meeting of every month.  If the Council-Members have any questions regarding the budget, come into the office and Troylinn will go over it with them.

3.      Most of the staff has been training with the Utah Local Governments Trust.  There is a program that if 12 trainings are attended it will help with insurance. Lloyd, Kevin, Kyle, Derek and Troylinn have been trying to get to all of the trainings and will pass on the information that is received from those.

Mayor Wilson:

1.      The Mayors Association has recommended that Mayor Wilson be appointed again to the HCAC.

2.      The Water District and City have a cross over project that is being worked on.  All 3 water lines are uncovered and waiting for the parts to finish.  The City is providing the labor and the Water District is providing the parts.  Mayor Wilson explained where these lines are located and where the cross over will be.  This project, along with the clean out project, should improve the water pressure on the North West side of town and Zion View Estates.

3.      The Fire District met and discussed some of the issues they have had with the way the State has done the retirement for both Police Chiefs and Fire Chiefs.  It was agreed to do a 90 day extension leaving the District as the paymaster with Hurricane operating until the issues are resolved.

Justice:

The Confluence Park Meeting went over the panels that will be on the kiosks that will be located by the parking area on the North end of the Park.  It will be 2 or 3 more months before those are finished and at that time there will be an opening ceremony to start promoting Confluence Park.

Mayor Wilson reported that the Restoration Grant the DWR received is on-going.  The non-  native species of plants are being removed in two different areas, by the power plant and the inmates are going along the La Verkin Creek to the Virgin River.

Councilman Justice commented that the wood is being chipped and will be placed on the trails.

Mayor Wilson stated that anything 3inch in diameter or larger is being cut and piled up for anyone that would like wood.  Just let the Mayor know.  The time does need to be tracked because it is a matching grant.  It does have vehicle access.

Hirschi:

Will be attending the Special Planning Commission Meeting and will report on it at the next Council Meeting.

Reeve:

The Mosquito Abatement Meeting discussed purchasing an existing building instead of building one.  The building that was looked at last year is still available and has come down in price.

The West Nile Virus is tested by catching groups of 50-100 mosquitos and testing them as a group.  There was only 1 confirmed group in Washington County that tested positive last year.

Mayor Wilson asked if it was reported how many people went to the hospital with West Nile last year.  Councilman Reeve replied that the group study was all that was discussed at that meeting.

Councilman Hirschi asked where the new building will be located.  Councilman Reeve answered it is located in Washington Fields off of the Dam Road.

Stephenson:

Public Works should have the irrigation up and running in time for the scheduled turn on date.

Beautification Committee will be planting trees at the elementary school for Arbor Day which is April 13^th.  Dumpster Days will be February 24 and 25.

Shooting Sports Park Meeting is on February 23^rd.

G. Adjourn

Motion was made by Council-Member Ray Justice to adjourn, second by Council-Member Brandon Stephenson.  Motion carried unanimously at 7:10pm.