04/23/2019 Council Minutes

THE STATE OF UTAH
COUNTY OF SEVIER
CITY OF RICHFIELD

At the City Council
In and For Said City
April 23, 2019

Minutes of the Richfield City Council meeting held on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Richfield City office building located at 75 East Center, Richfield, Utah. Mayor David C. Ogden presiding.

1. OPENING REMARKS
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. MINUTES APPROVED
5. ANNEXATION RESOLUTION 2019-1 ADOPTED
6. PROPOSALS FOR THE NEW PARK DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSED
7. JVIATION SELECTED AS THE FIRM TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE RICHFIELD REGIONAL AIRPORT
8. AIRPORT GROUND LEASE FOR RETINA ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN UTAH APPROVED
9. OTHER BUSINESS
10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
11. RECONVENE & ADJOURN

 

1. OPENING REMARKS were offered by Michele Jolley.

 

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Kathy Christensen.

 

3. ROLL CALL. Present: Mayor David Ogden, Kevin Arrington, Bryan Burrows, Richard Barnett, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson, Matt Creamer, Mike Langston, Michele Jolley.

 

4. MINUTES APPROVED. The Council reviewed the minutes of the meeting held April 9, 2019. Motion: Approve the minutes of the meeting held April 9, 2019, Action: Approved, Moved by Kathy Christensen, Seconded by Connie Nielson Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yea = 5). Yea: Kevin Arrington, Bryan Burrows, Richard Barnett, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson.

 

5. ANNEXATION RESOLUTION 2019-1 ADOPTED. The annexation petition filed by Garth Ogden annexing property located north of 700 North between 750 East and 600 East was reviewed by the Council. Motion: Adopt Resolution 2019-1 accepting the annexation petition filed by Garth Ogden, Action: Approved, Moved by Richard Barnett, Seconded by Bryan Burrows. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yea = 5). Yea: Kevin Arrington, Bryan Burrows, Richard Barnett, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson.

 

6. PROPOSALS FOR THE NEW PARK DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSED. Jo Flynn lives across the street from the park. They have a great view of the mountains and there are no lights other than a street light, so she would like to see a place where there is a family area for mostly day use where there is a walking path designed for wheelchairs. She would like to see some benches, playground equipment and it would be nice if it were something that could accommodate children with disabilities. She hopes the City will plant trees and also suggested basketball hoops and an area for picnics with a gazebo and some tables. She sees a problem with baseball fields because she does not want the lights there at night. She would like to see amber lighting so that it does not take away from the view at night.

Elona Lund also lives across the street from the park. They live in a nice quiet neighborhood and she would be opposed to the baseball fields of any kind being there because it brings traffic and a lot of noise. She would like to see some pavilions and some equipment for disabled children. It will be the first park on the east side of town and she would like to see it become a great family oriented area.

Chet White is present of the Richfield Babe Ruth Association and they have provided a plan to the Council for two baseball fields. There are currently 10 fields in Richfield. Four of those are owned by Richfield City, but they are all softball fields. Snow College is planning to remove two of the existing fields in the future, so when those fields go away, the baseball program will not exist. In their proposal they also included two pavilions and two other shade structures. They have labeled an all abilities play area. They also have proposed a splash pad in the park, a pickle ball court, and an area for a skate and bike park. Babe Ruth would be willing to donate $15,000 toward the 2 baseball parks. They would also not be playing night games. It is a seasonal sport so the fields could be used for other sports like soccer and flag football. Baseball is the largest participated sport for youth in our community. They have 385 baseball participates, but if you include softball, there are over 685 participants.

Councilmember Burrows asked if Babe Ruth would continue to participate in the fields. They currently take care of the fields at Snow College. Councilmember Arrington asked what the size would be of the fields for T-ball. Mr. White said that they do not have T-ball or coach pitch anymore.

A lady said that she and her teenage son came up with a plan where one side would be a skate park, a splash pad, community garden that would be worked on by volunteers, Pahvant Elementary and Ashman Elementary. Her 11 year old thought it would be good to have a full-blown water park placed there. She would also like to see facilities for handicap children. Her idea would be to make it a honeymoon park that includes a community garden in one corner, a gazebo in one corner, a beautiful dedicated to the Nielson family with benches, a beautiful arched walkway with viney flowers going over the top and in one corner, 3 porch swings, a restroom and a drinking fountain.

Amy Schmidt would like to see a splash pad at the park. We are bigger than Central so she felt that we should be able to have one too.

Nicole Beutler would like to see the new park meet the need of small families and not large events. She would like to see something different at this park from the other parks. The things that are important to her as a mother are safety, child independence, accompany her child to help or assist on the equipment and play, and variety from other parks in Richfield. Ms. Beutler would like to see it be a neighborhood park for smaller more interment gatherings.

Doug Peterson lives in the area where the park will be. He felt that there needs to be safe access from the Stake Center to the park. Along 500 east, it is really narrow and there is not a sidewalk. One of the bus stops is at the Stake Center where children are dropped off and they do not have a safe place to walk south towards the new park. Several others present would also like to see sidewalks there. Councilmember Burrows asked if the school district has any of the safe walking routes funds available. Mr. Creamer said that those funds come from UDOT and it is the safe sidewalks to school program. He has talked with UDOT about getting something done on the east side of town and he has never been able to get anything definitive back from them. Each school designates what their preferred route is for kids to walk on. Those funds do come available about once a year and that would be a possibility to try to improve sidewalks in that area of the community.

Wes Kirschner would like to see baseball fields at this park. It is a seasonal sport but there are a lot of grassy areas in the other parks. He would also like to see more sidewalks down 600 North as well. 500 North is also a high traffic road as well and it should have sidewalks along it too. He is also concerned that the park represents Richfield and wants there to be ample trash cans and the restrooms are up kept and clean when they are used.

Cody Barton is also a part of the Babe Ruth Association and his concerned about the area not being lit because from a law enforcement point of view, we cannot have an area without lights especially if we are doing anything that has anything to do with youth. It could really pose a danger if there are not lights included in this new park.

Larry Flynn lives across from the proposed park and he is going to really enjoy that park. Someone asked if there was a time-frame for the development. Mr. Creamer noted that the Nielson family gave us 5 years to develop the park. We have received grant money from the Community Development Block Grant fund to install the curb, gutter and sidewalk around the exterior of the block and to stub the water and sewer into the property. He would anticipate whatever it arrived at for a plan will be phased over a 2 or 3 year period. We would like to have the park fully developed within the time period they gave us.

There was a question as whether or not the utility lines could be placed underground. Councilmember Burrows said that if we had enough money, anything can be done, but realistically the cost would be excessive.

A suggestion was made to have a splash pad at the City pool to keep all the water problems at one location. The Council will hold a study session on May 28 to discuss the park development further.

 

7. JVIATION SELECTED AS THE FIRM TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE RICHFIELD REGIONAL AIRPORT. Mr. Creamer explained that FAA requires the City to put out an RFQ for an airport engineer every 5 years. Jviation was the only engineering firm that submitted their qualifications. Based on information submitted by the Company in response to the City’s recent Request for Interest and Qualifications for said services. Motion: Accept and approve the agreement with Jviation for airport engineering services for the Richfield Airport, Action: Approved, Moved by Richard Barnett, Seconded by Kevin Arrington. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yea = 5). Yea: Kevin Arrington, Bryan Burrows, Richard Barnett, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson.

 

8. AIRPORT GROUND LEASE FOR RETINA ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN UTAH APPROVED. Mr. Robinson explained that we had received an environmental review for 4 hanger spaces at the airport. He has had interest in 3 of the 4 spaces and anticipates that 3 hangers will be built this year. Motion: Approve a ground lease with the Retina Association of Southern Utah, Action: Approved, Moved by Bryan Burrows, Seconded by Kathy Christensen. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yea = 5). Yea: Kevin Arrington, Bryan Burrows, Richard Barnett, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson.

 

9. OTHER BUSINESS. The Miss Richfield tea will be held next Monday night at the golf course. The City clean up is going on now through next Monday. Eliza Steele has organized several different projects for this Saturday. Individuals with a new business on Main Street are quite upset about the tree blocking their new business’ sign. There was some discussion about the trees were supposed to be larger and that the canopy was supposed to be higher than the top of the tree. Mr. Creamer asked the local tree guy to take a look at it and see what could be done. If we do any trimming on it now, it will kill the tree.

Councilmember Burrows received a call from Hawley Rock today and they are donating sand to communities for potential flooding concerns. He felt this was a great gesture. Mr. Mogan indicated that we were going to get some so that we had some if we need it. Mayor Ogden road out on the canal back to the east to see the water where the Cottonwood runs into the canal and there is a lot of water coming out of the canyon. He stated that the hospital has built a really nice retaining wall with a fence to keep people from falling into that and we need to do everything we can to keep kids from playing in that ditch. Councilmember Burrows stated that we need to be sure that we have some sandbags available. Mr. Creamer will check to see if we have some sand bags on hand and if not he will see that we get some.

Councilmember Burrows asked about the water trade and where we are with it.

Councilmember Burrows asked where we are with the letter to the house occupant. Mr. Creamer stated that he is waiting for direction and what the Council wanted done.

 

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION. At 8:30 p.m., Motion: Convene an executive session to discuss the character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an individual(s) to serve on the Planning Commission and a property purchase matter, Action: Approved, Moved by Kathy Christensen, Seconded by Kevin Arrington. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yea = 5). Yea: Kevin Arrington, Bryan Burrows, Richard Barnett, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson.

 

11. RECONVENE & ADJOURN. At 9:09 p.m., Motion: Adjourn, Action: Approved, Moved by Kathy Christensen, Seconded by Kevin Arrington. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yea = 5). Yea: Kevin Arrington, Bryan Burrows, Richard Barnett, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson.

 

PASSED and APPROVED this 14 day of May, 2019.