05.08.18 Council Minutes

Published: August 7, 2018

THE STATE OF UTAH
COUNTY OF SEVIER
CITY OF RICHFIELD
At the City Council
In and For Said City
May 8, 2018
 
Minutes of the Richfield City Council meeting held on Tuesday, May 8, 2018
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. EXPENDITURES APPROVED
6. AIRPORT UPDATE
7. ENTERPRISE ZONES DISCUSSED
8. RESOLUTION 2018-7 TABLED
9. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT TABLED
10. ORDINANCE 2018-3 AMENDING THE RICHFIELD CITY ZONING ORDINANCE ADOPTED
11. ORDINANCE 2018-4 REZONING PROPERTY DENIED
12. MAYOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018-2019 PRESENTED
13. OTHER BUSINESS
14. ORDINANCE 2018-4 REZONING PROPERTY DENIED (cont)
15. EXECUTIVE SESSION
16. RECONVENE AND ADJOURN
 
1. OPENING REMARKS by Councilmember Arrington
 
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE by Mr. Creamer
 
3. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor David Ogden, Kevin Arrington, Bryan Burrows, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson, Matt Creamer, Mike Langston, Michele Jolley. Excused: Richard Barnett.
Others present: Mel Leseberg, Jim Fluhr, Michelle Olsen, Kary Monroe, Malcolm Nash and David Anderson.
4. MINUTES APPROVED. The Council reviewed the minutes of the meeting held April 24, 2018. Motion: Approve the minutes of the meeting held April 24, 2018, Action: Approved, Moved by Connie Nielson, Seconded by Kathy Christensen. Vote: Motion passed (summary: Yea = 4). Yea: Kevin Arrington, Bryan Burrows, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson. Excused: Richard Barnett.
 
5. EXPENDITURES APPROVED. The Council reviewed the cash disbursement and warrant register for April 2018. Councilmember Burrows asked about a $600 payment to Brad Staples. Mr. Langston stated that there is a pole on Mr. Staples’ property to put a banner across Main Street and we have an agreement to pay him $200 a year and we have missed a couple of years. Councilmember Burrows asked about the expenses for the visitor’s center and if Mr. Langston was tracking these. Mr. Langston stated that he is keeping a spreadsheet to itemize the expenses for the visitor’s center. Councilmember Arrington asked about a $4381.34 payment to Todd Mullen. Mr. Langston explained that this is what we owed Mr. Mullen for sales at the golf course. Motion: Approve the cash disbursement journal and warrant register for April 2018, Action: Approved, Moved by Kathy Christensen, Seconded by Bryan Burrows. Vote: Motion passed (summary: Yea = 4). Yea: Kevin Arrington, Bryan Burrows, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson. Excused: Richard Barnett.
 
6. AIRPORT UPDATE. Jim Fluhr and Mel Leseberg of Jviation discussed progress on the runway project. The City has one very large grant from the FAA that is open and they are trying to close that out. To do so, the FAA requires certain documentation to close that out. There was an issue with the State Historical Preservation Office and the historical nature of the canal and we have entered into an agreement to document where the canal was and what was in the canal prior to the construction. There are two phases to this and the first phase has been completed and submitted. That document was accepted allowing us to move on to the final step which is similar and documents the canal and two cabins that were removed from the purchased airport property. Along with that, the State Historical Preservation Office would like a display to be put at the City hall or at the airport. Jviation is in the process of putting that together that display along with a bound book. This should be completed in the next two weeks and sent to FAA for the approval process.
Mr. Fluhr also discussed the status of the well stating that it is completed relative to the drilling and the well development process. We have done the testing on the well and the report stated that it was possibly the cleanest water that has come out of a well. The well was producing 1,500 gallons per minute. It was designed to produce 1,000 gallons per minute. The existing well that is being replaced only produced 330 gallons per minute. Right now they are in the process of getting the pump house, piping and actual installation of a permanent pump. This project was bid 4 years ago, so they are trying to coordinate that and get it ready to go. The work on the pump and well house is scheduled to be done by the end of August at which time they will close out and abandon the old well.
Councilmember Burrows asked what it means for the City where the project was bid 4 years ago and obviously things have gone up. Mr. Fluhr stated that they are in discussions with A & D Jensen right now. They have already done some of the work several years ago. They laid the water line up to the well. The remainder of their contract is about 30 days and that is the actual building of the pump house, the pipe work and the installation of the actual pump. They will determine what the impact is for the 4-year delay and then they will give the FAA documentation showing that there is a need for additional money. Councilmember Burrows wanted to know if this would delay the contract. Mr. Fluhr did not think that it would.
Mr. Creamer reported that the City still has quite a lot of grant money available to finish the project.
 
7. ENTERPRISE ZONES DISCUSSED. Malcolm Nash stated that the enterprise zone tax credit areas in Richfield City were updated and some more areas in the City were designated. If a business is located in this zone and they create jobs or invest in plant equipment, then they can receive a State tax credit with then file every April. Mr. Nash had been contacted by a couple of the businesses in the north end of town and asked if that zone is available in that area and it is not currently. He recommended that the Council create another zone. It would just be added to the one that already exists, but there may be some other areas you should consider. Usually these zones are done in areas where you want to see commercial development take place or if there are some areas that are experiencing some growth now that can be done. The State law a few years ago allowed a municipality to designate their entire jurisdiction as an enterprise zone. It can be done, but it does not make a lot of sense to do that over residential areas.
Mr. Creamer asked if these credits are available to service retail businesses. Mr. Nash stated that there are different levels of jobs that are qualified. There is just a general generic job and then there are additional credits that can be taken if it is manufacturing, if it is value added agriculture, for example and the wage is 110 or 125% of the prevailing average wage in the County. The legislature put a little bit of a high bar on some of the tax credits because they want to see substantial job creation take place before that tax credit becomes eligible.
The credits from these areas reduce the tax liability of the business so they are not paying as much to the State. The Council would like to designate the whole city as an enterprise zone so that qualifying home businesses could receive the tax credits. Mayor Ogden asked Mr. Nash to have the map prepared and then come back to the Council for approval.
 
8. RESOLUTION 2018-7 TABLED. This resolution was to identify economic development enterprise zones. Motion: Table, Action: Tabled, Moved by Bryan Burrows, Seconded by Kevin Arrington. Vote: Motion passed (summary: Yea = 4). Yea: Kevin Arrington. Bryan Burrows, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson. Excused: Richard Barnett.
 
9. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT TABLED. No one from the Planning Commission was present so no report was given.
 
10. ORDINANCE 2018-3 AMENDING THE RICHFIELD CITY ZONING ORDINANCE ADOPTED. The Council discussed an amendment to the zoning ordinance to allow short-term rentals as a conditional use in specific residential and non-residential zones. Motion: Adopt Ordinance 2018-3 allowing short-term rentals as a conditional use in residential and commercial zones as identified in the use table, Action: Approved, Moved by Kevin Arrington, Seconded by Kathy Christensen. Vote: Motion passed (summary: Yea = 4). Yea: Kevin Arrington, Bryan Burrows, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson. Excused: Richard Barnett.
 
11. ORDINANCE 2018-4 REZONING PROPERTY DISCUSSED. The Council reviewed the ordinance that would rezone the property located at 1955 South Cove View Road from commercial to single family residential. Councilmember Burrows noted that at the last meeting, the buyers had indicated that they were planning to stay on the well and the septic tank. He did not think that we allowed wells in the City limits. He wondered if there is a time limit on this. Mayor Ogden wondered if there was some kind of a mechanism to assure that they follow through with connecting to the water and the sewer.
 
12. MAYOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018-2019 PRESENTED. Mayor Ogden handed out his proposed budget for fiscal year 2018-2019. Mr. Langston discussed the schedule and the dates for meetings to discuss the budget. A study session will be held Tuesday, May 15 at 6:00 p.m. Councilmember Burrows asked if we had arrived at a resolution for the public safety dispatch. Chief Lloyd stated that the cost was going to be $99,000, but during a course of meetings, he was able to get that reduced by $10,000 to $89,000. He stated that the board will be meeting in about 2 weeks and discuss another option. The State mandated that there be 2 people on 24/7, so they are going to have to hire 2 new people.
Mr. Creamer stated that Nephi added $2.50 a month on to the utility bills for a dispatch/public safety charge. Chief Lloyd stated that Juab County was actually looking at joining us in our center which would help mediate the cost, but they went to Utah County. The way the State law is written it is forcing everyone in to a big jurisdictional centers. Chief Lloyd stated that he and the Sheriff had discussed creating our own dispatch center, but the State passed a law 2 years ago that we could not create our own.
Chief Lloyd also reported that yesterday we voted to pull out of the Drug Task Force. He stated that it is not worth it to the City when we can take that money, along with the Sheriff and do a better job ourselves. He is setting it up so that the money would be used for overtime and DUI shifts.
13. OTHER BUSINESS. Miss Richfield tea was held at the Golf Course Clubhouse. Mayor Ogden and his wife hosted the event.
Councilmember Arrington reported that plans are moving forward for the Fourth of July and things are coming together well.
Councilmember Christensen asked for an update on the visitor’s center and wanted to be sure that we stay within the budget set.
Councilmember Nielson has heard several comments about the visitor’s center, one being that it takes away from the Richfield City sign and that the building is so far forward that you miss the sign. She also heard that Mayor Ogden was going to take out grass and put in gravel. Mayor Ogden stated that we are going to have a parking place for 5 cars and it will road base and some cement that they grind up with then removed it from the freeway. It will be rolled and as hard as asphalt. Staker Parson’s are going to donate the product, but we may have to haul it. He is going to install new lights on the Richfield sign so that it will be brighter. Councilmember Christensen stated that we probably need to go to the Planning Commission and make sure that we are following all of the rules and not doing something different than what we would let someone else do. Councilmember Arrington wondered if that type of parking lot would be allowed under our ordinance. Mayor Ogden stated that he thought it would, but he indicated that he would discuss this with the Planning Commission. Councilmember Arrington stated that he too has had a number of people call that had some positive comments about giving this a try; however, her reminded the Council of his motion that stated there would need to be a number of people who come through that center over the course of this summer. He worries that we are going to spend time and effort putting down a parking lot and then of the end of the summer realize that this really did not pan out like we had hoped. Then we will move that building back off and have to destroy that parking lot. Mayor Ogden felt that the parking lot would make a difference in the attendance by having a place for people to pull off. He said that we will have it look nice and have it done in such a way that if we need to repatriate it, we could do that. Councilmember Nielson asked what the time schedule is. Mayor Ogden was hoping it would be done before Memorial Day and he has a lot of people lined up to donate their time. He is confident it will be finished near this time.
 
14. ORDINANCE 2018-4 REZONING PROPERTY DENIED (cont). Mayor Ogden asked if the buyers were planning to hook up to the water and sewer system and if we have a mechanism that would force them at any time to connect to the City water and sewer. There is no mandate that would require the buyers to connect to the water. If something new was built they would have to connect it to the water and sewer. A motion to rezone should be condition upon the buyer’s purchasing the property. Motion: Adopt Ordinance 2018-4 rezoning the property located at 1955 South Cove View Road from commercial to residential, Action: Denied, Moved by Kevin Arrington, Seconded by Kathy Christensen. Vote: Motion failed (summary: Yea = 1, Nay = 3). Yea: Kevin Arrington, Nay: Bryan Burrows, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson. Excused: Richard Barnett.
 
15. EXECUTIVE SESSION. At 8:19 p.m., Motion: Executive session to discuss the sale of real property, Action: Approved, Moved by Kathy Christensen, Seconded by Bryan Burrows. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yea = 4). Yea: Kevin Arrington, Bryan Burrows, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson. Excused: Richard Barnett.
 
16. RECONVENE AND ADJOURN. At 8:55 p.m., Motion: Adjourn, Action: Approved, Moved by Kathy Christensen, Seconded by Connie Nielson. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yea = 4). Yea: Kevin Arrington, Bryan Burrows, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson. Excused: Richard Barnett.
PASSED and APPROVED this 12 day of June, 2018.