THE STATE OF UTAH
COUNTY OF SEVIER
CITY OF RICHFIELD
At the City Council
In and For Said City
May 25, 2021
Minutes of the Richfield City Council meeting held on Tuesday, May 25, 2021,
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.
- OPENING REMARKS
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- ROLL CALL
- MINUTES APPROVED
- EXPENDITURES APPROVED
- PUBLIC HEARING – SHORT-TERM RENTALS
- PUBLIC HEARING – REZONE
- ORDINANCE 2021-11 ADOPTED
- ELECTION AGREEMENT WITH SEVIER COUNTY APPROVED
- OTHER BUSINESS
- EXECUTIVE SESSION
- RECONVENE & ADJOURN
- OPENING REMARKS were offered by Councilmember Nielson.
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Councilmember Gleave.
- ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Ogden, Bryan Burrows, Kathy Christensen, Todd Gleave, Kip Hansen, Connie Nielson, Michele Jolley, Tyson Hansen.
- MINUTES APPROVED. The Council reviewed the minutes of the meetings held on March 23 and April 13, 2021. Motion: Approve the minutes of the meetings held March 23 and April 13, 2021, Action: Approved, Moved by Kip Hansen, Seconded by Kathy Christensen. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5). Yes: Bryan Burrows, Connie Nielson, Kathy Christensen, Kip Hansen, Todd Gleave.
- EXPENDITURES APPROVED. The Council reviewed the warrants for April 2021. Councilmember Hansen noted the purchase of bluegrass seed and chemicals on pages 6 and 7. He knows that these are both products that can be purchased locally. He wondered what our policy was on these items and if we put them out for bid. The bluegrass was turf and not seed that we purchased for the cemetery because we were not able to get it here. Mr. Hansen noted that the purchasing policy states that if we can get the same product within 5% of the price then they should buy it locally. He has talked to the department heads about purchasing items from Amazon and the department heads have said that the items they purchase are a lot less expensive on Amazon.
Councilmember Hansen explained that an item like roundup that we would use at our parks, cemetery, golf course, and streets, and suggested that we determine how much each department needs and put it out for bid. What he has found that usually if a bid package is sent out, the local vendors will almost always be competitive on those. He thought that this could save us some money and if it turns out that we support local vendors through that process that is always a plus.
Councilmember Nielson would second that. She noted that we are using their money to purchase these items and we ought to support them.
Councilmember Burrows stated that we have a local printing shop here in town and noting that we had a business in Monroe print envelopes for us.
Councilmember Nielson asked about the refund to KOA. Mr. Hansen indicated that it was from the water fund, so it could have been because of a leak. He will find out for sure. Motion: Approve the warrants for April 2021, Action: Approved, Moved by Kathy Christensen, Seconded by Bryan Burrows. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5). Yes: Bryan Burrows, Connie Nielson, Kathy Christensen, Kip Hansen, Todd Gleave.
- PUBLIC HEARING – SHORT-TERM RENTALS. Mayor Ogden opened a hearing at 7:11 p.m. to receive comments on allowing short-term rentals in all residential zones. There was some question about why the Council was having a hearing on this because it was thought that short-term rentals were already allowed in residential zones. The last recommendation from the Planning Commission was to allow short-term rentals in certain residential zones by not all residential zones. Short-term rentals were not allowed in the R1-8 zone and the Planning Commission had a request for a short-term rental in this zone. The Planning Commission has determined to allow short-term rentals in all residential zones.
Mayor Ogden noted that there has been concern about allowing these in areas where the lot sizes are smaller because of limited parking. Councilmember Nielson asked if there was any protection for the neighbors as far as to the parking on the streets. There is not anything in our ordinance other than we do require them to park within the frontage of the home they are renting. She would like to know how many we have.
There was some question about this being enforceable. Mayor Ogden closed the hearing at 7:24 p.m.
- PUBLIC HEARING – REZONE. Mayor Ogden opened a hearing at 7:25 p.m., to receive comments on a proposed amendment to the General Plan and zoning map affecting the property located at approximately 1140 South Cove View Road known as Royal Inn Subdivision, Lot 2. The proposal is to rezone the property from RM-11 (multi-family residential) to RM-24 (high-density multi-family residential Amy Meyer was at the Planning Commission meeting and she understood they were proposing senior housing development similar to the Cedar Cove Apartments. Community Housing is the developer. Mayor Ogden closed the hearing at 7:29 p.m.
- ORDINANCE 2021-11 ADOPTED. The Council reviewed an ordinance to annex the property of Derek and Sharlee Stokes Annexation located at approximately 2100 South 1100 West. Motion: Adopt Ordinance 2021-11 annexing the property of Derek and Sharlee Stokes located at approximately 2100 South 1100 West, Action: Adopted, Moved by Kip Hansen, Seconded by Kathy Christensen. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5). Yes: Bryan Burrows, Connie Nielson, Kathy Christensen, Kip Hansen, Todd Gleave.
- ELECTION AGREEMENT WITH SEVIER COUNTY APPROVED. The County will be providing the services for the City’s upcoming election. They prepare and mail out the ballots and count the ballots on election day. Motion: Approve the Agreement with Sevier County for election services, Action: Approved, Moved by Todd Gleave, Seconded by Connie Nielson. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5). Yes: Bryan Burrows, Connie Nielson, Kathy Christensen, Kip Hansen, Todd Gleave
- OTHER BUSINESS. Councilmember Nielson reported that they are working on the Miss Richfield pageant. She said that Macey Madsen, who served for the City as Miss Richfield again last year because of COVID, has been so dedicated. Ms. Madsen goes to school in Arizona and has flown home several times to work with the children’s justice center and participate in other activities on behalf of the City. Councilmember Nielson stated that they have sometimes had a hard time getting Miss Richfield to do the service hours required, but Miss Madsen has gone above and beyond.
There was some discussion about a development that will be approaching the Council about waiving improvements along 100 East. They are proposing storage units on the property east of Tractor Supply. Councilmember Nielson felt that the Council needs to be careful about what we do.
Councilmember Hansen talked about the Farmers to Families that took place in the community last week that he was pleased about. They gave out 1,000 boxes of good commodities that include fresh cheese, eggs, cabbage, frozen meatballs, potatoes, apples, etc. He went with a group that took some of the boxes to the women’s shelter and they are so appreciative of that kind of help.
Todd Mullen gave the Council a report from an irrigation specialist that came down and did an analysis of our golf course. He noted that one of the suggestions is to connect the water line that was not connected at the time the back 9 was built because they did not want to dig up the road. If we were to connect this it would make a loop and provide much better pressure on that line. He suggested the installation of bigger lines and central control computer system. Right now, we are just guessing and it is very difficult. The computer would control the pressures, where it waters and it would have the capability of controlling a single head.
One of the problems they have had this year is that the sprinkler heads have been sticking on due to the debris that is coming into our system. We need to get a filter to help prevent this and that filter will cost approximately $15,000 for the filter and some installation costs. They are also looking at purchasing some gauges so they will be able to see what the pressure is especially during the night. He also needs to have some more help on the grounds. Mr. Mullen has an employee that has worked part-time at the course for several years and he would like to put him on full time.
Councilmember Nielson asked if there was money in the budget to do the things that Mr. Mullen is asking for. Mr. Hansen stated that he does not have a full-time employee in the budget right now. With benefits, it will probably cost approximately $50,000 to $60,000. Since we are already paying him, it would be an additional $30,000 in wages. It was also discussed that Mr. Biggs has been doing the mechanic work at the golf course since Mr. Robertson moved to the City shop.
Mayor Ogden reminded the Council of the Memorial Day program at the Veterans Memorial on Monday. The Rotary breakfast will be held at the Senior Citizens Center.
- EXECUTIVE SESSION. At 7:45 p.m., Motion: Adjourn and convene an executive session to discuss the character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an individual, Action: Adjourned, Moved by Kathy Christensen, Seconded by Bryan Burrows. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5). Yes: Bryan Burrows, Connie Nielson, Kathy Christensen, Kip Hansen, Todd Gleave.
- RECONVENE & ADJOURN. Motion: Reconvene and adjourn, Action: Reconvened and Adjourned, Moved by Kathy Christensen, Seconded by Bryan Burrows. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5). Yes: Bryan Burrows, Connie Nielson, Kathy Christensen, Kip Hansen, Todd Gleave.
PASSED and APPROVED this 13th day of July 2021.