THE STATE OF UTAH
COUNTY OF SEVIER
CITY OF RICHFIELD
COUNTY OF SEVIER
CITY OF RICHFIELD
At the City Council
In and For Said City
December 11, 2018
In and For Said City
December 11, 2018
Minutes of the Richfield City Council meeting held on Tuesday, December 11, 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. OPPORTUNITY ZONE DISCUSSED
6. FUTURE OF MAIN STREET DISCUSSED
7. GORDON ROBISON/MOUNTAIN UTAH FAMILY MEDICINE’S COMPLIANCE WITH PLANNING COMMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND CITY ORDINANCES TABLED
8. DISCUSSION ON RUSSIAN OLIVE TREE REMOVAL AT THE GOLF COURSE TABLED
9. ANNEXATION PUBLIC HEARING
10. PROPOSED CENTRAL UTAH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT APPROVED
11. OTHER BUSINESS
12. MEETING ADJOURNED
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. MINUTES APPROVED
5. OPPORTUNITY ZONE DISCUSSED
6. FUTURE OF MAIN STREET DISCUSSED
7. GORDON ROBISON/MOUNTAIN UTAH FAMILY MEDICINE’S COMPLIANCE WITH PLANNING COMMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND CITY ORDINANCES TABLED
8. DISCUSSION ON RUSSIAN OLIVE TREE REMOVAL AT THE GOLF COURSE TABLED
9. ANNEXATION PUBLIC HEARING
10. PROPOSED CENTRAL UTAH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT APPROVED
11. OTHER BUSINESS
12. MEETING ADJOURNED
1. OPENING REMARKS were offered by Mr. Creamer.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Troop 603.
3. ROLL CALL. Present: Mayor David Ogden, Kevin Arrington, Richard Barnett, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson, Matt Creamer, Michele Jolley. Excused: Bryan Burrows, Mike Langston.
4. MINUTES APPROVED. The Council reviewed the minutes of the meeting held November 13 and November 19, 2018. Motion: Approve the minutes of the meeting held November 13 and November 19, 2018, Action: Approved, Moved by Kathy Christensen, Seconded by Connie Nielson. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yea = 4). Yea: Kevin Arrington, Richard Barnett, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson. Excused: Bryan Burrows.
5. OPPORTUNITY ZONE DISCUSSED. Malcolm Nash discussed the implementation of the Opportunity Zone. It deals with capital gain taxes that have to be spent in this zone in order to get the benefits. He explained that the area in Sevier County that qualified for this zone was in Richfield on the west side of Main Street from approximately 1000 North to approximately 1300 South. It was census tract based, so we did not have any options on the area included in this zone. From the County or City perspective it could lead to light industrial or commercial and it is important for the City to have these areas shovel-ready. Mr. Nash purchased a domain and now it is just a matter of getting the information out there. Mr. Nash discussed coming up with some tax increment financing plans which needs to be approved by the County and School District as well. The City would have to create an agency and the County and School District would be partners. He suggested that we put together a working group to develop some options.
6. FUTURE OF MAIN STREET DISCUSSED. About a year ago, Malcolm Nash updated his list of vacant buildings on Main Street. When he did this the number of buildings came back and it was higher than he had remembered seeing. The last summer, Roger Brooks, came out with a video series on helping downtowns develop. They made an effort to invite about 30 people to start looking at Richfield’s Main Street. Main Street is important to Sevier County as well. At the same time we were doing this, they found out that Moab City was going through a master planning process with their main street with a number of issues they have there. Mr. Nash, Mr. Creamer and Chad McWilliams went to the presentation being made by their consultant. Moab has been doing something with their Main Street.
There has been some work done and some discussions held, but we need to get it to the level that the Council is informed and more involved. He suggested that we need to put a group together to look at Main Street. Mr. Nash had some observations that he shared about Moab’s presentation, in that they had not figured out what their objectives were for Main Street. Although they were presented with a plan, the plan was not getting them to any specific objectives.
Mr. Nash stated that instead of hiring a consulting firm to go do a master plan, let us get that group together first of all and figure out what the objectives are for Richfield’s Main Street and then go get a plan to figure out how to get there. Mr. Nash noted that coming up with objectives for Main Street is a tough issue because it is fraught with different ideas and opinions. It is important that we get together, answer those questions and look at those issues.
Councilmember Nielson wanted to know if we are talking to business owners and Mr. Nash indicated that there were some in the group. Councilmember Nielson felt that sometimes we forget that we need to incorporate those people in our discussions because we are affecting their everyday business and their every day life. Mayor Ogden stated that there are some very good things happening in Richfield right now, including the new bank building and some other properties that have been vacant. It would be great to have more retail on Main Street.
Mr. Nash reported that the State is looking at re-establishing the Main Street program so now would be a good time to draw upon those resources.
Commissioner Brown stated that the City and County’s support of the bike trails because he sees opportunities that would compliment that.
7. GORDON ROBISON/MOUNTAIN UTAH FAMILY MEDICINE’S COMPLIANCE WITH PLANNING COMMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND CITY ORDINANCES TABLED. Motion: Table the matter, Action: Tabled, Moved by Richard Barnett, Seconded by Kevin Arrington. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yea = 4). Yea: Kevin Arrington, Richard Barnett, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson. Excused: Bryan Burrows.
8. DISCUSSION ON RUSSIAN OLIVE TREE REMOVAL AT THE GOLF COURSE TABLED. Mr. Jenkins was not in attendance. Councilmember Arrington wanted to know some of the background on this issue. Mr. Creamer stated that Mr. Jenkins has been involved in removing Russian olive trees extensively from a lot of the river bottoms and areas throughout Sevier County. He has voiced his concern several times in the past about the fact that we have a number of these trees at our golf course. They are classified as a noxious weed or tree.
Mr. Mullen stated that there are at least 80 Russian olive trees along the front 9 at the golf course. Councilmember Christensen stated that this was discussed several years ago and at that time it was suggested that the City start taking those out slowly. There is one hole that probably has 40 trees along it. Mr. Mullen, Mr. Creamer and Mayor Ogden have discussed this and there are some real issues. Taking them out will be costly, pull out a lot of the water lines and when it is removed the ground around it has to be sterilized so it will kill some of the turf.
Mayor Ogden spoke with Commissioner Ogden, who has been spearheading this for the County and they are not going to put pressure on the golf course to do anything right now. That being said, Mayor Ogden felt that it would be great if we could do something about this. He recommended that the City pick 2 or 3 trees that would not cause terrible damage and replace them with some other trees.
Carson Demille stated that he was involved in a main street project in Hatch and they wanted trees that were matured, so they were able to relocate mature trees from other areas in the City to Main Street for not a lot of money. Mayor Ogden suggested that we look around and see what mature trees could be relocated to the golf course when the Russian olive trees are removed.
Mayor Ogden stated that Mr. Mullen had received an honor from the PGA. Councilmember Barnett read an article on Mr. Mullen for his work with growing the youth golf program in our area.
9. ANNEXATION PUBLIC HEARING. At 7:46 p.m., Mayor Ogden opened a public hearing to receive comments on the annexation of City-owned property from 1700 South to Hwy 119 along Airport Road. Mr. Creamer explained what property was being annexed. Hearing no comments, Mayor Ogden closed the hearing at 7:51p.m.
10. PROPOSED CENTRAL UTAH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT APPROVED. Mayor Ogden stated that during meetings he has had with the County and other agencies, their interest is that the Council is behind this proposal and also to make sure that the City does not get committed to something more than we can bear.
Motion: Approve the resolution in support of the Central Utah Community Development Center, Action: Motion died for lack of a second, Moved by Kathy Christensen, None seconded.
Councilmember Arrington asked if there was a deadline for this. Mayor Ogden does not think we have a date, but Councilmember Nielson was also concerned about the time line and not over obligating the City not knowing what funding the City will get.
Councilmember Arrington stated that this resolution would just apply to this Council since there will be elections held next year. He would foresee that this resolution should sunset next year. Councilmember Barnett felt that one year should be enough time. Motion: Accept the resolution to be used when seeking funding from other governmental entities and philanthropic organizations for the project and that it expires December 31, 2019, Action: Approved, Moved by Kevin Arrington, Seconded by Kathy Christensen. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yea = 4). Yea: Kevin Arrington, Richard Barnett, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson. Excused: Bryan Burrows.
11. OTHER BUSINESS. Councilmember Barnett discussed the information that he received at the Utah League Policy Committee meeting. The League has asked cities to video tape to answer the following 2 questions. What are we doing as a City.
Councilmember Barnett also showed the Council 3 short videos explaining sales tax, property tax and the use of impact fees.
Councilmember Nielson asked about incentive for people to fix up old homes and buildings instead of tearing them down and building new. There are some programs available that could be used for this.
12. MEETING ADJOURNED. Motion: Adjourn, Action: Approved, Moved by Kevin Arrington, Seconded by Kathy Christensen. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yea = 4). Yea: Kevin Arrington, Richard Barnett, Kathy Christensen, Connie Nielson. Excused: Bryan Burrows.
PASSED and APPROVED this 8 day of January, 2019.