All present included Mayor Hart,
Council Member Elwell,
Council Member Mendenhall,
Council Member Roberts,
Council Member Densley,
and
City Recorder Kari D. Jimenez.
STAFF:
City Manager Judy Gubler,
City Attorney Dale Coulam,
Building and Zoning Administrator Kevin Rudd,
and
Fire Chief Kevin Gildea.
EXCUSED:
Council Member McDonald
Audience: Jenny Johnson, David Hunt, Linda Elwell, Lance Anderson, Jenny Gough, Julie Gildea, and others who did not sign in.
Mayor Hart indicated that Council Member McDonald was excused.
Council Member Densley led the Flag Salute
Council Member Densley gave the Invocation
Council Member Densley disclosed that he is a property owner near Snow Canyon Drive, Tuacahn Drive and Center Street as it relates to item 5)D. There were no other disclosures or conflicts of interest with items on this meeting’s agenda.
Council Member Mendenhall indicated this agenda item originated from a citizen who was frustrated with the burn season being over when the leaves were still on the trees. She has done some research and there are alternatives to burning, although there would be some costs incurred. There are many cities around the country that offer alternatives to their residents and some cities do not allow burning at all. There are programs where residents can bag their leaves, the City takes them to be composted and anyone who participated in the program can take what they need for gardening or similar uses. It would be nice for the City to expand on some kind of alternative, something the City could put in place as a long term project and incorporate something now to lay a foundation for that.
Council Member Roberts agreed that composting is the best solution for leaves but does not think the City needs to be pursuing that on a City level. The City can encourage composting but he would be opposed to the City demanding residents to compost. He stated Ivins is still an agricultural area and he would like to know if the burn season can be extended throughout Washington County or Ivins. Fire Chief Kevin Gildea indicated there are two (2) tiers of burning, one being Agricultural and the other being Residential. Agricultural is five (5) acres or more and can generally burn year round if the burning index allows. The Residential burn window is set by the Division of Air quality. Up until the fall of 2011, the thirty (30) day window was set for the entire State and that didn’t work for the Southern part of the State. The Washington County Fire Chiefs negotiated the ability to set a burn window for Southern Utah that varies from the rest of the State. There was a thirty (30) day burn window in November with a request for another thirty (30) days that was granted. The last burn day in 2011 was December 15th. The Division of Air Quality has given Southern Utah some latitude to set burn windows due to the growing season being different than the rest of the State. Burn permits will continue to be obtained on-line through the City of St. George. The burn window is determined day by day because it is dependent on the pollutants in the air. Council Member Densley stated there is a place in Bloomington where you can take your leaves to be composted. Leaves can also be taken to the landfill at no charge and the seasoned compost is available for purchase from the landfill and Western Rock. Judy Gubler suggested the burn window be posted on Ivins website and in the newsletter as well as information on composting. Mayor Hart requested Chief Gildea let Judy Gubler or Ivins staff know when the burn window information becomes available so that it can be posted to Ivins website and put in the newsletter.
Council Member Elwell indicated he is emotionally vested in Heritage Days and he would like to see it as a total City commitment and be a City full scale sponsored event. He suggested the City develop its own sound system rather than having to wait and hope that maybe people from Tuacahn will provide a sound system for Heritage Days. He would like the City to be self sufficient in this area and do as the City believes it should do to support and acknowledge those people who prepared Ivins for the residents. He suggested leaving Heritage Days as it is with the Saturday event continuing to be held in the Ivins City Park. Council Member Densley agreed with Council Member Elwell but indicated he prefers Heritage Days be held at UNITY Park. Council Member Roberts stated he would like to see Heritage Days grow, be held at Ivins City Park or UNITY Park and not compete with Santa Clara’s Swiss Days. He suggested the Citizens of the Historical Society or a committee that’s set up should look at this and provide information to the City Council with their recommendations. Council Member Mendenhall stated the name should remain as Ivins Heritage Days and continue to be held in the center of town. She is open to a group discussion on however Heritage Days needs to be expanded, condensed or the like to make it feel of importance to those who are coordinating the event and the community that is being involved in the event. Council Member Mendenhall indicated she was on the Utah Arts Council on the Multidisciplinary Committee where that Council was responsible for handing out the funding festivals. If Ivins City is going to compete for funds at that level, there has to be a level of organization for what the festival is that rivals any administrative aspect of any business. She referred to Tracey Welsh wanting to take Ivins festivals to the next level. There is a great deal of thought that needs to go into what the City wants to do. Ivins is a destination community and the City needs to decide what type of event the City wants to put together, why the City wants to put the event together and what does the City hope to accomplish with it and start with one festival. Putting together a festival on the scope of the festivals that the Utah Arts Council was handing out money for takes a great deal of thought and organization. You have to think of the following: where it is to be held, does the power exist there, can you get people in there, how can it be marketed, how is it going to be advertised, are you feeding people, what time of year is the festival being held, who are you competing against, should you compete or not and several other factors that come into play. The City needs a committee to address all of these things and ideally you would have someone on the Economic Development Committee involved with the festival committee. The more focused the festival is the more successful it will be. A detailed budget is required because when an application for a grant is submitted, the paperwork is extensive. Regarding marketing, that is at least half of the budget. The Mayor and City Council agreed that the Heritage Days Saturday event would remain as it has been. Council Member Roberts suggested the City Council come up with a short concise mission statement with some small parameters on funds and then turn it over to the citizen committee and let them come up with ideas and initiatives. The Mayor and City Council Members directed the Parks and Recreation Director Benny Sorensen and those who wish to help with the festival become involved to generate a mission statement. Once the mission statement is generated it can placed on the agenda for approval.
Mayor Hart indicated the city has had requests to advertise in the newsletter. Judy Gubler stated advertising was allowed several years ago and it was determined to no longer allow that because of several issues. If the Council is going to allow advertising, the Council needs to determine if they want the advertisers to pay for the advertisement, who is invited to advertise and what are the parameters to advertise. Council Member Densley indicated he felt the business directory would be the best avenue but that there are individuals in the City that have a home business but do not have a business license. The Mayor and Council discussed options and determined the newsletter would remain as it is without advertisements, City staff will work on the business directory and the Economic Development Committee will work on an advertising mailer. The incentive for obtaining a business license would be inclusion in the business directory. Dale Coulam indicated he would let Administrative staff know that when someone inquires about obtaining a business license, staff would instruct them that if they want to be included in the business directory, they need to obtain a business license.
Judy Gubler referred to the Snow Canyon roundabout project at Center Street and Tuacahn Drive. The owners of the property near where the roundabout will be are requesting that the City grant pedestrian and vehicular access across the City property by way of a formal agreement that would attach to the property. Council Member Elwell indicated he would personally like to see that access granted.
MOTION: Council Member Roberts moved to approve the Agreement regarding Property Access
SECOND: Council Member Elwell
VOTE: The motion carried unanimously.
| Council Member Elwell |
AYE |
| Council Member Mendenhall |
AYE |
| Council Member Roberts |
AYE |
| Council Member Densley |
AYE |
| Council Member McDonald |
ABSENT |
Council Member Elwell reported that Cody Maserangs Eagle Scout project will be a parking lot sale at Lin’s Market on Sunset Boulevard on Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. It is a fundraiser for the Ivins No Kill Animal Shelter for the enhancement of the dog area with shelter and play items.
Council Member Mendenhall reported that the Southwest Mosquito Abatement District was suppose to meet today but it has been changed to February 9th and she will be out of town. She referred to House Bill 288 regarding impact fees for schools and asked Dale Coulam if that bill will affect Ivins. Dale Coulam indicated he does not know the status of that bill and will need to look it up and report back.
Council Member Roberts reported that the Veterans home could possibly break ground as early as March, 2012.
Council Member Densley reported there was a Meet and Greet at City Hall on Friday, February 3, 2012 between subcontractors and suppliers and Layton Construction on the upcoming Veterans facility project.
No report.
Judy Gubler reported the previous neighborhood meeting was better attended. the discussion focused on the Snow Canyon Drive/Center Street/Tuacahn Drive roundabout and requests for access across Tuacahn in The Springs area. A new business "Between the Slices" is open for business next to the Chevron gas station.. The SAA (Special Assessment Area) letter was mailed out and the City has had a number of property owners pay off their assessment. Dixie Care and Share has formed an advisory board and they would like someone from Ivins City Council to sit on their board and attend their quarterly meetings. Some property owners in the neighborhood of 400 West and 300 South are asking for the Council to consider a lifetime exemption for the requirement to connect to the sewer line. She suggested this be a future agenda item because there are at least two (2) property owners that are attempting to sale their property and the City is required to disclose the sewer connection requirement to a buyer.
Dale Coulam reported that a Motion for Summary Judgment had been entered in the City's favor against Energy Wise Solutions. The case has been resolved but for the possibility of an appeal.
Council Member Mendenhall requested the issue of tethering and barking be discussed on a future agenda.