All present included Mayor Hart, Council Member Mehr, Council Member McDonald, Council Member Roberts, and City Recorder Kari D. Jimenez.
STAFF: Police Chief Bob Flowers, Director of Finance/Acting City Manager Wally Ritchie, Parks and Recreation Director Benny Sorensen, and Director of Public Works/City Engineer Chuck Gillette.
EXCUSED: Council Member Johnson, Council Member DensleyAUDIENCE: Jay Beacham, Lance Anderson, Becky & Chuck Warren and others who did not sign in.
A. Acknowledgement of Quorum Mayor Hart acknowledged that there was a quorum present. Council Member Densley and Council Member Johnson were excused.
B. Flag Salute Council Member Mehr led the Flag Salute
C. Invocation Council Member Mehr gave the Invocation
D. Disclosures There were no disclosures or conflicts of interest with items on this meeting's agenda.
A. Presentation of Life Saving Award - Chief Bob Flowers Chief Flowers recognized Sergeant Nick Nuccitelli with the Life Saving Commendation award for saving the life of a young woman who was unconscious. Sergeant Nuccitelli was recruited from the City of St. George Police Department and when he was there, was recognized as Officer of the Year. Sergeant Nuccitelli has handled a variety of situations and has been an extraordinary officer. Sergeant Nick Nuccitelli appreciated the recognition and indicated that Chief Flowers creates a good environment for the officers and provides opportunities for them to continue to improve on. On the night of the incident, he reflected back on some training he had gone with SWAT and other training that helped him in that situation. Mayor Hart commented on the value of cross-training that Ivins does. The Mayor and City Council thanked Sergeant Nuccittelli for his service.
B. Department Reports: Parks and Recreation and Public Safety Parks and Rec Report Public Safety ReportMayor Hart indicated that Benny Sorensen was excused but that a written report was provided. A copy of the report is available by request through Ivins City Hall.Chief Flowers provided a written electronic report, a copy of which is available by request through Ivins City Hall. He reported that the police department is working with individuals that reside near Fire Lake Park to donate some time to monitor the park. The police department will be providing training to them, as well as some shirts and hats. They are looking forward to their help and he will report back to the Mayor and City Council. Council Member Mehr inquired what the individuals' role will be. Chief Flowers indicated that their role is to simply observe, take photos and call the police department. There is not to be any intervention action at all. They may also pick up trash and be friendly to those who are at the park. There will be one police officer assigned to them that they can call.
C. Planning Commission Report Chairperson Loris reported that the Planning Commission held two (2) Public Hearings and approved a Final Plat for Taviawk XI-M. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the first Public Hearing which was a Zone change of 7.5 acres from RA-1 to Townhouse for property located at approximately 300 West on the north side of Highway 91. On the second Public Hearing, the Planning Commission recommended denial of the Zone Change from RA-1 to R-1-10 but recommended instead, approval of a Zone Change from RA-1 to RE-12.5 of 4.63 acres for property located at approximately 600 West and 280 South. Council Member Roberts inquired how many lots there could be with those zones. Chairperson Loris stated that there could be 13 lots in the R-1-10 zone if it's a cul-de-sac and no access through the subdivision. In the RE-12.5 zone, the developer would be losing one lot in the same scenario.
| 3) | CITIZEN COMMENT & REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS |
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A. Discuss and consider approval of expenditure for the Cliff Rose 2 MG Tank - Storm Drain and various items change order ExpenditureChuck Gillette indicated that it was important to do this project correctly now, rather than fixing it in the future. The project is impact fee eligible and staff recommends the changes, some of which are for drainage. Mayor Hart inquired if the work would be around the tank. Chuck Gillette clarified that it would be around the tank and up to the access road so that it doesn't erode when it drains. He indicated that he'll be requesting approval of some landscaping items and fencing in the future. Council Member McDonald inquired if this was budgeted for. Chuck Gillette stated that it was.
MOTION: Council Member Mehr moved to approve the expenditure for the Cliff Rose 2 MG Tank - Storm Drain and various items change order not to exceed $46,500
SECOND: Council Member McDonald
VOTE: The motion carried unanimously.
Council Member Mehr AYE Council Member McDonald AYE Council Member Densley AYE Council Member Johnson ABSENT Council Member Roberts ABSENT
B. Discussion regarding updating the Arts Master Plan 2017 Draft Arts Master PlanWally Ritchie indicated that an update was given at the last meeting and that when this was created, it was made part of the General Plan and when that is done, you have to go through the whole process to make any changes. This would start with the Planning Commission where they would hold a Public Hearing, make a recommendation and then it would come forward to the City Council where a Public Hearing would be held. Council Member Mehr inquired if this has to be part of the General Plan. Mayor Hart stated that it did because it's a Master Plan and all Master Plans are in the General Plan. Council Member Mehr indicated that it seemed like a lengthy process to go through in order to make changes. He would like to read through the document more carefully because there are things like this that can become a constitution of sorts and things that are a formal part of the General Plan can lead to unintended results. Council Member Roberts agreed. Council Member McDonald preferred to have more time to review the document and hear from Council Member Densley and Council Member Johnson, before the document is given to the Planning Commission, especially in the bold statement under "Why the Arts" section. He felt that the City needed to be cautious to not make it include everybody and tell someone what they're going to believe. Mayor Hart did not think that altered moving it forward to the Planning Commission. Wally Ritchie clarified that if the City wants to update or change the document, they have to go through the process. Council Member McDonald suggested that when the Planning Commission reviews this document, he would like them to pay close attention and make sure that statements are not all inclusive. The Council Members that are not present tonight may also have similar comments. Council Member Roberts concern that he wanted the Planning Commission to be aware of is with the document being part of the General Plan that the City can't get something art related approved by another method. He didn't want to see something not be approved because it didn't go through the Arts Commission. Council Member Mehr stated that the arts are important and suggested that the Planning Commission and City Council hold a combined meeting to discuss this. Council Member McDonald indicated that some of what's in the Arts Master Plan felt like a mission statement of the Arts Commission in general and stated that may not need to be in the General Plan. Mayor Hart indicated that everything else in the General Plan are in ordinances but the General Plan is the only place for the arts. Council Member McDonald stated there wasn't a rush on this and suggested it be tabled until the other two City Council Members have had an opportunity to review and comment.
MOTION: Council Member McDonald moved to table
SECOND: Council Member Roberts
VOTE: The motion carried unanimously.
Council Member Mehr AYE Council Member McDonald AYE Council Member Roberts AYE Council Member Johnson ABSENT Council Member Densley ABSENT
Wally Ritchie indicated that the language is out of the state code. Nothing in the budgets have changed from the last two (2) meetings. This is on for the City Council to tentatively adopt the tentative budgets and set the Public Hearing date for the next City Council meeting, which is on May 18, 2017. Council Member Mehr inquired if there would be an opportunity to make changes to the budgets after the Public Hearing. Wally Ritchie clarified that there would be and stated that the City Council will not take any action that night. The City Council will take comment from the Public and discuss the budgets and then bring them back to the City Council on June 1, 2017 for adoption.
MOTION: Council Member Mehr moved to tentatively adopt the Tentative Budgets to Complete Fiscal Year Ending (FYE) 2017 and the Tentative Budgets for Fiscal Year Ending (FYE) 2018 and set a Public Hearing for the May 18th (City Council) meeting for Final Adoption of the Budgets
SECOND: Council Member McDonald
VOTE: The motion carried unanimously.
Council Member Mehr AYE Council Member McDonald AYE Council Member Roberts AYE Council Member Johnson ABSENT Council Member Densley ABSENT
A. Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes for April 20, 2017 Minutes
MOTION: Council Member Roberts moved to approve the Consent Agenda
SECOND: Council Member Mehr
VOTE: The motion carried unanimously.
Council Member Mehr AYE Council Member McDonald AYE Council Member Roberts AYE Council Member Johnson ABSENT Council Member Densley ABSENT
| 7) | CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION |
| 8) | REPORTS |
A. Council Council Member Mehr reported that his father passed away yesterday of congestive heart failure. Council Member Mehr was at peace with that because his father was a good example to him. He was a community public servant. Council Member Mehr grew up in Wisconsin and his father coached, served on various boards and was involved in the Special Olympics.
Council Member McDonald - no report
Council Member Roberts - no report
B. Mayor Mayor Hart reported that the proposed northern transportation route that was included in the omnibus bill and has been written out of the Resource Management Plan for the BLM (Bureau of Land Management), is important for Ivins and the County. A conversation has been re-initiated and efforts began this past Tuesday bringing together representatives from Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, BLM, SITLA, City of St. George and Washington County. It's was the first time he has seen a genuine effort to try and determine what the least impactful route for that corridor would be, recognizing that the NCA (National Conservation Area) is an important thing to the County. That discussion is also occurring with the Habitat Conservation Advisory Committee, which is working on the permit renewal for the HCP. For the first time, it feels like there is a glimmer of hope that reasonable thinking will prevail. Transportation modeling is a very sophisticated science and modeling shows the current St. George transportation system as failing within 5 to 10 years, failing meaning hours of lost time waiting through two or three light signal changes in order to get through an intersection. Council Member Mehr inquired if it's the same individuals involved that are now feeling differently about the political climate or are they different individuals that have been appointed. Mayor Hart's observation, having been involved with the Habitat Conservation Advisory Committee as well as the Transportation Committee as well for a number of years. The re-writing of the BLM Resource Management Plan is an interesting process to observe. Public comment is received and reviewed etc. and all of the things that were important to St. George City and the County and Ivins as well, were essentially swept aside and that is because, in his opinion, that the upline review is all based on the administration and who is appointed to head the agency and the department. At the time that the Washington Lands Bill was passed, the language ensured that the things that were important to the County were going to occur. Midnight before the vote, it was a Democrat environmental supportive individual who had his staff re-write all of the "shalls" and "wills" into "could", "can", "might" and all that does is open the door for them to disappear, which is what's happened. The local agency staff who wrote the plan were of that bias as well and so all of the appeals were essentially ignored. They were reviewed and he received a letter but the threat now is that this can be handled legislatively and would likely be signed into law. There is an awareness that this may happen one way or another and probably the best way to do it is for everybody to collaborate and come up with the best solution.
C. City Manager/Attorney Dale Coulam Wally Ritchie - no report
D. Items to be placed on future agendas
| 9) | CLOSED MEETING |
| 10) | ADJOURNMENT |
MOTION: Council Member McDonald moved to adjourn
SECOND: Council Member Mehr
VOTE: The motion carried unanimously.
Council Member Mehr AYE Council Member McDonald AYE Council Member Roberts AYE Council Member Johnson ABSENT Council Member Densley ABSENT
The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
Kari D. Jimenez, MMC
City Recorder