All present included Mayor Hart,
Council Member Mehr,
Council Member McDonald,
Council Member Johnson,
Council Member Elliott,
Council Member Densley,
and
City Recorder Kari D. Jimenez.
STAFF:
City Manager/Attorney Dale Coulam,
Building and Zoning Administrator Mike Rodriguez,
Public Works Director/City Engineer Chuck Gillette,
and
Director of Finance Lane Mecham.
EXCUSED: None.
Audience: Larry Myers, Chris Haddad, Sue Sekerka, Sue Gordhammer, Annette Densley, Becky Warren, Sandy Perkins, Bo Folsom, Valerie Cazier and others who did not sign in.
Mayor Hart acknowledged that there was a quorum present.
Council Member Mehr led the Flag Salute
Council Member Mehr gave the Invocation
There were no disclosures or conflicts of interest with items on this meeting's agenda.
Whitney Ward, Nathan Leavitt and Tyler Froelich with VCBO representatives were present and provided a PowerPoint presentation, a copy of which is available by request through Ivins City Hall. They indicated that over the last two days, they met with the Mayor, City Council and all of the City departments to go over their needs. They provided photos of examples of office and work spaces and asked them to place sticky notes on what works and what doesn't work and based on that, received a good representation for Ivins new City Hall. Council Member Mehr inquired if the new City Hall was going to have a basement. Mayor Hart clarified that it would be one (1) level. Council Member Densley inquired if VCBO was planning on stepping the building due to the terrain. The VCBO representatives indicated there is a lot of site work to be done and they will be looking at that. Mayor Hart indicated that the City has an agreement with the LDS Church for shared parking and that agreement could be severed with 30 days notice so the City needs to add parking for staff, those that do business in the building, as well as additional police parking when the existing City Hall is converted to the police station. Council Member Elliott inquired if the spaces for the replacement City Hall are designed for anticipated growth. Whitney Ward indicated that they are and there are opportunities for growth on the site if need be. Mayor Hart clarified that every wing is expandable except the City Council chambers. He indicated that it has been a really positive experience working with VCBO.
Staff Report
Application
Map Front
Map Side
Map Utilities
Map Parking
Rendering
Mike Rodriguez reported that this property is located at approximately 501 South Red Mountain Boulevard, which is north of the Lightfoot's gas station, and consists of .96 of an acre. The property is zoned Neighborhood Commercial and the proposed project consists of one (1) 10,000 square foot building that will include professional offices and possibly a sit down restaurant. Council Member Mehr inquired if this is a legal non-conforming use. Dale Coulam indicated "no" because it complies with the Neighborhood Commercial zone. The Planning Commission will consider standards in the zoning ordinance and come up with reasonable conditions to mitigate the impact but more detailed plans will be submitted and there will be a Public Hearing before the Planning Commission.
Staff Report
Application
Map
Map Site
Mike Rodriguez reported that this subdivision consists of 7.92 acres located on 200 East and Highway 91. The developer recently went through a concurrent land use and zone change that was approved. The property is being subdivided into 24 lots.
Building
Code Enforcement
Public Works Summary of Operations
Engineering Report
Finance Report
Mike Rodriguez reported that the Building department has been bombarded with solar permits. They have issued 113 new home permits for the 2019 calendar year, with a few more that will likely be issued before the end of the year. There are 20 multi-family buildings under construction and that is keeping Cody Mitchell, the Building Inspector, busy. He reported that Code Enforcement is slower at this time of year.
Chuck Gillette reported that 200 West has been under construction for a while now. The sewer line has been installed and connected and the road is prepared for pavement but the ground and air temperature has to be at least 50 degrees. He was hoping to open the Main Street and 200 South intersection next week but the weather may not cooperate. Segments of the sewer project are going slower than hoped because of rock and difficult construction. They are working on selecting an Engineer for the redesign of Highway 91. The Public Works crew spent a lot of time wrapping up work on the pump station and will be crack sealing this month.
Lane Mecham reported that building permit activity has been heavy and receipt of impact fees ahead of schedule. He is preparing the five (5) year budget plan and indicated that it's possible that some projects may be deferred so that the City Hall can be built. Council Member McDonald inquired if the City was going to finance the new City Hall. He thought it was the City's intent to use the proceeds from the sale of the City property to fund the majority of that project. Mayor Hart stated that is still the intent but the proceeds will not completely pay for the new City Hall. He has suggested deferring some projects to help pay for the new City Hall. Council Member McDonald inquired what the rough projected difference would be. Mayor Hart indicated that the project is anticipated to be approximately $4 million dollars based on rough costs and it's anticipated that the City will net over $2 million from the sell of the City property. Council Member McDonald just wanted to make sure that the goal of using the proceeds of that still goes towards the new City Hall. Mayor Hart referred to that property and asked Dale to explain why there's a sign on the property. Dale Coulam clarified that although the City has accepted an offer on the property and the parties are in the due diligence stage, the City's agent is still marketing the property for possible backup offers, which is why there's a sign on it.
| E. |
Planning Commission Report |
Mike Rodriguez reported that the Planning Commission saw the two (2) Concept Reports that the City Council saw tonight. They also had a lot of discussion regarding the conditional use for the proposed Canyon Crossing project. That will be going to the City Council in January. The Haven at Heritage Acres subdivision just south of UNITY Park are running out of lots in their first phase and will be starting their second phase in the near future.
Mayor Hart indicated that the request is to address Ivins No Kill animal policy to restate that is the policy, expand it or rescind it, based on where the City is at in the 2020. When the policy was adopted, it placed Ivins City at the forefront and Ivins has had an astonishing record of success in that regard. Chief Bob Flowers commented that it's always good to review their policies from time to time and to make sure that the Council full supports where they are at and what they're doing but there have not been any changes in the way they've operated. They have actually expanded. Several years ago they ran into a similar situation with another animal and he felt uncomfortable sitting in the room, making the decision closed so the department worked with FIAS (Friends of Ivins Animal Shelter) and a couple of other groups came together with a board to sit down and discuss the dogs. It wasn't until recently that they were made aware that there is a bite scale so it's important to review these things. Just in the last three (3) years, the City has taken in over 450 animals and 98.9 percent of those were adopted. They have had to euthanize a few animals but that has always been open and with dialog and there's been nothing that has ever been other than that because these things can be controversial. The City has good policies and he's proposed to the City Manager that he come in and bring the policies, make his recommendations and then the City Council decide how they want the City to proceed with those. They always get into a dilemma when they talk about one bite, two bites, three bites, four bites how serious those bites are but he has had a lot of support for the decisions that the City has been making in the path that the City is currently on. The City Manager has been very clear that the City will not move forward with euthanizing this dog Clyde until it has gone completely through the courts and exhausted all of the efforts. He has reached out to two animal groups to take this animal and they have said no. The problem is making sure Ivins doesn't suffer any liability with this animal. Chief Flowers will come before the City Council with a full report and he thought that the Council would be very proud of what the Council sees. Chief Flowers indicated that he was more than willing to have a dialog with anybody at anytime about scales and numbers and vicious versus dangerous versus a nuisance. There are a lot of issues to discuss like how many animals people should be allowed to have, how many different kinds of animals should be allowed - 10 dogs, 20 dogs and what about kennels? Ivins has grown to the size where the City needs to discuss those issues. Mayor Hart inquired if Chief Flowers was recommending that the Council place this on a future agenda? Chief Flowers stated absolutely and that it was time to do that. Council Member Mehr inquired if that should be done after the whole legal process is through with the current animal situation. Dale Coulam clarified that as far as looking at the policy and Ivins ordinances, the City can look at that anytime. As was indicated by both the Citizen Comment and the Mayor about the specific dog, that is already in the legal process and the next step is the court appeal so the City involvement has ended, meaning that the Administrative process has already resulted in a final decision and an Order has been issued. In any event, under Ivins ordinances, the City Council is not an appeal authority. Ivins' appeal authority for administrative decisions is an Administrative Law Judge and then that can be appealed to District Court. The Mayor and City Council agreed to discuss the No Kill policy on a future agenda.
Council Member Mehr - no report
Council Member McDonald - no report
Council Member Johnson - no report
Council Member Elliott reported that she attended a mosquito abatement meeting and if they are interested in a report on mosquitoes in the County, they can look that up.
Mayor Hart referred to Council Member Densley spoke for himself and on behalf of Ivins City. He indicated that the City was indebted to him for his loyal service to Ivins and not just as a City Council member but as a devoted citizen of this community for nearly 4 decades. His work on the Council and insight when it came to matters of construction and Public Works projects, the City turned to him. He was grateful for his service to the City.
Council Member Densley reported that being a City Council Member has been a great learning experience with great staff and great people to work with. He stated that Ivins is a great City to live in.
Mayor Hart reported that he attended the Colorado River Water Users Association in Las Vegas regarding the dynamics of the use of the Colorado River water. That is relative as it pertains to the Lake Powell pipeline. He reported that Ron Thompson with the Washington County Water Conservancy District is retiring after 40 years of service.
Dale Coulam reported that the swearing in of the re-elected and newly elected City Council Members will be on Monday, January 6, 2020 and that meeting will be light with possible re-appointments to the Southwest Mosquito Abatement and Solid Waste District boards. They will also need to discuss Council Member Densley's replacement as the liaison to Snow Canyon. He reported that the Council will be discussing the Planning Commission's recommendation to approve the Canyon Crossing project on Thursday, January 16, 2020.