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City Council minutes

July 9, 2011
06/21/11 Council Meeting 1

Mayor David Anderson called the regularly scheduled council meeting of June 21, 2011 to order at 7:00 p.m. Present for the meeting were Mayor Anderson, Council President Chris Clark, Council Members Connie Wells and Tom Mayo, Clerk Kris Larson, City Administrator Stephen Boorman, Police Chief Rick Alonzo, Fire Chief Pat Warkentin, and Economic Development Coordinator Mike Sloan. Also present was Carolyn Testa. Councilman Mike Klaus was traveling to the Association of Idaho Cities Conference.

The public hearing was opened for the Arapaho Alley prescriptive right abandonment. There was no public comment so the Mayor recessed the hearing at 7:02 p.m.

Rick Alonzo gave the police report. There was one battery charge, two agency assists, one disturbing the peace, an intoxicated person that was not driving, two welfare checks, one unattended death, three possessions of marijuana, three possession of paraphernalia, one forgery, two curfew violations, two misdemeanor no insurance violations, one dog bite, one nuisance property, and one case of child endangerment. Rick said John Lunde may be back to work on June 26, 2011 from his workers comp injury. Connie Wells asked if there has been any progress on the Cedar Street Alley nuisance issue. Rick said he has been taking photos and working with the City Attorney but nothing has been completed.

Pat Warkentin said the fire department has responded on two EMS calls in the past two weeks. Pat explained the fire department only responds if there is a need by EMS for assistance.

Stephen Boorman said the Alderson Lane project is ongoing. The big flag is back up and he thanked Trevor Cushman for his assistance. The rivers are being watched carefully and it looks like we are getting by without major flooding of the Kootenai and Moyie. The sidewalk along city hall and near Naumann’s building has been started. Tom Mayo asked about the sidewalk across Main Street where the woman fell. Stephen said the city is planning to paint the crosswalk so it is only on the asphalt rather than on the asphalt and concrete. He said an expert looked at the uneven surface and said a fix could not be guaranteed. Chris Clark inquired about seeing Earthworks in town. Stephen said they are a subcontractor on the Alderson Lane project and they are also in the area doing some warranty work. Stephen said John Youngwirth is
keeping track of the warranty work.

Rick spoke to council regarding the graffiti that has been done around the county. George Shutes from Idaho Department of Transportation said the damage has been worse than he has seen in the past 18 years. He also said there was the case where someone removed the storm grates on the Moyie Bridge and this could have caused a severe accident. Boundary County is offering a $2,000 reward to help find the guilty party.

Mike Sloan updated council on the fiber optic broadband project. He said there is a company in Missoula that is being looked at as a provider. Mike said Ernie Bray is working on the project.

06/21/11 Council Meeting 2

Connie Wells moved to add to the agenda item #13 to adopt Ordinance 523 Approving the Urban Renewal Plan and #14 consider a dike maintenance contract. Tom Mayo seconded the motion. The motion passed – Chris Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo “yes”.Chris Clark moved to approve the consent agenda. Connie Wells seconded the motion. The motion passed – Chris Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo “yes”. The consent agenda contained the following: roll call; approval of accounts payable and payroll; and approval of the council meeting minutes of June 7, 2011.

Stephen Boorman spoke to council about the aerobics class that has previously been held at the Kootenai River Inn. If this group uses the city pool we will need to have a lifeguard on duty to open and close the pool during this class. The $20 swim lesson fee per month would be charged per person. The times of the pool availability would be 7:00 a.m. or at 6:30 in the evening.

Chris Clark moved to allow the water aerobics group to use the city pool as long as they can find a time that does not conflict with the current pool schedule and charge $20 per month per person. Tom Mayo seconded the motion. The motion passed, all in favor.

Mayor Anderson re-opened the hearing for Arapaho Alley prescriptive rights abandonment. There was no comment so he closed the hearing. Connie Wells moved to abandon the prescriptive rights on Arapaho Alley. Tom Mayo seconded the motion. Chris Clark asked if the city has ever abandoned an alley before. Stephen said the city has not abandoned prescriptive rights before but has abandoned alleys. He said there are no utilities in Arapaho Alley. Stephen spoke to the closest neighbors and they did not have any objection to it. He said this is not the platted alley. The motion passed – Chris Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo “yes”.

Chris Clark moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the LHTAC pay request for the Alderson Lane project and approve the payment to Welch Comer. Connie Wells seconded the motion. The motion passed - Chris Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo “yes”.

Mayor Anderson explained the BEDC program and said the State of Idaho is funding the grant again for 2012. He said the city’s portion is about $4,000 but most of this is paid back through office rent. Chris Clark moved to approve the BEDC program participation for 2012 by the City of Bonners Ferry. Tom Mayo seconded the motion. The motion passed - Chris Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo “yes”.

Stephen spoke to council regarding the renewable energy credits (RECs) with Bonneville Power Administration being wind, new hydro, geothermal, and landfill gas projects. He said a utility under the renewable portfolio standards has requirements that a portion of their energy source comes from renewable energy sources or RECs. Bonneville will take the renewable credits and sell them on behalf of the city. Connie Wells moved that the city sell our RECs to Bonneville Power Administration so they can sell them on our behalf. Tom Mayo seconded the motion. The motion passed, all in favor - Chris Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo “yes”.

06/21/11 Council Meeting 3

Connie Wells moved to read the sign ordinances by title only. Chris Clark seconded the motion. Stephen said there was a suggestion by Tom Mayo that when a business leaves that their sign be taken down or removed. The motion passed - Chris Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo “yes”.

Stephen Boorman read by title only, Ordinance 524 Repealing Chapter 14 of Ordinance #504 Zoning Ordinance and Ordinance 525Amendment to Ordinance #504 Zoning Ordinance.

The purchase of radios for installation at the lift stations was discussed. Stephen said lift station #5 is near the railroad tracks below the old Lantern property and access is difficult. A radio will be installed at lift station #2 (at the south end of the sewer bridge) to act as a repeater and also monitor the lift station. We have extra radios but will have to purchase a couple more and Albert Solt will install the radios at the lift stations for better communications. Chris Clark moved to purchase and install radios for lift stations #2 and #5. Connie Wells seconded the motion. The motion passed - Chris Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo “yes”.

The group discussed the terms of the urban renewal agency committee members. The first terms will be staggered and then they will be five year terms. Mike Klaus will be a three year term, Mike Sloan and Dave Walters will be four year terms, and Cal Russell and Jim Greenslitt will be five year terms. Tom Mayo moved to amend Resolution 2011-02 to include the terms of the urban renewal agency members. Connie Wells seconded the motion. The motion passed - Chris Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo “yes”.

Connie Wells moved to suspend the rules and read Ordinance #523 by title only. Chris Clark seconded the motion. The motion passed - Chris Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo
“yes”. Stephen Boorman read Ordinance #523 by title only.

Connie Wells moved to adopt ordinance #523 approving the Urban Renewal Plan. Chris Clark seconded the motion. The motion passed - Chris Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo “yes”. Ordinance #523 reads as follows:

ORDINANCE NO. 523

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BONNERS FERRY, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF THE STATE OF IDAHO, APPROVING THE BONNERS FERRY URBAN RENEWAL PLAN; CONFIRMING THE DETERIORATED DECLARATION; ADOPTING A REVENUE ALLOCATION AREA; MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS IN SUPPORT THEREOF; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS PROPERLY RELATING THERETO, AND PROVIDING FOR THIS ORDINANCE TO BE EFFECTIVE UPON ITS PASSAGE AND APPROVAL.

WHEREAS the City of Bonners Ferry did by Resolution declare that a specifically described portion of the city limits of the City of Bonners Ferry was deteriorated and deteriorating, and in need of remediation by an urban renewal agency, and

WHEREAS the City Council of the City of Bonners Ferry recommended that the Mayor of the City of Bonners Ferry appoint an urban renewal commission, and

WHEREAS the appointed Board of Commissioners of the Bonners Ferry Urban Renewal Agency has
retained staff to assist it with its duties, and 06/21/11 Council Meeting 4

WHEREAS the Bonners Ferry Urban Renewal Agency has prepared an urban renewal plan pursuant
to Title 50, Chapters 20 & 29, Idaho Code, for remediation of the deterioration found to exist, hereinafter referred to as the Bonners Ferry Urban Renewal Plan, and

WHEREAS the Board of Commissioners of the Bonners Ferry Urban Renewal Agency have adopted a
Resolution recommending approval of the Bonners Ferry Urban Renewal Plan and feasibility study by
the City Council of the City of Bonners Ferry and to set a public hearing for the Plan, and

WHEREAS the Bonners Ferry City Council conducted a public hearing on June 14, 2011 and heard public comments on the Bonners Ferry Urban Renewal Plan and Feasibility Study,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BONNERS FERRY AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1: The City Council hereby makes the following findings of fact:
    a. The area of the proposed plan has been previously declared by the City of Bonners Ferry to be a deteriorated and deteriorating area, and the Agency finds that the deterioration described by the City Council does in fact exist.
     b. The Bonners Ferry Urban Renewal Plan provides for varying methods to remediate the described deterioration and prevent future deterioration, and contains the necessary elements required by Idaho law, including a tax allocation feasibility study which finds that the estimated tax increment revenue is sufficient to repay the debt to be incurred to provide the improvements described within the Plan.
     c. The Bonners Ferry Urban Renewal Plan indicates the type of improvements and rehabilitation projects that are proposed to be carried out, including land uses, densities, building requirements, methods of financing, and a revenue allocation provision.
     d. The Bonners Ferry Urban Renewal Plan describes a revenue allocation area by metes and bounds description, as described in the Plan, that does not exceed the limitations of I.C. 50-2904.(13).
     e. The Bonners Ferry Urban Renewal Plan conforms to the general plan of the City of Bonners Ferry, and is in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan.
     f. The Bonners Ferry Urban Renewal Plan does not anticipate the displacement of any families.
     g. The Bonners Ferry Urban Renewal Plan will enhance public recreational facilities and activities within the City, and encourage private sector participation.
     h. That unless the afore-mentioned conditions are improved, they will substantially impair the sound growth potential of the City of Bonners Ferry and will constitute an economic and social liability, and that further development in the area without such improvements will endanger the public health, safety and welfare.
     i. That improvement of the property and the City services in the plan area are necessary and appropriate to facilitate the proper growth and development of the City in accordance with sound planning standards and local community objectives.

Section 2: The Mayor and City Council of the City of Bonners Ferry hereby adopts the Bonners Ferry Urban Renewal Plan and approves the revenue allocation area provided for in the Plan, and this Ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its adoption and approval.

ADOPTED AND APPROVED this 21st day of June, 2011.

/s/ David Anderson, Mayor
ATTEST: /s/ Kris Larson, City Clerk

Stephen spoke to council regarding dike maintenance and PL64 Program through the Corps of Engineers. The PL64 Program is a grant program for structural repairs with a 40 percent match. The Corps has told the city that we need to do more dike maintenance and we have budgeted for this. The regular maintenance is not covered in the PL64 Grant Program. He said we plan to do this type of work every year where we remove trees with an excavator with a brush head. The excavator with the longest reach is the one we need this year. Inland Vegetation Management has put in a quote. Chris Clark moved to hire Inland Vegetation Management to do dike work on 06/21/11 Council Meeting 5 the south side of the dike so we can better assess. Connie Wells seconded the motion. The motion passed - Chris Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo “yes”.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m.

/s/
David K. Anderson, Mayor

Attest:
/s/
Kris Larson, City Clerk
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