Bonners Ferry City
Council minutes
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August 24, 2011 |
08/16/11 Council Meeting
Mayor David Anderson called the regularly
scheduled meeting of August 16, 2011 to order at
7:00 p.m. Present for the meeting were Mayor
Anderson, Council President Chris Clark, Council
Members Mike Klaus, Connie Wells, and Tom Mayo,
Clerk Kris Larson, City Administrator Stephen
Boorman, Assistant City Administrator David
Sims, Police Chief Rick Alonzo, Fire Chief Pat
Warkentin, Water/Sewer Department Supervisor Jim
Fritzsche, Water Treatment Operator Doug Ladely,
Water/Sewer Department Foreman Alan Branson,
Water/Sewer Department Operator John Delaney,
Electric Lineman Brian Kerins, ElectricianSteve
Neumeyer, Clerk’s Office Employees Jean Diel,
Christine McNair, and Sunny Kimball, Attorney
Tim Wilson, Street Department Supervisor John
Youngwirth, StreetDepartment Lead Operator Tim
English, City Mechanic Keith Fairchild, and
Economic Development Coordinator Mike Sloan.
Also present were Rick Cruz, Gary Falcon,
Carolyn Testa, Dave Gray, and Marcia Cossette.
Attorney Tim Wilson presented Council with the
title to the green Tahoe that was garnered by
the Police Department.
Doug Ladely spoke to council about wages. He
said a wage increase was not put in the 2011
budget and therefore no wage increases were
granted in 2011. He said there have been some
proposals presented to council for 2012. He said
the last cost of living increase for the city
was in 2009 and asked that council consider a
raise in 2012.
Rick Alonzo gave the police report. He said
there have been burglaries and those crimes have
been solved. There were two DUIs, three driving
without privileges, four warrant arrests, two
thefts, three unlawful entry charges, three
burglaries, one possession of marijuana, two
accidents, one domestic dispute, and two minor
in possession of alcohol charges.
Pat Warkentin said there were five call outs in
August and 11 in July. There was a brush fire up
by Wilsons and a smoke odor investigation. He
said the fire department just purchased 10 tires
for the brush tender. There was an article in
Fire Magazine about fire tenders crashing due to
old worn tires. Pat said Doug Ladely found ten
tires for $400 at the Surplus Property Bureau.
He said they would have cost about $4,000 if
purchased locally.
Stephen Boorman said references need to be
chased out on the mapping proposals. The roofs
on the power plant and water plant have been
completed. Christmas decorations need to be
sought because the green Christmas trees are
getting bad. He said if council knows of anyone
that wants to help with the decorations to let
him know.
David said the anti-degradation rules public
comment period is open at the State level. EPA
is waiting for the anti-degradation review
before approving our sewer lagoon discharge
permit. He is not sure if there will be a public
comment period on our permit but things are
moving along with the permitting process.
Mike Sloan said Blackfoot Communications is
putting together a team and looking at the data
compiled by US Metronets. A recommendation will
be made to the Blackfoot Communications Board in
September so we will know if the broadband
project will be coming to our area.
The firm of 360 has offered to come together
with Blackfoot Communications for bonding. Mayor
Anderson asked if there is fiber in the Moyie
area. There is fiber in Moyie but it is coming
from Montana according to Mike. Mike said 360
will be laying a line from Sandpoint to Bonners
Ferry.Connie Wells moved to add two late agenda
items: 1) discuss recycling and 2) approve a
special event permit for Mountain Springs Church
for a professional skate demo at the city
parking lot on September 3, 2011. Tom Mayo
seconded the motion. The motion passed, all in
favor.
Mike Klaus moved to approve the consent agenda.
Chris Clark seconded the motion.
The motion passed – Mike Klaus “yes”, Chris
Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo “yes”.
The consent agenda contained the following: roll
call; approval of accounts payable and payroll;
approval of the Treasurer’s Report; approval of
July 19, 2011 council meeting minutes; approval
of July 22, 2011 and July 26, 2011 special
council meeting minutes; approval of August 2,
2011 council meeting minutes; and approval for
David Sims to attend the NWPPA Workshop on
Unbundled Cost of Service and Rate Design in
Missoula, Montana from September 13-14, 2011.
Dan Rice, Electrical Superintendent, joined the
meeting at 7:14 p.m.
David Sims gave a presentation on annexation to
the group. The areas being looked at for
annexation are two parcels in the city yard and
another residence near the city yard, School
District property that the School District has
requested to be annexed, and property south of
town. David showed tax illustrations with 2010
data to council with and without annexation for
properties with net taxable valuations of
$50,000, $100,000, and $150,000. Other fees that
will change would be solid waste fees, electric
base rate, Idaho department of Lands fees, and
garbage pickup service. City services already in
the proposed annexation area are water, sewer,
fire (because the city has a mutual aid
agreement with Paradise Valley Fire District),
and police response as back up for Boundary
County. John Youngwirth estimated an extra hour
to plow the snow in the proposed area. If we do
annex, there is cleaning, ditch work and surface
maintenance that needs to be done by the city.
The group reviewed a map of the proposed
annexation area. David said properties within
300 feet of the proposed annexation area need to
be sent a notice of the proposed annexation.
Mike Klaus would like to trim off two properties
on the very south end of the map. Connie agreed
and so did Tom Mayo. Stephen spoke of the
calendar for the annexation process. David asked
for council direction. Tom and Connie said we
need to go ahead with the annexation. Chris
Clark said there will be challenges as we go
forward with annexation. Mike Klaus moved to go
ahead with annexation with the exception of the
parcels on the far south end of the annexation
area. Chris Clark seconded the motion.
The motion passed – Mike Klaus “yes”, Chris
Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo “yes”.
Rick Alonzo spoke regarding the take home
vehicle policy for the police department. It has
been reviewed by the city attorney. Rick said
the officer would call into service when they
start the vehicle at their home and sign out of
service when they return to their residence.
Rick said the officers will receive a benefit of
approximately $200 over a year’s time but the
city will also receive a great benefit from the
officers having the quicker response time. Mike
Klaus said he likes the idea and it makes sense
for emergency response time. He is trying to
generalize this in case there is another
department that wants to have a take home
vehicle. Tim Wilson said this was considered and
there is a fairness issue. The city should have
consistency in the take home vehicle policy and
all departments should fall under the same
rules. Rick said police and fire take home
vehicles are not taxable under IRS rules. Connie
Wells spoke of vehicle licensing, insurance, and
other requirements that were part of the take
home policy. She does not think incidental uses
of the police vehicle should be allowed. She
would like it left out. Connie likes some of the
wording in the first take home vehicle policy
that Stephen presented. Tim Wilson said the
reasoning for the common sense items in the
policy is to insure that they are taken care of.
Tim said this just covers the city. Chris Clark
spoke of the exception to city limits take home
vehicles. Rick clarified the clause about canine
vehicles. Chris is prepared to take action on
the policy but he does not want to hear about
exceptions. Rick said there will be a problem
because the fire chief lives about five miles
out of the city limits but that could be made an
exception.
Connie commented about the canine vehicle and
what if there is a canine officer that lives in
Sandpoint. Tom Mayo asked how many police
officers live out of town. Rick said there are
three officers currently living out of town.
Tom asked about standard speed for officers in
the city limits for emergency responses. Rick
said response speeds depend on the
circumstances. Tom said most accidents are speed
related and cause injuries to officers. Tom
asked if there should be guidelines for that.
Rick said in Tom’s way of thinking there should
be but different circumstances give different
results. Tom asked about the weapons in the
trunk of the vehicles. Rick said it is secure
mainly because it is out of sight. Mike Klaus
said in general concept it seems like council
will approve a policy but asked if it should be
left for the next council meeting to be tweaked
and approved. Tom asked about off street
parking. Stephen said council can make
exceptions to any city policy. Mayor Anderson
said exceptions should be left in Council’s hand
and not the department head’s hand.
He suggested taking out item #9 of the police
vehicle policy. The IRS rules regarding take
home vehicles will be added. Tim Wilson said the
reimbursement clause can also be added if
council so chooses. Stephen said if council
wants a city policy then he can take the police
vehicle take home policy and incorporate the
policy for others. Chris Clark sees the value in
having police vehicles in residential areas but
wants the canine vehicle exception stricken.
Chris Clark moved to accept the take home
vehicle policy for the police department with
the exception of the canine officer vehicle and
striking the last line of item #9. Tom Mayo
seconded the motion.
The motion passed – Mike Klaus “yes”, Chris
Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo“yes”.
Chris Clark moved to approve the special event
permit for the Moto Cross on August 27, 2011.
Connie Wells seconded the motion. The motion
passed, all in favor.
Chris Clark moved to authorize the Mayor to sign
pay request #7 for Earthworks Northwest and
balancing change order #3 for the phase 2A water
project. Mike Klaus seconded the motion and it
passed – Mike Klaus “yes”, Chris Clark “yes”,
Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo “yes”.
The loader for the street department was
discussed. Council reviewed a flyer with a
picture of the loader and the v-plow. John
Youngwirth said the v-plow is needed especially
for the downtown area. The cost of the v-plow is
about $22,000. David said John went to Sandpoint
yesterday and looked at a loader just like the
one being proposed for purchase. Mayor Anderson
said the old machine breaks every winter and he
thinks a new machine is an integral part of
street cleaning for winter. Mike Klaus moved to
go with financing option #2 on the loader
purchase and allow the Mayor to sign the
contract pending legal review. Chris Clark
seconded the motion.
The motion passed – Mike Klaus “yes”, Chris
Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo “yes”.
(Clerk’s note: this would be a five year lease
with Rowand Machinery at $27,277.12 per year
with ownership at the end of the lease.)
Item #11, ordinance amendment for the urban
renewal plan legal description correction, was
tabled.
Mayor Anderson spoke regarding the budget. He
said the only decision council has to make in
regard to general fund is the carryover and
changes in wages and capital expenditures.
Connie Wells said she mulled over the raise
situation and does not feel that it is a good
time to give raises. She said the county, state,
and federal government are not giving raises and
social security is not giving a cost of living.
She suggested raising the girls in the office to
$12.75 per hour and $11.00 per hour for Sunny
and give all other employees a $.25 per hour
raise.
She does not think it is a good time to lessen
the contingency in the general fund. She is
concerned about the economy and thinks
contingency needs to be left. Mike Klaus said
the first thing to ask is if it is affordable to
give a raise. He said one of the numbers that
can move is contingency and said it is like a
savings account. He is comfortable with $300,000
in contingency. He spoke of other commitments
that were made and gave the example of a
previous council meeting where employees were in
attendance. He proposed trimming contingency
back to hold up council’s end of the deal to the
employees where council said they would put in a
substantial amount for raises. He said five
percent is too much but he thinks he can justify
a two percent cost of living adjustment as it is
built into many things in society. If we went
with a two percent cost of living and $12.75 for
Jean and Christine and $11.00 for Sunny and also
$.75 per hour for Keith for a tool allowance, he
thinks it is affordable. Mike moved to give a
two percent increase except for Jean, Christine,
and Sunny and give $.75 for Keith and two
percent for all other city employees.
No second was had so the motion died. Chris
Clark said there is a difficulty in giving a
raise that is meaningful and he is concerned
about giving raises and the future of this raise
continuing year after year. Chris’ thought was
to give the employees a bonus in the form of a
prepaid VISA card for all full time employees.
One benefit is not obligating a future budget
and another benefit would be to put the money in
the employee’s hands. Give a $500 bonus for the
30 full time employees is his suggestion. Mike
Klaus asked if Chris would be willing to give
the other adjustments for the office staff and
the mechanic. Chris said he would.
Rick Alonzo asked about his part-time secretary
and said she only works half time because the
city can only afford her to be part time. Chris
thinks police secretary should get half the
amount for the gift card.
The group continued to discuss wages. Tom Mayo
said people on Social Security are not getting
cost of living increases. Mike said the last
increase was given in January, 2009 and he
thinks it was less than two percent. Connie and
Tom said we are not the only ones behind because
other entities are not getting raises either.
Tom said his concern is the other people in
Bonners Ferry that are not city employees. Mike
Klaus moved to go along with Chris Clark’s
suggestion of a $500 gift to full time employees
plus the adjustments to the office staff and
mechanic as previously stated. The group
discussed who would qualify for the bonus. Chris
wants to send the signal that employees are
appreciated but is concerned about obligating
future budgets. Chris Clark moved to find a way
to give full time employees $500 bonus and other
amounts for the part time employees and give
McNair $12.75, Diel $12.75 and Kimball $11.00
and the mechanic a $.75 per hour increase. Mike
Klaus seconded the motion. Mayor Anderson said
he agrees that this is not substantial enough
but he disagrees with Councilwoman Wells in
comparing the city with the State. The city’s
revenues have been stable over the past few
years. He said when the state monies were
dwindling the city employees worked hard to save
money so the revenuewould go farther. He said
Rick and Joel have furnished a fleet of vehicles
for minimal cost to the city, saving a
phenomenal amount of money. Fire Chief Pat
Warkentin has upgraded the fire department for
less than the down payment on a new vehicle and
his department has become the envy of other fire
departments in the area. Dave and Stephen have
kept DEQ at bay with minimum expenditures in our
utility departments. The billing was taken back
in house saving the city $144,000 per year with
only the addition of one employee in the clerk’s
office.
John saves money year in and year out in the
street department and when our budget was tight
a couple years ago he still came in below
budget, saving the city money. Mayor Anderson
thinks the city is in an economic position to
give raises and gave the example of his personal
business.
He does like Councilman Clark’s thinking out of
the box and there are concerns about the
economy. He supports the motion on the table but
said he would like to see raises sometime during
the year. He said the way the PERSI program is
set up, the last 42 months is considered and
those who are close to retirement suffer. He was
behind Mike’s proposal of two percent and the
raises for the office girls and Keith. Chris
said our net cost to the city will be about the
same as a two percent increase across the board
but won’t obligate the city in the future.
Connie said this bonus will go toward the
employee’s PERSI because it is part of their
wages. The motion passed – Mike Klaus “yes”,
Chris Clark “yes”, Connie Wells “yes”, Tom Mayo
“yes”.
Tom Mayo spoke of the county’s comingling single
stream recycling. He said we should agendize the
garbage recycling issue for the next meeting and
have Ron Frederickson in attendance. Stephen
said at last he recalls, we were considering two
sites in town or possible curbside recycling.
David Sims asked if the county is still
considering a manned dump site in town. Tom said
they are still considering a city site. Mayor
Anderson said he thought there may be an
unmanned site and we also need to speak to our
contractor. Tom said it will possibly costabout
$500 per month per site. Mike Klaus commented
that he spoke to workers at the landfill and
there are problems but they probably have not
worked out the kinks yet. Mike said the last he
heard from Boundary County was for the city to
wait for the single stream recycling at the
county before taking action at the city. Mayor
Anderson said to have this on the agenda for the
second meeting in September.
Rick Cruz, Youth Pastor for Mountain Springs
Church, spoke to council about the skate demo.
Professional skate boarders will come to town
and do tricks and will also give testimony about
God. There will be giveaways and music. He said
there will also be a skate board contest with
prizes. Rick Cruz said they are requesting to
change the date of the event from September 3 to
September 10. There is an insurance policy by
the skate boarders and Mountain Spring will also
carry insurance. Option one would be the main
city parking lot in the size of 80’ by 50’
section and if not the city parking lot, he
would like permission to use the old Meeker
parking lot. Rick Alonzo foresees problems with
the space to do the event unless the police
physically shut down the lot. He is concerned
about the vehicles. Rick asked about the large
parking lot in front of the Mountain Springs
Church. Rick Cruz said he would like to use the
city parking lot for exposure to the public and
does not want the public to think if they use
the church parking lot that it is just a church
event. He would set up cones after the farmers
market and tape it off as the farmers market
people leave. Mike Klaus moved to approve the
special event permit for Mountain Springs Church
for September 10, 2011. Tom seconded the motion.
The motion passed, all in favor.
There being no further business, the meeting
adjourned at 8:44 p.m.
/s/
David K. Anderson, Mayor
Attest:
/s/
Kris Larson, City Clerk
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