February 18, 2021 – Council Minutes

The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm Thursday, Feb 18, 2021.   The pledge of allegiance was given by Nicole Weight and the prayer given Richard Datwyler.    

The Mayor asked the clerk to call the roll:

Councilman D Burke   Present  

Councilwoman King  Present

Councilwoman Harrison  Absent 

Councilman Datwyler  Present

Councilman R. Burke      Present  

Councilwoman Weight  Present       

Also present:  Mitch Bradley, Chief Tower, attorney Dunn (via phone)

Public Hearing – Airport Connection Fees:

Mike Byers, chairman of the airport board, came and spoke about the upgrade the airport board had done to expand the power and water services to the new land purchased.  He said the cost of the power to the new sites totaled around $30,000.  The land will accommodate 12 hangers and with a $3,000 per new hanger fee would generate the $30,000 to replenish the funds expended.  The fee is only for new hangers and not the existing ones. 

Public Comment:  No one signed up to speak regarding the fee the mayor asked if anyone in attendance wished to speak.  Being no one came forward the mayor turned the discussion over to the council for their discussion.

Councilman D Burke stated he felt the fee is right given the costs of providing power/water to the new sites and the cost of the improvement should be passed on to those benefitting from the improvements.

Councilman D Burke moved to adopt and approve Resolution #204-2021 motion seconded by Councilwoman King.

The Mayor asked the clerk to poll the council:

Councilman D Burke   Yes   

Councilwoman King  Yes

Councilman Datwyler  Yes

Councilman R. Burke      Yes  

Councilwoman Weight  Yes

Recognition of Airport Retiring board and swearing in new board members:       

Mr. Byers stated he had forgotten to have the board members in attendance and the swearing in could be done at a later date.

Economic Development Update:

Brent Tolman, city’s economic development director, reviewed with the council the city’s web page and noted several items of interest that should be included on it.  He mentioned he has met with two of the local realtors in the city and will be meeting with them concerning a state’s web page that’s available to list commercial and industrial sites.  He also would like to review the city’s industrial code.  He would like to have it defined as light industrial and heavy industrial.  He mentioned the current industrial zone is somewhat limited in size and in what could be built.  Other areas could be considered for industrial use is available but outside of the city limits.  Those areas could be annexed but would have to include areas that need to be contiguous to the existing boundary.  He would not recommend the site for food processing due to the impact on the sewer discharge that is associated with food processors. 

Urban Renewal Expansion Zone:

Mr. Tolman is also the Urban Renewal Agency administrative director.  In that capacity he reviewed an area east of the city along Hwy 48 and west/east of 4000 East that the URA has designated as needing development.  He listed a number of points per state code that need to be covered for the area to be included as an urban renewal zone.  The Rigby URA zone is recommending to the city council that they approve and designate the mentioned area as an area covered by the urban renewal agency. 

Councilwoman Weight asked about the existing two potato warehouses and how the area would affect them.  Mr. Tolman indicated the area would not directly affect them but when development occurs in the area they may have to change their method of discharge from an open pit settling pond to a processing system.  The existing thrift store would not be effected either.

Councilwoman King moved to adopt and approve Resolution # 203-2021 seconded by Councilman D Burke. 

The Mayor asked the clerk to poll the council:

Councilman D Burke   Yes   

Councilwoman King  Yes

Councilman Datwyler  Yes

Councilman R. Burke      Yes  

Councilwoman Weight  Yes

Planning/Zoning Development Agreements:

• Hailey Creek Agreement – Ione Hansen, P/Z administrator, presented the agreement along with the special terms and conditions that were drafted for the Hailey Creek subdivision.  The mayor noted one spell error and asked about clarification on item #6 – bond for roads.  Mitch Bradley clarified the mayor’s concern and stated the developer has posted and paid the two bonds necessary for the roads yet to be constructed.

Councilman Datwyler moved to approve the development agreement, with spell correction, be approved seconded by Councilwoman King.

The mayor called for a voice poll:  all in favor none opposed.

• Farmington Station – Mrs. Hansen reviewed the special terms and conditions for the Farmington Station development.  The council express confusion over item #4 – responsibility for roads in the PUD and arterial roads.  Mr. Bradley reviewed the arterial road which will be the city’s responsibility for maintenance and all other road and parking within the development will be the responsibility of the PUD.  A suggestion was made to list the city’s responsibility first followed by the developer (PUD).    The council also discussed item #8 – construction of the clubhouse and when that would be built after phase one is completed and prior to the start of phase 2. 

Councilwoman Weight moved to approve and adopt the development agreement as amended

In item #4 and #8 seconded by Councilwoman King. 

 The mayor called for a voice poll:  all in favor none opposed.

Public Works – SCADA system:

Mitch Bradley stated that he had made changes to the SCADA system as was proposed and will table it until he can present the new draft of the proposal to the council.

Police Car Lease:

The council had tabled the decision on the car lease until this meeting being they did not have copies of the lease.  The mayor referred the council to the lease the police chief had placed on the council table this evening. 

The chief stated that he would like to purchase 3 vehicles at a cost of $9,374 each. The mayor indicated that the council had discussed a purchase of 2-2-2 cars last year and why the addition of the third vehicle this year.  The chief explained he could get by with two but the cost of the third unit not being replaced will continue.  The council questioned if the amount was within his budget.  Tower stated he had budgeted for two and if approved for the third he would need to amend the budget.  Councilman D Burke stated that the council had requested the lease be included in the packet and being that he just now got the lease this evening and has not had time to read through it. He stated the council requires the public work to provide similar agreements to the council prior to the meetings and where the council tabled the lease from the prior council the lease should have been included in the packet as requested by the council and not held until this evening.

 The attorney stated he had reviewed the lease and found it the same boiler plating lease agreement with the non-appropriation clause included.  Councilwoman King stated that while she was the liaison with the police department she feels the department is in need of the cars but agrees with Councilman D Burke that all department heads when presenting information to the council for our review that the information be included in the packet prior to the council meetings. 

Councilwoman Weight moved to approve the lease for three vehicles seconded by Councilwoman King. 

The Mayor asked the clerk to poll the council:

Councilman D Burke   No – the lease was not provided prior as was requested.   

Councilwoman King  Yes

Councilman Datwyler  Yes

Councilman R. Burke      Yes  

Councilwoman Weight Yes – agreed the lease should have been provided for council review prior to this evening.

Other Council Business:

• Councilwoman King – the urban renewal agency approved the repairs needed for the police department back door and adding a third door on the west side of the building.

Public Comment:

Wayne Rogers came forward and asked why the mayor and council refused to make inquiry to the violations that he had reported to them were not be acted upon.  He mentioned the mayor has not scheduled a meeting with him so he could show the recorded violations and the wrongful ticketing of his daughter with an improper backing ticket.  He accused Police Chief Tower of abuse and other violations against him. 

Approval of Minutes:

Councilman Datwyler moved to approve the minutes of February 4, 2021 seconded by Councilwoman King. 

The mayor called for a voice poll:  all in favor none opposed.

Review and Approve of Bills:

Councilwoman King moved to approve the bills seconded by Councilwoman King. 

The Mayor asked the clerk to poll the council:

Councilman D Burke   Yes   

Councilwoman King  Yes

Councilman Datwyler  Yes

Councilman R. Burke      Yes  

Councilwoman Weight  Yes

Executive Session:

The mayor asked for a motion to enter into executive session; hearing none he asked for a motion to adjourn.

Adjournment:

Councilwoman Weight moved to adjourn seconded by Councilwoman King. 

The mayor called for a voice poll:  all in favor none opposed.

Meeting adjourned: 8:32 pm

CITY OF RIGBY

    _____________________________

    Jason Richardson, Mayor

 ATTEST:

 _______________________

 David Swager, Clerk

Click Here to Download PDF