Garden City Council Meeting

GARDEN CITY COUNCIL MEETING

December 11, 2014

Reported by Anita Weston

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  December 11, 2014. Two of the City Council members were on the telephone.  They were not able to come to the meeting.  Bess Huefner called in from Arizona, and Bruce Warner called in from Garden City. 

The X Xtreme Movement Dance Company requested to have a dance studio and offer dance classes at 2332 Kimball Lane.  The request was made by April Wuthrich.  This was actually a change of address.  Permission had been given for this business to operate out of the old Garden City Paris Café—the Firehouse Pizza Restaurant.  However, the restaurant decided to close for the winter.  The dance studio had to find a new location.  April was able to do so and desired to get that change made on her business license.  Permission was granted contingent upon April filling out the needed paperwork and paying a $50 fee.

A request to terminate the encumbrance of Lot 11 & 12 of Buttercup Farms Subdivision, parcel numbers 41-21-39-011 and 41-21-39-012 was made by Paul and Dorothy Nance.

Approval to terminate the encumbrance and covenant to run with the land was given.

Mayor Spuhler requested that all Council Members read the Bear Lake Valley Blue Print. He also noted that the members of the Planning and Zoning Committee should also read this document.  It was created at a cost of $250,000.  It included information from both Bear Lake County, Idaho and Rich County, Utah.  Dozens of meetings were held and information gathered.  This document should be used in making planning decisions, in writing grants, and so forth.  We need to use it and get our money’s worth out of it.  The document summarizes the feelings and ideas of the individuals who live in the area full time.  It is a document full of good information.  The document is available in the City Offices.

Susan House was re-appointed to the Planning Commission for a second term, Marcia Solum was re-appointed to the Board of Adjustment for another term, and Howard Pope was re-appointed to the Board of Appeals for second term.

A discussion was held concerning sponsorship of the Bear Lake Community Health Care Center.  The presentation was given during the Public Hearing.  They are requesting help to obtain a Community Development Block Grant.  This grant would be used to add a psychologist and some consultation rooms.  The request was approved by the Council.

Garden City Council Reports

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah. December 11, 2014.  Bruce Warner reported that he was concerned about the Shundahi water tank.  He was concerned about the money the City will have to pay in order to get the size of pumps and pipes needed to make the tank viable for the City.  It will take about $500,000 to get everything in order.  He indicated that he thought when the City made arrangements to take ownership of the tank that everything was in order. 

Mayor Spuhler explained that the state has to give water approval in advance of using the water tank.  The state did approve the tank for 78 homes in the Eagle Feather subdivision.  However, in order for the tank to be used by the City as a backup in case of an emergency, several changes must be made including getting three-phase power to the site, larger pumps and pipes, and so forth.  There are quite a few changes that will need to be put in place prior to actually being able to use the water tank as envisioned in the recently adopted Water Plan.  The Mayor told Bruce Warner to call Zan Murray, the City Engineer, it he had further questions concerning this purchase.

Warner said that people are asking for credit when there is a break in the water lines.  He has been dealing with these issues on a one-on-one basis.  There are currently a lot of business licenses being requested—most of them are for short-term rentals. 

Bess Huefner said the Farmers’ Market will be set up beginning in June and go to September.  It will be held in the same place and handled in the same manner as last summer.  She noted that there will not be a chocolate festival this winter.  She asked that the manger scene be placed with the other Christmas decorations at Raspberry Square.  She noted that information about one of the grants has not yet been released.  Information on this grant will not become available until into January.

Mayor Spuhler noted that the City was going to set up an endowment fund whereby citizens could make donations to the City and specify how they would like to see that money used.  The Mayor, however, said that BRAG has already established such a fund.  People can specify how their money is to be used by choosing the City where the money should go and which projects it should be used on.  These grants are tax deductable and could be used for beach access, trail development, park enhancements, and so forth.

Chuck Stocking reported that the library seems to be doing well.  Two new computers have been set up.  The new computers have no serial ports, so a new receipt printer will need to be purchased.  Chuck noted that virtual computers would be easier to upgrade and allow the library to stay on top of technology easier.  He recommended that virtual computers be purchased in the future.

Stocking said that there had been some complaints about rashes and burns from swimming in the pool.  He went and checked the log book.  Chlorine levels should be kept at a range of 3.5 to 5.  The log book noted the numbers went from 2.3 up to 10.  He called on this problem and was told that the sensors at the pool need to be changed about every three years and that was probably the problem.  He made arrangements for this to be taken care of. 

Darrin Pugmire noted that since it is winter, there is very little to report concerning roads. However, there will be two culverts on 300 West put in place in the next couple of weeks.

Mayor Spuhler was concerned about the billing from Bio West and Bio Centric.  He asked that this issue be looked into.  He noted that in the future any consultants must keep a log showing the date and number hours spent on the project.  There should be enough detail that the total amount can be accounted for.

Garden City Financial Report 2013 - 2014

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  December 11, 2014. Tiffany Wahlberg, CPA, presented the results of the financial report for the fiscal year July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014.  Tiffany noted that the City office workers had been especially helpful and easy to work with. 

Wahlberg explained that she did a third party confirmation on all loans and bills.  She explained some of the various statements.  She drew the council members’ attention to the basic financial statements that are made up of three components:  (1) government-wide financial statements, (2) fund financial statements, and (3) notes to the financial statements.

She reported that the financial highlights were:  Total net position for the Town as a whole increased by $155,814 over the past year.  Total unrestricted net position for the Town as a whole increased by $324,329.  Total net position for governmental activities increased by $16,611.   The total net position for business-type activities increased by $139,293.

She reported that the City is doing well.

Motion was made and carried to accept the Garden City Financial Report for the fiscal year July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014.

Clinic Request

December 11, 2014

Reported by Anita Weston

GARDEN CITY, Utah. December 11, 2014. The hearing began at 6 p.m.  Two individuals from the Clinic were present and reported that the Clinic would like to obtain funds to add some consultation rooms for the use of a psychologist.  They felt this would allow the clinic to help individuals with mental issues.

The Garden City Town Council has been asked to support the Bear Lake Community Clinic in obtaining a Bear River Associates of Government CDBG funds for improving the Clinic. BRAG will consider potential projects for which funding may be applied.  Suggestions for potential projects will be solicited, both verbally and in writing, from all interest parties.  The expected amount of CDBG funds for this program year will be discussed along with the range of projects eligible under this program and a review of previously funded projects.

The hearing was closed at 6:20 p.m.

Garden City Staff Report

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  December 11, 2014. Zan Murray, the City Engineer, reported the construction of the parking lots at 75 North and 350 South are complete.  Some revisions to the parking stall layout at 350 South will be made in the spring.

The design of the parking lot at 150 South has been completed.  Murray is working with Norm Mecham and his engineer.  The easements between Water’s Edge and the City are proceeding forward.  The waterline upgrade has been bored under the highway and is nearly complete as needed for the Water’s Edge development.  The Bear Lake Special Services District is currently relocating the sewer lift station to the east end of the roadway. 

Once these improvements are complete, the City will be able to begin construction on the parking lot improvements.  Bids for this project will be put out to bid in January or February.  The City Parking lot will be constructed by Staker Parsons beginning in the Spring.

Murray had reviewed the Water’s Edge Preliminary Plat.  He has sent comments dealing with this plat to the Garden City Planning Commission.

Riley Argyle, Manager of the Public Works Department, reported that the trees at the park are going to be moved sometime next spring.  The lights at the park have been taken down.  The fire hydrants have been moved for the new parking area. 

Argyle noted that there are a lot of muskrats in the pond.  They have been working hard to remove them.  They have trapped seven of them, but there are still more of the little critters there.  They can really cause a lot of damage to the pond if they are not removed.

All of the meters are in place at the Birth Subdivision.

The main head gate by the Logan Road has been installed.  It is necessary to be able to lay the irrigation pipes across Third West.  The City has about 750 feet of pipe and 5–10 head gates that will need to be installed at various points on Third West.  The bid on this project came in for about $20,000.  Riley Argyle is hopeful that at least two of the crossings will be laid this winter.

There are two more trees to be planted at Heritage Park/Butter Cup area.  They were not delivered with the rest.   The new fence is up between Heritage Park and Butter Cup and looks really good.  The dumpster pad will need to be enlarged so that the garbage trucks will be able to pick up the trash.

There are four lights left.  Two will probably be placed at the new 75 north parking area and the other two at the 350 south parking lot.

The tables for Heritage Park are in, and they are now being assembled.  The stumps on 300 West have been drilled and filled with root rot.  The snow fence will be going up soon.  Two loads of salt have been delivered.  Another will be delivered later this winter.

Riley noted that the Special Services Sanitation District is about half done with their project of moving the line to the south of 150 South Street and are also moving the pumping station.  The Quonset hut that is on the City’s property needs to be torn down.  Mr. Gerber told them to go ahead.  Riley noted that the workers of the Sewer District will tear it down, but will need some help with cleanup.  Riley asked that the City assist with that cleanup and was told to go ahead.

George Peart reported that a new house permit has been issued within the City.  Mayor Spuhler asked George what he would be willing to do in the City to obtain a few more hours since there was not a lot of building going on.  It was finally decided that George would become the liaison between the P&Z and City Council. 

George noted that the water bills will be going up in January of this next year.  He reported that the two large buildings in Snow Meadows are going to be used as short term rentals instead of renting individual rooms.  He also noted that three of the fives homes being built in Eagle Feather are for short term rental purposes.

Mayor Spuhler noted that a study needs to be done to find out how much short term rentals have been helping Garden City economically.  It was suggested that the City approach BRAG for help in getting this type of study done. 

It was also noted that some individuals are not building in Garden City because of the impact fees.  However, it was reported that they don’t realize that they get several other types of services such as snowplowing in the winter that actually makes living outside the City about the same as building inside the City limits.

School Board Agenda

RICH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARDSCHOOL AGENDA

December 17, 2014

Laketown Elementary/Middle School

12:00 noon

Consent Items

            Minutes

            Expenditures

Request to Speak

            Representative Mel Brown

Action Items

            1.  Approve Winter Activities Coaches

Information Items

            USBA

            UHSSA

            Bridgerland

            January Board Meeting

Rich Middle School Honor Roll List

These students at Rich Middle School attained a grade point of 3.5 or better in the last term and have been placed on the Honor Roll.

Cook, Amber	06
Cornia, Jaycee	06
Cornia, Nuley	06
Cornia, Taylee	06
Cox, Alexander	06
Dean, Zoe	06
Doolin, Tobin	06
Eastman, Kennedy	06
Gifford, Travis	06
Gracey, Hannah	06
Groll, Jaidyn	06
Hopkin, Sydney	06
Locey, Sarah	06
Maldonado, Abril	06
Malm, Corbin	06
McPhie, Tyrus	06
Meek, Hayden	06
Nye, Haylie	06
Schulthess, Amanda	06
Stacey, McKina	06
Teuscher, Owen	06
Tingey, Sage	06
Trenery, Amiya	06
Wahlberg, Samuel	06
Wamsley, Rebecca	06
Weston, Madyson	06
Winter, Ian	06

Brown, Ellianna	07
Burton, Shelby	07
Hatch, Sydney	07
Hislop, Colton	07
Huffaker, Stetson	07
Jarman, Allison	07
Silva, Flynt	07
Staheli, Maddi	07
Thomson, Alaine	07
Trujillo, Joseph	07
Wilson, Kyler	07

Andersen, Jared	08
Barker, Lindsay	08
Handley, Shireen	08
Huefner, Reagan	08
Huffaker, Charmayne	08
Johnson, Fallon	08
Johnson, Kirina	08
Johnson, Logan	08
McKinnon, Taylor	08
Nelson, Jaden	08
Peterson, Taya	08
Rothlisberger, Jace	08
Slusser, Miranda	08
Thomson, Lauren	08
Trenery, Kasin	08
Wamsley, Rachel	08
Willis, Emalee	08

Bear Lake Rendezvous Chamber News

Wonderful Chamber Members,

A big thank you to those who came to our Chamber dinner last week.  It was nice to have a few new faces, such as Bart and his wife from Alpine Cleaning and the Winters, new owners of Bear Lake Lodging. It was a pleasant evening with lots of lively discussion.

Report on Garden City P&Z

Another big thank you to all the chamber members who attended the P&Z meeting last week. That was one of the best attended P&Z meetings I've been to. P&Z was great at listening to our ideas. In the end it sounds like instead of a "no short term rental" zone overlay that would have blanketed most of the city, they are now considering amending the current STR ordinance to say something like "No short term rental license will be issued to properties located within an Home Owners Association where the HOA board has filed a letter showing that the CC&Rs do not allow short term rentals." So your feedback definitely helped.

January Chamber Member Meeting

Just a heads up that the January meeting will be the 2nd Thursday instead of the 1st one because of the holiday.  So plan on noon, Jan 8 in building "c" at the city office complex.  Put it on your calendar. One item we will be going over is all of the options of grants that the state offers to "rural" areas like Rich County. The state is really interested in helping you expand your business (or start a new one).