Garden City Council

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  May 8, 2014.  The ordinances on the agenda were placed on the agenda with the idea that these ordinances would be passed on to the City from the Planning Commission.  However, the Planning Commission decided that they needed more time to work on most of these ordinances. 

Ordinance #14-11 was passed to City Council by the Planning Commission.  It is an ordinance updating the recording of voting conducted by the Governing Body and was discussed in the public hearing prior to the Council Meeting.  It was accepted by the Council that when someone doesn’t vote, it is considered to be a no vote..

The Council tabled a discussion concerning the new zoning map for the City.  The Planning Commission is still working on this project.

A discussion of the certification of delinquency of assessment and charges for the Buttercup SID (Special Improvement District) was held.   The SID was created to finance the asphalting of the roads in that subdivision.  Those individuals who fail to make their payments have a lien placed on their property.    The Council made and accepted the motion to accept the certification of delinquency on this SID.

A review of the budget discussion was held.  The motion was made to open the budget to cover over expenditures for the budget year July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014.  Also, a tentative budget approval for the fiscal year July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 was accepted by the Council.  These items were also discussed during the Public Hearing prior to the City Council Meeting.

Paramedics are required to be on site whenever an activity such as a rodeo is being held.  An ambulance is also required.  Since the City doesn’t have many EMTs, it was determined that those individuals holding the rodeo need to be contacted to find out what their plans are concerning this item.

It was noted that water usage and sewer disposal increases tremendously whenever short term rentals are rented out.  This has a great negative impact on the current water and sewer systems in the City.  It was suggested that some type of program or action be taken by the City to do something about these problems to try and mitigate these negative effects on these systems.

Bruce Warner would like to join with Laketown on attempting to bring natural gas into the area.  He has set up a meeting with Questar Gas.  He noted that there are approximately 2,500 businesses and homes in the area.  Only 800 are full time residents, and the rest are vacant during the winter months.  He doesn’t know how these facts will effect the decision about bringing gas into the area, but he wants to try to get this alternative heating source available to the two communities.  He wants to get a commitment for a period of time.  Perhaps a surcharge would be put in place and then extra payments for the next three years would work.

There is a change in water rates.  It starts in May and will be billed out at the beginning of June.  It will be interesting to see what feedback is given concerning this item.

.

Warner would also like to see a change in the Council Meeting format.  He would like some time at the beginning of the meeting for people to have an opportunity to express their opinions.  Perhaps a two-minute rule could be put in place.  Also, he suggested that public hearings be held at 6 p.m. to allow business people and workers a time to get off work and come to the hearings.

Bess Huefner reported that Raspberry Days seems to be shaping up nicely.  The Gun range needs to get a decibel reading taken.  Once the noise rating is known, a meeting will be held with the Sweetwater Trailer Park residents to get their opinions about this project.  The next step would be to apply for the money because the plans have already been created.  The Eagle Project currently under way is about fifty percent complete.  A grate is going to be made to be placed in the window at the park bowery.

Mayor Sphuler wants to emphasis the slogan “Where Families Play” for Garden City.  We need to clean up the town, finish the kiosk, and put the advertising of the businesses at that location.  Hopefully, over time every business will have similar computers that advertise all businesses at every location.

Darrin Pugmire, city council, reported that 300 West will cost at least $255,000 to get it graveled.  Bids are out.  Slurry seal will be put down on some roads on May 14.

Chuck Stocking, city council, reported that the pool had a filter issue that has since been corrected.  Swimming lessons are being scheduled.  The library has old computers.  They don’t have many options because new computers were not approved in the past.  The rummage sale will be held in June and signs are already in place.  The Kiosk is moving forward.  Chuck told the group that Andy Stokes was going to put up all the signs at the Kiosk.  Chuck was informed that the roof of the convention center needs repair.

A week from Friday there will be a bike rally starting at Blue Water.  There will be a lot of traffic that weekend.