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CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 17, 2008
7:30 P.M.
The Council of the City of Augusta, Kansas met in regular session on November 17, 2008, with Mayor Kristey Williams presiding. Council present were Douglas Marr, Michael Huddleston, Michael Wallace, Tom Leffler, Mike Rawlings, and Robert Griffith. Council absent was Holly Harper and Roger Chrislip. Also present: City Manager Bill Keefer, City Attorney David All, Assistant City Manager JJ Allen, and City Clerk Erica Jones. Visitors present were: Michael McDermott, Michael Mead, Eric Christinat, Martin Goedecke, and Willis Wilson.
Prayer: Pastor Curtis Cadenhead, First Methodist Church gave the invocation.
Minutes: Wallace made a motion to approve the Minutes of the November 3, 2008 council meeting. Leffler seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Appropriations:
November (11): Council considered appropriations in the amount of $403,039.86. Griffith inquired about the payment to Big Tool Store for $3,690.63. Keefer stated there was a mistake and that the billing was doubled in error. Keefer stated that the billing was actually only half that amount and that it was to purchase a large hand tool. Jones stated that the billing has been corrected and the check that will be mailed out is for the correct amount. Griffith inquired about the payment to DOI-USGS for $4,300.00. Keefer stated it is for the annual maintenance agreement for the gauging station. Griffith inquired about the payment to Johnny Yelverton for $1,128.00. Keefer stated that Yelverton is the City’s new D.A.R.E. Officer and this was for the training program. Griffith inquired about the payment to the Law Office of M.S for $600.00. Keefer stated it was for a municipal court appointed attorney for four cases at $150 each. Keefer stated that Steve Wagle is the attorney out of Wichita that was appointed. Griffith inquired about the payment to Railroad Management for $500.00. Keefer stated this is the annual payment for the sewer line that runs under the railroad. Wallace made a motion to approve Ordinance 11 in the amount of $403,039.86. Griffith seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
New Business:
Zoning Regulations: Council considered approval of an ordinance amending the Zoning Regulations to change the boundaries of the City of Augusta’s Growth Area. Wallace asked if the verbiage listed in the ordinance is correct for the property description. Keefer stated staff has verified it is correct.
Huddleston stated it appears on the map that the boundary extends out just to the Municipal Airport. Keefer stated that is correct, it extends to Indianola Road. Huddleston asked why we would not consider extending the boundary to the west side of Indianola Road. Keefer stated that area is in Andover’s growth area. Huddleston asked what authority the City has to add this to our growth area. Keefer stated it is under the control of Butler County and they have agreed to this.
Wallace made a motion to approve Ordinance 1978 amending the Zoning Regulations to change the boundaries of the City of Augusta’s Growth Area. Griffith seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
KDOT 5-Year Plan: Rawlings made a motion authorizing the submittal of the City’s projects updating KDOT’s Five-Year Plan. Griffith seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition. Wallace asked if we have any growth projects slated other than going north. Keefer stated there wasn’t, but that only certain types of projects qualify for KDOT’s program.
Bids: Wallace made a motion to accept the bid from Kuhn Mechanical in the amount of $56,500 for the Emergency Bypass Connections for four sewer lift stations. Griffith seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Special Alcohol Grants: Council considered approval of a recommendation from the Council Insurance Committee to award five Special Alcohol Grants. Huddleston stated the Augusta High School SADD group stated that part of the funds would be used to replace goggles. Huddleston asked if those goggles are worn out. Keefer stated that they are. Wallace made a motion to award five Special Alcohol Grants as follows: Youth Leadership Butler $300; Augusta High School SADD $2,500; Family Life Center Safe House $2,500; Mothers Against Meth $1,500; USD 402 and the DARE Program $900. Marr seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Water Rates: Council considered approval of an Ordinance amending the City’s water rates. Wallace stated that the tiers listed in the memo do not reflect those listed in the ordinance. Allen stated that 90% of the City’s water users fell into the first tier based on their October usage, and that is why he only showed that tier in his memo. Huddleston stated it looks like we are loading all of the increase onto the base, and most of the cost will primarily be on those that use 10,000 gallons or less. Allen stated every customer will see an increase on their bill of $3.00. Huddleston stated once a user hits 10,000 gallons, it does not cost them any more and they will pay the same as those under 10,000 gallons. Allen stated that is correct for the base rate and again stated most of the consumption is from those that consume 10,000 gallons or less. Allen stated his opinion is the charge for consumption should be just that, and the base rates should cover the fixed cost of operations.
Huddleston asked if it is fair to put all the cost onto those who use under 10,000 gallons. Allen stated he would like to see the council increase the base and then load up the rates on the high end user. Allen stated he agrees there is an inequity, but this is a step in the right direction. Allen stated he would suggest the council consider approving this and then look at the rate tiers next year after more information can be obtained from our utility software. Huddleston asked why not consider an increase in those that use more water. Allen stated it is up to the council and that he did look at an option like that. Allen stated he tested what would be generated if $0.25 was added to each tier, but it only generated approximately $60,000 more per year. Huddleston stated the high end users would probably need to see more of an increase. Allen stated by doing that you obviously would be hitting businesses, and that could be viewed as not being very business friendly. Leffler stated a lot of times businesses get discounts for using more of a product. Williams stated our larger consumers are bringing more to the pot. Allen stated that the question the council needs to ask is whether they want to promote conservation or generate more use and provide a discount to higher users.
Keefer stated there is $1 million in expenses for our debt and water contract before we even start the year, not including operational expenses. Keefer stated he anticipates an increase in the cost of purchasing raw water in 2010. Keefer stated the cost of chemicals has doubled since 2003.
Wallace asked why not create another tier. Allen stated that is up to the council to decide. Huddleston stated over half of the other cities listed in the memo have some consumption built into the minimum charge. Allen stated his opinion is the base charge should be for basic operations and be the same for each customer regardless of their consumption. Allen stated they would be charged based on their consumption depending on what tier their usage falls into. Marr stated when this comes up again, the thing that needs to be considered is the base charge is the number of meters times the $7.00 and that should equal the fixed cost. After that, you start to charge for consumption.
Wallace made a motion to approve Ordinance 1976; amending Section Two to allow for the Ordinance to be in place until July 31, 2009, and if new rates have not been adopted by that date the rates will revert back to the rates in Ordinance 1934. Huddleston seconded the motion. Motion carried with Marr opposing.
Marr stated that since there is no “fluff” in the fund, the expectation is there has to be cost awareness. Marr stated it would be fair to see how the City expects to be more efficient in its operations. Williams stated we need to keep in mind the cost of chemicals has doubled in cost and there are many regulations KDHE has imposed and both of these are out of the City’s control.
Marr stated in this case the higher end user is better off. Rawlings disagreed and stated that is not correct according to the numbers staff provided about the other cities in the memo. Rawlings stated business owners already say the rates are so high and they are being run out of town. Keefer stated rates were too low for too long and money was not put back into the infrastructure. Keefer stated many years ago it used to be the more you used, the less you paid; but, that is no longer the case. Williams stated the Kansas Water Authority is looking at a 50% increase. Williams asked if the council wants the higher users to pay more of the weight.
Marr stated if everyone has to tighten their belts, that should include the City and the lowering of our inefficiencies in operations. Keefer agreed, but stated some of those costs are out of our control. Rawlings agreed with Marr, but challenged him to go to the water plant and find where cuts could be made.
Informational Memorandum & Questions:
Wallace – Wallace asked why the canvas of votes was included in the Informational Memorandum. Mr. All stated that at the last meeting there was a question about the language that was included on the ballot about the allocation of the sales tax dollars. Huddleston asked if staff saw where his question came from. Keefer stated both the driveway and sidewalk will be paid for from a different source than the street sales tax funds.
Williams – Williams stated it will be interesting to see what the sale of the Airport’s Jet Fuel truck will bring. Allen stated he is optimistic.
Williams congratulated Jones on the completion of her third and final year of Clerk School.
Final Comments:
Williams – Williams stated she has signed two proclamations recently for the Young Entrepreneur’s Club and for American Education Week.
Rawlings – Rawlings stated he read in the Builder’s Digest where the Wichita City Council approved to charge $0.026 per square foot for new construction to help pay for the water and sewer utility. Rawlings stated he thought that was interesting.
Rawlings stated that earlier a reference was made about Andover’s growth area encroaching onto Santa Fe Lake and asked what happens if we decide we want to jump out and take that area. Keefer stated Santa Fe Lake and the immediate area surrounding it has already been annexed in to the City. Keefer also stated the County is very conscientious of our desires with that area. Keefer stated hopefully we will get some good answers from the study about the expansion of the corridor that will show whether there is an opportunity to branch out from there. Keefer stated at this time that opportunity is not there. Rawlings asked about the cost. Keefer stated that would increase our oversight of zoning. Rawlings stated looking at the map, he has to ask why we wouldn’t want to square that up. Keefer stated there are also some politics involved regarding County Commissioner’s Districts. Rawlings stated the area northeast of town along the railroad looks like a natural growth area for us, possibly for an industrial park. Keefer stated there are a couple of miles there, but that there are other utility companies in the area we would have to have discussions with. Rawlings stated we should keep our feelers out there instead of waiting for other communities to encroach on us. Keefer stated there are a lot of issues that have to be evaluated, including that Andover has a wastewater plant within a mile of our Airport and our wastewater plant is five miles away. Huddleston asked if there is a possibility of selling water to Andover. Keefer stated there has been some discussion about them wanting to get away from buying water from Wichita. Keefer stated that is why Andover has been so interested in the potential of the Douglass Reservoir.
Griffith – Griffith stated in the information provided in the sample ordinances about non-paved surfaces, the other cities say that gravel is acceptable for a hard surface. Keefer stated he has made copies of those for the city inspector to review when considering our ordinance.
Huddleston – Huddleston stated it appears that the work is almost completed on the overpass and asked if there is any intention by the company doing the work to grade the area that has been torn up under the overpass. Keefer stated he has spoken to them about cleaning the area up and that it has been made clear to Dondlinger & Sons Construction that they are expected to replace the sidewalk they have damaged between Osage Manor and the Senior Citizens Center.
Huddleston inquired about the technical problems with Channel 7 today. Keefer stated there was a loud buzzing noise and a distorted picture when they tried to air the live feed from council chambers. Keefer stated he has spoken to Wichita Audio who installed the equipment and they said that it appears someone with Cox Communications has been at the hub located on Kelly Street and messed with the controls. Keefer stated Channel 7 has to be on a lower level than the other channels to avoid it being distorted. Keefer stated he was not able to get a hold of someone from Cox today, but that they will be called in the morning. Rawlings stated Cox is getting ready to change part of their channel line-up. Keefer agreed.
Huddleston asked if the Safety Department could report leaks if they see them instead of waiting for citizens to report those to the Water Department. Keefer stated he would look into that.
Marr – Marr stated he has had requests for the City to re-label the recycling trailers. Keefer stated he would look into that.
Marr stated he has received good and bad feedback on the Christmas decorations. Marr stated the decoration on the second pole on the south side of 7th Street coming from the west is falling off the pole.
Marr asked staff to provide an update on the Neighborhood Revitalization improvements in the next informational memorandum
Adjourn: At 8:43 p.m. Marr made a motion to adjourn. Wallace seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
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