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CITY COUNCIL
JULY 20, 2009
7:30 P.M.
The Council of the City of Augusta, Kansas met in regular session on July 20, 2009, with Mayor Kristey Williams presiding. Council present were Holly Harper, Matt Childers, Michael Huddleston, Michael Wallace, Tom Leffler, Mike Rawlings, Robert Griffith, and Ronald Reavis. Also present: City Manager Bill Keefer, City Attorney David All, Assistant to the City Manager Josh Shaw, Public Works Superintendent Cy Ricker and City Clerk Erica Jones. Visitors present were: Kent Bush, Eldon Foreman, Larry Novak, Martin Goedecke, and David Berndsen.
Prayer: Larry Novak, Christ Lutheran Church, gave the invocation.
Minutes: Reavis made a motion to approve the Minutes of the July 6, 2009 council meeting. Leffler seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Appropriations:
July (7): Wallace made a motion to approve Ordinance 7 in the amount of $843,114.65. Childers seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Visitors:
Augusta Historical Museum: Representatives from the Augusta Historical Museum presented a request for assistance with a fence for their property as it relates to the Streetscape Project. Huddleston made a motion to pay up to $700 for a fence. Griffith seconded the motion. Keefer asked the Council for direction on where to fund this from, as there will be no funds available in the Streetscape project. Motion carried with Leffler and Childers opposing.
Old Business:
KDOT ARRA Project: Council considered approval of an amended Engineering Services Agreement with Goedecke Engineering for design of the repairs to 7th Street as part of the KDOT ARRA Project. Huddleston asked if this is a gamble that the City would be taking. Keefer stated that it is contingent on the K-18 project coming in under bid and there being ARRA funds left over. Keefer stated the design and specifications would have to be approved by KDOT prior to any ARRA funds being awarded. Williams stated the engineering plans would be valid for some time. Keefer stated that if we were not awarded ARRA funds then the project could possibly be split up into multiple KLINK projects. Wallace made a motion to approve an amended Engineering Services Agreement with Goedecke Engineering for design of the repairs to 7th Street as part of the KDOT ARRA Project. Leffler seconded the motion.
New Business:
2009 Street Sales Tax Program: Leffler made a motion to approve the low bid from Kansas Paving in the amount of $149,963.50 for the asphalt street repairs as part of the 2009 Street Sales Tax Program. Harper seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Childers made a motion to approve the bid from Bryant & Bryant Construction Inc. in the amount of $3,512.00 for brick street repair. Goedecke explained that the exact amount of the bid depends on whether the bricks just have to be removed and replaced or if the concrete base will have to be increased, and recommended the Council designate up to $6,000 for these repairs. Childers withdrew his motion. Childers made a new motion to approve the bid from Bryant & Bryant Construction Inc. and designate up to $6,000 for the brick street repairs along East 5th Street between School and the railroad tracks. Harper seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Leffler made a motion to designate the balance of the $10,000 that was designated for brick street repair along East 5th Street between School and the railroad tracks be used to assist with additional brick repairs within the boundaries of the Streetscape project. Rawlings seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Zoning: Reavis made a motion to approve Ordinance 1984 amending the zoning classification for two tracts of property located within the City’s growth area. Harper seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Water Rates: Council considered approval of an ordinance amending the City’s Water Rates. Shaw explained that the change in recommendation was based on the input staff received from the Council during the June 22nd work session. Huddleston voiced concern about loading the burden onto the low end users. Wallace stated that he felt that not only should the base be increased, but that the rate tiers should also be increased to shift some of the burden to those users that use more water. Rawlings disagreed, stating that often times in business customers receive a discounted rate for purchasing more quantities than those who only purchase small quantities. Leffler voiced concern that this issue had been discussed at length during the work session on June 22nd and that the Council was sent an email from staff on June 26th explaining the change in recommendation. Leffler asked staff if they had received any input or questions from the Council after the new recommendation was provided to the Council. Shaw stated he was not contacted until this afternoon. Rawlings made a motion to approve Ordinance 1985 amending the City’s Water Rates. Leffler seconded the motion. Motion carried with Huddleston opposing.
Sewer Rates: Leffler made a motion to approve Ordinance 1986 amending the City’s Sewer Rates. Harper seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Franchise: Rawlings made a motion to approve Ordinance 1987 for a franchise agreement with Quest Midstream Partners, L.P. that replaces an expired franchise for a natural gas pipeline serving Power Plant #2. Harper seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
CTB Grants: Harper made a motion to approve a Convention and Tourism Bureau Grant for the Chamber of Commerce for their Homecoming Fest Activities in the amount of $1,000. Childers seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Rawlings made a motion to approve a Convention and Tourism Bureau Grant for the Augusta Historical Society for their annual Yesteryear Fair in the amount of $500. Griffith seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
2012 KLINK: Rawlings made a motion to approve an application to KDOT for a 2012 KLINK project for Highway 77/Walnut Street Improvements. Leffler seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Street Sweeper: Wallace made a motion to authorize the purchase of a new street sweeper from Key Equipment in the amount of $160,489 and directing Staff to take proposals for a lease purchase for this piece of equipment. Leffler seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Special Meeting: Reavis made a motion to schedule a special meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, August 10, 2009 to conduct the public hearing for the proposed 2010 Budget along with other actions related to the approval of the 2010 Budget. Harper seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Informational Memorandum & Questions:
Williams – Williams congratulated Safety Officer Brian Smith for being named the Kansas School Resource Officer of the Year.
Huddleston – Huddleston asked for an explanation regarding the mistake in the quantities identified in the Streetscape plans and specifications for concrete work for a block of sidewalks, resulting in additional cost to the project in the amount of $45,000. Goedecke stated there was an addition error when his office calculated the square feet of material, listing it as 1,111 square feet instead of 11,111 square feet. Goedecke stated the work was completed as expected, but because it was listed as 1,111 square feet in the bid document it caused the contractors to bid on less than what they would actually need. Griffith asked if all contractors received the same incorrect information. Goedecke stated that they did. Williams inquired about the contingency funds. Goedecke stated when all of the change orders are added up the contingency funds will be gone; however, the exact figures won’t be known until the work is completed and all the bills come in. Griffith asked what would happen if the project goes over more than the balance of the contingency funds. Keefer stated that we would have to find some where to pay it out of, and that was why he is concerned about the other things we would like to do but are not able to do now because of lack of funding. Huddleston asked how the billings are reviewed, stating that during the removal of the tank the excavator spent a lot of time standing around and waiting on the contractor. Goedecke agreed and stated that was pointed out to the contractor and was communicated that we wouldn’t be paying for that time. Goedecke stated he had not received the bill yet, but would be reviewing it.
Keefer stated the cost of the plants in the planters will be $1,700. Williams asked if that included the roundabout and Keefer stated it did not. Huddleston stated he didn’t realize some of the miscellaneous costs were so high, such as the flower pots. Williams asked about bringing in donors to purchase the benches to help offset some of those costs. Keefer stated that Eric Christinat with DAI had notified him that there were a couple of people interested in that, but that he hadn’t heard more on the subject. Keefer stated he would follow up with Christinat. Mr. All suggested the possibility of having different civic organizations responsible for taking care of specific pots and purchasing the plants for it.
Wallace – Wallace stated the clock base in the roundabout was an odd size. Goedecke stated it wasn’t complete. Huddleston stated that he was at the clock on Sunday at 9 pm and the chime did not work. Leffler stated he witnessed it working. Keefer stated he would check on the chime schedule and include it in a future memorandum. Rawlings stated the time is satellite controlled.
Childers – Childers stated he hoped the council would give direction to staff on where to find the $700 to help pay for the fence at the Augusta Historical Museum. No direction was given.
Final Comments:
Griffith – Griffith asked if staff has anything to report on the cleanup of the property positioned at the southeast corner of the roundabout. Keefer stated he has had a discussion with the Inspection Department, and that this will be an all or nothing situation. Williams stated she would like staff to pursue this. Rawlings stated that he was told the place is for sale.
Harper – Harper stated on Osage, near P & G Painting, bricks were removed a couple of months ago because of work that was being done and they still have not been put back in place. Keefer stated he would check on that. Harper stated there is a bag worm problem at the cemetery. Keefer stated he would speak to the Public Works Superintendent to see if or how that issue could be addressed.
Williams – Williams reminded the council of the budget work session scheduled on July 27th at 7 pm at the Safety Department building.
Reavis – Reavis wished the Augusta Volunteer Fire Department a Happy Birthday. Reavis stated the Augusta Volunteer Fire Department was formed exactly 100 years ago today. Reavis stated they may try to have a reception or activity to celebrate it at a later date.
Adjourn: At 8:48 p.m. Wallace made a motion to adjourn. Childers seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
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