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CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 18, 2010
7:00 P.M.
The Council of the City of Augusta, Kansas met in regular session on January 18, 2010, with Mayor Kristey Williams presiding. Council present were Matt Childers, Michael Huddleston, Michael Wallace, Tom Leffler, Mike Rawlings, Robert Griffith and Ronald Reavis. Councilmember Holly Harper was absent. Also present: City Manager Bill Keefer, City Attorney David All, Assistant to the City Manager Josh Shaw, Inspector Dan Allen, and City Clerk Erica Jones. Visitors present were: Michael McDermott, David McDonald, D.J. McDonald, David Dewhirst, Sharon Sudduth, Martin Goedecke, Ray Jones, and Eric Christinat.
Prayer: Pastor Larry Snodgrass, Haverhill Christian Church, gave the invocation.
Minutes: Leffler stated that he may have voiced his vote late, but that he did not vote to oppose adjourning the executive session. Wallace stated in the Informational Memorandum section in the minutes the sentence “Wallace stated the term “inferred”.” should be changed to “Inferrsions don’t count.” Reavis made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 4, 2010 meeting. Childers seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Appropriations:
December (12B): Huddleston inquired about the payment to AMEC. Keefer stated it was for the Walnut Levee Certification. Huddleston inquired about the amount of the payment to the Augusta Animal Clinic. Keefer stated it was for two month’s bills. Huddleston asked if there was any more discussion about going a different route. Keefer stated there are not a lot of options that are cost effective or feasible at this time. Keefer stated there have been discussions with the clinic and that they have not increased the base fee for a number of years. Huddleston inquired about the payment to Southwest Butler Quarry. Keefer stated it was for the purchase of rock for Santa Fe Lake. Wallace inquired about the payment to Stanion. Keefer stated they are costs related to the relocation of the electrical lines in the park as part of the levee project. Keefer stated there would be close to $40,000 in expenditures for this in 2009 and much more in 2010. Wallace made a motion to approve Ordinance 12B in the amount of $788,960.83. Huddleston seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
December (12C): Huddleston inquired about the payment to Edward B. Stephenson & Co. Keefer stated it was for the audit of the Library’s 2008 financials, and that the Library will start paying the cost of their audits beginning with the 2009 audit and then on. Griffith made a motion to approve Ordinance 12C in the amount of $125,843.14. Rawlings seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
January (1): Wallace stated he wants everyone to know that we pay Coventry Health Care close to $60,000 a month for insurance for our employees. Wallace made a motion to approve Ordinance 1 in the amount of $260,025.25. Huddleston seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Visitors:
Williams welcomed all visitors and stated that DJ McDonald from Douglass was present as a visitor and s receiving a merit point for this while working on becoming an Eagle Scout.
David Dewhirst from Wichita, President of Sabors Corporation, and Augusta Municipal Airport hanger tenant addressed the governing body. Dewhirst stated that he and other tenants have formed the Augusta Airport User and Tenant’s Association because they see some issues at the Airport that need to be addressed. Dewhirst stated the specific purpose of forming the separate organization was to give them an opportunity to be a separate group. Since they are not part of the Airport Board they do not exist at the auspices of the city commission, so it would not be appropriate to tell them they have overstepped their bounds by speaking in an advisory capacity only. Dewhirst stated they hope to bring a sense of business guidance instead of emotionally as has been done in the past. Dewhirst stated their appears to be a resolution to the issues before the council, but he doesn’t see the issue being resolved given the current path the city is taking in dealing with issues. Dewhirst stated he sees no sense in crucifying Mr. Stultz. Dewhirst stated that his company owns, manages, and accrues twenty aircrafts and do a variety of consulting on other issues, and if one of their people came to them about relocating to the Augusta Airport he would have to tell them it is a mess. Dewhirst stated the Association has a list of items they will be addressing over the next several months and would like to address the governing body later with those concerns. Williams asked when the Augusta Airport User and Tenant’s Association was formed and Dewhirst stated it was three weeks ago.
Old Business:
Aerospace Products, Inc.: Ken Stultz, President of Aerospace Products, Inc. and Air Capital Jet Sales, from 8919 Boxthorn in Wichita was present to address the governing body. Stultz thanked the council, staff, and city attorney for their time. He explained that his mother passed away just prior to the previous meeting discussing his lease and he was not able to attend the meeting. Stultz stated there were already issues before he came to the Airport that were out of his control. Stultz stated his purpose at the Airport is to benefit the owners and operators that utilize the Airport. He stated it is a great airport and he wants aeronautical activity out there. Stultz stated he wants to conduct his business on an airport freely and want to provide aeronautical activity. Stultz stated he understands there are issues and a divergence at the Airport. Stultz stated he is a proponent of aviation and is committed to it and his resolve is to see growth in the aeronautical area at the Airport. He said whether or not he is a tenant he will continue to be an advocate to encourage general aviation at the Airport because he feels it is an important industry. He wants to add aircraft maintenance and windows to his business and hire more people. Stultz stated he wants to be at the Augusta Airport, but there are issues that need to be resolved which would make a better environment for those out there. Stultz asked once they are gone, who will be there to provide aeronautical services. Stultz stated it seems like everyone has left the Airport, which is not a good path. Williams asked Stultz if he had any questions for the Council. Stultz stated it would obviously be an unnecessary expense and economic burden for him to move. Stultz stated he utilizes the facility and pays his rent on time, and he doesn’t understand what happened except that he objected to some things which he was within his right to do. Stultz stated he would like the opportunity to stay at the Airport and conduct his business.
New Business:
Engineering Services: Leffler made a motion to approve an Engineering Services Agreement with Goedecke Engineering for the KDOT Ohio and Kelly Street Intersection Project. Childers seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition. Keefer stated that before 2010 is over, we will have to start acquiring some of the right of way for that project.
Change Order: Council considered approval of Change Order #1 for the 2009 Street Sales Tax Project. Huddleston asked if the terrace wall at 12th and Osage listed as item #14 was part of the sales tax project. Goedecke stated that was an error, that it should have been listed as the terrace wall at 12th and Ohio. Leffler made a motion to approve Change Order #1 for the 2009 Street Sales Tax Project. Rawlings seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Sign Regulations: Council considered approval of an Ordinance amending the Sign Regulations Chapter of the City’s Zoning Regulations. Williams referenced #11 and #12 on page 14 and stated that in the work sessions we talked about square feet and gross area and that both sides may be used. Williams stated she would advocate for #12 to read the same way as #11. Leffler asked if this includes residential areas. Keefer stated only a 2x2 political sign would be allowed in residential areas. Dan Allen stated that both sides of a 4x8 sign would increase the gross area to 64 feet. Reavis stated section 3A defines gross area and that adding that both sides may be used would contradict the definition. Williams stated we need to be consistent. Wallace made a motion to amend #12 on page 14 to read like #11 and to approve Ordinance 1994 as amended. Reavis seconded the motion. Motion carried with Rawlings opposed. Rawlings stated he opposed because he remember the discussion that political signs would be a maximum of 4x4 feet.
Reavis made a motion to approve Resolution 2010-08 establishing the fees for sign permits as follows: Temporary Permit not requiring a special use designation $15.00, Permanent Sign not requiring a special use designation $15 base fee plus $6.00 up to 10 sq. ft. plus $1.00 per sq. ft. over 10 sq. ft., and for signs requiring a special use designation a $10.00 fee in addition to the standard permit fee. Leffler seconded the motion. Rawlings inquired about organizations and non-profits for local events. Williams stated that non-profits are exempt. Childers stated they will still have to apply for a permit. Motion carried without opposition.
Rawlings made a motion to approve Ordinance 1995 amending Appendix K of the 2003 International Building Code specifying sign types permitted in the Designated Main Street area. Childers seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
Informational Memorandum:
Williams – Williams reminded the governing body of the code of ordinances work session scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on January 25th.
Williams – Williams stated it was good new that the Streetscape Project expenses only exceeded the budget by $2,931.81 instead of the engineer’s estimate of close to $20,000. Williams stated Spring Cleanup is tentatively scheduled for April 10th to April 25th.
Keefer – Keefer stated the 500 block of Osage is included as part of the sales tax projects for 2010, but that there is another area of the storm sewer that is failing. Keefer stated that barricades have been put up and they will be there for quite a period of time. Rawlings inquired about using concrete barriers. Keefer stated that was considered, but was not used because of concerns about the added weight further damaging the storm sewer.
Final Comments:
Rawlings – Rawlings asked staff to look into our policy about ice fishing on the city’s lakes. Jones stated it was not addressed in the city’s code, but that it is allowed by the Kansas Wildlife and Parks. Wallace stated the city code doesn’t prohibit ice fishing. Keefer agreed, but stated it doesn’t allow it either. Keefer stated the city has shied away from consulting with Kansas Wildlife and Parks because once they get involved they start setting rules, regulations, and policies on what we can do with our lakes. Keefer stated the biggest concern with being on the ice is about safety, especially for children. Leffler made a motion to have David All draft an ordinance prohibiting being on the ice at Lake Augusta and Santa Fe Lake. Reavis seconded the motion. Motion carried with Huddleston opposing. Leffler asked Huddleston why he was opposed. Huddleston stated that people have to have individual responsibility. Leffler agreed, but stated having this ordinance would allow the Safety Department to cite people who do get on the ice. Wallace stated it should also be posted that it is prohibited.
Wallace – Wallace stated the Volunteer Fire Department celebrated 100 years at the annual dinner held last weekend. Wallace stated the Volunteer Fire Department has saved the City hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years. Wallace also stated that Councilman Reavis has been a volunteer for 35 years. Wallace stated that the tape that he asked to review at the last meeting had been taped over.
Adjourn: At 7:56 p.m. Wallace made a motion to adjourn. Reavis seconded the motion. Motion carried without opposition.
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