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Council Minutes 06/07/1978 June 7, 1978 48 CITY OF AMMON June 7,1978 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council: The meeting was called to order at 7:35 P.M. by Mayor George Wehmann, with the following City Officials present: Mayor George Wehmann Councilwoman Carol A. Dille Councilman David Rowberry Councilman Francis Lee Councilman Russell N. Swensen Others present during the meeting were Bill Manwill, Garth Cunningham, and Farrell Adamson. Clerk Deon Hemingway Engineer David E. Benton The pledge of allegiance to the flag was conducted by Councilwoman Dille; the invocation I was offered by Councilman Swensen. Minutes of the Special Meeting on May 3, 1978, were approved as prepared. Minutes of the Regular Meeting on May 3, 1978, were approved as prepared. The matter of the public hearing on May 18, 1978, being recessed until this date was brought up, and it was noted that the developers of West Ammon Estates are not yet pre- pared with a revised plat. Councilman Swensen moved to continue the public hearing until 7:30 P.M., June 21, 1978. The motion was seconded by Councilman Rowberry; voting was all in favor; motion carried. A claim submitted b Carol filed by Chase Driggs, 3 Councilman Rowberry agreed disposition of the claims. Farmer 660 Geneva Dr., for damage to a tricycle, and one o Georgia Lane, for loss of a garbage can, were considered, and to investigate the circumstances and make a decision about the Regarding the fine for the violation of waterin re lations, Councilman Lee moved that this be set at 7.50 per citation during the 1978 watering year. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Dille. Councilman Swensen moved to amend the motion by striking out $7.50 and inserting $10.00; this motion died for lack of a second. Voting on the original motion was all in favor; motion carried. Mayor Wehmann gave a brief review of the proceedings at the Utah Power & Light Company rate-increase hearings before the Idaho Public Utilities Commission which he and Attorney Anderson have been attending in Pocatello. He noted that the Idaho Electrical Consumers Office is going to assume a lot of the work for the intervenors in this case. I Concerning the Idaho Falls tranmission line which is planned along the ra.ilroad tracks at the Ammon city limits on the east, Mayor Wehmann informed the Council that a meeting with the City of Idaho Falls officials is scheduled on Tuesday, June 13, and he asked that Councilman Rowberry and Councilwoman Dille be in attendance, along with Attorney Anderson, to represent the City of Ammon. Copies of a letter which the Attorney has sent to Union Pacific Railroad Company on this subject were distributed to the Council members. With reference to the action taken at the previous meeting on the variance requested by New Concept Realty, Mayor Wehmann pointed out that the conditions have not been adhered to, so the variance is denied. Councilwoman Dille agreed to attend a meeting set for 2:30 P.M. on June 28 with the County Commissioners, City of Idaho Falls, and the Humane Society. Garth Cunningham, the engineer representing the developer of the proposed Aimee Ann Es- tates, located between the east city limits and Crowley Road north of Sunnyside Road, was given time to discuss the water and sewer systems for that development which will be in the Ammon impact area. It was felt by the Mayor and Council members that this matter needed further study, and a decision at the meeting on June 21 was indicated. Restricted access on Sunnyside Road was also mentioned as a recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission, and it was noted by Mr. Cunningham that a consistent guideline on this subject is needed. Mayor Wehmann announced the appointment of James Southwick. 3968 E. 17th St. to the Planning and Zoning Commission to fill the unexpired term of Joseph Wenger until March 1, 1981, and Councilman Rowberry moved that the Council concur with this appointment. The motion was secondeQ by Councilwoman Dille; voting was all in favor; motion carried. I Bill Manwill from the County Engineer's Office described the experience of the County with a successful signing project. and recommended that the City apply for a grant to update the signs in Ammon, noting that federal funds should be available for 98% of such a project. but the City must assume maintenance after installation. Councilman Lee agreed to check with Bill Kroll at the Rigby office of the State Highway Department re- garding this matter. I ~ CD f'- () <t: <t I I June 7, 1978 Farrell Adamson, 3250 Rawson Street, appeared and inquired about the outcome of the 4~ variance for New Concept Realty which was mentioned earlier in the meeting, and he was informed that the request had been denied, but indication has been given that the develop- er intends' to change the house designs so that a variance will not be needed. Mr. Adamson asked about height restrictions on fences and indicated that he plans to put up a high fence along his property line to separate his yard from the adjoining land if four homes are to be built there, and he was advised that height regulations only apply in the front yard areas and that a permit must be obtained for fence construction. Mayor Wehmann reminded Councilwoman Dille that action must be taken on getting some sub- stantial work going on the parks improvement project for which a BOR grant has been awarded. He suggested that consideration be given to eliminating the lights for the "grid kidwfield which were included in the plans in view of the need to conserve energy. Regarding the Fiscal Year 1979 budget, Mayor Wehmann expressed the opinion that steps should be taken toward tax reform and that a tax cut might be possible if the charge for utilities is increased to more fully cover the cost of providing the services. He suggested that the Council members give this idea some thought, and go out and talk to the people before the budget preparations get under way. Informatio~ presented by the City Clerk resulted in the following action: Councilman SwenseB7~5 authorize the Clerk to destroy records as listed (as allowed by State statute): Claims for 1972; water and garbage receipts for Sept., 1971, to March, 1972,received by mail, ~tc. 45R~ ~n~ixidually receipted; receipt books No. 32401 dated Dec. 7, 1971, throug~N01. r~, !~7~; bank statements, cancelled checks, and checkbook stubs for 1972 for General Fund; and bank statements and cancelled checks for 1972 for Guarantee Fund, L.I.D. #4, and L.I.D. #3. The motion was seconded by Councilman Lee; voting was all in favor; motion carried. REPORTS Mayor Wehmann indicated that a letter has been written to Wayne Wilcox of Falls Water Com~ny verifying the procedure agreed upon for collecting and remitting payments for water services in Tie Breaker Village subdivision. He also noted that he had made a visual check of the location of the line for the east and south im~act area boundaries which were voted on at the previous meeting and found that there would be problems with regard to private property lines, etc., so, in order to not delay the matter longer, he had listed the middle of North Iona Road and the middle of Township Road in a letter to the County Commissioners. The Council members indicated approval of this action. In response to inquiries made by Mayor Wehmann, Councilman Rowberry reported that arrange- ments have been made to have the private collector continue garbage pick-up in Jennie Jean through July, with the first City collection day in that recently annexed area to be on August 4, and Engineer Benton reported that Neahl Johnson, developer of Mountain Valley Estates, has sent a reply to Union Pacific Railroad regarding the grade crossing and has signed the annexation agreement. According to Mayor Wehmann, there may be complaints about an objectionable religious group soliciting door to door with cookies, etc., and he proposed that counsel from the City Attorney be requested with regard to putting a "Green River Ordinance" into effect in Ammon. Councilman Lee made a recommendation to help solve the traffic problem at the corner of Rawson Street and Hillam Drbre",. and later in the meeting Councilman Swensen moved that a "Stop" sign be placed at said intersection for south-bound traffic. The motion was second- ed by Councilman Rowberry; voting was all in favor; motion carried. It was agreed also that the intersection should be painted with double yellow lines. A report by Councilman Swensen noted that the water is in the irrigation ditches in the townsite area, and he suggested that the law enforcement officers be notified to watch for flooding from the ditches as they patrol. He mentioned that he had been working with the City employees on the problems at Well #6, and the seal on the 30 hp booster pump has been repaired and the man from Waterworks Equipment Co. is to adjust and calibrate the automatic controls some time next week. Mayor Wehmann asked that this be completed by no later than June 21. Councilman Rowberry brought up the matter of how to charge the nursing home, which is nearing completion, for water and sewer services, a.nd he agreed to contact the contractor or owner and made a recommendation on whether a meter is to be required or if the billing should be on a flat rate. He inquired about the possibility of adopting an ordinance to hold landlords responsible for unp~d-bills for City utilitie~ left when renters move out, and Mayor Wehmann stated that he would ask Attorney Anderson for advise on this subject. Councilwoman Dille mentioned that the pool manager, Floyd Young, reported damage to the paint and walls in the girls' dressing room at the pool with the names of the violators being provided, and Mr. Young's suggestion that the girls responsible should repair the damage was felt to be a good move. A report on items discussed at the recent County Traffic Safety Meeting was made by Councilwoman Dille, including information to the effect that the County now has standards for paving width on new streets under its juris- diction which are the same as those in the City of Ammon. Regarding the traffic problem June 7, 1978 50 at Woodruff Avenue and 17th Street in Idaho Falls, Councilwoman Dille suggested that the City of Ammon write to the City of Idaho Falls requesting a light at that intersection, and Mayor Wehmann noted that he understood that this has already been ordered. Council- woman Dille asked if contractors could be required to post bond when trenches are cut in the streets so that there would be a way to take care of making repairs when they are not done satisfactorily, and it was acknowledged that the City Attorney would have to be contacted to answer this question. Having the Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission or a designated member present information on plats to the City Council after they are reviewed at Planning Meetings was recommended by Councilwoman Dille, and it was indicated that such a procedure will be requested. Engineer Benton presented copies of recommended water meter specification~ for approval of the Council. In response to a question by Mayor Wehmann, Mr. Benton reported that the officials of the Iona Bonneville Sewer Districtpa?sed a motion at a meeting this evening to the effect that the sewer line would be furnished for the residents on the west end of Wanda Street if funds are available, but Mayor Wehmann stated that something more definite is needed on this situation immediately. Regarding the paving work in the McCowin Park area, Engineer Benton noted that the contractor is working on the finishing details and that fill dirt will be put along the paving to cover the rocks. In connection with this project, Councilman Swensen expressed concern about the curve that was left on Midway Avenue near Circle S Drive, and it was determined that straightening the street at that location was not included in the job and would have to be taken care of at a later date if felt to be necessary. Mayor Wehmann recommended that appropriate signing be installed because of this hazard. Councilman Rowberry moved to authorize the in- stallation of 4-way "Stop" signs at the intersections of Rawson Street and Midway Avenue and Southwick Lane and Midway Avenue. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Dille; voting was all in favor; motion carried. Engineer Benton mentioned again the annexa- tion agreement for Mountain Valley Estates, and Mayor Wehmann requested a copy to study. Regarding West Ammon Estates, Mayor Wehmann informed Engineer Benton that he could noti- fy the developers that the City will approve the preliminary plat and zoning on the whole subdivision, but will annex by divisions. Approval was indicated to a request made by Engineer Benton in behalf of the developer of Meadow Lark Estates Division #2 that the paving width of streets in that area be allowed to continue the same as those in Division #1 in view of past arrangements. The matter of purchasing a well from Mel Brown was brought up, and Mayor Wehmann specified that two independent appraisals and an independent pump test must be presented before any consideration will be given to this proposal. Mayor Wehmann also asked that Engineer Benton check to see if Well #5 would be usable by drilling deeper or nearby. I I The approval of a $7,000 grant for an annexation study was announced by Mayor Wehmann. Councilwoman Dille informed the Council that Paul Bunnell has given notice that he will not be able to Chairman of the Ammon Day activities on A~gust 12. Claims were approved for payment. Councilman Lee moved to adjourn; the motion was seconded by Councilman Swensen; voting was all in favor; meeting adjourned at 10:30 P.M. Attest: / ~ /- . . ./ ' >t..-cr,r ~. I. / tt/~"L. L-t- LCCV~'- "--- MAYOR I