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12122013CouncilMinutes CITY OF AMMON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES – WORK SESSION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013 AGENDA: CITY OF AMMON 2135 SOUTH AMMON ROAD CITY COUNCIL AGENDA – WORK SESSION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013 – 4:30 P.M. DISCUSSION ITEMS: 1.Senior Project – Mayor’s Youth Council – Colbie Youngberg 2.Broadband/Fiber Discussion 3.Misc. EXECUTIVE SESSION: 1.Personnel Evaluations - Idaho Code 67-2345 (1-b) 2.Real Property Acquisitions - Idaho Code 67-2345 (1-c) 3.Pending Litigation - Idaho Code 67-2345 (1-f) MINUTES City Officials Present: Mayor Steve Fuhriman Councilmember Dana Kirkham Councilmember Rex Thompson Councilmember Brian Powell Councilmember Sean Coletti Councilmember Russell Slack (arrived at 4:45 p.m.) Councilmember Brad Christensen City Clerk/Administrator/Planning Director Ron Folsom Deputy City Clerk Rachael Brown City Engineer Lance Bates Public Works Director Ray Ellis I.T. Director Bruce Patterson Systems Administrator Ty Ashcraft City Officials Absent: None DISCUSSION ITEMS: Mayor Fuhriman opened the meeting at 4:30 p.m. at the City Hall building located at 2135 South Ammon Road. 1. Senior Project – Mayor’s Youth Council – Colbie Youngberg: Councilmember Kirkham said Mr. Youngberg has been working on this Mayor’s Youth Council and respectfully she would have waited until January; however Colbie needed to be graded by January. Colbie Youngberg thanked the Council for the opportunity to come and talk to them. Colbie said he wanted to talk to the Council about leadership, and wanted to begin by introducing three of the most successful leaders in history. Abraham Lincoln; a consideration of Lincoln’s life will reveal a destitute childhood, a disapproving father, little education, the death of a younger brother, beloved mother, an older sister, and two of his own children. His early attempts at business failed him leaving him with tremendous debt. He lost more elections than he ever won, and he was defeated twice running for the US Senate. As president he was seldom popular; many members of congress, his own cabinet, and the people whom he served considered him a homely, uneducated rube who wasn’t fit to hold any seat in office, however with unyielding perseverance Lincoln fought, suffered, and endured one of the bloodiest wars in our Nation’s existence securing the Country’s freedoms and protecting the Declaration of Independence. For this devotion it cost him his life. Lincoln once said you cannot fail if you resolutely determine that you will not. 14 Council Minutes 12.12.2013 Page of Winston Churchill; despite a long unsuccessful effort to win the approval of his father, despite failing twice to get into the British Military Academy, and then failure to win a spot in a prestigious infantry, despite being defeated four times in his candidacy for parliament, despite being forced to resign from office at least three times, Winston Churchill stood completely alone against all of British Parliament and the King to protect his country against Hitler’s invasion of Europe. It was Churchill’s refusal to give in, and his determination to never give up that inspired his Country. Churchill once said never give in, never, never, never, never in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense, never yield to force, and never yield to the overwhelming might of the enemy. Joan of Arc was seventeen years old. She stated every man gives his life for what he believes; every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing, and so they give their lives for little or nothing. One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it and then it is gone, but to surrender who you are and to love without belief is more terrible than dyeing; even more terrible than dying young. As a testament to the power of Joan of Arc’s success, Mark Twain said this; consider this unique and imposing distinction, since the writing of human history began, Joan of Arc is the only person of either sex who has ever held supreme command of a military force at the age of 17. Great leaders are not born, great leaders are created. Colbie said he would like to propose a way that the City of Ammon can take part in making great leaders. Colbie had the opportunity the past year to participate in the City of Idaho Falls Chamber Youth Leadership Council which gave him the opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at some of the businesses in the City of Idaho Falls. Colbie said his proposal is to set up a Youth City Council in the City of Ammon. The youth council will observe and learn from the City Council, they will plan and orchestrate activities and projects that will center around the youth and families in Ammon, they will develop and help pass budgets, they will hopefully host and lead training and leadership training for all the youth in Ammon, and he hopes they would grow to incorporate many other Councils and committees. Colbie explained to the Council that he had researched some sample structures he feels will work very well with this Council. He also proposed that the positions would be appointed rather than elected. Colbie said we have some of the greatest youth in the country. Councilmember Powell asked how often the Youth Council would meet. Colbie said once per month just to get everything set up, but if they had enough to do they would meet more often or less often depending on what kind of jobs they need to do. Councilmember Powell asked if they would meet at the City building. Colbie said yes. Councilmember Kirkham asked Colbie if he would integrate both Bonneville High School and Hillcrest High school and if the leadership would be just the students that live in the City of Ammon. Colbie said he feels it would be appropriate for the leadership to be just the youth of the City of Ammon. Councilmember Powell asked if it would be a council of six members and one mayor. Colbie said it would mirror the current City Council. Councilmember Kirkham explained what she and Colbie foresaw the Council being comprised of. Councilmember Powell asked about the age requirement. Colbie said 14 to 18years; high school age. Councilmember Kirkham said the vision would be that they would take on some community events, and her hope is that the City Council would provide leadership training, mentoring, and helping with assignments they have been given. Councilmember Christensen said he thinks this is fantastic, and he appreciates Colbie’s presentation. Councilmember Kirkham said she would like to adopt this by resolution and hit the ground running by getting the applications to the High Schools. 2. Broadband/Fiber Discussion: Councilmember Powell explained we have had some emails and discussions with Bruce and introduced the City of Rexburg Mayor Woodland. Brian said he and Bruce have had some discussion and need to find some ways to expand the fiber network in the City of Ammon, and some options with how to work this with the State Legislators. There are a lot of communities in Idaho that are on the same path as we are with regard to broadband. Bruce distributed a copy of proposed changes to some legislation. Councilmember Powell explained the proposed changes were received from Dave Shaw which would allow municipalities through their own authority to develop telecommunications networks. Councilmember Coletti said these are not new sections; they are sections that just have some additional language. Ron said he believes this is new legislation, and asked Bruce to clarify. Bruce said he did not look at the existing sections, but was told that these are additions which would give some powers to us. Mayor Woodland said his Council has read this and presented it to their City attorney, and we are on the same page and they would definitely support this. Councilmember Powell asked Mayor Woodland how far along the City of Rexburg is with broadband, and did he know of any other cities that would be interested. Mayor Woodland said they are not that far along, but said they had a company that did an amazing study, and said the City of St. Anthony, Freemont County, and Teton County would join with them. Councilmember Powell asked if they are looking at a network that would expand outside of the City of Rexburg. Mayor Woodland said our sewer and water extends outside of the City of Rexburg so why not; its infrastructure. Councilmember Slack said he was late, because he was having a conversation with Jackie Flowers at the City of Idaho Falls, and said she is 100 percent on board. Councilmember Kirkham said that is excellent news because her conversation with Mayor elect Rebecca Casper was one of interest, 24 Council Minutes 12.12.2013 Page of but was uncertain; her next conversation is going to be with Jackie Flowers. Councilmember Powell said we all have a common interest as communities. Councilmember Kirkham said when she had her discussion with Mayor elect Rebecca Casper they plan on having a joint meeting of Councils the first part of February, and this is one of the items that they had planned to have on the agenda. Councilmember Powell said he thinks it would be helpful to get this legislation verbiage in the hands of the City of Idaho Falls as well. Councilmember Slack will send the language to Jackie. Councilmember Kirkham said Pocatello Mayor Blad is in transition, and there is a little apprehension because in his mind he connects this to the economic development that is outside of Grow Idaho Falls. Councilmember Kirkham said she thinks that Mayor Blad supports cities having their own infrastructure, but is not sure about a coalition. Discussion ensued regarding other communities to contact. Bruce said in speaking with Robert, he feels we have a very good partnership with Albion and that Silverstar has warmed up to us, and Freemont is looking at us very seriously. Bruce said there is an organization out there called ITA (Idaho Telephone Association), and believes if we present our motto in the fact that we don’t want to provide an end service they would see us as a partner and would support us. Bruce said we have our work cut out for us, but there is potential. Discussion ensued regarding the cities the Council would be contacting. The Council thanked Mayor Woodland for coming to the meeting. Councilmember Christensen said we are trying to organize a city effort from the bottom up, and really the way to do this is get Ken Harwood and the AIC (Association of Idaho Cities) on board and instead of gathering every city the AIC could push this through the channels. Councilmember Powell said the other component is the financing mechanism, and how it is going to get paid for. Councilmember Powell said Bruce has a very interesting financial model that is also being used in Brigham City Utah, and feels that this is what the Council will want to do. Bruce said there was an element within Brigham City that wanted into Utopia, and Utopia has an overwhelming burden of debt, and any City that comes in, the question they ask is do we have to help you pay your debt. Utopia has come to an agreement that says if you as a City come in at this point you are not responsible for their debt; you are only responsible for the debt associated with the build in your area. Bruce explained that Brigham City wanted to come in, and they wanted to do it under an LID. Bruce reported that Dave Shaw said the State of Utah has an interesting provision in that if they cannot pass an LID, they have a provision in their state law that they can voluntarily opt in. Discussion ensued regarding the voluntary opt in scenario. Ron said every year for the last several years there have been attempts to change the LID statute. Right now we can go in and we can say to people we want to put an LID in, the people can say no, and the Council can still vote to do it. Ron said so maybe the answer is to say, ok take the right away, but give us the opportunity to opt in because we don’t have that right now. 3. Misc.: One of the things Lance wanted to bring up is, as we move forward, getting stronger representation on the EIRWWA Board and making the Board function as a board is going to be increasingly more critical. Lance said for all of the Council that have spent some time on the board or in board meetings; if you can we need to get to a point where the board functions as a board, because we are getting to a tipping point where we need to do something quick. Lance said this has to do with the operation of the treatment plant. Councilmember Kirkham said the new hire that is about to occur should help. Discussion ensued. Councilmember Thompson said he hates to see our City take a step backwards, and we did last week when we changed our parking ordinance. Councilmember Thompson feels when a single developer comes before the Council and asks us to change an ordinance so they can make more money and we do that, it’s a problem. We represent the people who have elected us. Councilmember Thompson said he did his homework last week and went out and asked what people actually think. He would like the Council to ask twenty people where the worst parking is at. Councilmember Thompson said the twenty people he asked said that it’s the Edwards theatre area. Councilmember Thompson said because we have a minimum parking ordinance that says 9’ x 18’ doesn’t mean that every parking spot in Ammon should be that way or can be legislated that way, and we can make a difference. Ron explained that he talked to Scott Hall about the parking issue, and Scott said the Council could amend the ordinance to allow for slanted parking. Discussion ensued. 34 Council Minutes 12.12.2013 Page of Councilmember Slack moved to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m. ____________________________________________ Steve Fuhriman, Mayor ____________________________________________ Ron Folsom, City Clerk 44 Council Minutes 12.12.2013 Page of