Minutes of the Centerville City Council meeting held Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Centerville City Council Chambers, 250 North Main Street, Centerville, Utah.

MEMBERS PRESENT

Mayor                        Ronald G. Russell

Council Members  Justin Y. Allen
                                  Paul A. Cutler
                                  Sherri Lyn Lindstrom
                                  Lawrence Wright
 
MEMBERS ABSENT
 
                                  Ken Averett

STAFF PRESENT

                                  Steve Thacker, City Manager
                                  Blaine Lutz, Finance Director/Assistant City Manager
                                  Randy Randall, Public Works Director
                                  Bruce Cox, Parks and Recreation Director
                                  Lisa Romney, City Attorney
                                  Kathy Streadbeck, Recording Secretary 

VISITORS

                                   Interested Citizens

PRAYER/THOUGHT Councilman Lawrence Wright

OPEN SESSION

No comment.

PRESENTATION

The City Council recognized Jim Palmer for his six years of service on the Centerville Planning Commission. 

MINUTES REVIEW AND APPROVAL

The minutes of the City Council meeting held December 15, 2009 were reviewed and amended. Councilman Wright made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Lindstrom and passed by unanimous vote (4-0).

SUMMARY ACTION CALENDAR

a. Accept quit-claim deed for 100 South Street Extension from Deuel Creek Irrigation Company.
b. Commence Warranty Period - Chase Lane Village Phase 2 Amended.

Councilman Allen made a motion to approve items a & b on the Summary Action Calendar above. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Lindstrom and passed by unanimous vote (4-0).

PRESENTATION – Green Waste Recycling Program offered by Solid Waste District 

Nathan Rich, General Manager of Wasatch Integrated Waste Management District, reviewed the facilities and services provided by the District. About 50% of commercial garbage and 70% of residential garbage is currently diverted from landfills and recycled into usable energy and/or product. The District is currently constructing a new recycle drop-off center, where citizens can drop-off their own recyclable materials. This facility is scheduled to open in April 2010.

Mr. Rich reviewed a new Green Waste Collection program that was launched in Fruit Heights City this past year. This program included a new green garbage can at each participating residence. The can was used for green waste only (i.e., grass clippings, leaves, branches, etc.) and was collected weekly. This service was offered in Fruit Heights from April to November. Residents have been allowed to use this additional can for regular household garbage during the off-season months (December-March). Mr. Rich said a similar program could be implemented in Centerville City this year. The City would need to consult with their current hauler to work out the details of collection and cost. The District suggests the cost of the green waste can be less than the cost of a second regular garbage can. An opt-out program should also be permitted. Mr. Rich said Fruit Height residents were allowed to opt-out and back-in if desired. This caused some shuffling of cans for about a month, but allowed residents their preference. The Fruit Heights program produced about 15% recycling for green waste. This was greater than expected for the first year of this new program.

The Council discussed some pros and cons of a green waste program. It seems a worthwhile endeavor, but the logistics and economics may prove otherwise. Some expressed concern with the possibility of three cans (garbage, recycling, and green waste) at each residence. However, this is typical throughout America, where recycling is mandatory. Several Council members felt a green waste program is worth pursuing. The recent implementation of a recycling program has prepared citizens and there may be some interested in this type of program. The Council questioned if a green waste program would eliminate the annual spring clean-up and allow that budget to be utilized elsewhere or in conjunction with a new program. These are all issues that would need to be researched and discussed further.

Mayor Russell said he does not see any negatives to offering a green waste program to residents if it can be provided at a reasonable cost. He suggested staff meet with the City’s current hauler and research possible scenarios for cost and collection. Councilman Allen asked staff to also discuss the possibilities of weekly collection of the recycle can with the hauler instead of the current bi-weekly collection.

CENTERVILLE CEMETERY

Steve Thacker, City Manager, distributed an addendum to the cemetery expansion proposal. Staff has reconfigured the placement of possible plots. The proposed re-configuration would allow for an additional 94 plots and would also increase the Perpetual Care Fund by about $50,000. Mr. Thacker said the necessary amendments have been prepared for approval by the City Council. The amendments include those items discussed in previous meetings.

Bruce Cox, Parks and Recreation Director, explained the new configuration utilizes the curve of the property on the east end, allowing for more plots. This scenario will not remove any trees from the site and will leave a 10-foot buffer around every tree. Mr. Cox explained survey markers will need to be placed on the site to enable the exact location of each plot. This will require some cost for surveying. Staff intends to reserve about 1/3 of the new burial area--on the west end--for double-depth burials.  This location has the least amount of grade changes. Double-depth burial plots may be purchased following an unassigned space program as discussed in the past. Individuals wishing to purchase a double-depth plot will get two spaces (top and bottom) for the price of one. However, they will still be required to pay two perpetual care fees and two interment fees.

Councilwoman Lindstrom suggested any single plots left over in the older part of the cemetery be offered at a discounted rate. Mr. Cox said these single plots will be sold eventually; they will just not sell as quickly as the new area.

Mr. Thacker asked the Council for discretion as to when the City may start selling plots within this new area. He said it is not possible for staff to start selling plots immediately. It will take some time to get the site surveyed and marked. It will also take time to set-up this new area in the computer system. He explained there is a waiting list for purchasing plots and as soon as staff is prepared they will start calling those on the list. The proposed amendments allow any one household to purchase up to eight (8) plots.

Councilman Cutler made a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2010-01 amending various sections of the Centerville Municipal Code pertaining to the City Cemetery, approve Resolution No. 2010-01 amending Centerville City Fee Schedule regarding cemetery fees, and allow staff the discretion as to when plots within the new area may be available for purchase. The motion was seconded by Councilman Allen and passed by unanimous vote (4-0).

PRESENTATION/DISCUSSION – City’s Street Light System

Randy Randall, Public Works Director, reported staff has spent several months studying and auditing Centerville’s street lights. This was initiated because there have been some discrepancies with ownership and billing of services from Rocky Mountain Power in the past. Rocky Mountain Power’s database and Centerville’s database did not match. There were several ownership issues and some light poles that were either not working or did not exist at all in either one or both databases. There is now a consensus between Centerville and Rocky Mountain Power on ownership, services, and cost. As a result of this study it appears Rocky Mountain has over charged Centerville for the past several years and has agreed to reimburse Centerville for those discrepancies (approximately $9,000). Future monthly bills will also be reduced by several hundred dollars.  
Mr. Randall reviewed the different types of street lights throughout the city and the cost of installing and running those lights. It is important to have street lights, but there may be some cost savings that can occur. Changing how the lights are maintained can lower the total cost for the street light system. It was also found that metered lights cost more over time. Staff will be implementing some changes to how the lighting system is run and maintained. Staff also intends to map (by GPS) all underground lines in order to minimize the number of lines that are accidentally cut. Staff now feels they have a good handle on Centerville’s street light system and a working database for future decisions.

MAYOR’S REPORT

No report at this time.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Staff asked the Council to review the Summary of 2009 Projects and Issues and the Summary of Possible Projects and Issues for 2010. This list will be a resource in the near future as the Council sets goals.

Staff distributed a copy of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report to each Council member for review. The auditors will present the Report’s highlights at the January 19th meeting.

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS

ULCT Local Officials Day at the Legislature will be held on January 27, 2010. All Council members are invited to attend.

The Council discussed the possibility of holding a work session to discuss options for implementing a voluntary special assessment area and other issues with regard to UTOPIA. Staff suggested the Council hold off at this time, until more information becomes available. 

Councilman Allen reported Senator Bob Bennett will be visiting Centerville City Hall tomorrow, January 6, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. The Council is invited to attend.

APPOINTMENTS/COMMITTEES

Mayor Russell said the Council needs to appoint one Council member to be a representative on the Davis Cultural Arts Association Board and one member to be a representative on the Wasatch Integrated Waste Management District Board. He said he would be willing to serve on the first but asked if someone else is willing to serve on the latter. Councilwoman Lindstrom offered to serve on the latter board.

Councilman Allen made a motion to appoint Mayor Russell to serve as Centerville’s representative on the Davis Cultural Arts Association Board and appoint Councilwoman Lindstrom as a representative on the Wasatch Integrated Waste Management District Board. The motion was seconded by Councilman Cutler and passed by unanimous vote (4-0).

Councilman Wright suggested the Mayor be appointed to the UTOPIA Board as Centerville's representative.  There was some discussion but no action on this suggestion.

Mayor Russell said he has interviewed both Dean E. Christensen and Timothy D. Hawkes and suggested appointing both to the Historic Sites Committee. He also asked the Council to go into a closed meeting to discuss other possible appointments.

Councilman Cutler made a motion to appoint Dean E. Christensen and Timothy D. Hawkes to the Historic Sites Committee. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Lindstrom and passed by unanimous vote (4-0).

Councilman Allen made a motion to go into a closed meeting to discuss the character and competency of individuals. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Lindstrom and passed by unanimous vote (4-0).

CLOSED MEETING

At 9:26 p.m. a closed meeting was held to discuss the character and competency of individuals. In attendance were: Ronald G. Russell, Mayor; Council members Allen, Cutler, Lindstrom, and Wright; Steve Thacker, City Manager; Blaine Lutz, Finance Director; Lisa Romney, City Attorney; Kathy Streadbeck, Recording Secretary.

RECOVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

At 9:41 p.m. the regular City Council meeting was reconvened and adjourned.

_____________________________________  _______1-19-2010_________
 Marilyn Holje, City Recorder                                                    Date Approved

_____________________________________
Kathleen Streadbeck, Recording Secretary