Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Council Meeting - May 6, 2014

Work Session

Discussion on Community Recreation Center Sign on Canyon Road
Better sign needed for direction and to bring more awareness to the facility. Funding was approved for this in the FY 2014 budget. Options were presented for signs on Nielsen and on Canyon Road. Proposed sign for Canyon Road has LED portion for advertising of events and announcements. My preference is to not have the LED portion as this is a residential area, not commercial, and I feel the LED would give it too much of a commercial feel. I would like to get feedback from those who live in that area as to how they feel about the LED portion. Right now our sign ordinance does state that the following is prohibited “ANIMATED OR FLASHING SIGN: A sign that includes movement or optical illusion of movement or rotation of any part by mechanical, artificial or atmospheric means or a sign that displays flashing or intermittent lights. Time and temperature devices and banners and flags shall be exempted from this definition.”

Council Meeting

Public Comment
Angela Johnson – Blu Line has done their homework and she’s excited to see what is proposed to Highland. She is opposed to high density housing in our commercial area and wants it primarily commercial. Feels high density is contrary to design guidelines and city codes. We lose sales tax revenue and commercial property tax revenue if residential is built there. Feels Highland development will make our commercial area more attractive to commercial entities. We have very few businesses that generate sales tax and doesn’t want us to eliminate potential for future commercial growth. Would also like commercial developed before any mixed use development.

Deborah Gibbons – Have obtained 176 signatures on a petition asking that the Council not allow high density in our commercial zone. Wants us to stick with design guidelines that residential is secondary to commercial, and less than the commercial. Feels it is not appropriate use of our limited commercial space.

Budget Award Presentation
From the press release: On March 28, 2014 the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) presented the City of Cedar Hills with the GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR).

According to the GFOA, this certificate “is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.” This is the first year that Cedar Hills has received this certificate. The CAFR was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of GFOA’s program, including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the financial report.

“We wish to thank Mr. Louw and our entire financial team for performing all of the work required to obtain this prestigious award,” stated Mayor Gary Gygi. “We are fortunate to have excellent people working for the City and are happy they are being recognized for their hard work and dedication.”

As the person responsible for preparing the award-winning CAFR, Finance Director Charl Louw will be recognized at the May 6, 2014 City Council meeting, which is held at the Cedar Hills Community Recreation Center, 10640 N. Clubhouse Drive, at 7:00pm.

The Government Finance Officers Association is a nonprofit professional association serving over 17,500 government finance professionals throughout North America.

Consent Agenda
The minutes from the April 1, 2014 City Council Meeting were approved.

City Reports
CM Rees – The Easter Egg hunt was once again a huge success and we thank the YCC and all volunteers who spent hours putting eggs together. Mayor Gygi and I presented awards to YCC members at Lone Peak at the Night of Recognition. I will be working with the YCC advisor and staff member to interview candidates for next years YCC members. The Family Festival Committee continues to be very busy. The activities will be as follows: Saturday June 21st is the AF half marathon and 5k, Monday the 23rd is Swim Night at the PG pool (dinner will be provided by Macey’s), Tuesday is the Firecracker Golf Tournament, Wednesday is our first annual Community Service Project where we will be assembling hygiene kits for women in Mexico, Friday is the 1 mile fun run, Dinner & Movie in the park, and the Carnival, Saturday is the parade and carnival. The theme is “There’s No Place Like Home”. Nathan Osmond will be performing Saturday night and kicking off our summer concert series. Herb Wilkinson is our Grand Marshal. One press release was issued regarding the awards earned by our Finance department.

David Bunker – TSSD board met and approved a rate increase beginning July 1st of 13.8%. This is to meet debt obligations. Tball registration continues through this week. Soccer registration is now open. Resident Golf Appreciation Day is this Saturday. Governor Herbert has declared May Utah Golf Month.

Mayor Gygi – Met with County Commissioners regarding Canyon Road and will meet again to discuss ownership of the road. He will be attending Highland Council meeting to make a proposal for annexing property where the golf shed is currently located.

CM Crawley – Parks and Trails had their service project last Saturday. Chose 5 families in need for landscaping service. There were several volunteers who participated. Finance Committee met and discussed changes in budget that will be presented tonight.

CM Augustus – One staff member at North Pointe has resigned after making allegations regarding other staff members. Will have more info later.

CM Geddes – Planning Commission met and those items will be discussed tonight.

Discussion on Decisions Survey
Staff updated the City Council on the timeline and process to complete the Decisions Survey as prepared by the Cicero group (Dan Jones & Associates). This is a bi-annual survey done to get feedback from residents on a variety of topics. It is intended that the feedback can be used for decisions moving forward. Last survey was done in 2011. Sending a postcard will allow every resident the opportunity to take the survey online. Goal is 300 interviews, though more is always better.

TIMELINE:
1:            April 28 - May 2 Review and Update Questionnaire
2:            May 5 - 9 Program, QA, and Pretest. Design Postcard
3-4:        May 12 - 16 Field Questionnaire, May 19 - 23 *Phone *Email * City of Cedar Hills sends postcard
5:            May 26 - 30 Post-coding and analysis
6:            June 2 - 6 Reporting

Review/Action on Preliminary Plan for Amsource Property, located on the corner of North County Blvd and Cedar Hills Drive
Nobody signed up for the public hearing. Amsource has submitted preliminary plans for review to the City Council for consideration. The Amsource property is located at 4800 W Cedar Hills Drive. The proposal includes the construction of an American First Credit Union, and an additional two retail pads. Amsource has submitted the required studies to the City, and paid the application fee. Amsource is hoping to break ground as soon as possible in order to have the retail pads open for the coming holiday season. The credit union is planned for 2015. Bill Gaskell from Amsource presented. They currently have retailers interested in the two retail buildings and leases will be completed once approval is received.

Of concern to the City is the construction of the access road that runs adjacent to the Smart property and the Amsource property. The entrance to that road is on the Smart property, but staff recommends that the road should need to be installed in order for Amsource to build according to their plans. Amsource is currently discussing this with the Smart family. They are willing to acquire that portion of land needed for the road. Chief Freeman’s concern is that currently the only access point to the area from the Cedar Hills fire station is from North County Blvd onto 10400 North.

Preliminary plans were approved contingent upon two of the crosswalks being raised and additional landscaping along 10040 North and the future road.

Review/Action on FY 2014 Budget Amendments
Motor Vehicle Fee, Delinquent taxes, Interest re-allocation based on property tax rates. In the past, motor vehicle taxes, delinquent taxes, and penalties & interest have all gone to the General Fund. Instead it should be going to the Golf Fund as the property tax rate for the General Fund is different than the tax rate to cover the golf course bond. This shows as a separate line item on resident property tax notices. Those three tax sources are based upon debt levy, so this will be separated moving forward.

General Fund
10-31-150            Motor vehicle taxes $36,410 decrease
10-31-200            Delinquent taxes $9,930 decrease
10-31-250            Penalties & Interest $166 decrease

Golf Debt Service Fund
30-31-103            Motor vehicle taxes $36,410 increase
30-31-104            Delinquent taxes $9,930 increase
30-31-105            Penalties & Interest $166 increase

Revenue adjustment from construction related activities, grants, and garbage collection

General Fund
10-32-200            Building Permits $25,000 increase due to Bridgestone project
10-32-210            Plan Check Fees $7,000 increase due to Bridgestone project
10-33-450            Emergency Management Grant $7,500 increase
10-34-110            Garbage Fees $20,000 increase due to houses with 2 or more garbage cans
10-34-120            Recycling fees $5,000 increase due to new growth

Capital Projects Fund
40-30-100            Impact fees-park development $32,000 increase due to Bridgestone
40-30-110            Impact fees-park land $110,000 increase due to Bridgestone
40-30-130            Impact fees-public safety $13,000 increase due to Bridgestone
40-30-140            Impact fees-streets $7,000 increase due to Bridgestone

Water & Sewer Fund
51-37-350            Impact fees-water $35,000 increase due to Bridgestone
51-38-115            Sewer fees-nonresident $35,000 increase due to meter relocation
51-38-160            Sewer lateral inspection $1,600 increase due to Bridgestone
51-38-670            Impact fees-sewer $15,000 increase due to Bridgestone

Higher activity for event rentals, recreation programs, and change in staffing

General Fund
10-35-112            Event center rentals $15,000 increase
10-35-130            Park reservations $2,500 increase (this is a newly created account)
10-65-110            Salary & wages (FT) $38,280 decrease due to elimination of a position
10-65-120            Salary & wages (PT) $9,000 increase as replaced FT person with PT person
10-65-150            Employee benefits $6,700 increase
10-65-200            Materials & supplies $8,000 increase for linens and blinds
10-65-300            Rec expenses-fitness classes $28,000 increase as contract was finalized after budget approved
10-65-400            Rec programs $7,000 increase in gym rentals
10-65-401            Rec equipment $15,000 decrease
10-65-601            Other events $1,500 increase for summer concert series
10-65-610            Advertising $2,950 increase for wedding expo and contract with Sammy
10-65-620            Building maintenance $8,000 increase in cleaning and maintenance

Golf adjustments due to higher utility costs and trades for services

Golf Fund
20-30-500            Snack shack & concession revenues $5,500 increase
20-43-290            Communications/telephone $1,000 increase
20-50-200            Utilities $10,000 increase (expected savings in electric bill for new carts wasn’t realized)
20-50-500            Snack shack & concession expenses $4,500 increase
20-60-100            Repair & maintenance-course $4,000 decrease
20-50-100            Golf supplies $5,000 decrease
20-70-100            Dues & subscriptions $1,000 decrease
20-30-600            Corporate season passes $22,500 increase
20-60-100            Repairs & maintenance-course $7,500 increase
20-70-600            Advertising $15,000 increase  
This item was approved.

Review/Action Adopting Tentative Budget for FY 2015
The City reviewed the revenues and expenses proposed for the Golf Fund for the 2014-2015 Budget. The City is also required to approve a tentative budget for 2014-2015 by the first Council Meeting in May based on Utah Code 10-6-135. As the Council is aware, the final budget will not be approved until June, so there is still time to review any questions or concerns. Here is a summary:

New or Increased Expenses
·         Fund 10 & 51 public works full-time staffing approximately $30,000 combined increase
·         10-62-440 Road maintenance increases $10,000
·         40-78-732 Harvey boulevard roundabout $300,000 (This is a placeholder as it hasn’t yet been researched or presented to the Council. Would be paid for with impact fees).
·         Fund 51 Secondary meters design, installation, and related financing $1,500,000 (This is also a placeholder as more research needs to be done). Requested that Siemens come present to the Council again and also get an analysis on what it would cost for the city to do it on our own.
·         10-55-400 American Fork Police annual contract increases 3.5%
·         10-55-300 Fire Services-Lone Peak increase estimated at 4.2% but still waiting for LPPSD board approval so number could change
·         Fund 10, 20, and 51 City employee merit estimated increase 3%
·         Fund 10, 20, and 51 Employee healthcare market estimated increases 6%
·         40-95-135 Golf maintenance shed $300,000 (This is a placeholder as bids need to be obtained)
·         10-65-601 Other events/Cultural Arts Committee—concerts, quarterly breakfasts, $4,200 increase
·         10-64-245 Beautification, Recreation, Parks, and Trails Citizen Advisory Committee projects $1,200 increase
·         10-64-240 Park maintenance contract increases and new projects $18,100 increase
·         40-80-817 Bayhill park phase 1 $50,000 (would include a playground area towards the street and some grass in that area, on the south side of the lot)
·         51-73-330 Professional/Technical for water to increase $40,000 (This is a placeholder to cover costs of design and study for metering PI water)

Reduced or Eliminated Expenses
·         Allocation of motor vehicle fees, delinquent taxes, interest causes $50,000 decrease to debt levy property tax rates 30-31-101 & 30-31-102
·         Fund 51 delayed Canyon Road sewer project decrease $400,000
·         51-74-470 absorbed TSSD rate increase of 13.8% or approximately $63,000 increase in costs, and delayed Bowen & Collins sewer rate increases for 1 year
·         10-40-331 Decisions survey $10,000 decrease
·         10-40-510 Insurance $12,000 decrease (General Liability insurance and property)
·         10-45-400 Elections $12,000 decrease
·         10-40-305 Legal services $5,000 decrease
·         10-40-240 Computer/IT services $3,000 decrease
·         10-40-290 Communications/Telephone $5,000 decrease
·         10-69-913 Subsidy to Golf fund reduced $26,853 (I have requested that this go back to the Finance Committee. I am worried that anticipating golf revenues higher than last year and a subsidy lower than any prior year is unrealistic and puts us in a bad situation late in the budget year of having to cut other items in order to cover a higher than anticipated subsidy).

This was approved.

Discussion on Blu Line Proposal
Doug Young and Blu Line have presented a potential proposal to the Planning Commission regarding the property located at 4600 W Cedar Hills Dr. Doug has held a neighborhood meeting and has solicited feedback from staff, residents, Planning Commissioners, and City Council members in order to address the various concerns raised by this project. Doug would like to continue that discussion with the City Council tonight. The current proposal has reduced the number of units to around 250, and removed the 4th floor.

Chandler has contacted the Utah County Assessor regarding how the facility would be taxed. Previously it was indicated that it would be taxed at a commercial rate, which is how it is taxed in Salt Lake County. Utah County has indicated it would be taxed at a residential rate, not a commercial rate. There was misinformation provided in past meetings as to how this facility would be taxed as the information obtained wasn’t clear.

Blu Line is planning on bidding on acquiring property on the Highland side in the development recently approved by the State. Likes the proposal for an east/west connection to Highland as it will improve access to our commercial area. Blu Line is willing to pay for an economic analysis for the Smart property and city-owned property to determine how the property could be developed and to figure out what actual possibilities exist, just as was done on the Highland side.

Resident Deborah Gibbons provided the Council with a petition signed by 176 residents who are opposed to high density/residential in our commercial area.

CM Zappala – Likes idea of having a street from the Highland Development into the middle of our commercial area better than what State has proposed. Plans on speaking with Alpine School District to discuss their concerns regarding the Highland area proposal. Encourages Blu Line to do their development of a senior facility on the Highland side as it’s a better fit for what they are trying to do. CM Zappala has highlighted some key points in City Code regarding our commercial zone. His complete analysis can be found on his blog at http://cedarhillsblog.org/another-review-of-city-code/ and I encourage residents to read it. Feels our code needs to be updated to be more clear as it doesn’t discuss congregate care facilities and whether or not they are/should be allowed and where.

CM Augustus – Has spent a lot of time researching options for our commercial area. Many entities expressed that our commercial area is less than ideal due to our location and limited pull radius. Everyone he has talked to indicates that our area is not prime commercial real estate. Best possible location is right along North County Blvd. The Smart property is the least likely area for commercial development as it can’t be seen from main road and will be behind any businesses located on North County Blvd. Lexington Heights building has a difficult time keeping tenants and building full. Commercial doesn’t always bring commercial, especially in that back lot. Limited as to what types of businesses will want to be there as it’s hard to compete with Walmart. Looking for something that is viable for that area.

I appreciate Doug’s willingness to listen to feedback from the Council and from residents and to make changes. However, I agree with concerns that Daniel brings up with regards to city code, but I also agree with Trent that this isn’t an ideal commercial spot. I recognize that I sit at this table to represent residents and I can’t ignore a petition signed by 176 residents and all of the residents who’ve reached out via email and in neighborhood meetings. I haven’t seen overwhelming support for the facility but have received a lot of feedback opposed to high density and opposed to this facility. There are concerns regarding the code and regarding the location, but the number one driving factor for me is resident input and 98% of the feedback I’ve received from residents has been opposition to high density or mainly residential in the commercial zone.

CM Geddes – Feels this is a good facility and good for this area. Understands that many residents are opposed but feels many who signed the petition may not be fully informed. Feels government should be less involved and property owners have rights. Feels a lot of time has been wasted.

Discussion on Canyon Road

Nothing has changed from the last update.  

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