City Council Meeting - March 17, 2015

Work Session

2015 Legislative Update from Rep. Mike Kennedy

Gas tax was a complex and difficult fight, but did pass in the end so gas tax will go up. Property taxes will go up. Anti-discrimination bill passed, though it was also a heated debate. He found it interesting that some parties were exempted and are allowed to discriminate, such as small duplex owners. Increase in funding for public education was also approved.

Discussion on Roberts Rules of Order

Postponed for future meeting.

Council Meeting

Public Comment

Keith Hansen - Has been running and riding in foothills and notices a trend of increased trash, fires, and constant barrage of gunfire. Has been told there is nothing the city can do about it if on BLM lands. Last fall a bullet went right passed his head when he was riding his bike and that was the breaking point for him. Has talked with others and people are expressing their fear of being in the foothills because of the gunfire. No other city has informal shooting range and most of those shooting there are not Cedar Hills residents. He states that the bulk of the shooting is within city limits based upon his research. He wants city to enforce the laws that are already in place. Feels this will alleviate the noise, trash, and danger. 

Mayor Gygi stated he is working with Forest Service to figure out a better way to indicate the boundary between the city limits and BLM land. 

Russ Holindrake - If boundary line is made clear, it still doesn't alleviate the danger and litter that is up there.  

Consent Agenda

Minutes from the February 17, 2015 and March 3, 2015 City Council meetings were approved.

City Reports

CM Rees – No updates today.

David Bunker - Starting in April we will have some community classes regarding gardening, irrigation, and fertilization. More info is available on the city's website. In August we will have a canning class. In October the classes will be on winterizing yards. Additionally, another community class will be held to discuss soil management, which starts April 15th. Annual Easter Egg Hunt starts April 3rd at 8:30pm for the teens, then the kid egg hunt on Saturday at Heritage Park at 9:00am. YCC held first Superhero Day last week. Teen soccer registration just ended and this is in conjunction with AF City. Golf course is now open after Questar was doing work. Questar continues to work on Bayhill, Cedar Hills Drive, and Canyon Road. Spring clean-up will be in April and dumpsters will be available. Horrocks is doing their annual blood drive on April 7th. TSSD meets this Thursday. 

CM Zappala - No updates today.

Mayor Gygi - Wants to clear the air on a few issues that have been brought up on social media sites. First, MAG money that was allocated for Canyon Road is still available and can't be used for other items the County may want, even though County now owns Canyon Road. For example, this money can't be reallocated to BRT. The other item is the American Fork Vision Project, which is looking at long term solutions for the recreation and access to American Fork Canyon. Major stakeholders are part of the steering committee, including local, state, and federal officials, UDOT, UTA, Save Our Canyons, etc. They are looking at issues that may arise with population growth that is expected to occur in Utah County through 2050. 

CM Crawley - No updates today.

CM Geddes - Attended Utah Valley Dispatch meeting. Biggest thing they need is more employees. Having a hard time finding qualified individuals. CM Geddes volunteered to be on the building committee for the new dispatch center that is being built. 

CM Augustus - No updates today.

Discussion on FY2016 Golf Fund and Golf Debt Service Fund

Charl gave us a spreadsheet showing how we compare with regards to green fees with other courses. This included Fox Hollow, East Bay, Thanksgiving Point, Sleepy Ridge, Talons Cove, Spanish Oaks, Hobble Creek, and Ranches, and we are very competitively priced. Also showed revenues and expenses for each course, with their associated subsidies or profits. Most are subsidized.

Highlights for this fund:

• Overall revenue is increasing $57,337, with approximately $50,000 of that being an increase in the expected subsidy from other funds. Expected subsidy is $160,000, where the subsidy for last year was $110,363. Part of this comes from new equipment that will be purchased.
• Utilities show an increase of $31,000 based on State Auditor's requirement of showing what is used for water and sewer. The same thing is being done for parks and other open space. This isn't an actual increase in usage but a different way to show how much of the city utilities are being used by the golf course. 
• Increase of $13,020 as a transfer to the Motor Pool Fund shows expenses needed for new equipment that was previously approved. 

Review/Action on Bid for Harvey Well Rehabilitation Project

The City has advertised plans and specifications for the Harvey Well Rehabilitation Project. There has been a drop in production and there are some concerns with this well. Bids were received in a public bid opening on Monday March 16, 2015, in anticipation of awarding the project during City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2015. The scope of the project will include the redevelopment and testing of the Harvey well, including well cleaning, observation, pumping, and possible treatment program. The project shall be awarded to the lowest responsive bidder. Qualifications and requirements of bidders, including bonding, will be reviewed and presented by Bowen & Collins, Associates. This project is time sensitive due to the need to provide consistent, clean drinking water to water customers in the system. 

There were four bids received. Water Well Services was the lowest bid at $83,780. Staff recommended we go with Water Well Services. This was approved.

I recused myself from voting as my husband's employer was one of the companies that submitted a bid, though they were not the recommended vendor.

Discussion on RFQ for Professional Services

As directed by the City Council, staff has prepared, advertised, and received Requests for Qualifications from qualified firms in four areas of professional services. Five firms submitted proposals for building inspection and plan review. Eight firms submitted proposals for general engineering services. Seven firms submitted proposals for financial auditing services. Seven firms submitted proposals for legal services. 

Staff will work on a comparison spreadsheet for each one so that we can better review each submitter and better compare each response. This will also include staff recommendations. CM Zappala gave several recommendations on what this comparison spreadsheet should include and what questions are still outstanding.