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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-02-08city council minutesBook 29 SPECIAL MEETING February 8, 1988 12:00 Noon The Meeting was called to order by Mayor Fete Cowles. Page 31 The Mayor requested that everyone stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The Roll of the City Council was called with the following members present: Raymond, winder, Houchins, Mallea, Jarboe, and Straight. Absent: none. (RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH THE ASSESSMENTS FOR THE CALDWE'LL MUNICIPAL IRRIGATION SYSTEM FOR THE YEAR) The Mayor explained that there was just one item on the Agenda for this Special Meeting. Pursuant to Idaho State Code 50 -1807, the second Monday of February of each year is designated as the time for the Mayor and City Council to meet and make an estimate of the necessary funds for the expenses of maintaining, operating, improving, extending and enlarging the City irrigation system for the ensuing calendar year. Members of the City Council have received information from the Staff with regard to this issue. The Mayor further said that he would ask the City Engineer to give a brief introduction at this time. Mr. Redmond stated that this vrocess started last October when the Council proceeded to adopt an operational budget for the City. At that time, the Council adopted a budget for the Irrigation Department in the amount of $297,990.00 which provided for Capital Improvements. These improvements have not been provided until the last couple of years. The intent was to earmark a certain dollar amount that could be counted on over a period of time to use to reconstructing the City's irrigation system. The system was in extremely bad condition at this tire. At the last meeting, a review was given to the Council of what types of revenues it would take in order to balance the budget. The District has been faced with several detriments; approximately 8o accounts withdrew from the District which reduced the revenue base by approximately $15,900 annually and additionally, there was a significant increase in delinquent payments which also drained on the funds available. In evaluating the alternatives available as far as revenues or assessments, the withdrawals and delinquencies had to be taken into consideration. A menu was prepared demonstrating how much the rates needed to be increased in order to generate the funds needed to operate the budget as adopted. A copy of this menu is attached to the minutes as Fxhibit A. mr. Redmond placed this menu on an overhead projector for the benefit of the City Council members and the audience explaining the existing rate schedule and the proposals for an increase in rates. The Mayor requested that Councilman Winder read the Resolution in full as follows- u3SOLUTION FIXING ASSESSMENTS OF THE CALDWELL MUNICIPAL IRRIGATION SYSTEM FOR THE YEAR,. WHEREAS, this is the time provided by statute for levying an assessment of the necessary funds for expenses of maintaining, operating, improv; -ng, extending and enlarging the water works and system of "The Caldwell Municipal. Irrigation System" for the ensuing fiscal year, upon all lands within said "Caldwell Municipal Irrigation System "; and WHEREAS, It appearing to the Mayor and City Council of the City of Caldwell, Canyon County, Idaho, that the City Clerk, as assessor of such irrigation system, prior to the Book 29 Page 32 fourth Monday in January of the year 1988, prepared the Assessment Boole of said irrigation system according to statutes providing therefore; and WHEREAS, It appearing to the Mayor and City Council of the City of Caldwell, that the estimate amount of money necessary for said purposes, for the use of said municipal irrigation system, for the ensuing fiscal year, beginning October 1, 1987, and ending September 30, - 1988, as provided by the estimate on file in this office, is the sum of $ 297,990.00 and WHEREAS, It has been determined that the size of a lot for assessment purposes shall be 3,000 square feet. WHEREAS, Based on aforementioned estimate, each lot would be assessed at and each acre at and WHEREAS, It has been determined that all property shall be assessed at a per lot basis with the exception of pro=perty that is used by the general public, such as schools, municipal parks, and golf courses; and private property when there is sufficient adjacent vacant property under one ownership to aggregate more than three fourths of one acre, may be charged on an acreage basis. WHEREAS, the "Caldwell Municipal Irrigation System" shall include all or part of the following: Calloway Addition Arlington Addition Blatchley Boone Addition College Height Addition Dever's Addition Dorman's Addition Fair Acres Addition Foote Addition Hasbrouck's Addition Memorial Park Addition Mountain View Addition Mountain view Addition ll2 New Home Addition Original Townsite Second Parkside Addition Pasley Addition Steunenberg Acreage Strahorn Addition Washington Height, Steunenberg and Hand Addition Third Parkside Addition Goandu Addition The following land will be assessed in the Calloway Addition of the City of Caldwell: All Block 2 -- excepting therefrom State Department of Transportation right of way. Block 3 - Excepting therefrom State Department of Transportation right of way and an allowance for Indian Creek. And such unplatted lands that are within the boundaries of the Caldwell Municipal Irrigation District; and WHEREAS, the assessments herein levied shall become due and payable at the time and in the manner provided by law; and WHEREAS, on the 7th day of March, 1988, at the hour of 7:30 p.m., the Mayor and Council will meet as a Board of Correction to review and correct assessments as provided by statute. NOW, THEREFORE, it is ordered, and this does order the following, to -wit: (1) That the assessments for operation and maintenance of the Caldwell Municipal Irrigation District for the ensuing fiscal year beginning October 1, 1987, and ending September 30, 1988, total and be in the amount of $ 297,990.00. Book 29 Page 33 (2) That each lot will. be assessed at the rate of per lot and each acre will be assessed at the rate of per acre. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That within five days after the Mayor and Council shall have adjourned as a Board of Correction, the Clerk shall complete the assessment books and certify the same, and deliver said books to the City Treasurer, who shall publish a notice in the official newspaper of said City, that assessments herein levied shall be due and payable on or before April 1st, 1988, and that such notice shall be so published twice at intervals of not less than six days. After the presentation of the Resolution by Councilman winder, the Mayor stated that he would recognize anyone from the audience who cared to address the City Council on this item. George Wolff, M.D., 2120 Idaho Avenue; Bill Moore, 2314 South Indiana; Vernon and Edith Smith, 1912 Colorado Street; and Wayne Hopper, 604 East Logan were recognized. The City Staff answered and explained several of their questions. The tape of this meeting will be held in the Office of the City Clerk for six months. The Mayor then asked the City Council for their comments and for action on the Resolution to establish the rates for the Irrigation District. There was a great deal of discussion regarding the finances necessary, possible solutions to the financing problems, the ability for the City employees to enter private property for repairs, and the pros and cons of the pressure system. Councilwoman Mallea pointed out that she voted for the increase in rates two years ago as she felt it was essential, she agreed with the Staff that the ideal way was to pass a three and a half million dollar total system improvement, but voted against it because she did not think the town could afford it. She further said that the ideal way was to raise the rates to create funding and proceed with the project, but she did not think this could be afforded either. She agreed that no matter what the Council determined, they were going to be wrong. There was three options: to repair what the City has, to go a pressure irrigation system, and to do nothing. The third option waswhat they determined last year. Mrs. Mallea addressed the various monies available at this time as well as possibilities for increasing the monies for the District. It was Councilwoman's suggestion that the City proceed with the project, create the funds, and not raise the rates at this time. Councilman Raymond stated that the question was raised as to whether too much money was used for M. & 0. He asked the City Engineer if the work rules established by the Council at their last meeting would help solve this problem. Mr. Redmond said that it would help, but the Council did need to approve Proposal �2 with the 9.4% increase to balance the budget. Councilman Winder stated that he could sense a great deal of frustration on the part of the patrons. There was a lot of temporary work being done at this time which increased the M. & O. expenditures. Also, they were repairing and replacing pipe to make it a practical repair application instead of a temporary situation, One patron suggested to him that the users of the system establish their own irrigation district outside of the City Government. Mr. Winder further said that he thought there was funds available that could be used to at least start on the pressure system by an area at a time. He was not convinced that a large increase in the assessment rate was necessary. Councilman Raymond was recognized stating that he thought there was no other choice but to accept Proposal #2. Therefore, it was MOVED by Raymond that the City Council accept Proposal #2 for a 13% increase in the irrigation rates. The motion died for a lack of a second. Book 29 Pace 34 Councilwoman Mallea MOVED to keep_ the ,previous rates as established (no increase) and establish Capital Improvement funds to be used for a regional pressurized irrigation system. SECONDED by Jarboe. Again, the Council had extensive discussion regarding the funding and the monies for the Capital Improvement Fund. One of the possibilities expressed was to charge a fee for drainage to those people who have petitioned out of the Caldwell Municipal. Irrigation District. It was pointed out that the Council was already on record in favor of a pressurized system. Councilman Raymond stated that he could not support this motion. Capital Improvement money was for City wide projects and the Irrigation District was only a small portion of the City. Further discussion ensued with regard to what could actually be done if there was no raise in the rates at this time. The City Engineer informed the Council that they were applying for a Grant, but he would have to reevaluate the situation if the rates were not increased. Mr. Redmond did state that the problems in the District were not going to be overcome quickly, but would take a long period of time to solve. If there was not an increase, it will just take that much longer. Also, if there was an increase, they could never repair all of the problems this year. Mr. Redmond pointed out the portions of the District that should be considered as the priority areas in beginning the installation of the pressure system. After more discussion regarding the funding, the Mayor asked for a vote on the motion as made. Those voting yes: Mallea and Jarboe. Those voting no: Straight, Ravmond, Winder, and Houchins. Absent and not voting: none. MOTION DENIED MOVED by Raymond, SECONDED by Straight that the City Council accept Proposal #2 at a thirteen percent increase. The Mayor asked for a roll call vot.e. Those voting yes: Raymond and Straight. Those voting no: Winder, Houchins, Mallea, and Jarboe. Absent and not voting: none. MOTION DENIED Councilman Houchins said that he thought it was important to at least keep even if the City planned to try improving the system. The money couldn't be used just to operate the system if the plan was to improve it. It was important to put aside some money for a permanent solution whether five, ten or fifteen years from now. Therefore, Councilman Houchins MOVED that the Council accept Proposal fpl to increase the rates 9.4%. The motion died for a lack of a second. Mr. Moore, from the audience was recognized, and stated that he thought the Council had a no win situation. fie wondered if the Council shouldn't take another look at the pressurized system. He did not mind paying for an G.I.D. for this kind of system, but he did object to a piece meal. plan. Councilman Houchins pointed out to Mr. Moore that a decision had to be made with regard to the rates today. There was not time to go into a study on G.I.D.s or probabilities today. MOVED by Jarboe, SECONDED by Mallea that the Resolution be passed, that the existing fee schedule remain the same for the coming year and that the Council pursue during upcoming weeks options for bolstering the irrigation budget. Roll call vote. Those voting yes: Jarboe, Winder, Houchins, and Mallea. Those voting no: Straight and Raymond. Absent and not voting: none. MOTION CARRIED Book 29 Page 35 Mayor Cowles informed the City Council that he was going to ask for an Executive Session, but would postpone it until a later time. There being no further business, the meeting_ was adjourned at 1;40 p.m. APPROVED AS w ritten THIS 16th DAY OF February a 1988. _ 1 Mayor Co son Coun p r I Council6erson c5eu ncirpe ykb n Councilperson Councilperson ATTEST: /7 City Cler-k