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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02-24r.., MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING BOARD OF ALDERMEN RIVERSIDE, MISSOURI Tuesday, February 24, 2009 6:00 p.m. The Board of Aldermen for the City of Riverside, Missouri, met in a special workshop session in the Board of Aldermen Chambers at City Hall, 2950 NW Vivion Road, Riverside, Missouri. Mayor Rose called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Those in attendance were Mayor Kathy Rose, Aldermen Pam Dazata, Mike Fuller, Ron Super, and Dave Hurt. Mazk Salyer and Bernie Bruns were absent. Also present were David Blackburn, City Administrator, Jane Henry, Executive Administration Assistant, Public Safety Chief Gregory Mills, John McClelland, City Attorney, Donna Resz, Finance Director, Meredith Hauck, External Affairs Coordinator, and Mike Duffy, Community Development Director. Motion to enter into Closed Alderman Hurt made a motion to enter into Closed Session pursuant to RSMo Session pursuant to RSMo 610.021(2) Real Estate. Alderman Darata seconded and the vote was: 610.021(2) Real Estate Yes: Alderman Dazata, Super, Fuller, and Hurt. Motion carried. Motion go out of Closed Alderman Fuller made a motion to go out of closed session and Alderman Hurt Session seconded. The vote was: Yes: Alderman Darata, Super, Fuller, and Hurt. Motion carried. Call to Order Mayor Rose called to order the open session at 7:05 p.m. Answering roll call 7:05 p.m. were Alderman Pamela Darata, Ron Super, Mike Fuller, and Dave Hurt. Bemie Bruns and Mark Salyer were absent. Branding Extemal Affairs Coordinator Meredith Hauck gave a Power Point presentation on branding starting with the definition of the term; "your brand is what people say about you when you're not around." She explained that the branding process will help create targeted messages both for internal and external audiences. She enumerated several other municipalities and agencies in the azea that have recently completed a branding process. She went on to say that we need to tell people about the quality of life here in Riverside. The steps to move the City in that direction aze: 1) Establish a community branding committee. 2) Send out RFP's, review them and make a recommendation to the Board of Aldermen. 3) Contract with a firm. 4) Work together to develop a brand. 5) Boazd of Aldermen approves the plan. 6) Obtain community buy-in. 7) Implementation of the brand in January 2010. Hauck told the Board that the estimated cost is $40,000 including deliverables. The next step is for Boazd of Aldermen approval to identify a Community Branding Committee and start the RFP process to select a firm. Both Aldermen Fuller and Mayor Rose said they thought it was an excellent idea. '` ,F ~} ~. Minutes 2/24/09 Page 1 Aldennan Super said he had no issues with it. A poll of the Boazd showed Board members supporting going forward with the project. Sewer Rates Community Development Director Mike Duffy brought the projected sewer rates to the Boazd as requested. Duffy said that he made several assumptions in order to make the projecfions. He used 435 homes as the base with average water use and a calculated monthly sewer charge with KCMO's estimate of a 12 % annual rate increase. His projection then for 2009 was $26.56 per month per household or $318.72 a year. Using the 12 % annual increase and assuming no build-out, sewer rates would go up from approximately $250,000 in 2009 to $379,000 in 2013. Duffy also presented projected sewer rate costs based on future development. In projecting buildout rates, he assumed adding 15 new homes in 2010 to the 435 base and 75 new homes per year beginning in 2011, resulting in an ultimate build-out in 2020 of 1,200 homes. Using these numbers and an assumed 12% per year rate increase the total rate cost for single-family and multi-family residences in 2013 would be $514,000 and with full build-out in 2020 the cost would be $1,787,528. Alderman Fuller raised the possibility of negotiating the KCMO contract but City Attorney John McClelland said it is a rolling rate reset every two years. McClelland responded that it would not have to go to a vote of the people because it is not affected by the Hancock Amendment. Fuller said he had a problem with including the apartments because the water fee, in most cases, is in the rent and rents won't go down. So the City would be paying the sewer bill for the apartment complex owner. Alderman Hurt asked if the Board could just eliminate the franchise tax on water and sewer. McClelland said it would apply to both residences and businesses and, if it is completely removed, they would have to have an election to reinstate it. Alderman Super asked Duffy where he got the numbers for the build-out estimates. Duffy responded that he added up all the planned housing and the number of lots the developers have planned. Alderman Fuller said he thought it would be good for single family residents in the short term and it would give them some support in these troubled times. Super said there aze no taxes, i.e., earnings tax, personal property tax and real estate tax, which adds more incentive for people to move here. Mayor Rose was concerned about setting a precedent and said there are other ways to incentivize people to move here. The money to pay for this would come from the general fund. She also said they need to heaz from the aldermen not present for the workshop. Alderman Darata added that it was fair and equitable; it would help families and some of our citizens. It would be a good service to them. Alderman Fuller said, "I request the order to be drawn up." Rose asked if they should call a town meeting. Fuller responded that he didn't think it "is a big deal. Look at the money spent on the levee district " Rose said she had been told by several people that they don't want the city paying their sewer bills. Minutes 2/24/09 Page 2 Alderman Super asked the board be polled. Three of the aldermen present supported the sewer rate issue: Super, Fuller, and Darata. Alderman Hurt asked if there would be a sunset on the ordinance. McClelland answered that Kansas City would have to approve the initiative since it would be a contract with them. Kansas City made it cleaz that rates are renewable every year. Alderman Darata said it should be enacted for atwo-year duration. Alderman Super requested an ordinance on the sewer rates be placed on their agenda for next week. Mayor Rose asked if this might be an election issue. Both Aldermen Fuller and Darata replied that it would not be. In addition to the ordinance on sewer rates, the next regulaz session agenda will have a staff presentation on the organization that runs Riverfest and a presentation on possible plans for the annex/union hall. Adjournment Alderman Darata made a motion to adjourn and Alderman Fuller seconded. The vote was: Yes: Aldermen Super, Hurt, Darata, and Fuller. Aldermen Bruns and Salyer were absent. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned. J e Henry xecutive Administration Assistant Minutes 2/24/09 Page 3