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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-09-08MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING BOARD OF ALDERMEN RIVERSIDE, MISSOURI Tuesday, September 8, 2009 6:00 p.m. The Boazd of Aldermen for the City of Riverside, Missouri, met in a special workshop session in the Boazd of Aldermen Chambers at City Hall, 2950 NW Vivion Road, Riverside, Missouri, on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. Mayor Rose called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Those in attendance were Mayor Kathy Rose, Aldermen Brad Cope, Mike Fuller, Ron Super, Dave Hurt, Bernie Bruns, and Aazon Thatcher. Also present were David Blackburn, City Administrator, Jane Henry, Executive Administration Assistant, Meredith Hauck, Community Relations Director, Mike Duffy, Community Development Director, Greg Mills, Public Safety Chief, and Donna Resz, Finance Director. City Radio System Public Safety Chief Greg Mills is seeking approval for a new city-wide radio system. With him for the presentation were Dean and Jack Har[ with TUSA, Major Robert Kuehl and Ed Brundage with Kansas City Police Department, and Mr. Joe Fazias and Mr. Dale Chapman with Motorola. Public Safety wants to convert the City's radio analog system to digital and join the three regional systems in Independence, KCMG and Johnson County, Kansas. Mills pointed out that the CiTy currently has only two channels and the system is deficient in low lying azeas and inside buildings. The system could be upgraded with additional VHF channels but it would still not be capable of alleviating the deficiencies. Also, in 2013, FCC will mandate that all radio systems convert to digital capabilities. Why now? Not only is coverage inadequate but the system malfunctions or goes down at least twice a month and parts are becoming increasingly more difficult to get. The FY 2009-2010 CIP budget has $1,000,000 allocated For a new radio system. The top dollar cost would be $4.1 m. for the proposed system. The money is within the City's C[P budget but would need to be reallocated from other projects. Mills is asking for authority to proceed with reallocating the funds. Mills added that there would be buying opportunities by getting in on the ground floor. As an alternative to taking this action, the City could contract out its radio services but then it would lose control of its communications and the county still has a VHF system. Also, the City's new security system depends on monitoring by dispatch so that function would still have to be covered. The idea was raised about developing a Northland Communications Center and Mills said the cost savings would be minimal at best. He said the City would still have to buy equipment and staff it. Also, the new security system would still require monitoring. 9!8/2009 Page 1 Alderman Thatcher asked some technical questions regazding the system's capabilities. He was told it does not have high speed voice over applications at this time. Thatcher said he was concerned about the inevitable continual updating. Mayor Rose asked where we would put the tower. She also asked if MARC is supporting a regional system and if they have grant money. Mills said MARC is supporting a regional system but there is no grant money available. Mills told the boazd that North Kansas City and Gladstone aze looking at digital but Platte County is not because funding is an issue. Alderman Cope asked if we would still be able to talk with other entities. Mills responded that yes we could talk with other entities with towers but not with Pazkville. Alderman Hurt asked about the audio quality. TUSA representatives said digital is becoming the standazd for public safety systems in the country. There maybe some noise in the background but they can still communicate. Thatcher asked about the deadline to commit and the Kansas City representatives said the middle of November. Mills would like approval to restructure the CIP budget now so the City could begin to negotiate with vendors. Alderman Fuller asked how much the tower would cost and if we could build the tower later. Mills said the cost would be about $1.Sm and it is needed now. It would have some value to Kansas City to use our tower communicating with the Northland. Hurt asked about location criteria for the tower. Hart with TUSA said that computer modeling showed that the best location would be on the Hanna property as it needs to be located in an area that would provide optimum in-building coverage and would enable good communications in low-lying areas. Alderman Super questioned choosing the lowest area for the tower. Hart responded that it would back fill into the ridge creating better coverage. The tower could benefit other entities and their systems. There is less coverage with the water tower location and it is currently deficient. If we do not build a tower, we accept coverage as it is. Fuller would like to transition into it saying $4.1m is a lot of money. He added that maybe the City could partner with Platte County. Rose asked how tall the tower would be and TUSA answered 325 feet. The City would own and maintain the tower. Hurt said that Chief Mills would like for them to redirect the CIP funds now and Mills said they would like to begin the process of looking at it because a lot of work needs to be done before signing a contract. Finance Director Donna Resz told the board that, in the CIP budget, money for the fire truck could be redirected as well as money for infrastructure maintenance. Also, Horizons contingency and professional fees could be reallocated since that project is nearing completion. Mayor Rose would like feedback from the citizens and Super would like to think it over and discuss it. Alderman Bruns pointed out that a comparable tower would be the one at Worlds of Fun. Mills asked when it would be discussed again and Rose said on next week's agenda. 9/8/2009 Page 1 Break - 7:20 p.m. Alderman Thatcher made a motion to take a short break and Alderman Bruns seconded. All voted in favor. Return to Open Session - Alderman Fuller made a motion to return to open session and Alderman 7:30 p.m. Bruns seconded. All voted in favor. Public Works Study Valerie McCaw, VMI Engineering, presented her final report fulfilling her Presentation contract to conduct a study of the City's Public Works Department. She began her data collection in mid-May by conducting interviews with each of the employees in that departrnent. She used North Kansas City and Frontenac as benchmazks. McCaw pointed out some weaknesses in the department. She observed that the staff lacked leadership as reflected by their task driven agenda with no long range future plans. Their off-site office and operations serve to make communication and interaction with City management in City Hall a problem. The City is increasing its infrastructure and yet has one-third the staff of North Kansas City, one of the benchmark cities. They also do a significant amount of pazks maintenance, which differs from the other cities. Finally, the staff needs more training and communications aze problematic as they need more computer and Internet access. They also need a leader who is active in the Public Works arena and the City Hall arena. McCaw recommended creating the following positions: Fleet Manager GIS Manager Contracts Manager Administrative Assistant She outlined the essential qualifications for a Public Works Director. She said he/she must have management skills, communication skills, supervisory skills, and technical skills. Tom Wooddell, Interim Public Works Director, told the board that, in his four months as director, he observed that morale was bad when he took the position. They lacked structure and did not know their priorities. That has changed since his arrival. They like having structure and their attitudes have improved. Mayor Rose said she supported more training as they had never had much. She questioned the GIS position. McCaw said it would help value assets and their conditions. City Administrator Blackburn said that it would also help determine what projects needed to be outsoureed. Fuller commented that the City has great snow removal and that he likes it that they aze taking pride in their work. However, he does not like to add employees because of the impact on the budget. Also, he would like to emphasize a residency requirement for Public Works positions. Bruns said the new Public Works Director should take these recommendations and Hurt agreed that the new Duector should take the report and go forwazd. 9!8/2009 Page 1 Adjournment-8:31 p.m. Alderman Bruns made a motion to adjourn and Alderman Fuller seconded. The vote was: Yes: Aldermen Super, Bruns, Fuller, Hurt, Thatcher, and Cope. Motion passed. Henry E utive Administration Assistant 9/8/2009 Page 1