Richmond City Council September 2024 Summary

 

APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM AUGUST 15, 2024.

Approved.

PRESENTATION OF THE 2024 ROYALTY.

Amber expressed her joy in participating in various community events, including being part of the city’s royalty, which involved highlighting youth. This year, four young women represented the city at events like Black & White Days and oversaw the Lil' Miss pageant. Lyndsee Shields shared her excitement over the pageant, particularly how happy the participants were. Kaitlyn Schumann, having been involved in Black & White Days from a young age, enjoyed being part of the royalty. Two other royalty members, Macaylie Lewis and Ashley Durfee, were mentioned but couldn’t attend the discussion.

RECOGNITION OF YOUTH COUNCIL MAYOR ALIA MECHAM

Bryce Wood praised Alia Mecham for her dedication and reliability over the past year, noting her involvement in every activity. When asked by the mayor what she had learned, Alia highlighted developing leadership skills and building connections with others. She was then presented with a gift of appreciation from the city council and youth council advisors.

MAYOR’S REPORT

The Mayor addressed circulating rumors regarding the city's infrastructure. He clarified that the city is conducting four studies on sewer treatment, collection, culinary water, and transportation. Contrary to rumors, the city's infrastructure, particularly the sewer system, is not overcapacity, and no new construction occurs without proper modeling. A new sewer treatment model will be available within 60 days. The mayor encouraged residents to seek accurate information by attending meetings or asking the council or staff directly. He also mentioned Pepperidge Farms' recent expansion, which will add 60-70 jobs, and emphasized the historical importance of the sewer system, which was established in 1972.

DISCUSSION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF WHITE PINE ELEMENTARY AND THE CACHE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ON THE SCHOOL PICK UP LINE.

A lengthy discussion took place regarding traffic and parking issues near White Pine Elementary. Holly expressed concerns about road damage on 100 North and the challenges caused by cars lining up for school pick-up, particularly in front of three homes. Principal Derek Beer provided updates on improvements made to school pick-up procedures, which have reduced the wait time significantly from 30 to 8-10 minutes. However, the issue of blocked driveways during pick-up times remains a concern, with some parents even parking in driveways.

Lieutenant Tim Martinez explained that while the issue has been documented over 12 days, the blockages are minimal, averaging about two minutes. He emphasized that enforcing no-parking signs may not be effective as cars are idling, not parked, and that his department prioritizes safety over minor parking infractions. Several possible solutions were discussed, such as designating a new pick-up area or encouraging parents to stagger pick-up times. However, concerns about road safety, homeowner access, and the costs of road repairs were raised. The Mayor suggested obtaining cost estimates for gravel and a curb along the road to address the infrastructure concerns and agreed to revisit the issue next month if necessary. Many participants, including Joel and Daryl, felt the situation had improved and suggested removing the no-parking signs, citing that the current solutions were frustrating parents and businesses.

DISCUSSION ON AN EVENT COORDINATOR POSITION

Amber proposed shifting the responsibilities for organizing Black & White Days from the council to the city staff. This change aims to reduce the workload on the council and ensure a smoother, more sustainable process. Under the new structure, staff will handle logistical aspects like booth and parade applications, while the council will only assist with major decisions and specific tasks. Each council member and staff member will be assigned clear roles for different aspects of the event. The staff is already unofficially handling many tasks, so the change won't significantly impact them, and they appreciate the council's support. Overall, this new approach is expected to distribute the workload more evenly, ensuring long-term continuity.

STAFF REPORTS AND MONTHLY FINANCIAL REVIEW

Justin provided updates on various city projects and funding, highlighting key financial contributions such as the Transportation Master Plan grant of $37,800 and the RAPZ Tax funding of $76,361 for the new restroom facility. Additionally, the city has seen significant impact fee collections from building developments, including $182,376 in water and $135,184 in sewer impact fees.

Holly followed with updates on zoning, city maintenance, and infrastructure. She mentioned the progress on the park strip replacement projects, regular street sweeping, and pothole patching. She also welcomed a new employee, Karrie Ann Draxler, who will oversee the food pantry. 

Weston discussed the Transportation Master Plan, which aims to assess vehicle capacity and future expansion needs but does not include road condition assessments. Traffic counters are currently in place at 24 locations in the city to gather data. He noted that the 400 West road project remains on track, with asphalt being laid by October 7th and 8th, and the curbing completed.

The mayor and council members were engaged in these updates, especially regarding the timeline for current road projects and involvement in future plans, such as the 500 North project overseen by the county.

COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR REPORTS

Daryl brought up the issue of a broken irrigation waterline under the Big J’s building, noting the complication that the irrigation company is not liable, as their bylaws cover only the main laterals. Relocating the waterline is expected to come with a significant expense, and how the situation developed with a building constructed over a waterline is perplexing.

Bryce Wood provided a positive update on the youth council’s trip to Lagoon and their service at the city party, particularly commending their help with serving food. He also expressed appreciation for the discussion regarding the school pick-up line, acknowledging the efforts of Principal Beer, the sheriff’s office, and Holly.

Joel mentioned that the planning commission is making progress on a new multifamily zone. A draft ordinance has been created and will be reviewed during their October 1st meeting. They hope to have the ordinance finalized by November or December.

Amber announced that Karrie Ann Draxler has replaced Karlie Mountjoy as the new food pantry manager, and she expressed appreciation for the work of local volunteers. She emphasized the importance of community members addressing their concerns directly with the city council, rather than through anonymous posts or letters. Amber also shared upcoming events at The Park Bench, including a Halloween carnival, a November dance, and a December holiday market, thanking those involved in making these events successful.

Lyle concluded by noting that several master plans are nearing completion, keeping the council aware of ongoing efforts. After a brief recess, the meeting reconvened.

CLOSED MEETING TO DISCUSS THE CHARACTER, PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE, OR PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH OF AN INDIVIDUAL. UTAH CODE ANNOTATED 52-4-205 (1) (A).

The regular city council meeting was closed, and a motion was made to open the closed session at 8:06 P.M. by Lyle, seconded by Bryce Wood. The vote to open the closed meeting was unanimous, with all council members—Bair, Ervin, Draxler, Wood, and Black—voting in favor. 

The closed meeting began with Mayor Erickson, council members Lyle Bair, Amber Ervin, Joel Draxler, Bryce Wood, and Daryl Black in attendance. At 8:34 P.M., additional participants, including HollyJo Karren, Justin Lewis, Bryan Tolbert, Weston Bellon, and Katie Reams, joined the closed session.

At 9:57 P.M., a motion to close the closed meeting and reopen the regular council session was made by Bryce Wood, seconded by Joel, and again, the vote was unanimous. The regular session was reopened briefly and immediately followed by a motion to adjourn the meeting, made by Bryce Wood, seconded by Lyle, with a unanimous vote in favor. The meeting adjourned at 9:57 P.M.