General Information

Government Type

Municipality

Entity

Blanding

Public Body

City Council

Notice Information

Add Notice to Calendar

Notice Title

City Council Minutes 11.26.24

Notice Tags

Administrative Procedure

Notice Type(s)

Meeting

Event Start Date & Time

November 26, 2024 07:00 PM

Description/Agenda

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Mayor Logan Monson Mayor Pro Tempore Cheryl Bowers Council Member Chris Ewald (absent) Council Member Charlie Taylor Council Member Erik Grover Council Member Kellen Nielson November 26, 2024 - 7pm - City Council Meeting 50 West 100 South Street, Blanding Utah 84511 Meetings live streamed when available at: https://meet.google.com/ymf-jwqo-rjs POLICY MEETING Call to Order Roll Call A Prayer was offered by Councilmember Taylor The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance. Approval: Consent Agenda and Minutes from November 12, 2024 Regular Session Councilmember Grover made a motion to approve the consent agenda with the change of indigenous to indigent, and minutes from November 12, 2024. Councilmember Bowers seconded the motion. Mayor Monson repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Bowers Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. Declaration of Conflicts of Interest - Councilmember Nielson stated that he is on the historical commission. Public Input - None Public Hearing Councilmember Grover made a motion to go into a public hearing for CDBG. Councilmember Nielson seconded the motion. Mayor Monson repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Bowers Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. CDBG Public Hearing Comments Mr. Herring stated that a public hearing is required for the public to give their input and ideas for anything that would be beneficial to the city. The public hearing is necessary before we apply for CDBG grant funding. No one from the public was present. A second public hearing will be held when a specific project is proposed. Councilmember Taylor made a motion to leave the public hearing for CDBG. Councilmember Grover seconded the motion. Mayor Monson repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Bowers Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. Reports Mayor Mayor Monson went to the UAMPS board meeting last week. One of the projects that we buy into for power is offering a scholarship. It's a renewable energy scholarship for $2500 for high school seniors. Mayor Monson went over some of the requirements for the scholarship. They will be sure to get the information to the high school. City Council Council member Grover missed his transportation meeting because of no phone service. Finance Report/Operational Budget/Budget Adjustment - James Francom Mr. Francom wanted to point out a couple mistakes on the operational budget report. There is a negative amount under the revenue for county/local grants class C roads, and that is because he moved it over to fund 40. Fund 40 is the capital projects fund. Mr. Francom said that in January we are planning to do some mid year budget adjustments. Council budget and office supplies will be adjusted to reflect a more accurate accounting of what has been bought. He also said that he coded the audit to the administration budget. Councilmember Grover had a question about the legal charges. Mr. Francom said that anything that has to do with the court is listed and there is a separate line for the public defender. That was a recent change where those categories had to be split up. Councilmember Grover asked if we are better this year than we were last year as far as the public defender costs are concerned. Mr. Herring stated that we are on track. Mr. Francom stated that he will have a better report for next time. Some of the items were coded wrong and therefore aren't reflecting correctly. Councilmember Bowers stated that it looks like our sales tax is down by about $40,000. Mr. Francom said that those payments are a little bit delayed and when we do get them the state sends them directly to the bank accounts. City Engineer Report - Patrick Parsons Mr. Parsons stated that they all should have the water report in their packets. We are at about 80% of the volume in the reservoirs. Starvation is full. The 4th reservoir is about 3/4 full. The 3rd reservoir is about 60%. Dry Wash is at conservation level. Recapture is just over 50%. To be at this point in the year and have our reservoirs this full, it's looking pretty good. We are already registering as far as our water equivalency for snow. He will continue to add water equivalency to the report as we get it. We are already sitting at over 130% precipitation. It's a good start to the year for water. Irrigation water has been shut off for the year. Councilmember Grover asked who patched the road by the new school. Mr. Parsons stated that their crews did it, not ours. Councilmember Grover said that it is a crappy job. Planning & Zoning - Bret Hosler Mr. Hosler wasn't at the meeting. This is what his report said: Leonard Howe area plate for city boundary adjustments is getting reviewed by City attorney and public works Director for completeness. Billy O'Sullivan for annexation on center street Planning Commission recommendation to annex. Liz Adams also requested annexation of a parcel near center street. Dollar General has a Certificate of Occupancy. O'Reilly Auto parts also has a Certificate of Occupancy. Crack seal project final coat of paint is now delayed until spring due to cold temperatures, probably April or May temperature must be 50 degrees and rising for best results. The Planning Commission is recommending some consideration for broadening the Land uses in the R-2 zone. Like possibly considering a deep lot minor subdivision. Business Items Resolution - 11-26-2024-1 Utility Line Maintenance Fee Blanding City recognizes the importance of maintaining and monitoring the City's Natural Gas and Water utility lines for the safety, efficiency, and well-being of residents and the public. The proposed Utility Line Maintenance Fee will support costs associated with the monitoring, GIS mapping, and Blue Stakes services necessary for maintaining these utility lines. The current Natural Gas Stub fee is set at $8.00 per month and the current Water service includes a Grid Access Fee of $23.32 but lacks a specific stub fee. The City has determined that any water account disconnected for more than three (3) years will qualify for a reduced $4.00 line maintenance fee. Those customers paying stub fees for a minimum of three (3) consecutive years will have any connection fees waived should they request to connect or reconnect their service. Councilmember Bowers made a motion to approve Resolution 11-26-2024-1 Acceptance of the Utility Line Maintenance Fee. Councilmember Grover seconded the motion. Mayor Monson repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Bowers Those voting nay: No Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. Resolution - 11-26-2024-2 City Council Meeting & Holiday Schedule for 2025 Blanding City is committed to transparency, public engagement, and orderly governance, and it is essential to establish an annual schedule of City Council meetings to facilitate effective communication with the public and to ensure efficient municipal operations. Blanding City also observes specific holidays to honor national, state, and local observances, during which city offices will remain closed. The 2025 schedule for City Council meetings and recognized City holidays, as detailed in Attachment A to this resolution, is hereby approved. Regular City Council meetings shall be held at 7:00 PM on the designated dates listed in Attachment A at the Blanding City Council Chambers, located at 50 W 100 S. Blanding, Ut 84511 unless otherwise specified. In the event that a scheduled meeting date falls on a holiday or requires rescheduling, notice will be provided to the public in compliance with the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act. Councilmember Nielson made a motion to approve Resolution 11-26-2024-2 Acceptance of the Blanding City Council Meeting and Holiday Schedule for 2025. Councilmember Taylor seconded the motion. Mayor Monson repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Bowers Those voting nay: No Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. Resolution - 11-26-2024-3 Annexation Policy Plan Update Blanding City is committed to supporting responsible growth and development within and adjacent to its jurisdictional boundaries. The Blanding City Annexation Policy Plan outlines the requirements and procedures for property annexation into the City, which provides benefits such as access to City utility rates and services. The City seeks to support property owners who intend to annex by offering inside-Blanding rates to properties outside City limits when a Petition for Annexation is signed or Restrictive Covenants are agreed to, allowing these property owners to proceed more quickly with planned development projects. The Blanding City Council has reviewed and determined that this update to the Annexation Policy Plan will support efficient project progression for property owners and encourage responsible growth within the City's future boundaries. Councilmember Taylor made a motion to approve Resolution 11-26-2024-3 Acceptance of the Annexation Policy Plan Update. Councilmember Nielson seconded the motion. Mayor Monson repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Bowers Those voting nay: No Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. Resolution - 11-26-2024-4 Employee Driver's License Liability Insurance Validity Blanding City is committed to ensuring that all employees who are required to hold a valid driver's license meet the necessary qualifications and insurance requirements for the safety and security of the City and its residents. Blanding City has developed a Driver's License Liability Insurance Validity Policy to outline the process and timeframe for employees to resolve any issues affecting their driver's license validity when required by City liability insurance. The City Council has reviewed and determined that this policy will provide clarity and a structured approach to managing driver's license compliance among City employees. Councilmember Bowers made a motion to approve Resolution 11-26-2024-4 Acceptance of the Employee Driver License Liability Insurance Validity Policy. Councilmember Grover seconded the motion. Mayor Monson repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Bowers Those voting nay: No Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. Resolution - 11-26-2024-5 Swallows Nest French Drain Funds Blanding City is committed to maintaining and improving its public spaces and infrastructure for the safety and well-being of its residents and visitors. The Swallows Nest area requires the installation of a French drain system to effectively manage water drainage on the site, preventing water accumulation and potential site damage. The total cost of the Swallows Nest French Drain Project is estimated at $9,500, and insurance funds and donations amounting to $4,814.87 have been given to Blanding City to help fund this project. Blanding City seeks to use $4,685.13 from its general funds to cover the remaining balance needed for the completion of the French drain project, Councilmember Grover made a motion to approve Resolution 11-26-2024-5 Acceptance of the Swallows nest French drain funds. Councilmember Taylor seconded the motion. Mayor Monson repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Bowers Those voting nay: No Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. Resolution - 11-26-2024-6 Shade Pavillion Bid Acceptance Blanding City recognizes the importance of enhancing recreational facilities for the enjoyment and benefit of its residents and visitors. Shade structures and related improvements at the tennis and pickleball courts will provide necessary amenities to improve comfort and usability of the facilities. Francom Fabrication has submitted a bid for the design, fabrication, and installation of these improvements, with the total cost amounting to $89,933.39, which includes: A 100-foot shade structure near the tennis courts for $52,865.43, A smaller shade structure near the pickleball courts for $12,467.96, Electrical work for $18,100.00, and Four sets of cornhole boards for $6,500.00, The City Council has reviewed and finds the bid from Francom Fabrication to be fair and in the best interest of the community, Councilmember Bowers made a motion to approve Resolution 11-26-2024-6 Acceptance of the Shade Pavillion Bid. Councilmember Taylor seconded the motion. Mayor Monson repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Bowers Those voting nay: No Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. Resolution - 11-26-2024-7 Approval of Melton Law Defense Council Contract Blanding City Justice Court requires the services of qualified legal counsel to provide representation for Indigent individuals in accordance with the law. Melton Law has submitted a proposal to provide these services for a flat annual fee of $24,000, which includes two trial trips per year, with additional trial trips billed at $750 per trip. The City has reviewed and finds the terms of the proposed contract to be fair and in the best interest of Blanding City. The City desires to accept the terms of the contract as outlined and authorize its execution. Councilmember Bowers made a motion to approve Resolution 11-26-2024-7 Acceptance of the Melton Law Defense Council Contract. Councilmember Taylor seconded the motion. Mayor Monson repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Bowers Those voting nay: No Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. Advice and Consent Items Amendment Procedure Fee (Re-zoning) - Trent Herring Mr. Herring stated that our current policy for re-zoning states that the person requesting a re-zone has to fill out some paper work and pay a $100 fee, as well as talk to neighbors within a certain distance of the area to be rezoned, and get their signatures acknowledging that they have been informed of the change. It can be uncomfortable and it's uncommon for the property owner to do that. With advice and consent, Mr. Herring wants to change the policy to where the city does that work, charges a larger fee and sends out certified letters to the neighboring property owners. They agree to keep the fee at $100 and have the city send out letters. Discussion Items Infill Program - Trent Herring Residential Development Agreement - Trent Herring The council talked about the current policies that are in place for Residential and Commercial Development in Blanding. Trent Herring spoke about the current amount on the residential development agreement of a maximum repayment of $7,500 or up to 50% depending on what the cost is. Trent Herring mentioned that other cities do not offer repayment but they do offer waived fees instead of cash essentially. Trent Herring and Patrick Parsons will continue to work on this policy. Commercial Development Agreement - Trent Herring This policy is called the commercial development agreements and has a scoring guide that may allow a commercial development to receive up to $25,000 in repayment. Again other cities do not offer repayment, instead they offer wave fees or other non-monetary ways to encourage development. Trent Herring and Patrick Parsons will continue to work on this policy and come back to the council with other ideas that may include non-monetary incentives. 1-2 Grade Basketball - Trent Herring In the past Monticello has allowed Blanding to sign up a team and bring them over to their first and second grade basketball program. This year they are still allowing Blanding children to sign up for their league but they are not allowing a Blanding team specifically to sign up there for they would just get put on random teams similar to what Blanding does. Trent Herring proposed that Blanding City do their own first and second grade basketball league and the city council agreed and asked that it be started this year. Brownsfield - EPA Site Assessments for Blanding City Properties This program will look to do a site assessment on the old sewer lagoons located on 500 South and 300 East in Blanding. Trent Herring will be working with Brownsfield to get this covered by a grant and will report back to the city council. Christmas Party RSVP - Trent Herring The Christmas party will be on December 11th, 2024 and Trent Herring was getting RSVPs from the city council. Closed Session Councilmember Taylor made a motion to go into closed session to discuss land and employees. Councilmember Nielson seconded the motion. Mayor Monson repeated the motion. He asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Grover Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Bowers Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. Adjournment Councilmember Grover made a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Nielson seconded the motion. Mayor Monson repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Grover Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Ewald Councilmember Bowers Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Monson declared the motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm.

Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)

In compliance with the ADA, individuals needing special accommodations during this meeting may call the City Offices at (435) 678-2791 at least twenty-four hours in advance. Every effort will be made to provide the appropriate services.

Notice of Electronic or Telephone Participation

One or more Council Members may partcipate electronically.

Meeting Information

Meeting Location

50 W 100 S
Blanding, UT 84511
Show in Apple Maps Show in Google Maps

Contact Name

Pratt Redd

Contact Email

predd@blanding-ut.gov

Notice Posting Details

Notice Posted On

December 11, 2024 11:03 AM

Notice Last Edited On

December 11, 2024 11:03 AM

Subscribe by Email

Subscription options will send you alerts regarding future notices posted by this Body.