Regular Meeting

BOARD OF ALDERMEN

CITY OF PARKVILLE, MISSOURI

May 16, 2000

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor William M. Quitmeier called the meeting to order in the Board Room of City Hall at 7:04 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Ward 1 Alderman Jack Friedman- present

Ward 1 Alderman Charlie Poole- present

Ward 2 Alderman David McCoy- present

Ward 2 Alderman Dave Rittman- present

Ward 3 Alderman Marvin Ferguson- present

Ward 3 Alderman Linda Arnold- present

Ward 4 Alderman Brian Atkinson- present

Ward 4 Alderman Frank McCoy- present

ALSO PRESENT:City Administrator Patrick Hawver

Police Chief Bill Hudson

Director of Public Works Jeff Rupp

Superintendent of Streets Alan Schank

Joe Curtis, Boy Scout Troop #370

Norm Beeman, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)

Tony Borchers, The National

Trent Robinett, Bucher Willis & Ratliff

Diane Detmer and Tara Hulen, Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter

Pete Sturner, Park University

Dana McCoy, Riss Lake resident

Jeff Howard

Carrie Hampton, Riss Lake resident

Tom Hutsler, Parkville business owner

MEDIA PRESENT:Nancy Jack, Southern Platte Press

Marte Zirschky, Platte Dispatch

Ed Gault and Paul Giarratana for Parkville Government Channel 2

BOY SCOUT

Mayor Quitmeier asked Joe Curtis to come forward. He did, and said he is in Troop 370 and is working on his communications badge. The city clerk added that he just finished ten hours of community service work at City Hall, and that he also did volunteer work at City Hall in 1998.

TRAFFIC ROUNDABOUT ON HIGHWAY 45

Mr. Beeman’s remarks are reported below in italics, but this is not represented as a verbatim transcript.

We can’t put a signal on Highway 45 at National Drive because it is too close to (within 700' of) the signal at Blair Road. MoDOT has discovered another tool. (At this point he distributed information on traffic roundabouts, which is attached to these minutes.) These roundabouts are not to be confused with traffic circles, such as Meyer Circle in Kansas City. Traffic circles don’t work – they have high crash rates and are designed for high speeds. Michael Wallworth is the national roundabout expert. We’ve been in close contact with him on this design. He is very confident it will work. The level of service (number of vehicles accommodated) is as high as you can get, much better than with a traffic signal. No new traffic laws have to be written; current laws will serve. Crashes that happen in roundabouts are much less severe than those at traffic signals. It is very easy to identify who is at fault. It is going to take some time for motorists to learn how to drive in a roundabout. This design is for speeds of 23-25 mph.

We know that eventually as traffic builds up we will be under pressure to allow or even put in a traffic signal. The signal at Blair Road will probably not be as necessary eventually as the signal at The National, but we can’t take it out. Politically it can’t be done. We want to study the roundabout in use. Eventually Highway 45 will be rebuilt.

Mayor Quitmeier asked how the roundabout would work when Highway 45 becomes four lanes, and if MoDOT could design a multi-lane roundabout.

Multi-lane roundabouts are just as safe as long as motorists know exactly where to go. They do take a little more attentive driver to negotiate.

This will be the first roundabout in this district. They can be landscaped and look nice. They will be illuminated at night. They provide for all movements. You can even get an 18-wheeler around it, not at high speed, of course. They have raised islands. Striping will be very definitive. Aesthetics are very attractive. The west approach on this one is longer than the east one because motorists will be approaching from the west at a higher speed.

Mr. Robinett said everyone approaching will have to look at the circle and will have to wait for a gap in traffic. The people already inside the circle have the right of way.

Over 300 traffic roundabouts were built in the United States last year with a high degree of success. However, the one built in St. Louis failed. They put in pretty poor-looking asphalt curb islands, potted plants and speed bumps. The people didn’t like it.

Mayor Quitmeier said we have a traffic problem on Highway FF. We are trying to encourage developers to put traffic on Highway 45 rather than on Highway FF. Mrs. Arnold asked if the roundabout would be conducive to putting people on Highway 45.

You can pump more traffic through here than through the average intersection.

Mr. Poole said the speed limit on Highway 45 now is 55 mph, and asked if they were going to decrease that to 15 mph in the distance between Blair Road and The National.

You get traffic stacked up through the other one when signals are too close together, and then traffic from The National can’t get through at all. The distance between traffic signals should be at least 1/4 mile, and the Federal Highway System says ½ mile. In some cases we can cut that down to 1,000'.

Mr. Poole asked if roundabouts are normally used on main highways.

Yes, on major arterials. They are also used on freeway ramp terminals.

Mr. Poole agreed that backups at traffic signals can be nightmares.

Mrs. Arnold asked if there are more crashes at roundabouts than at traffic signals.

The number of crashes is less, and the crashes are less severe.

Mr. Robinett said crash numbers decreased from between 33% and 78% in given locations.

Costs were discussed.

It is very difficult with this design to have a T-bone or right-angle accident.

Mayor Quitmeier asked about the widening of Highway 45 west of Bell Road.

Construction could happen four or five years from now.

The mayor said he thought the first plan (the original construction plan for the intersection of Highway 45 and The National) was totally unacceptable – drivers would have to make U-turns. He would like to have the Platte County commissioners approached about this; Parkville is administering the NID (Neighborhood Improvement District) money on behalf of the county as well as on its own behalf. He asked if Mr. Borchers would take the plan to them.

Mr. Friedman said he was still not clear what makes this plan different from Meyer Circle. He said why not put yield signs on Meyer Circle?

Meyer Circle has a much larger radius; as a driver approaches he cannot see all the other approaches. It is big and overwhelming and has multiple lanes. As you approach the one at National Drive you would see all three other approaches.

We’d get a second chance on this. When Highway 45 is widened the road will be redone at MoDOT’s expense. If the roundabout proves unsatisfactory the design will be changed at that time.

Even though the average speed at the roundabout is 15 mph, there is a higher average speed than at Blair, if you average in those people who get stopped at the traffic signal.

Mr. Ferguson said MoDOT was assuming everyone is a capable, confident driver. A lot of people are indecisive when driving.

Mr. Beeman agreed it would be a change for motorists.

Mr. Robinett said signs are very clear "Yield to traffic in circle," etc. There will have to be some communication with the traveling public.

Mayor Quitmeier asked Chief Hudson his opinion. The chief said he normally agreed with Mr. Beeman, but in this instance he does not. He doesn’t see the difference between this and Meyer Circle. The traffic signal at Lakeview Drive on Highway 9 works, he said. The biggest accidents we have are on Highway 45. He is afraid somebody will be running 50 mph when they get to the roundabout. He is also worried about impaired drivers (motorists driving while intoxicated, etc.). He asked what goes in the middle of the circle.

A very low-profile curb. Can’t dispute we have a lot of problems with motorists. If we had this in place and motorists got accustomed to it and then we pulled it out and put in a signal we’d hear complaints.

Chief Hudson said drivers run more than 70 mph there (along Highway 45). On Meyer Circle about one person a year has been killed. They (Kansas City officials) have spent thousands of dollars trying to fix it.

Mr. Friedman said some kid at night will think he can race around the curb.

Chief Hudson said Parkville officers have arrested more than 70 drunks in four months. That’s his concern.

I understand that. We have tried to design features for drunks. That’s why we have breakaway features on our highways now.

The chief said he understood you can’t design for drunks. Most people will see the light at the roundabout but they’re not going to see that island.

Mr. Poole asked if the sole reason for the roundabout is that they can’t put a traffic signal within 700' of the one at Blair Road?

Yes.

Mr. Robinett agreed.

Chief Hudson asked about an on-demand traffic signal, like the one at Lakeview Drive on Highway 9.

The intersection at Lakeview Drive operates real well because it’s a T-intersection. There is no other light in close proximity. When the signal went in at Lakeview Drive it was based on anticipated traffic. That development has been dramatically downsized. They planned several hundred apartments. The traffic there today does not justify a signal.

Mr. Atkinson said we are looking at more and more traffic signals on Highway 45. The mayor suggested they could be synchronized. The chief said a lot of people choose a route through North Kansas City because the lights are synchronized.

Mayor Quitmeier asked for a motion.

We’re asking that you let us proceed and give us input on performance after it’s in place. We will be looking at others in the future in the Parkville area. If it doesn’t work we can do something different when it’s changed.

Mrs. Arnold asked if they had to do it right now.

The original plan is under construction. Clarkson is the contractor. Permits have to be issued for original plan. We’ve held Clarkson at bay until we got this new design engineered. Clarkson is really chomping at the bit to move forward. This could be built in a few weeks.

Mr. Borchers said the tunnel is completed. The National would appreciate action so they could move forward. For three months they’ve argued back and forth for a traffic signal. They fired one engineer and went through another one. Finally they bought into the plan for the roundabout. Everyone at The National is in favor of it, including Jim Watson and Jim Allen. It does reduce the possibilities of accidents at the intersection. It can be constructed much faster and will minimize future disruptions.

Mayor Quitmeier added that Mr. Allen called him from Chicago to say both he and Jim Watson are strongly in favor of the traffic roundabout.

Mrs. Arnold said right now she’s against it but it took The National three months – she’s not there yet. Mr. Poole said he was not sold on it either. He has a problem with a major highway going from 45 mph to 15 mph. Mrs. Arnold asked what is the traffic count there.

4,500 cars a day.

Distance between signals was discussed again. Mr. Ferguson asked the distance between Highway 45 and Melody Lane.

It exceeds 700'.

Mr. Frank McCoy said this is probably an excellent way to move forward and have a plan that will work.

Mr. Robinett said if aldermen read the literature distributed earlier, he thinks they will become more comfortable with the design.

Mrs. Arnold asked them to leave the video of roundabouts which they brought with them.

Mr. Atkinson said we don’t have to live with this forever. We can change it in four or five years.

This is not something The National came to us with. It’s something MoDOT originated.

Mr. Dave McCoy said if The National believes we cannot get a traffic signal at this location this is probably the best alternative.

Mr. Friedman asked how would they handle it if they find within a year that the traffic problem is miserable – do we have the ability to change it?

MoDOT does. What drives us to dig into unavailable funds is crash rates. If the crash rates exceed the norm for this type of highway we would come in and do something else on an emergency basis.

Mr. Friedman said he saw it as the only alternative at this point but he grew up in New Jersey. The circle is a nightmare for anybody who is even slightly confused, especially senior citizens.

Mr. Frank McCoy said it is very simple to get used to. He has lived in Europe and in other places where they have them.

Mr. Poole said he disagreed. He has had a lot of experience with traffic circles, too. This is just a slightly different type, a little better. It may be the only choice we have.

The video was shown. It stressed that pedestrians are safer because motorists are driving at slower speeds and because the island in the middle offers a "refuge." Bicycle safety varies. Traffic signals are more costly to maintain. The main reasons offered for the use of roundabouts are: Safety, capacity, economy, environment, and beauty.

ALDERMAN ATKINSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRAFFIC ROUNDABOUT ON HIGHWAY 45 AT NATIONAL DRIVE; ALDERMAN DAVE McCOY SECONDED; ALDERMEN ATKINSON, FRIEDMAN, DAVE McCOY, FRANK McCOY, AND RITTMAN - AYE; ALDERMEN ARNOLD, FERGUSON AND POOLE - NAY; MOTION CARRIED 5-3.

Mr. Rittman said his aye vote was made with the understanding that the traffic signal was not an option.

LIQUOR LICENSE FOR THE NATIONAL GOLF CLUB

City Clerk Barbara Lance said The National expects to open its private golf course and clubhouse in June or July. The club has applied for a resort license and a Sunday sales license. These licenses would be good throughout the premises of that golf club, including the clubhouse, the snack bars and the golf course. When the semi-private club opens it will need a second set of licenses.

ALDERMAN ATKINSON MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF RESORT AND SUNDAY SALES LIQUOR LICENSES TO THE NATIONAL; ALDERMAN ARNOLD SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

FRIENDS OF THE PARKVILLE ANIMAL SHELTER

Diane Detmer said the Friends of the Parkville Animal Shelter would like to have a shelter for cats. Their proposal is attached. Money would come from the $1,600 grant given to the FPAS in response to an application submitted by Tara Hulen. Mr. Atkinson said they budgeted $4,000. He didn’t think the sewer plant would work for the cat shelter at this point, but thought they were in agreement to put a building next to the dog shelter. He was sure there was room down there. They’ll need to spend the other $1,400 to $1,500 for a storage building.

Discussion ensued about grant requirements. It was decided the matching funds for the grant are to come out of the existing budget.

Mr. Ferguson said the shelter could go out by the new sewer plant.

Mayor Quitmeier asked the FPAS to bring in a design before construction starts. He would like to have it as aesthetically pleasing as possible. He asked Ms. Detmer to work with staff on it.

ALDERMAN POOLE MOVED THAT THE GRANT OF $1,500 BE MATCHED OUT OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER BUDGET TO BUILD A CAT SHELTER NEXT TO THE DOG KENNEL AND THAT THE DESIGN BE CLEARED WITH THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR OR OTHER STAFF MEMBERS; ALDERMAN FERGUSON SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

Ms. Detmer asked to continue with their pet adoption program in English Landing Park every third weekend of the month.

ALDERMAN POOLE MOVED TO APPROVE HOLDING OF THE PET ADOPTION PROGRAM IN ENGLISH LANDING PARK EVERY THIRD WEEKEND; ALDERMAN ARNOLD SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

ALDERMAN ATKINSON MOVED TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT AS OUTLINED IN THE MATERIAL DISTRIBUTED TO THE BOARD; ALDERMAN DAVE McCOY SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

It was agreed the equipment would be stored in the storage building.

Mayor Quitmeier thanked the Friends of the Animal Shelter for their work.

JUNE 2 CELEBRATION FOR KANSAS CITY’S 150^th AND PARK UNIVERSITY’S 125^th ANNIVERSARIES

Mr. Sturner, head of security for Park University, said starting at noon Friday, June 2, there will be a variety of events, including horses, an opera, two cakes, a black heritage wall, and the Philharmonia concert, which will feature the 1812 Overture. During this rendition, three howitzers will be used, operated by a unit of the Missouri National Guard. Mr. Sturner has already talked with Chief Bill Hudson, who is working on a plan to stop traffic for that period so motorists aren’t startled by the explosions while they’re driving. Mr. Sturner will try to get a more exact time frame for the firings. There will be fireworks in English Landing Park.

SOUTH PLATTE FIRE DISTRICT DEDICATION OF FIRE ENGINES

It was announced this event would take place at 11 a.m. the following Saturday on South Main Street at McAfee.

TORNADO SIRENS

Mayor Quitmeier said he talked to several people about tornado sirens. The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) no longer recommends their use. Technology has advanced. Radio Shack has weather alert radios for $39 each. There is a $60 version which you can program to get just your county weather alerts. Two lawyers in his office live within a block of each other in the Clayton area. One heard the siren, the other slept through it. Sirens are not meant to be heard indoors. The tornado siren salesman who came to the Board told us that.

Last week, the mayor said, the siren was never sounded. The Platte County Sheriff’s Department told us it was never sounded. Mr. Rittman asked why not. Mayor Quitmeier said because the only tornado warning was in the northern part of the county. We never had a tornado warning in Parkville. Everyone says we should go for outdoor sirens because people just aren’t educated on advanced technology. We can do a combination of things, but we should not let citizens rely solely on outdoor sirens. Platte County Lieutenant Randy Pittman and the man from SEMA both told him they encourage citizens to get weather alert radios. The expense for outdoor sirens is considerable. They are valuable for people outdoors, and benefit people who don’t have weather alert radios, but they are not meant for people inside homes.

Mr. Rittman said the goal tonight is to make a decision and put the issue behind us. We had an incident last Thursday night. We were very fortunate the tornado did not hurt Parkville. The downtown siren has been non-operational for a number of years. The point is there were people downtown in open areas. We lost one or two folks from the restaurant, he said, and several dozen people on the deck did not know a storm was taking place. They did hear some noise and were frightened.

Talking about outdoor sirens, he said, various areas around us have these sirens. Parkville has taken the unilateral position of not maintaining them, taken that position without the Board of Aldermen. We have not made a decision to continue maintenance of these sirens.

Mayor Quitmeier said the downtown siren was not maintainable. It broke. It can’t be fixed. It would need to be replaced.

Mr. Rittman said the point is it was there, and it ceased to operate. Are we going to replace it or leave the city unprotected? He said he had drafted a sample ordinance to give an idea of what they’re proposing. He said he applauded Mayor Quitmeier in one respect -- he talked about new technology. Mr. Rittman does not think cable interrupt is a satisfactory solution for outdoors. People aren’t carrying these little portable radios outside. Storms come up relatively suddenly. People on TV heard repeatedly how important early warning was on saving people in Tonganoxie. There is not enough time for police cars to go up and down streets. Sirens have been around for a long time, and are not that expensive - $16,000 to $17,000 approximately. Let’s do this for people in English Landing Park, he said, and people downtown, people in ball fields, swim groups and outdoor activities. There are a lot of folks walking around at night. The idea is to give people enough warning to get off the decks and off the streets.

Mr. Poole said that would be about $34,000 for two.

Mr. Rittman said yes, downtown Parkville and up by the radio tower.

Mayor Quitmeier said some homes are pretty close to that. It might blow out a person’s eardrums.

Mr. Frank McCoy said his home is 150' from the site and he’ll take the noise for the protection of the citizens in Riss Lake.

The mayor said the tornado siren salesman said you have to be real careful about eardrums.

Mr. Rittman said we were presented three different proposals at that meeting (with the siren salesman). It made sense to replace the siren downtown and perhaps go as far as River Hills Estates and then, based on city input, put the other roughly near the radio tower.

Mr. Friedman said they were ignoring professionals who say these outdoor sirens don’t work. Why not invest money in educational systems and then have these radios?

Mrs. Arnold said if we annex down the road how many would we need for that area? She would like to wait the four months for the recommendations of the county emergency planning group.

Mayor Quitmeier said Lt. Pittman said the City should fit into the emergency plan. The County will work with us. He also recommended checking out an Internet site relating to tornado sirens. The mayor said he is personally kind of in favor of the downtown one, but he doesn’t want anyone to think this is what we need for safety. He thinks we should pursue weather alert radios.

Resident Dana McCoy said some people in some places heard sirens inside their houses. She teaches at Renner School. All her students took cover because they heard tornado sirens. How come those people heard it inside their houses? Some people went to bed and heard sirens, a lot of them. They went to the basement. At night time sirens are usually going to wake you up. These people who heard it in their houses live in Platte Brooke North and Weatherby Lake.

The mayor said some do, some don’t.

Mrs. McCoy said you think radios are going to solve it all.

The mayor said the same people who turn on the sirens sound weather alert radios. He is not saying not to get sirens, but he doesn’t trust just sirens.

Mrs. Arnold asked Chief Hudson about tests his department did when sirens were sounded.

Chief Hudson said that night (the Thursday night under discussion) they could hear sirens in Kansas City, Kansas, but Parkville was not under a tornado watch – that’s why ours didn’t go off. Whether sirens can be heard at any particular time depends on weather conditions. The Kansas sirens could be heard downtown around McAfee Drive and the parking lot.

The mayor said when installing sirens he didn’t think they’d want to ignore The National or River Hills Estates. We can’t be hypocritical about other neighborhoods. If we get sirens we still need to get word out to people about weather radios. In the past, before technology caught up with us, we needed the sirens. Now we have the technology, and we don’t need to rely on sirens except for open areas.

Mr. Atkinson said if the City worked to buy radios in bulk and sell these to citizens we could help offset the cost. In regard to hearing sirens, he said some northern residents reported hearing them before, some after. Others couldn’t remember whether they heard them before or after. We do have very well insulated houses and don’t hear sirens. We are a lot safer with alert radios. Sirens are outdoor warning systems only. We should push hard for safety with weather alert radios. If you’re outside you’re going to see bad weather. We’d be a lot better off subsidizing weather alert radios.

Mr. Poole said smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are very effective, and he agreed that weather alert radios would be effective tools. He thought we should see what the City could do to subsidize them.

Mr. Rittman said there are about 1,400 residences; at $69 each that would be just about $100,000.

Mayor Quitmeier said we should do that anyway. If we have sirens we should do weather alert radios too.

Jeff Howard said he sat there for an hour listening to a road project. They couldn’t tell us what the road would cost. Now we’re talking about $34,000.

Mayor Quitmeier said SEMA and the Platte County Emergency Management Agency did not recommend sirens. Maybe rather than rushing to judgment we should help them develop a plan. Maybe our plan is to put sirens up, maybe radios, but maybe work with these people.

Mr. Howard asked what was our plan prior to last week.

Mr. Hawver said we had a siren. It didn’t go on because the National Weather Service never issued a tornado warning for Parkville.

Mayor Quitmeier said anything within fifty miles comes up on a weather alert radio. None of the county subdivisions (in the unincorporated areas) are protected, he said.

Mr. Howard said he had to go to Camden Point the next day, and the siren went off there.

Mr. Hawver said there are two separate issues here. Under the Emergency Preparedness program it is up to the National Weather Service to issue an alert, or a sighting by a police officer can trigger an alert – neither of those things occurred that night.

Mayor Quitmeier said you could buy the radios and get the warning before the sheriff gets the warning to you (by sounding the sirens).

Mr. Howard said you can’t mandate that everyone do that.

Mayor Quitmeier said no, of course not. It’s for your own protection.

Mr. Friedman said the guy who sells the sirens said they’re not effective inside homes.

Mayor Quitmeier said the County said its plan would be approved in four or five months.

Chief Hudson said officers will drive around to alert citizens to emergencies. In Camden Point one of the Platte County officers saw a funnel cloud overhead and alerted them so the siren went off.

Mr. David McCoy said even if it did happen we wouldn’t have a siren here. Sirens are the bare minimum.

Mrs. Hampton said she was concerned about a siren being heard downtown. There was a tornado warning in Platte County.

Chief Hudson said there was a severe weather warning here, not a tornado warning. The siren is working properly. It was not set off because we were not under a tornado warning.

Mrs. Hampton said they were listening to TV. The kids were out. She urged aldermen to strongly consider doing some sort of siren that’s functional for the downtown area.

Mr. Friedman said they are considering it, but they have had advice from professionals. They want to make sure they have a proper plan.

Mrs. Hampton asked them to set a time frame for a decision.

Mr. Poole asked if they could table this, noting that Lieutenant Pittman was working on something. He said they were trying to develop a plan.

Mayor Quitmeier said what if they get a tornado siren downtown and then come up with a comprehensive plan for all residents, not just in one neighborhood.

Mr. Ferguson asked why not put it at the new fire station.

Discussed ensued. Mr. Hawver said it would be a good location, Mayor Quitmeier suggested waiting until June 6 so we could get specifications to see if it would work at that location and with the station. Ms. Jack said the salesman for that supplier said SEMA does not favor putting sirens on buildings. The crew quarters are on the second floor, and the decibel levels are a problem. The mayor said we would check that out. Maybe we would have to go to a pole. Mr. Ferguson said the fire station is higher than a pole so the sound of the siren (atop the fire station) would probably extend over a greater area. Mr. Hawver said the siren has to be designed into the building.

Mr. Rittman said the spirit is in the right direction. We have been talking about this for a long time. Let’s resolve it, i.e., (1) the downtown siren (2) the overall philosophy.

Mayor Quitmeier said in the meantime get one for the park and college area.

Mr. Hutsler said hundreds of cities have tornado sirens. Parkville warrants an outdoor siren because of vast open areas, festivals, etc. He heard the Wyandotte County siren at Please Stop. He told them at Café Cedar it was a tornado warning. Not one Parkville police officer had been down there. He heard the siren at his house in Gladstone and got in his car to come over here. We should protect everyone, not just residents of downtown. Time is of the essence.

The mayor asked if there was a motion for request for bid. Mr. Hawver said there is only one company in the midwest that makes tornado sirens.

Mr. Rittman asked if they wanted to proceed with this. He said they could delete Section 2 (the Riss Lake siren). Mr. Hawver said he made some amendments that would make the ordinance work. Mr. Rittman said Riss Lake residents are very much in support of siren in their neighborhood.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED TO APPROVE BILL 1890, AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A TORNADO SIREN IN DOWNTOWN PARKVILLE, FOR FIRST READING; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

There was discussion about Section 2, which mandated "immediate repairs" if the siren became inoperable. The mayor suggested we should not try to mandate actions of future boards. He said he hated to set expectations by ordinance.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1890 BE APPROVED ON FIRST READING AND PASSED TO SECOND READING BY TITLE ONLY; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1890 BE APPROVED ON SECOND READING TO BECOME ORDINANCE 1876; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALDERMEN ARNOLD, FERGUSON, FRIEDMAN, DAVE McCOY, FRANK McCOY, POOLE, RITTMAN - AYE; ALDERMAN ATKINSON - NAY; MOTION CARRIED 7-1.

Mr. Hawver said they would move as expediently as possible – he didn’t know if we could get delivery within the time the bid says (bid was received some weeks earlier).

Mayor Quitmeier said we would also get together with Lieutenant Randy Pittman.

REVIEW OF MINUTES

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE MAY 2, 2000, MEETING AS PUBLISHED; ALDERMAN ATKINSON SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

MAYOR’S REPORT

WATER RATE INCREASE: The mayor said a notice was received that water rates would go up about $12 a month. We contacted the Public Service Commission (PSC), which said there would be a public hearing May 31 in St. Joseph. The substantial increase is largely because St. Joseph put in a new state of the art plant and wants everybody to help pay for it. The Office of the Public Counsel (OPC) doesn’t think that’s fair. It asked for seven local public hearings, including one in Parkville, but the Public Service Commission granted hearings in only five of the seven cities, not including Parkville. The OPC is for each district paying its own expenses. Water customers can write to the Missouri Public Service Commission at P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri, 65102, with a copy of their letters to the Office of the Public Counsel, P.O. Box 7800, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102 (FAX 573/751-5562).

The mayor encouraged people to go to the meeting at the St. Joseph City Hall. He thought a bus might be made available. The public questions part of the meeting starts at 5:30, with public comments at 6:30, and the meeting ends at 8:30.

The mayor said he and the city administrator were very gratified by the cooperation we’re getting from Shannon Cook, attorney at the OPC and pleased that we did not hire private counsel to fight the most recent rate increase.

GRAVEL TRUCKS ON RISS LAKE ROADS: Complaints have been received about trucks from Parkville Stone cutting through Riss Lake to deliver loads of stone to the Highway 45 project. Discussion ensued on how to handle this problem. (It was later discovered this matter could be taken care of by rules in the existing Traffic Code.)

WATER METER ANTENNA : Mayor Quitmeier said he talked with Sheriff Richard Anderson and thinks something can be worked out about putting the water meter antenna on the tower at Park University, which is leased to the Platte County Sheriff’s Department. If the water company’s device interferes at all with the communications of the Sheriff’s Department, the device would be immediately removed. The mayor is sure we could get that kind of assurance from Missouri American Water Company. Sheriff Anderson also wants to make sure no-one else asks to be on the tower.

Mr. Ferguson asked what we would do in ten years - all these houses would be over there. Right now no-one objects. The mayor said maybe we will have satellites by then.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

ADVERTISING SIGNS ON PLAYING FIELDS AT PARK UNIVERSITY: Mr. Hawver said Dr. Don Breckon has been pursuing advertising signs for Park University playing fields, and it occurred to him to check the Sign Code. He contacted Mr. Hawver, who said this is a matter which falls through the cracks in the Sign Code. He thinks the issue should come directly to the Board of Aldermen.

Mrs. Arnold said she looked at the Sign Code and thinks these signs are prohibited. Mr. Hawver said there is nothing that describes them. They’re not free-standing signs. Mayor Quitmeier said they would affect nearby residents who would have to look at them. Mrs. Arnold said agents for the university are in the process of selling signs. The mayor suggested amending the Sign Code to cover the fields by Riss Lake and on East Street.

It was noted the soccer field doesn’t have a Conditional Use Permit. The baseball field by Riss Lake does. The mayor said because the terms of the Conditional Use Permit do not include advertising signs, the only area we have to worry about is the field on East Street.

POLICE CHIEF’S REPORT

Chief Hudson said everyone had a copy of his report. Crime is up.

RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO ANNEX

Mayor Quitmeier read Resolution 2000-5-1, attached hereto and made a part of these minutes, resolving to pursue annexation of Crestridge Center, Fast Stop, and Parkville Self-Storage.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION; ALDERMAN FRIEDMAN SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

The mayor said he would have new committee assignments ready for the next meeting.

ANNEXATION: No report.

CHANNEL 2: No report.

FARMERS MARKET: Mr. Friedman said they’re getting a crowd. Good stuff.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT: Mr. Ferguson questioned the receipt of $7,500 for the Farmers Market. Mrs. Arnold said it was last year’s money from the Main Street Parkville Association from Christmas on the River 1998 receipts. This amount was earmarked for painting the market.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT AS PUBLISHED; ALDERMAN ATKINSON SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

NATURE SANCTUARY: Mr. Dave McCoy said they had groups from the high schools at the White Alloe last Saturday checking the water quality; it was good.

PARK COMMITTEE: No report.

PARKVILLE JUNIOR GOVERNMENT: Mr. Atkinson said the programs with Graden School fourth-graders May 9 and 10 went very well. We had two classes each day, with each group getting to tour the Police Department and the administrative offices, and then participating in a mock Board of Aldermen meeting and a Municipal Court session. He thanked Mayor Quitmeier, Judge Ferguson, Aldermen Linda Arnold and David McCoy, former Alderman Kathy Dusenbery, press representatives Martha Zirschky and Gene Gentrup, and office staff, particularly Meg Harding and Barbara Lance. Ms. Harding coordinated the events both days.

Mr. Dave McCoy said he was here the second day, and he agreed it went well. The kids seemed to enjoy it. Role-playing is a very effective way for kids to learn, he said. His daughter acted as a press representative and took notes to report on the meeting and trial back at school the next day.

Mrs. Lance added it was probably the most collaborative effort ever at City Hall, and it included staff from both upstairs and downstairs. Court Clerk Leslie Mason took care of the "set" for the court, arranging the microphone set-ups, etc.

PLANNING & ZONING: No report.

RECYCLING AND SOLID WASTE: Mr. Friedman said it was a successful weekend. Donations totaled about $325.

TRAIN DEPOT: Mrs. Arnold said she took pictures of the rehabilitation work in progress and will be sending a report to committee members.

TREE BOARD: No report.

Mr. Hawver said he is working on the sewer rate study and will mail it to aldermen when it is ready. He will also invite engineers to the June 6 meeting.

BILLS AND ORDINANCES

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1891, EMPLOYING ROBERT BIRMINGHAM AS TEMPORARY WEEKEND PARK WORKER, BE APPROVED FOR FIRST READING; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

Discussion ensued on salary and hours. It was decided the salary should be $25 per shift. He would be working two shifts Saturday and two on Sunday, about ten hours for the whole weekend.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1891 BE APPROVED ON FIRST READING AND PASSED TO SECOND READING BY TITLE ONLY; ALDERMAN FRIEDMAN SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1891 BE APPROVED ON SECOND READING TO BECOME ORDINANCE 1877; ALDERMAN DAVE McCOY SECONDED; ALL AYE BY ROLL CALL; MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

Bill 1891 was posted 5/12/00.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1892, ESTABLISHING PARK FEES, BE APPROVED FOR FIRST READING BY TITLE ONLY, HAVING BEEN POSTED; ALDERMAN RITTMAN SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1892 BE APPROVED ON FIRST READING AND PASSED TO SECOND READING BY TITLE ONLY; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1892 BE APPROVED ON SECOND READING TO BECOME ORDINANCE 1878; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE BY ROLL CALL; MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

Bill 1892 was posted 5/12/00.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1893, CONTRACTING WITH IDA LAKE TO ACT AS MANAGER OF THE FARMERS MARKET, BE APPROVED FOR FIRST READING; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1893 BE APPROVED ON FIRST READING AND PASSED TO SECOND READING BY TITLE ONLY; ALDERMAN ATKINSON SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1893 BE APPROVED ON SECOND READING TO BECOME ORDINANCE 1879; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE BY ROLL CALL; MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

Bill 1893 was posted 5/12/00.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1894, GRANTING AN EASEMENT TO KCP&L FOR ELECTRICAL SERVICE TO THE TRAIN DEPOT, BE APPROVED FOR FIRST READING; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

Discussion ensued. Mr. Friedman asked that the decision be delayed to see whether the electrical service could be provided less obtrusively.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON WITHDREW HIS MOTION; ALDERMAN POOLE WITHDREW HIS SECOND.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1894, EMPLOYING SHAN JOHNSON AS A TEMPORARY LABORER, BE APPROVED FOR FIRST READING; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED.

Mr. Friedman asked that Mr. Johnson be employed as a permanent employee rather than temporary, saying he knew Mr. Johnson and his work, and he would be an excellent addition to the staff. Discussion ensued. Mr. Hawver said they would like to hire Mr. Johnson on a permanent basis, but at the time the only vacancy is a temporary one. Last November it was agreed that the budget process would not be violated. He asked that the aldermen pass the ordinance for a temporary employee and reconsider the subject at a later meeting. It was agreed.

ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1894 BE APPROVED ON FIRST READING AND PASSED TO SECOND READING BY TITLE ONLY; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1894 BE APPROVED ON SECOND READING TO BECOME ORDINANCE 1880; ALDERMAN DAVE McCOY SECONDED; ALL AYE BY ROLL CALL; MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

Bill 1894 was posted 5/12/00.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL A-646, TO PAY LISTED SALARIES AND ACCOUNTS, BE APPROVED FOR FIRST READING; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL A-646 BE APPROVED ON FIRST READING AND PASSED TO SECOND READING BY TITLE ONLY; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL A-646 BE APPROVED ON SECOND READING TO BECOME ORDINANCE A-464; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE BY ROLL CALL; MOTION CARRIED.

Bill A-646 was posted 5/12/00.

LIQUOR LICENSE FOR CORKSCREW WINE COMPANY

Mayor Ferguson asked if this application, for a wholesale liquor distributor in the Park University underground, had been checked by the Police Department. Chief Hudson affirmed that it had.

ALDERMAN ATKINSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION OF CORKSCREW WINE COMPANY FOR A WHOLESALE LIQUOR DISTRIBUTOR’S LICENSE; ALDERMAN FERGUSON SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

The mayor asked for any other business. There was none.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED TO ADJOURN; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; MOTION CARRIED.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 p.m.

Submitted by ________________________________

City Clerk Barbara J. Lance - 5/23/00