Regular Meeting
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
CITY OF PARKVILLE, MISSOURI
July 6, 2000
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor William M. Quitmeier called the meeting to order in the Administrative Conference Area at 6:30 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- ABSENT WITH PRIOR NOTICE
Ward 4 Alderman Brian Atkinson - present
Ward 4 Alderman Frank McCoy - present
ALSO PRESENT: City Administrator Patrick Hawver
ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL AND REAL ESTATE UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF RSMo 610.021(2) AND (3); ALDERMAN RITTMAN SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.
Discussion ensued.
ALDERMAN POOLE MOVED TO ADJOURN TO REGULAR SESSION IN THE BOARD ROOM AT 7:00 P.M.; ALDERMAN FRANK McCOY SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.
The meeting reconvened in open session in the Board Room at 7:05 p.m., with all above present, plus the following:
Police Chief Bill Hudson
Public Works Director Jeff Rupp
Platte Valley Bank President E. L. Burch
Steve Warger, Harrington & Cortelyou, for Platte Valley Bank
Boy Scout Patrick Sell
Resident Neil Davidson
Resident Cathleen Light
MEDIA PRESENT: Nancy Jack
Marte Zirschky for Platte Dispatch
Nora Coronado for Kansas City Star
Mayor Quitmeier said there was nothing to announce regarding real estate coming out of executive session. There may be something to announce on personnel within the next 72 hours.
CITIZEN INPUT
Neil Davidson reported on the county sales tax proposition appearing on the August 8th ballot. He brought copies of Platte Profile 2020, copy of which is attached to the original of these minutes and available upon request.
Mayor Quitmeier read a resolution of support for Platte County Question #1, appearing on the August 8th ballot.
ALDERMAN FRIEDMAN MOVED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION; ALDERMAN ATKINSON SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR PLATTE VALLEY BANK
The request by Platte Valley Bank for a conditional use permit for a bank on the south side of Highway 45 was discussed at length. Issuance for this permit had been recommended by the Planning Commission. It was decided to add the following to the ordinance approving the conditional use permit: The bank will permit encroachments on the south portion of the tract, and the 140' buffer on the south part of the tract will remain undeveloped. Mr. Hawver said encroachments include a garden and a bridge over the swale. He said nearby residents were notified of the public hearing held by the Planning Commission on this matter. Mayor Quitmeier said he and Linda Arnold went house to house in Pinecrest during the election campaign to ascertain residents’ wishes in this matter.
Mr. Friedman expressed concern about vehicles entering and leaving the bank property along Highway 45. Mr. Warger said MoDOT (Missouri Department of Transportation) allowed for an entrance that was moved a little east of the church entrance, and made a break in the median. He illustrated these remarks with a large chart displayed on an easel. There are actually two openings onto Highway 45 – one is an entrance only and one is an exit only. Mr. Friedman said he is concerned about people coming out of the facility and attempting to go west. Mr. Warger said the State allowed it.
BILLS AND ORDINANCES
ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1903, AUTHORIZING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR PLATTE VALLEY BANK, BE APPROVED FOR FIRST READING; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.
ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1903 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 1903 BE APPROVED ON SECOND READING TO BECOME ORDINANCE 1889; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE BY ROLL CALL; MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
Bill 1903 was made available to media and others at the meeting.
Mayor Quitmeier welcomed Mr. Burch and the Platte Valley Bank to town.
SOUTH MAIN STREET BRIDGE
Mayor Quitmeier asked Mr. Warger the width of the South Main Street Bridge, which Mr. Warger engineered. Mr. Warger said there was an 18' clear roadway. To increase it to 20' would have cost about 20% more, he estimated.
The mayor asked for citizen input; there was none.
BOY SCOUT
At the mayor’s request, Patrick Sell, Troop #395, introduced himself. He said he was working on his communications badge, asked for an agenda of the meeting, and left.
REVIEW OF MINUTES
ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ON JUNE 20TH AND THE SPECIAL MEETING ON JUNE 27TH BE APPROVED AS PUBLISHED; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
MAYOR’S REPORT
EVENTS COMMITTEE: The mayor said this committee met last week, and will meet again Wednesday, July 12th, at noon. He invited anyone interested to attend. It is a good committee, he said. Complaints have been received about July 4th, and this committee will review them. He said the City needs to balance benefits of events against the interests of the residents. He noted that most merchants were open during the holiday weekend.
MISSOURI MUNICIPAL LEAGUE MEETING: The next MML meeting will be in Liberty at its community center; he suggested aldermen might like to attend to see the center.
ANNEXATION AREA REGULATIONS REVIEW COMMITTEE: The mayor characterized this meeting as "fabulous." He and City staff talked with residents and owners of property in the annexation area about regulations, trying to merge rural and urban regulations. He said a few days before the meeting Kansas City Councilman Bonnie Sue Cooper was quoted as saying that Kansas City didn’t want the land, but didn’t want Parkville to annex it; she didn’t explain why. The annexation matter is on the August 8th ballot, and a committee in favor of its passage has formed. He invited aldermen to join it if they want to see the annexation pass.
CREATING QUALITY PLACES MEETING: Mayor Quitmeier reviewed the most recent meeting of this MARC entity. It went well, although he disagreed with the speaker. It is the mayor’s opinion that developers set the tone for development.
THE NATIONAL: The National will have a formal opening for its private golf course Friday, July 7th, at 1:00 p.m. He feels the two developers of The National really have in mind leaving a legacy for future generations.
LETTER FROM PARK UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DON BRECKON REGARDING SIGNS ON UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC FIELDS: Dr. Breckon wants the Board of Aldermen to amend the City’s Sign Code to allow advertising signs on all its athletic fields, including those along Highway 9. (Mr. Hawver said in conversation with Dr. Breckon he was told that the wish was to have signs only along the fields on Highway 9, but Mayor Quitmeier noted he used the term "all athletic fields" twice.)
In the letter Dr. Breckon enumerated sixteen favors the university has done for the city, among them:
Item 2. Agreed to sell college property to the
Department of Conservation to expand the Nature Sanctuary, at a price below
market value. (The mayor said shortly after the sale college official Terry
Snapp told alumni that the college received tens of thousands of dollars for
property they would never have developed anyway.)
Item 3. Offered to downgrade some campus zoning from
industrial to commercial in return for the City’s moving the improvement of E.
6th Street to a priority spot on the capital improvements list. (The
City has thought for years that the industrial zoning, done about twenty years ago
in conjunction with other rezoning of campus sites, was invalid because of the
way it was done – the city attorney said we could pursue the matter in court,
but the City didn’t want to get into litigation with the College.)
Item 5. Allowed the use of campus land along E. 6th
Street for the monthly recycling facility and semi-annual cleanup events. Dr.
Breckon suggested he might begin to charge us for the use of the recycling area
on E. 6th Street, and for other events, if we don’t amend the Sign
Code. (The mayor said Dr. Breckon has told him on several occasions that any
way they could get people on the campus was to their advantage.)
The mayor noted that Stanford University is
taking down all its athletic field signs because they are an eyesore. He suggested
having a secret ballot to get the viewpoint of faculty, students, trustees, and
alumni on the matter.
Mr. Friedman said he had letters from
residents Voris Williams and Drs. Harold and Karen Brown opposing the signs. He
read them. Mr. Williams said there is light pollution from the fields, but that
is temporary and something residents can live with, but not advertising signs.
He asked the City not to allow them. Mr. Friedman said others had voiced verbal
opposition. Businesses are not allowed to have off-premise signs, he said. The
only billboard we allow is one that was grandfathered in. Advertising signs
along Highway 9 would affect the appearance of the university and the
atmosphere of the city.
Mayor Quitmeier quoted from other parts of
Dr. Breckon’s letter:
Item 10. Dr. Breckon said the college played a major
role in cleaning up and leasing college riverfront property and converting it
to English Landing Park, subsequently yielding to a City request to sell it to
them. (The mayor said Dr. Breckon had wanted to install an aerial conveyor
belt across Highway 9 to be able to load rock onto barges on the river. He
added that English Landing Park in its present state is an enhancement to the
college.)
Item 7. Agreed to host the Jazz Festival when the
park flooded a year or so ago.
(The mayor said
that event is purposely scheduled for Alumni Weekend as an added event for Park
alumni.)
Mr. Poole said he opposes the signs, and has
received calls from constituents who also oppose them. He said the university
has a nice field there, first-rate. He doesn’t want to see it cluttered up. We
removed signs from downtown to reduce clutter. He believes that the president
sold some sponsorships before checking on the Sign Code and realizing he
couldn’t do that. The mayor said he received a call from resident Evelyn States
opposing the signs.
Mr. Rittman referred to a similar letter Dr.
Breckon wrote in 1998. If there are going to be signs in a high school and
college environment, there would have to be some guidelines, Mr. Rittman added.
Also, with signs accessible to Highway 9, we should be cognizant of highway
funding. He said the letters from Dr. Breckon make the signs unsupportable.
Mayor Quitmeier said they have been
negotiating with Dr. Breckon about bailing him out for a one-year period, but
his letter says he would allow us to put the tornado siren and the water meter
on the Platte County Sheriff’s Department tower for the same period we allow
the signs. Missouri American Water Company has since indicated it will build
its tower on its property near The National.
Mr. Rittman said the tornado siren could be
placed in many places. The siren benefits the university as well as everyone
else. He will contact developer Don Julian and the Riss Lake Homes Association
about a location.
The mayor indicated the discussion on this
matter was tabled from the last meeting and asked if aldermen wanted to take
any action at this time.
Mr. Atkinson asked about the admissions sign
on Park University property; it too is a non-conforming sign. He suggested we
could use it in negotiations with Dr. Breckon. He noted we have some pretty
ugly signs in this town. He can’t see Dr. Breckon and the university doing
things that are unprofessional and gaudy – there might be something we could to
deal with this.
Mr. Friedman said signs are signs. Mr.
Atkinson said we have allowed the admissions sign, which is also
non-conforming. Mr. Friedman said if Dr. Breckon wants to make a fuss we can
discuss that.
Ms. Light said she lives next door to Voris
Williams opposite the athletic fields. She said Parkville is her haven;
serenity descends when she approaches home. She concurs with Mr. Williams that
advertising signs would be a blight. She loves the Nature Sanctuary, which is
adjacent to the fields. She just now learned of the plan to put signs on the
field, and said citizens are not as aware as they should be. If our local
newspaper comes back, she hopes people will be willing to subscribe to it.
Signs in general were discussed. The mayor
brought up the matter of the signs on the fence at Graden School at Highways 9
and 45. Mr. Poole said merchants put up temporary signs but then pull them down
after a limited period of time.
The mayor said when the university put up
international flags around the field that was beautiful.
Mr. Friedman suggested that putting up signs
for one game might be permissible. He reiterated that most stadiums that have
ads are enclosed and one has to be inside the stadium to see them.
The consensus was that there was no support
for amending the Sign Code.
CITY
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
FARMERS MARKET: Mr. Hawver said we are getting ready to repaint the
market with money donated from Christmas on the River 1998. In preparation for
this, he had the roof inspected for asbestos. The roof was deemed safe as long
as it doesn’t get damaged and we inspect it periodically. We have two bids to
paint it, although one bid is old and needs to be updated.
BILL-PAYING ORDINANCE: The bill-paying ordinance has an amendment to
include a large payment to JaCor for the train depot. That job is going really
well.
POLICE
CHIEF’S REPORT
4TH OF JULY: Chief Hudson said we managed to get through the
holiday, though his department was stretched to the absolute limit. He has
never seen that many people in town. They were double-parked everywhere.
Thousands were taken in and out by shuttle. They had a lot of trouble with
shuttles – they really need someplace north to turn them around. All side
streets were packed full. The police ran them through the college, which worked
earlier but not later. He’s had a couple of compliments on traffic control,
which really surprised him.
Mayor Quitmeier said he was concerned about
West Street – he couldn’t see how fire trucks or ambulances could get through
there with parking on both sides of the street. He asked if we need to
advertise the event to get all those people into town.
Chief Hudson agreed, although, he said, they
did manage to get a fire truck through the mob twice. He said we’re really
strapped when we get that many people. There were more here for the 4th
than for Christmas on the River. Every officer was committed to a duty post,
and they were still short. It’s hard to do events of that size without
increasing the staff or increasing the amount of parking.
He said the Police Department got a lot of
help from their friends on the Street Department, and he thanked them.
COMMITTEE
REPORTS
CHANNEL 2: No report.
FARMERS MARKET: Mr. Friedman said it keeps going. They had another
person; this one sells pork. The city clerk questioned whether pork was allowed
under the present regulations. (A subsequent check of the Farmers Market
Code indicates that pork is not among the items allowed to be sold in the
market; for such sales to be legal an amendment must be made to the code.)
NATURE SANCTUARY: Mr. David McCoy said they now have numerous Eagle
Scout projects going, and some have been completed. There would be a work day
the following Saturday. On July 15th there will be a community hike
starting at 10 a.m., and on Tuesday, July 11th at 6 p.m. they will
meet with fourteen biology teachers to teach them how to do water quality
testing.
PARKS COMMITTEE: No report.
PLANNING AND ZONING: Addressed earlier in the meeting.
RECYCLING AND SOLID WASTE: Mr. Friedman said they had another successful
weekend, with about $260 in donations received.
TREE BOARD: Members will meet Tuesday, July 11th, at
6 p.m. at the Farmers Market to do a survey to see where additional trees
should be planted.
BILLS
AND ORDINANCES (resumed)
Mr. Ferguson wants bills to get to aldermen
at least a week ahead of the meetings. Mr. Poole said he didn’t get his packet
until that night. (It was noted that some aldermen were out of town during the
holiday weekend, when the packets were delivered.)
The bill amending the Farmers Market Code was
discussed. Mr. Atkinson asked what precipitated the amendment which was in
their packets. Mr. Friedman said some additional things needed to be cleared
up, how the market is run, etc. They wanted the rules clarified. Mr. Atkinson
asked if he meant the Farmers Market rules, and Mr. Friedman said yes, everyone
ought to go down there. He said they are keeping people from selling junk down
there, keeping the quality up, setting hours, keeping people from fighting over
stall spaces.
It was decided to table this bill until the
next meeting.
The MARCIT bill was discussed. It was decided
to table it until next time.
ACCOUNTS
PAYABLE
ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL A-649, TO PAY
LISTED SALARIES AND ACCOUNTS, BE APPROVED FOR FIRST READING; ALDERMAN POOLE
SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.
ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL A-649 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-649 BE
APPROVED ON SECOND READING TO BECOME ORDINANCE A-649; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED;
ALL AYE BY ROLL CALL; MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
OTHER
BUSINESS
AUTOMATED HORN WARNING SYSTEM: Mr. Poole referred to a letter sent to officials by
resident and business owner Gary Worden urging action on the automated horn
warning system. Mr. Poole asked that this issue be moved to the top of the
priority list. Mr. Worden is spearheading a drive for donations to install the
system. Estimates of the amount he has raised so far ranged from $9,000 to
$15,000.
Mr. Friedman agreed with the necessity for
the system, but thinks there are some actual safety issues that should take
precedence, i.e., the West Street Bridge and stormwater drainage problems.
Mayor Quitmeier said the City has written to
the railroad and the state asking for financial help with the horn warning
system installations. Mr. Hawver wrote to the Department of Transportation
Safety. He is exploring grant funds which might be available.
Mr. Poole was in agreement with Mr. Friedman
about the immediacy of the West Street bridge problem. He does want to move
forward with the train warning system as soon as possible, however.
Chief Hudson said there were problems all
weekend with the railroad crossing gates.
Mr. Poole talked about a drainage problem on
West Street which causes mud on a driveway; he saw Mr. Worden and his wife down
there shoveling it off. He said Mr. Worden is a good citizen; the mayor
expressed his agreement.
FRANK McCOY - COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: Mr. Frank McCoy said he wanted to lobby publicly for
a committee assignment. He doesn’t have one yet.
TORNADO SIREN: Mr. Frank McCoy asked where we stand on the tornado
sirens. Mr. Hawver said they were ordered immediately after passage of the
ordinance authorizing them. It takes around eight weeks for delivery. A
representative is coming out next week to help us determine exact sites. He
asked for input from aldermen in the next few days regarding sites. Mr. Rittman
reiterated his intent to contact Don Julian and the Riss Lake Homes Association
board to see what input they can offer. Mr. Hawver said a siren needs only a
20-amp service.
Mr. Friedman asked whether the siren can go
on the fire station. Mr. Hawver reminded him that the siren company sales
representative recommended against it because of the decibel level. Mr.
Atkinson said there will be people in that structure – the noise would be
deafening. Mr. Friedman and Mr. Rittman disagreed, saying they would hardly
hear it.
ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED TO ADJOURN; ALDERMAN
ATKINSON SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Submitted by _____________________________________
City Clerk Barbara J. Lance - July 10, 2000