Regular Meeting

BOARD OF ALDERMEN

CITY OF PARKVILLE, MISSOURI

May 1, 2001

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor William M. Quitmeier called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room.

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 Frank McCoy - present

Ward 4 Alderman Marc Sportsman - present

ALSO PRESENT:

City Administrator Pat Hawver

Police Chief Bill Hudson

Tyler Cowden, Boy Scout Troop #395

Kyle Martin, Boy Scout Troop #423

Ralph Blount, Boy Scout Troop #423

Media Present:

Nancy Jack

Marte Zirschky for Platte Dispatch

Ed Gault and Paul Giarratana for Channel 2

Heather Brinkman of the American Cancer Society was not present, but will attend a subsequent meeting before the August 10-11 Relay for Life.

REVIEW OF MINUTES

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 17, 2001, MEETING AS PUBLISHED.

Mr. Sportsman referred to Page 2000-65 of the minutes (in the Federal Highway Grant section), specifically to the discussion on the need for pedestrian crossings on Highway 45. The sentence reads “The mayor said we certainly must have push-button signals there, and Mr. Sportsman and Mr. Rittman said no, we don’t.” Mr. Sportsman said he definitely wants to see push-button signals there.

The city clerk apologized for the clumsy wording of the sentence, and said she was trying to convey the mayor’s certainty that there must be push-button signals there, and Mr. Sportsman’s and Mr. Rittman’s report that there were not.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 17, 2001, MEETING WITH THE ABOVE CLARIFICATION; ALDERMAN SPORTSMAN SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

MAYOR’S REPORT

SEWER ODORS: The mayor said he received complaints about sewer odors. We dropped the level of the bioxide treatment because of the high cost. We also have a dip in a pipe in the downtown area. One person on oxygen complained the odor is killing him. We do need to get that resolved.

TIF COMMISSION: Park Hill Schools Superintendent Gayden Carruth and Dennis Fisher have been added to the TIF Commission; this is in addition to those appointed by the Board of Aldermen and the fire district representative, Chief Richard Carrizzo.

RIVER NORTH DEVELOPMENT (PARKVILLE COMMONS SHOPPING CENTER): The contract has been signed between River North and Lewin Estate owners for the Parkville Heights Shopping Center and adjacent property. River North is also pursuing an agreement with Associated Wholesale Grocers. We should have a TIF meeting relatively soon. We are waiting for a plan to be presented.

DEDICATION OF HEMINGWAY AND COMFORT FIELDS: The mayor attended the dedication ceremonies of the Comfort Baseball Field and the Hemingway Soccer Field on Park University campus. The Comfort family has contributed significantly to the life of the university; Jamie Hemingway was the coach of the women’s soccer team who was killed in an automobile accident last winter, along with two team members.

WALL STREET JOURNAL: After years of trying, the mayor convinced this newspaper’s publishers to begin home delivery in Parkville; they have held out because they didn’t think the demographics warranted delivery here. Service will begin June 1^st.

PLANNING COMMISSION VACANCY: Mayor Quitmeier said he has traditionally nominated for committee appointments residents who cared enough to run for public office but lost. When Ron Ortiz ran against Scott Duncan and lost, the mayor nominated Mr. Ortiz for the Planning Commission seat vacated by Mr. Duncan. When Frank McCoy lost to Brian Atkinson two years ago, the mayor nominated Mr. McCoy to fill a vacancy on the Planning Commission. Mr. Atkinson has now stepped down from the Board, having lost the recent election to Mr. Sportsman. The mayor said Mr. Atkinson was a hard worker and loves this community; he once ran for mayor, and served for many years as a reserve officer. His prior experience includes a period when he was sheriff in a county in southeastern Missouri. He nominated Brian Atkinson for the vacant seat on the Planning Commission.

ALDERMAN FRIEDMAN MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MAYOR’S NOMINATION OF BRIAN ATKINSON TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; AYE - ALDERMEN FERGUSON, FRIEDMAN, POOLE AND SPORTSMAN; NAY - ALDERMEN DAVID McCOY, FRANK McCOY AND DAVE RITTMAN; MOTION CARRIED 4-3.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

WALL STREET CUL-DE-SAC: Mr. Hawver said bids were opened that day for this construction. The low bid was still $16,000+ more than allocated. An ordinance authorizing an agreement with the low bidder was prepared, but Mr. Hawver said he would have a report at the next meeting about where we might come up with the rest of the funds necessary to do the job.

The mayor said our engineers always estimate low. Mr. Hawver said our jobs are pretty small for contractors to bid on; out of eight requests for bids only two companies responded. The mayor asked if putting a decision off for two weeks would hinder our ability to get the job done within the allotted time.

62^nd STREET CULVERT: Mr. Hawver said the 2001 capital improvements plan adopted for this year includes a major job that can’t be done this year because of difficulty getting the necessary easement. That is the 62^nd Street culvert; discussion ensued on pressure from the neighbors to get this job done, and their present unwillingness to grant an easement unless the culvert project is redesigned. This redesign has cost the City $1,000 in engineering costs and could cost at least $10,000 more in construction costs. It would allow the adjacent property owner enough land to have a second buildable lot. Discussion ensued on this problem.

The drainage problems in that area were discussed. Mr. Hawver said more water might be coming down to that area because of the changes in Highway 45 necessitated by its widening. Mayor Quitmeier said the law says that any governmental entity that adds stormwater to another area has to be liable.

Mr. Friedman asked if the “additional lot” which might be created if the 62^nd Street culvert is moved is actually buildable. Mr. Hawver said they haven’t studied the matter in that detail; that issue will come up if the lot is actually created. Mr. Friedman said the matter should be resolved before we decide to move the culvert. Mr. Hawver agreed that might resolve the issue. Right now, he said, we’re at an impasse.

Mr. Friedman said if we move the culvert we’ll have to fill in the old one. The mayor asked if anyone else in the 3^rd ward had pushed for the culvert repair. Mr. Ferguson said no. Mr. Hawver said the water does back up there but it doesn’t flood. The staff thinks the extra cost to move the culvert is a development cost. We may be heading for condemnation. He will look into this further and get back to the Board. The mayor said the feeling he gets from the Board is they are willing to go ahead if the owners would pay for the extra cost. Otherwise the City should proceed according to the original plan. Mr. Friedman said not to forget the other costs – he feels the total extra cost will be considerably more than $10,000. Mr. Hawver will provide a written report.

WALL STREET CUL-DE-SAC (resumed): Possible sources for the extra money needed for the cul-de-sac were discussed. Mr. Ferguson said the emergency fund has $441,000; of course, some of it is committed. The mayor asked aldermen if they wanted to go ahead with this matter now. Aldermen agreed they did.

CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT C/A 27, CONTRACTING WITH AMINO BROTHERS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE WALL STREET CUL-DE-SAC, BE APPROVED FOR FIRST READING; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL C/A 27 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 C/A 27 BE APPROVED ON SECOND READING TO BECOME ORDINANCE C/A 27; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE BY ROLL CALL; MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

Bill C/A 27 was posted 5/1/01.

SEWER PLANT AT RIVERCHASE: Mayor Quitmeier said this facility has been smelling. We received complaints from residents. An oil product, perhaps from the car wash, goes down into the sewer plant there. Apparently we didn’t have that odor problem before. We want to resolve that problem quickly and have talked to the car wash about putting signs there saying “Don’t drop oil in the sewer.” We will require that the problem be fixed immediately. Mr. Hawver said he’s been told the problem is diesel oil. Mr. Friedman said we need to monitor the sewer lines there. Mr. Frank McCoy said people will have to be careful what they wash there. Mr. Hawver will continue working on this problem.

DELINQUENT TAX REPORT: Mr. Hawver reported that the collector submitted delinquent tax reports to the Board. Mr. David McCoy said the total looks pretty high. Mr. Hawver agreed, but said we eventually get paid because real estate taxes are either paid to the County within three years (and to the City, being on the same tax bill), or the property is put up for auction.

TOWN HALL MEETING: Mayor Quitmeier announced that Missouri 30^th District Representative Meg Harding would have her fifth meeting in the depot next Saturday, May 5^th, from 9-11 a.m. It will be the last meeting until the legislature resumes session again.

POLICE CHIEF’S REPORT

Chief Hudson reported the March statistics look better than last year’s, and he hopes they remain that way.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

CHANNEL 2: No report. Mayor Quitmeier asked Mr. Rittman to report on the Website Committee, andsaid we should combine these two committees. Mr. Rittman said everything is going along nicely.

FARMERS MARKET: Mr. Friedman said there are a few more vendors each week. He asked about painting the Farmers Market shelter. Mr. Hawver said the painter who was going to do the job for $7,000 couldn’t do it because he couldn’t provide worker’s compensation insurance. The next lowest bid we got was $11,000. Now we have a community service worker who can give us 40 hours. He is an experienced painter. Maybe when his 40 hours is up we could work out a payment schedule with him. Mr. Friedman said that fund should have grown, because the Farmers Market brings in revenue every year. Mr. Hawver said he would like to get together with him to discuss it. Mr. Friedman said the shelter would have to be primed again before it can be painted. Primer doesn’t last and should be done within only a few days of painting.

FINANCE: Mr. Ferguson said there are still some problems getting the reports done with the new program. Staff is trying to integrate the procedures. We got the March report, but still don’t have February’s. He said we are pretty close to our total anticipated income for the year; that is because real estate tax is a major source of income. We should meet our budget for the year.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE TREASURER’S REPORT FOR MARCH.

Mr. Hawver said staff is making a commitment to the Board that the monthly reports will be submitted on a timely basis and will always be available at the second meeting following the month being reported on.

It was agreed to wait two weeks before considering the March report. Mr. Hawver said they would have the April report as well at that time. The city clerk asked whether she should have a second set of March reports available, and aldermen said no, they would bring their March reports with them.

NATURE SANCTUARY: Mayor Quitmeier said a lot of people are using the sanctuary, and it is just beautiful. Mr. David McCoy said yes, there’s lots of activity there. He said April 25^th there was a hike with 25 people from the Platte Woods Methodist Church participating. There was another guided hike April 28^th. Larry Rizzo of the Department of Conservation will guide a bird hike May 9^th at 6 p.m.

PARKS: Mr. Poole said the committee discussed a $1,000 donation; they are still debating on its use. The committee is applying for a Lewis & Clark grant. There will be a special meeting May 7^th. Mr. Hawver reported we got word that day we have received $20,000 in grant funds for parks from the County. The first priority for that grant is a parking lot/trail extension at a cost of $80,000. The sum received was for that project. He didn’t know whether we would be able to complete that project with those funds.

It was noted the Platte County Park Board is only a recommending body to the Platte County Commission. Mr. Sportsman asked if the Park Board explained why they allocated that amount. Mr. Hawver said he is not sure, as the official announcement hadn’t been made yet. The mayor said he thought it had something to do with the application. Platte City got a grant of $35,000 for a ball field; the city is partnering with a local baseball group. The mayor said we provide English Landing Park, the Nature Sanctuary, and the swimming pool for the entire community. Mr. Friedman said we should find out whether the County gave out the entire amount of grant money available.

Mr. Poole discussed the matter of alcohol in the park. The Park Committee did not object to it. He said it’s more a matter of size (larger groups require more parking, etc.). The committee prefers leaving those decisions to the city administrator.

Mayor Quitmeier said an issue came up last weekend when someone was faxed an application for a park reservation and assumed he had a valid reservation even though he had not come in and paid before an in-person reservation was made for the same shelter. The mayor said we should stick to our policy of reservations being made in person only.

Mr. Poole said the matter of children playing in the culvert in English Landing Park and in the creeks is a safety problem which needs to be addressed – maybe by signs warning parents not to allow their children to do that. Also, he said, there used to be a fence along the river by the ball fields to prevent children from falling in the river; that is gone in places.

PLANNING COMMISSION: Mr. Ferguson said the commission would meet the following Tuesday night to consider the application of the owners of Parkville Landing Centre to rezone property to B-4, planned business. It is zoned industrial now. Their application is contingent upon exempting property zoned B-4 from the six-month moratorium on building in the Downtown Business Area. The mayor said some members of the Master Plan Committee oppose lifting of the moratorium for that purpose. He suggested we perfect our B-4 zoning.

Mr. Frank McCoy said the application for rezoning had no date on it. Mr. Ferguson said they came in for a building permit, didn’t they? Mayor Quitmeier said that was for property outside the Downtown Business Area, but for the location planned for Papa Frank’s.

TREE BOARD: Mr. Frank McCoy said there was a very nice Arbor Day ceremony. Those who came got a lot of trees. The next Tree Board meeting would be May 8^th at 7 p.m.

BILLS AND ORDINANCES

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1964, AUTHORIZING A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE POSTOFFICE AND THE CITY FOR EMERGENCY SEWER REPAIRS, BE APPROVED FOR FIRST READING; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1964 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 1964 BE APPROVED ON SECOND READING TO BECOME ORDINANCE 1949; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE BY ROLL CALL; MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

Above bill was posted 4/27/01.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1965, CONTRACTING WITH BRUCE CULLEY TO DO THE CITY’S 2000 AUDIT WITH AN OPTION FOR FUTURE AUDITS, BE APPROVED FOR FIRST READING; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

It was noted the Finance Committee (formerly called the Audit Committee) had unanimously recommended acceptance of this bid.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1965 BE APPROVED ON FIRST READING AND PASSED TO SECOND READING BY TITLE ONLY; ALDERMAN SPORTSMAN SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL 1965 BE APPROVED ON SECOND READING TO BECOME ORDINANCE 1950; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE BY ROLL CALL; MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

This bill was posted 4/30/01.

Mr. David McCoy said that one thing the Finance Committee emphasized was to look at the procedure for 2001 to see to what extent recommendations made by the previous auditor should be implemented.

Mr. Sportsman suggested to Mr. Hawver that in the future we should have timeliness of reporting so that each year’s audit is completed on time, at least within three months of the close of our fiscal year, and it would be helpful if the auditor would discuss it with the Board. The auditor should be told we have certain expectations. Mr. Hawver said this auditor has expressed his willingness to appear before the Board. Mayor Quitmeier asked Mr. Hawver to send Mr. Culley a letter of understanding and copy it to the Board.

Mr. Sportsman asked if we would be going through the request-for-proposals procedure very year? Mr. Hawver said the agreement with this auditor is for a one-year period, with four successive years beyond that if both parties agree. Mr. Culley will start work next week.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL A-669, TO PAY LISTED SALARIES AND ACCOUNTS, BE APPROVED FOR FIRST READING; ALDERMAN DAVID McCOY SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED THAT BILL A-669 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 A-669 BE APPROVED ON SECOND READING TO BECOME ORDINANCE A-669; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE BY ROLL CALL; MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

Bill A-669 was posted 5/1/01.

The mayor asked for citizen input; there was none.

OTHER BUSINESS

UNDERGROUND SPRINGS: Mr. Sportsman said there has been discussion about streams running through streets. In two places water is cascading and affecting four residences in cul-de-sacs in Riss Lake. Conversations have taken place among Jeff Rupp, Pat Hawver, and developer Don Julian about the cost of doing repairs. Mr. Julian might support the costs of repairs; Mr. Sportsman would like to carry these conversations a little further. Those two particular areas are particularly problematic, but there are three or four more. The mayor asked Mr. Sportsman to work with Mr. Hawver and Mr. Rupp to see what the costs will be.

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED TO ADJOURN; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED.

STREET CUTS IN THE NATIONAL: Mr. Frank McCoy said there are numerous streets cuts already made in The National. He asked if that was because of street failure. He referred to a problem with a street cut made in 1993 because of a problem with water, saying streets cuts can lead to deterioration of streets. Mr. Hawver said it is unusual for a new street to be cut, and he was not aware of these cuts. He will look into it. Mr. McCoy said there are probably seven or eight, about 60' to 70'. Mr. Hawver said we do have a two-year maintenance bond. Mayor Quitmeier said the bond is good only if the street fails. Mr. Hawver said a street that’s cut is never the same.

PARKVILLE JAZZ & FINE ARTS RIVER JAM EVENTS APPLICATION: Mr. Frank McCoy said he wanted to speak about a license for one of the festivals. He asked if the Parkville Jazz & Fine Arts River Jam is going to present us with an application. He said the Finance Committee wants to see budgets for events because of the overrun. Mr. Poole said he thought Mrs. Arnold filed an application several months ago.

Mr. McCoy said the Events Committee generated some guidelines. The Board never acted on those guidelines. There were talks in the Finance Committee meeting about budgets being presented by organizations. He asked if we are going to follow the guidelines. Mayor Quitmeier said we should. Mr. Hawver said we have adopted the guidelines.

Mr. Hawver said Mrs. Arnold plans to come before the Board with the Main Street budget, and events budgets. The mayor said we should get that budget to the Finance Committee.

Mr. McCoy said he realizes the Jazzfest made money last year, but believes that’s the only event that did. He said the guidelines say certain things should be 12 months ahead, and six months ahead, etc. It is a well-written document; we have to follow it.

Mr. Hawver said he has the Jazzfest application, the 4^th of July application, and the Parkville Days application. He was not sure whether he had the Christmas on the River application yet. Mr. McCoy reiterated that the guidelines say the applicant shall request approval from the Board of Aldermen six months prior to the event. The mayor said Mr. Hawver said he has the applications. Mr. Hawver agreed, and said these dates are on our calendar.

Mr. McCoy said Jazzfest never came and asked for permission. They should have had their proposal in. Mr. Hawver said he got that application. The Jazzfest was approved when we approved other events. He was sorry Mrs. Arnold was not present that night to talk about this, but in the packets there was an application from Rebecca Brooks for Main Street to sell beer and light wine at Jazzfest. Mayor Quitmeier asked if they wanted to approve the license that night or see the application first. Mr. McCoy said he wanted to see the application.

Mayor Quitmeier said this is the first event to come under that, so there are growing pains. Mr. Ferguson said we need to see the budget for it.

The motion to adjourn was called.

ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

Submitted by ____________________________________

City Clerk Barbara J. Lance - May 4, 2001