Regular Meeting

BOARD OF ALDERMEN

CITY OF PARKVILLE, MISSOURI

September 3, 2002

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

Mayor Charles E. Kutz called the meeting to order in the Administrative Conference Area at 6:05 p.m.

 

ROLL CALL

 

Ward 1 Alderman Jack Friedman- arrived at 6:55 p.m.

Ward 1 Alderman Charlie Poole - present

Ward 2 Alderman David McCoy- arrived at 6:50 p.m.

Ward 2 Alderman Dave Rittman - present

Ward 3 Alderman Marvin Ferguson - present

Ward 3 Alderman Linda Arnold - present

Ward 4 Alderman Marc Sportsman - present

Ward 4 Alderman Kathy Dusenbery - present

 

            ALSO PRESENT

City Administrator Pat Hawver

Director of Public Works Jeff Rupp

City Attorney Jack Campbell

Terry Satterlee, counsel on environmental matters

 

ALDERMAN RITTMAN MOVED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PER RSMo 610.021(1) AND (3) TO DISCUSS LEGAL AND PERSONNEL MATTERS; ALDERMAN ARNOLD SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

 

Discussion ensued.

 

ALDERMAN SPORTSMAN MOVED TO ADJOURN TO OPEN SESSION IN THE BOARD ROOM; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED.

 

The meeting reconvened the meeting at 7:03 in open session in the Board Room with all above present except Ms. Satterlee. 

                                                   

            ALSO PRESENT

Police Chief Bill Hudson

Superintendent of Streets Alan Schank

Girl Scouts Kaci Mason and Candy Johnson re fund-raiser for Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter 10/12/02

Cory Miller re grinder pump for home in River Hills Estates

Captain Jeff McFadden re riverboat trips and condition of Parkville=s riverfront

Mary Bolling and Gale Bay re AA Taste of Parkville@ on 9/10/02

Cindy Ritchie re fund-raiser for and by Cub Scout Troop #333 Market on 10/5/02

Tom Hutsler for Main Street Parkville, Inc. and Joint Sales Development

Dave Williams for Parkville Community Development Commission

Amy Pauling, Friends of the Parkville Animal Shelter

Erwin Carney, Nature Sanctuary Committee

 

 

 

 

 

REVIEW OF MINUTES

 

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 20, 2002, MEETING AS PUBLISHED; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

 

              GIRL SCOUTS FOR FRIENDS OF THE PARKVILLE ANIMAL SHELTER FUND-RAISER

 

Cadette Girl Scouts Kaci Mason and Candy Johnson asked permission to put on a fund-raiser called AAnimal Fest@ in English Landing Park October 12^th from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Events include an animal walk around the park, a talk on animal safety with coloring books for children,  demonstrations on dog training, and adoption of pets from FPAS.

 

Other possible activities include a demonstration of home grooming techniques, a canine unit demonstration by the Platte County Sheriffs Department, story time (animal stories) for the kids, sale of hot dogs and soda pop, animal games, a dog pageant, a kiddie parade, and a pet health program by Lucy=s Barkery of Parkville. 

 

Mr. Hawver said this event would be at no cost to the city.

 

ALDERMAN McCOY MOVED TO APPROVE THE FPAS FUND-RAISER AS OUTLINED AND TO WAIVE THE FEE FOR THE USE OF THE WEST SHELTER IN THE PARK; ALDERMAN ARNOLD SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

 

            CORY MILLER REQUESTING PERMISSION TO INSTALL GRINDER PUMP

 

Mr. Miller said they didn=t realize they would need a grinder pump when the permit was granted.  Mrs. Dusenbery said Riss Lake residents, who are all on grinder pumps, pay an additional charge  to finance any grinder pump repairs in their subdivision.  Because this special assessment is not charged to residents elsewhere, Mr. Miller would have to pay any repairs and other costs related to grinder pump failure himself.  He agreed.

 

ALDERMAN FERGUSON MOVED TO PERMIT CORY MILLER TO INSTALL A GRINDER PUMP AT HIS HOME NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN RIVER HILLS ESTATES; ALDERMAN RITTMAN SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED 8-0. 

 

      CAPTAIN JEFF McFADDEN REGARDING RIVERBOAT TRIPS AND RIVERFRONT CONDITION

 

Captain  McFadden was scheduled to appear to ask for permission to operate a riverboat tour business out of Parkville, but said he had done trial runs with family and friends that weekend and decided the river was not accessible for a boat the size of his from our boat ramp in English Landing Park nor from the other site at the foot of Main Street.  He said our boat ramp needs major re-engineering. 

 

Mayor Kutz said he appreciated Captain McFadden=s interest in doing this, but said we=re pretty proud of our riverfront, and we=re not necessarily soliciting use of it by anyone.  Captain McFadden apologized, and   said he didn=t see any point on going on.  Mayor Kutz agreed.

 

           CINDY RITCHIE REGARDING CUB SCOUT TROOP 333 FUND-RAISER

 

Ms. Ritchie said this troop meets at the Parkville Presbyterian Church; they want to do their annual fund-raiser at the Farmers Market, selling popcorn.  There was general consensus to allow this, but a discussion of Farmers Market regulations arose.  It was agreed that the section allowing not-for-profit groups to participate in the market and to sell items other than those called out in the Farmers Market Code should be rewritten. 

 

ALDERMAN ARNOLD MOVED TO APPROVE PARTICIPATION IN THE FARMERS MARKET BY CUB SCOUT TROOP #333 ON OCTOBER 5^th, WITH THE STIPULATION THAT MS. RITCHIE SHOULD CALL FARMERS MARKET MANAGER IDA LAKE TO APPLY FOR SPACE; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

 

            MARY BOLLING FOR AA TASTE OF PARKVILLE@

 

Mrs. Bolling said she and Mrs. Bay appeared before the Board on June 18^th to talk about this event, for which they received approval.  They were back to submit a more detailed plan.  The event is a fund-raiser for Christmas on the River.  She presented a map of the area bounded on the north by the railroad tracks, on the south by McAfee Drive, on the east and southeast by the White Alloe Creek, and on the west by So. Main Street.  It was prepared by Steve Cantrell & Associates, architects, showing where all the participants would be located.  

 

Discussion included:

 

DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, September 10^th, 6-9 p.m.

 

      PARKVILLE RESTAURANTS PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT:  Birdie=s Sports Pub, Café Cedar, Café des Amis, the National II Grill, Pancho=s, Papa Frank=s, Piropos, Power Plant Brewery & Restaurant, Olde Mill Catering, Rancho Grande Cantina, and Stone Canyon Pizza. 

 

      OTHER PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS:  Einstein Brothers Bagels, Chizuru Japanese, Jazz Louisiana Kitchen, Minsky=s Pizza, On the Border, Papa John=s, and Tasty Thai.   

 

      CROWD SIZE AND TICKETS:  They expect 500-1,000 people.  Each will pay $25 which will include food from all the participating restaurants.  Children under 13 who come with their parents will eat free.  Tickets are available from Stone Canyon Pizza, Farmers Exchange Bank, Angela & Company, Yikes, Garden Goddess, The National Golf Club II Grille, La De Da, or from Barbara Lance.   For more information, people should contact Mary Bolling at 918-             5801 or Gale Bay at 741-2594.  

 

                 ELECTRICITY:  Mrs. Bolling said Mrs. Bay talked with John Conrad several times about electricity  requirements.  Mr. Hawver said he was not aware the event would require electricity.   Mayor Kutz asked if ATaste of Parkville@ would bear electricity expenses.  Mrs. Bolling said yes.

 

                 HEALTH:   They have talked with David Yerkovich of the Platte County Health Department about health requirements. 

 

                 STREET CLOSINGS: Mrs. Bolling requested closing of East Street.  Chief Hudson said that would take more manpower, as they would have to divert traffic over to Main.  Mayor Kutz asked if participants could be moved from the upper part of the general parking lot to the upper part of the Farmers Market parking lot; that way they could leave East Street and the east-west street bisecting the general parking lot open.  It would also allow some parking in              the upper part of the general parking lot.   Mrs. Bolling said that=s possible. 

 

                 TENTS:  The largest is 10x10, Mrs. Bolling said. 

 

                 BEER AND WINE: Wine and beer tasting will be offered by Power Plant and The National II in their booths.  Each is obtaining a one-day off-premise catering license.

 

RAIN: Mrs. Bolling said she was going to contact The Olde Mill, also tent suppliers, but

if those options don=t work there will not be a party; there=s no rain date.

 

      BANNER: Permission was requested for a 3x25 banner across the highway coming into town.  Mr. Hawver said that would be no problem.

 

      TABLES: Mrs. Dusenbery said she appreciated that tables would be available in both parking lots so they wouldn=t have to eat standing up.  Mrs. Bolling said they really want this to be a              family affair, so they tried to make it as comfortable as possible.

 

                 INSURANCE: Proof of insurance was included in the materials distributed. 

 

                 DOWNTOWN SHOPS: Mrs. Bolling has asked them to stay open late that night. 

 

                 PARKING: Mrs. Bolling thanked Park University for making its parking facilities available that night and for Christmas on the River. 

 

                 OTHER NEEDS: They need snow fencing and security.  They thought about using ribbons for areas where fencing is not available.

 

Mr. Hawver said staff would do a lot to accommodate this event.  He asked Mrs. Bolling if she and Mrs. Bay could meet with them the next day.  Mrs. Bolling said absolutely. 

 

Mayor Kutz asked Chief Hudson if he had any problems with the arrangements.  The chief said they would work it out. 

 

Mr. Sportsman asked if they could approve the event conditional on whatever changes Mr. Hawver makes during the meeting with Mrs. Bolling and Mrs. Bay.  It was agreed. 

 

ALDERMAN FRIEDMAN MOVED TO APPROVE THE EVENT AS DESCRIBED SUBJECT TO CHANGES WHICH MAY BE MADE DURING THE MEETING BETWEEN STAFF AND SPONSORS;  ALDERMAN ARNOLD SECONDED; ALL AYE; MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

 

               TOM HUTSLER

 

Mr. Hutsler said the 34^th annual Parkville Days was a really nice success.  They had really good weather .  He offered a special thanks to Maxine McKeon, who has been doing the Little Miss and Little Mr. Parkville contests for 28 years.  He said the parade went off really well this year.  Both high school bands participated.  Shriners may be here next year.  The event grossed about $34,000.  They made a profit of approximately $17,000-$20,000.  He will give a full report at the next meeting.  He will give Pat Hawver a list of vendors and a map for the last two years.  He offered thanks to city crew, the Park Department and  the Police Department.  He said John Conrad spent two or three days doing the electrical work.  There were a couple of minor problems, but everything went off without a hitch.  The Main Street Parkville Association thanks you, he said. 

 

Mr. Hutsler said the Board had before it a letter written by Attorney Dick Fickle regarding their (his, Mr. Williams= and Mr. Tinsley=s) development at English Landing Center.  He referred to that letter and said they have had a few minor problems, and he hopes that city staff can work with them in the very near future to make sure they don=t have any problems. 

 

Mr. Poole asked where the profit from Parkville Days will go.  Mr. Hutsler said it would help fund their budget for Main Street Parkville Association.  Mr. Poole asked what about the expenses the City had?  All the electrical work, and the problems?  The 30-40 hours of overtime?  Will all that be reimbursed to the City?  There was damage to the park.  We need to recover these expenses. $17,000-$20,000 is not a true profit.  He would suggest the event not be held in the park next year. 

 

Mrs. Arnold said she and Mr. Ferguson are suggesting a heavy deposit for all the festivals. 

 

Mr. Hutsler said the transformer which blew was a #25 furnished by KCP&L (Kansas City Power & Light).  For the last several years John Conrad and others have been working to try to replace that transformer.  They did lose power.  They did have a generator provided by the carnival, which kept the band going.  They did have problems, but they were handled by the Police Department.  KCP&L replaced the transformer with a #50 transformer.  Who is responsible for the  cost, he asked -- he is assuming it is KCP&L.  It was faulty equipment.  It is Parkville Main Street Association=s goal to have all events use any profits to further its program. 

 

He didn=t think anyone wants to harm the park.  After a couple of rains the grass grows back.  The park looks great now.  Mr. Poole asked him if he had seen the pictures?  The ruts are deep and wide, he said.  Mr. Hutsler said any ruts can be rolled out with the proper equipment.  Mayor Kutz asked if he would pay for that work to be done.  Mr. Hutsler said they=d help pay for it. 

 

Mrs. Dusenbery asked who was going to pay for all John Conrad=s time.  There is just a point where City services are being abused for these festivals.  Mrs. Arnold said it cost $700 for one purchase of supplies for this event.  Mr. Hutsler said the City agrees to help electricity and other services. 

 

Mr. Sportsman said the idea of the City helping charitable organizations to get them off the ground is good, but when they make a profit of 50% they need to think about responsibility for those services, particularly when they=re hauling down a 50% profit.  Mr. Hutsler needs to take on more of that responsibility.  It puzzled him that there were far more booths set up than the City anticipated, which probably contributed to the power outage. 

 

Mr. Sportsman continued, saying that at that time and almost up to the event, city employees were still working to put things together.  The location of the rides was done at the last minute and was a grassy area instead of where they were normally located.  Mr. Hutsler took it upon himself to make these changes.  

 

Mr. Hutsler said he was working with Parks Director Ed Gault on it.  Last year they had a problem.  This year Mr. Gault and Mr. Hutsler worked closely to locate vendors out of the marshy area.  They moved the carnival east.  There were the same number of rides, and the same number of pieces of equipment.  There were six to seven more artists and ten more crafters.  Otherwise the event was entirely set up like last year.  The transformer was a problem that John Conrad has told Pat Hawver about.  There were problems at Jazzfest and they rented a generator.  Now we have a proper-size transformer.  Mrs. Dusenbery asked if Mr. Hutsler couldn=t have rented a generator as well.  Mr. Hutsler said the carnival provided one. 

 

Mrs. Arnold said Mr. Gault=s report said the event was larger than ever.  Mr. Hutsler said Mr. Gault has never had to help John Conrad with electricity before.  Mr. Conrad got a late start because of the rainstorms.  He   usually works three full days on electricity.  It=s planned on every year.  One year we had 250 vendors. 

 

Mrs. Arnold asked if Mr. Hutsler had a cut-off date for vendors.  Mr. Hutsler said they gave everybody an opportunity to participate.  They thought they could handle it.  A lot of groups came in at the last minute.

 

Mr. Hawver said he is proposing to draft new guidelines for events which will include a good map.  Staff needs to spend more time with event sponsors.  He would like to work with the Park Committee on guidelines.  He will have a report in two or three weeks.  Mayor Kutz suggested Board members should be involved in that process.  Mr. Hawver said they would be welcome.  He said most people enjoyed Parkville Days, but there were problems.  He thinks they could avoid them with new guidelines.  Mr. Friedman said the size needs to be restricted if an event is held in the park. 

 

Mrs. Dusenbery said Ed Gault=s report shows that he put in 21-25 hours on Parkville Days, with 15 of those hours being overtime.   We need guidelines on how much the City is willing to spend.  Organizers need to be responsible for anything over that.  Three whole days John Conrad worked on this instead of other city business.

Mr. Poole said we just had a carnival in July.  We don=t need another in August.   He had some concerns about some of the carnival employees; some had rap sheets.  He is concerned for people in this city.  The park became one big commercial zone which took away everything that park stands for.  Originally Mr. Hutsler said there would 80 to 90 vendors.  Tonight he said there were 115 to 120.  He also said there would be seven rides; Mr. Poole counted eight.  It wasn=t the same as last year.  Nothing was the same as he said. 

 

Mr. Hutsler said when Mr. Poole asked him down in the park that day how many rides there were last year, he gave him a figure off the top of his head.   Later he looked at the record; there were 11 rides last year.  He thinks the most important thing as an alderman is if you=re going to make discriminatory remarks about any kinds of persons and their occupations you should be careful.  Mr. Poole said they were not discriminatory remarks. 

 

Mr. Poole said the bottom line is that a commercial zone is not necessary in the park. 

 

Mayor Kutz said he would like to conclude this session on Parkville Days.  He would like the city administrator to work on guidelines. 

 

           AUDIENCE INPUT

 

The mayor asked if anyone else would like to address the Board.  No-one did.

 

     MAYOR=S REPORT

 

No report.

 

               CITY ADMINISTRATOR=S REPORT

 

Mr. Hawver said Jim Reed, director of the Nature Sanctuary, would like to become a salaried employee instead of an hourly one so he would be eligible for life insurance benefits.  Discussion ensued, and Mr. Sportsman said he would prefer to discuss employee matters in executive session. 

 

         POLICE CHIEF=S REPORT

 

Chief Hudson said Officer Kris Cornell arrested an exhibitionist Saturday morning.  Otherwise things were fairly quiet. 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

CHANNEL 2 AND WEBSITE: No report.

 

COMMUNITY CENTER: No report.

 

FARMERS MARKET: Mr. Friedman said it=s still going strong and encouraged everyone to go down there. 

 

FINANCIAL REPORT: Mr. Ferguson said he had the July 31^st statement, but had a few questions and suggested it be considered at the next meeting. 

 

MAIN STREET PARKVILLE ASSOCIATION/CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Mrs. Arnold said the Chamber of Commerce will have an after-hours event at Farley State Bank in the Parkville Shopping Center on Thursday, September 26^th from 5-7.  She asked permission for the Parkville Community Development Commission to carry on with Jazzfest next year.  The committee needs a decision because most of its sponsorship funds are solicited and commitments are received before the end of the previous year. 

 

ALDERMAN FRIEDMAN MOVED THAT THE PARKVILLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION BE AUTHORIZED TO SPONSOR THE 2003 JAZZFEST (AKA PARKVILLE FINE ARTS & RIVER JAM) ON JUNE 20-21 of 2003; ALDERMAN POOLE SECONDED.

 

Mr. Rittman asked if we have applications from both entities B the PCDC and Parkville Main Street Association.  Mrs. Arnold said Rebecca Brooks turned one in for PCDC.  Mr. Hawver said he got one from Tom Hutsler for Main Street two or three months ago.  Mrs. Arnold said the Board will have to make a decision because two different programs are out there and the matter needs to be resolved.

 

Mr. Friedman said he was very supportive of keeping the successful operations in the hands of organizations that have been running them.  Jazzfest and Christmas on the River are highly successful because of the personalities of the people who run them.  He strongly feels we should stay with those people. 

 

Mr. Rittman asked if we had a second application.  Mr. Hawver said he didn=t think he could locate both of them right now.  Both PCDC and Main Street applied to do Jazzfest on the same dates. 

 

Mr. Ferguson said PCDC has done it in the past.  Mr. Friedman said they have been reporting on it every year, and keeping records on it.  It has a very efficient and well-versed staff.    We need to stay with those people. 

 

Mayor Kutz said we=ve called for the vote.  We need to allow people to talk about it. 

 

Dave Williams came to the podium and said he was the only member of PCDC present; half the board of that organization resigned because of implications of what they were afraid of what committees were going to do with the money.   Mayor Kutz asked him who resigned; Mr. Williams said he didn=t want to give names.  He said the accountant resigned.  Mr. Williams is one member out of eight or nine.  He didn=t know exactly how many resigned, but you could ask Gary Worden, who is president.  Mayor Kutz indicated he talked with Mr. Worden the other day.  Mr. Williams said Dick Fickle resigned.  Mr. Williams said he is a member of both PCDC and Main Street.  He intends to resign from PCDC.  The whole organization is basically falling apart.  They appointed some new members.  He=s been to two of the last three meetings.  They only have about one meeting a year.  Mrs. Arnold said that=s all they=re required to have. 

 

Mayor Kutz said this is an issue between various entities that aren=t even a part of city government.  He doesn=t care whether it=s PCDC or Main Street or whatever.  That=s your own battle, he said.  The only control the City has is to approve the event.  The City supplies everything and gets reimbursed for nothing, spending money we get no benefit from for most citizens of this city.  He assumes these are two valid applications.  Some of these things are going to change because he=s tired of getting the phone calls over something that=s not even a City issue. 

 

Mr. Poole asked why there is a change being attempted in Jazzfest sponsors.  Mr. Hutsler said he had no idea this was going to come up that night.  His application has been on Mr. Hawver=s desk since June 25^th.  Mr. Hawver sat on it because he and Mr. Hutsler discussed it and decided it wasn=t a proper matter to come before the Board of Aldermen.  It should have been handled behind closed doors with City staff to determine who was going to be the sponsoring organization. 

 

Mayor Kutz and some aldermen said they disagreed.  The mayor said the Board needs to make that choice, and they need to have the information to make it. 

 

Mr. Hutsler said PCDC met once in 2001.   Main Street has been in existence eight years and meets every other week.  Main Street has provided the Board of Aldermen with a budget.  In that budget it says they=re going to do all the events.  He wants to have all events under one roof with one phone and one paid individual, and one address.  Parkville Riverfest, Inc., turned over both the 4^th of July and Parkville Days to Main Street.  It took Gary Worden six months to have a meeting.  Board members resigned.  They resigned because they were worried about tax implications.

Mayor Kutz said he=s not worried about it.  He=s worried about the City being asked to give money, salaries of staff, overtime hours, etc., and it doesn=t get paid back. 

 

Mr. Hutsler said the reason the City got so involved with festivals was in 1993 after the flood they started to have them to help downtown recover.  Tim Rice and others helped revive the historic district of downtown Parkville.   One of the first events they started was Jazzfest.  The same volunteers help out with all of them.  They all operated under MSPA.  All the literature, the phone number, the phone book, says MSPA.  

 

Mr. Hutsler said these things should be handled with City staff so that the Board of Aldermen doesn=t have to make these decisions. 

 

Mayor Kutz said he doesn=t mind the City making the decision, he=s tired of expending all the money and not getting anything in return.   

 

Mr. Hutsler said they are getting more successful.  They are growing fast.  Maybe festivals do need to pay for more of the additional expenses.  He agrees with that whole-heartedly. 

 

Mrs. Arnold said this decision needs to be made; people send out requests for donations before the end of the year.

 

Mr. Hutsler said they announced three new co-chairs because the two co-chairs from this year were not going to do it again.  Mr. Hutsler said he, Winnie Wang and Colleen Brenner were voted co-chairs.  He has been holding on to their application because they were going to discuss it with Mr. Hawver in his office. 

Mrs. Arnold said there were only five people present when he (Mr. Hutsler et al) nominated himself and the two women.  Those people were the three nominated, Angelo Gangai and herself.   

 

Mr. McCoy asked for a staff recommendation.  Mr. Hawver said this is purely a political decision, and there is no staff recommendation.

 

Mr. Ferguson asked if the City is billing these organizations for all this work.  Mayor Kutz said we budget $1,000 worth of city services per event, and now it=s got to the point where we supply everything.  It=s more than $1,000.  Mrs. Arnold said Jazzfest pays for police security.  Mr. Hutsler said Parkville Days paid $800 this year.  Chief Hudson said that=s for the festival.  They also supplied police for the parade, at a cost to the department of $700-$800.

 

Mayor Kutz said we have to provide guidelines.  Mrs. Arnold said and then we should stick to them.

 

Mr. Rittman asked who was on the Board of Directors for PCDC now.  They didn=t have informed docu-mentation for either group.  He=s been asking for Main Street information for six months, and they don=t have enough information on either organization.

 

Mr. Hutsler said MSPA has sponsored Jazzfest since Day One.  Main Street is the administrative arm of PCDC, and handled all their business.  PCDC only met to raise NAP (Neighborhood Assistance Program) credits. 

 

Mrs. Arnold said Main Street is changing, from Main Street Parkville Association to Main Street, Inc.  Mr. Hutsler said they are exactly the same Main Street as before.  They have merely incorporated.