MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL
MEETING
GLADSTONE,
MISSOURI
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY,
SEPTEMBER 24, 2001
PRESENT: Mayor Anita Newsom
Mayor Pro Tem Bill Cross
Councilman Dan Bishop
Councilman Shirley Smith
Councilman Les Smith
Assistant City Manager Laura
Gay
City Clerk Marilyn Ahnefeld
Item 3. on the Agenda. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Anita Newsom welcomed the Gladstone Department of Public Safety and members of Scout Troop 270, sponsored by Holy Cross Lutheran Church, who will present the color guard and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Newsom asked everyone to join her before the Pledge of Allegiance in a moment of silent reflection upon the events that have taken place in our country in the last two weeks and the people who have been involved in those tragedies.
Public Safety Officer Chris Hayes and Fire Inspector Chuck Duddy and members of Scout Troop 270 presented the color guard and lead the Pledge of Allegiance in which all joined.
Mayor Newsom asked everyone to remain standing for a special musical presentation. She said it behooves us sometimes to take pause and look at our blessings and what we do have here in Gladstone and to be thankful for the men and women who serve our City and our country. She introduced Mr. Jerry Delgado, whom she has worked with and will honor us this evening. Mr. Delgado read a poem, then sang “God Bless America.”, then the Council and audience joined in the second stanza.
Mayor Newsom added “God Bless America and Gladstone”, then thanked Mr. Delgado.
Item 4. on
the Agenda. APPROVAL OF AUGUST 27, 2001 MINUTES
Mayor Pro Tem Bill Cross moved to approve the Regular August 27, 2001 City Council
Meeting Minutes as submitted.
Councilman Dan Bishop seconded the motion. The vote: All “Aye” -
Councilman Les Smith, Councilman Shirley Smith, Councilman Dan Bishop, Mayor
Pro Tem Bill Cross, Mayor Anita Newsom.
(5-0)
Item 4a. on
the Agenda. PROCLAMATION
Mayor Newsom said she would read a proclamation, not
a Mayoral proclamation, but a proclamation of the entire City Council. This proclamation, signed by the entire City
Council salutes the heroic efforts of all agencies and volunteers responding to
the recent national tragedies in New York City, Washington, D.C. and
Pennsylvania.
Mayor Newsom presented the Proclamation to Public
Safety Director Bill Adamo and Fire Division Chief Doug Scheffner who accepted the Proclamation on behalf of their
fellow officers and firefighters in New York City, Washington, D.C. and
Pennsylvania.
Mayor Newsom stated that she appreciates the work
that Public Safety does and this is only a small token in honor of our
compatriots in public service and the work that these professionals do.
Item 5. on
the Agenda. CONSENT AGENDA
Following the Clerk’s reading, Councilman Les Smith
moved to approve the Consent Agenda as read; Councilman Bill Cross
seconded. The vote: All “aye” - Councilman Les Smith, Councilman Shirley Smith, Councilman Dan
Bishop, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Cross, Mayor Anita Newsom. (5-0)
CONSENT AGENDA DETAIL
Councilman Les Smith moved to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R-01-64, authorizing
the City Manager to accept a Bill of Sale conveying to the City a sanitary
sewer line and water line built in conjunction with construction of Steak ’n
Shake at 4929 Old Pike Road. Councilman Bill Cross seconded. The vote:
All “aye” - Councilman Les
Smith, Councilman Shirley Smith, Councilman Dan Bishop, Mayor Pro Tem Bill
Cross, Mayor Anita Newsom. (5-0)
Councilman Les Smith moved to adopt RESOLUTION NO. R-01-65, authorizing the City Manager to accept
the proposal of Independent Salt
Company in the amount of $26.70/ton
(7 day delivery) for purchase of snow removal salt on an as needed basis
for the 2001-02 season. Councilman Bill
Cross seconded. The vote: All “aye” - Councilman Les Smith, Councilman Shirley Smith, Councilman Dan
Bishop, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Cross, Mayor Anita Newsom. (5-0)
Councilman Les Smith moved to approve the FINANCIAL REPORTS for the month of
August, 2001. Councilman Bill Cross
seconded. The vote: All “aye” - Councilman Les Smith, Councilman Shirley Smith, Councilman Dan
Bishop, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Cross, Mayor Anita Newsom. (5-0)
REGULAR AGENDA
Item 6. on
the Agenda. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE.
Art Hammen, 7171
N. Norton Avenue, stated that he was here tonight to represent Gladstone Neighbors
Helping Neighbors. He wanted to bring
the Council up-to-date on the weatherization program and advised that both
phase one and two are complete with a total of 22 homeowners receiving help as
a result of this program.
Phase one included the re-insulation of attics which
is the primary source of heat loss and heat gain. Phase two included caulking, weather stripping, water heater
insulation blankets, and other items to assist in reducing energy
consumption. Volunteers also installed
a number of smoke detectors which were supplied by the Gladstone Public Safety
Department.
By using the City’s initial $5,000 grant, other
grants and their own resources, Gladstone Neighbors Helping Neighbors provided
approximately $15,000 in weatherization to Gladstone residents. This will provide long-term relief from high
energy bills and benefits for years to come.
You as a Council and members of the City staff and citizens of Gladstone
should feel very proud of what we have accomplished together.
In addition to the weatherization program and the
regular projects, there is a third area of assistance. It is Kansas City’s Northland Neighborhoods
who have graciously made available some of their federal home loan bank grant
money for our programs. Twenty
Gladstone residents have received home improvement loans, totally nearly
$67,000. Some examples of the work that
has been completed include plumbing repairs, heating and cooling upgrades, roof
repairs, door and window replacement, new siding, foundation repairs, and other
significant home improvements. All of
this has been accomplished at absolutely no cost to our Gladstone homeowners. For each grant approved, Gladstone Neighbors
Helping Neighbors has paid a $200 administrative fee. To put this into perspective, for every $1 we spend, Gladstone
residents receive $16.64 in home repairs and improvements.
Currently Neighbors Helping Neighbors resources are
low and they are working hard to replenish them from a number of sources. This winter they would like to be proactive,
rather than reactive to high energy bills.
To do this, they will be submitting a request to the Council in the next
couple of weeks for a weatherization, home improvement grant in the amount of
$7,500. As you consider this request,
please remember how Gladstone Neighbors Helping Neighbors used the initial
grant judiciously for the benefit of those Gladstone residents with the
greatest need and who are least able to help themselves. Mr. Hammen stated that he would answer any
questions from Council.
Councilman Les Smith asked Mr. Hammen to pass along
to the Board that without them none of this would have happened and it
is not just about money, but lots of hard work. He has a lot of respect for Mr. Hammen and his group.
Mayor Newsom advised Mr. Hammen that it is
encouraging to hear his news even though he is asking for money.
Brad
Robertson, who owns property at 7007 N. Baltimore, stated that one year ago he had this property for sale and was
surprised that a prospective buyer told his realtor that the City of Gladstone
had a warrant for his arrest because there is a retaining wall in front of the
property that needs repair. He
immediately called the City, talked to Scott Wingerson who said there was a
retaining wall that needed repair, it was his wall and that he needed to fix
it.
Mr. Robertson said he would need proof that it was
his wall. They discussed it, and Mr.
Robertson said he was sent an engineering drawing which did not prove whose
wall it was and the next thing he
got was another summons to appear in
Court.
After going to court through the City of Gladstone
and being fined $2,000 on this, he appealed it to the Appellate Court and the City did not have enough evidence
to convict him in Appellate Court. His question is whether the City of
Gladstone intends to fix the wall.
Mayor Newsom stated it is her understanding there is
still research being done to prove actual ownership of the wall and asked
Assistant City Manager Gay and City Counselor Ramsay to correct her if she is
mistaken.
City Counselor David Ramsay stated that they are
expecting a survey from Aylett Survey Company.
Mr. Wingerson is not in the office week, but he anticipates receiving
the survey and being able to evaluate it when he returns. We should have a determination within the
next week or ten days.
Mayor Newsom said it is her understanding that there
will be a determination and finding of
fact within the next week to ten days and at
the conclusion of that period, there will be a plan for resolution of
the situation.
Mr. Robertson asked if it is then proven that it is
his wall, should he expect another summons to appear in court or how will that
be handled. He said it has been
difficult getting in touch with Mr. Wingerson and the City Manager and when he
did speak with the City Manager the phone conversation was terminated so
he would like some forewarning on how
this will be handled.
Mayor Newsom stated that it is her understanding
that if it is indeed the City’s property and the City’s responsibility, they
will make plans to take care of the repair as soon as feasible. She believes that if it is found to be Mr. Robertson’s property, we would expect expedient
resolution in the same fashion. The
Mayor told Mr. Robertson that is probably not an answer that makes either one
of us happy but that is where we are right now.
Councilman Les Smith asked Mr. Robertson if we find
that the wall is on the City’s right-of-way and are we are willing to repair
it, is he going to repair it if it is found to be his property.
Mr. Robertson said that has always been the question
and the only thing that he ever asked was to prove it was on his property. Instead, he is out time, energy, lawyers
fees, just to try to prove to the courts that the City did not have enough
evidence to prove it was his to begin with.
So he is already out a sizeable amount of money and time because the
City did not carry through with what they should have before we even went to
court.
Councilman Les Smith said he understands that the
City is having the survey done at the City’s expense and there are no pins so
they have to go all the way from 72nd Street and so it will be a
fairly expensive proposition and it just seems fair that resolution to this
will be that whoever the wall belongs to fixes it and we are willing to do it
if it is the City’s.
Mr. Robertson stated that the wall does not benefit
his property at all. The only reason
the wall was put there to begin with was to put the road in. There was a slope there and the wall was cut
through to put the road in just as you do on Old Pike Road to widen it and the
City built walls there so they could widen the road. He asks where this will end.
Is it OK down here for Home Depot, but we are not going to take care of
our own infrastructure here in Gladstone for ailing properties that are over 30
years old. Is that what we have come to
expect and should expect.
Councilman Les Smith responded that what he (Mr. Robertson) should expect is that if the
wall is ours we will fix it, and we are going to expect that if the wall
is yours, you will fix it. That is his opinion and he is one of five
Councilman.
Mr. Robertson asked if the City won’t give consideration that the wall was put
there for the City of Gladstone for the road itself.
Councilman Smith stated that if the question is
asked of him, no.
Mayor Newsom advised Mr. Robertson that he should be
hearing from the City in the next couple of weeks.
Item 7. on
the Agenda. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.
Councilman Les
Smith said
there have been many things said and done relating to the events of September
11th and he wanted to share a personal story and is really proud of
a good friend of his.
A Kansas City firefighter by the name of Tim Corrado
who was one of the Kansas City six who is a member of FEMA and been at Ground
Zero for the last ten days. Tim just
got back Friday and he was amazed when he got back in town because they were
shielded from all the news accounts and how people were responding to their
efforts. To him they were just there
doing their job. There were a lot of
folks like Tim Corrado, fairly young, recently married, with a six-month old
baby at home. He was up there for ten
days, would have stayed longer if they would let him. By his accounts they were working 12 and 18 hours a day and
didn’t touch the surface of how much they were working. He wanted to go back and has asked to go
back and that is very commendable especially at the possible expense of his
young family. He is the same gentleman
who was lowered 600 feet on a cable when the smoke tower at KCPL had their
explosion. He was lowered 600 feet on
the same cable that broke, stranding other workers in the smoke stack. Mr. Smith said this guy is a hero in my
books. We look at athletes, movie stars
and musicians. Those folks are idols, but these folks are the real heroes.
Councilman Les Smith asked for research on the possibility of putting Building Permit
Approvals on the Consent Agenda. By the time permits come to the City
Council Agenda all concerns should have been addressed, so he suggests that
perhaps they can be put on the Consent Agenda and approved in that manner.
Councilman
Shirley Smith
stated that she wanted to discuss the tragedy of recent events. The entertainment industry has been in a
quandary as to when to start operating “normally”. That is the Jay Lenos and David Lettermans have questioned when
they should start being funny again.
She does not think it is time yet, we are not to that point yet.
However, we have a great thing coming up next week and that is
Gladfest. This is the time when all
Gladstone people come together and we have lots of wonderful things
happening: the parade, the contests,
food, booths and all the wonderful things.
This would really be a good time to come together and enjoy ourselves
and be glad we live in a great little city.
Councilman Dan
Bishop had
no communications at this time.
Mayor Pro Tem
Bill Cross
said he has just returned from the New York area and Vermont today where they
were right in the middle of the national tragedy and there were many instances
such as what Councilman Les Smith reported where there has been a fantastic response to help from across the
country.
Mayor Anita
Newsom stated
that she wanted to speak of Gladfest as well coming up the 5th, 6th,
and 7th of October. It is a
good community festival as Councilman Smith said, it is a good time to draw
together as a community and celebrate the good things we have here. We need to be cognizant of the things that
can change very, very quickly and be glad that we have what we have.
The final copy of the 2002 Budget Book was in this
week’s packet. She remembers twelve
years ago when she came on the Council, the budget book had a lot of good
information in it, but was a stack of papers stapled together and once in a
while we got a binder on it. Over the
years the presentation of the budget, its completeness and detail has grown and
grown and she must commend Mr. Sweiven and his staff on the budget
document. It is quite a hefty document
and the budget is our guide on how we do business and plan of work. We take the citizens’ money and try to do a
prudent job of spending it. This and
the Council goals are our guide on how we do business and she appreciates it.
Mayor Newsom also commended the Public Safety
Officers tonight and Mr. McClure from Community Development on the very
professional and well prepared presentations this evening. It speaks well of everything.
Ms. Newsom stated that we cannot say too much about
our American heroes who we know are always there, but that have certainly
stepped forward. She heard a quote over
the weekend that says, “It is not bricks and mortar that make up America, it
might be symbols of some of the things we stand for, but what we stand for in
this country are the people, the spirit of our country are the people of our
country.” That has been proven time and
time again over the last two weeks.
Item 8. on
the Agenda. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
Assistant City Manager Laura Gay stated that she too
wanted to remind everyone about Gladfest on October 5th, 6th,
and 7th. As in previous
years, City Hall will be closed to the public on Friday, October 5th
beginning at Noon, but employees will be in the office. This notice will also be posted on the cable
channel and on the front door.
Item 8a. on
the Agenda. LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM UPGRADE ANNOUNCEMENT
for the Public Announcement of a proposed benefit level upgrade in the Local
Government Employees Retirement System (LAGERS) to become effective January 1,
2002.
Ms. Gay stated that the proposed benefit level
upgrade in the Local Government Employees Retirement System (LAGERS) was
included in the annual budget process.
The Council approved increasing the benefit level from LT5-65 to LT8-65
level with the change to take effect on January 1, 2002. Typically we have relied on the budget
public hearing as the official public notice.
LAGERS requires actuarial reports to have a notice 45-days prior to the
formal action by the Council. Since
this plan is not effective until January 1, 2002, we did want to make that
announcement publicly this evening. The
report is available in the City Manager’s office if anyone wants to see
that. We will bring the ordinance
forward to the November 12th Council meeting.
Item 9. on
the Agenda. APPROVAL OF BUILDING PERMIT for 414 sq. ft. canopy
addition for Hy-Vee Pharmacy, 7117 N Prospect.
Applicant: Weitz Construction,
Inc.
Councilman Dan Bishop moved to approve the Building
Permit as submitted. Councilman Bill
Cross seconded.
Mayor Newsom stated that she was delighted that the addition was going to the flow with the existing building and not look like an add-on.
The vote:
All “aye” - Councilman Les
Smith, Councilman Shirley Smith, Councilman Dan Bishop, Mayor Pro Tem Bill
Cross, Mayor Anita Newsom. (5-0)
Item 10. on
the Agenda. SECOND READING BILL 01-31,
approving a Special Use Permit on property at 5800 N Oak for operation
of Auto Trend, Inc., subject to certain conditions. Applicant/owner: Auto
Trend, Inc. (File #1158) (Applicant
requests that City Council table the second reading to the October 8, 2001 City Council Meeting.)
Mayor Pro Tem Bill Cross moved to table the second
reading until the October 8th City Council meeting. Councilman Les Smith seconded. The vote:
All “aye” - Councilman Les
Smith, Councilman Shirley Smith, Councilman Dan Bishop, Mayor Pro Tem Bill
Cross, Mayor Anita Newsom. (5-0)
Item 11 on
the Agenda. FIRST READING BILL 01-39, amending
Ordinance No. 2.978 restricting certain vision reducing materials for motor
vehicle windows pursuant to Section 307.173 of the Revised Statutes of
Missouri.
Councilman Les Smith moved to place Bill 01-39 on First Reading; Councilman Bill Cross seconded.
Discussion.
Mayor Newsom asked if this ordinance brings everything in line with Missouri’s new laws.
City Counselor David Ramsay stated yes, it allows for the front side windows to have the same tinting as has been allowed on the rear and rear side windows. 33-35% light transmission is what is the standard as part of the State Statute.
The vote: All “aye” – Councilman Les Smith, Councilman Shirley Smith, Councilman Dan Bishop, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Cross, Mayor Anita Newsom. (5-0) The Clerk read the Bill.
Councilman Les Smith moved to accept the First Reading of Bill 01-39, Waive the Rule and Place the Bill on Second and Final Reading; Councilman Bill Cross seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilman Les Smith, Councilman Shirley Smith, Councilman Dan Bishop, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Cross, Mayor Anita Newsom. (5-0) The Clerk read the Bill.
Councilman Les Smith moved to accept the Second and Final Reading of Bill 01-39 and enact the Bill as Ordinance 3.807; Councilman Bill Cross seconded.
Roll Call Vote:
All “aye” – Councilman Les Smith, Councilman Shirley Smith, Councilman
Dan Bishop, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Cross, Mayor Anita Newsom. (5-0)
Item 12. on
the Agenda. FIRST READING BILL 01-40, amending
Chapter 18, Section 300.367A of the Gladstone City Traffic Code to prohibit the
driving of a motor vehicle by a person having a blood alcohol content of
eight-hundredths of one percent in such person’s blood pursuant to Section
577.012 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri.
Councilman Dan Bishop moved to place Bill 01-40 on First Reading; Councilman Bill Cross seconded.
Discussion.
Mayor Newsom asked if this change also brings us in line with State Statutes. City Counselor Ramsay said it does.
The vote: All “aye” – Councilman Les Smith, Councilman Shirley Smith, Councilman Dan Bishop, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Cross, Mayor Anita Newsom. (5-0) The Clerk read the Bill.
Councilman Dan Bishop moved to accept the First Reading of Bill 01-40, Waive the Rule and Place the Bill on Second and Final Reading; Councilman Bill Cross seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilman Les Smith, Councilman Shirley Smith, Councilman Dan Bishop, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Cross, Mayor Anita Newsom. (5-0) The Clerk read the Bill.
Councilman Dan Bishop moved to accept the Second and Final Reading of Bill 01-40 and enact the Bill as Ordinance 3.808; Councilman Bill Cross seconded.
Roll Call Vote:
All “aye” – Councilman Les Smith, Councilman Shirley Smith, Councilman
Dan Bishop, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Cross, Mayor Anita Newsom. (5-0)
Item 13. on
the Agenda. SECOND READING BILL
01-37, an ordinance
establishing the position of City
Financial Advisor for the City of Gladstone, Missouri.
Councilman Les Smith moved to table Bill 01-37 indefinitely. Councilman Dan Bishop seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilman Les Smith, Councilman Shirley Smith, Councilman Dan Bishop, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Cross, Mayor Anita Newsom. (5-0)
Item 14. on the Agenda. OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business
to come before the Council.
Item 15. on the Agenda. QUESTIONS FROM THE
NEWS MEDIA
Kelli Houx, Gladstone Sun-News, asked why Item 13 was tabled.
Councilman Les Smith stated that his intent to table Item 13 was because they will be having a goal-setting session in October. Rather than coming to the Council quickly as an agenda item, it will provide an opportunity to discuss it at the goal-setting session.
There being no further business to come before the September 24, 2001 Gladstone City Council Meeting, Mayor Anita Newsom adjourned the Meeting.
* * * * *
Respectfully submitted:
________________________
Marilyn F. Ahnefeld, City Clerk
__________________________
Anita
Newsom, Mayor