MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2007
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
7:30 PM
PRESENT: Mayor
Les Smith
Mayor Pro Tem Mark Revenaugh
Councilman Wayne Beer
Councilmember Carol Suter
City Manager Kirk Davis
City Counselor David Ramsay
ABSENT: Councilman Carol Rudi
Mayor Les Smith opened the Regular September 24,
2007, City Council Meeting at 7:30 PM in the Gladstone City Council Chambers.
Item 2. on the Agenda. ROLL CALL
Mayor Smith noted that all Council members were
present, with the exception of Councilman Rudi, who was in
Item 3. on the Agenda. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
Mayor Les Smith led the Pledge of Allegiance, in
which all joined.
Item 4. on the Agenda. APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR SEPTEMBER 10, 2007, CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES.
Councilman Wayne Beer moved to approve the Regular September 10, 2007, City Council Meeting Minutes as presented. Councilmember Carol Suter seconded. The vote: All aye Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Wayne Beer, Mayor Pro Tem Mark Revenaugh, and Mayor Les Smith. (4-0).
Item 5. on the Agenda. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE.
John Garner, 111 Heatherton Court, stated as President of
Stormy Acres Neighborhood Association, he would like to introduce the
Neighborhood Associations Board and officers, and asked them to stand as he
introduced their names as follows: Lee
Laramore; Sherry Long, Treasurer; Jean Rube, Secretary; Lila Smith, Director;
Linda Garner, Director; and Kimberly Haskins, who is in charge of the
newsletter. Mr. Garner stated if City
Councilmembers or City Department Directors wished to run something in their
newsletter, they are welcome to anytime, as long as it is submitted by the
first of the month to Ms. Haskins. The
newsletter is distributed the second to third week of the month. Mr. Garner said they have been selling neighborhood
block watch signs to go up in their neighborhood, and tomorrow he is supposed
to pick up 17 signs, and hopefully, by the end of the week they will order 6 or
8 more signs. Mr. Garner thanked the
Council for Carolyn Vellars
(Neighborhood Consultant) work in their neighborhood. Mr. Garner also thanked Building Official
Alan Napoli and Public Information Officer Richard King.
Mayor Les Smith said it has been a high priority of
this Council to reinvest in our neighborhoods.
That doesnt work without the volunteer efforts of those gathered here
tonight and others as well. Mayor Smith
said our hats are off to all the volunteers and extended his and all Councils
thanks to them.
Councilman Wayne Beer stated all the volunteers are
to be congratulated on taking the initiative to organize their neighborhood and
do what is necessary to strengthen their neighborhood. Neighborhoods have their points of pride, and
most neighbors are proud of their neighborhood.
Councilman Beer said for a group to get together to enhance and
strengthen their neighborhood is commendable, and these folks should be
congratulated.
Mayor Smith said, jokingly, that he was impressed
that Lee Laramore is involved with the group, as Lee was here before the first
load of dirt was brought into the neighborhood!
Mr. Garner stated Mr. Laramore is working on a big
report to present to the neighborhood association and hopefully, the report
will appear in the Citys magazine.
Councilmember Suter said she is a strong supporter
of healthy neighborhoods, because we cannot have a healthy city unless all of
our neighborhoods are healthy.
Councilmember Suter said it was exciting to see the neighborhood members
enthused and in attendance at the Council meeting, and she is delighted that
the Citys effort in providing assistance to the neighborhood seems to be
paying off so well.
Item 6. on the Agenda. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.
Councilmember Carol Suter stated she wished to
express her thanks and appreciation to Councilmembers and Staff for their
concern during her familys emergency.
Her son-in-law is making a miraculous recovery, so she and her family
are feeling really good about that.
Councilmember Suter said she is glad to be back home and back to a
normal life again this week.
Councilman Wayne Beer stated Gladfest will be held
the first weekend in October. It is
always a delightful time. Councilman
Beer said he knows most people present have attended Gladfest in years past,
and he encouraged them to continue.
Mayor Pro Tem Mark Revenaugh thanked the City for the
opportunity to attend a Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce sponsored trip
to
Mayor Les Smith stated the Maple Woods Soccer Field
dedication was held this past week, which is a partnership between the City of
Gladstone and the Metropolitan Community Colleges, especially Maple Woods
Community College. The City has
partnered with them to provide them a tournament ready college level soccer
field, and in return they are providing some services to the City that we will
be able to utilize. Mayor Smith said a
lot of credit goes to our folks, starting with City Manager Kirk Davis. Mayor Smith said City Manager Davis has been
a promoter of regional cooperation and partnerships for many years, and is one
of the strongest promoters in the metropolitan area. Credit also goes to Parks and Recreation
Director Sheila Lillis and members of her staff, Tina Spallo, Matt Hoops, and
Darren Rodman, who is the Parks crew supervisor who probably doesnt get a lot
of credit at that level, but is very instrumental in building the field and did
an outstanding job in putting together an awesome facility.
Mayor Smith said this could not have been done
without the partnership with the Board of Trustees of the Metropolitan
Community Colleges, especially Bob Ashcroft, a former Councilman and Mayor, who
was very instrumental. Vice Chancellor
Al Tunis; Chancellor Jackie Snyder; President Merna Saliman; and their Athletic
Director Brian Bechtel were instrumental in this partnership. It was a very nice event that went very well,
and then they played a college soccer game after the event. It is a partnership that we should be proud
of, along with the partnership we have with the North Kansas City School
District. Hopefully we are leading the
way a bit, and we should challenge and encourage other jurisdictions and
entities to enter into partnerships, because a lot of times we provide the same
service with duplicate tax dollars. We
have proven we dont have to do that, and it is very beneficial to all
Northland residents.
Mayor Smith said some may have read in the
newspapers that we have had an ongoing lawsuit against the County on behalf of
our Special Road District for some funds we believe we are owed. We have felt for the last four or five years
that the County has been shorting Gladstone residents about $350,000 a year in
Road District monies. We filed a
friendly lawsuit on behalf of the Gladstone Special Road District and in
cooperation with other Road Districts and cities, and we won that lawsuit
against the County. They have now
appealed it, but in a very bold move, Presiding Commissioner Ed Quick carried
the water to reinstitute a $.24 cent property tax levy to help fund their
deficit, which totals between $6 million and $8 million dollars at this point,
to continue to help fund the Road District and make us whole. Mayor Smith said that was a very bold move,
politically, and he wants to give Presiding Commissioner Quick and Western
District Commissioner Larry Larson a lot of credit for moving forward with
that. Mayor Smith said it will probably
prove to be a very unpopular move politically, but they felt that it was more
important to do the right thing, and he wished to commend them for that and put
that in the record.
Item 7. on the Agenda. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
City Manager Kirk Davis encouraged anyone who did
not have an opportunity to attend the Gladstone Area Chamber of Commerce open
house today to drop by to see the new offices.
Mayor Smith mentioned the partnerships with the North Kansas City School
District and the Metropolitan Community Colleges - there is also the Citys
partnership with the Chamber and the preservation of the Williams House. The new Chamber offices are a very nice
facility, and hopefully it will be in the center of a lot of activity in the
next few years.
City Manager Davis reported there will be no City
Council meeting on October 8th for a number of reasons, including
that there will not be a plethora of agenda items, as well as the fact that the
Mayor, he, and Assistant City Manager Wingerson will be in Pittsburg to receive
the ICMAs Innovation Award.
City Manager Davis invited City Counselor David
Ramsay to introduce a new City employee.
The Council funded this position in this years budget.
City Counselor Ramsay invited Christi Gately to
stand as he introduced her, saying she has been on the job about three weeks as
Mr. Ramsays legal clerk and assistant.
Ms. Gately has a unique way of helping him organize; they go through
files, document by document, and if he hesitates when she asks him if he wants
to keep it, she throws it away.
Councilman Wayne Beer asked if she carries a big
stick.
Counselor Ramsay said she is as much of an anti
pack rat as he is a pack rat, so he believes it will balance out!
Ms. Gately said it has been interesting the last few
weeks, and she believes she and Mr. Ramsay will work well together, and will
help each other balance things.
Mayor Smith welcomed Ms. Gately and said, jokingly,
if she would like to work on the side, he also subscribes to the system of
file by pile.
Ms. Gately replied in a joking manner that she
probably has enough for now!
City Manager Davis said that Ms. Gately has fit in
very well, especially with the General Administration staff. She has jumped right in and helps with phones
and any needs in other areas. She has
been a real pleasure to work with so far.
Mayor Smith said City Manager Davis mentioned the
Chamber ribbon cutting, and he would like to mention that Councilman Beer
actually gave a lot of effort to that cause, and they were very grateful for
his participation today. Mayor Smith
thanked Councilman Beer on behalf of all Council members.
Councilman Beer thanked Mayor Smith.
Item 8. on the Agenda. APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST FINANCIAL REPORTS.
Councilman Wayne Beer moved to approve the AUGUST FINANCIAL REPORTS as presented. Councilmember Carol Suter seconded. The vote: All aye Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Wayne Beer, Mayor Pro Tem Mark Revenaugh, and Mayor Les Smith. (4-0).
Item 9. on the Agenda. FIRST READING
BILL 07-27, establishing certain fees and charges for the Community
Center/Natatorium provided by the City of Gladstone, Missouri, and amending all
prior Ordinances inconsistent therewith particularly Ordinance Nos. 2.082,
2.615, 2.858, 3.082, 3.555, 3.755, 3.948 and 4.029.
Councilman Wayne Beer moved to place Bill 07-27 on
First Reading. Councilmember Carol Suter
seconded. The vote: All aye Councilmember Carol Suter,
Councilman Wayne Beer, Mayor Pro Tem Mark Revenaugh and Mayor Les Smith. (4-0).
The Clerk read the Bill.
Councilman Wayne Beer moved to accept the First
Reading of Bill 07-27, Waive the Rule and place the Bill on Second and Final
Reading. Councilmember Carol Suter
seconded. The vote: All aye Councilmember Carol Suter,
Councilman Wayne Beer, Mayor Pro Tem Mark Revenaugh and Mayor Les Smith. (4-0).
The Clerk read the Bill.
Councilman Wayne Beer moved to accept the Second and
Final Reading of Bill 07-27 and enact the Bill as Ordinance 4.045. Councilmember Carol Suter seconded.
Roll Call Vote:
All aye Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Wayne Beer, Mayor Pro
Tem Mark Revenaugh and Mayor Les Smith.
(4-0).
Item 10. on the Agenda. FIRST READING BILL 07-28, an Ordinance amending those
sections of the Code of City Ordinances concerning the appointment of members
to the City's various Boards and Commissions, and the election of Chairmen and
other officers by those Boards and Commissions.
Councilman Wayne Beer moved to place Bill 07-28 on First
Reading. Councilmember Carol Suter
seconded. The vote: All aye Councilmember Carol Suter,
Councilman Wayne Beer, Mayor Pro Tem Mark Revenaugh and Mayor Les Smith. (4-0).
The Clerk read the Bill.
Councilman Wayne Beer moved to accept the First
Reading of Bill 07-28, Waive the Rule and place the Bill on Second and Final
Reading. Councilmember Carol Suter
seconded. The vote: All aye Councilmember Carol Suter,
Councilman Wayne Beer, Mayor Pro Tem Mark Revenaugh and Mayor Les Smith. (4-0).
The Clerk read the Bill.
Councilman Wayne Beer moved to accept the Second and
Final Reading of Bill 07-28 and enact the Bill as Ordinance 4.046. Councilmember Carol Suter seconded.
Mayor Smith said, for the edification of the
audience, that the main thing that this Bill does is that when Board and
Commission members are appointed, it is a full Council appointment. In some instances it is stated differently,
that members may be appointed by the Mayor with the consent of Council, some by
the Council, this Bill just makes it all uniform and is not changing the
process for appointing Boards and Commission members.
Roll Call Vote:
All aye Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Wayne Beer, Mayor Pro
Tem Mark Revenaugh and Mayor Les Smith.
(4-0).
Item 11. on the Agenda. FIRST READING BILL 07-29, amending Schedule V of the
Model Traffic Code (Gladstone Municipal Code Section 4.100.020), to establish a
No Parking zone for westbound traffic on Northeast 70th Street
from the intersection of North Oak Trafficway west to the dead end.
Councilman Wayne Beer moved to place Bill 07-29 on First
Reading. Councilmember Carol Suter
seconded. The vote: All aye Councilmember Carol Suter,
Councilman Wayne Beer, Mayor Pro Tem Mark Revenaugh and Mayor Les Smith. (4-0).
The Clerk read the Bill.
Councilman Wayne Beer moved to accept the First
Reading of Bill 07-29, Waive the Rule and place the Bill on Second and Final
Reading. Councilmember Carol Suter
seconded. The vote: All aye Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman
Wayne Beer, Mayor Pro Tem Mark Revenaugh and Mayor Les Smith. (4-0).
The Clerk read the Bill.
Councilman Wayne Beer moved to accept the Second and
Final Reading of Bill 07-29 and enact the Bill as Ordinance 4.047. Councilmember Carol Suter seconded.
Roll Call Vote:
All aye Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Wayne Beer, Mayor Pro
Tem Mark Revenaugh and Mayor Les Smith.
(4-0).
Item 12. on the Agenda. FIRST READING BILL 07-30, amending Schedule VIII of
the Model Traffic Code (Gladstone Municipal Code Section 4.100.020), to
establish a Stop sign location at Northeast 67th Street at North
Walnut Street.
Councilman Wayne Beer moved to place Bill 07-30 on First
Reading. Councilmember Carol Suter
seconded. The vote: All aye Councilmember Carol Suter,
Councilman Wayne Beer, Mayor Pro Tem Mark Revenaugh and Mayor Les Smith. (4-0).
The Clerk read the Bill.
Councilman Wayne Beer moved to accept the First
Reading of Bill 07-30, Waive the Rule and place the Bill on Second and Final
Reading. Councilmember Carol Suter
seconded. The vote: All aye Councilmember Carol Suter,
Councilman Wayne Beer, Mayor Pro Tem Mark Revenaugh and Mayor Les Smith. (4-0).
The Clerk read the Bill.
Councilman Wayne Beer moved to accept the Second and
Final Reading of Bill 07-30 and enact the Bill as Ordinance 4.048. Councilmember Carol Suter seconded.
Roll Call Vote:
All aye Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Wayne Beer, Mayor Pro
Tem Mark Revenaugh and Mayor Les Smith.
(4-0).
Item 13. on the Agenda. OTHER BUSINESS.
Mayor Smith said a few weeks ago there was a
petition from a neighborhood, which was a cul-de-sac at about 61st
and North Bales, where all the residents on the street petitioned City Council
to put up No Parking signs. That works
well except for the one neighbor who parks under one of the signs every day. Mayor Smith said he would suggest that if we
are going to honor the request for no parking, that perhaps they ought to honor
their request for no parking and perhaps we can enforce that.
Item 14. on the Agenda. QUESTIONS FROM THE NEWS MEDIA.
There were no questions from the News Media.
Item 15. on the Agenda. ADJOURNMENT.
There being no further business to come before the
September 24, 2007, Gladstone Regular City Council Meeting, Mayor Les Smith
adjourned the regular meeting.
Respectfully
submitted:
______________________________
Cathy
Swenson, City Clerk
Approved
as submitted: ___
Approved
as corrected/amended: ___
______________________________
Mayor Les Smith