MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
GLADSTONE, MISSOURI
MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2008
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
7:30 PM
PRESENT: Mayor Mark Revenaugh
Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi
Councilman Les Smith
Councilmember Carol Suter
City Manager Kirk Davis
Assistant City Manager Scott Wingerson
City Counselor David Ramsay
ABSENT: Councilman Wayne Beer
Mayor Mark Revenaugh opened the Regular August 25, 2008, City Council Meeting at 7:30 PM in the Gladstone City Council Chambers.
Item 2. on the Agenda. ROLL CALL
Mayor Mark Revenaugh noted that all Council members were present, except for Councilman Wayne Beer, who is on vacation.
Item 3. on the Agenda. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
Mayor Revenaugh led the Pledge of Allegiance, in which all joined.
Item 4. on the Agenda. APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 11, 2008, CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES.
Councilmember Carol Suter moved to approve the Regular August 11, 2008, City Council Meeting Minutes as presented. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0)
Item 5. on the Agenda. PROCLAMATION designating September 17-23, 2008, as “ConstituTION WEEK” in Gladstone, Missouri. Sponsor: William Boydston Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Donna McCann, Constitution Chairman of the William Boydston Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, accepted the Proclamation and thanked the Mayor and City Council for the Proclamation.
Item 6. on the Agenda. CONSENT AGENDA.
Following the Clerk’s reading, Councilmember Carol Suter moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0)
Councilmember Carol Suter moved to adopt RESOLUTION R-08-49, authorizing the City Manager to provide a two-year notice to companies engaged in the business of collecting, transporting, processing or disposing of solid waste within the corporate limits of Gladstone, Missouri, of the City’s intent to provide Solid Waste Collection Services to Gladstone residents, pursuant to RsMo 260.247. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0)
Councilmember Carol Suter moved to adopt RESOLUTION R-08-50, authorizing execution of a contract with Wiedenmann and Godfrey Construction, Inc. in the total amount not to exceed $117,080.00 for the 69th Terrace east of Euclid Drainage Improvements. Project CP0827. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0)
Councilmember Carol Suter moved to adopt RESOLUTION R-08-51, authorizing acceptance of work under contract with William White and Sons Construction Company for the 2008 Curb and Sidewalk Program, Phase I; and authorizing final payment in the amount of $16,239.12. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0)
Councilmember Carol Suter moved to adopt RESOLUTION R-08-52, authorizing acceptance of work under contract with Insituform Technologies, Inc. for the Mill Creek Cured in Place Pipe Phase 2 Project; and authorizing final payment in the amount of $4,272.22. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0)
Councilmember Carol Suter moved to adopt RESOLUTION R-08-53, accepting a Temporary Construction and Permanent Easement from a property owner in conjunction with the NE 69th Terrace, East of Euclid Stormsewer Improvement Project (CP0827). Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0)
Councilmember Carol Suter moved to adopt RESOLUTION R-08-54, authorizing acceptance of a proposal from Express Police Supply for the purchase of emergency lighting for eleven (11) new fleet vehicles for the net purchase amount of $39,672.02. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0)
Councilmember Carol Suter moved to adopt RESOLUTION R-08-55, authorizing acceptance of work under contracts with Trio Masonry and Athco for the Gladstone Community Center-Natatorium; and authorizing final payment for these two contracts in the total amount of $115,223.51. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0)
Councilmember Carol Suter moved to adopt RESOLUTION R-08-56, supporting the Light Rail Starter Line Project and the November Ballot initiative proposed by the City of Kansas City, Missouri. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0)
Councilmember Carol Suter moved to adopt RESOLUTION R-08-57, supporting the Light Rail Transportation Line Project and the November Ballot initiative proposed by the City of North Kansas City, Missouri. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0)
Councilmember Carol Suter moved to approve a NEW SEVEN DAY PACKAGE LIQUOR LICENSE for Rawal Rock Corporation, dba Snappy Store #4901, Managing Officer: Parvez I. Yousaf. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0)
Item 7. on the Agenda. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE.
There were no communications from the audience.
Item 8. on the Agenda. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.
Councilmember Carol Suter said she had been following with interest some of the amazing debacles of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, which raised the question of volunteers and the use of volunteers and whether our City has liability insurance that covers volunteers and also policies and procedures that govern volunteer services.
Human Resources Administrator Charlene Leslie responded by saying the City does have a process for volunteers. Department Heads may ask volunteers to complete a general form, available through Human Resources. These forms have been used for specific events such as work days at Atkins Johnson Farm. The completion of the form notifies Human Resources, so that there is some medical coverage through our Workers Comp policy.
There are also volunteers who do not go through the formal notification procedure, and if they were injured on City property, there would be some coverage under the general liability policy - just as in one’s home insurance. There is a provision for providing medical care to someone injured on the homeowner’s property without a discussion between the injured person and the homeowner as to who was wrong or at fault. This provision, through the general liability policy, is called medical only coverage; it provides for emergency medical care for the injury on the City property.
Councilmember Suter stated that it is nice to know when it is done right. It is amazing that major cities in America could be run in such a manner that leaves them open to liability, and not think about it in advance.
Councilman Les Smith welcomed back City Clerk Cathy Swenson, who he said was out of the office with a little surgery. Councilman Smith said he was glad to see her back and that she made it through fine.
Councilman Smith said Jeff Salem, who is no longer covering our City, received a promotion to News Editor with the Sun Tribune Newspaper. Councilman Smith said he has been around here for about 30 years, and we have had some “not so good” reporters, and Mr. Salem, along with Mike Rice of The Kansas City Star, who covers our City, are probably two of the finest reporters we have ever had. Councilman Smith said he believed he could speak for the entire Council and staff and say that we appreciate their professionalism, their thoroughness and they have done a really good job in covering our City. Councilman Smith congratulated Mr. Salem on his promotion, and asked him to introduce the new reporter who will be covering Gladstone.
Mr. Salem introduced Meagan O’Donnell who will be attending future City Council meetings; however, Mr. Salem said he would still be around asking questions!
City Manager Kirk Davis stated that Mr. Salem has some real authority with his new position as News Editor with the Sun Tribune.
Mr. Salem jokingly said any complaints could now be sent to him!
Councilman Smith stated that Mr. Salem said earlier that now he will get all the complaints, and Councilman Smith told him that he is qualified to be a Councilperson!
Councilman Smith stated that at the last City Council meeting he suggested a Resolution in support of the Kansas City Light Rail Starter Line ballot initiative, and he still thinks it is an appropriate action for Council to take. Councilman Smith said he is, however, extremely disappointed with the eleventh hour proposal for an aquarium in Kansas City that came out of City Manager Cauthen’s office. Councilman Smith said Mayor Pro Tem Rudi is the Co-Chair of the First Tier Suburbs Coalition, and we are active in those efforts. As a First Tier community, we have another First Tier community who found a way to reinvent itself and sustain itself financially well into the future. A big part of their project was an aquarium, and at the eleventh hour Kansas City comes out with what appears to be an intent to “pull the rug out” from under another First Tier community. Councilman Smith said he feels it is a shame, and he hopes we do not get into a position in the metropolitan area where Kansas City boasts of their willingness to be cooperative in regional affairs, but really only when they want us to help them pay for something. Councilman Smith said he was very disappointed in the City Manager’s office in Kansas City, and hopes their proposal goes nowhere, because he knows we would not want them to “pull the rug out” from under us for something we might have to sustain our community.
Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi invited Parks and Recreation Director Sheila Lillis give a report on upcoming park events.
Director Lillis jokingly noted that the new Sun Tribune reporter is an Irishman, which is a step in the right direction! Director Lillis stated she provided Council members with information about a national men’s fast pitch tournament that our City will be hosting this weekend. There are teams coming from Washington to Michigan. The event will be at Happy Rock Park, which is a great opportunity to showcase our community as well as our facilities. This is the sixth national tournament our city has hosted, and Staff is very proud of that. Recreation Supervisor Tina Spallo has done a terrific job in coordinating this event. Director Lillis stated the opening ceremonies will be at 5:30 PM on Friday, and she invited everyone to attend. The tournament will conclude on Sunday afternoon.
Director Lillis reported that 108 people are playing in the Theatre in the Park Golf Tournament, which is the biggest tournament we have had to date. This is the 15th annual event. At noon on Saturday, September 6th, the city will be hosting the Kansas City Ballet in Oak Grove Park. The outdoor pool closes on Monday at 4:00 PM.
Director Lillis jokingly said she might have concluded all of City Manager Kirk Davis’s announcements.
City Manager Davis suggested Director Lillis add that City Hall will be closed on Labor Day.
Mayor Mark Revenaugh began by saying he hoped everyone had noticed the All America City banners that are in place outside, and he thinks they look great, and offered congratulations to those who installed them.
City Manager Davis reported the Public Works Department was responsible for the banner installation.
Mayor Revenaugh told Public Works Director Chuck Williams that the banners look great. Mayor Revenaugh said to add on to what Councilman Smith was saying about Kansas City, it reminded him of when our city was forming our partnership with the North Kansas City School District, and we had the plan in place to partner with them for the Natatorium and the Community Center, when Kansas City Parks and Recreation got wind of it at the 12th hour, and came up with their own proposal that they presented to the School Board, which Mayor Revenaugh attended. They tried to pull the North Kansas City School District’s partnership away from our city, and they were ultimately unsuccessful.
Mayor Revenaugh said when he was at the Clay County Economic Development Council meeting last Friday, Councilmember Deb Hermann was talking about how Kansas City wanted to work with the suburbs, and especially Gladstone, and he reminded her of Kansas City Parks and Recreation’s effort to try to pull away our partnership. Mayor Revenaugh said he also told her that after reading in the newspaper that Mission, Kansas announced that they were trying to build an aquarium, all of a sudden Kansas City decided they also needed one. Mayor Revenaugh informed Councilmember Hermann that cooperation goes both ways, and Kansas City may be the 800-pound gorilla, but they cannot act like it if they expect cooperation from the suburbs.
Item 9. on the Agenda. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
City Manager Kirk Davis jokingly said that “City Manager” (Parks and Recreation Director) Lillis covered his remarks.
Item 10. on the Agenda. PUBLIC HEARING for a Rezoning and Site Plan revision at 2412 NE 72nd Street. Applicant: Quik Trip. Owner: Harriet Chesterton. File # 1320.
Mayor Revenaugh opened and immediately closed the Public Hearing, and stated that this Public Hearing would be rescheduled to the Monday, September 22nd City Council meeting pending a Planning Commission recommendation.
Item 11. on the Agenda. PUBLIC HEARING: on setting the annual rate of levy for the 2008 Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes within the corporate limits of the City of Gladstone, Missouri.
Mayor Revenaugh opened the Public Hearing.
Finance Director Debra Daily began by saying this Public Hearing is for the public comment on the 2008 Tax Levy. The required notice for a Public Hearing was completed in compliance with the provisions of RSMo 67.110, and is a tax levy for all Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes within the corporate limits of the City of Gladstone for the taxable year of 2008. The rates proposed are .9290 for Residential and Commercial Real Estate, and Personal Property, and .4360 for Agricultural Real Estate. This Levy is required to be certified with the County before September 1st by State Statute.
Councilman Smith asked Director Daily to explain the Agricultural rate change that was earlier discussed.
Director Daily stated she always requests any changes in any of the assessed valuations. When she called the County and was told about the Agricultural rate, she found it had doubled. It is about $511,000; however, that is what affected the rates, so it gets rolled back all the way to the .4360. Director Daily said when she asked to receive parcels that had been reclassified, she was told they would provide that information, but what had happened was there are commercial developers who have found out about a provision within the State Statutes that would allow them to keep a commercial property rating, but pay at the reduced agricultural rate until development is complete.
Councilman Smith asked if we know of any attempts at the State level to clean up this issue.
Director Daily replied she did not know; she just received this information, and has not had an opportunity to research the issue. It does have an impact on our City; although, we do not have a large agricultural amount. Director Daily said we just had some property that had been temporarily reclassified (to agricultural rates) from which we received affidavits before this assessed valuation was given to us, so there is a move toward that. That affect was about $800.00 for that particular parcel that was being temporarily reclassified. Director Daily said we get the rollback on that to make it revenue neutral, but it is a revenue loss for us.
There were no comments from the public in Favor or in Opposition to the issue.
Mayor Revenaugh closed the Public Hearing.
Item 12. on the Agenda. FIRST READING BILL 08-22, setting the annual rate of levy for the 2008 Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes within the corporate limits of Gladstone, Missouri.
Councilman Les Smith moved to place Bill 08-22 on First Reading to include the language “at .9290”, making it now read: FIRST READING BILL 08-22, setting the annual rate of levy for the 2008 Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes within the corporate limits of Gladstone, Missouri at .9290.
Councilman Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0). The Clerk read the Bill.
Councilman Les Smith moved to accept the First Reading of Bill 08-22, Waive the Rule and place the Bill on Second and Final Reading. Councilman Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0). The Clerk read the Bill.
Councilman Les Smith moved to accept the Second and Final Reading of Bill 08-22 and enact the Bill as Ordinance 4.080. Councilman Carol Rudi seconded.
Roll Call Vote: All “aye” – Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0).
Item 13. on the Agenda. OTHER BUSINESS.
There was no other business.
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 August 25, 2008, Gladstone Regular City Council Meeting, Mayor Mark Revenaugh adjourned the regular meeting.
Councilmember Carol Suter made a motion to adjourn to Closed Executive Session pursuant to Missouri Open Meeting Act Exemption 610.021(1) for Litigation and Confidential or Privileged Communications with Legal Counsel, and 610.021(2) for Real Estate Acquisition Discussion, and 610.21(3) for Personnel Discussion. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi seconded.
Roll Call Vote: All “aye” – Councilmember Carol Suter, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0).
Respectfully submitted:
______________________________
Cathy Swenson, City Clerk
Approved as submitted: ___
Approved as corrected/amended: ___
______________________________
Mayor Mark S. Revenaugh