MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
GLADSTONE, MISSOURI
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2009
7:30 PM
PRESENT: Mayor Mark Revenaugh
Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi
Councilman Les Smith
Councilman Wayne Beer
City Manager Kirk Davis
Assistant City Manager Scott Wingerson
City Counselor David Ramsay
ABSENT: Councilmember Carol Suter
City Clerk Cathy Swenson
Mayor Mark Revenaugh opened the Regular March 9, 2009, 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 City Council members were present with the exception of Councilmember Carol Suter.
Item 3. on the Agenda. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
Mayor Mark Revenaugh led the Pledge of Allegiance, in which all joined.
Item 4. on the Agenda. APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR FEBRUARY 23, 2009, CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES.
Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi moved to approve the Regular February 23, 2009, City Council Meeting Minutes as presented. Councilman Wayne Beer seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilman Wayne Beer, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0).
Item 5. on the Agenda. SPECIAL PRESENTATION of Tree Resource and Maintenance (T.R.I.M. II) grant checks from the Department of Conservation. Mayor Revenaugh welcomed Ms. Helene Miller from the Department of Conservation.
Ms. Miller stated that she is happy to be here tonight to present checks on behalf of the Department of Conservation for two projects. The first check is awarded for the work done by Chris Helmer and Melinda Mehaffy for the Atkins-Johnson Farm where eight trees were removed and 14 pruned which were identified in a previous inventory done by the City and were known to be old and dangerous. This will make it much safer for public use and less likely that the one hanging over the house would not come down on the house; we were happy to partner on that. The other project went to Parks and Recreation staff members Rise McGarvey, Matt Hoops and crew, and Beth Houlihan for the planting of 30 trees in four different parks to replace some of those destroyed by tornadoes and other removals.
Ms. Miller said that the Parks project was $5,370 and the A J Farm project was $4,875 making a grand total of $10,245 from the Missouri Department of Conservation. Ms. Miller stated that she is always happy to partner with Gladstone to help promote community forestry and make Gladstone a safer and better place to live and work. Ms. Miller stated that she has “real” checks to present. Mayor Mark Revenaugh, Chris Helmer, and Sheila Lillis came forward to accept the checks.
Councilman Wayne Beer commented that we always love when the Department of Conservation or Natural Resources comes around with money in hand; we love having you come here, Helene. The City has always had a pretty good partnership and relationship with the state and he really appreciates what is going on in the state and the City of Gladstone. Councilman Beer thanked Ms. Miller for being a mighty big part of that.
Mayor Revenaugh said thank you and that was very nice.
Item 6. on the Agenda. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE.
Jennifer Sumner, 2224 NE 73rd Street, stated that the proposed rezoning for Stratford Park has been postponed for a month or so or no date has been set yet. Ms. Sumner stated that first of all, she was not in favor of it. She asked if she is allowed to ask questions.
Mayor Revenaugh asked if she had a whole list of questions, then asked City Manager Kirk Davis’ opinion on the matter.
Ms. Sumner said she had only two questions.
City Manager Davis said that is fine, whatever she is more comfortable with; when she sits down they would be happy to make sure they understand what the questions are and answer them.
Mayor Revenaugh said if she wants the questions answered publicly, we would not necessarily have the answers right now but would have to do some research.
Ms. Sumner commented that she wanted to have it on the books. One of the main issues of the building is the water runoff and they were curious to know if the builders seemed to say the water runoff would be X-Y- and Z and fine. She was curious and wanted to make sure the City had someone employed to verify the amounts.
The second question from Ms. Sumner is how or can a group of citizens, since the owner is asking it to be allowed to rezone for the type of building they want, can they as residents be allowed to make it zoned for single family residents which is what many neighbors want to see done. Mayor Revenaugh stated that Assistant City Manager Scott Wingerson will get with Ms. Sumner after the Council meeting to get some answers for her.
Mayor Revenaugh asked if anyone else wanted to speak from the audience.
Bruce Ogden, 2306 NE 60th Street, expressed his concern regarding neighborhood water run-off and the neighborhood shopping center that sits directly behind his house. There is only one drain for the entire shopping center. Last Sunday morning the rain clogged causing flooding and caused flooding two houses down from him and washed out his garden and rocks. He showed photos to the Council depicting the salt/sand pile after the rain and the clogged drain with leaves, road salt and sand clogging the drain. Mr. Ogden cleaned the drain and showed a picture of the cleaned drain. He stated that there should be a better design that would allow the drain to wash through without clogging the drain.
The shopping center has another problem with salt. There is a very large, giant pile of salt, at least 20 tons which some has washed into the pipes and their yards. We are not sure we will have grass this spring with all the salt. He was wondering if Council or City could do something; if the salt is stored properly or what.
Councilman Beer asked if it was Meadowbrook Shopping Center. Mr. Ogden replied “yes.”
Mr. Ogden also said he has pictures where the salt is going around the barriers. There is property behind the residents and shopping center. He is not sure who owns the property but there are weeds you cannot walk through. Mr. Ogden knows the City has guidelines for noxious weeds and for cutting. You can’t walk through it or get through it. He hopes the property owner can at least clean up the property just as they do in their areas.
Councilman Smith asked Assistant City Manager Scott Wingerson to address the salt storage.
Assistant City Manager Wingerson stated as with the first speaker, there are long-standing historical issues that go along with this. There are several shopping centers north of the river and probably throughout the metro area that have adjusted to last year’s snow and ice frequency. Many shopping centers had contracts but did not get salt. Council will recall that last year from the City’s operation, we had trouble getting salt as did many others because it was just not available even though it was contracted, so the response from shopping center owners was that many property owners stock-piled it at their location and contract to spread it when the time comes.
We did speak to the owner of this shopping center before about moving the salt and was told it would be going away. Of course, there was not much definition there; the salt would naturally be going away at some point. Now we have great information that will help us in discussions with the owner this week about erosion control so-to-speak of the salt; the vegetation down by the retaining wall, I am assuming, without looking at the pictures, and any damage down stream caused by the clogged drain. We will have all those discussions with the owner and get the gentleman’s phone number to give him an update.
Mayor Revenaugh commented that he knows DNR has strict regulations about salt storage, being on impermeable pads, being covered when not being pulled off and loaded on a truck. He confirmed that Mr. Wingerson would check into the drain problem and get back with Mr. Ogden. He asked Mr. Ogden if he was ok with that.
Mr. Ogden replied yes, and that Council could keep the pictures to look at them.
Councilman Les Smith asked if we have local guidelines on salt storage.
Mr. Wingerson stated he would need to look more closely at that; he does not think so because it is open storage and Council just passed an open storage ordinance and he is not sure if it specifically points to the salt issue.
Councilman Smith stated that could be a more immediate hammer on the issue; no one wants to live in that situation. Councilman Smith stated that he understands the weeds and we should be on that; he understands the drain is a maintenance issue. They should be able to call any time and get relief on these issues and we should be able to get relief from this problem.
Mr. Ogden commented that the redesign of the drain would make a lot of difference.
Councilman Smith quickly stated that we don’t want salt going down the drain.
Mr. Ogden chuckled and stated, no they do not use salt at all; it tends to kill plant life. He thinks the state or someone would have some kind of guidelines.
Councilman Smith stated that unfortunately to get some relief for that, the state, and no offense to them, but we can move more quickly to solve the problem more immediately or even better to prevent a bad situation and give more immediate relief. By having something on our books makes more sense.
Councilman Beer asked City Manager Davis about a project proposal a few years ago that included the issue of the “unknown” property ownership there; that it does, in fact, belong to the shopping center and they promised to take care of that issue, maybe we can use that to strong-arm them in that regard too.
Councilman Smith commented if they are looking to get rid of the salt, we can haul it cheaper than we can buy it and we have plenty of storage, so we may have found some cheap salt for our residents.
Mayor Revenaugh asked Mr. Wingerson to make sure they do something with the salt. He then thanked Mr. Ogden for the pictures.
Item 7. on the Agenda. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.
Councilman Wayne Beer had no comments at this time.
Councilman Les Smith had no comments at this time.
Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi stated that she would be gone at the next Council meeting, but wanted to share some upcoming events. March 21 from 10:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m. will be the celebration of the Community Center’s first birthday. Ms. Rudi also mentioned that March 24 at 6:00 p.m. would be the rotating art show opening for the high school students. She stated that the last turn-out was great and encouraged everyone to attend.
Mayor Mark Revenaugh had no comments at this time.
Item 8. on the Agenda. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
City Manager Davis had no comments at this time.
Item 9. on the Agenda. RESOLUTION R-09-27, amending the 2009 Annual General Fund, Combined Water and Sewerage System Fund, Transportation Sales Tax Fund, and the Community Center and Park Fund for the City of Gladstone, Missouri, and authorizing expenditures of funds.
Councilman Wayne Beer moved to adopt RESOLUTION R-09-27, amending the 2009 Annual General Fund, Combined Water and Sewerage System Fund, Transportation Sales Tax Fund, and the Community Center and Park Fund for the City of Gladstone, Missouri, and authorizing expenditures of funds. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilman Wayne Beer, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0).
Item 10. on the Agenda. RESOLUTION R-09-28, authorizing acceptance of work under contract with Ideker, Incorporated, for the 2008 Mill and Overlay Program; and authorizing final payment in the amount of $10,000.00 for Project TP0901.
Councilman Les Smith moved to accept RESOLUTION R-09-28, authorizing acceptance of work under contract with Ideker, Incorporated, for the 2008 Mill and Overlay Program; and authorizing final payment in the amount of $10,000.00 for Project TP0901. Councilman Wayne Beer seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilman Wayne Beer, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0).
Item 11. on the Agenda. RESOLUTION R-09-29, authorizing execution of a contract with Clay County Sanitary and Ditching Service, Incorporated, in the total amount not to exceed $35,430.40 for the Rock Creek Slope Stabilization North Park; Project CP0940.
Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi moved to accept RESOLUTION R-09-29, authorizing execution of a contract with Clay County Sanitary and Ditching Service, Incorporated, in the total amount not to exceed $35,430.40 for the Rock Creek Slope Stabilization North Park; Project CP0940. Councilman Les Smith seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilman Wayne Beer, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0).
Item 12. on the Agenda. RESOLUTION R-09-30, accepting Temporary Construction Easements and Quit-Claim Deeds from property owners in conjunction with the Northeast 61st Terrace Reconstruction Project TP0614.
Councilman Wayne Beer moved to authorize RESOLUTION R-09-30, accepting Temporary Construction Easements and Quit-Claim Deeds from property owners in conjunction with the Northeast 61st Terrace Reconstruction Project TP0614. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilman Wayne Beer, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0).
Item 13. on the Agenda. RESOLUTION R-09-31, accepting Permanent Easements from certain property owners in conjunction with the 3700 Northeast 57th Terrace Storm Sewer Project CP0650.
Councilman Les Smith moved to authorize RESOLUTION R-09-31, accepting Permanent Easements from certain property owners in conjunction with the 3700 Northeast 57th Terrace Storm Sewer Project CP0650. Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi seconded. The vote: All “aye” – Councilman Wayne Beer, Councilman Les Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Rudi, and Mayor Mark Revenaugh. (4-0).
Item 14. on the Agenda. OTHER BUSINESS.
There was no other business to come before Council.
Item 15. on the Agenda. QUESTIONS FROM THE NEWS MEDIA.
There were no questions from the News Media.
Item 16. on the Agenda. ADJOURNMENT.
There being no further business to come before the March 9, 2009, Regular City Council meeting, Mayor Mark Revenaugh adjourned the Regular meeting.
Respectfully submitted:
______________________________
G. Diane Whitaker, Deputy City Clerk
Approved as submitted: ___
Approved as corrected/amended: ___
______________________________
Mayor Mark S. Revenaugh