Council Minutes 02/15/2001
CITY OF AMMON
February 15, 2001
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council:
The meeting was called to order by Mayor C. Bruce Ard at 7:30 P.M. in the City
Building, 2135 South Ammon Road, Ammon, Idaho, with the following City Officials
present:
Mayor C. Bruce Ard
Councilmember W. Lee Bean
Councilmember Harvey L. Crandall
Council member Leslie Folsom
Council member Ira K. Hall
Attorney W. Joe Anderson
Engineer Bill Manwill
Public Works Director David Wadsworth
Fire Chief Clarence Nelson
City Clerk Aleen C. Jensen
Deputy Clerk Connie R. Guymon
Others Present
Bud Langerak, Bonneville County Sheriff's Department Reserve Officer
Lt. Craig McBride, Bonneville County Sheriff's Department
Sg1. Greg Black, Bonneville County Sheriff's Department Ammon Field Office
Cindy Donovan, 3725 East Sunnyside Road, Ammon
Eric Clapton
Brad Oswald
Brent and Dustin Guymon
Darren Romine
Rod Harris, 3585 Ross Avenue
Dutton, Robby, and Ricky Loertscher
David and Craig Hurst
Mark and Paul Schultz
Janice and Todd Wirkus
Frank Farmer, 2010 Sunflower Circle, Ammon
Alan Cunningham, Mountain River Engineering
Tom Hunsaker, 2925 Carolyn Lane, Ammon
Ron Folsom, 2750 Sawtooth, Ammon
Council member Hall led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, and Councilmember
Bean offered a prayer.
Alan Cunningham of Mountain River Engineering presented the Final Plat for The
Cottages Division No.1. The Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended
approval. The Development Agreement is acceptable, and the City of Idaho Falls has
reviewed and approved the improvement drawings. There is a modification for the
City Council Meeting, February 15, 2001 - Page 2
Development Agreement from the Planning and Zoning Commission and Public
Works Director David Wadsworth to provide the City with a computer generated
drawing. The Council reviewed the plat.
Councilmember Hall moved to approve the Final Plat for The Cottages Division NO.1
and to authorize the Mayor to enter into the Development Agreement. Council-
member Crandall seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Hall - Yes; Crandall - Yes;
Bean - Yes; Folsom - Yes. The motion carried unanimously.
Frank Farmer, 2010 Sunflower Circle, requested a non-commercial kennel
license for four dogs. Mr. Farmer obtained the signatures of sixteen of his neighbors
to show their approval, and he prepared a sketch map which shows where each of the
signers live. One dog is a Border Collie, one looks like Red Wolf but is not, and two
are Golden Retrievers. One of his neighbors was not even aware that he had dogs.
He has a fenced backyard, and the dogs stay inside the fenced yard. Some dogs
sleep inside the garage, and some sleep in the house. They wear bark collars. One
dog is a spayed female. One dog is a neutered male. The two retrievers have not
been fixed. One dog is a papered male, and he may be used as a breeder. If there
are complaints, the license is subject to review at any time. Councilmember Crandall
moved to approve the non-commercial kennel license for Frank Farmer at 2010
Sunflower Circle. Councilmember Folsom seconded the motion. Roll call vote:
Crandall - Yes; Folsom - Yes; Bean - Yes; Hall - Yes. The motion carried
unanimously.
Tom Hunsaker reported for the Planning and Zoning Commission. The
Commission recommended approval of the Final Plat for The Cottages Division No.1.
There was some discussion on the plat. The one cul-de-sac is long because it was
determined that there was a need for it because of the surrounding terrain. The street
name Cottage Loop may have to be changed if the County does not like it. There was
no real input during the Public Hearing on the Comprehensive Plan text. Brad Pickett
asked questions to help him understand how it affects his development. Chairman
Greg Maeser recommended the only changes. The changes were minor word
changes to clean up and help make the text clearer. The remainder of the meeting
was spent discussing changes to the zoning ordinance.
The next item of business was a discussion on the ordinance for communication
towers and antennas. Council member Crandall thanked Council member Folsom,
Tom Hunsaker, and Cindy Donovan for their good work to put an ordinance together.
Tom explained about the different tower types. Type 1 goes on top of a building.
Type 2 and Type 3 towers are monopoles. Type 2 is preferred, and it is the type sited
in a park, a ball field, or a parking lot. It has a light attached to light the surrounding
area, and the equipment building can include restroom facilities and storage space.
Type 3 would be by a street to illuminate the street or hold a traffic light. The standard
City Council Meeting, February 15, 2001 - Page 3
height of the utility poles in the City of Ammon is sixty (60) feet. The recommended
height for a communication pole is ninety (90) feet. The towers can be attractive, and
the committee has focused on that.
Councilmember Bean requested a work session to review in greater detail the
ordinance for communication towers. Some of the ordinance details were pointed out.
The ordinance does not allow lattices or guy wires. The committee has recommended
monopoles instead of co-locations. No one seems to co-locate agreeably. All
equipment including the generator is to be installed within the building. Hospital sound
mufflers will be required.
Councilmember Folsom moved to hold a work session concerning communication
towers and antennas on Monday, February 26, at 7:00 P.M. in the City Building and to
extend the moratorium on communication towers for thirty (30) days. Councilmember
Crandall seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Folsom - Yes; Crandall - Yes; Bean -
Yes; Hall- Yes. The motion carried unanimously.
Bud Langerak, representative of the Bonneville County Sheriff's Department,
requested financial support from the Council to purchase or assist in purchasing an In-
Car Camera system for the patrol car that is being assigned to Ammon. It is a new
car, and it is being outfitted with all the law enforcement related equipment. We have
the opportunity at this time to install the camera for about $500 less than it normally
costs because the car is already torn apart to install the emergency equipment. The
camera system installed costs $4675. They hoped to get Ammon's support for the
camera through the increase in fine money that Ammon is receiving. Bud Langerak
reported that, through January 31, the City has received $4339.80 in fine money.
The Sheriff's Department has applied for two grants. Bud Langerak recently spent
time in Boise building bridges with the Office of Highway Safety. The County will be
receiving a grant to assist in traffic enforcement, seat belt compliance, and child safety
seat compliance. The grant starts in March and runs through the following February.
In Idaho, seat belt compliance is a secondary violation. This means that in order to
site a person for failing to wear a seat belt there has to be a primary violation such as
some other moving violation. In 1997 through 1999 Bonneville County had the
highest incidence of serious injury and fatal accidents involving 15 to 19 year-old
drivers. The second statistic is that we have the highest incidence, except one County
of 5000 population, of serious injury and fatal accidents where aggressive driving
behavior was the primary cause of the accident. That tells us we have a traffic
problem. So they have applied for a second grant which will pay for about 50 or 60
hours of overtime per week to do additional traffic enforcement. It is called STEP. City
of Ammon has traffic problems so a lot of time will be spent in Ammon and Ammon will
benefit from the program. The camera will assist in collecting evidence of the
aggressive driving behavior. The camera is also a protection for the officer.
City Council Meeting, February 15, 2001 - Page 4
Councilmember Crandall expressed support if the camera is used for flagrant
violations and not for every little minor violation. Council member Folsom supported
the camera for police protection and for better enforcement.
Councilmember Folsom moved to go ahead with the purchase of the police car
camera in the amount of $4675 including installation in the car for Sgt. Black.
Councilmember Hall seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Folsom - Yes; Hall - Yes;
Crandall- Yes; Bean - Yes. The motion carried unanimously.
Fire Chief Nelson approached the County about getting one of the used patrol cars
that is going to be taken off the line for the Fire Department. The car would be used
by the Fire Marshal instead of his own car. It would also be available for other uses
under the direction of the Fire Chief. The Sheriff is in support of the request as long
as it is in line with what the Mayor and City Council think. He is prepared to donate a
1993 Chevrolet Caprice with 105,000 miles. It is to be driven straight to the body shop
for a paint job, and it will not leave the body shop until it has been painted. Chief
Nelson has indicated that he has enough money set aside to pay for the paint job.
The Council needs to deliberate on this before making any decision.
Lt. McBride, who is over patrol and detectives, introduced Sgt. Greg Black. Sgt. Black
is the new full time field officer assigned to the City of Ammon. He has had
sixteen years experience in law enforcement, and he should be an asset for the City.
He has been employed by the Bonneville County Sheriff's Department since 1987.
Sgt. Black answered questions from the City Council. He has already moved into his
office in the Ammon Fire Station, and his hours will vary. A patrol officer has also been
assigned to Ammon, and police protection will be available twenty-four hours a day by
calling Dispatch 529-1200. Mayor Ard welcomed the new officer.
Public Works Director Wadsworth pointed out that we need to start getting ready for
the Sunnyside Road project. The Council should decide what they want to do about
replacing the old waterlines or adding new services to eliminate the need to dig into a
new road. It is a similar situation to Ammon Road, and the work needs to be done at
the time the road is torn up. Council member Hall explained about the two different
types of services. One, the services are already in and the service line is required by
the City to go to the shut off valve. These services have been in twenty or thirty years
and it makes sense to replace them. The other type is a new service into a private lot
where the owner would be responsible to pay. The City may want to consider
stubbing something in for some of the agricultural parcels. There should be some kind
of an engineering study or a determination of what is needed. It was decided that
David Wadsworth could begin marking a map to provide information on the potential
needs. Property owners should be advised of the plans so they can be prepared.
City Council Meeting, February 15, 2001 - Page 5
Councilmember Hall discussed recovering costs for the City to extend water lines,
sewer lines, and other improvements. The City Office has been concerned about
documenting this information so that the City does recover the cost when properties
are developed. Most of the properties involved are already annexed to the City so the
developer/builder only needs to apply for a building permit. This mayor may not
trigger some indication that there needs to be a recovery of costs. It was suggested
that a map of each location, where the City pays the cost, be prepared to identify the
improvement and the area to be serviced with a pro-rata amount per foot or acre. This
would make it possible to more readily identify the information without depending on
numbers in an accounting book. Also, this would assure that the City recovers costs
and would preclude losing track. Engineer Manwill and Public Works Director
Wadsworth were asked to begin mapping this information. Engineer Manwill
suggested a good idea would be to add this as a separate layer to the digital maps
that Mountain River Engineering is going to prepare for the City.
Attorney Anderson brought up the Area of Impact ordinance. Bonneville County did
adopt our ordinance with some minor changes. He asked if the Council was ready to
consider the ordinance or if they would like to take it up at a later meeting.
Councilmember Bean recommended that the Council take action without further delay.
The minor changes were pointed out, and the Council did not have a problem with the
changes.
Attorney Anderson introduced City of Ammon Ordinance No. 285 by title, AN
ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF AN AREA WITHIN THE
COUNTY OF BONNEVILLE AS AN IMPACT AREA FOR THE CITY OF AMMON;
PROVIDING FOR THE ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS TO APPLY WITH SUCH
IDENTIFIED IMPACT AREA; PROVIDING FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND
ENFORCEMENT OF SUCH ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS; PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY; AND ESTABLISHING EFFECTIVE DATE. It was adopted by the
County as Bonneville County Ordinance No. 205-01. The ordinance was read in full.
Councilmember Folsom read Ordinance No. 285 by title and moved that the City
Council dispenses with the rule requiring the reading of the ordinance on three
different days and that the three readings be waived. Council member Bean seconded
the motion. Roll call vote: Folsom - Yes; Bean - Yes; Hall - Yes; Crandall - Yes.
The motion carried unanimously.
Councilmember Folsom moved the adoption of Ordinance No. 285 as an ordinance of
the City of Ammon on its third and final reading. Council member Bean seconded the
motion. Roll call vote: Folsom - Yes; Bean - Yes; Hall - Yes; Crandall - Yes. The
motion carried unanimously.
City Council Meeting, February 15, 2001 - Page 6
Councilmember Bean stated the Memorandums of Understanding on the Area of
Impact and the Sewer Agreement have been approved and he moved to authorize
Mayor Ard to sign them at such time as the City of Idaho Falls is ready to sign them.
Councilmember Folsom seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Bean - Yes; Folsom -
Yes; Crandall- Yes; Hall- Yes. The motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Ard read from a letter dated January 5, 2001, addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Keith
Turnbow regarding a post office in Ammon. "The Postmaster in Idaho Falls has
been able to come to an agreement with Ammon city officials to install a contract
station in one of the city buildings. A solicitation packet is being prepared and should
go out soon. It will take approximately 3 months to award the contract and install
postal equipment and signage. We look forward to providing postal service again in
Ammon." The letter is signed by Linda M. Casssella, Manager of Consumer Affairs,
Spokane Customer Service District, United States Postal District. The City Officials
offered the front portion of the old City Building. Councilmember Folsom explained
they will take care of all the renovations, and they will pay the utilities. The agreement
is to be with the contract person and the City. The facility will be like a regular post
office. They are trying to get a track record of the dollars that Ammon would bring in
to justify an official facility. The shop will remain in the back of the building.
There were a number of Scouts present. Mayor Ard welcomed the Scouts and their
leaders.
Roger Hill of School District No. 93 called to postpone the luncheon meeting with the
School Officials and the City Officials regarding the Owen Street traffic Study. The
meeting will be scheduled for a later date. It was suggested that Mayor Ard should
work out a date with Doyle Batt, Chairman of the School Board.
Reports: David Wadsworth reported for Public Works. The crew has been
unfreezing waterlines on Rich Lane and repairing broken waterlines on Sunnyside
Road. The water meter was installed at Quality Water on January 31, and the water
meter at Edwards Theatre was finished today. They have been trying to keep up with
the ice on corners to prevent blockage.
Council member Bean encouraged the City Council to pay close attention to the
budget. The purchase of a camera in the amount of almost $5,000 was approved at
this meeting and expenses are being approved regularly. The Council should review
the budget at least monthly. It was suggested that information be faxed or e-mailed to
the Council.
Engineer Manwill pointed out that there are two meetings scheduled for
Wednesday, February 21. A report meeting on the progress of the Sunnyside Road
City Council Meeting, February 15, 2001 - Page 7
project is to be at 9:30 A. M. in the County Commissioners' office. Immediately
following at 10:30 A. M. is the City-County Meeting in the Idaho Falls Annex Building.
Ron Folsom reported that the Planning and Zoning Commission suggested changes
to the zoning ordinances that they would like to consider next month. They are
anxious to have an official Comprehensive Plan in force. Most of the changes
suggested are changes because of what they did to the Comprehensive Plan. The
suggested changes were reviewed for the City Council. Changes addressed include
adding to the landscaping requirements, providing for screening between residential
and non-residential zones, requirements for residential lots abutting railroad tracks,
increasing the notification list for public hearings, change of area size in the R-1 zone,
deleting single family attached dwellings as a use from the R-2 zone, a correction to
the HC-1 zone, alignment and width of previously platted streets, width for local or
minor streets to be sixty feet, requirements on arterial streets, foundation requirements
for manufactured homes, platting procedures, and subdivision requirements. Also, the
Commission would like to change hearing requirements to have one hearing before
the Planning and Zoning Commission. Attorney Anderson recommended it would be
simpler to repeal the old ordinance and re-enact a new one to include all the changes.
The Commission would like to make the changes so they can be operating with all the
new. Council members suggested a work meeting. Landscaping and screening are
urgent. Action can be taken on the landscaping and screening and then incorporate
that section when the rest is ready.
Rod Harris, 3585 Ross Avenue, recommended that the City Council consider
maintenance of the ball fields before the ball season begins. The fields are in terrible
condition.
Claims were approved. Councilmember Folsom moved to adjourn to an Executive
Session to discuss enforcement and employment and to include Attorney Anderson
and the law enforcement people in the discussion. Councilmember Crandall
seconded the motion. The Council voted all in favor. The regular meeting was
adjourned to an executive session at 8:50 P.M.
Mayor
Attest:
City Clerk