CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007
I.
CALL TO ORDER
A
regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Liberty, Missouri was held
in the Council Chambers at City Hall on March 12, 2007 with Mayor Pro Tem Coni Hadden presiding. Mayor Pro Tem Hadden called the meeting to
order at 7:00
p.m.
Mayor
Pro Tem Hadden noted that Mayor Steinkamp and Assistant City Administrator
Cynthia Boecker were in Washington
meeting with the City’s congressional delegation. Mayor Pro Tem Hadden also noted that City
Administrator Curt Wenson was unable to attend the meeting and Public Works
Director Steve Hansen would be sitting in for him.
II. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The invocation was given by Council Member Nick King who
then led the pledge of allegiance.
III. ROLL CALL
Roll
call was answered by Coni Hadden and Harold Phillips, Ward I; LeRoy Coe and
Anna Marie Martin, Ward II; John Parry, Ward III; and Nick King and Bill
Parker, Ward IV. Also in attendance were
Steve Hansen, Public Works Director; Gary Birch, Fire Chief; Craig Knouse,
Police Chief; Linda Tyree, Finance Director; Diana Adams, Special Projects
Manager; Chris Deal, Parks & Recreation Director; Steve Anderson, Planning
& Development Director; Tony Sage, Information Services Director; Brian
Hess, City Engineer; LeAnn Lawlor, Aging Services Coordinator; Shawnna
Funderburk, Assistant to the City Administrator; Sara Cooke, Public Relations
Coordinator; Janet Pittman, Executive Assistant; Jason Noble, The Kansas City
Star; and 14 members of the public.
IV. APPROVE
MINUTES AND SUMMARIES
A. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 26, 2007
Council Member King requested a
correction, stating that it was the 400th anniversary of Jamestown and not the 200th as noted in the minutes.
Council Member Phillips moved to approve the minutes as amended. Council Member Martin seconded the motion,
which carried unanimously.
B. SPECIAL SESSION MINUTES OF MARCH 5, 2007
Council Member Martin moved to approve the minutes as
distributed. Council Member King
seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
C. STUDY SESSION MEETING SUMMARY OF MARCH 5, 2007
Council Member Martin moved to approve the minutes as
distributed. Council Member King
seconded the motion, which carried 6-0-1.
Council Member Parker abstained due to absence.
D. EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES OF MARCH 5, 2007
Council Member Coe moved to approve the minutes as
distributed. Council Member Phillips
seconded the motion, which carried 6-0-1.
Council Member Parker abstained due to absence.
V. CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION
Mayor
Pro Tem Hadden recognized Boy Scouts Mitch Kovac, Cameron Crooks, Jayson
Zimmerman and Dan Quarles of Troop 374, who are working on their Citizenship in
the Community and Communications badges.
VI. MEETING SCHEDULE
VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. *PETITION
TO ESTABLISH THE ROGERS PLAZA COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (CID) – ORDINANCE
Mayor Pro Tem Hadden opened the public hearing. Planning
and Development Director Steve Anderson stated that Rogers Sporting Goods has
filed a petition for the establishment of a Community Improvement District
(CID). The proposed district boundaries generally include land located north
and west of the intersection of “A” Highway, 291 Highway and I-35 comprising
approximately 14 acres. Mr. Anderson
stated that the CID was envisioned when the Rogers Plaza TIF was established in
December of last year. The principal
purpose for forming the district is to impose a one cent CID sales tax to
provide additional funding to reduce the length of time it is necessary for the
TIF to remain in place, thereby ensuring that the taxing jurisdictions receive
tax revenues from the redevelopment project earlier. Mr. Anderson stated that because of the project’s
tight schedule, consideration on first reading is requested.
Council Member Martin asked if there
is a sunset. Mr. Anderson stated that it
would remain in place for up to 50 years.
Mayor Pro Tem Hadden asked if anyone
else wished to speak in favor or opposition of the application. Seeing none she closed the public hearing.
Document No. 6643 was read. Council Member Martin moved to waive the
rules and consider the ordinance on first reading. Council Member Phillips seconded the motion,
which carried unanimously.
Council Member Martin moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member King seconded
the motion, which carried unanimously.
It was approved by the Chair and is inscribed in Ordinance No. 9103.
IX. ORDINANCES,
CONTRACTS AND RESOLUTIONS
A. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
OF VENDOR PAYMENTS FROM FEBRUARY 16, 2007 THROUGH MARCH 2, 2007 – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6644 was read. Council Member King moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Coe seconded
the motion.
Vote on the motion was as follows: Council Member Phillips – yes; Council Member
Martin – yes; Council Member Parker – yes; Council Member Hadden – yes; Council
Member Coe – yes; Council Member Parry – yes; Council Member King – yes. The motion carried unanimously; it was
approved by the Chair and inscribed in Ordinance No. 9104.
B. FREEDOM
HOUSE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) APPLICATION
1. AGREEMENT WITH FREEDOM HOUSE, INC. –
ORDINANCE
Document No. 6645 was read. Council Member Coe moved to waive the rules
and consider the ordinance on first reading.
Council Member Martin seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Council Member Phillips moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Parker
seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
It was approved by the Chair and is inscribed in Ordinance No. 9105.
2. EXCESSIVE
FORCE POLICY – RESOLUTION
Council Member Martin asked what the significance of
an excessive force policy is. Mr. Hansen
stated this is a requirement specific to submitting a CDBG application. Council Member Martin asked if it referred to
excessive force by law enforcement.
Police Chief Craig Knouse stated that is correct and this policy would
not conflict with any policies the City currently has in place. He said that excessive force by law
enforcement is never acceptable.
Council Member King moved to approve the resolution.
Council Member Phillips seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. It is inscribed in Resolution 2282.
C. CONTRACT
WITH KANSAS CITY AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (KCATA) FOR LIBERTY ACCESS BUS – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6646 was read. Council Member King moved to waive the rules
and consider the ordinance on first reading.
Council Member Phillips seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Council Member King clarified that this is an
allocation to the City of Liberty.
Aging Services Coordinator LeAnn Lawlor stated that is correct. Mayor Pro Tem Hadden asked how many years the
City has provided this service. Ms.
Lawlor stated that the City has provided transportation for senior citizens and
disabled persons for more than 20 years.
Council Member Coe moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Martin
seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
It was approved by the Chair and is inscribed in Ordinance No. 9106.
D. CONTRACT
WITH APEX ENVIROTECH, INC. FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF THE RUSH CREEK WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT SITE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $15,926 – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6647 was read. Council Member Martin moved to waive the
rules and consider the ordinance on first reading. Council Member Phillips seconded the motion,
which carried unanimously.
Council Member Parry asked if staff
was anticipating this cost. Mr. Hansen
stated that when the City originally entered into an agreement with William Jewell College, outlining the use and ultimate return of the
property where the treatment plant was constructed, staff did not anticipate conducting
an environmental assessment, nor its cost.
The treatment plant has been demolished and is no longer functioning. Before property ownership reverts back to the
College, it is requiring the environmental assessment be performed by a
professional geologist. Mr. Hansen stated that funding for this contract would
come from the available project budget. Council Member Coe asked what happens
after Phase I and II are completed. Mr.
Hansen stated that if the results show contamination then there would be a
Phase III assessment and possible clean-up.
Council Member King asked if the amount covers the cost of both the
Phase I and Phase II assessment. Mr.
Hansen stated it does.
Council Member Martin moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Parry seconded
the motion, which carried unanimously.
It was approved by the Chair and is inscribed in Ordinance No. 9107.
E. AMENDMENTS
TO CONTRACT WITH KAT EXCAVATION, INC. FOR THE UPPER RUSH CREEK INTERCEPTOR SEWER PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$85,466.40 – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6648 was read. Council Member Coe moved to waive the rules
and consider the ordinance on first reading.
Council Member Martin seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Council Member Parry asked if costs
had increased on the Rush Creek Project.
Mr. Hansen stated they had and noted that one of the reasons was increased
pipe costs. Mr. Hansen also noted that
two problems have occurred at the connection between the City’s system and Kansas City’s. The most
recent repair costing nearly $1.5 million was initially funded from another
source but ultimately needed to come out of this fund. These expenses resulted in a lesser amount of
funds available for sewer line remediation work than was originally anticipated
in the bond program. Such work is referred to as I&I (Inflow/Infiltration).
Council Member Martin moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Phillips
seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
It was approved by the Chair and is inscribed in Ordinance No. 9108.
F. AMENDMENT
TO CHAPTER 29, “SEWERS” OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES PERTAINING TO PERMIT
FEES AND MONITORING FEES – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6649 was read. Council Member Martin moved to waive the
rules and consider the ordinance on first reading. Council Member Parry seconded the motion,
which carried unanimously.
Council Member Parry asked if the
City was raising fees. Mr. Hansen stated
that since the City uses the Kansas City system it is a requirement that the City adjust the
rates to the current level Kansas City
charges. Mr. Hansen noted that prior to
using the Kansas
City system the
City of Liberty had the same monitoring requirements. Mr. Hansen stated that the permit fee covers an
initial period of five years. He stated
that this fee affects approximately five industrial users in the City, and each
company has been contacted and the fees reviewed.
Council Member King moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Coe seconded
the motion, which carried unanimously.
It was approved by the Chair and is inscribed in Ordinance No. 9109.
X. OTHER BUSINESS
XI.
MISCELLANEOUS
MATTERS FROM CITY ADMINISTRATOR
XII.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
Council
Member King reminded those in attendance that the Liberty High
School
orchestra was having a pancake breakfast on Saturday morning to raise funds for
expenses associated with the trip to Jamestown this summer.
Mayor
Pro Tem Hadden advised council that there were packets at their places from
Human Resources. Council Members were
asked to return these items to Mayor Steinkamp by Friday, March 16.
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
____________________________
Mayor
Attest:
______________________________________
Deputy City Clerk