Minutes of The Price City Council Meeting

City Hall: Price, Utah

May 25, 2005, 5:30 p.m.

 

Present:

Mayor Joe L. Piccolo                                          Joanne Lessar, City Recorder

Councilmembers:                                               Pat Larsen, Finance Director

     Betty P. Wheeler                                          Nick Sampinos, City Attorney

     Richard Tatton                                              Gary Sonntag, Public Works Director/City Engineer

     Jeanne McEvoy                                            Nick Tatton, Community Director

     Mae Aguayo                                                 John Daniels, Human Resource Director

Bret Cammans, Customer Service Director

Aleck Shilaos, Chief of Police

 

Excused: Councilmember Stephen L. Denison

 

Others Present:

     Carole Giles             Daniel Wood                  Nancy Cammans                       Rudy Metelko

     Paul Bedont             Kent Boyack                 David Wood                               Ron Roper

     Sidney Nelson          Seth Chiraretta              Carey Seals                              Wade Marinoni

     Janarie Larsen          Lyle Bauer                     Steve Carlson                            Gregory Lowder

     Kevin Dunn               Boyd Anderson

 

Mayor Piccolo led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Roll was called with the above members present.

 

 1.        COUNCILMEMBERS REPORT   - Update

 

The Mayor and Councilmembers presented an update on the activities they administer.

 

 2.       PUBLIC HEARING - Adoption of Budget For Fiscal Year 2005-2006 - Struck

 

 3.         BID OPENING - Citizens Service Property Remodeling - Committee Appointed

 

The following bid was received for remodeling the Citizens Service Property located at 910 North 700 East.

 

Stilson & Sons Construction, Inc. 

Base Bid - $298,761.00                          Alternate #3 - Add $8,805.00

Alternate #1 - Add $48,5.00                    Alternate #4 - Add $2,900.00 

Alternate #2 - Add $8,417.00                   Alternate #5 - Add $8,985.00   

Alternate #2A - Add $37,729.00

 

MOTION.  Councilmember Wheeler moved that a committee, comprised of Councilmember Tatton, Pat Larsen, Gary Sonntag, Nick Tatton, John Procarione and Aleck Shilaos, be appointed to review the bid and given the power to act if the bid is under budget.  Motion seconded by Councilmember McEvoy and carried.

 

 4.        VISIONARY SERVICE LEADER AWARD - Kathy Smith

 

Mayor Piccolo presented the Visionary Service Leader Award for May, 2005 to Kathy Smith.  Kathy is the Director of the Carbon County Travel Bureau.  She not only provides excellent travel and visitor services, but is active and involved in many community events and initiatives.

 

 5.         CONVENTION AND VISITOR BUREAU  - Presentation

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY - Update

 

Nancy Cammans introduced herself as the Director of the Convention and Visitor Bureau and gave a brief presentation on the goals of the convention bureau.  They are focusing on State goals and those specifically aligned with Carbon County.  Plans are to promote the activities occurring in the area, such as the Greek Festival, International Days, Downtown Alive,  river rafting, mountain climbing, bouldering, etc., and to host corporation team building and leadership training sessions, as well as junior and senior high school camps.  National Geographic magazine has indicated an interest in doing editorials for the above.  Plans are to look at special activities for those who bring their families along.  They are hoping to bring international money into Utah and our community.   As events take place and for evaluation purposes, a computer

program will keep track of how much is spent in each community, where the events are hosted,


May 25, 2005   

 

what hotels they use, where they eat and what their interests are.  They are in the process of searching for resources, caterers, hotels, and what the community has to offer as far as tours and places of interest.  Peczuh Printing has offered to put together a packet.  Brochures will be sent out to interested conferences.  A physics conference will be held in Salt Lake in August.  Plans are to get those attending the conference interested in coming to Price.  To entice them, five different packages under different price ranges will be put together to cover room sharing, different tours, such as Range Creek, the museums, etc.  It is an experiment to see what the response will be.  As the Little League World Series will be held in Price this summer, they are in the process of putting together plans to use the property next to the wave pool for RV parking.  The families can visit the wave pool during and after the ball games.  A bicycle group is also scheduled to come to Price as well as a crime lab conference and a Chevrolet Corvette group.  The group plans to add on to what has already been scheduled.  Ms. Cammans identified the other agencies involved with her group, which are the College of Eastern Utah, CEU museum,  Carbon Economic Development, County Commissioners, Carbon County Travel Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, Carbon County Business Alliance and Carbon Recreation.  Representatives from these entities meet every two weeks to define and network together.  They also have quarterly meetings  with the City of Vernal to promote and market both communities.  Their major concern is transportation.  Once families are in the area, they need to get to and from places of interest.   Shuttle services as well as volunteer tour guides have been discussed.  Mayor Piccolo thanked Ms. Cammans for her information

 

As Delynn Fielding was unable to be at the meeting, Councilmember Tatton provided an update to economic development.  There continues to be further activity in the gas field research.  A representative from one of the banks has been talking to those individuals.  A new business, a call center, to be located at the Industrial Park adjacent to Four Mile Hill expects to employ approximately 85 people.  The Department of Workforce Services has reached a point where they are having a hard time finding applicants to fill those positions.  

 

 6.        PRICE CITY PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES - Benefit Eligibility Changes, Compensation Adjustment For Part Time Firefighters

 

John Daniels presented information regarding the requested changes pertaining to benefit eligibility.  At the present, there are two groups of part time employees that receive the same benefit (health and dental coverage) as full time employees.  Those two groups are the Volunteer Fire Department and the City Attorney.  No other part time employees receive those benefits.  Fire Chief Kent Boyack assisted in conducting a study of Fire Departments in other cities and received data on the average number of fire calls, training hours, and how they compensate their employees.  He found that some don=t receive any compensation, and others received various amounts of benefits and cash compensation.  In comparing benefits and cash compensation provided by other fire departments, Mr. Daniels recommended that only full time employees (those who work 40 or more hours per week) receive the health and dental benefits.  He met with the Fire Department regarding these changes on two occasions.  At the first meeting, the biggest concern was if the department would be able to attract qualified fire fighters.  Most of them felt it would not.  After more information was collected and presented at the second meeting, the percentage changed.  Most of them then felt it would not effect qualified fire fighters.  Current employees would not be effected.  The proposed changes would effect future Volunteer Fire Department employees and a future City Attorney.  The current employees would not be effected.  For those future employees not receiving health and dental benefits, Mr. Daniels recommended a monthly cash compensation.  Current Fire Department employees would have the option to remain with the medical/dental coverage or change to cash compensation.  They wouldn=t necessarily have to change at this time.  They could be given a two to five year window.  However, they can not go back and forth.  If they change, their decision would be final.  The amount of compensation was discussed.  Fire Chief Boyack stated that $200 was a suggested figure, but it was not supported by the majority of firefighters.  The employees were more receptive with $500. The cost of living adjustment was also discussed.  Mayor Piccolo suggested that all employees be treated equally and that the Fire Department be included in the cost of living increases.

 

MOTION.  Councilmember Aguayo moved that Mr. Daniels be authorized to prepare a resolution clarifying and changing the Policies and Procedures Manual indicating only full time employees receive the medical/dental benefits.  Motion seconded by Councilmember Wheeler and carried.

 

MOTION.  Councilmember Aguayo moved that Mr. Daniels be authorized to prepare a resolution establishing the compensation for Volunteer Fireman at $500/month, $550/month for Captains and $600/month for an Assistant Fire Chief, to include cost of living adjustments.  Motion


May 25, 2005

 

seconded by Councilmember Wheeler and carried.

 

CONSENT ITEMS -  MOTION.  Councilmember Tatton moved that Items #7 through #13 be approved.  Motion seconded by Councilmember Wheeler and carried.

 

 7.         MINUTES - May 11, 2005

 

 8.        EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES - August 25, 2004, January 26, 2005, April 27, 2005, May 11, 2005

 

 9.        ROCKIES - Local Consent For Private Club Liquor License (Transfer Ownership To SHP Lessee Corp.)

 

10.        LEONARD MILLER, SIDNEY NELSON, GREGORY LOWDER, STEVE CARLSON, WADE ARINONI, ERIC ALLRED - Travel Approved

 

Leonard Miller, Sidney Nelson, Gregory Lowder, Steve Carlson, Wade Marinoni, Eric Allred - Utah State Firemen=s Convention, June 8-11, 2005, St. George, Utah

 

11.        BALANCE ROCK CREDIT UNION - Easy Reimbursement In Amount Up To $2,000 Contingent Upon Payment of Application Fee Of $200

 

12.        UTAH ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL POWER SYSTEMS - Agreement For Intermountain

Power Project Unit #3

 

13.        ROB RADLEY, AMANDA ULMAN - New Hires Approved

 

14.        INTERNATIONAL DAYS - Update

 

Councilmember Tatton reported that plans for the International Days events are moving along very smoothly.  The committee chairman have done a great job. He appreciates the involvement of Police Chief Shilaos and Mayor Piccolo.

 

MOTION.  Councilmember Tatton moved that the meeting adjourn and that a meeting of the Redevelopment Agency convene.  Motion seconded by Councilmember Wheeler and carried.

 

Meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.

Reconvened at 7:09 p.m.

 

Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

 

APPROVED:

 

 

 

                                                   

ATTEST:                                                           Joe L. Piccolo, Mayor

 

 

 

                                                  

Joanne Lessar, City Recorder