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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMinutes_2003_07_01 088 Brookings City Council July 1, 2003 The Brookings City Council convened in a planning session on Tuesday, July 1, 2003 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Ha11 with the following members present: Mayor Scott Munsterman, Council Members Doris Roden, Tim Reed, Tom Bezdichek, Julie Whaley, Tom Bozied and Mike McClemans. City Manager Mike Williams, City Attorney Steve Britzman, and Shari Thornes, City Clerk, were also present. There was consensus to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. with a recess at 7:00 p.m. Reaort from Kurt Cogswell, Brookin$s Committee for Peoole who have Disabilities. Kurt Cogswell reported that since their last report the Committee had sponsored the Annual Barrier Awareness Days educating third graders on living with disabilities; has given a series of talks on their Employing People with Disabilities Booklet; is planning an educational series of talks about mental illness for committee members, the police department, Brookings teachers and students; is sponsoring the Annual ABLE award presentation on July 22°a; and is celebrating the 13�' Anniversary of the ADA on July 27�' at the community band concert by serving SDSU ice cream and speaking to talk to people about the importance of the ADA. Council Member Bozied asked Cogswell about the new Soccer Complex cunently under construction and the consideration of a family restroom in the facility. Bozied commented that he thought there was consensus among the Council that another city building not be built without a family restroom designed into it Cogswell said the committee reviewed the design and believes a family restroom is a good addition to consider but there may be circumstances that make it difficult to do. Mike Williams, City Manager, said since questions have been raised about the new soccer building, staff has rethought the idea and developed an alterative design. There were reasons why the Access Committee and city staff didn't feel this was an appropriate place for a family restroom. Allyn Frerichs, Park and Recreation Superintendent, said the concept was considered early in the planning stage but because it is an unsupervised remote facility he didn't think it was an appropriate design. A family restroom needs to be locked for privacy. There was general consensus among the Access Committee that a family restroom wouldn't be the best thing to have. After taking another look at the design, staff has developed a way to accommodate privacy but wouldn't require locking the doors. With the building's design there is an easy option to incorporate this restroom into the facility utilizing a 6 foot plumbing chase hallway. He estimated an additional $2,200 cost that includes plumbing, electricity, wall preparation, and lighting. He felt if this feature had been originally included in the design the building would have cost more. This project is under estimate and he will authorize adding a family restroom to the construction if desired. The Citv Counci! reauested the Citv Manager draft a uolicv that would reauire all future citv buildin� plans to include a familv restroom and if there is a reason it be taken out it would reauire action. Ordinance No. 19-03 — Rezoning—Wiese Addition. Introduction and first reading was given on Ordinance No. 19-03, an ordinance rezoning Blocks 3 and 8 of Wiese Addition from an Industrial I-1 and Industrial I-IR District to a Business B-5 District (1000 block of 32°d Avenue). A motion was made by Roden, seconded by Whaley, to approve first reading. All present voted yes; motion carried. Second reading is scheduled for July 8, 2003. S ecial planning session meeting date and identifv issues. A special planning of the Council was scheduled for Monday, July 21�` from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. A joint meeting with the MultiPlex Board will be held prior to this meeting at 12:00 p,m. Topics for the special meeting will be Council Action Items (governance), Council Vacancy Policy (governance), Ordinance First Reading Policy (governance), Long term planning (budgeting, debt reduction, enterprise privatization, future plans for Research & Technology Center, Wiese Park Development Cost), refunding resolution and the city's promotional strategy. Refundins 1998 Bond Issue. Ray "Woody" Woodsend, Dougherty & Company LLC, presented information to the Council on bond refunding options available under Federal tax law. There are two types available on bonded issues — current or advance. He advised the Council that the current interest rates are extremely low and recommended refunding the City's 1998 bond. In a "current" process this must occur less than 90 days prior to the call date. This 089 bond's ca11 date is December 1, 2003. In order to meet the timeline to refund on September 3, 2003 or tater, the City must start the process in July. The City Council discussed developin� a philosophy regarding refunding. One option wauld be to simply use refunding as a debt reduction tool with the biggest savings possible. Another option would be to create spending power through opening the availability of funds by not paying principal. There was not consensus on an overall ptulosophy. The Council will discuss this particular bond refunding at their July 21�` planning session and potentially take action at the July 22°d meeting. Fire Rcscue Truck. A PowerPoint presentation of the 2000 model Fire Rescue truck under consideration was made to the Council was made by Fire Department personnel. Staff reported that their onsite visit of the vehicle revealed that the apparatus was impressive made with quality construction, Beneficial safety items include an electromechanical siren, seven exterior lights, remote control mirrors, air maintenance system, strobe emergency lights, a LED message board, large compartments, many build-in items, roll-out tool boards, four 200 foot power reels, a remote control light tower, a remote gauge and remote digital speedometer, a large interior command center, compliant seating for eight, special braking system, and automatic chains. Minimal wear was found on the apparatus. All scratches would be fixed and detailed before the unit is sold. Primary servicing can be done in this area. Body components would be the only items that couldn't be done here. How many responders go out on a ca11 that would go into a truck? 25-28 is a typical number of responders with a rescue unit and two pumpers carrying 18 people. The fire rescue committee consists of 12 fire department full-time and volunteer personnel. The City Council requested the City Manager prepare a comprehensive recommendation for the Council's consideration. ZoninE & Subdivision Ordinance Amendments. This item was postponed for a future meeting. Senate Bill 3 — Liauor Operating Agreements. Munsterman provided a recap of earlier discussion regarding the two new operating agreements. In previous discussions the Council had agreed that the agreements are important economic development impact tools. A restaurant development would have the best impact. Location and parking issues have been discussed. Selecting an applicant whose business is considered a "destination" drawing people from in and out of town has been discussed. Utilizing both agreements rather than saving one has been discussed. A question was raised last month regarding when Brookings would be able to support a convention facility. According to the Convention Visitor's Bureau, it isn't a larger population that is needed; a larger number of hotel rooms is needed to support a convention facility (700- 800 rather than 500 hotel rooms). There was no indication as to a timeline when this would be achieved. Another hotel will be built yet this year bringing Brookings to be about 300 rooms short of a viable convention center destination. Last yeax the Council decided to give one license to an established business and one to a new business. Should this be considered again? Is there any way to analyze the benefit to the city by sales tax dollars and the liquor override by giving it to an established business? Williams reported that there was a significant increase in total sales for Cubby's and Skinners with the addition of liquor. Tota1 sales overall with all Brookings operating agreement holders increased from $1,244,000 to $1,297,000. Liquor sales experienced the most significant increase. Beer sales remained didn't increase. Was there a change in food sales? There is no way of knowing. Williams didn't have prior years' sales available. The increase of$56,000 could just be natural increase. He doesn't know what a new facility would add. Is there any way to know any numbers at a11? He could try to make an estimate by looking at a similar operation. However, it can't be assumed if it would be purely new money or if money would be taken away from e�sting businesses. Roden said she wanted to minimize the parking issue which a citizen brought up at a previous meeting. She said if we had to worry about parking, Brookings �robably wouldn't have a Summer Arts Festival. She noted that other communities such as Sioux Falls have had concerns about parking. When Sioux Fa11s opened the Washington Pavilion downtown people parked everywhere. It is when a downtown doesn't have cars is when you have a problem. 090 Williams reported that Applebee's has satisfied all the city code and building requirements and could be issued a building permit at any time. They have not announced a ground breaking date. Whaley asked if the Council didn't decide at one time that they were going to issue these licenses to an eating establishment to make it more family oriented, rather than a bar? Yes, it would be a restaurant development. Reed said the Council's concern is the economic impact and increased sales tax revenue generated by new licenses. Will the businesses bring people into town? It is hard to get handle on this. He cautioned the Council from focusing on how much money one business brings in verses another. He said he was nervous when the Council starts boxing in criteria about what a business had to do and where it should be located. He said he didn't think that the Council should be in the business of writing someone's business plan. Let's give people the option to come to the Council with what they think. The Council may have a very limited view and its not going to be our business. He would like to point a general direction. More competition may bring out the best with other establishments. He said he wants to make sure that anybody that wants to apply can come up and have their opportunity. He was concerned about the"family" concept. If two 2 kids walk down Main Avenue, can they go into Cubby's? Yes, it is up to the proprietor to establish rules. McClemans agreed with Reed saying he was not sure that � family situation is what has to be brought forward. Brookings could experience a saturation of different types of establishments. If the Council is waiting for a ma}or chain, it may not come to town at all based on the number of people and competitors. He didn't want the Council to lock in on the family concept and wants to remain open to suggestions. He personally doesn't see the use of the two licenses for another major family restaurant. They won't rush to come here. He also didn't want the Council to sit on a license, holding out for a new establishment in Brookings. He has no objection to an established business. To hold both licenses would not be a good plan. Roden said she sees a value in the vaxiety of dining experiences that the community offers. Brookings currently doesn't have a fine dining restaurant. The Council can't predict ahead of time what the criteria will be because we don't know who will apply. No matter where the Council grants the liquor agreement it would serve economic development purposes. We do need to see who applies, what their plan is, and start to talk about what is important. We can't decide what categories to issue licenses. Reed commented that everybody should be applying and the Council shouldn't talk about old verses new businesses. Munsterman said he would like to discuss this issue one more time at planning meeting after the budget (October). During that next meeting he suggested the Council review the Liquor Operating Agreement Policy to identify any changes and then decide whether or not to open it up for applications. Reed asked if anyone had applied for a license. No. Can they? Yes, but the Council hasn't developed an application timeframe. Sales Taa ChanQes. Senate Bill No. 76 requires cities to have only one general sales tax rate, and to have a sales tax rate that applies to the same items and services taxed by every other city in the state. The Brookings sales tax exemption of food will no longer be allowed. The City Council is responsible to exercise sound discretion in establishing a revenue neutral rate. The adjusted rate will be 1.7 percent. Williams recommended more analysis before adopting the rate. A review of city ordinances will be needed to bring Brookings into compliance with state law. Changes to sales tax ordinance will be minimal. These changes would be classified as administrative and not referable to the voters. If the Council chooses to leave the rate current and not engage in a"revenue neutral" situation, it would be referable. If the Council didn't take any action it wouldn't be compliant with state law. Action must be taken prior to October 1, 2003. Canital Imarovement Proiects - Senior Center. The Senior Center Committee has recommended the future Center be located on land owned and provided by Brookings Hospital and Brookview Manor. The cost estimate for the center is $1.4 million. .The Brookings Hospital has offered to give the City $300,000 and loan $200,000 for the project. Williams provided a 091 new second penny projection showing the construction of the Senior Center in 2004. The new projection illustrated the new cash flow resulting from the refunding of the 1998 bond issue. Roden expressed concem that the United Retirement Center has been working on a senior citizen center plan for years. If the city proceeds with the hospital location, we will be losing a vision and relationship that has developed over many years. She was also concerned that the hospital was losing their vision of a continuum of care. Bezdichek asked how to obtain access to the minutes, records and budgets of the Brookings Hospital? That information is all public record and is available at the Brookings Hospital, not City Ha11. Bezdichek commented that the hospital says they will provide the future Senior Citizen Center property at no cost. He disagreed, saying there is a cost of lost property tax revenue by changing private land into public land. He had additional questions pertaining to investment assets, bidding, and board governance. Adiournment. A motion was made by McClemans, seconded by Bozied, to adjourn. All present voted yes; except Bezdichek, McClemans, and Roden voted no; motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. C F BROOKINGS ��rr oFa . unsterman, Mayor Z �� � ��9 tn °oso � C�i�/�i ' �,Gr S ornes, City Clerk