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September 28, 2009
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
September 28, 2009
7:00 p.m.
The Governing Body of the City of Edwardsville, Kansas met in regular session on Monday, September 28, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.
The following councilmember’s were present with Mayor John McTaggart presiding:
Chuck Adams Mark Bishop Craig Crider
Doug Danner John Eickhoff
The following staff members were present:
Michael Webb, City Administrator
David Duckers, City Attorney
Phyllis Freeman, City Clerk
Cliff Lane, Fire Chief
Mark Mathies, Police Chief
AWARD TROPHIES TO AUTUMNFEST PARADE WINNERS
Mayor McTaggart awarded the Mayor’s and City Council trophies to Patti Young, Executive Director of Golden Living-Kaw River for the most outstanding and best float in the parade. The Bank Midwest trophy for the best kids entry was awarded to Boy Scout Pack 3008 chartered by the Edwardsville Methodist Church. The Kiwanis trophy for best group entry to the Bonner Springs High School band; Chamber of Commerce best business entry went to Creative Landscaping; Wally’s Body Shop for best vehicle entry went to the Colman family with the 1931 Model A Ford Phaeton and the Mac’s Place trophy for most unique was awarded to Shaun Burns for his race car. Thank you to all that participated and attended the 20th anniversary of Autumnfest.
APPROVE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2009
Councilmember Adams moved to approve the minutes. Councilmember Bishop seconded.
Mayor McTaggart requested a roll call vote. The motion passed.
STATEMENT OF BILLS - $98,745.31
Councilmember Adams moved to approve the statement of bills. Councilmember Danner seconded.
After discussion Mayor McTaggart requested a roll call vote. The motion passed unanimously.
REQUESTS OR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Rebecca Carter 629 S. 4th Street stated she felt that the fall festival was fantastic; some people with children in wheelchairs had trouble getting through the grassy area; they would like to have it back in the parking lot the way it was 2 or 3 years ago with the vendors in the parking lot; the rides at the north end; placing the cook-off down by the community center and wondered why it gets rearranged every year.
Administrator Webb stated the festival is a chamber of commerce function but that Phyllis Freeman will report the comments back to the committee.
Dave Hackathorn 10323 Richland Avenue stated under old business the council will be considering Ordinance 887. As a member of the Planning Commission he was the only one that had voted no on the zoning ordinance recommendation and felt it necessary to explain why. There was only one area that he felt needed more consideration and that was in the size of the homes built. In Williamson Farms most of the homes are 1280 square feet. For people that are retiring and building a home; he is not retiring; but he built his home and it is 1140 square feet plenty big enough for him and a spouse. When considering the ordinance consider reducing the size proposed for homes in that area.
Councilmember Crider stated he had received two calls from people today regarding the proposed square footage. They feel that no more that 1,100 S.F. should be considered. If someone was building a new home with the proposed square footage there would be an increased cost of $100 per square foot.
Councilmember Crider stated he agreed with the reduction in square footage.
Mary Kimbrough 9233 Kansas Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas at the present time and raised on South 98th Street.
Gabriel Harris formerly at 1500 S. 94th Street from 1943 to 1968, currently at 3917 Haskell, Kansas City, Kansas stated they were here to discuss the colored cemetery. They understand that John Kindred had requested a sign for the cemetery calling it the Edwardsville Stoney Point Cemetery. They are here to say that they are not in agreement with that; they had come before the city council five years ago and finally got the city council to agree that the cemetery board would take over the maintenance of the cemetery.
Mr. Harris stated he has six relatives buried in that cemetery and everybody that he knows of has never called the cemetery anything but the colored cemetery. It is a historical site and he can’t understand why Mr. Kindred came and requested that it be called the Edwardsville Stoney Point.
Mrs. Kimbrough stated she had spoken with Mr. Kindred and he had stated that he had found documents on one of the stones that is there for a sergeant that had served in the military; when the request was made the government was showing Edwardsville Stoney Point. They are saying that it has always been known as the colored cemetery of Edwardsville. In 2004 they came before the City Council with 31 signatures; one of the oldest people on there was Mrs. Branchcomb who was 105 when she died last year. She had told them that she had never heard it any other way than the colored cemetery. That is why they are requesting that it be named the Edwardsville Colored Cemetery and the date specifying that historical point.
Mrs. Kimbrough thanked the City Council of Edwardsville for giving a proclamation to the 100th year celebration of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Mayor McTaggart stated action had been taken place at the last council meeting. The City Council voted to name it the Edwardsville Stoney Point Cemetery.
Mr. Harris asked if there was a sign with the wording on a sign.
Mayor McTaggart stated there is no sign; that is up to the cemetery board not the city council to put a sign up. The Cemetery Board brought to the City Council their recommendation to name the cemetery the Edwardsville Stoney Point Cemetery with the documentation that he had found in his research. That is why the city council approved the name.
Administrator Webb stated he had not had any discussion with John since that time; he recalls that there was some period dates that they had looked at; but did not recall what those dates were.
Mr. Harris asked if it is up to the cemetery board as to whether or not they put up a sign and what they are going to say on the sign, why did they come before the city council.
Mayor McTaggart stated Mr. Kindred did not come before the city council about a sign; he came about naming the cemetery.
Administrator Webb stated they are responsible for the cemetery; they have a board of directors; appointed by the city council; an independent organization; they get funding through taxes; they received unanimous approval from the board and the city council to name the cemetery Edwardsville Stoney Point Cemetery.
Mr. Harris asked if they needed to go back before the cemetery board.
Administrator Webb stated they manage the cemetery as far as the maintenance and anything to do with the day to day operations.
Mrs. Kimbrough stated that for hundreds of years it has been known to be the colored cemetery. Just because John Kindred researched and found Edwardsville Stoney Point; they are still requesting; not sure how to go about it; but as a historical site it should still be called the Colored Cemetery.
Councilmember Adams stated he had talked with Mrs. Kimbrough; he has a tremendous amount of respect for Mary Kimbrough. For him it was challenging because it reminds him of a time that he would prefer not to remember in our history; his concern that it would profligate further feelings and further sentiment; it would be interesting to look at a subscript to it; commonly known as or something like that. He has great reservations about that on a national registry listed under that name just because he would rather heal the future instead of foster some ill will.
Mrs. Kimbrough stated the national association for the advancement of colored people is 100 years old; it never took colored out. That’s how we feel nationally and historically.
CONSIDER ORDINANCE NO. 887
AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE REGARDING
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS
Administrator Webb introduced Jeff Martinek; Chairman of the Planning Commission was present as well as Dave Hackathorn a member of the Planning Commission. This has been before the council and a matter of discussion for quite some time. The recommendations have been prepared in the form of an ordinance in order for the council to vote on either for or against. Minutes from the Planning Commission as well as comparisons between the old and the new in each of the districts has been provided. One of the changes they have added or subdivided was the R-1 district. There was one residential district that encompassed the agricultural/residential or residential; then everything else was the higher density such as apartments. The Planning Commission felt it needed to be further segmented when a developer would come in to build a subdivision would be operating under a different set of rules verses a person coming in to build a single home on a single lot for their personal use.
Administrator Webb stated that one of the problems was that there would be lots very narrow and long that blocks the future for development. With long narrow lots there is no room for roads or improvements such as sewers. Another issue of concern was acreage and what happens if a person already has an existing lot would they be able to build a home on it; fundamentally yes. The City Council has the ability to approve, oppose or send back to the Planning Commission with recommendations or items of concern.
After further discussion regarding required square footage of a home; overlay districts; subdividing large acreage; proper infrastructure; to allow or not allow a smaller amount of square footage; the cost to build a larger square footage home; size of lots for single family homes; how larger tracts of land are used and or developed; platting of land; lots or record no matter how large or small; adoption or rejection of the proposed ordinance.
Councilmember Adams moved to return this matter to the Planning Commission to clearly define what is the grandfathered date regarding lot of record. Councilmember Bishop seconded.
Councilmember Crider moved to amend the motion sending back to the Planning Commission to consider the required square footage of a single family home to 1,000 square feet outside of the overlay district. Councilmember Danner seconded.
Mayor McTaggart requested a roll call vote on the motion to amend the original motion to return to the Planning Commission to consider the square footage of a home from 1,280 square feet to 1,000 square feet. The motion passed with a vote of 3 to 2.
Mayor McTaggart requested a roll call vote on the motion to send back to the Planning Commission to address the concerns of the council. The motion passed 4 to 1.
RECOMMENDATION FROM PARK & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF BOARD MEMBER
TO FULFILL AN UNEXPIRED TERM
Mayor McTaggart recommended the appointment of Luis Fasani to complete the unexpired term.
Councilmember Crider moved to approve the recommendation to appoint Luis Fasani. Councilmember Eickhoff seconded.
Mayor McTaggart requested a roll call vote. The motion passed unanimously.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Administrator Webb reported:
A copy of the letter sent to the Unified Government on September 25, 2009 was provided to each councilmember. In the letter it stated that the city is interested in pursuing a second connection to the UG Sewer System. The proposed connection would be into the Little Turkey Creek interceptor.
Information from Wyandotte County, Kansas; Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan Summary was provided to each councilmember. Wyandotte County is developing a comprehensive Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan to better address potential natural, man-made, and technological hazards before they occur and to obtain eligibility for mitigation funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Crack sealing city streets; Williamson Farms and River Falls subdivision.
Councilmember Eickhoff will be bringing his camera to take pictures of the current members of the Governing Body for the website at the next meeting.
Good news; a potential development; project Golden-not a casino; they came through Wyandotte County Economic Development; they are an existing Kansas City, Kansas employer; they have out grown their current site; hoping to expand inside Kansas City, Kansas but due to a number of factors was not able to accomplish it. They have narrowed it down to two locations; one here in Edwardsville, Wyandotte County and one in Johnson County. They prefer a Wyandotte County location; they have more than 200 employees; more that 36% of the employees reside in Wyandotte County so they want to keep it close to home. The average salary of their employees is $50,000; potential 125,000 to 150,000 square feet size facility sitting on 20 – 25 acres; with a total investment of $25 million. The facility is a warehouse/distribution type of company that has major national clients. They plan to have the project completed and open by the end of 2010. They expect an employee base increase by 5 to 10% in five years.
CHIEFS (POLICE & FIRE)
Police Chief Mark Mathies reported the new officer has reported to the academy and will be there until January 22nd including some holiday breaks. He is a K-State grad; military veteran and is bilingual. Officer Brandon Simmons is in final stage of field training. John Cullem came from another state; took the required testing and passed in flying colors.
The project they are working on now is the updating of the standards assessment in the policy manual. Dealing with the documentation regarding the applications on grant management. There are six reporting sites that is time consuming in order to maintain the funding from the grants. Computers are still not here but are expected soon.
Fire Chief Cliff Lane reported that the department is doing good.
CITY ATTORNEY
No report at this time.
CITY ENGINEER
Ditch repair bids near TCI Tire on Woodend Road are due Tuesday, September 29th. Free clean soil has been hauled in place to reduce some of the cost.
November bid letting for the Woodend Road Phase 2 project; we have utility clearances; right of way has been acquired; final plans are at the state waiting for a final check off. $775,000 in stimulus funds must be obligated no later than January 1st.
Continuing to more forward on the 110th & Riverview project.
COUNCIL AND MAYOR COMMENTS
Councilmember Eickhoff stated a good job was done on the Autumnfest festival this year.
Councilmember Danner stated he thought there were more people attending Autumnfest this year, which is good; more things for children to do, which is good. He recommended not allowing vehicle parking between the restaurant and stage area, especially in the evening when the crowd was larger.
Councilmember Crider stated he was sorry he could not attend the festival after the parade, he was with his daughter, she is a senior and it was homecoming.
Councilmember Crider asked for an update on Quill/Staples.
Administrator Webb stated it is his understanding they will be vacating the first of May 2010. A realtor had stated it is not a difficult property to lease.
Councilmember Crider stated he is supporting sales tax election, the mill levy being raised; and the Woodend Road improvement. To support the community the city may want to consider an “Earning Tax”. The funds would support the police and fire departments; infrastructure, and not placing the total burden on the residents. Seventeen states have earning tax at 1% with the lowest being ¾%.
Councilmember Bishop asked if Administrator Webb had heard anything from Time Warner.
Administrator Webb stated he will continue to follow up.
Councilmember Bishop stated application for a Safer Grant will close November 1, 2009.
Councilmember Bishop stated a group of firefighters are going to the sister city October 12 – 27, 2009 and will be taking donated bunker gear to the local fire department.
Councilmember Bishop asked if the town meetings have been scheduled for the sales tax election.
Administrator Webb stated he is checking on possible Tuesday and Thursday evening dates.
Councilmember Bishop stated holding one town meeting at the school and one at the community center to provide more awareness on the sales tax election.
Mayor McTaggart stated he had forgotten how Autumnfest had been accepted by the community and how we sometimes find talent that we never knew was in the community. He enjoyed listening to Councilmember Danner sing.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Bishop moved to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. Councilmember Eickhoff seconded.
Mayor McTaggart declared the motion carried unanimously.
Phyllis Freeman
City Clerk