CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2005
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 August 8, 2005 with Mayor Robert T. Steinkamp presiding. Mayor Steinkamp called the meeting to order
at 7:00
p.m.
II. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – LEROY COE
The invocation was given by Council Member LeRoy Coe
who then led the pledge of allegiance.
III. ROLL CALL
Roll
call was answered by Mayor Robert T. Steinkamp; Coni Hadden and Harold
Phillips, Ward I; LeRoy Coe and Anna Marie Martin, Ward II; Juarenne Hester and
John Parry, Ward III; and Nick King and Bill Parker, Ward IV. Also in attendance were Patty Gentrup, City
Administrator; Cynthia Boecker, Assistant City Administrator; Steve Hansen,
Public Works Director; Brian Hess, City Engineer; Steve Anderson, Planning
& Development Director; Craig Knouse, Police Chief; David Tedesco, Police
Captain; Chris Deal, Parks & Recreation Director; Donna Kay Taylor, Community
Center Manager; Steve Rulo, Parks & Open Space Manager; LeAnn Lawlor, Aging
Services Coordinator; Anna Slocum, Facility Rental Supervisor/Administrative
Secretary; Bruce Hickam, Marketing & Special Events Coordinator; Rich
Cunningham, Deputy Fire Chief; Linda Tyree, Finance Director; Mary Towse, Human
Resources Director; Sara Cooke, Public Relations Coordinator; Lyndsay Heal,
Management Assistant; Jane Sharon, Deputy City Clerk; Angie Borgedalen, Liberty
Tribune, and 17 members of the public.
IV. APPROVE
MINUTES AND SUMMARIES
A. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES OF JULY 25, 2005
Council Member Hadden moved to approve the minutes as
distributed. Council Member Coe seconded
the motion, which carried 6-0-2. Council
Member Parker and Council Member Phillips abstained due to absence.
V. CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION
Mayor
Steinkamp welcomed Ben Prather and his father Bill Prather. Ben is with Boy Scout Troop #376 and working
on his citizenship badge.
A.
RESOLUTION OF
APPRECIATION FOR STEVE LUND – RESOLUTON
Mayor Steinkamp read the resolution for Steve
Lund. Council Member Hester moved to
approve the resolution. Council Member
Parker seconded the motion, which carried unanimously and is inscribed in
Resolution No. 2223.
B.
RESOLUTION OF
APPRECIATION FOR PATTY GENTRUP – RESOLUTION
Mayor Steinkamp read the resolution for Patty
Gentrup. Council Member Phillips moved
to approve the resolution. Council
Member King seconded the motion, which carried unanimously and is inscribed in
Resolution No. 2224.
The Mayor and City Council then presented a gift to
Mrs. Gentrup in further recognition of her service to the City.
VI. REVIEW OF MEETING SCHEDULE – None.
VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS – None.
A.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
OF VENDOR PAYMENTS FROM JULY 22, 2005 THROUGH AUGUST 5, 2005 – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6399 was read. Council Member Hadden moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Martin
seconded the motion.
Council Member Phillips asked about a payment to the Card Center. Public Works
Director Steve Hansen said it was duplicating software through Novell.
Vote on the motion was as follows: Council Member Phillips – yes; Council Member
Martin – yes; Council Member Hester – 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. 8857.
B.
RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL REGULATIONS FOR
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE – ORDINANCE
Mrs. Gentrup described the ordinance which is required
to be established on a biennial basis.
With no city ordinance in place, elected officials and appointed
employees would be required to comply with the more restrictive state statutes
regarding personal financial disclosure.
Document No. 6400 was read. Council Member Martin moved to waive the
rules and consider the ordinance on first reading. Council Member Hadden seconded the motion,
which carried unanimously.
Council Member Hadden moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Coe seconded
the motion. Council Member King asked
for clarification of when council members are required to complete the
statements. Deputy City Clerk Jane
Sharon stated that she provides a list to the Missouri Ethics Commission of
those elected officials and employees that are required to complete personal
financial disclosure statements and the forms will be provided to those
individuals late in the year for completion prior to May 1 of the following
year. All council members, the mayor and
the city administrator will complete forms for 2005 and turn them in by May 1, 2006. The motion
carried unanimously. It was approved by
the Chair and is inscribed in Ordinance No. 8858.
C.
CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING
SERVICES WITH NOLL & ASSOCIATES FOR WATER LINE EXTENSION ON A HWY. – ORDINANCE
Council Member Coe asked if it is customary for the
City to do the engineering if a school is not being built. Mr. Hansen stated that the engineering is for
one of the City’s distribution system components, extending a main to complete
a loop in order to improve capacity and pressure. This will connect the system along A Highway.
Mr.
Coe asked why it was not budgeted. Mr.
Hansen stated that a study is conducted every five years and this project was
identified in the last study to close the loop.
Mr. Coe asked if the City will also be building the water line. Mr. Hansen said it would and the funds for
that project are available in the water fund.
Council Member Martin asked if the selection of Noll
& Associates was based on best and lowest price. Mr. Hansen said the selection was based on
qualifications, as is customary for similar professional services. He added that Noll & Associates had
responded to a request for qualifications, and the principal in the firm is a
former Gladstone public works director and is now a local engineer.
Council Member Parker asked how close the project is
to City limits. Mr. Hansen said this is in
an area near A
Highway east
of I-35. He said for now, the benefit
will be primarily to the commercial development existing in the area. He noted the water supply is from Kansas City, but the system is provided by Liberty. This will
also improve domestic water flow.
Document No. 6401 was read. Council Member Hadden moved to waive the
rules and consider the ordinance on first reading. Council Member Hester seconded the motion,
which carried unanimously.
Council Member King 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. 8859.
D.
UPPER RUSH CREEK SEWERAGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
Mrs. Gentrup stated that the next four items on the
agenda are associated with the Upper Rush Creek improvements project.
The easements continue to be negotiated and brought to Council for
acceptance. The three railroad license
agreements will provide needed access to railroad property for the
project. She said the disparity in the
costs is dictated by each railroad’s fees for such licenses.
Council Member Parker asked how far over the City
would have to annex to have gravity sewers so the lines would not have to go
through yards where the property owners couldn’t hook up. Mr. Hansen said the Rush Creek basin extends approximately one-quarter mile to the
east from the city limit and the line extends two miles south. At some point, he noted, the area will have
to be served by its own treatment plant.
He stated staff had talked to the County about establishing a
cooperative sewer district, however, these discussions have not proceeded
further.
Mr. Parker asked if the line could be extended through
the unincorporated area and the City annex to the same boundary of the school
district. Mr. Hansen said this had not
been seen as an immediate solution. The
current plant is being taken out of service to meet State permit
requirements. Mr. Parker asked how far
the City would have to annex to include the area up to the school district
boundaries. Mr. Hansen said it would be
almost to Missouri
City.
1.
ACCEPTANCE OF
SANITARY SEWER EASEMENTS – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6402 was read. Council Member Phillips moved to waive the
rules and consider the ordinance on first reading. Council Member Hadden seconded the motion,
which carried unanimously.
Council Member Martin moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member King seconded
the motion. Council Member Parry asked
about the old treatment plant and if this project was because the City outgrew
it. Mr. Hansen said the treatment plant
is south of Clay Crest and it had always been planned for expansion to serve
the area as it grew. He added that the
Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) now has more stringent standards
that would have required the plant to be rebuilt, not just expanded. This was compared with other alternatives,
which included the direction being taken now, including the gravity main
extension, which is more cost effective.
Mr. Parry asked if the City would build the plant in the future. Mr. Hansen said that is not being planned
now.
Mayor Steinkamp stated that the motion before Council
is for acceptance of easements and additional information about the Upper Rush Creek project can be provided to Council, if desired. Council Member King said he appreciated the
City staff working to complete easements without the need to invoke eminent
domain, even though it has been a challenge in some instances.
The motion carried unanimously; it was approved by the
Chair and is inscribed in Ordinance No. 8860.
2.
RAILROAD LICENSE
AGREEMENTS
a. AGREEMENT
WITH NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$16,750 – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6403 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 Hadden moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Hester
seconded the motion. Council Member
Hester asked for clarification of the cost disparity. Mr. Hansen said the fee for the license
agreement is set by each railroad and the amount is at their discretion. Mrs. Hester asked if the project would go
under each rail line. Mr. Hansen said it
would, hence the need for the license agreements.
Mayor Steinkamp asked if the width of the
rights-of-way vary. Mr. Hansen said they
do and in some cases the right-of-way is quite wide.
Council Member Hester asked if the cost includes
insurance. Mr. Hansen said a small
portion of the fee for the agreement with Norfolk Southern is for insurance, about $1,000 to $2,000 of
the $16,000 for the agreement. Council
Member King noted that the railroad with the smallest opening has the highest
fee, which no one likes. The motion carried
unanimously; it was approved by the Chair and is inscribed in Ordinance No. 8861.
b. AGREEMENT
WITH BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,500 – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6404 was read. Council Member Coe moved to waive the rules
and consider the ordinance on first reading.
Council Member King seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Council Member Martin moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Hester
seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
It was approved by the Chair and is inscribed in Ordinance No. 8862.
c. AGREEMENT
WITH IOWA, CHICAGO
& EASTERN RAILROAD IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $750 – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6405 was read. Council Member King moved to waive the rules
and consider the ordinance on first reading.
Council Member Hadden seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Council Member Martin moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Hester
seconded the motion. Council Member King
commented on this railroad’s public-spiritedness in the fee it charged. The motion carried unanimously; it was
approved by the Chair and is inscribed in Ordinance No. 8863.
E.
AMENDMENT TO
CONTRACT WITH AMINO BROTHERS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $63,374.31 FOR
CONSTRUCTION OF SOUTH
LIBERTY PARKWAY
– ORDINANCE
Mrs. Gentrup stated this is work to be done, based on
the settlement agreement approved at the Council’s last meeting. She stated the expense for the additional
work would be paid by the property owner.
This contract amendment accomplishes the changes identified in the
settlement agreement.
Council Member Martin asked who bills the property
owner for the work. Mrs. Gentrup said
the City would do that.
Document No. 6406 was read. Council Member Hadden moved to waive the
rules and consider the ordinance on first reading. Council Member Coe 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. 8864.
F.
AGREEMENT WITH THE
PAR GROUP IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $19,000 FOR CITY ADMINISTRATOR SEARCH –
ORDINANCE
Mayor Steinkamp reviewed the work of the search
committee, including Human Resources Director Mary Towse, Council Member Coni
Hadden, Council Member Nick King and the mayor.
He stated their charge had been to narrow the field and locate the best
search firm to find a new
city
administrator. He said they had reviewed
all proposals and reduced the group ultimately to three. The committee proposed hiring the firm which
would be the best-suited to assist in the executive search. He said all firms considered had excellent
qualifications, but The PAR Group is recommended by the committee.
Council Member Martin asked if the City had used this
firm before. Ms. Towse said The PAR
Group had conducted a pay and classification study for the City but not a
search.
Council Member Parker said he would like to see the
position open to employees before the City spends the taxpayers’ dollars on a
search and he would not vote in favor the agreement for that reason.
Council Member Phillips asked if use of a search firm
would affect current employees from applying.
Ms. Towse said it would not; the search firm would assist Council in
assessing all the candidates.
Mayor Steinkamp said he believed all candidates would
be identified and use of the search firm would provide the mechanism to bring
to the citizens the best possible candidate.
He said he would not want to hire an internal candidate without that
confidence. This is a necessary
expenditure.
Council Member Coe said the Council did not use a
search firm when Patty Gentrup was hired and he believes a decision on a search
firm could be put off for a couple of weeks to determine if internal candidates
could be identified so that a search firm would not be necessary. He said it has always been his philosophy to
promote from within whenever possible.
Mayor Steinkamp said he appreciated the positions
expressed by Council Member Parker and Council Member Coe but they need to
bring the most qualified person before Council and that cannot be said with any
certainty without expanding the search and using a firm to conduct that search.
Document No. 6407 was read. Mayor Steinkamp said the agreement would go
to second reading at the August 22, 2005 regular session.
G.
AGREEMENT WITH NORTH KANSAS CITY FOR USE OF POLICE FIRING RANGE – ORDINANCE
Mrs. Gentrup said the police have used the North Kansas City firing range for the last several years; during which
time individual officers were required to sign waivers. North Kansas City is
now asking the City to enter into the agreement for its use. Council Member King asked if this would be
the same deductible for this use. Mrs.
Gentrup said it would. Council Member
Parker asked what expense would be incurred to have a firing range in Liberty. Police Chief
Craig Knouse said it is incredibly expensive because of the stalls and
addressing the issues of noise and disposal of lead.
Document No. 6408 was read. Council Member Phillips moved to waive the
rules and consider the ordinance on first reading. Council Member Martin seconded the motion,
which carried unanimously.
Council Member Hester moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Hadden
seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
It was approved by the Chair and is inscribed in Ordinance No. 8865.
A.
BLANKET PURCHASE
ORDER FOR ROAD SALT – MOTION
Mrs.
Gentrup said this early purchase order would ensure the City is ready this
winter and the expense would be in the 2006 budget.
Council
Member Martin asked if the recommended bidder had been used before. Mr. Hansen said both had been used at one
time or another by the City. He added
that the benefit was to lock in the prices.
Council
Member Martin moved to approve the purchase order. Council Member Hester seconded the motion,
which carried unanimously.
XI.
MISCELLANEOUS
MATTERS FROM CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Mrs.
Gentrup asked council members and the mayor to turn in their Internet posting
permission to the deputy city clerk.
Mrs.
Gentrup thanked the Council for the reception last week, saying it was good to
share it with people from Liberty,
her family and her parents. She also
thanked the Council for the opportunity to participate in the retreat last
Saturday. She said she had been reminded
of the importance of building community and that city service is not just about
preparing for Monday night’s meetings.
XII.
MISCELLANEOUS
MATTERS FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
Council
Member Phillips thanked Mrs. Gentrup for being a mentor and for her public
service.
Council
Member Martin said Mrs. Gentrup had nurtured them all and her work was much
appreciated.
Council
Member Hester said it had been a very pleasant eight years and she had learned
a lot from Mrs. Gentrup. Mrs. Hester
also announced that she had married Art Owen last week.
Council
Member Parker said he would miss Mrs. Gentrup.
He said he had talked to Parks & Recreation Director Chris Deal
about a park area in the fourth ward and appreciated the cleanup that had been
done by City staff.
Council
Member Hadden thanked Mrs. Gentrup for her service and said she was looking
forward to having her as a constituent and to her comments as a citizen.
Council
Member Coe said it has been a pleasure to work with Mrs. Gentrup and that she
has taught him quite a bit. He
apologized for not attending the retreat but had a death in the family. He said he would be in attendance the
following Saturday.
Council
Member Parry said he had only been working with Mrs. Gentrup a short while, but
change can be exciting and where she was going to work would give her a new
opportunity.
Council
Member King stated he had enjoyed working with Mrs. Gentrup and thinks of her
as a mentor and a friend. He said he has
learned a great deal. He said he appreciated
the retreat, which provided another learning opportunity.
Mr.
King described the trip he had taken recently to see the New Town development
in St. Charles, Missouri. He said the
designer of that development had been interested in the property adjacent to Liberty, because it appeared ideal for such a
development. He strongly encouraged the
Council to consider taking a field trip to see the development. Mrs. Gentrup said the staff could bring
forward information about such a trip, if Council desired to consider traveling
to the site. The consensus was to have
staff provide more information about the costs of such a trip.
Council
Member Hester talked about another trip being planned with Mary Sallee to Decorah, Iowa, for August 29 and 30. She said those interested in more information
could contact her or Council Member Hadden.
Council
Member Parker noted there is not much money available in the budget for Council
travel. He asked if there would be a
possibility of having the New Town developer come to Liberty for a presentation.
Mrs. Gentrup said this would be a day trip and there may be funds
available in the budget for such a trip.
Mayor
Steinkamp asked the staff to present information on trip costs and what
activities might be included.
Mayor
Steinkamp stated that he and Council Member Hester had discussed an arts
council for the City and said, if other council members were interested, it
could be brought forward for discussion at a future Council study session. All agreed to receiving additional
information.
Mayor
Steinkamp thanked those who attended the retreat last Saturday and expressed
his sympathy to Council Member Coe for the passing of his aunt. He said the retreat had been very beneficial
and he had learned a lot. He also
thanked Mary Towse, Coni Hadden and Nick King for their assistance in
identifying a search firm for the city administrator search.
Mayor
Steinkamp thanked Mrs. Gentrup for her service, adding it had been great
working with her and establishing a new friendship. He said she would be missed.
Mayor
Steinkamp referred to the information session on tax increment financing being
put on by the Partnership for Growth and Development on September 8. He said Tim Kristl and Chris Williams would
be the presenters at the program, at the Liberty School District Administration
offices, beginning at 7:30 a.m. that day.
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
The
meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
__________________________________
Mayor
Attest:
_____________________________________
Deputy City Clerk