CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 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 September 12, 2005 with Mayor Robert T. Steinkamp presiding. Mayor Steinkamp called the meeting to order
at 7:01
p.m.
II. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The invocation was given by Council Member Bill Parker
who then led the pledge of allegiance.
III. ROLL CALL
Roll
call was answered by Mayor Robert T. Steinkamp; Harold Phillips, Ward I; Anna
Marie Martin, Ward II; Juarenne Hester and John Parry, Ward III; and Nick King
and Bill Parker, Ward IV. Also in
attendance were Cynthia Boecker, Acting City Administrator; Brian Hess, City
Engineer; Steve Anderson, Planning & Development Director; Craig Knouse,
Police Chief; Gary Birch, Fire Chief; Linda Tyree, Finance Director; Sara
Cooke, Public Relations Coordinator; Lyndsay Heal, Management Assistant; Jane
Sharon, Deputy City Clerk; Angie Borgedalen, Liberty Tribune; Tanya Fogg Young,
Kansas City Star, and four members of the public.
IV. APPROVE
MINUTES AND SUMMARIES
A. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES OF AUGUST 22, 2005
Council Member King moved to approve the minutes as
distributed. Council Member Hester
seconded the motion, which carried 4-0-2.
Council Member Phillips and Council Member Martin abstained due to
absence.
B. EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES OF AUGUST 22, 2005
Council Member King moved to approve the minutes as
distributed. Council Member Parker
seconded the motion, which carried 4-0-2.
Council Member Phillips and Council Member Martin abstained due to
absence.
V. CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION
A.
PROCLAMATION FOR
CONSTITUTION WEEK SEPTEMBER 17 – 23, 2005
Mayor Steinkamp read the proclamation for constitution
week. The proclamation was then
presented by the mayor to Alexander Doniphan Chapter, NSDAR, Regent Vivian
Stockwell.
VI. MEETING SCHEDULE
A.
APPOINTMENTS
Fair
Housing & Rehabilitation Committee
Reappoint
Scott Page to a term expiring 09-01-08
Reappoint
Robert Capps to a term expiring 09-01-08
Liberty Commission on Aging
Reappoint
Jane DeWees to a term expiring 09-01-08
Reappoint
Jere Smith to a term expiring 09-01-08
Liberty Preservation and Development Commission
Reappoint
Jerry Brant to a term expiring 09-01-08
Reappoint
Mike Gilmore to a term expiring 09-01-08
Appoint
Mike Mundy to a term expiring 09-01-08
Residential
Rental Occupancy Code Board of Appeals
Reappoint
Jack Turk to a term expiring 09-01-10
Council Member Martin moved to approve the
appointments. Council Member Hester
seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
B.
AMUSEMENT LICENSE
FOR JONES & CO. CARNIVAL TO OPERATE DURING FALL FESTIVAL – MOTION
Council Member Martin moved to approve the
license. Council Member Hester seconded
the motion, which carried unanimously.
C.
AUTHORIZE
EXECUTIVE SESSION TO BE HELD SEPTEMBER 12, 2005 IN THE COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE REGULAR SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS AS
AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 610.021 (3) RSMo – MOTION
Council Member Martin moved to authorize the executive
session. Council Member Hester seconded
the motion, which carried unanimously.
VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
OF VENDOR PAYMENTS FROM AUGUST 19, 2005 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 9, 2005 – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6415 was read. Council Member Martin moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Parker
seconded the motion.
Council Member Martin asked what period of time was
covered in the payment to Kansas City
for sewer service. Finance Director
Linda Tyree said it was for one month and she would determine if the payment
was for July or August. She added that
the amount was fairly typical.
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 Parry – yes; Council Member King – yes.
The motion carried unanimously; it was approved by the Chair and
inscribed in Ordinance No. 8874a.
B.
ACCEPTANCE OF
SANITARY SEWER EASEMENTS – UPPER RUSH CREEK SEWERAGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT – ORDINANCE
Ms. Boecker stated that these easements are part of
the City’s continuing effort to acquire property for the Upper Rush Creek sewer project and there are now three properties
remaining to be acquired.
Document No. 6416 was read. Council Member Martin moved to waive the
rules and consider the ordinance on first reading. Council Member King seconded the motion,
which carried unanimously.
Council Member Hester 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. 8875.
C.
AGREEMENT WITH
MoDOT FOR STATE FUNDS PERTAINING TO A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF
WITHERS ROAD AND SOUTH WALES DRIVE – ORDINANCE
Council Member Phillips asked what system is used in
determining when a traffic signal will be installed at an intersection. City Engineer Brian Hess said the
intersection meets certain warrants, which determine whether a stop sign,
flashing light or traffic signal will be installed. He noted this intersection will meet the
warrants for a signal when the first phase of the South Liberty Parkway is completed.
Ms. Boecker added that factors such as traffic and pedestrian safety are
factors in determining what warrants are met.
Mr. Phillips asked if a roundabout would ever be considered at this type
of intersection. Mr. Hess said it could
be.
Council Member Hester asked for clarification that the
City’ share of the project would be $40,000, after reimbursement from the
federal surface transportation program. Mr.
Hess said that was the correct amount estimated for the project.
Council Member Parry asked if there were plans at this
intersection to add a turning lane like the one added at the Liberty Drive and South
Wales intersection. Mr. Hess said the lanes at this intersection
would remain configured as they are now, but they could be changed if
improvements are needed in the future.
Mr. Parry asked if approved this evening the current design would be put
in place. He expressed concern about
complaints he has received about the turn lane being added at South Wales and Liberty
Drive. Mr. Hess said the intersection is monitored,
based on the final design and changes could be made in the future. He said that improvements could be considered
at the Liberty Drive/South Wales intersection, if necessary.
Council Member King asked if the school district had
input on the design of intersections near schools. Mr. Hess said its needs are considered in the
planning process, but the school district is not asked for direct comment on
each intersection when signals are being added.
He added pedestrians will have a walkway with this proposed signal. Mr. Hess said the approval of this agreement
is with the Missouri Highway Commission and the timing patterns will be worked
out at a later point in the process.
Mr. King asked if this signal has always been in the
plans. Mr. Hess said this intersection
had been in the plan since 2000.
Warrants were not met in 2003, so the signal was delayed and is now
coming forward. Mr. King asked for
clarification of what is being approved tonight. Ms. Boecker said this is the agreement with
the Missouri Highway Commission that will move the signal placement forward at
this intersection.
Document No. 6417 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 Hester 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. 8876.
XI.
MISCELLANEOUS
MATTERS FROM CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Ms.
Boecker noted the Council will meet two nights the week of September 26. That Monday night will be a regular session
and Tuesday, September 27, will be a joint study session with the Planning
& Zoning Commission to review the downtown master plan.
The
following week, Monday, October 3, will be another joint session, this one at
the school district offices with the Liberty School Board. She is working with Superintendent Scott
Taveau to develop an agenda and will be contacting council members and the
mayor for any issues they would like addressed during the study session.
XII.
MISCELLANEOUS
MATTERS FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
Council
Member Phillips noted Council Member Hadden’s absence was due to her presiding
at the Missouri Municipal League meetings this week at Tan-Tar-A. Mr. Phillips added that Mrs. Hadden’s service
as president of the organization reflected well on Liberty.
Council
Member Hester expressed great appreciation for the change to the left turn lane
at Liberty Drive and Withers Road, stating it was a welcome improvement.
Council
Member Parry asked for more information on the interest rates related to the
sewer bonds to be issued. Ms. Boecker
said that would be made available to Council.
Mr.
Parry asked what information would be provided on the Capital Improvement Plan
(CIP) as the committee began its work. Council
Member Martin, who chairs the CIP Committee, said the committee had just met
for the first time this week and planned to meet again next week. The committee has reviewed the work of last
year’s task force and the 2005-07 CIP.
Ms. Boecker said the task force was formed to review Liberty 2010, which
is midway through its 10-year period.
She said that group had reviewed the capital plan in more depth than would
be required by this committee. Mr. Parry
asked if this committee’s members have the flexibility to change the current
capital plan. Ms. Boecker said their
recommendations will be used in developing the 2006-2008 CIP.
Council
Member King asked if adjustments will be made with respect to the sales tax as
the budget is being developed. Ms.
Boecker said current events can’t be included directly, because sales tax is
collected two months in arrears. But,
she noted, staff is looking at general trends and their effect on sales tax
revenues. Some of the adjustments will
be discussed in the next Council review of the budget. Mr. King asked if there will be some
shrinkage. Ms. Boecker said there would
be some in the projected revenues.
Council Member Parry asked if construction would be looked at. Ms. Boecker said it would be.
Mayor
Steinkamp reminded council members interested in going to see the New Town
development at St. Charles on Friday, October 7 to sign up for the trip. He also reminded Council of the executive
session immediately following the regular session. Mayor Steinkamp said the Nalbandians had
provided an executive summary from the Council retreat and a review of the
report by the full Council would be scheduled.
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting
adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
__________________________________
Mayor
Attest:
_____________________________________
Deputy
City Clerk