CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
MONDAY, MAY 8, 2006
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 May 8, 2006 with Mayor Robert T. Steinkamp presiding. Mayor Steinkamp called the meeting to order
at 7:00
p.m.
II. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The invocation was given by Council Member Coni Hadden
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 Bill Parker, Ward IV.
Also in attendance were Curt Wenson, City Administrator; Cynthia
Boecker, Assistant City Administrator; Steve Hansen, Public Works Director;
Brian Hess, City Engineer; Craig Knouse, Police Chief; Gary Birch, Fire Chief;
Chris Deal, Parks & Recreation Director; LeAnn Lawlor, Aging Services
Coordinator; Steve Anderson, Planning & Development Director; Jonna Wensel,
Preservation Planner; Sara Cooke, Public Relations Coordinator; Jane Sharon,
Deputy City Clerk; Angie Borgedalen, Liberty Tribune; and 8 members of the
public.
IV. APPROVE
MINUTES AND SUMMARIES
A. SPECIAL SESSION MINUTES OF APRIL 24, 2006
Council Member Hadden moved to approve the minutes as
distributed. Council Member Coe seconded
the motion, which carried unanimously.
B. EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES OF APRIL 24, 2006
Council Member Martin moved to approve the minutes as
distributed. Council Member Phillips
seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
C. REGULAR SESSION MINUTES OF APRIL 24, 2006
Council Member Hester moved to approve the minutes as
distributed. Council Member Martin
seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
D. STUDY SESSION MEETING SUMMARY OF APRIL 24, 2006
Council Member Martin moved to approve the minutes as
distributed. Council Member Hadden
seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
V. CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION
A.
PROCLAMATION FOR HISTORIC
PRESERVATION MONTH
Mayor Steinkamp read the proclamation for Historic
Preservation Month in Liberty and presented it to Historic Downtown Liberty, Inc.
president Paul Victor.
VI. MEETING SCHEDULE
VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
IX. ORDINANCES,
CONTRACTS AND RESOLUTIONS
A. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
OF VENDOR PAYMENTS FROM APRIL 14, 2006 THROUGH APRIL 28, 2006 – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6524 was read. Council Member Martin moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Coe seconded
the motion.
Council Member Martin asked about check number 94997
for computer maintenance. Police Chief
Knouse said he would check on it. Assistant City Administrator Cynthia Boecker stated the maintenance
costs were for the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system for public safety and
there are times when the City information services staff has to call in
technical support from the vendor.
Council Member Parry referred to check number 94993
and requested financial statements from Historic Downtown Liberty, Inc. and the
Partnership for Community Growth and Development. City Administrator Curt Wenson said the
statements would be provided to Council.
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. The motion carried unanimously; it was
approved by the Chair and inscribed in Ordinance No. 8979.
B. *APPEAL
OF HDRC CASE NO. 06-005LS FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR A SIGN AT 11
EAST KANSAS – RESOLUTION
Mayor Steinkamp noted that the applicant had requested
the Council continue consideration of the appeal until Tim Flook would be able
to attend the meeting and speak to the matter.
Council Member Hadden moved to continue consideration of the appeal to
the June 12, 2006 regular
session. Council Member Coe seconded the
motion, which carried unanimously.
Kevin Graham, Flook & Graham, 11 East Kansas,
stated that Mr. Flook had been the one who made the initial application and
primarily worked on the application and thanked Council for continuing the
matter to a date when Mr. Flook would be able to attend.
C. CONTRACT
WITH AKIN, GORDON, COWGER ENGINEERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,300 FOR ENGINEERING
DESIGN SERVICES PERTAINING TO THE SOUTH LIBERTY PARKWAY SANITARY SEWER
IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6525 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 Martin moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Coe seconded
the motion. Council Member Parry stated
this was a new fund item and asked how future expenditures for this project
would be handled. Public Works Director
Steve Hansen stated that the mechanism had not yet been determined. Mr. Parry asked why this was coming out of
the 2006 budget and not from 2005 encumbered funds. Ms. Boecker stated that encumbered funds can
only be used for items carried over from a previous budget year. No funds were identified for this purpose in
the 2005 budget.
The motion carried unanimously; it was approved by the
Chair and is inscribed in Ordinance No. 8980.
D. PETITION
TO VACATE RIGHT-OF-WAY NORTH/SOUTH FRONTAGE ROAD FROM WEST
KANSAS TO STEWART ROAD – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6526 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 Hadden 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. 8981.
E. AMENDMENT
TO SECTION 20-180, “SCHEDULE X, PARKING PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES”, LIBERTY CITY CODE, PERTAINING TO FRANKLIN STREET – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6527 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 Coe seconded
the motion, which carried unanimously.
It was approved by the Chair and is inscribed in Ordinance No. 8982.
F. ACCEPTANCE OF EASEMENTS CRAIG CREST NEIGHBORHOOD
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6528 was read. Council Member Coe moved to waive the rules
and consider the ordinance on first reading.
Council Member Martin seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
Council Member Martin moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Phillips
seconded the motion. Council Member
Hadden asked why the three outstanding easements were still being negotiated,
if they were not critical to the project.
Mr. Hansen stated that City staff would continue to work with the
property owners for those easements because even though they are not critical
to the completion of the project. These
easements allow the project to be completed as designed, without having to make
adjustments for a driveway or other areas to which the City has not been given
access. Securing the easements makes the
project better for all involved.
The motion carried unanimously. It was approved by the Chair and is inscribed
in Ordinance No. 8983.
G. AMENDMENT
TO CONTRACT WITH MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR SENIOR TRIPS – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6529 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 Coe moved to approve the
ordinance. Council Member Hester
seconded the motion. Council Member
Hester asked why no further adjustments were anticipated, given the large
number of units that were reported through March. Aging Services Coordinator LeAnn Lawlor
stated Mid-America Regional Council’s (MARC) fiscal year ends in June and while
services would continue to be provided, no additional adjustment was expected
from MARC. Increased usage has been
reported over the last several years.
Council Member Parry asked where the revenues were
noted in the budget. Parks &
Recreation Director Chris Deal stated additional information can be provided,
but added that MARC has changed the means by which rides are tracked, so the
previous years’ numbers may not be easily compared with this year’s
activity. He also noted the City’s
budget for the program in on the calendar year while the grant year is July
through June. Mr. Parry stated the
City’s budget is based on no increase in service and wanted to know whether
additional funds would be needed to be able to determine where they would come
from.
Council Member Martin asked what would happen if there
is an increase in units over the last three months. Ms. Lawlor stated they would continue to
provide rides but the rides would be covered under the general budget. Ms. Boecker added that the MARC estimates for
the program had been lower than the actual numbers, so an adjustment was being
made. Revenues and expenses are
anticipated to be about the same. More
information can be provided.
Mr. Parry stated that this was a positive change and
it didn’t need to be delayed for further clarification. The motion carried unanimously. It was approved by the Chair and is inscribed
in Ordinance No. 8984.
XI.
MISCELLANEOUS
MATTERS FROM CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Mr.
Wenson noted the annexation public hearings would be at the Community Center on
Thursday, May 18, a preview is scheduled at the new Sears Grand for May 11 and
Spring on the Square is on Saturday, May 20.
XII.
MISCELLANEOUS
MATTERS FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
Council
Member Phillips thanked the mayor for the letter sent to Ford Motor
Company. He also mentioned a tow truck
has been parking on East Kansas Street for long periods of time.
Council
Member Martin asked for a study session to be scheduled to review Spring on the
Square after the event this year. Mr.
Wenson said one could be scheduled.
Council Member Hadden noted the Spring on the Square Committee planned a
debriefing following the event on May 23 and a study session should take place
after that meeting.
Council
Member Hester asked if there would be any opportunity for the Council to talk
about annexation before the May 18 public hearings. Mr. Wenson stated no meetings were planned
before the May 18 meeting, but annexation would likely be a topic of several
study sessions in June and July. Mrs.
Hester asked when the Plan of Intent was made public. Mr. Wenson said it was available to the
public today. Mayor Steinkamp stated
that if enough council members expressed interest and could attend that a study
session would be held on Monday, May 15 to discuss the annexation process. He noted, however, that this would not be the
public hearing and only the Council and staff would be participating in the
discussion at the study session.
Council
Member Coe stated that there is a weed problem in the medians along the Kansas Street gateway to the City and should be addressed.
Mayor
Steinkamp stated this week is the one-year anniversary of the Liberty school bus accident and asked everyone to keep the
victims and their families in their thoughts and prayers.
Mayor
Steinkamp stated the executive session would begin after adjournment of this
meeting and a five minute break.
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
The
meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m.
__________________________________
Mayor
Attest:
_____________________________________
Deputy City Clerk