CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2003
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 February 24,
2003 with Mayor Stephen P. Hawkins presiding.
Mayor Hawkins called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
II. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The invocation was given by Council Member Jim
Robertson, who then led the pledge of allegiance.
III. ROLL CALL
Roll call was answered by Mayor Stephen P. Hawkins;
Ed Collins and Coni Hadden, Ward I; LeRoy Coe and Anna Marie Martin, Ward II;
Lyndell Brenton and Juarenne Hester, Ward III; and Bill Parker and Jim
Robertson, Ward IV. Also in attendance
were Patty Gentrup, City Administrator; Cynthia Boecker, Assistant City Administrator;
Steve Hansen, Public Works/Development Services Director; Linda Tyree, Finance
Director; Chris Deal, Parks & Recreation Director; Craig Knouse, Police
Chief; Jane Sharon, Deputy City Clerk; Scott Faubion, Liberty Tribune; and two
members of the public.
IV. APPROVE MINUTES AND SUMMARIES
A.
REGULAR
SESSION MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 10, 2003
Council Member Martin moved
to approve the minutes as distributed.
Council Member Hester seconded the motion, which carried 5-0-3. Council Members Lyndell Brenton, LeRoy Coe
and Jim Robertson abstained, due to absence.
B.
EXECUTIVE
SESSION MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 10, 2003
Council Member Hadden moved
to approve the minutes as distributed.
Council Member Martin seconded the motion, which carried 6-0-2. Council Members LeRoy Coe and Jim Robertson
abstained, due to absence.
C.
STUDY
SESSION SUMMARY OF FEBRUARY 18, 2003
Council Member Coe moved to
approve the meeting summary as distributed.
Council Member Robertson seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
V. CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION
John Juenger, 1128 Aspen Dr., addressed Council
about the number of fire department personnel responding to cardiac arrests and
response times. He stated that the EKG
equipment used determines the type of treatment regime. He stated that five people need to show up
to treat cardiac arrest. He said
Liberty’s response rate averages five minutes but the American Heart
Association says four minutes or less is needed. He quoted statistics and noted that save rates are critical to
the City. Mr. Juenger said that five
people should respond and six would be better for cardiac arrest calls. He said that medical control states it is
four minutes or less to the hospital.
He said the protocol used in North Kansas City makes that three times
quicker. He said that Liberty does not
have a cath lab. He stated that he is
not saying not to use Liberty Hospital but it is just not preferred.
Mr. Juenger stated that Kearney, MAST (in Kansas
City), Lee’s Summit and North Kansas City are already using more manpower in
their response teams. Mrs. Juenger then
stated that Liberty Hospital does have a diagnostic cath lab. Mr. Juenger stated that Liberty Hospital’s
administrator is looking into how the Mayo Clinic handles similar
operations. He said the lab is now open
Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 5:00.
There is a 20-minute response time for hospital personnel to come in for
the lab, if not open during those hours.
Mr. Juenger stated that St. Luke’s is doing angioplasties in the brain,
which is turning these things around.
He said 1710 is very expensive to put into place, but North Kansas City,
CJC, and Lee’s Summit are doing it.
Mr. Juenger then showed a portion of a Discovery
Channel program he had taped about how long it takes for a burning chair in a
room to involve the whole room in flames.
He stated he is not a fire chief, but is a paramedic and he knows what
he knows. He stated that having two men
respond is too few and people will be upset when the firefighters can’t go in
to rescue someone because the response time was too slow. He said by making the changes he recommends,
the Council could kill two birds with one stone.
Mayor Hawkins thanked Mr. Juenger for his comments
and stated that these are the kinds of things Council considers during budget
discussions.
VI. MEETING SCHEDULE – No changes.
A.
APPOINTMENTS
Clay
County University Extension Council Representative
Appoint Vern Windsor to a
term expiring February 29, 2004
Council Member Hadden moved
to approve the appointment. Council
Member Hester seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. AMEND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ADOPTING PARKS AND OPEN SPACE MASTER
PLAN – RESOLUTION [P&Z CASE NO. 03-1087A; APPLICANT: CITY OF LIBERTY] (To
be continued to the March 24, 2003 Regular Session.)
Mayor Hawkins opened the
public hearing and stated it would be continued to the March 24, 2003 regular
session.
A.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
OF VENDOR PAYMENTS FROM FEBRUARY 7, 2003 THROUGH FEBRUARY 21, 2003 – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6030 was
read. Council Member Parker asked if
checks for council member trip expenses needed to be pulled out and voted on
separately. Mayor Hawkins said they did
not.
Council Member Brenton asked
about check no. 74019 to LL Tow. Chief
Knouse stated that the Sheriff’s Department had stopped a vehicle and it is
standard practice to have it towed to the police station for processing. While it is also the practice to then
release the vehicle to the owner, a Liberty detective mistakenly had it towed
to the tow lot, prompting the second tow charge. Mr. Brenton noted check no. 73750 to Aquila is at just under
$40,000. He stated this shows the City
paying half a million to the power company and shows how important it is to
review options before entering into another agreement with Aquila. Mayor Hawkins stated that review is in
progress.
Council Member Robertson
asked about check no. 74064 to Stinson Morrison Hecker. Mrs. Gentrup stated that is related to the
Triangle development and is reimbursable.
Council Member Hester moved
to approve the ordinance. Council
Member Parker seconded the motion. Vote
on the motion was as follows: Council
Member Collins – yes; Council Member Martin – yes; Council Member Hester – yes;
Council Member Parker – yes; Council Member Hadden – yes; Council Member Coe –
yes; Council Member Brenton – yes; Council Member Robertson - yes. The motion carried unanimously; it was
approved by the Chair and inscribed in Ordinance No. 8493.
Council Member Brenton asked
about the curb cuts for access to Richfield Road. Mr. Elliott stated there are two curb cuts now, but both would be
in Lot 1, should the preliminary plat and final plat be approved. Council Member Martin asked if the
applicant owns both parcels and could sell Lot 2 if approved.
Mr. Elliott said Mr. Hart
owns the entire property and could sell, should he choose to do so. Council Member Robertson asked if this
application is subject to the Roadway Development Tax. Mr. Elliott said it was not, because no new
lots were being created. Mr. Robertson
asked how this is different from the car wash application. Mr. Elliott stated it was a difference
between commercial and residential applications. Council Member Hadden asked if that meant that, based on the way
the land is now, and the density, there would be no new structures. Mr. Elliott said that was correct.
Council Member Hester asked
if Lot 1 would never be able to connect to sewer. Mr. Elliott said that is correct.
Mayor Hawkins asked for
clarification of the roads near the property.
Mr. Elliott said access is off Richfield Road, but Richfield Court is
also located there.
Council Member Brenton asked
about Danforth Acres off Ridge, where the properties used a common drive. He asked why that couldn’t be done
here. Mr. Elliott said that there are
currently two curb cuts and removal of one is not required. Mr. Brenton asked why it couldn’t be
done. He asked if Richfield is a
collector. Public Works/Development
Services Director Steve Hansen stated it is at least a collector street and possibly
an arterial street. Mr. Brenton asked
for clarification of the lots being reconfigured and this application not
having the same requirements as the car wash development. Mrs. Gentrup requested that Council delay
further consideration of these two applications for staff to address this
question.
1. PRELIMINARY PLAT –
RESOLUTION [P&Z CASE NO. 02-1072PP; Applicant: Darren Hart]
Council Member Martin moved
to continue consideration of the application to the March 10, 2003 regular
session. Council Member Hester seconded
the motion, which carried unanimously.
2. FINAL PLAT – ORDINANCE
[P&Z CASE NO. 03-1086FP; Applicant: Darren Hart]
Document No. 6031 was
read. Mayor Hawkins stated that this
ordinance would go to second reading on March 10, 2003.
Council Member Robertson
commended the applicant, Mr. Hart, for the work he has done to improve the
properties. Mr. Hart stated that staff
has been a great help in this matter and noted that part of the reason for bringing
his application forward was to establish a lot depth consistent with adjacent
properties.
C.
*SITE
PLAN FOR 83,100 SQ. FT. MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING, 8,750 SQ. FT. HOSPITALITY
HOUSE AND FOUR-LEVEL 520 SPACE PARKING GARAGE ON THE LIBERTY HOSPITAL CAMPUS –
RESOLUTION [P&Z CASE NO.02-209SP; Applicant: Hoefer Wysocki
Architects]
Mr. Elliott stated the
application included construction of three buildings east of the hospital and
the first phase of Rush Creek Parkway. He stated that the site has direct
access to Glenn Hendren Drive and sanitary sewer service would be extended to
serve the site and the Hospital campus would be removed from the lift station
currently serving the area. He said
there is access to a 12” water main along Glenn Hendren Drive and storm water
would be collected in an on-site detention basin.
Mr. Elliott reviewed the
landscape plan for the site, including ornamental trees and shrubs. He stated that the Rush Creek Parkway would
intersect with Glenn Hendren Drive south of the Liberty Terrace Care Center and
extend southeast, terminating in a roundabout.
He stated the parkway would be two lanes, each being 18 ft. wide, with a
median. Mr. Elliott stated that
pedestrian traffic would be re-routed, off the trail, onto sidewalks along the
parkway. He said the current lighting would
just be reconfigured.
Council Member Collins asked
for clarification of the location of Fire Station No. 3 in relation to the new
site. Mr. Hansen noted it on the map.
Council Member Robertson
asked what would trigger the rest of the parkway being constructed. Mr. Elliott stated the property was owned by
Hallmark and any development it planned would trigger the requirement to
complete Rush Creek Parkway to Lightburne Street. Mr. Robertson
asked, with 18’ lanes, how
other vehicles could maneuver around a stalled vehicle. Mr. Elliott stated rollback curbing is part
of the design. Mr. Robertson asked
about the sanitary sewer connection fee.
Mr. Hansen stated that the hospital would be subject to any fee in place
when it applies for building permits.
Council Member Hester asked
about the future of the walking trail.
Mr. Elliott stated the sidewalks would connect to the trail so it
continued around the complex.
Council Member Brenton asked
who would maintain the grass in the median on the parkway. Mr. Elliott said it would be the City. Mr. Brenton asked why the City would
consider this design, requiring more expense for maintenance, than a more
standard pavement only design. Mr.
Elliott said the design was intended to slow traffic. City Planner Steve Anderson stated the Blueprint for Liberty
called for adding greenery to major roadways where possible and this design was
suggested by Hallmark as it participated in some of the discussions. Mayor Hawkins asked if the same design would
continue on the remainder of the parkway.
Mr. Anderson stated it would.
Mr. Brenton asked if this is the first time this design has been used in
Liberty. Mr. Anderson noted that
Withers Road is similar but has two lanes in each direction. Mr. Brenton asked for clarification that it
was maintaining the same roadbed, just in two pieces. Mr. Anderson said that was correct. Mayor Hawkins asked for clarification of the width of the right-of-way. Mr. Anderson said the standard is 16 feet
and this would be 18 feet. Council
Member Collins asked if the property owner would be required to maintain the
sides. Mr. Elliott said it would. Mr. Collins said the City is watching
expenditures and this design would appear to cause additional expense. Mrs. Gentrup stated it follows the design
discussed and implemented in the Blueprint for Liberty.
Council Member Hadden asked
about the road east of Lightburne. Mr.
Elliott stated it goes into the Hallmark complex. Mayor Hawkins asked if a signal would be installed there. Mr. Hansen said one could be installed there
in the future. Mayor Hawkins commented
on the concerns of a former council member with respect to the medians along
152 Hwy. He stated the medians are more
appreciated now that they are done. He
said there are always choices to be made that could help in the short term but
the long term benefit must also be considered.
Council Member Martin stated it is encouraging that Hallmark wanted to
participate in the discussions and she is in favor of the median.
Council Member Brenton asked
if there could be a street connection off the roundabout to the south. Mr. Hansen stated there could be but the
roundabout offers flexibility in connecting streets to it at any point. Mr. Brenton said, even though this site is
not adjacent to Duncan Fields, it is close and it appears logical there would
be a connection to that development.
Mr. Anderson said there was a stub street to the north of that
development and it could be tied into Rush Creek Parkway. Council Member Hadden asked if the creek
would be a problem. Mr. Anderson said
there would be a crossing over the creek at some point along the parkway.
Council Member Coe asked if
a stalled vehicle would be more likely to pull over the roll back curb if
disabled in some way, blocking sidewalks.
Mr. Hansen said it would be similar to Liberty Drive where vehicles find
a way to pull off the road to the edge of the curb. Mr. Coe asked if this parkway would have any heavy truck
traffic. Mr. Hansen stated it was not
anticipated after construction is completed, other than trash trucks and the
like.
Council Member Robertson
said he is in favor of the application but expressed concerns about the 18’
wide street. He said it would be good
for traffic calming but is narrow. Mr.
Hansen stated the proposed design is not final and if there is a viable
solution to what the hospital is trying to do, adjustments could be made in
final phases. Mayor Hawkins asked if
the pavement and curbs add to the cost.
Mr. Hansen stated it would be double the cost because there would be
curbs on both the median side and the parkway side of each pavement.
Council Member Hadden asked
how long the project was expected to take.
Mr. Hansen stated the public works plans have not yet been approved, but
the construction should not be particularly difficult. David Feess, Liberty Hospital, stated they
do not have any estimated completion date yet.
Council Member Brenton asked
if the project was subject to the Roadway Development Tax. Mr. Hansen stated the doctor’s offices would
be, but the part to be used by the hospital would be exempt.
Council Member Coe moved to
approve the resolution. Council Member
Hadden seconded the motion, which carried unanimously and is inscribed in
Resolution No. 2122.
Council Member Coe moved to
approve the purchase. Council Member
Robertson seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
F.
CONTRACT
WITH GRASS ROOTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $37,850.00 FOR MOWING CITY PROPERTIES –
ORDINANCE
Mrs. Gentrup stated this was
a one-year extension of a contract from last year with modifications. Council Member Robertson asked if a decision
had been made not to bid or if this was exercising an option. Mrs. Gentrup said they took the option to
extend the contract. Council Member
Parker asked how many acres are mowed by Parks’ staff. Parks & Open Space Manager Steve Rulo
said about 200 acres. Mr. Parker asked
how many staff members do the mowing.
Mr. Rulo said about nine working in three crews. Council Member Hester asked how much was
saved by not having the contractor mow at City Hall and the Community
Center. Mr. Rulo said the savings
totaled $3,360.
Document No. 6037 was
read. Council Member Hadden 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 Martin seconded the motion.
Council Member Brenton asked if any discussions had been held to
leverage the option by offering more one-year extensions at the same
price. Mr. Rulo said those discussions
had not been held, but they could be at the direction of Council. Mayor Hawkins asked how staff handles
this. Mrs. Gentrup said the vendor
honored the same price by extending this contract for one year. She stated that they could inquire of any
interest in a longer arrangement with the vendor. Mr. Brenton said it seemed it would be helpful to know an amount,
come budget time.
Council Members Hadden and
Martin withdrew their motion and second.
Mayor Hawkins stated this would go to second reading at the March 10
regular session.
G.
AGREEMENT
WITH MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION
PROGRAM – ORDINANCE
Mrs. Gentrup stated this is
an annual agreement for a program that is popular with residents and was
included in the rates that were approved by voters last year.
Document No. 6038 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 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. 8499.
H.
ACCEPTANCE
OF FEMA GRANT FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS – RESOLUTION
Mrs. Gentrup stated that
information about this grant had been provided to Council late last year. Council Member Collins moved to approve the
resolution. Council Member Martin
seconded the motion, which carried unanimously and is inscribed in Resolution
No. 2123.
XI.
MISCELLANEOUS
MATTERS FROM CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Mrs. Gentrup noted information about direct deposits
provided to council members and reminded them of the invitation to attend any
or all of the upcoming media training sessions.
XII. MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS FROM MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL
Council Member Martin reiterated there is a cath lab
at Liberty Hospital, which assists staff in emergency situations.
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
The
meeting adjourned at 8:28 p.m.
__________________________________
Mayor
Attest:
_____________________________________
Deputy City Clerk