CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTES

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2008

 

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 25, 2008 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 Paul Jenness, who then led the pledge of allegiance.

 

III.       ROLL CALL

 

Roll call was answered by Paul Jenness and Harold Phillips, Ward I; Lyndell Brenton and John Parry, Ward III; and Fred Foster and Nick King, Ward IV.  Also in attendance were Curt Wenson, City Administrator; Dan Estes, Assistant City Administrator; Steve Hansen, Public Works Director; Brian Hess, City Engineer; Craig Knouse, Police Chief; Andy Hedrick, Police Sergeant; Linda Tyree, Finance Director; Gary Birch, Fire Chief; Steve Anderson, Planning & Development Director; Tony Sage, Information Services Director; Shawnna Funderburk, Assistant to the City Administrator; Jane Sharon, Deputy City Clerk; Angie Borgedalen, Liberty Tribune; David Knopf, The Kansas City Star; and 21 members of the public.

 

IV.       APPROVE MINUTES AND SUMMARIES (SEE CONSENT AGENDA)

 

V.        CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION

 

Mayor Steinkamp recognized Boy Scout Alex Creswell with Troop 134 who is working on his Communications badge.  Mayor Steinkamp also recognized the following boy scouts in Troop 376, who are working on their Citizenship in the Community badge:  Ryan Houghtaling; Phillip Grace; Anthony Stasiak; Aaron Stasiak; Andrew Stasiak; Mike Wienands; William Riley; Austin Van Black; Chris Morgan; Kyle Hamilton; Sean Keenan; Ian Starner and Alex Nason.

 

VI.       MEETING SCHEDULE

 

VII.      CONSENT AGENDA

 

A.                 REGULAR SESSION MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 11, 2008

 

Council Member King moved to approve the minutes as distributed.  Council Member Phillips seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

 

B.                 STUDY SESSION MEETING SUMMARY OF FEBRUARY 11, 2008

 

Council Member King moved to approve the meeting summary as distributed.  Council Member Phillips seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

 

C.                 EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 11, 2008

 

Council Member King moved to approve the minutes as distributed.  Council Member Phillips seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

 

D.                 APPOINTMENTS

 

Clay County Extension Council

Appoint Kirsten Priebe to a term expiring 2-29-2010.

 

Tree Board

Appoint LeRoy Coe to a term expiring 12-15-2009

 

Liberty Arts Commission

Appoint Cindy Buehler to a term expiring 05-15-2011

 

Council Member King moved to approve the appointments.  Council Member Phillips seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

 

VIII.     PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

A.        SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW ATTACHED SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING ON INFILL SITE AT CLAYVIEW DRIVE AND GUINEVERE DRIVE INTERSECTION – RESOLUTION (Applicant requests continuance to March 24, 2008 Regular Session)

 

Council Member Phillips moved to continue the consideration of the special use permit to the March 24, 2008 Regular Session.  Council Member King seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

 

B.         REQUEST TO REZONE 1.9 SQUARE MILES OF ANNEXED PROPERTY WITH CLAY COUNTY ZONING AG, AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT, TO THE CITY OF LIBERTY ZONING DESIGNATION A, AGRICULTURE DISTRICT, AND AREA WITH CLAY COUNTY ZONING C-2, COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT, TO THE CITY OF LIBERTY ZONING DESIGNATION C-2, GENERAL BUSINESS DISTRICT – ORDINANCE (Council motion needed to dismiss; a corrected application will be brought forward following re-advertisement of a public hearing for the March 24, 2008 regular session.)

 

Mayor Steinkamp noted that no Council action was required, but confirmed the application had been dismissed and was being re-advertised for a public hearing on March 24, 2008.

 

IX.       ORDINANCES, CONTRACTS AND RESOLUTIONS

 

A.        ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF VENDOR PAYMENTS FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2008 THROUGH FEBRUARY 15, 2008

 

In response to Council questions, staff noted that a payment to Standard and Poore’s was for a bond rating that was part of the Clay County Health Center relocation cost.  Tree removal costs were covered under a TRIM grant received by TreeLiberty.

 

Document No. 6813 was read.  Council Member King requested that check number 106346 be removed and voted on separately.

 

1.         VENDOR PAYMENTS EXCLUDING THOSE TO AQUILA AND KCP&L – ORDINANCE

 

Council Member King moved to approve all vendor payments with the exceptions of check numbers 106207, 106347, 106395 and 106346.  Council Member Brenton seconded the motion.

 

Vote on the motion was as follows:  Council Member Phillips – yes; Council Member Brenton – yes; Council Member Foster – yes; Council Member Jenness – yes; Council Member Parry – yes; Council Member King – yes.  The motion carried unanimously; it was approved by the Chair and inscribed in Ordinance No. 9270.

 

2.         VENDOR PAYMENTS TO AQUILA AND KCP&L – ORDINANCE

 

Council Member King moved to approve check numbers 106207, 106347, and 106395.  Council Member Jenness seconded the motion.

 

Vote on the motion was as follows:  Council Member Phillips – yes; Council Member Brenton – abstain, due to a potential conflict of interest; Council Member Foster – yes; Council Member Jenness – yes; Council Member Parry – yes; Council Member King – yes.  The motion carried unanimously; it was approved by the Chair and inscribed in Ordinance No. 9270.

 

Council Member Brenton moved to approve check number 106346.  Council Member Phillips seconded the motion.

 

Vote on the motion was as follows:  Council Member Phillips – yes; Council Member Brenton – yes; Council Member Foster – yes; Council Member Jenness – yes; Council Member Parry – yes; Council Member King – abstain, due to a potential conflict of interest.  The motion carried unanimously; it was approved by the Chair and inscribed in Ordinance No. 9270.

 

B.         FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF OAK PLAZA (FIVE BUILDINGS TOTALING 33,360 SQUARE FEET ON 4.22 ACRES) NORTH OF THE M-291 HIGHWAY AND LIBERTY DRIVE INTERSECTION – RESOLUTION

 

Staff responded to Council questions with the following information:  because approval of the final development plan has sunset with building permits not issued within two years, the applicant is bringing this plan forward and is ready to pull permits and begin work, pending approval by Council; and the street to the development will be approximately 27 feet wide and extend to the current street between O’Reilly Automotive and Quik Trip.

 

Council Member Phillips moved to approve the resolution.  Council Member Jenness seconded the motion, which carried unanimously and is inscribed in Resolution No. 2337.

 

C.         AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH BURNS & MCDONNELL IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $29,782 FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES PERTAINING TO THE

I-35/US69/M33 INTERCHANGE PROJECT – ORDINANCE

 

In response to Council questions, staff confirmed that the additional expense of engineering design for the project is due to the discovery of a cemetery after the Missouri Department of

Transportation (MoDOT) had let the construction contract.  This requires additional engineering to realign Glenn Hendren so as not to disturb the cemetery.  Staff will request reimbursement for the additional engineering costs from the State.

 

While some work on this project may require adjustments at such time as the Whittaker project comes forward, the contract for this interchange work is between MoDOT and the contractor.  Work to improve the condition of Glenn Hendren itself is more appropriately addressed through the City’s overlay program.  The work being done at this time is expected to offer improved routes while roundabouts proposed in the preliminary Whittaker plan are being constructed, thereby reducing traffic congestion.  The project is expected to get underway when the weather breaks this spring.  Funds deposited by the City with the State for this project accrue interest and the deposit as well as the interest is used to fund the City’s portion of the project costs with any remaining balance refunded to the City after the project is completed.

 

Document No. 6814 was read.  Council Member King moved to waive the rules and consider the ordinance on first reading.  Council Member Phillips seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

 

Council Member Phillips moved to approve the ordinance.  Council Member Jenness seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.  It was approved by the Chair and is inscribed in Ordinance No. 9271.

 

D.        AGREEMENT WITH VETERINARY CENTER OF LIBERTY FOR ANIMAL SHELTER VETERINARY SERVICES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $15,000 – ORDINANCE

 

Sgt. Andy Hedrick reviewed the need to comply with State requirements that prompted the recent bid process for veterinary services.  Of the four veterinarians in Liberty, only one responded with a proposal for services.  The costs are anticipated to be approximately $15,000 annually.  The unit cost is per visit, regardless of the number of animals euthanized during the visit.

 

Assistant City Administrator Dan Estes reviewed an ongoing budgeting process used by the staff which was prompted by Council questions about use of salary savings at the previous meeting.  While budgeted funds are allotted to departments for non-salary expenditures, departments are assigned positions, not salary and benefit funds.  When unanticipated non-salary costs arise, department directors will first attempt to manage their budgets through the year, working with savings in non-salary costs to address the additional costs.  If funds cannot be found within the department and non-salary funds are available in another department, these would be identified and used for non-salary expenditures prior to looking at salary savings to cover non-salary expenditures.  This approach applies mostly to small expenditures, but allows the department directors to manage their budgets throughout the year and offers a potential opportunity to use salary savings when examining the bottom line.

 

The Police Department has agreed to use this approach in locating the funds in its non-salary budget to address this unanticipated expense for veterinary services.  In response to Council questions, staff indicated no funds were known to be available to cities from the State for this particular service requirement, but would research what options might exist.

 

Document No. 6815 was read.  Council Member King moved to waive the rules and consider the ordinance on first reading.  Council Member Phillips seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

 

Council Member Jenness 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. 9272.

 

X.         OTHER BUSINESS – None.

 

XI.               MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS FROM CITY ADMINISTRATOR

 

City Administrator Curt Wenson noted a special session, instead of a study session, was now scheduled for March 3, to consider an amendment to the Rogers Plaza Tax Increment Financing Plan and two other matters.  On March 24, a large number of planning items are on the regular session agenda.

 

XII.            MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

 

Council Member Phillips stated the branding project affirms the City is working with its partners to enhance the city’s image.  He also noted that the report of the Liberty…For All process would be available soon.  Mr. Wenson added that it would be reviewed at the March 17 study session.

 

Council Member Brenton requested the timeline on the water rate classification study as next year’s budget discussions will commence in just a few months.

 

Council Member Jenness asked when the Smoking Survey results would be available.  Assistant to the City Administrator Shawnna Funderburk stated that the discussions were being postponed until after the results of the Kansas City, Missouri election.  Mr. Jenness asked that the results of the survey be provided to Council as soon as possible, regardless of when the issue is again scheduled for Council discussion.

 

Council Member King referred to a State report card he had received at the Missouri Municipal League’s Legislative Conference and noted it provides a good summary of activity.

 

Mayor Steinkamp announced that former Liberty council member Sam Houston is being honored with this year’s Outstanding Missourian Award.  A ceremony is scheduled in Jefferson City on March 11.  Mayor Steinkamp will be attending the National League of Cities conference that week, but with only one item on the next Council meeting agenda, he and Mayor ProTem King had agreed to cancel the March 10 regular session.  He encouraged all council members to attend the ceremony honoring Mr. Houston in Jefferson City and noted there would be a reception and presentation of a proclamation to Mr. Houston at the Liberty Community Center on March 16 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Mayor Steinkamp stated this is a well-deserved honor for Sam Houston and all are proud of this Liberty citizen.

 

Mayor Steinkamp added a reminder that he would present the State of the City address at the Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce annual luncheon on February 26 at 11:30 a.m.  He asked council members to review other upcoming events noted in the Weekly Report and the RSVP, letting the staff know which events they plan to attend.

 

XIII.     ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m.

 

 

                                                                                    __________________________________

                                                                                    Mayor

Attest:

 

 

_____________________________________

Deputy City Clerk