CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2008
COUNCIL CHAMBERS – 7:00 p.m.
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 8, 2008 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 Harold Phillips, who then led
the pledge of allegiance.
III. ROLL CALL
Roll
call was answered by Paul Jenness and Harold Phillips, Ward I; Greg Duncan and
Anna Marie Martin, Ward II; John Parry and Lyndell Brenton, 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; Jim Simpson, Deputy Police Chief; Linda Tyree, Finance
Director; Steve Anderson, Development Director;
Gary Birch, Fire Chief; Dennis Dovel, Acting Parks & Recreation
Director; Sara Cooke, Communications Manager; Shawnna Funderburk, Assistant to
the City Administrator; Brenda Uhl, Administrative Assistant; Janet Pittman,
Interim Deputy City Clerk; Gene Hansen, The Kansas City Star; Angie Borgedalen,
Liberty Tribune; and 11 members of the public.
IV. APPROVE
MINUTES AND SUMMARIES (SEE CONSENT AGENDA)
V. CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION
Mayor Steinkamp read and presented a proclamation for
Constitution Week to Daughters of the American Revolution Alexander Doniphan
Chapter Regent Karen Robinson.
Mayor Steinkamp stated that earlier in the day he had
presented a proclamation at the Liberty Senior Center proclaiming September as Senior Center Month.
Susan Wayne, 1916 Carter Court, stated there are a number of vacant lots on the
street where she resides and that the owners habitually allow the grass to grow
over the 6” limit. She stated that she
has contacted her council members as well as code enforcement numerous times
about this issue. Ms. Wayne asked
Council to consider a more stringent, graduated penalty system for frequent
offenders.
Fielding Staton, 1113 Aspen Drive, stated he is the owner of Darlyn Signs located at
202 Frankin plus two lots to the south.
He stated he is being harassed about the condition of the properties and
that the town is anti-business. He noted
that when he requested a lot split the City stated that he needed to put in a
water line, but the water line goes to nowhere. He requested that Council have
staff leave him alone.
Fay Bedinger, 232 W. Franklin, stated that she lives near the property in question
and that Mr. Staton is being harassed.
She noted he has fixed up the place and asked Council if all he had to
do was to put some gravel down for the cars to park on. Mayor Steinkamp stated he will have staff
look into the matter.
VI. MEETING SCHEDULE
Council Member King moved to approve the amusement license. Council Member Martin seconded the motion,
which carried unanimously.
Council Member King moved to approve the
reappointments. Council Member Martin seconded
the motion, which carried unanimously.
VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
IX. ORDINANCES, CONTRACTS AND RESOLUTIONS
A. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
OF VENDOR PAYMENTS FROM AUGUST 15, 2008 THROUGH AUGUST 29, 2008
1.
EXCLUDING
KCP&L AND AQUILA PAYMENTS – ORDINANCE
In response to Council questions, staff noted that
payment to Printing Unlimited was for printing of the new Historic Design
Guideline booklet that the City obtained through a grant. Staff stated that the payment made to John
Wymore was the lease payment for the Jesse James Bank Museum. As part of
the agreement between the City and Clay County, the Clay County Parks Department operates the museum
and the City pays the rent. Staff stated
that the payment made to USSSA world series organization is a fee that the City
has to pay based on the entry fees paid by the teams entered in that baseball
tournament.
Document No. 6906 was read. Council Member Martin moved to approve the
vendor payments. Council Member Phillips
seconded the motion. Vote on the motion
was as follows: Council Member Phillips
– yes; Council Member Martin – yes; Council Member Brenton – yes; Council
Member Foster – yes; Council Member Jenness – yes; Council Member Duncan – yes;
Council Member Parry – yes; Council Member King – yes. The motion carried unanimously; it was
approved by the Chair and inscribed in Ordinance No. 9358.
2.
KCP&L AND AQUILA
PAYMENTS – ORDINANCE
Document No. 6907 was read. Council Member Martin moved to approve the
vendor payments. Council Member Phillips
seconded the motion. Vote on the motion
was as follows: Council Member Phillips
– yes; Council Member Martin – yes; Council Member Brenton – abstain; Council
Member Foster – yes; Council Member Jenness – yes; Council Member Duncan – yes;
Council Member Parry – yes; Council Member King – yes. The motion carried 7-0-1; with Council Member
Brenton abstaining, due to a potential conflict of interest. It was approved by the Chair and inscribed in
Ordinance No. 9358.
B. AMENDMENT
TO CONTRACT WITH HOLTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION, LLC, FOR KANSAS STREET SANITARY AND STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENTS - ORDINANCE
In response to Council questions, staff stated that
the project did address the collection of water from sump pumps and natural
springs in the area by creating new approaches and tying the sump pumps into
the system.
In response to Council questions, staff stated their recommendation
would be to use the remainder of the funds for additional expenses incurred
with the overlay work on Kansas Street.
Document No. 6908 was read. Council Member Brenton moved to waive the
rules and consider the ordinance on first reading. Council Member Martin 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. 9359.
X.
OTHER BUSINESS
A.
BLANKET PURCHASE
ORDER FOR ROAD SALT – MOTION
In response to Council questions, staff stated that
the amount is less than in previous years as the price per ton has increased
and this Council action will lock in this amount however, it can be amended
through the budget process.
In response to Council questions, staff noted it is
possible that in the future there may be a single source provider however staff
would explore such options such as joint purchases with other communities or
locking in for a longer term. Staff
noted that calcium chloride is used to increase the effectiveness of the salt. Staff noted they have looked at other options
including liquid applications and beet based materials however, the costs per
ton are higher than salt and therefore not practical at this time.
XI.
MISCELLANEOUS
MATTERS FROM CITY ADMINISTRATOR
City
Administrator Curt Wenson stated there would be a community blood drive on
September 18 at the Clay County Justice Center, and there would also be an open house for the
Flintlock Overpass to be held from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, September 11 at the Liberty Community
Center. He stated there would be an executive session
following next week’s study session.
XII.
MISCELLANEOUS
MATTERS FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
Council
Member Parry asked about the crosswalks for Midjay and Liberty Drive. Staff stated
they would get with a contractor to have a wheelchair ramp and permanent
markings installed on Midjay. Staff
noted that a possible location for a crosswalk on Liberty Drive would be in the
Wilshire area and that the same kind of
permanent markings that could withstand constant traffic need to be put
on. Mr. Parry asked if the building
proposed on the north side of Liberty Drive would include sidewalks that may alleviate the
problem. Staff will verify that the
building would have frontage on Wilshire, and as a result, sidewalks would not
be installed along Liberty
Drive.
Council
Member King stated he and Council Member Foster have received emails concerning
increased problems in the Clay Meadows area.
He stated he would like to see the City move forward with some of the
ideas proposed previously that would perhaps include requiring business
licenses for landlords with a large fee.
He noted that the license fee could be waived if they attended crime free/drug
fee training that the Police Department provides.
Mayor
Steinkamp stated he was sorry Mr. Staton felt put upon by the City and hadn’t
contacted himself or the Council. Mayor
Steinkamp noted he would call him directly.
In response to Ms. Wayne’s concerns regarding the vacant properties on Carter Court, he stated that it was his understanding that the
grass had been mowed today and that a portion of the immediate problem had been
resolved.
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m.
__________________________________
Mayor
Attest:
_____________________________________
Deputy City Clerk