Buffalo Wyoming City Council Meeting Minutes 2/2/2010
Mar 11, 2010
Recorder:

CITY OF BUFFALO
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
February 2, 2010
The Buffalo City Council met in Regular Session in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Present were Councilwoman Reid, Councilman Dyess, Mayor Hancock, Councilman Humphrey and Councilman Hepp. Mayor Hancock called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Dyess made a motion to approve the January 19, 2009 Regular Council Meeting minutes. Councilman Hepp seconded. Motion carried.
Ordinance #1339 – An Ordinance Providing for the Annexation of the “HIB Addition” to the Town of the City of Buffalo, Wyoming was presented for approval on second reading. Councilwoman Reid recused herself and left the Council chambers. City Planner Grubb advised no annexation agreement had been signed at this time and presented options to Council. Grubb suggested securing the annexation agreement with this reading or to proceed to annexation without consideration of the agreement. City Attorney Kirven stated he had met with legal counsel for HIB, LLC to revise the annexation agreement. Michael Johnson, HIB representative, advised the agreement was still in negotiations and there had not been enough time to review the agreement. Johnson stated HIB hopes to have the agreement signed before the third and final reading of the ordinance. Councilman Hepp made a motion to approve Ordinance #1339 on second reading with the annexation agreement signed by 5 pm February 5, 2010. Councilman Humphrey seconded. Michael Johnson questioned the purpose of the deadline and requested additional days to finalize the annexation agreement. Councilman Dyess recommended passing the ordinance on second reading and proceeding to third reading. Dyess pointed out that third reading could be tabled until the annexation agreement is signed or passed with no annexation agreement attached. Councilman Hepp stated the details have been hashed out long enough and the process needed to move forward. Councilmen Hepp and Humphrey voted aye with Mayor Hancock and Councilman Dyess voting nay. Councilwoman Reid was not present. Councilman Dyess made a motion to pass Ordinance #1339 on second reading with the annexation agreement signed by February 10, 2010. Councilman Hepp seconded. Motion carried. Councilwoman Reid was not present.
Marilyn Connolly, Emergency Management Coordinator, commended the City for cleaning up debris in Clear Creek. Connolly invited the City to participate in a Senior Officials Workshop for emergency management on March 16th. Councilman Hepp questioned who from the City should attend. Connolly reviewed the recommendations for different levels of first responders for the Incident Command System. Connolly also thanked Public Works Director, Les Hook, for attending a recent debris management planning workshop. In closing, Connolly updated Council on recent use of the Code Red telephone system.
Steve Grimshaw, Grimshaw Affordable Housing, requested a letter of support from the City for an application to be filed with the WCDA for affordable housing on the west side of town. Grimshaw explained the project and also requested Council to consider a financial contribution to the project by waiving a portion of the tap and building permit fees. Council members Dyess and Reid expressed support for the project but did not feel the City could make a financial commitment to the project at this time. Councilwoman Reid made a motion to send a letter of support for the project and encouraged affordable housing the Buffalo. Councilman Dyess seconded. Motion carried. In closing, Grimshaw advised WCDA will be contacting City staff regarding an environmental study.
A request from Buffalo Ridge LLC for preliminary acceptance of offsite improvements in the Buffalo Ridge Subdivision was presented for Council approval. City Planner Grubb explained the acceptance would start the one year warranty period. Grubb advised Council of the inspection process by City, County and State personnel and recommended acceptance. After a brief discussion Councilman Dyess made a motion to accept the water and sewer line offsite improvements only with the warranty period to begin January 24, 2010 and end January 23, 2011. Councilwoman Reid seconded. Motion carried.
A request for additional Section 318 funding was presented for Council approval. Grubb explained the City was waiting on a determination from the State Loan and Investment Board on whether the funds could be used for substitute projects. Councilman Hepp requested bid results for all projects funded with this source.
Mayor Hancock presented the following board appointments for Council approval:
Lodging Tax Board – Erik Elmer, unexpired term
Housing Authority Board – Harrison Tierney, five year term
Planning and Zoning Board – Alan Vogt, unexpired term
Councilman Dyess made a motion to approve the board appointments. Councilwoman Reid seconded. Motion carried.
Resolution #1287 – A Resolution to amend the personnel policy of the City of Buffalo, Wyoming regarding education allowances was presented for Council approval. Councilman Hepp questioned which employees were appointed. Other questions were raised concerning lists of licenses or certifications required by employees. Councilwoman Reid stated the education reimbursement by employees had been talked about at great length and the nature of the policy was not to penalize employees. Reid felt the resolution should be passed and the City needed to move forward and see how the new policy worked. Councilman Dyess made a motion to table Resolution #1287 until February 16th so the appointed employees and lists of licenses or certifications could be defined. Councilman Humphrey seconded. Motion carried.
Resolution #1288 – A Resolution of the Town of the City of Buffalo, Wyoming to amend the amount charged to private septic using the waste water treatment plant for disposal was presented for Council approval. Councilman Hepp made a motion to approve the resolution. Councilman Humphrey seconded. Motion carried.
Information from the Department of Audit regarding annual report filings for Joint Powers Boards was presented to Council. Councilman Hepp made a motion to table a decision on whether to require audits or other agreed-upon procedures for the Joint Powers Boards until the information could be reviewed further. Councilman Dyess seconded. Motion carried.
City Planner, Brian Grubb, presented background history as well as alternate options for the storm water detention at the new Justice Center site. A brief discussion followed regarding the alternate options with Mayor Hancock advising the Council would be meeting with the County Commissioners at a Special Meeting on February 3rd at 1:00 p.m. at the County Commissioners’ office.
Brian Grubb, City Planner, presented a list of goals from the Planning and Zoning Board and the Planning Department for 2010. Councilman Hepp suggested all departments make a list of goals.
Tom Hulick, Building Inspector, presented for Council approval a lease agreement for a term of five years between the City of Buffalo and Johnson County for property in the courthouse parking lot. Councilman Dyess made a motion to approve the lease agreement. Councilwoman Reid seconded. Motion carried. Hulick then answered Council questions regarding certificates of occupancy.
Les Hook, Public Works Director, updated Council on the relocation of the 10” waterline on Hart Street and advised WYDOT would address the striping on East Hart Street in the spring. Hook requested clarification from Council on the change order approval process for the Waste Water Treatment Plant Project. Councilman Hepp suggested all change orders be reviewed by the City Attorney and City Clerk before they are signed and also questioned who was authorized to sign change orders. Councilman Dyess added that all change orders outside of the Force Account budget needed to be approved by Council regardless of whether they were below the ,000 threshold Hook was authorized to sign. Councilman Hepp requested a checklist of standard operating procedures. Hook also announced a public hearing for the adoption of the construction standards is being advertised for February 16th at the regular Council meeting. In closing, Hook requested a wage adjustment for an additional 0.00/month for an operator recently assigned street crew supervisor duties. Hook explained the staffing requirements for his department. Councilman Hepp made a motion to increase the street crew supervisor’s wage 0.00/mo. Councilman Dyess seconded. Motion carried.
Michael Chapman, Police Chief, gave an update on the request for additional crosswalks request and explained signage changes at difficult intersections.
City Attorney Kirven presented an agreement regarding abandoning rights to an old pipeline for the Mayor’s signature. Councilman Dyess made a motion to sign the agreement abandoning rights. Councilman Hepp seconded. Motion carried. Kirven addressed Council questions regarding the escrow account for the Bison Meadows subdivision.
Allen Gavillet introduced his son to Council who encouraged Council to put in crosswalks for him and his friends to walk to school. Gavillet thanked Council for their assistance in crosswalk safety.
Councilman Hepp made a motion that Council pass a resolution opposing HB980 which would create significant additions to the existing wilderness areas in ten counties in Wyoming. Councilman Dyess seconded. Motion carried. Councilman Hepp also requested a joint resolution with the County opposing the Rock Creek Wilderness area designation.
Mayor Hancock presented an additional payable for the recycling center for a portion of the 1% funding allocated in FY10.
Mayor Hancock announced the WAM Winter Convention February 17-19 in Cheyenne. The Mayor announced the Department Head Meeting February 23rd @ 9 a.m. at City Hall. Hancock reminded Council of the special meeting with the County Commissioners to discuss the Justice Center storm water detention on February 3rd @ 1:00 p.m. @ the Commissioners’ office.
The following bills were audited and approved for payment: Aflac, agreement – 1,470.72; Alexander Hamilton Institute, supply – 38.45; Linda Betz, service – 398.50; Big Horn Veterinary, supply – 688.00; Blue Cross/Blue Shield, insurance – 43,100.91; Bresnan Communications, supply – 2.95; Buffalo Chamber/Commerce, agreement – 26,850.00; Buffalo Senior Center, agreement – 2,536.84; Buffalo Veterinary Clinic, supply – 1,160.00; Farmers Bank, contract – 52,068.28; Loretta Funk, supply – 300.00; Nancy Hall, service – 225.00; Hydro Construction Co, contract – 468,614.53; Jo. Co. Solid Waste District, supply – 17,171.25; Johnson County YMCA, agreement – 533.93; Joint Powers Fuel Facility, supply – 3,368.46; Nebraska Child Support, agreement – 290.00; Paul G. Jarvis, supply – 75.00; St. Francis Animal Shelter, agreement – 1,300.00; Spencer Internet Services, supply – 200.00; States West Water Resources, contract – 39,219.78; Visa, supply – 1,507.00; WAMCAT, supply – 125.00; WY Child Support Enforcement, agreement – 725.00; WY Dept of Transportation, supply – 65.15; WY Educators’ Benefit Trust, insurance – 370.13; WY Retirement System, retirement – 26,502.96; WY Secretary of State, supply – 30.00; Hillary Zimmerschied, service – 260.00.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 6:07 p.m.

Mayor
ATTEST:

City Clerk