Pleasant Valley Board of Aldermen
Work- Session
AMENDED
March 16, 2009
The work-session meeting of the Pleasant Valley Board of Aldermen was called to order by Mayor Todd on Monday, March 16, 2009 at 7:33 p.m.
Present were: Smith, Ammon, Maroon, Donnini, Ammon, Jurado, Bolinger, and Mast. Absent: Phillips. Also present were: Jerry Brant from the City Attorney, Chief Daum, Tammy Ammon, Director of Public Works, and Chief Stinson.
Mayor’s Communication: To the Board of Alderman,
As today is a work session meeting, I wanted to bring to you for consideration later in the meeting some thoughts that I have had for a few months. I have had discussions with other Mayors in the Kansas City Metropolitan area with regard to the terms of office for our elected officials. It has become apparent to me as well as to other Mayors, that it is important to have some stability in City Government. In the not too distant past, the City of Belton increased the Term for the office of the Mayor and the Board Members. It was their desire to have the ability to work together to get the city’s business done. They had the same laws stating a 2 year office for the Mayor and a 2 year office for each Board Member. In Belton, as well as here in Pleasant Valley, there was and is a potential for constant turnover every year for 50% of the Board and it can become a constant relearning and retooling experience for City government to bring the newly elected officials up to speed and then with almost 6 months through the year, there is the potential for another turnover in the Board. I would like for the City of Pleasant Valley to consider increasing the Term of Office for the Mayor to 4 years and for each Board Member to 3 years. This will allow this city government to work together to get the needs of the City addressed without constant turnover. Along with the increase of the term of office, I would strongly suggest that there be a 2 term limit for elected officials in the City. This will allow the opportunity for new ideas to be generated in our City Government and would alleviate the possibility of a lifetime position in the City. I look forward to further discussion later in the meeting.
The second area that I would like to address is with regard to the upcoming census for our City. Back in 2000, with the census completed, there was a redistricting of the Wards in Pleasant Valley. I am planning to put together an exploratory group of residents that may be interested in looking into how we can improve the redistricting of our wards so that we do not have some residents on the same side of a street or just a couple houses on one street located in one ward and then have the balance of the residents on the same street be in another ward. I personally have found it difficult to interpret our City Ward Boundaries and would like to see this simplified for the upcoming 2010 Census. Again, I would look forward to further discussion on this matter.
I would also like to take a moment to address this Board with regard to what I believe is the lack of procedural policy follow-through by this Board. I personally believe that we have all worked together to work on the Updating of the Employee Policy Manual under the direction of our Personnel Chair, Alderwoman Mary Phillips. As Board Members, I believe it should be the goal all Alderpersons to work to follow the procedures set in place. If you do not work within the guidelines that this City has adopted, why do you even have an employee policy manual in place?
Finally, I would like to inform the Board that I recently sent a memo to City Collector Gerri Danielson to work to provide any information with regard to the administrative rights of the website. It is important that all city documents and proprietary materials be under the control of the City. A copy of my memo is attached so that you are aware of my communication with the City Collector.
In conclusion, I would like to read the letter from Norma Kane in response to this Board honoring her husbands past work for this City:
"Dear Mayor Todd: May family and I thank the City of Pleasant Valley and you, for your letter announcing actions to change the name of the Pleasant Valley Fire Department to the Kane Fire Station. This is certainly an unexpected honor and we appreciate the tribute to Dave.
Dave loved every hour he volunteered for the fire department. He worked to get bonds passed to house and equip the men. He, along with other volunteers, planned for what was needed. He always considered what the City could afford and then they went bargain shopping for equipment. Dave worked with the City government and Mayor Tom Gabbert and was able to put into service a fully manned and working volunteer fire department. The firemen trained regularly and continued their fire fighting education as required. There were fires, but property was saved and no lives were lost during his tenure.
Dave believed the success of this department (all men at that time) was because of the commitment and willingness of Pleasant Valley residents to volunteer to fight fires and make rescue efforts. That enthusiasm and community conscience cannot be purchased. This department was family oriented and there were celebrations with family picnics, banquets at the Gold Buffet, water hose competitions and Santa traveling on a fire truck to deliver a gift of Christmas candy to every child in Pleasant Valley. Our family memories are good ones.
Thank you for the invitation to attend the ceremony. As soon as a date is selected, let me know and members of our family will make every effort to attend this ceremony to honor Dave. Sincerely; Norma Kane".
Thank you allowing me this time to address these issues with all of you.
Respectfully Submitted, Dennis Todd/Mayor
Public Comments:
Virginia Cline, 8503 Linda Lane came forward to express her displeasure regarding the handling of an issue on August30, 2009 at her residence by Chief Daum.
Tim Grisham, 7017 N. Brookside came forward to seek direction from the Board of Aldermen regarding Penny Lane. The consensus of the board was to have the City Attorney’s office do a title report regarding property.
Gail Orth-Aikmus, 7805 Lee Drive deferred her issues till the work-session items.
Gerri Danielson, City Collector, responded to Mayor Todd’s memo on the web-site administration. Ms. Danielson reports that information on the administration of the web-site and the site counter was provided to the City Clerk (Kathy Irvine) and she no longer has any material or information relating to the City’s web-site.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Alderwoman Mast would hold payment to MARC in the amount of $16,589.75 and Alderwoman Jurado would remove the minutes of the March 11, 2009 special board meeting. Donnini moved, second by Smith to approve items on the consent agenda less the payment of MARC and the minutes of the March 11, 2009 special board meeting. Yeas: Bolinger, Mast, Ammon, Jurado, Maroon, Donnini and Smith. Phillips absent. Motion passed.
TOPIC: Minutes of the March 11, 2009 special board meeting. Donnini moved, second by Smith to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2009 special board meeting as presented. Discussion followed, with Alderwoman Jurado noting for the record that her response to a telephone call from Mayor Todd regarding the reason for calling a special board meeting was due to an issue that Mayor Todd should have handled previously. Yeas: Ammon, Maroon, Bolinger, Jurado, Mast, Donnini and Smith. Phillips absent. Motion passed.
Consideration of Ordinances, Contracts and Resolutions:
Mast moved, second by Donnini to pass on the first and place on the second Bill NO. 2916. Discussion followed. Donnini and Mast withdrew their motions.
Mast moved, second by Smith to table Bill NO. 2916 and request a change to reflect one (1) year of service from Abitibi. Yeas: Donnini, Maroon, Jurado, Bolinger, Ammon, Mast and Smith. Phillips absent. Motion passed.
Ammon moved, second by Donnini to pass on the first and place on the second Bill NO. 2917. Yeas: Mast, Jurado, Bolinger, Smith, Maroon, Donnini and Ammon. Phillips absent. Motion passed.
Bill NO. 2917, an ordinance amending Sections 120.290 and 120.330 of the
Municipal Code of the City of Pleasant Valley, Missouri. Ammon moved, second by Donnini to pass Bill NO. 2917 as Ordinance NO. 2916. Yeas: Smith, Bolinger, Mast, Jurado, Maroon, Donnini and Ammon. Phillips absent. Motion passed.
Work-Session Items:
TOPIC: 7805 Lee Drive. Work completed included removal of an obstacle from the culvert, cleared a ridge of asphalt/dirt and re-seeded and covered the area with straw. Additional work on storm water run-off would necessitate a temporary easement on the north side of the property.
TOPIC: Re-cycling. Alderwoman Jurado spoke with a representative of the City of Lee’s Summit regarding their re-cycling efforts which included a resident survey, public meetings and various billing options.
Discussion regarding DNR Notice. The City Attorney’s office will seek direction.
TOPIC: T-Mobile lease buy-out. Discussion with board members consensus to retain existing lease with no change.
TOPIC: Proposed Personnel Manual Amendments. Board members were provided feed back from Ensz and Jester on one section to be re-evaluated. In the absence of Committee Chairwoman Phillips, Alderwoman Jurado schedules a personnel committee meeting for Monday, April 6th to immediately follow the finance committee meeting.
TOPIC: Communication from Judge Svetlic regarding court personnel. Discussion regarding the impact on hiring a second part-time person on the budget, the ability to pay a qualified applicant (the court has an existing step-plan), concerns regarding available office space and the increased court work-load. The issue will be taken up in personnel and finance committees.
TOPIC: Emergency Snow Routes/Towing: No additional information at this time.
TOPIC: Exploratory Committee re: 2010 Census/re-district: Discussion regarding one alderman per ward plus residents could make up the proposed committee.
TOPIC: Board/Mayor Term limits: Discussion regarding evaluating a ballot question on elected term limits. Public in-put could be provided via a comment box and survey type material delivered via the Flyer.
9:05 p.m. board members take a break from session.
9:15 p.m. board members return to session.
TOPIC: Commercial Vehicle Enforcement: Captain Elder came forward to discuss the need for enforcement on commercial vehicles. This will include specialized training scheduled (two (2) officers) for August to address the 1000+ commercial vehicles that past through Pleasant Valley each day.
TOPIC: Park’s Nature Day signage: Nature Day is scheduled for April 4, 2009; Mayor Todd requested that the costs of signs be explored. Costs ranged from $20.25 for a single sided sign to as much as $275.00 for a single sided banner type sign. After discussion, Mr. Slater, representing the Park Board indicates that they are fine with-out expending money on printed signs.
OTHER ITEMS COMING FORWARD:
TOPIC: Special Road District settlement with Clay County. Rosalee Linhart came forward regarding the first payment to the City from settlement funds. The City’s portion of attorney fees for the suit are currently $1,184.09 (for the first payment) which could be deducted from the payment of $11,371.25 leaving a net of $10,187.16. Smith moved, second by Donnini to allow $1,184.09 in attorney fees to be deducted from the first payment of $11,371.25 in settlement funds. Yeas: Mast, Jurado, Bolinger, Ammon, Maroon, Donnini and Smith. Phillips absent. Motion passed.
TOPIC: Mayor Todd asks Alderwoman Mast the status of the requested six-month financial statements for the period of Jan-Jun 2005, Jul-Dec 2006 and Jan-Jun 2007 that are currently not on file in the City Clerk’s office. Alderwoman Mast will look for the documents at her earliest opportunity.
TOPIC: Alderman Maroon questions the possibility of the board receiving a pay increase. Discussion followed with Alderwoman Mast noting that board members are not allowed to decline pay; Aldermen Donnini, Smith and Bolinger would not be for an increase. Additional discussion included obtaining the latest MARC salary survey for the metropolitan area.
TOPIC: Current cost for the T-1 line for internet connections. Information was obtained as directed for broadband access, which is substantially less than the current rate of over $800.00 per month for the T-1 line. Information obtained will be evaluated at the next finance committee meeting.
TOPIC: Request from the Village of Claycomo regarding the 211 system. Discussion regarding the request submitted by Jim Stoufer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Claycomo, to join/donate to the United Way 211 system. The consensus of the board was not to donate public funds.
TOPIC: Tammy Ammon, Director of Public Works came forward to inform board members of the efforts of Mr. Bill Hollon in cleaning debris along Church Road. Mayor Todd will send Mr. Hollon a letter acknowledging his efforts on behalf of the City of Pleasant Valley.
ADVISORY COMMITTEES:
Personnel Committee: In the absence of Committee Chairwoman Phillips, Alderwoman Jurado schedules a committee meeting for Monday, April 6, 2009 to immediately follow the finance committee meeting.
Finance Committee: Committee
chairwoman mast schedules a committee meeting for Monday, April 6, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.
TOPIC: Previously presented preliminary audit adjustment entries for FY 07/08. After discussion, Mast moved, second by Smith to accept the recommendation of the finance committee and proceed with the preliminary audit adjustment entries for FY 07/08 as prepared by Mr. Culley. Yeas: Bolinger, Ammon, Jurado, Maroon, Mast and Smith. Nay: Donnini. Phillips absent. Motion passed.
Mast moved, second by Donnini to go into closed session pursuant to RSMO 610.021 (1 & 3). Yeas: Jurado, Bolinger, Smith, Ammon, Maroon, Donnini and Mast. Phillips absent. Motion passed.
9:50 p.m. closed session.
10:08 p.m. return to open session.
Smith moved, second by Maroon to adjourn. Yeas: Ammon, Mast, Bolinger, Jurado, Donnini, Smith and Maroon. Phillips absent. Motion passed.
10:10 p.m. adjourn.
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Mayor
ATTEST:
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City Clerk