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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/21/1976 MINUTES June 21, 1976 The Study Session of the Wheat Ridge City Council was called to order by Mayor Frank Stites at 4355 Field Street at 7 30 p.m. Councilmen attending were Mary Jo Cavarra, Joseph Donaldson, Robert Howard, Calvin Hulsey, Larry Merkl and Louise Turner. Also in attendance were City Administrator John Jerman, City Attorney Maurice Fox, City Clerk Elise Brougham, City Treasurer James Malone, staff and interested citizens. Item 1. was a discussion of a letter from Mountain Bell dated 5/9/75 regarding the franchise tax levied by the City on t,he company. Mr. Asa McNabb, manager of Mountain Bell was present. City Attorney Fox stated a lawsuit has been filed by the company against the City regarding the franchise tax based on gross revenue and that a decision had been awarded in favor of the company in another lawsuit, and suggested that the City discuss with the telephone company their suggestions on what would be a satisfactory alternative. Mr. McNabb passed out a sample ordinance that was based on a flat rate which would be equivalent to the projected income of the tax in the City's budget. There was no escalating clause and he stated that for next year the City and the company could work together on an agreeable ordinance. City Attorney Fox recommended that the City foTIbw this suggestion. Council agreed to this. Item 2. was discussion. of the police contract proposal by Councilman Merkl. Detective Ray presented a peution signed by 53 police members who stated they disagreed with the anonymous letter that had been distributed from the police department favoring the contracting idea. He stated there wasi;l1Dtal of 52 police employees and the others had not been contacted yet due to vacations etc. Councilman Merkl requested that Council contact the Sheriff's Department to see if it was feasible and let him present a proposal of costs etc. Councilman Howard agreed. Councilman Cavarra did not feel the sheriff could perform a number of services with the present mill levy and that there would be no administrative costs was unrealistic and that a reason for incorporation was for better police protection and that no citizens had called her who were in favor of contracting. Mayor Stites stated he had received calls from citizens who were not in favor and that locally a level of services were provided that the people wanted. Councilman Turner requested a resolution be drawn up for next week giving a vote of confidence to the police department and stating no change was contemplated at the present time. Councilman Hulsey stated the County Commissioners have final say on contracting because they control the budget, and that it had taken 5 years to build up the equipment etc. in the present police department. City Attorney Fox felt the city would lose control and that the sheriff and the commissioners are political figures. Councilman Donaldson felt the proposal should be investigated if it could save money. Since there was not a consensus of opinion, it was agreed to invite Sheriff Bray and possibly other County Officials to come to the 5/28/75 Council Meeting at 5 45 p.m. to discuss a level of service that could be provided and the cost. The sheriff is to receive a copy of Councilman Merkl's report. Item 5. was consideration of an intergovernmental agreement pertaining to a county-wide 911 emergency reporting system. Mr. Christiansen from the Telepune Co. was present to answer questions on the system. All the governmental agencies involved were in agreement and the plan was ready for implementation. Council agreed to schedule approval of the agreement, for the 6/28/75 agenda. MINUTES - 5/21/76 - Continued -2- Item 3 was consideration of the revised intergovernmental agreement for the fabridam installation at Maple Grove Reservoir which provided for 18 3/4% contribution from Wheat Ridge for the original cost, plus an annual replacement fund and an annual maintenance cost. Mr. Jerman explained this would be for a 40' fabridam and Consolidated Mutual would install a 30' fabridam in addition. Ii was agreed to place this item on the 5/28/75 agenda. Item 4. was discussion of the revised Police Advisory Committee Resolution which set up guidelines for the committee and allowed 2 appointments from each ward and 1 appointment by the Mayor. It was agreed to place the Resolution on the agenda for 5/28/75 and to make appointments at that time. Item 5. was discussion of the proposed crosspan repair recommendations from the Council Street Improvement Committee. Mr. Jerman stated $18,000 was available for additional paving work or work on the crosspans. Councilman Howard suggested using chip and seal on low use residential streets and added 2 crosspans to the list as follows 45 Ave. & Jay and 45 Pl. and Vance. Mr. Hobbs requested t,hat he get engineering information on the crosspans at W. 35 Ave. & Ames & Benton before work is begun to see if a bubbler system is feasible there. Council agreed to sthedule this for 6/28/76. Councilman Turner staled she felt some of the repairs on the list were not crosspans but were deteriorating curb and gutter on the radii and questioned if these should be replaced at the City's expense. Item 7. was consideration ef revised building permit forms and signature procedures on the permits and permit fees. Mr. Zwaqerman, Director of Communit,y Development stated there would be one miscellaneous permit presigned by the mayor and one building permit form which would be individually signed by the Mayor. The proposed fees were from the Uniform Building Code with the provision of regional modifiers. Council agreed that an ordinance should be prepared for action at a later date. Item 8. was discussion of 1977 Budget goals and priorities. Mr. Jerman had prepared a tentative list of categories for budgeting. Councilmen Cavarra & Turner stated they were in favor of lowering the mill levy due to the raised assessed valuation. Councilman Merkl was not in favor of this idea. Council felt they could not discuss employee salaries until recommendations from the Civil Service Commission and the Personnel Commission were in regarding the pay incentive program and longevity. Councilman Cav~ recommended t~at a high priority should be continuing the greenbelt. Council felt^new telephone system should be installed when there are new offices and that new offices would not be discussed in the budget. Mr. Zwaqerman suggested that his office have a separate number which would allevEte some of the burden on the switchboard and it was agreed costs on this should be looked into. Mayor Stites stated there needs to be a continuing replacement program of vehicles and the idea of compacts for staff cars was discussed again. Mayor Stites stated it was his understanding that more drainage money would be budgeted for Lena Gulch next year than other areas, and Councilmen Merkl and Hulsey stated they wanted to wait to discuss this at a later date. Item 9. was discussion of liquor license rev~s~ons by recent state legislative action. New fees will be allowed for new licenses, transfer and renewal by the City after July 1. Councilman Cavarra stated that the new classification of tavern license could have a higher occupational tax levied since they are usually more costly to the City. City Attorney Fox is to prepare an ordinance amendment. Councilmen Cavarra stated Council can now revoke inactive licenses and Mr Fox stated he would prepare a resolution on this. Mr. Fox staLed that an alleged liquor violation scheduled for 6/28/76 COuld not be held because the officer who reported it is no longer available. Meeting was adjourned at 10 30 p.m. t~ k'~-'!. ~ "'~7'"~ .l ~/i--.! Appr{;ved ~" j) /-7, , ); {" / (.-< ! ( . .>( ) .. ~), ~ \..t..::...>.-{" ..J.._ ~~/ liJ. (t ~L~" t Elise Brougham, Ci t'l', lerk 'I