Marysville City Council Notes

MARYSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MET MONDAY, MEETING FIRST IN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR AN HOUR TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL.  NO DECISIONS WERE MADE. 

 

A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD REGARDING AMENDMENT OF THE TRANSIENT GUEST TAX BUDGET FOR TRAVEL AND TOURISM.  THE BUDGET WAS ESSENTIALLY DOUBLED TO $84,000.  FUNDING WAS AVAILABLE THROUGH GUEST TAX RECEIPTS, WHICH WERE UP CONSIDERABLY LAST YEAR, DUE IN LARGE PART TO AN INCREASE FROM 2% TO 5% ON MOTEL ROOMS ADOPTED IN LATE 2010.  TRAVEL AND TOURISM HAS COMMISSIONED A BRANDING STUDY FOR THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE, WHICH WILL CONSUME A LARGE PART OF THE ORIGINAL BUDGET AMOUNT.  NO PUBLIC APPEARANCES WERE NOTED.

 

REQUESTS WERE RECEIVED FOR ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION FOR A U S 36 MEETING ON THE KOESTER BLOCK IN JUNE, AN ARTS CENTER STREET DANCE FUNDRAISER MAY 12, AND AS PART OF A LARGER REQUEST REGARDING PARK AND STREET CLOSURES TO ACCOMMODATE BIG BLUE RIVER DAYS, AND THE UNION PACIFIC 150TH CELEBRATION JUNE FIRST AND SECOND.  THESE WERE APPROVED.

 

VICKI GROSS ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL CONCERNING ELIMINATION OF THE INTANGIBLES TAX, SUGGESTING THAT COST SAVINGS MAY BE ACHIEVED THROUGH ADDED SCRUTINY OF THE CITY ATTORNEY INVOICES.  TERRY HUGHES AND CARLA GRUND GAVE A PRESENTATION ON ELIMINATION OF THE INTANGIBLES TAX AS WELL, NOTING THAT PETITIONS ARE BEING CIRCULATED ASKING THAT THE ISSUE BE PUT TO VOTERS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.  THEY ALSO SUGGESTED POTENTIAL AREAS FOR CONSIDERATION TO MAKE UP THE LOST TAX, WHICH LAST YEAR RANGED FROM $57 – $58,000.  THE INTANGIBLES TAX HAS GENERATED AS MUCH AS $90,000 OR MORE ANNUALLY IN SOME PREVIOUS YEARS.  COUNCIL HAS MADE NO DECISION ON THE MATTER.

 

RICK SHAIN NOTED CHANGES IN THE C D B G HOUSING REHABILITATION GRANT PROGRAM.  DEFINED TARGET AREAS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED, AND QUALIFIED APPLICANTS MEETING INCOME GUIDELINES THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY APPLIED ARE BEING CONTACTED.  CHANGES ALSO INCLUDE RECOGNITION OF LEVERAGE THAT COMMUNITY GROUPS, BUSINESSES, OR OTHERS MAY PROVIDE TOWARD IMPROVEMENTS.  PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE PLANNED IN MAY TO FURTHER MAKE THE PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS.  IT IS EXPECTED THAT A LARGER POOL OF POTENTIAL COMMUNITIES MAY COMPETE FOR FUNDING.

 

A BID FOR OVERLAY OF THE TENNIS COURTS CAME IN AT $97, 225, REFLECTING MORE THAN A 10% INCREASE FROM A 2009 QUOTE.  PAINTING AND STRIPING WOULD LIKELY ADD ANOTHER $25,000 OR MORE TO THE PROJECT.  A MOTION TO PROCEED WAS WITHDRAWN FOLLOWING DISCUSSION THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE FUNDING.

 

APPROVAL WAS GIVEN TO PURSUE A GEOMETRIC IMPROVEMENT GRANT FOR U S 36 AT 20TH STREET TO IMPROVE DRAINAGE, LINE OF SIGHT, AND TURNING RADIUS.  C M H REQUESTED A STOP SIGN AT 19TH AND MAY.  STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP ON THE REQUEST.  THE SPEED LIMIT ON NORTH STREET WAS AGAIN DISCUSSED, WITH NO DECISION MADE. 

 

POLICE CHIEF TODD ACKERMAN ADVISED THAT HE WAS COMPLETING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN FOR THE CITY, AND HE WAS AUTHORIZED TO RUN FOR A STATEWIDE CURRICULUM BOARD FOR OFFICER TRAINING.

 

CITY PURCHASING POLICY WAS DISCUSSED, WITH A $2500 LIMIT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR, AND $500 FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS.  A COUNCIL WORKSHOP IS PLANNED MAY FIFTH, WITH A BUDGET WORKSHOP JUNE SEVEN.