[Vision2020] Moscow City Council Monday Agenda

Fri Jun 4 09:02:15 PDT 2010

AGENDA

MOSCOW CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING

Monday, June 7, 2010                                                                                                         7:00 p.m.

City Hall Council Chambers

 206 East Third Street, Second Floor

The Moscow Mayor, City Council and Staff welcome you to tonight's meeting.  We appreciate and encourage public participation.  For regular agenda items, an opportunity for public comment is sometimes provided after the staff report.  However, the formality of procedures varies with the purpose and subject of the agenda item; therefore, the Mayor may exercise discretion in deciding when to allow public comment during the course of the proceedings and limitations may be placed on the time allowed for comments.  Citizens wishing to comment on business that is not on the agenda will be provided the opportunity to do so as item number 3.  If you plan to address the Council, you will find a list of "Tips for Addressing the Council" in the door pocket outside the City Council Chambers.  Thank you for your interest in City government.

RENEWING OUR FOCUS - At each meeting, we may highlight good deeds, good news, and the people and activities that inspire us and make our community great, then lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Contact a Council-member with examples to share at future meetings.

NATIONAL POLLINATOR WEEK PROCLAMATION - Mayor Chaney

1.       Consent Agenda:  Any item will be removed from the consent agenda at the request of any member of the Council and that item will be considered separately later.  Approval by roll call vote.

A.     Approval of Minutes of May 3, 2010 - Stephanie Kalasz

B.     State of Good Repair - Intermodal Transit Center Grant Application - Alisa Stone/Bill Belknap

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) announced a grant opportunity they are pursuing called the "State of Good Repair" (SGR) Bus initiative.  This is a nationwide competitive process for $577 Million of unallocated 5309 earmark funds from the 2010 Federal fiscal year.  Grant funds can be used for i) vehicle replacement or overhaul, ii) transit/maintenance facilities, iii) certain bus equipment and technologies, and iv) fleet maintenance management systems.  On May 13, 2010, ITD and the Community Transportation Association of Idaho (CTAI) held a joint webinar to discuss this opportunity.  They shared that the 5309 earmark funding we had applied for has now been transferred to a nationwide grant application process and therefore ITD and CTAI have decided to submit a statewide joint application.  This grant opportunity will allow the City of Moscow to apply for the remaining balance of funds needed in the proposed budget for the Intermodal Transit Center project.  The amount staff recommends for this request is $1,211,000.  If awarded, the project funds would be available October 1, 2010.  The match amount needed for the project is 20% or $242,200 which would be provided by the proposed land value of the building site.  Reviewed and approved by the Administrative Committee and the Public Works Finance Committee on May 24, 2010.

ACTION:  Approve submittal of application to ITD to be included in the statewide grant application to FTA for the State of Good Repair Bus Initiative 2010 for $1,211,000.

C.     Lot Line Adjustment for 1104 Peachtree Drive, Richard Lowe - Bill Belknap

Richard Lowe is requesting a lot line adjustment for two adjacent 0.53 acre and 0.66 acre parcels of land currently addressed as 1004 and 1011 Peachtree Dr and legally described as Lots 3 and 4 of Orchard Meadow 2nd Addition to the City of Moscow. Mr. Lowe is proposing to amend the east/west lot line that separates the two parcels in order to allow enough room to properly landscape the western portion of his lot. Mr. Lowe's parcel, 1004 Peachtree Dr, currently contains one single family dwelling and the adjacent parcel, 1011 Peachtree Dr, is currently vacant. Both parcels are located within the Moderate Density Residential (R-2) Zoning District and are required by the Zoning Code to be a minimum of 7,000 sq ft in size and 60 ft in width. The result of the proposed lot line adjustment will render the lots approximately 0.49 and 0.71 acres in size and will meet all zoning requirements for parcels located in the R-2 Zoning District.  Reviewed by the Public Works Finance Committee on May 24, 2010.

ACTION:  Approve the lot line adjustment request.

D.     Deviated Fixed-Route Public Transportation for Summer 2010 - Alisa Stone

In September 2009 the City received a grant from the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) that included $4,200 to provide public transportation access for the Moscow Farmers Market.  Staff has been working with Regional Valley Transit, Inc. (RPT, Inc.), our current public transportation provider, to develop a program to provide a deviated fixed route service on Saturday mornings.  Staff anticipates the cost to provide this service to be approximately $10,000 for the summer/fall 2010 season.  The grant funds will pay for $4,200 of the services with a remaining fee of $5,800 which staff is requesting to be paid from the Public Transportation budget which has funding for "$20,000 budgeted for undesignated public transit funds to be reviewed by City Council."  Staff recommended that service begin June 5, 2010, which is in advance of the next City Council meeting of June 7, 2010.  The Public Works/ Finance and Administrative Committees authorized staff to proceed and place on the June 7th Consent Agenda for ratification.  This was reviewed by the Public Works/Finance and Administrative Committees on May 24, 2010.  

ACTION:   Ratify and approve use of an amount not to exceed $6,000 from the Public Transportation budget to supplement USDA FMPP grant funding to provide Saturday morning public transportation services June through October 2010 with service to begin June 5th.

E.      Energy Grant Contract - Alisa Stone

In November, 2009, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) the Idaho Office of Energy solicited sub-grants to municipalities that were ineligible for the prior direct funding allocations.  Staff prepared and submitted an application on December 18, 2009.  On February 23, 2010, we received an email stating the City of Moscow's request for $96,200 was fully funded.  Since notification of the award staff has completed the pre-award contract requirements to include an environmental assessment of the project activities and approval from the Idaho State Historical Preservation Office.   

On May 21, 2010, staff received the grant award contract from the Idaho Office of Energy Resources (IOER).  The cover letter for the dated May 13, 2010, states the contract needs to be executed and returned within 14 days which would be May 28, 2010.  Staff advised the Administrative Committee of the pending deadline and received authorization to proceed with submission of the contract.  Staff notified IOER that the contract will not receive ratification from City Council until June 7, 2010.  This was reviewed by the Administrative Committee on May 24, 2010.

ACTION:  Ratify, accept and approve execution of the Energy Efficiency/Conservation Block Grant Program, Contract # CON00063 for $96,200 from the Idaho Office of Energy Resources.

2.       Mayor's Appointments - Mayor Chaney

3.       Public Comment and Mayor's Response Period (limit 15 minutes)  - For members of the Public to speak to the Council regarding matters NOT on the Agenda and not currently pending before the Planning and Zoning Commission or Board of Adjustment, please state your name and address for the record and limit remarks to three minutes.  Mayor will respond to comments from previous meeting. 

4.       Citizen Commission Report - Planning and Zoning Commission - Bill Belknap

5.       Public Hearing - Proposed Amendment to Title 4, Chapter 2, Regarding Large Retail Establishments and the Associated Design Manual - Bill Belknap

At the March 10th Joint meeting of the City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, both bodies agreed that they wished to revisit the amendments to the City's Large Retail Establishment Ordinance that were proposed by the Commission in the spring of 2007.  In response, the Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the previously proposed amendments and made some minor modifications to the previously proposed amendments to improve the clarity of the language and to make a few minor modifications.  The proposed amendments primarily relate to conditions of expansion to existing Large Retail Establishments (LREs) including the increase of the threshold for the requirement of a conditional use permit for the expansion of any existing LREs from 10% to 30%, and the removal of the current 10,000 square foot limit upon the expansion of existing Category 2 LREs.  The proposed amendments also include an entirely new section regarding building abandonment and vacancy that establishes a process for the declaration of LRE abandonment and provides the City Council with the ability to levy fines for failure to actively market or maintain an abandoned LRE in certain circumstances.  The Commission has also recommended some minor revisions to the LRE Design Manual. The proposed amendments and history of the LRE Ordinance are described in detail in the attached memorandum.  The Planning and Zoning Commission conducted a pubic hearing on the proposed amendments on May 12th, 2010 at which time the Commission unanimously recommended approval of the proposed amendments to the City Council.  The matter is before the City Council for the Council's consideration.

ACTION:  After considering public testimony, 1.  Proposed Ordinance: Approve the proposed Ordinance under suspension of the rules requiring three complete and separate readings and that it be read by title and published by summary; or consider the Ordinance on first reading; or reject the Ordinance; or take such other action deemed appropriate.  2.  Proposed Resolution Amending the Large Retail Establishment Design Manual:  Pass the proposed resolution adopting the proposed amendments to the Large Retail Establishment Design Manual; or take such other action as deemed appropriate.

6.       Community Garden Proposal - Eric Newell

The development of a community garden has been a long-standing goal of the Moscow Parks and Recreation Commission.  A suitable site was selected on the east side of the Hamilton Indoor Recreation Center property.  If the project plan is approved by the City Council, the development of this site is contingent upon obtaining the funds through grants, donations and in-kind services.  The development cost is $7,700, which will include installation of water lines/spigots, soil preparation and fencing along the east side of the project.  Operational costs will be covered through garden plot rental fees.  The project plans for 44 garden plots 20'x20' with each plot renting for $30.  Annual expenses are estimated at $840/year with annual revenues (at full capacity) reaching $1,320.  Staff is also seeking to include local gardening groups to assist with operational issues as they arise.  This specific site is centrally located in a residential area, has plentiful parking, infrastructure already exists and has restroom facilities. A community garden is low-impact so there will be minimal impact on neighbors.  Rules of etiquette will be enforced to ensure a peaceful coexistence between the community garden and the surrounding residents.  There is also additional space should the garden become successful enough for future expansion.  If the project plan is approved and funding successfully obtained, the site will be constructed in time for gardening to start in the spring of 2011.  This plan is supported by the Parks and Recreation Commission.  Reviewed by the Public Works Finance Committee on May 24, 2010.

ACTION:  Approve the City of Moscow Community Garden; or take such action deemed appropriate.

7.       Proposed Ordinance to Allow Sidewalk Cafés in Friendship Square to Serve Alcohol - Dwight Curtis

Since 2007 sidewalk cafés have been allowed to serve wine and beer in the Central Business (CB) Zoning District pursuant to the Sidewalk Café Ordinances.  Friendship Square is a park pursuant to the Moscow City Code.  Currently, alcohol is only allowed in parks through the specific regulation, as determined by City Council on a case by case basis.  In order to make the City Code internally consistent, staff recommends that there be an amendment to the Parks Ordinance to allow service of alcohol in parks pursuant to the current regulations relative to sidewalk cafés and/or other City authorizations or permits.  This was reviewed by the Administrative Committee on May 24, 2010.

ACTION:  Approve the Ordinance under suspension of the rules requiring three complete and separate readings and that it be read by title and published by summary; or consider the Ordinance on first reading and that it be read by title; or reject the Ordinance; or take such other action deemed appropriate.

8.       Proposed Change to Sidewalk Café Ordinance Allowing Liquor - Randy Fife

In 2007, the City Council allowed sidewalk cafés to serve wine and/or beer in the Central Business (CB) District under certain conditions, including demonstration of insurance, valid alcohol licensing, creation of barriers, and a North Central District Health Department risk assessment, among other things.  The existence of sidewalk cafés has enhanced the downtown area by providing downtown eating, drinking, socializing, and mingling opportunities.  Members of City Council requested that staff expand the sidewalk café regulations to include liquor within the sidewalk café Licensed Area under certain conditions.  The proposed Ordinance allows service of liquor through proper City, County, and State licensing and where the establishment qualifies as a "full service restaurant", as that term is defined.  This was reviewed by the Administrative Committee on May 24, 2010.

ACTION:  Approve the Ordinance under suspension of the rules requiring three complete and separate readings and that it be read by title and published by summary; or consider the Ordinance on first reading and that it be read by title; or reject the Ordinance; or take such other action deemed appropriate.

REPORTS:     Administrative Committee

                        Public Works/Finance Committee

                        Other Boards & Commissions 

                        Mayor

Stephanie Kalasz, CMC

City Clerk

City of Moscow

206 E. 3rd Street

Moscow  ID   83843

(208) 883-7015

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