CITY OF SOUTH SALT LAKE

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

COUNCIL MEETING Wednesday June 10, 2009

7:10 p.m.

CITY OFFICES 220 East Morris Avenue

South Salt Lake, Utah 84115

PRESIDING Council Chair LeRoyTurner

CONDUCTING Council Member Michael RutterRea Goddard

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/

SERIOUS MOMENT OF REFLECTION Council Member Marilyn Brusch

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS Lt. Dwayne Ruth

COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:

Marilyn Brusch, Casey Fitts, Boyd Marshall, Michael Rutter,

Shane Siwik, LeRoy Turner and John Weaver

STAFF PRESENT:

Mayor Robert D. Gray

David Carlson, City Attorney,

Kyle Kershaw, Finance Director

Larry Gardner, Community/Economic Development

Sonya Crouch, Human Resources Director

Craig Burton, City Recorder

Karen Rynearson, Deputy City Recorder

OTHERS PRESENT:

See Attached List

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Council Chair Siwik moved that the Council approve the minutes of June 3, 2009.

MOTION: Shane Siwik

SECOND: LeRoy Turner

Voice Vote:

Brusch Aye

Fitts Aye

Marshall Aye

Rutter Abstain

Siwik Aye

Turner Aye

Weaver Aye

Council Member Rutter abstained from voting because he was not present at the meeting.

NO ACTION COMMENTS

2. SCHEDULING. The City Recorder informed those at the meeting of upcoming events, meetings, activities, etc.

3. MAYOR COMMENTS. None

1. INFORMATION

a. Chamber of Commerce Report. Chamber President and CEO, Stacey Liddiard, made a slide presentation of the Chamber’s latest report. A copy of the presentation is attached to these minutes and incorporated by this reference.

Council Member Siwik asked Mrs. Liddiard who the grant writer for the Chamber is. Mrs. Liddiard answered that it is done as a committee. Kari Cutler works with them a lot, as does Troy Bennett from the Rec Department. About two months ago Mrs Liddiard and Troy Bennett and Stephanie from the Rec Department identified ten grants that they have applied for that would directly benefit after-school programs.

Council Member Weaver mentioned that three years ago there was some ambiguity in terms of the relationship between the City and the Chamber. He doesn’t think at that time there was the same sense about reporting back and having the dialog of what the City wants and this is what the Chamber can produce, and then using those things as measures of performance. What has been presented tonight has exceeded any expectation of any Council person in the course of the discussions of one or two years ago by two or three times.

Council Member Weaver appreciates the desire to be accountable for the investment. It makes his job a lot easier because it takes the ambiguity out of it. It makes it clear that this investment will wind up getting this kind of result. He thanked Mrs. Liddiard for assembling the information and making it clear and understandable.

Council Member Marshall remarked that the Chamber has always done a good job, but most of it has been behind the scenes. The Chamber has had a chance to flourish over the last couple of years under Mrs. Liddiard’s direction and the great board of directors. The Chamber has far exceeded any expectations.

Council Member Fitts said that we charge anybody who is associated with the City to improve the image of the City and of those we work with in the City. He was at a recent meeting where a government official (not from South Salt Lake) said he would take South Salt Lake’s Chamber as it is now and put it up against any large city Chamber there is. That further demonstrates the value of what we’re getting for our investment. He appreciates the Chamber’s realistic understanding of the fact that we’re all trying to do more with less. He appreciates the vision the Chamber has to say that we’re here with the rest of the City.

Mrs. Liddiard explained that when she started four and a half years ago the Chamber had gone through some significant difficulties and the board had run the Chamber for about nine months, which is a big strain on a board of governors. It was the best they could do to put on a couple of luncheons. Mrs. Liddiard came on a very part-time basis. They have moved from a very part-time Chamber with the reputation of not being a very big player in the Chamber community to now we are a big player in the Chamber community. We communicate and work with other Chambers on a constant basis. She would hate to go from where we are now back to a part-time Chamber and have to cut the programs and services that they are able to provide.

Mrs. Liddiard informed the Council that she has been asked to sit on the board for the State Chamber – because we’re getting noticed by the other communities. This is what the City needs. We need to be looked at as a player.

4. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS. Council Member Brusch announced that the Farmer’s Market will begin Tuesday, June 16, at Pioneer Craft House and go every Tuesday evening through September.

Council Member Marshall said he has always known the Chamber is a great asset to the City. He is glad for the people who have made that happen now. Anyone who can’t see that the City and the Chamber working together is a good thing has a real problem.

Council Member Marshall said there was an interesting article in the paper today. On the tickets being given in the construction zones on I-80 they intimated that the money goes directly to the City that the freeway goes through. Council Member Marshall asked if we actually get those funds.

Finance Director Kyle Kershaw responded that generally the Highway Patrol is directed that in the jurisdiction which they give a ticket, that those tickets get adjudicated wherever they are located. All of the fine, other than the surcharge, remains with the city. The reality is that if a Highway Patrol trooper writes a bunch of tickets and it’s easier to drop them off in West Valley on his way home rather than in our City, he’s not sure what controls that. Mr. Kershaw verified that whatever Highway Patrol ticket ends up in our court and gets adjudicated, the revenue stays here other than whatever surcharges we have to remit back to the State.

Council Member Fitts echoed Council Member Marshall’s support of the Chamber. We are really privileged to have such a class organization that works to represent the City in the way that it does. It demonstrates the power and the potential of people who care about a community, a place, working together. The amount of money that was put back into children’s lives this last holiday season shows how willing the Chamber is to go above and beyond what it is that they have been asked to do. That’s why it’s so important for us to continue the support that we have demonstrated over the last couple of years.

Council Member Fitts advised that he will not be able to attend the Council meeting on July 8, but he will be in a location where he will be able to call in to be involved in the meeting. He will make the necessary arrangements.

Council Member Rutter reminded Mayor Gray about their conversation concerning the 2700 South semaphores. Mayor Gray said he advised Council Member Brusch about the conversation. Mayor Gray said that 500 East, 2700 South and 3300 South are being looked at. Salt Lake City has control of 500 East, but we are contacting them to see if they are willing to make some adjustments. Dennis Pay is contacting the State to see what we can do with 3300 South and 2700 South and see if we can go with four-way flashing later in the morning, etc. As far as crosswalks and striping, it was already under way. It has been too wet to do it.

5. CITIZEN COMMENTS/QUESTIONS. Rob Timmerman, South Salt Lake Coalition for a Drug Free Youth - They are in a new office at 2880 South Main Street, Suite 9. They are grateful to have a relationship with the Chamber of Commerce. He meets nationally with representatives from all over the country – 700 plus organizations. They operate off of a grant from the Federal government. They are required to engage 12 community sectors, one of which is the business sector. Many other groups are jealous of our group because we are able to involve the Chamber as the business community representative. The Chamber will become the fiscal agent for the Coalition for the next five years. Over the next five years they will get about $1.32 million worth of funding because of the Coalition and the relationship with the Chamber. The grant’s requirement is a 100 percent matching requirement for the first three years, ending with a 150 percent matching requirement, which means other community partners are donating time, services and money. The Coaltion is grateful for its relationship with the Chamber, the City, the Mayor’s office, the Rec Department and Public Safety.

Kendrick LeFleur, a resident for more than 12 years. He is the outreach coordinator for Hser Ner Moo Center. He works daily with refugees. They teach English as a second language and help the people in their daily lives. The refugee needs are overwhelming but many groups are assisting. Mrs. Liddiard is always involved with the Center.

Sharon Opfermann, owner of Camp Bow Wow – Her business is a doggie day care and boarding facility which opened in the City last November. The Chamber helped her to start her business and did a ribbon cutting event for her. She can attribute about 65 percent of her business growth to contacts through the Chamber.

Connie Anderson, 602 East 3665 South – For almost the whole time she taught at Granite High she was invited to the business women’s luncheon sponsored by the Chamber and she has become a member of the Chamber. She has seen the kids get the benefit of the Chamber. Every child at Woodrow Wilson got a pair of shoes at Christmas because of the Chamber’s efforts through Portia Taylor of Credit Union One. Also the Farmers Insurance Group adopted Granite High School and made back packs for the kids with small gifts inside. Over 100 agents of Farmers Insurance came to the Granite assembly. As a school board member she visited James E. Moss Elementary, just outside the City’s boundaries. The principal said she was jealous of the schools in South Salt Lake because of what the Chamber has been doing for them. The final graduating class of Granite High has just had its graduation party at Bonwood Bowl, sponsored by the manager. She has enjoyed being a member of the business women’s committee. She urged the Council to financially support the Chamber.

Mrs. Anderson reported there were 59 graduating seniors from Granite High. Forty-seven have applied to and have been accepted by colleges. Thirty-eight have scholarships, including one from the Chamber. Most of the kids are first-generation college attenders. She is proud of what Granite High did for the children of South Salt Lake.

Brandon Liddiard, 166 East Utopia Avenue – He is the son of Stacey Liddiard, a voter and a citizen of the City. He works at Best Buy in South Salt Lake. He thinks the business thrives because of the Chamber. His mother, on behalf of the Chamber, knows his general manager better than he does. His mother invests a lot of time on her job and she gives a lot for the business community of the City. He’s asking the Council Members to make good decisions for the City.

Paul Hatch, President of Printech Plus in South Salt Lake – They have been in business in the City for more than 20 years. His father has been involved with the Chamber for many years. They have over 100 employees, many of whom are citizens of South Salt Lake. He cares about this City. The Chamber is the only link the businesses have with the City as far as understanding what’s going on in the City. Many years ago their business wanted to be involved in some community service, but didn’t know where to go. His father got involved in the Chamber and found out things they could do. For the last 15 years they have been delivering Meals on Wheels here in South Salt Lake. That originally came through the Chamber. The networking they do involving the Chamber is invaluable. They are members of the Salt Lake City Chamber also, but are not involved. The South Salt Lake Chamber is far superior. Mrs. Liddiard gives attention to all the businesses, large and small. Even a small business is made to feel that they can make a difference. He asked the Council to do whatever they can to support the Chamber.

Tim Johnson, in South Salt Lake since 1990 – He was introduced to the Chamber and started coming to the Vision Committee and found out how much they care about the City. There are a lot of hours put into it and a lot of effort and thought about everything. He is a real estate agent and is excited to be here. The Chamber is invaluable.

ACTION ITEMS

UNFINISHED COUNCIL BUSINESS

1. Interfund Loan From the Capital Improvement Fund to the Ambulance Service Fund. Finance Director Kyle Kershaw explained this is an interfund loan from the Capital Improvement Fund to the Ambulance Service Fund to finance approximately $750,000 in the current year’s budget to purchase equipment and a little over $800,000 for expected shortfalls in the operating budget of the Ambulance Service Fund in the next fiscal year. The entire loan amount is $1,624,337. The Council has also received a memorandum of explanation from the City Attorney. If the Council approves this, it takes effect July 1. In the financial statements as of June 30, 2009, on the balance sheet there will be a negative cash amount because it will take effect in the next fiscal year. It will be negative by about $750,000, or whatever the equipment purchases are. Next year, if expected revenues and expected expenditures come in, the cash should be a “wash” with this loan proceed. There is not a set time. There are some parameters that funds will be repaid as they are available in the Ambulance Service Fund. For the interest rate we will use an annual average of the rate we get at the Public Treasurers Investment Fund. That will be an annual calculation.

Council Member Siwik asked what the interest rate would be. Mr. Kershaw said it would be really low. He doesn’t know what the average rate over 12 months would be right now.

Council Member Marshall said it’s an administrative decision to have the higher interest rate because there’s flexibility plus one or two percent. Mr. Kershaw thinks it should be in the promissory note. Mr. Carlson said this can be done by interlineation of the purchase price. It’s not going to take effect until July 1.

Council Member Marshall moved that we accept this resolution of the City of South Salt Lake City Council authorizing an interfund loan from the City of South Salt Lake’s Capital Improvement Fund to the City’s Ambulance Service Fund to pay the initial start-up costs of the City’s ambulance service system, with the rate of interest to be adjusted annually and indexed to the yearly annual rate of interest paid by the Public Treasurers Investment Fund, plus two percent.

MOTION: Boyd Marshall

SECOND: John Weaver

Roll Call Vote:

Brusch Aye

Fitts Aye

Marshall Aye

Rutter Aye

Siwik Nay

Turner Aye

Weaver Aye

Mr. Kershaw remarked that this would have one, two or three years before this will actually have some practical effect. In a budget process the Council would decide how much principal will be repaid. Then we will compute some interest. Interest will begin bearing July 1, 2009.

Council Member Weaver moved to adjourn to work meeting.

MOTION: Boyd Marshall

SECOND: Shane Siwik

Roll Call Vote:

Brusch Aye

Fitts Aye

Marshall Aye

Rutter Aye

Siwik Aye

Turner Aye

Weaver Aye

Council Meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

______________________________

LeRoy Turner, Council Chair

___________________________________

Craig D. Burton, City Recorder