Saratoga Springs
SS City Council Notes
March 20, 2012
The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. Those present included Bud Poduska, Michael McOmber, Jim Miller, Shellie Baertsch, Rebecca Call, Mayor Mia Love and city staff.
Policy items
Consent calendar
The consent calendar was unanimously approved.
Public Hearing: Budget amendment for Fiscal Year 2011-2012.
City staff reported that the city budget needed to be increased in some areas. In all cases, additional revenue had been found to cover requested expenses. Some of the additional funds were needed for the capitol purchase of a vehicle and equipment, the creation of a water rights fund, and purchasing additional water meters.
Some of the additional sources of revenue included higher-than-projected property and sales tax revenue. The Street Light SID Fund also had additional money.
City Manager Mark Christensen noted that 300 new water meters were replacing meters that were no longer working throughout the city. Non-working meters meant lost revenue for the city, he explained, as those residents were only paying a base water rate. The city also needed meters for newly constructed homes.
Mayor Mia Love encouraged staff to be frugal with additional revenue. Just because we have it, she stated, that doesn’t mean we have to spend it.
The budget amendment was unanimously approved.
Park rental fee waiver request.
City staff reported that the CUWCD (Central Utah Water Conservancy District) wanted to hold a community party at Neptune Park as a thank you to Saratoga Springs citizens for their patience with its pipeline project.
CUWCD asked that the city waive the $50 pavilion rental fee.
Councilman Michael McOmber found it ironic that there was already a request to waive fees just recently put in place. Aside from the irony, he was in favor of waiving the fee for the community party. He foresaw many requests to waive fees in the future.
We should be more altruistic, McOmber surmised, encouraging businesses and events to come to Saratoga Springs.
Love noted that she would soon be attending a political athletic event in South Jordan. Event planners had looked into holding the event in Saratoga Springs, but the recently approved fee schedule made the city a more expensive locale.
The City Council unanimously agreed to waive the fee.
Reports
Councilwoman Rebecca Call reported that the city received a grant to connect a Pelican Bay lakeshore trail to a nearby neighborhood. She was excited because the award of one grant usually led to additional grant awards.
The meeting then entered into closed session.
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Neptune Park
By Nancy Kramer
Staff Writer
There is a spectacular new park in Saratoga Springs. Neptune Park includes a playground with many innovative features, benches placed in strategic locations for those who need a place to sit back and take in the surrounding scenery, six basketball standards, a pavilion with picnic tables and benches, restroom facilities, a large grassy field for soccer athletes, a lovely stage area, and several garbage cans so patrons can take care of their trash.
The playground consists of a tot lot where the smaller children can have a great time without encountering the bigger, more aggressive kids. In this area a playhouse awaits them, along with a rotating table, swings, spinner bowls and a seesaw.
The playground’s main feature attraction is the “Supernova,” a large climbing structure that’s sure to attract many adventurers who will challenge themselves to scurry all the way to the top. Of course, there are swings and slides, but there are some unusual pieces with name such as the “Crest,” the “Icon Rocker,” and the “Icon Space.” Unusual devices let the rider either stand or sit, gathering momentum until they are propelling themselves in dizzying circles.
Other amenities include an event stage where performances such as concerts or plays can be presented. The large parking lot will accommodate many patrons for such events. If you have a family reunion in your future, the roomy pavilion will provide you with adequate room for entertaining a multitude of relatives.
A favorite area for up and coming basketball stars is the court containing six basketball standards, with a shorter one for the younger players. Just west of the playground and basketball area is the soccer field, which looks large enough to accommodate several games.
Neptune Park is approximately 10.8 acres and is located on 400 North and 452 West, just north of Lake View Academy Charter School. You don’t have to wait until summer to take advantage of this beautiful park.
February 21, 2012
SS City Council Notes
By Jennifer Klingonsmith
The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. Those present included Michael McOmber, Jim Miller, Shellie Baertsch, Rebecca Call, Mayor Mia Love and city staff. Bud Poduska was absent.
Policy items
Consent Calendar
The consent calendar was unanimously approved.
Review and discussion of the proposed city website content.
City staff and a web design firm had recently been working on redesigning the city’s website. They had brought several mock-ups to receive feedback from the City Council.
City Council members suggested that the website needed to emphasize Utah Lake. They also wanted the color scheme to be predominantly blue and include the city’s tagline, “Life’s just better here.”
Councilwoman Rebecca Call, who designs websites for a living, wanted to ensure that the website was fluid, or easily changed by city staff. She wanted more drop-in widgets and a file manager system.
Mayor Mia Love stated that there was a disconnect between the city’s existing marketing materials and the website. She wanted the look and the message to be consistent.
There was extended discussion on just what functions the website should perform. City Council members insisted that residents be able to pay their utility bills, register for recreation programs, look at an online newsletter, and that the site be mobile-friendly.
Resolution R12-8 (2-21-12): Refunding SID Bonds for reduced interest rate. A resolution of the City Council of the City of Saratoga Springs, Utah, authorizing the issuance and sale of not more than $4,500,000 aggregate principle amount of special assessment refunding bonds (Special Improvement District No. 2005-1), Series 2012; fixing the maximum aggregate principle amount of the bonds, the maximum number of years over which bonds may mature, the maximum interest rate which the bonds may bear, and the maximum discount from par at which the bonds may be sold.
The resolution passed unanimously.
Public safety reports
Fire Chief Jess Campbell reported the fire department’s year-end statistics for 2011. He reported that fire personnel had transported 224 patients and had received a total of 466 calls for assistance. The average response time was eight minutes.
The fire department received 251 fire calls with an average response time of nine minutes. He noted that the longer response time for fires was due to many being brush fires. Campbell also noted that the ambulance response time dropped to six minutes once the ambulance was relocated to a more central location in the city.
Councilman Michael McOmber asked why the fire department’s overtime budget was 90 percent spent and why contracted expenditures were high.
Campbell noted that overtime was under-funded. When fire investigations can only be conducted by individuals with specific training, overtime costs are going to increase, he stated. The high cost of contracting with a physician was just part of the cost that comes with running a paramedic service, Campbell concluded.
Campbell did note that the fire department was reducing costs by labeling firefighter turnout jackets with the title, “Utah County Metro Unit” rather than “Saratoga Springs Fire Department”. He said that firefighters tend to work with multiple agencies on a part-time basis. This way, when personnel work with other agencies in Northern Utah County, they can wear the same turnout jacket (which is an expensive piece of equipment).
Police Chief Gary Hicken also reported his year-end statistics. He stated that in 2011, police responded to 5,107 incidents (an incident is an event where a report was written). The average response time was seven minutes. The police department conducted 1,046 investigations, clearing 1,100 of them (this higher number reflects investigations that were started in previous years, but cleared in 2011).
Hicken reported that the police department issued 1,200 traffic citations.
Some of the goals the police department will be working on this coming year include a quicker response time and to do more self-initiated police work.
Hicken also noted the success of Polar Plunge. He reported 201 jumpers and $16,000 raised. It was the largest Polar Plunge event in the State of Utah. Proceeds went to the Special Olympics.
City council members then asked Chiefs Campbell and Hicken to comment on the sometimes-dangerous intersection of Pony Express Parkway and Redwood Road. They asked what safety improvements should be made.
Campbell thought that too many drivers pushed the boundaries when it came to obeying the colored lights. Hicken suggested the lights be adjusted to reflect times of heavy traffic (longer turn lights to clear turn lanes) and also to let more time pass after a red light.
Financial Quarterly Reports
Assistant City Manager Spencer Kyle introduced a new senior accountant. He reported that Randy Booth came to the city after working at PEHP (Public Employee Health Plans) for the last 12 years. He is a certified public finance officer.
Booth noted that the city was receiving $1.9 million in property tax revenue.
Mayor Love pointed out that the property tax revenue did not even cover public safety costs. She said that this was evidence of the City Council’s fiscally conservative policies. We try our best to keep government costs off the backs of taxpayers, she concluded.
Booth then continued his report, stating that department budgets were sound.
Discussion of fire apparatus
Fire Chief Campbell explained that over the last 2.5 years, Engine 261 had required over $67,000 in repairs. He also noted that a company that may soon go out of business built the truck, causing parts to become unavailable. The inadequate four-inch drum brakes were also a safety concern.
Because of these concerns, Campbell suggested the time might soon come when the city would need to purchase a new fire engine. He asked that a ladder truck be considered. As such, Campbell had done some research on different truck styles, costs, and financing options and presented them to the City Council.
Campbell had found a new apparatus from a more reliable manufacturer for $499,000. He also reported a financing option of paying it off over 15 years at a rate of four percent interest. He stated that Engine 261 could be sold for the remaining $90,000 owed on the loan. A new truck would be estimated to last 12 to 15 years.
McOmber expressed frustration because the City Council had been told many months ago (before Campbell was hired) that Engine 261 was operational and that the city wouldn’t need a ladder truck for years to come. This information was issued when the City Council was considering joining the United Fire Authority in Salt Lake County. He lamented that now the city has sunk $67,000 into a “lemon” and to find funds to pay for a new apparatus.
McOmber asked about the possibilities of sharing the cost of a ladder truck with other cities. He also suggested using the bulk buying power of the Utah County Metro.
The City Council agreed to look further into possibly replacing Engine 261. Members were also going to seek out the finance committee’s opinion on the matter.
Discussion of a remnant parcel on the Final Plat for The Cove at Jordan River, Phase 9.
City staff reported that The Cove’s final plat contained a long strip of land that would not be built on. Total size is estimated to be about a half acre. The developer hoped to give the land to the city in exchange for waiving about $20,000 in fees. Staff thought the city could use the land for a walking path and for storm drain improvements.
Mayor Love thought the request was reasonable, as the developer had been instructed not to build on the strip of land (UDOT had once proposed a road through the area).
The meeting was then adjourned into a joint work session with the Planning Commission.
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Third annual Sweetheart’s Ball
By Emily Fotheringham
It is time to put on your dancing shoes. The City of Saratoga Springs is once again hosting a Sweetheart’s Ball, just in time for Valentine’s Day. The event will be held on February 10 from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. in the ballroom at Talon’s Cove.
As always, a live band will be performing, and a selection of desserts will be offered.
This is the third year that the city has hosted this event. According to AnnElise Harrison, the first year those that chose to participate weren’t very many, and the Civic Events Committee debated whether or not to have a Sweetheart’s Ball the following year. They were pleasantly surprised when, after forging ahead, the number of citizens attending doubled during the second year, which led them to this third year.
Harrison states that the city likes to provide those couples interested in dancing a less expensive option, and that it is proving to be something for which residents have shown a desire.
The price of the ball is $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. Those interested can register online on the city’s website, www.saratogaspringscity.com, or pay at the city offices.
Annual Saratoga Springs Polar Plunge 2012
By Nancy Kramer
Mark your calendar for an annual event that’s coming up in February. It’s the fourth annual Saratoga Springs Polar Plunge. Perhaps you are one of the brave who will take the challenge, jumping into the chilly waters of Utah Lake, showing off your bravado, or you may be one of the more sensible souls who merely enjoy the foolishness of others. Whichever category you land in, this is a must see event. Pack up the family and join the fun.
This annual event is the brainchild of the Saratoga Springs Police Department, which is teaming up with the Utah Special Olympics to raise awareness and money for Special Olympic athletes in Utah. They will be hosting the 4th annual Polar Plunge “Freezin For a Reason” and want to invite all citizens to come take the plunge into Utah Lake.
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