City Council - Regular Meeting

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. You're welcome. We need to start with a roll call. We're missing a couple, but we need to have a roll call anyway. Ms. Harris?

Sure, of course, council member dwelling and council member perks are absent, but we do have a corner.

Thank you. We have an agenda before us. Is there any changes to that agenda that we need to consider before we move on? If there are not, I'll entertain a motion to approve the agenda.

I'll make that motion.

I'll second it.

Discussion on motion. There's none on fair to say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? We have the council minutes for September 1st. Any questions or concerns regarding those minutes? If not, we will acknowledge those as they're written and we will go on to the bills. Questions, comments?

I have one question. You're on Performance Ford. Is that for a patrol vehicle?

Okay, thank you.

And the only other was SCI. That's construction. Is that construction?

Thank you. Further discussion.

I just kind of have a question. The EXO Extreme Marketing, we got some emails about the contract and where did that go? I mean, that's a hefty bill. So we were looking over the contract and suggested increase and it's, this month alone is 22,748.33. So I just was wondering, oh, there you go. Go ahead, Rob. I think that's about typical.

XO Extreme Marketing is the marketing agency that are blocking taxable contracts on an annual basis to advertise for our events, fixed assets. We negotiate that contract typically in the summer of every year.

So that's why I saw the paperwork beforehand. Last week, I think. We saw what they had put for it.

The council was last year's marketing packaging contract Is there a motion to approve the bills?

I'll make that motion.

Is there a second? I'll second. Discussion?

It does look a little high this month. There's no further discussion. All favor say aye. Aye.

Aye.

Are there any opposed? That's true. Council comments. Mr. Schmidt, what's on your mind tonight, sir?

I just want to remind everybody that I know Councilman Sellers mentioned this our last meeting. This is Suicide Prevention or Suicide Awareness Month and Just remember that, remember or seek out those that are in need at this time to help them through their trying times.

I think we've got one more week of farmer's market, right? And then homecoming week. So make sure you check out the homecoming schedule, support the high school and all their homecoming stuff. Homecoming parade next week. Other than that, It's kind of a sign of the end of summer.

So, tomorrow night, this guy, Victor Session, is going to be doing a concert at the high school. It is a free concert, starts at seven o'clock, probably goes till nine o'clock. It is sponsored by the Wyoming Arts Council and by the Panagroski Family Foundation and Art Inc. And so this guy, he was here last year. He's tremendous on the piano. If you want a good two hours of paid for entertainment, show up at the high school auditorium and enjoy. Thank you.

I'm gonna touch on what I typically touch on, with the difference being Suicide Awareness Month. Our veterans operate in a very unique space in our communities where they often feel alienated and not understood, which amplifies. There is an absolute reason We have 22 veteran suicides nationwide a day. I feel with also with what's going on in the world and what we see on our TV that can bring back memories that are also isolating and burdens that they bear. There's not a whole lot we can do for them, but be there and show our appreciation and knock on their door. They may not want to share with you what they are living through or reliving. They carry those burdens and their scars and they often don't want to share that with people because they are hard, hard, hard stories to tell. But they can tell other stories and they can have other talks and you can brighten their day. And just by reaching out, you can prevent one of the 22 a day.

Thank you. I don't think I have anything to add to that. It was well said, so we will move on. We don't have any public hearings or special orders. We do have one consent agenda item. My guess is high school is going to have a homecoming parade. We better prove the parade parade route. So 1 consent agenda item is the free route for the high school homecoming parade. Is there a motion to approve our consent agenda? No, make that motion motion. Is there a 2nd. I'll 2nd, 2nd, any discussion.

I have a feeling this. This young lady out here wanted to come and present to us. Where are you from?

Well, you were hiding. Please come up. Please. Yeah. Thank you for pointing that out. Please come up here. Don't be nervous. You own the place. So tell us what you're doing.

My name is Juliana Rasnick. I'm part of the Evanston Student Council. And we also wanted to quickly ask permission to use the e-hill on the Monday the 21st and Wednesday the 23rd. We usually do this like, you know, the seniors tag it and then the freshmen whitewash it. And that would be held from 6 to 7 on both days.

Do we need to offer any, I mean, it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

I think they may be here because it's on a piece of property we lease, which really just states, but I don't think we've ever approved it before, but at least they're telling you about it.

Well, yeah, I think that's fantastic. I think obviously those things have been going on and worse than that for a long time. Years ago, I think. So I've heard, yes.

But anyway, go ahead That and then just approving the parade route. It'll be Friday the 25th at 3 p.m I'm pretty sure one of my other student council members brought the paper route to you Wonderful that's all I have really thank you very much for your time you bet I

Anything else? I guess we do have a motion and second. Any further discussion? Any questions for this young lady?

Thank you for coming.

I'm sorry. I missed you back there. I couldn't see you. So I'm glad. Thank you for pointing her out. Let me get that here. Any further discussion? If there's none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Are there any opposed? You're approved, and I think as far as eHeal goes, I think we can probably just look the other way.

I didn't see anything, did you?

No, I didn't even know where it's at. We do have one item of unfinished business, Ordinance 2606. Mr. Harris, please.

Thank you, Mayor. Ordinance 2606, an ordinance approving and authorizing the final plat for the Chaparral Estates, 9th edition, located in the city of Evanston, Wyoming, being more particularly described herein. This matter is on second reading. Thank you.

Mr. Lardy. Mr. Lardy, Outlaw Engineering, 808 Main Street. We would request that the second reading be tabled until the October 6th meeting.

Okay. We can consider that. I guess with that in mind, we'll just forego any discussion. And is there a motion to table this ordinance until October 6th?

I'll make that motion.

So motion to take. Is there a second?

I'll second it, Your Honor.

Is there a reason why you want it tabled? Do you want to...

So we went to the planning and zoning meeting last night. We did receive a favorable recommendation there. Several of the same comments that have come up in the past came up again last night. And we just want to give it a little bit more time to consider any of the recommendations that were made from the public.

I would say I appreciate that then.

Further discussion?

I have a question. Will you be talking with some of the residents as part of that again? I think

All their comments have been pretty much the same, so I don't assume that there's anything different that I think we're aware of their concerns. Um, so we haven't planned on it, but, um, our offices at 808 main street, you, um. I'm not there all the time, but someone is always there. They could contact us and we could, if it's something different, we could definitely bring that to Mr. Allen Ford's attention to discuss that as well.

Appreciate that. Thank you. Thanks.

There's no further discussion on favor of tabling. And I said, October 6th, I guess I heard somebody would be taken. We'll go to new business and our 1st item there is a request for an extension to become operational regarding liquor license.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Echelon 221 10th LLC DBA, the Pointing Express submitted this request to the clerk on September 10th. Wyoming law requires a license holder who applies for a premises not in existence or which is not operational to become operational in one year. The license was issued to Echelon Effective October 4th or 6 remember last year. Is October 4th or 6 of 25 it expires. October 6 of this year. The council renewed it. The request is that they have said in their letter they will become operational by November 1, and they request the extension essentially from October 6 to November. So an extension of one month? Yeah, to become operational. Okay. And they have to do that.

Okay.

Is there a motion to... I'll make a motion to approve.

Motion to approve this request. Is there a second? I'll second. Second. Seconded.

I got a chance to go check out the facility. I know they're a little behind. They had to add a lot of fire suppression, all of that kind of stuff. So it's going to be a really cool facility. I don't. Yeah, I can't wait till they open. So extending this, I think, is the right thing to do. I miss the name of the facility. Which group? The echelon group. So it's at the bottom of the old post office. It's where?

It's in the Pony Express.

Oh, okay.

Name of the business.

Yeah. Okay. Be in the bottom of the old post office.

Thank you for the discussion.

There's no fair to say.

Resolution 2644. Mr. Harris, read that title for us, please.

Thank you, Mayor. Resolution 2640-44 is a resolution of the City Council of the City of Evanston, Wyoming, accepting the dedication of certain real property from DSC Investments, LLC, for use as a public street, sidewalk, and pedestrian right-of-way.

Good evening. The reason for this request is really because even the simplest of sidewalks can run into a snag. During the right-of-way investigations for this sidewalk project that's in the Aspen Grove area, it was discovered that there was like a remnant piece of property that was owned at one time by the Broken Circle Cattle Company, and as they started to dissolve and relinquish property, that failed to get included into the deeds. Thus, having us chase down property to broken circle, cattle company representatives are still here. Well, around and they basically gave land to Mr. Crofts. 10th of an acre is what we're talking and then I, in turn, worked with Mr crops to. get land in an effort to put that sidewalk along the curb and gutter in the Aspen Groves area. So this is his offer to complete the land ownership that the city needs to finish that sidewalk, or install the sidewalk.

And this is something he's dedicating to the city, this is a generous offer? Correct, correct.

376 square feet. 376 square feet? Yes.

Is there an introduction on this resolution?

I'll introduce with a motion to pass.

Motion is there a second? I'll second. Any discussion?

Be it small, it's still pretty generous. He could throw a wrench into it, and no, that's nice of him to do that.

Very much appreciated. Our right-of-way basically encompassed three and a half feet of that sidewalk as it would sit behind the curb, and so we lacked a foot and a half, and then we just have a two-foot buffer, but very much appreciated. Absolutely. Absolutely.

If there's no further discussion, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye. Aye. Rennie opposed. Resolution 2645. Mr. Harris, can you read that title for us?

Thank you, Mayor. Resolution 26-45 is a resolution of the City of Evanston, Wyoming, authorizing the execution of a joint funding agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior, for the operation and maintenance of a stream gauge station on the Bear River. Mr. Robinson.

Good evening. This is our annual agreement we enter into every year with the USGS to maintain and operate the streamgates over here on the river behind the recycle center. Our cost is the same this year. The price did go up, but they absorbed that, and so our cost is the same as it was last year.

And we've done this every year.

Every year, yeah.

As long as I've been sitting here.

To collect data on the flows of the Bear River.

Is there an introduction on this resolution?

I'll introduce with a motion to pass.

We'll end with a motion. Is there a second? I'll second. Is there a second? Discussion?

Is this gauge, is that what meters the water coming out of our reservoir and so on? Or going in?

It meters the flow of the river right by RIPs, so we know. Depth and so on how much water and it's useful to compare that to what the flow is at the state line and others places. So, just kind of gives them a data point, right? In a sense. Yeah, data points. It's also helpful for monitoring for flood and runoff type situations in the spring and that kind of stuff.

So, right. Valuable information we use multitude of ways.

It's better than you standing out there and waiters trying to figure it out every day too, right? Yeah.

Much more accurate too.

There's no further discussion. All fair to say aye. Aye. Any opposed? That is approved. Thank you. Do you have anything more for us, Mr. Robinson, while you're standing there? Mr. Newsom, do you have anything for us? No, sir. Mr. Larson?

Yes, sir.

I don't want to miss anybody back there. Mr. O'Neill?

Say, if any of the council has questions about lodging task, we're going to be concerned and do you meet monthly? So those are open public meetings.

Thank you. Excellent Thank you. There's nothing to branch.

No, sir.

Nothing your honor.

Um, just a couple notes, the merit contacted me today asked for an update on the. Potential target, hospitality, water, wastewater agreement for the servicing of the workforce hub. That document has been prepared draft. Sent to target their comments have been received. It's been revised and a draft is in targets. So that's being worked on diligently when target reviews it. We will get it to the council for work session and just an update. You recall. Month ago, maybe a little more. Uh, we had a discussion and work session about temporary grazing, uh, that matter, a text amendment. 2 text amendments was heard by the. Planning commission last night, uh, and recommended approval, uh, with, uh. 1, minor change, we're revising those and working on that change. It'll be sent out to. Engineering and planning for approval and then we. If you want to see that at a work session, we can get that and we can, we could probably do that next Tuesday if you'd like.

Thank you appreciate those updates and that's all I had. Okay. Thank you. Sure. Public participation. Is there anyone here from the public that would like to address the council for any reason?

Kathy Cook, 912 Maine. Last Tuesday, someone called me and said that there were some kittens in the alley. And they were about, I'd say, less than two weeks old. Anyway, so the animal control department was called when I went out there to check on them because I'd been checking on them all day. They were in a box. Home and Decor gave them a box. So I went out there to check on them one time and they were gone. So someone else said the animal control came by and took them. So I called animal control and I said, I want you to bring these kittens right back to where you got them. And because the mother will be coming back. Anyway, so he did. And then I was the proud grandmother of four kittens because another mother never came back. I'm happy to say that I was able to find four people to take those kitties and now they're all adopted out. But I'm here tonight because I believe we have an opportunity to find a better and more humane way to deal with the problem of stray and unwanted animals in our community. I would like to see our city work towards establishing a no-kill shelter or a no-kill animal program. Other communities and states have had success with this program like this, and I believe we can learn from what has worked for them and create a program that fits our community. I don't believe the city has to do this alone. We have organizations, agencies, and animal advocates, volunteers, and I've talked to a veterinarian who may be willing to work together. By bringing these groups together, we can build a network of people who can help with sheltering, fostering, medical care adoption, spaying and neutering. One of the most important parts of my proposal is spaying and neutering. I would like to see the city help fund spaying and neutering. programs for stray and unwanted animals. Animals that can be adopted should be treated, vaccinated, spayed and neutered and placed into loving homes whenever possible. For community cats that are not suitable for adoption, we should consider a humane trap neuter return program. They can be spayed and neutered and receive appropriate veterinarian care and then return to a familiar territory so they can live out their lives without continuing continuing to produce more unwanted kittens. But we also need to address another problem before animals become homeless. I would like our city to consider in providing financial assistance for low income residents to spay and neuter their own pets. Helping families afford these procedures could prevent unwanted litters from being born in the first place. Prevention is the important part of solving this problem. I believe the goal should be to reduce the number of animals entering shelters, increasing the number of animals being successfully adopted and treat the animals that remain in our community humanely. This isn't just about animals, it's about our community and how we choose to solve a problem. Instead of continually dealing with the same problem after animals are already homeless, let's invest in preventing cooperation and a solution that can work for the long term. I'm asking the City Council to consider funding and supporting a no-kill animal shelter, partnering with local government, I'm sorry, local organizations and volunteer veterinarians, expanding spay and neuter service, and providing assistance to low-income owners. I believe that if we work together, we can make a difference. Thank you for listening. I also wanted to say when the... animal control person came back with the kittens I said what were you planning on doing with these kittens and he said I was planning on euthanizing them It's a problem that we have and I talked to Henry about it and I've talked to other people. There's a lady that works at the bank. She helps organize with people who can't afford spaying and neutering. I've talked to JMB about they would be interested in helping out. I just think that we could do better in our community and, you know, follow other communities that try to save their animals. Thank you.

Your Honor, members of the Council, like I've said again and again, our officers do not control euthanizing animals. Even no-kill shelters euthanize animals. It's a reality. It's a fact of life. We euthanized so few animals that we've just been certified as a no-kill shelter, not at our request, but by an animal rights group. So we actually do qualify at this time as a no-kill shelter. And our officers are not just going around murdering kittens.

Appreciate that. Anyone else like to address the council for any reason? If not, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn.

I'll make the motion.

Is there a second?

I'll second.

All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Thank you, everyone.