City Council - Regular Meeting

and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All right, thank you everybody and welcome. We will jump right into it. The first thing on our meeting on our agenda tonight is public comment. Is there any public comment this evening? Hearing none, we will move on. We have a class of 1976 request to replace a pace place a permanent memorial bench in B Shell Park and we have second here. I'm gonna put it up on the screen here and I can speak to that mayor.

Okay. know Paul Cruz who's a member of the class in 1976 uh has talked to me sort of through the design committee at the chamber to put in a memorial bench and this is the approximate location. This map is not to scale. It would not be overlapping the um the pad there, but it would be um in front of where we just put one in with the Piter family memorial bench. And Doug and I took a look at that and we thought that would it would work out well there. And the bench itself would be facing be in that area right in there and it would be facing the band shell.

Not much for grass there. Too shady.

That would be a permanent bench or or would it be more Yes, correct. A permanent bench. Are the others permanent or are they just sitting where they are.

Yeah. The latest memorial benches put in have been put in on a cement pad. I think they're having a class reunion in June, like the third week of June, and they'd like to hopefully have it all put in at that time. and and talking with Doug, um just due to how busy the city employees are, they would probably hire the cement pad work done. The other pads had been put in by the city employees and they're and they're fine with that. They would pay is that all of that. Will that match all the other ones?

Yeah, the the the last three benches we put in be the same bench. And they're also putting bronze plaques in that they're or or a plaque that they're ordering from Christensen Jewelry which was also ordered for the other. So it's going to be the same as the last ones put in. All right. And again, there's really no cost to the city. They're taking care of all the expenses. Any other comments on the bench?

I think it's great. I think bing benches are a good thing in our park, you know, because people like to sit down. I always like those always want to carry their chairs over. So, but memorial benches, I know this got started and I know Jim's been very instrumental in that when Terry Bus approached me a couple years ago and so I think they've kind of got a program going. I think it's a good thing to do. So everybody's all right with us doing a memorial event bench. We'll move forward. Everybody's good. Great. I'll let Paul know. Thanks.

You bet. Thank you. Next item. We have a request for a loading zone designation. It's south southeast corner of First Street Northly West and Second Avenue Northwest. I believe this is from Jerry. Did you want to kick that off? And

um I just wanted to introduce that and have us maybe start thinking about something like this. We do not have any loading zones downtown. None whatsoever. So in front of my shop there on the corner, UPS always pulls up, blocks the handicap parking as well as obstructs vision in the crosswalk. So it it it does present a danger. And then they also do the same thing on the other side where the ceramic studio is. Uh FedEx often pulls up on Second Avenue Northwest and parks beside the cars that are parked. So he's actually out in the street. So I think it's a safety issue. In addition, um, when I have like I a couple weeks ago, I had to hire a truck to bring things down to the shop from Clear Lake with a Tommy gate on it. No place to park, so had to park in front of Christensen's um, vertical parking like that and lower his Tommy gate. And it really created an obstruction in Main Street and the flow of traffic there. that that's the only option we had to get that truck unloaded. Um, and then also we have tenants that move in and move out of the downtown apartments and there's no place for them to really park and load and move and stuff. I know that in the top of my shop, Russ Gibson owns where the main shop is, there was a tenant that lived up there that hired a moving service and they were unable to come down until after 8:00 at night to load because there's no place for them to park and load. Um, so I I just, you know, there's no loading zones whatsoever downtown. I think one would be great. I'd like to even consider more. Um, the other day

when I was was going down the street, I noticed that UPS pulled in front of Everloom took up three parking spots as he was unloading there. So, I just I just think it would be better for parking and for the flow of traffic and for safety as well. And it was just something I wanted us to start talking about and maybe considering. It doesn't have to be at that corner, but we don't have a loading zone at all downtown. What time was that picture taken? Uh, I have no idea. Was that taken with a drone? No, this is from Beacon. Beacon.

These parking spots on the north side of my main shop, those are all downtown employees. And they may have everybody talked to them about parking over there or is that a problem for them? Jim, has that been an issue? I think it's always always been. Yeah. Maybe more so sometimes than others, but Yeah. Yeah. I think I mean that might just my opinion because that that side of your building and the north side of across the street. Yes. I know the employee employees use them as well.

Those are all downtown employees as well. So, we want to let them keep our parking there and then make a a loading zone, you know, and take up another spot or two or Well, they're actually downtown employees and downtown business owners are not part supposed to park in those areas as you see on this map wherever this came from, which is great. During business hours, those those parking spots are supposed to be open for customers. There used to be a loading zone across the street in front of Counley Apartments. That has disappeared.

So, what are the the say the tenants? They're what are they using now? They're backing into a just into a parking spot or the ones they're not. As I said, they they pull up at the corner and obstruct the handicap parking as well as the crosswalk like UPS and but any any of them if there's any of them that have apartments above them, you know, not just that corner. Yeah. But over here they just they're just using the I guess I'm not I'm not understanding what you're asking me. So they if if they live in this these apartments over here they're used are they using these? Yeah. Tenants are not supposed to park downtown.

But they use there to unload and unload when they're moving. Yes. Absolutely. I do know that my tenants above the ceramic studio are well aware that they are not supposed to park downtown during business hours. We do have some tenants across the street above my main shop and also above Russ's buildings there that do park downtown and on the north side of my building. Russ has made them aware of that. They know they're not supposed to park there, but you know what do you do?

Yeah, they're public public parking spots and they're open and they're and they're aessible accessible. What is the what's the consensus of the rest of the business owners? I have no idea

because you said there was no parking downtown and then you want to take this parking spot and make it loading zone. Well, the re part of that is is moving in that direction to improve the flow of parking. Number one, we've got um FedEx and you the UPS endangering the parking because of the way they park, they obstruct the handicap spot, which is a huge issue, plus they obstruct the crosswalk taking. And like I said, when they pulled in front of Breeze the other day that he took up three parking spots. We had a loading zone where you're just right there at the corner. It's

I don't think they're going to use a loading zone. I mean, they they want to go to the quickest, shortest route, right? Mhm. Well, how long were they parked there, though? Because a lot of times they deliver, they go in and out. I know sometimes it takes that. And I left my shop, walked to the bank, made a deposit, left the bank, walked back to my shop, and they were still there. Um, but they also, all of these buildings have back entrances that could be used. Every one of them except mine.

So, it's just just a discussion. I'm not demanding that we have this. I just would like I don't know what something to think about. Maybe chamber could find out what UPS and FedEx policy is as far as Yeah. The only thing I know for UPS, they they pick up at Kerners and they have a dropbox right in front. So, he's going to pull in there somewhere or double park, you know, and well, people security has that 10-minute parking spot

at their corner. I don't know if you've ever witnessed the wup UPS drivers. They're on the clock every time they're every time they stop. So So if they got to drive a block or half a block, then go over and get their stuff and haul back. That might not I'm more concerned about the safety of downtown than I am UPS drivers time. I understand that. I do. But like I said, and I'll repeat this again and again and again, they blocked the handicap spot. They block the crosswalk. They obstruct the view every single time.

When I go out of my building and UPS is right there and I go to cross the street, people don't see me because I pop out from behind the UPS truck because it's parked right there over the crosswalk.

Well, I think I think this I think the chamber put this together, didn't they? That's on Facebook. They must have. I don't know why this is here. I did not request not our spot but but uh maybe maybe we need to discuss with them and see if they got any ideas on how to direct owners business owners to park other I just I just want us to keep in mind that this is one of our top priorities to improve to work on downtown parking

and I think we need to look at all these different options and yes I don't know why this is here but I did have two business owners approach me within one week and complain about the parking downtown that there were apartment ten tenants parking downtown. There were business owners parking downtown in front of their own businesses um and taking up downtown parking spots. And I did report this to um Alyssa at the chamber and maybe that's why this is here. I don't know. But I do want I want to keep that on the on our plate that downtown parking has got to be improved and there's lots of different creative ideas that we can use and Yeah. I mean

and I thought number one creative ideas we do need a loading zone. We don't have one. Yep. I mean that's it's something that can be talked about and you look at our area or our downtown area it's two blocks by two and a half call it three blocks. It's it's congested but

people can't move over you know park over here and walk over a block. You think about think about Walmart. People go to the parking lot there. They'll they'll park 50 yards, 100 yards out, walk into the store, walk around for half an hour to an hour, drive back, walk back to their car, you know. I don't know that we don't have that kind of space, but but it's something we can look for. I mean, I'm always for I'm and and I agree with you. I I do I agree with you on that. Um, but like Barry often says, people don't want to walk anymore and they're not using our city parking lots. And the size of our vehicles has changed, too. I mean, absolutely.

Our main street is way too narrower than for some of these people that park down there, especially if you have a extended cab. Uh that are sticking out

because I was can I make just two comments? I just I would have one question. And I know safety is a concern, but Mark, uh I don't know if you could do a little research. Have there been different calls or uh related to the traffic, you know, like accidents downtown? That might be something to check out too because I know like the DOT be before the DOT makes a lot of changes on things, they always look at the number of accidents. And then the other comment I'd like to make is when years ago when I owned the Hampton Fitness Center downtown, people would drive around to try and park in the right in front to come in to exercise, which I could never figure out. I mean, the parking lots, you know, half a block away, but they have to park right in the front to come in to exercise. So, I think part of that's human nature. I'm not

saying that. I agree. But it that's just sort of the way it is. Yep. I agree with that. My main my main thought is I want to keep this in front of us and I want to make sure we keep working on this. Yep. I I agree with you. I mean, let's let's out there. Let's let's everybody kind of pay attention to that. Get in our town and take note of what's going on and talk to people and and let's let's see what we can do. All we can do is make it better, I hope. Okay. Anything else? Moving on. Thank you, Jerry.

You're welcome. All right. Next item. Discuss the future of those who refused prior approval approval to have chickens. I think Jerry, you Andrew. I was again on here, too. So,

knock yourself out. I just wanted to make sure we kept this on our plate, too, because I know that um we were given a year and before you know it, that year is going to be up and then we're going to have to be dealing with this again. And I just want to make sure that we keep looking at this and seeing if we can make improvements and something that we all can agree on and get an ordinance passed. I to me, you know, Barry Barry, sorry I'm not picking on you, but you often say this feels like micromanaging, but yet to make everybody come before the council to get permission to do something, I think that's micromanaging, too. And for us to keep repeating this and going back to the same old thing over and over and over again. I would like to see us um agree on ordinances that take that away from us that we don't necessarily have to approve everything that happens in the city because we already have an ordinance that covers it. So I I guess I answered my own question. You know, we do know that you have a a year and when is that year up? September, October? Uh October for Grokis and Coobs and November for Marcel Marcela Rodriguez.

So we do know what's coming up and I'd like to be prepared for that. Yeah, I thought we were getting close. Apparently not. Any other thoughts on that? Well, I was fine with the chicken ordinance. I just did not like the fact that Meyer would have to do away with the sheep regardless. And you know, I don't think we should have to make him keep his name on the deed, which was an option. But that's what I had a problem. If you took that section out, I'd vote for it. Well, but regardless of who he sells his property to, whether it's his son or someone else,

that person is going to have to come before the council anyway. Jim's not going to lose his sheep. Yeah, I don't have a problem with that. And I feel like we had a pretty good solution to that. you know, as long as his name stayed on the deed, they could keep their sheep there until the day he died. Well, I disagree, but I just thought it was a pretty good solution that anyway, I want to keep working on this and moving forward with it.

Okay. So, so I guess my question is I've got a lot of notes here that I made over over this and I was going to do them on my reporter report on Thursday. Um, but I can give you to you today if you like. Um, how far do how far how long do we want to work on this chicken or we want seven months? Seven months. We got nothing.

Zero. So a lot of the ris reasons that Ron and I provided at the at the beginning for not having a allowing chickens have come into play during our discussions and we thought we're working there and then all a sudden just is done. Um um I I and I believe Ron and I think he can spoke speak for himself. I recommend that we do not allow livestock in Hampton. I have not changed my stance on that. Um I I even suggested removing that except for council consent uh at the beginning of this whole thing and that didn't work out either.

Nobody wanted to do that. But at the end that's what stopped it. So, so where where are we going to go? And then the sheep snuck into the hidden house and we got a whole another thing. So, we have an ordinance in place for livestock that works well with our board of adjustments. And I want to make sure that everybody's clear that just because we have an ordinance, the current current ordinance allows residents to request authorizations for chickens or other livestock, we are not required to allow chickens or other livestocks to be kept on the property. Nothing saying we have to do it. Um, in fact, I think it said while this was being discussed, um, it kept refersing people referring to this as the law. This law allowed us to have chickens. There's no no the lower o law or ordinance in Hampton that allows you to have chickens without cancel request. So, um, my recommendations have not changed. We shouldn't have chickens in Hampton. And I also would recommend that once the current authorizations have expired in October and November that we these were not renewed for an additional period. And that's my two cents for it. Anybody else? Well, I know I got caught up in the exception situation and as I discussed last time at our last meeting that we shouldn't be caught up like I was

caught up in that exception because I have no idea about the upkeep and the nature of the acreages they're they're talking about. I have a city lot. I don't have I don't have four acres or two acres or whatever the amount is. Um, we have a zoning commission to take care of this type of decisions. And if we leave that exception comment in there, we're just kicking that can down the road. And every time it comes up, whether it's chickens or goats or horses or whatever, they're going to be for come up and some buddy like myself is going to get caught up with this exception say, "Well, you know, I think that's a great idea, but I don't have I don't have a clue and that that decision should not come to me. that should come to the zoning board where we entrusted these decisions to them. If we read the zones, the zoning regulations and as a council we think the zoning commission made a mistake perhaps we should discuss it with the zoning commission and say maybe you should reconsider this. But once that decision is made, I'm thinking that it's been accepted unless there's some descent from the council, which I don't think there has been from those zoning regulations. And the zoning regulations says no chickens. Without that exception in there, I would have definitely have said no chickens. That exception, I got caught up in the moment. I said yes. If I could turn the clock back, I would say no today. Um, I I would go along with what the zoning board said and the zoning board said no chickens or no livestock within the comm the city limits in in that zoning section. And um I I don't think that has any place for us. We'll never get our work done. seven months on a chicken, the next thing's going to be seven months on a horse and the second it's going to be goats or whatever because we're going to have difference opinions and none of us live in that twoacre lot and we're just going to be playing nice guy and trying to help out a neighbor that has a two

acres. But the fact is those two acres or whatever are in the city limits and the city limits have zoning regulations and that's what's been adopted for the city. We they should go to the if they have a question about it, they should go to the zoning board, not not to the city council. I think we have bigger fish to fry. And I'm sorry I opened this can of worms seven months ago. So I guess that's what I got to say. All right. Thank you. Anyone else?

I would agree with Bill. I think at this point since we weren't able to come to a consensus on something that we could pass and agree on um that moving forward that it should go to the board of adjustment and um they can decide whether it's appropriate to grant an exception to each person or not.

Yep. And I mean I would I would also I put it I would agree with that like to see the current ordinance have that striction stricken from there anyway and let the board of adjustment take care of it like it's supposed to. Just a thought. So we got a couple months few months to to work this off. I know we got some couple people that have chickens uh authorizations. So, let's uh keep this at the forefront of our minds and let's where where do you where do the council where do we want to go with it? So,

can I say just one of the things that this I'm sorry. All right. Thank you. If I don't hear any hear any other comments, we're going to move on. And the next item is the review of health insurance renewal and employee rec contribution. Mr. D screen.

So this is the uh um renewal through Wellmark uh that would begin on July 1st. This is reflective of a 3% increase. Um, so the top gold half it represents the current fiscal year that we're in. Um, and then the bottom is the next fiscal year. So, as you can see right here is a 3% increase. Um, and I don't know if you've had a chance to look at this, but um, 3% is pretty reasonable. Um, and are there any questions about this? Is that is our is the raise based on our our claims or is it just what whatever they want to raise it?

No claims is considered. Um you know that is a definite consideration. Um and all the different components are listed here. You got the Walmart premium partial self-funding claims funding. IGHCP is the uh consortium we're in. They're they have a fee. EBS uh has a fee which is also part of the third party administration administrative process. And so then this would be a total monthly cost for a single total monthly for family. And then this would be the after a 3% increase. Um so you can see the the wellmark portion went up. Um, and then uh slight increase in our partial self-funding. If if claims run hot for Walmart, that means we're self-funding too the city. You know, we're buying down deductibles and and things like that. So, um, you know, we monitor that and if you know, we need to, you know, kick in a little more, you know, then that that's part of this as well. So for family it's going from 19040 to 1987. Um this this uh fee stays the same. That stays the same. That stays the same and and that one too. So for a total like for self-funding u that would collect 43,318 in the current year and bumping that up slightly would collect 45,220.

What was the raise last year? 2%. Uh Kelsey, do you remember was it two? It was low. Yeah, I think we absorbed it last year.

And then so then we got um this document here. You know, we also have to talk about the employee contribution which um that rotated. at the employee contribution um for fiscal year 26 the current fiscal year the city pays 87% of the employees health insurance premiums and the employee is responsible for 13%. So then this is the scenario in the current fiscal year the total family premium and this is the city's portion and the employees portion this is per month and the single and so then fiscal year 27 there's a 3% increase and below calculations show the 3% with keeping the employee portion the same as well as increasing the employee portion. So, as part of our union contract, the the city retains the right uh that they may increase the employees contribution by 1% in a in a fiscal year. So, they're currently at 13% and with the new premium level with the 3% the employee uh for family would go from uh $22843 a month to $23529 a month. Um now if the council chooses to put more uh on the employee contribution of 1% their family contribution would be $253.39 as opposed to currently is $22843. So um two things to you know consider. We need to uh on Thursday approve the renewal if the council is agreeable to the to the renewal of the uh insurance and then the council needs to make a decision on whether to keep the employee contribution at 13% or increase it to 14%.

How much of a factor in retaining employees is this come in play? Well, benefits is, you know, we have good benefits and and and that's part of, you know, what attracts uh someone to work for the city and and stay working for the city is some, you know, the benefits, health insurance, dental. So, it it's it's important. They also understand that, you know, that it's important for them to contribute. Um, so it's kind of a balancing act, you know, but this is your decision. Leave it at 13 or bump it up to 14. I think as I was looking at this, what one thing that I look at is we do want to make our benefits attractive for our employees so that we can retain them. um if we leave it at 33% this year and then later on we want to move it up or are we moving it up farther? You know, they're taking they're going to take a bigger hit, you know, because it's it's already gone up. I mean, it looks like right now if it goes up for 20 2027, it's going up about seven bucks for the 13% and a little over 20 something for for the 12 12 14%. You know, things do go up. I mean, we we need to take a look at that, but I also want to take a look at our

take care of our employees as well. So basically we just need to come, you know, what's the consensus? What do we want on do we want to jump that one more percent or do we want to keep it back at 13 this year and see what next year brings?

This is all funded through the general fund, right? Um, no. The this is funded through the employee benefits uh and and it's an a levy employee benefits levy uh property tax levy. So it's not funded through the general fund.

So is there any way to u fund it with a little extra money from somewhere else or does it have to come out? We we we already do that. We uh we do have the uh general fund supplements, the employee benefits fund uh and then I've been alternating between the general fund and then also the local option sales tax 55% fund to supplement this employee benefits fund uh in an effort to keep the property tax levy in check so we don't have to levy as much. We So I should have backed up and said, "Yeah, the general fund does fund some. Not it's a small percentage, but it's

What's our local option sales tax revenue been like? Has it been pretty steady or?" Yeah, pretty steady. Yeah. But most of this is funded through the employee benefits levy. I'm sorry, Ron. This is for all city employees. Union and union. It is. Yes. All full-time city employees. Yep. What is the national average percent that employees pay on their health insurance? I don't know that. I don't Is there a national average? I don't know that.

Jamie, what what's the hospital percentage? Tell you what the hospital pays percentage wise off the top of my head. Been a while since I open enrollment was back in October. Yeah,

I know of the school system their employees pay more, but I also know that it's a Well, I got to be careful what I say. Um, yeah. I mean, you you you don't want to get to the point where you're now uh it having be a drain on the employee and causing morale issues and okay, how much longer can I afford this, you know, before I start looking at other options. So,

it's just a balancing act. I was just wondering nationally what 13 14% compare to. I don't know. And it's probably different in the private sector versus government sector too. Absolutely. Yeah. And it varies a lot by size of the business and all of that. So that you could say there was a national average really because it there's too many factors involved. Maybe if you were just looking at governmental Yeah. figure out something. But

I think in in my little head, which with my numbers, sometimes they they go ary, but looks like it's six 17 bucks to for the employee family um at 13% 26 27 bucks for 14%. You know, it doesn't seem like a lot of money, but 10 bucks is 10 bucks, you know, here and there, but at some point it's going to go up. It's And yeah, and it's one of them things that's going to go up. So, we can only protect them for so long.

Yeah. And you you have the you have the ability to, you know, if you don't increase this year 1%, you can you get to reconsider next spring to to increase by 1%. You could increase this this spring uh 1%, you can also increase next spring 1%. You could do it every year. It's just it's an annual decision. So my my I would say let's leave it at 30 13% this year. That's my opinion. I think we should leave it there too because you know we're get like my question was where the funding was coming from. If we're getting some of it from the local option sales tax then we're keeping the levy down. We're the taxpayers are saving money and we're saving the employees some money. Okay, everybody's good with that. So I think we'll general consensus here is to to stay with the 13% at this point

and move forward. Okay. All right. Thank you. Last thing on our agenda is our agenda is to adjourn. So we're going to journ this session of city council workshop. Uh we will be going into a close session really quickly. So, we're going to kick all of you out pretty quick and and move on and get our workers work done. So, thank you