HomeMy WebLinkAbout04 19 2017 CM Study SessionCITY OF CHUBBUCK
COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MINUTES
APRIL 19, 2017 — 4:OOPM
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor England
AMEND COUNCIL STUDY SESSION AGENDA:
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Kevin England, Ryan Lewis, Melanie Evans, Josh Ellis,
and Annette Baumeister
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Public Works Director Rodney Burch, City Clerk Rich Morgan,
Human Resources Director Scott Gummersall, and Deputy Clerk Joey Bowers
1 General Discussion about Economic Development
Public Works Director Rodney Burch started the discussion on Economic Development. Mr.
Burch presented a public relations, and economic development strategic plan. During his
presentation Mr. Burch presented a three component plan. The first component was public
relations. Public relations would be handled in the Clerk's office and the Mayor's office. The
Clerk's office would handle Social Media, Website, and Citizen Interaction. The Mayor's office
would handle press releases, media inquiries, and community events. The second component
would be economic development, where we would create an Economic Development Council.
This Council would be chaired by the Mayor it would include the Public Works Director,
Planning and Development, Clerks Office and CDA Chairman, and when needed business
leaders, community organizations, and State and Local agencies within the community. The third
component which Mr. Burch felt like was the most important change. This would be a new
position to the City, a Planning and Development Director Position. This position would be
responsible for the planning department, the building department, and the responsibility for
development in the City of Chubbuck. Which would create a Planning and Development branch
within the City of Chubbuck under the Public Works department. Mr. Burch felt like this
position would allow our engineers to fulfill the engineering function of the city that they are
unable to do now.
City Clerk Rich Morgan talked about finances and addressed the worries of the Council that
the City was getting too many employees. Since 2004 the city has had the same number of full
time employees even though the City has grown by 35%. We can make all these changes without
having to change the budget. Mr. Morgan also talked about a tentative budget schedule for the
remainder of the year.
Human resource Director Scott Gummersall talked that we can drive the strategic plan
through performance reviews. By doing this all the staff and its leaders understands these
measures and that's how we will change the culture. Mr. Gummersall also talked about the fact
that Bannock Development already had a planning and development position that is similar to
the one on the proposal, that we can look at for an example.
Councilmember Evans talked about their trip to South Salt Lake and the changes that they had
made. She talked about their stellar planning process with a wall that represents the plan and
vision for that City. Councilmember Evans believes that we need this person in place to put it
together so when the community or potential businesses see our vision they get it. She thinks this
person needs to help drive this, the Council cannot be the driving force. Councilmember Evans
would like a monthly progress report to be brought before Council each month. To make this
work we need to have patience this is a long term process it won't happen quick. Even when we
implement our vision we have to continue to get as much data as we can, she believes data is
what will tell the story if the plan is working or if we need to make some adjustments.
Councilmember Baumeister was concerned that we are creating a new position to help with
the work load. But what will engineering be doing with their extra time now. She wanted to
know what engineering wasn't doing now that they will be able to do with bringing in somebody
else. She is worried that this new position is mostly front loaded and a short term position.
Councilmember Baumeister could see how the city employees are maxed out and that they
needed to open up key players to do what they needed to do for the City. She believes that by
doing this it will take strong leadership from the Mayor and department heads to make sure the
existing team stays motivated, and understanding of what is expected of them. Councilmember
Baumeister would like to have some benchmarks in place to make sure the plan is working.
Councilmember Baumeister would also like to look into copying South Salt Lake in putting
together community committees to help drive the vision and goals that the City wants to
accomplish.
Councilmember Lewis had asked about new employees as an education standpoint. He knows
this falls under the Mayor's authority, he doesn't want to start micro managing. But to
understand where the budget is at when he is approving those expenditures. Councilmember
Lewis liked that all the individual departments were being looked at to find efficiency within the
City for this proposal. Councilmember Lewis really liked the idea of having a Planning and
Development director to stay focused and organized. He also liked how the public relations will
be distributed and handled in the Clerks and Mayors office. He felt like we had a lot of valuable
resources currently in the City and he liked that these resources where being used to their full
potential. Councilmember Lewis agrees with Scott Gummersall that we need to have
performance reviews to keep the efficiency. Councilmember Lewis is wondering if we should
add the Police Chief and the Fire Chief onto the Economic Development Council.
Councilmember Ellis talked about during the Tri -city meeting that they had earlier this week
one of the topics discussed was about the proposed construction plans for Siphon road. He was
wondering how this proposed plan would make sure that the City of Chubbuck won't be left
behind and with just the scraps from this construction project. He felt like just because we build
something does not mean that businesses will come, we can see this evidence with Knudsen.
Councilmember Ellis just wants to make sure we are efficient so we don't have to raise taxes
more than necessary. He did like the idea that this plan allows for the City to find ways to use the
CDA for more than just building roads. Councilmember Ellis does agree that this will be a 5-10
year plan, but he feels like there should be measurements to see if they need to make adjustments
as they go along with this plan. Councilmember Lewis feels like with all the expected changes in
the next few year that the City of Chubbuck has the flat lands and people come to the flat lands
so we need to be efficient and we need to be ready.
Mayor England was excited for this presentation and strategic plan. He gave his stamp of
approval and full support for this plan. Mayor England agreed with Councilmember Baumeister
and Evans on copying some of the procedures they learned in South Salt Lake. He was curious
how they got passed State meeting Laws with citizen committees. What he found out was that
there committees were run by United way and that the City just backed and supported these
committees. Mayor England is going to look at how and what private sectors that they could
partner with to accomplish the same structure they had set up. He felt like they needed something
like this to build relations and get more community feedback. Mayor England is not concerned
about existing employees pushing back with these changes they have made a few changes like
these in the last few years and hasn't had any problems. He felt like it was the opposite the
employees embraced the changes and expressed their appreciation and approval of changes
made. Mayor England knows that this will be a 12-14 year process, but to be successful we need
to keep a finger on the plan by having measureable goals to be successful.
In conclusion the Council wanted the Mayor and staff to move forward with their Economic
Development Strategic plan as presented. Mayor England and Staff said they would post the
positon before the next City Council meeting and will start moving forward. Mayor also said he
would let Bannock County know that the City of Chubbuck is on board with having Tri -city
meeting but felt like the county should stay in charge so that all the cities and towns in the
county will feel like the can participate.
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:
ADJOURN: MAYOR KEVIN ENGLAND CLOSED STUDY SESSION
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Rich Morqan Kevin Enqland
Citv Clerk Mayor