MD’s Moab City Council Meeting Preview 2021-04-13

[Editor’s note: Both Mike Duncan and Rani Derasary have graciously agreed to let MADAR reuse their regular email updates to constituents. Despite the overlap, we are running both versions of the MCC previews. Readers can choose to read both, either or neither of the previews.]

This preview is briefer than usual – my apologies – since I’ve been traveling to see family, fully vaccinated – yeah! 

By the way, I’m not going to run again for city council – there will be elections this fall. We’re always looking for good heads and new energy. It’s a lot of work for not a lot of pay, but oh so satisfying in many other ways.  Admittedly this particular meeting is unusually populated with supporting documents – some 42 of them, no joke. But you get the idea how it can take a lot of time to understand what it is that needs to be done.

I have not included all the agenda items here, just the interesting ones. Please see the full agenda at moabcity.org for more details.

You can write City Council (anytime, on any subject): citycouncil@moabcity.org

Pre-Council Workshop – 5:00 p.m. – Proposed FY 2021-2022 Annual Budget. Rachel Stenta presents. Some bright spots and a couple of concerns – a) the city is carrying a lot of debt right now (and will be for some years), and b) the Sewer Enterprise fund (and Water, to a lesser extent) is underfunded. The possibility of a modest city property tax will be discussed again. Check out Rachel’s perceptive thoughts.

Pre-Council Workshop – 6:00 pm – Legislature Update. Casey Hill, Red Hill Strategic. Mr. Hill  is a lobbyist hired by the city. Judging by legislation that addresses Moab’s problems, I thought it was a pretty dismal year from a crowd I don’t expect a lot from anyway.

Regular session starts at 7 PM:

Citizens to Be Heard (Given the noise ordinance below, this could take a while.)

You may use CTBH to comment on any subject, but in particular you can use this forum to participate in the topics for public hearings listed below.

We are receiving public comments by phone and online through Zoom. 

Citizens are limited to two (2) minutes for comments. 

Dial: 669-900-9128     Meeting ID: 843 9013 0929    Passcode (if needed):  629045

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84390130929?pwd=dudqvldkqu9ns3rivjlsanfxk0l2qt09

Please note that when joining the meeting, you will be placed in a waiting room and will be added to the meeting by the moderator. Your comments will be recorded and on YouTube. 

If you’re youtube’ing, be aware this stream can be seconds or minutes behind real time.

This is a big source of confusion if you’re also doing CTBH via Zoom, which is real time!

To have your written comments considered for the Citizens to Be Heard portion of the electronic meeting, please fill out the form found here: https://bit.ly/citizenstobeheard

You must submit your comments by 7:00 PM on the date of the meeting. Please limit your comments to 400 words.

Vehicular Noise public hearing including: (1) a draft revision of the City’s noise ordinance, (2) noise and speed limit enforcement, (3) a recreation opportunity spectrum analysis, and (4) City participation in noise mitigation efforts on public lands. Presented by City Attorney Laurie Simonson. This draft ordinance is based on input from the county, law enforcement, local OHV rental businesses, the OHV community and many others, including myself. It’s a big step forward.  There are a number of criteria for noise infractions in the draft ordinance. After an admittedly quick reading, I suspect some noise thresholds are set too high to make much of a difference; others may be set too low. Consideration of the ordinance later in this meeting.

Amending the Municipal Sewer Rate Classification to Modify Institutions Including Churches and Government Facilities to be Calculated Using the Winter Water Rate Use Calculation. This subject has been on the agenda several times. Simple idea but a complicated process to fix a problem with certain sewer customers who are both residential and commercial in nature in different senses. Consideration of the ordinance later in this meeting.

Staff reports: (Expect 15-30 minutes…)

City Manager Updates

COVID-19 Updates

Mayor and Council reports: (These (6) reports typically take at least 20 minutes…)

Approval of Minutes (brief)

Consent Agenda: While there are several non-controversial items on the Consent Agenda, the one you’ll notice is the purchase of Monument Waste by the Grand County Solid Waste District; the long-time owners are retiring.

Community Renewable Energy Program. Asst. City Manager Carly Castle. Moab and Grand County are joining 21 other municipalities and counties in Utah in which they contract with Rocky Mountain Power to provide those communites’ entire electrical power from renewable energy. This group, including the  city (not more than about $13K, and possibly less) will contribute funds towards hiring a consultant who will negotiate rates with RMP. As renewable energy continues to become ever more competitive with non-renewable sources, it is hoped more communities will join, reducing fees for all.

Hope this helps,

Mike Duncan, City Council member