Text Messaging, Sidewalks Top City Commission Meeting

City sidewalks and electronic communications during meetings were the main topics at the meeting Monday night.

Commissioner Jim Rasor was the only member to vote against the proposed rule that commission members be prohibited from texting, emailing or other electronic communications with each other or a member of the public during meetings. The rule is needed to avoid the "perception" among the public that it's a problem, Mayor Jim Ellison said. Rasor suggested the rule was old fashioned and that it reminded him of living in 1995 when things like texting didn't exist. 

Other members agreed the rule was in line with other city governments that have imposed similar guidelines to ensure commission members avoid all appearances of impropriety or perceived violations of open records laws.

In other business, the commission voted unanimously for a $6 million project to improve all city sidewalks. The initiative is reminiscent of a similar project begun in 1995 that took about 11 years and cost twice as much. City Engineer Elden Danielson said because that project was successful, not as many improvements are needed now. Nevertheless, the proposed improvements are necessary to correct "tree uproots" and other issues that could lead to liabilities such as slips and falls that often result in litigation against the city.

Also during the meeting, the commission:

• voted to award a contract to Johnson Controls to make energy efficient upgrades at and the building. The project will cost $562,000, but most of that will be paid through federal grants, the city said. Upgrades will be made to the heating and cooling systems, which the city said are dilapidated and inefficient. The cost of the program will be made up for in efficiency and lower maintenance costs over time, city officials said.
• voted to renew all hotel and motel licenses except for two establishments – The Madrid and . The commission said those two businesses owe back taxes and water usage fees amounting to more than $100,000. The commission voted to bring the owners of those businesses into a meeting soon to discuss how to resolve the issue.
• postponed voting on an agreement for the five-year lease of a postage meter machine that would cost the city $26,000. Rasor asked if anyone at the city had taken the time to ask how much buying a machine outright would cost. He expressed disbelief that buying a machine outright could possibly cost more than $26,000 for a five-year lease. Director of Finance Julie Rudd agreed to produce those findings before the next meeting, but assured the commission that leasing the equipment was the less expensive option.