Minutes for 2002-04-02, Direct pdf link.

MINUTES

COMMISSION MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF WEBER COUNTY
Tuesday, April 2, 2002 - 2:00 p.m.
Commission Chambers, Weber Center, Ogden, Utah

Each Commission meeting is recorded on CD or audio tape, which is available to the public through the County Clerk's Office.

In accordance with the requirements of Utah Code Annotated Section 52-4-7(1)(d), the County Clerk records in the minutes the names of all citizens who appear and speak at a County Commission meeting and the substance "in brief" of their comments. Such statements may include opinion or purported facts. The County does not verify the accuracy or truth of any statement but includes it as part of the record pursuant to state law.

Commissioners Present: Chair Glen H. Burton, Commissioner Camille T. Cain, and Commissioner Kenneth A. Bischoff.

Others Present: Linda G. Lunceford, Clerk/Auditor, David Wilson, Deputy County Attorney. Fátima Blackford, Administrative Assistant, Clerk/Auditor's Office, took minutes.

A. Welcome by Chair Burton.
B. Pledge of Allegiance was conducted by David Wilson.
C. Thought of the Day was offered by Commissioner Bischoff.

D. Consent Items
1. Purchase Orders in the amount of $245,300.32.
2. Warrants #160710 - #160995 in the amount of $1,017,902.28.
3. Minutes of meetings held on March 12, and March 26, 2002.

• Commissioner Cain moved to approve the consent items; Commissioner Bischoff seconded, all voting aye.

E. Non-Action Items - None.

F. Action Items

1. Resolution Honoring Congressman Jim Hansen - Resolution 9-2002
Commissioner Burton referred to the resolution honoring Congressman James V. Hansen for his outstanding achievements and representation of Weber County and all of northern Utah over the past 22 years and extending him sincerest wishes for a prosperous future as he embarks on a journey of new opportunities. Commissioner Bischoff will present the resolution to Congressman Hansen tomorrow night at the Patriot Dinner.

• Commissioner Cain moved to adopt Resolution 9-2002 honoring Congressman Jim Hansen; Commissioner Bischoff seconded. Roll Call Vote Commissioner Cain          aye Commissioner Bischoff     aye Chair Burton                    aye

2. Resolution Honoring Representative Gerry Adair
This item was held.

3. Resolution Honoring Representative Carl Saunders
This item was held.

4. Contract with Kapp Construction & Development Co., Inc. for Installation of a Detention Basin to Help Alleviate Flooding at Uintah Elementary School, & Notice to Proceed with Project - Contract C2002-46
Dennis Richardson, County Engineering, stated that the notice to award this contract was approved two weeks ago. The contract amount is $116,976.80 and is for construction of a detention basin to help alleviate flooding on the grounds of the Uintah Elementary School.

• Commissioner Bischoff moved to approve Contract C2002-46 between Weber County and Kapp Construction & Development Company, Inc. for installation of a detention basin to help alleviate flooding, and Notice to proceed with project; Commissioner Cain seconded, all voting aye.

5. Amendments to the Agreement with the Public Defenders Association for Legal Representation of the Indigent - Contract C2002-47
David Wilson, Deputy County Attorney, stated that recently (2/26/02) the Commission had approved the contract with the Public Defenders Association (PDA) for indigent representation. The contract had been negotiated with two of the managing attorneys, Mr. Laker and Mr. Alan. When it went before their board, two slight changes were requested by them: 1) a reference from "its" to "PDA" and 2) PDA asked not to have the county named as an additional insured on their insurance policy. This would have incurred a substantial expense for them. Mr. Wilson added that the PDA does indemnify the county and the county does require they provide proof of that insurance in the event they are sued for any reason. He recommended approval of the modified contract with those two amendments.

• Commissioner Bischoff moved to approve Contract C2002-47, amendments to the agreement for legal representation of the indigent between Weber County and the Public Defenders Association of Weber County as outlined; Commissioner Cain seconded, all voting aye.

6. Request for Approval of the Road Pattern for Trappers Ridge at Wolf Creek, a Planned Residential Unit Development (P.R.U.D.)
Craig Barker, County Planning Department Director, showed area maps and drawings and outlined the major areas for the commissioners' consideration: to look at the extension of Elkhorn Drive to the east, with a roundabout; address public vs. private roads and if public, address issue of snow stacking; and address off-street parking areas. The location of the proposed P.R.U.D. is on a portion of the Elkhorn Dr. in the Wolf Creek area. The area is presently zoned for single or multi-family homes and this project consists of a number of single family homes on small lots. Elkhorn Dr. currently terminates at the edge of this development and was designed to be a 66 ft. wide road, with one of its stems extending to the south and connecting to the Eden Cemetery Road, and perhaps in the future to go to the east where the public road at present makes the sweeping turn ('Hinckley" corner). Mr. Barker said that the Planning Department had worked with the developer and their drawing had been modified from the one before the Commission. There are two cul de sacs proposed with homes along them that are relatively close together with no snow stacking areas. Mr. Barker indicated the county's Road Department representative feels snow stacking capability is necessary if they are to become public streets. Chair Burton asked how snow removal was handled at the cul de sac at Patio Springs and Mr. Barker said he was not aware of an area for snow stacking but indicated that the density was a lot less than on this project. Driveways on these homes are about 60-70 ft. apart and on Patio Springs most are about 100 ft. apart, with the exception of loop lots. Mr. Barker added that this project's driveways are only 15 ft. wide but the house plans show some of the homes having double and triple car garages. He said that staff had been concerned about the distance from the street right-of-way to the garage door; many appear to be minimal at 20 ft., barely long enough for a suburban or long pickup truck, and without adequate parking in the units themselves, this could be a problem. However, many units have 2-3 car garages and this may not be an issue. He added that on some units the driveways are even closer and the back end of a large truck may hang over onto the public right-of-way. Another issue Mr. Barker had discussed with the developer was the proposed off-road parking, which currently is non-standard (as per the county's subdivision regulations) to have parking stalls where people drive vehicles forward off of a public road and where they will have to back out into the general public right-of-way. Chair Burton asked what was the difference between backing out of one of these stalls and backing out of a driveway and Mr. Barker responded that there would be 4-5 stalls in a row and explained that there is more distance from driveway to driveway. Mr. Barker stated that the Planning staff, the County Engineer and County Roads Department had no problem with all the roads being public if the issues of the cul de sac and the off-road parking areas are addressed. Curtis Christensen, County Engineer, pointed out that particularly on cul de sacs there is quite a high density of housing and that Engineering had measured some of the driveway accesses and these tend to merge together. He feels that two car garages will become an even bigger problem for snow removal because typically the driveways are wider. A snow stacking area is needed for the snow or perhaps connecting the two cul de sacs would be a solution. Regarding the Elkhorn Dr. situation, Mr. Christensen believes that the new proposal is a workable one. He said that roundabouts are not standard to the county but they seem to be a good tool. He expressed concern with two of the intersections being quite close to each other; the approximate distance of 110 ft. seems to be less than what is recommended by standards. Motorists coming out of the roundabout may not see others trying to make the left hand turn onto the cul de sac and Mr. Christensen recommended switching the cul de sac with the homes, making it more of a cornered intersection. Chair Burton asked about the proposed road in the General Plan to cross towards Browning Ranch in the area that was anticipated for wildlife protection. Mr. Christensen responded that it probably would never be constructed.

Lowell Peterson, representing the developer, indicated the two engineers present for this item. Mr. Peterson showed the new proposed design for Elkhorn Dr. which includes the standard 66 ft. wide and 40 ft. road surface, a roundabout, the continuation of Elkhorn Dr. to the east with a smoother curve, and a "T" intersection with Elkhorn Dr. and the proposed subdivision street to the south. He outlined the changes on the road pattern to the east and indicated having discussed these with Mr. Barker and Mr. Christensen. Mr. Peterson said that each driveway is at least 34 ft. long for approximately 3000 sq. ft. houses. He added that the Home Owners Association will clear out the snow on all the driveways and the plan provides for a small snow stacking area, which he pointed out. He did not see how looping the two cul de sacs would alleviate the problem. Commissioner Cain asked Mr. Peterson how he felt about having a combination of public/private roads and he said they wanted to keep them all public. Regarding the off-street parking, Mr. Peterson said these areas had been cut in half to address the concerns and that he failed to see the difference from someone backing out of a driveway. Commissioner Burton suggested putting the off-road parking areas at the end of the cul de sacs and using it for snow stacking in the winter. Boyd Davis of Gardner Engineering, engineer for petitioner, stated that this was a good idea and could be suggested to the developer. Mr. Christensen expressed concern with liability for the county in the event of damage to the parking surface during the snow removal process if the area for snow removal was in the public right-of-way. Mr. Peterson thought that if the county's road crew did not clear the snow from the parking areas, that their maintenance crew would in order to keep the parking places open. Chair Burton asked about storm water run-off. Mr. Peterson said that it had been provided for (i.e., with detention basins) and Mr. Davis indicated that the entire area would drain to two different locations. The commissioners indicated not having a problem with the amended design as presented today. Commissioner Cain said that the plan was very progressive and used the area well, bringing into play some things that are non-standard for Weber County but which should be considered because they are progressive. Mr. Barker said the Weber Township did not have any issues regarding the road pattern.

• Commissioner Cain moved to approve the road pattern as it was shown today by Lowell Peterson for Trappers Ridge at Wolf Creek, a Planned Residential Unit Development, accepting the roads as public right-of-ways, with a roundabout on Elkhorn Drive and extending that road to the east, accepting the parking facilities along the roadways and the design as he presented them, and requesting that the developer make an effort to compliment the longest/deepest cul de sac with snow stacking parking at the end of it so that there is an area for snow removal; Commissioner Bischoff seconded, all voting aye.

G. Public Hearings

1.