City Council Meeting Minutes – Amended

Date: Monday, the 8th day of April 2024
Location: Houston Lake City Hall, 5417 NW Adrian, Houston Lake, MO 64151

The meeting notice for the Houston Lake City Council (HLCC) meeting on April 8, 2024, was posted less than one business day in advance. Given that a 7:30 PM Monday meeting requires notice by 5 PM on the preceding Friday, the notice for this meeting was posted approximately seven hours late. As soon as the missed deadline was identified, the notice was promptly posted. The delay was caused by a council member who, while also serving as the volunteer Acting City Clerk for more than eight months, inadvertently missed the deadline. 

The regular meeting of the City Council Meeting of Houston Lake, Missouri, was called to order by Mayor pro tem Ashley Fuglestad at 7:45 p.m.

On roll call, the following members were present: Alderman AnnMarie Murphy, Alderman Sarah Loring, Mayor Pro Tem / Alderman Ashley Fuglestad, Alderman Teena Walker-Robin

• Agenda for 04/08/2024 – Walker-Robin motioned to approve the agenda with the addition of swearing in of two council members. Loring seconded. A voice vote resulted in unanimous approval.
• Minutes –
  • Loring motioned to approve the 11/13/2023 minutes, Fuglestad 2nd. A voice vote resulted in Ayes from Loring, Fuglestad, Walker-Robin. Murphy Abstained.
  • Loring motioned to approve the 12/11/2023 regular and special session minutes, Fuglestad 2nd. A voice vote resulted in Ayes from Loring, Fuglestad, & Walker-Robin. Murphy abstained.
  • Loring motioned to approve the 01/08/2024 minutes, Fuglestad 2nd. A voice vote resulted in Ayes from Loring, Fuglestad, Walker-Robin Ayes, Murphy Abstain
  • Loring motioned to approve the 02/12/2024 minutes, Murphy 2nd. A voice vote resulted in Ayes from Loring, Walker-Robin, Murphy. Fuglestad abstained.
  • Loring motioned to approve the 03/11/2024 minutes, Murphy 2nd. A voice vote resulted in all Ayes
  • Murphy motioned to approve the 3/28/24 minutes, Walker-Robin 2nd. A voice vote resulted in Ayes from Walker-Robin, Murphy, Fuglestad. Loring abstain

• Fire Department – Assistant Chief Keith Payne reported two calls this year. Payne also explained that the department will be receiving a new pumper truck within the next 30 days and a new ladder truck within the next two years and both will need clearance of 13.6, regulated DOT height. Tree maintenance and having overhead cables conformed to this height would therefore be required. The utility companies should make the adjustments at no cost to the city. Cable and phone lines like AT&T & Spire (Spectrum) are more likely to be low while powerlines, like Evergy are usually a lot higher.
• Sheriff – Captain Woodrow Painter reported five calls for service. Only one of the calls had a report attached to it, which was an animal complaint resulting in a warrant arrest. There were also two car stops. Sheriff Dept. officers worked a little over 26 hours in March.

• The next HOA meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 15th at 6:30 PM. Lake cleanup will take place on Saturday, April 20th at 9:00 AM, starting at City Hall.

• Terri Dister reported on an animal rescue situation she is assisting a family with. The Council mentioned that the city had been initially contacted regarding the matter and had connected the caller with Terri for advice. Terri was acknowledged for going above and beyond by personally handling the rescue effort.

• 5311 NW Edgewood Cir
  Walker-Robin motioned to approve, Loring seconded. A voice vote resulted in unanimous approval.

• None

• March ’24 Murphy motioned to approve; Loring seconded; A voice vote resulted in unanimous approval.

• April ’24 Murphy motioned to approve; Walker-Robin seconded; A voice vote resulted in unanimous approval.

• Discussion on the best way to spend road funds in 2024 now that stormwater grant deadline has passed
  • Discussion focused on the allocation of road funds for 2024 following the expiration of the stormwater grant deadline. It was noted that no stormwater grant was applied for in 2024. A request for estimates was sent to the city’s preferred paving vendor for four paving problem areas previously discussed.
• Discussion on Stormwater Grants 2025 including listing and prioritizing opportunities to work with the Platte County Stormwater Grant to address flooding issues
  • Discussion focused on preparing for Stormwater Grants for 2025, including listing and prioritizing opportunities to work with the Platte County Stormwater Grant to address flooding issues. Additionally, there was discussion on evaluating and prioritizing areas of stormwater concern in preparation for the 2025 deadline.
• Follow up discussion on parking for residents whose vehicles cannot jump the barrier curb at City Hall during meetings and/or inclement weather –
• Follow up on missing ordinances & contracts
  • A volunteer pulled all of the meeting minutes for the last three years from the laker archives so we could determine:
    • what documents are missing
    • where we should be in the numbering of ordinances moving forward
    • follow up with the cities legal council on next steps and repercussions
• Follow up on next steps to abandon the ward system
  • Reboot article is still in process as well as calendarizing
• Update on the Platte County Outreach Grant 2024
  • We won the grant, contract is enroute.
• Discussion of options for WiFi at City Hall
  • Recommending AT&T $65-$75 service includes WiFi. Dedicated to having WiFi here next month no matter what it takes.

• Keith Carey was sworn as North Ward Alderman
• Sara Loring was sworn as South Ward Alderman

• BILL NO. 040824-RM was introduced to change the day and time when city meetings occur from the second Monday at 7:30 to the second Wednesday at 6:30 to accommodate a scheduling conflict of the new city clerk as agreed.
  Loring motioned to approve; Walker-Robin seconded; A voice vote resulted in all Ayes.
• Discussion of enforcement of City Code banning on street parking – Do we repeal this law or do we enforce this law. Council explained the necessity of having this law to accommodate emergency vehicles. An awareness campaign including signs and a series of articles explaining the necessity and framing it in a positive light, in both the Laker and the Website in advance of enforcement. Captain Painter explained that they could definitely issue citations to the owner of any vehicle found to be in violation. There was a suggestion of action item follows up, like ordering signs.

• Loring reminds residents that it’s time to clean leaves from your ditches, it is your responsibility. The city does culverts on city property. Ditches on your property are your responsibility. Loring also asked about for an update on mitigating trash issue on Edgewater; Officers did a wellness check following our last meeting and officers were called to the address again via a resident who was concerned about animals at the address. A 30 day notice has been issued. Loring last report item was that when she agreed to stay on, her main motivation was addressing the largest liability to the city and it’s residents at present, the bridge. The bridge is impassable even for a gravel bike now, and problematic for many types of foot traffic. Loring is pursuing solutions for making the bridge safe for the traffic it currently has, foot traffic from multiple perspectives and will advise of progress.
• Fuglestad wondered if we had made progress on the codes enforcement situation. She had received a complaint from a resident on a property that was undergoing remodeling and she did not think it was something we would write a citation on as it was a remodel, inconvenient but not a codes issue in her opinion. Fuglestad’s made the point that this was really a call better made by a codes enforcement professional. AnnMarie Murphy has been training in the codes position as a much appreciated favor to the city and did look at the property in question and agreed with Fuglestad’s opinion. Murphy further explained that she had taken the training so that she could train a new Codes Enforcement officer, should one be hired. Murphy canvassed surrounding citys and is of the opinion that $17 for $20 hours a week Codes Enforcement officer is going to be a hard sell. Murphy also suggested an intern program might we a workable solution and that she could serve as Inter Coordinator. Meanwhile Murphy is willing to continue on an as need basis for the time being.
• Walker-Robin spoke on the how pleasant the solar eclipse watch event was, that it was not visible unless you were using glasses but with the glasses it was stunning. She photographed the whole event and promised to post images if they turned out.

Adjournment

• Loring made a motion to adjourn. Walker-Robin seconded. A voice vote resulted in unanimous approval.