CITY OF SAINT MARYS COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING APRIL17,2023 89 CALL' TOORDER The regular monthly Council meeting of the City of Saint Marys was called to order by Mayor Lyle Garner on Monday, April 17, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. Notice oft this meeting was sent to Council on April 13, 2023, posted at City Hall and published in the Daily Press. PLEDGE TOTHE FLAG ROLL CALL Mayor Lyle Garner, Deputy Mayor Bob Roberts, Nedward Jacob, Andrew Mohney, Shane Schneider, Jerome Sorg, Sally Geyer, Manager Joseph Fleming, Solicitor Tom Wagner and City Staff: Tina Gradizzi, Director of Community and Economic Development, Joe Kugler, Deputy Director of Community & Economic Development, and Dani Schneider, Parks and Cly Hornung, Sarah D' Amore, Michael D'Amore, Jaxson Friedl, Leon Boschert, Fritz Lecker, Cathy Lenze, Bill Brock, Greg Gebauer, Kurt Nesbitt, Kelly Breindel, Richard Sadley, Angie Vollmer, Heather Cuyler, Stephan Bagley, Gene Garner, Martin Sally Geyer made a motion to approve the March 20, 2023 minutes, seconded by Andrew Mohney and all were in favor. Recording Secretary Lorrie Levenduski. Recreation Director. VISITORS Dornisch, Matt Pasi and Aaron Straub. APPROVAL OF MINUTES March 20, 2023 - Regular Meeting Motion Passed SESSION: DAY REPORT ON EXECUTIVE An Executive Session was held immediately prior to tonight's meeting regarding personnel matters. No decisions were: made. Commission with the 2023 Arbor Day Proclamation. PROCLAMATION: ARBOR Mayor Garner presented Cly Hornung from the Shade Tree SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Heather Cuyler of PASHEK+MTR presented the following Comprehensive Recreation Park and Open Space Plan information regarding the Comprehensive Recreation Park and Open Space Plan: Where are we in the process? PHASE ONE Understanding the community's needs Initiate committee meetings Conduct various types of public engagement Distill key issues, visions, goals Drilling down for solutions Analyze public input PHASE TWO CITY OF SAINT MARYS COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING APRIL17,2023 90 Consider steering committee feedback and direction Develop specific recommendations Refine recommendations Draft plan REVIEW AND ADOPTION Chapter review by committee, staff and officials Review by DCNR Final Review Adoption vote 2022 NRPA Agency performance Review. = Park Facilities Park. Facility 1facility(Less than Existing Recommended per2 X 10 people municipal parks) 4906 7000 3978 5425 6000 10500 19500 8663 Acres 15.3 21 0.26 2 2.47 0.38 2.22 47.21 Playgrounds Basketball Courts Tennis Courts (outdoors) Diamond fields: Youth Rectangular fields-multi-use Swimming Pool (outdoor) Skate park Multi-purpose synthetic field 7 7 6 10 3 1 0 0 3 2 3 3 2 1 0 0 9.9acres/1,000 Residents + approx. 128 acres Memorial Benzinger Diamond Street Kaulmont Luhr Cityl Diamond Downtown Event Park Total Community Engagement Steering Committee Stmarysparks.com Community questionnaire Stakeholder interviews and focus groups Key Issues survey April 21 open house CITY OF SAINT MARYS COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING APRIL17,2023 Community Questionnaire 653: responses Most important issues: 1. Improve amenities in existing parks 2. Update the community pool 3. Increasing safe connections within and beyond neighborhoods for walking and biking 4. 4.Protection of natural resources 91 Fall 2021 MISSION To enrich the lives of our evolving community by providing all- inclusive, year-round recreational activities, facilities, and natural spaces that would instill an appreciation of the outdoors, strengthen community engagement, provide economic benefits, and promote the health and wellness of all those living and Toe enhance the quality of life by providing the best possible public recreational facilities, open natural spaces and inclusive visiting our City. VISION programs for our citizens GOALO ONE PARK REDEVELOPMENT and fun. Remove outdated play equipment Revisit community pool renovations options Increase park maintenance staff capacity Develop work order system Develop Berwind Park agreement Update recreation areas to minimize impacts on the environment or conflicts among user groups Identify areas in the City parks which are not ADA compliant including parking, pavilions, playgrounds, sports fields and Provide: a Park System that is safe, usable, attractive, sustainable amenities GOALTWO SUSTAINABLE FUNDING Establish and secure funding Develop and adopt a ten-year Capital Improvement Plan Establish annual budget Leverage funds through grants Adopt updated Mandatory Dedication Ordinance Increase sponsorship opportunities Create a Recreation and Parks Foundation/Recreation Committee 92 CITY OF SAINT MARYS COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING APRIL17,2023 GOALTHREE PARTNERSHIPS Enhance the Recreation Board's capacity as an Advisory Board. *Adopt new Recreation Board by laws Add a youth recreation Board member Identify desired Board skills for future members -Provide educational opportunities: PRPS/NRPA/DCNR Establish partnerships Fundraising strategies GOALFOUR CONNECTIVITY & OPEN SPACE Develop a System of Multi-use, interconnecting Trails and Greenways that provide opportunities for exercise, alternative transportation and recreation. Create a Share the Road signage and road program Promote the health and wellness of trails Partner with neighboring trail groups Connect to West Creek Trail into Kaulmont Increase connections from neighborhoods to City parks -Update the City Mandatory Dedication Ordinance: Fee in Lieu Increase mobile connectivity in outdoors and trails Acquire land and trail easements for the development of trail and review annually and the expansion of greenways RECREATION PROGRAMMING Ensure that a wide variety of Recreation Programming is available to meet the needs of residents. Market as outdoor recreation Develop inclusive and diverse programs Develop counselor in training opportunities Establish cost recovery pricing policy/sustainable programs Secure commercial or non-profit sponsors -Seek opportunities for cooperative programming with GOAL FIVE Create partnerships surrounding community GOALSIX BRANDING & MARKETING Develop an Identity of St. Marys Parks and Recreation. Promote health, wellness and outdoor recreation opportunities Increase internal and external communication Develop consistent wayfinding and signage Council thanked her for the presentation. CITY OF SAINT MARYS COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING APRIL17,2023 93 CITIZEN COMMENTS ON There were no citizen comments on agenda topics. AGENDA TOPICS MANAGER'S REPORT Manager Fleming provided the following report: "Iv want to thank Heather for her hard work on the Parks and Recreation Comp Plan and acknowledge all the individuals involved in bringing it together. Iwant to mention the passing of Father Eric Vogt. Father Eric was part of sO many lives within our community. He devoted his life to helping others and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and parishes. The City of Saint Marys has officially received the agreement between the City and the Social Security Administration. The transition is now complete for the Social Security Administration to recognize the City of Ialso want to acknowledge the Webelos Scouts with us this evening to observe the council meeting with their Den Leader Fritz Lecker. Iwant to thank them for City of Saint Marys will be hosting the District Meeting for the Pennsylvania Municipal League on Wednesday at Maker's Warehouse. Final preparations are being made and we are looking forward to the event. Road and street sweeping continues along with ditching and some patchwork being performed. Public Works is finishing up design and engineering of projects and will have them in front of Council either at Maintenance is being performed at our community parks along with preparations of the summer programs. Heritage Preservation Group will be around the downtown area this coming Friday morning the 21s1 as they are volunteering to do some spring cleaning of the The final hiring processes are being completed for aj part- time police officer who is scheduled to be sworn in by Saint Marys. coming this evening. the May or June monthly meeting. area. 94 CITY OF SAINT MARYS COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING APRIL17, ,2023 the Mayor at the beginning of next month's meeting. Clean Up Day has been announced for April 28th and 29th with the same location as last year at the lower parking lot of Kaulmont Park. Please check our usual media platforms for more information." TREASURER'S REPORT Manager Fleming provided the following Treasurer's Report for March 31st marks the end of the 1st quarter of 2023, and revenue collected for the General Fund is at 16% of budget. Expenditures for the General Fund were at 24% of budget. Last year revenue was at 12% of budget and expenditures were 21% of budget. For 2021, revenue was 14% of budget and expenditures were 18% of budget and for 2020, revenue was recorded at 12% of budget and expenditures at 20%. Revenue collected for Real Estate taxes for 2023 is 24% of budget and for 2022 it was 23% of budget; for 2021 it was 25%; and for 2020it was 18%. Earned Income Tax revenue for the 1st quarter of 2023 is 29% of budget and in 2022 it was 19% of budget; for 2021 it was 26%; for 2020 it was 27%. This is actual cash received, and not earned, which means that the majority of the This public hearing is being held for the intermunicipal transfer of liquor license R-18962 for Straub Brewery, Inc. Mayor Garner opened the public hearing at 7:21 p.m. Bill Brock, President and CEO of Straub Brewery, explained they did not expect a lot of big changes from this transfer. It was an opportunity to serve their customers better. This will free up Sally Geyer asked if this was existing license and Mr. Brock responded, no this was a restaurant license that was in Benezette Township and they need approval to transfer it to the City of St. Jerome Sorg questioned if they were going to use the license for their restaurant instead of the Brewery and Mr. Brock responded, Nedward Jacob questioned what type of license they have now and Mr. brock responded, it is a brewery license which allows them to serve beer, spirits and wines that are produced in March 2023: EIT was for the last quarter of 2022. PUBLICHEARING: Open Hearing Public Comment the brewery license. Marys. correct, it is for the Tap Room. CITY OF SAINT MARYS COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING APRIL17,2023 95 Pennsylvania. This new license will allow the sale of liquor and wine produced outside of Pennsylvania, but they intend to Council members clarified the details of his statement amongst Mr. Brock stated this was an opportunity that they wanted to Mayor Garner closed the public hearing at 7:24 p.m. continue to sell Pennsylvania products. themselves. take advantage of. Hearing Closed LEGISLATIVE, ACTION Consider for adoption: Resolution No. 23-08- Approve intermunicipal transfer ofl liquor license R- 18962 for Straub Brewery, Inc. Motion Passed Resolution No. 23-08, approval of an intermunicipal transfer of liquor license R-189621 for Straub Brewery, Inc. was presented Andrew Mohney made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 23-08, seconded by Shane Schneider and all were in favor. Resolution No. 23-07 - Authorizing the submission of a Traffic for adoption. Resolution No. 23-07- Agreement with PennDOT Authorizing the submission of Signal Maintenance Agreement with PennDOT was presented aTraffic Signal Maintenance for adoption. Manager Fleming explained this was to allow for the Deputy Mayor Bob Roberts made a motion to adopt resolution No. 23-07, seconded by Sally Geyer and all were in favor. maintenance and updates oft traffic signals. Motion Passed TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION: Deputy Mayor Bob Roberts explained the topic of Council term Term limits imposed by Section limits has been brought up in previous discussions and thought it 304(b) and 402 of the City best for Council to determine which direction they wanted to Charter take. He noted if a Council member resigns or does not complete their elected term for whatever reason, it creates a vacancy on Council. Once that vacancy occurs Council may appoint someone to fill the position until the next election. The problem is that as interpreted from the current Charter, that appointment counts as a term which then limits them for the time that they could serve by reelection to the position. He stated he would like this issue to be proposed to the citizens by referendum. He then confirmed with the Solicitor this was the process for any changes to the Charter. He explained if someone was appointed, they did not run for reelection due to this language in the Charter and this has 96 CITY OF SAINT MARYS COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING APRIL17,2023 occurred numerous times. He noted the amount of candidates running for Council has decreased over the years. Sally Geyer stated she agreed that if someone is appointed it Shane Schneider explained he submitted a letter of interest for a vacancy on Council and the existing Council voted on the appointment. He noted if someone was appointed for two months Jerome Sorg explained he did not apply for the last Council vacancy since he knew it would count as a term. Deputy Mayor Roberts made a motion to have the Solicitor prepare and ordinance that moves the issue of term limits onto the referendum ballot for the fall election, seconded by Andrew should not count as a term. itwould count as a term. Motion Passed Mohney and all were ini favor. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON There were no citizen comments on non-agenda topics. NON-AGENDA TOPICS COUNCIL COMMENTS Shane Schneider thanked the cub scouts for attending. Jerome Sorg commented Father Eric will be sorely missed. He also thanked the scouts for attending and encouraged them to Sally Geyer also thanked the. scouts for attending and noted a lot Andrew Mohney requested voters to educate themselves before Deputy Mayor Bob Roberts thanked Manager Fleming for finalizing the Social Security Agreement. He also reminded everyone of the upcoming cleanup day being held by the Heritage Group. He thanked Straub Brewery for what they do for St. Mayor Garner commended Manager Fleming on the recent award received in Harrisburg and noted we have a good City Manager. Manager Fleming commented on how proud he was of receiving continue to participate. of progress is happening in town. voting. Marys. the award. ANNOUNCEMENIS Mayor Garner made the following announcements: CITY OF SAINT MARYS COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING APRIL 17,2023 97 The next Council regular meeting will be held on Monday, Nedward Jacob made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Shane Schneider. Meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m. May 15, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Deue Sambk Recording Secretary Mayor Acia